As the group's laughter died down, Fren leaned closer to Ress, his curiosity bubbling over. "Hey, Ress," he began hesitantly, "can I ask you something?"
Ress, sipping from his drink, raised an eyebrow. "Sure, kid. What's on your mind?"
Fren's voice dropped slightly, his tone serious. "What exactly is the Dominion? And… those monsters we've faced—how do they even exist? It's like there are secrets lurking in the dark that nobody talks about."
The light mood shifted. Ress set his drink down, his expression becoming thoughtful. "Alright, kid. Let me tell you a story, but brace yourself—it's not exactly bedtime material."
Kai smirked. "Here we go. Ress's 'History of Doom' lecture number fifty."
Ress ignored him and began. "Millennia ago, the world wasn't the peaceful place it is now. Back then, it was chaos—a world teeming with monsters. They weren't just the ones we've fought. These creatures were gods compared to what you've seen—some so massive they could shift the climate just by moving, others so powerful they could wipe out entire regions with a thought. Humans? We were nothing but food to them."
Fren's eyes widened. "Wait… roaming freely? If they were that powerful, how are we even here now? Why isn't the world still in chaos?"
Ress leaned back, his gaze distant. "That's where the story gets interesting. You see, back then, humanity was on the brink of extinction. People hid in caves, forests, anywhere they could escape. Then came the Nine Magicians—legends who turned the tide. These weren't just your average magic users; they were the greatest to ever exist. Together, they fought the monsters. But…"
"But?" Fren pressed, leaning forward.
Ress sighed. "They didn't really defeat them. Some monsters were too powerful to kill, so the Nine did the next best thing—they sealed them away. They created another dimension, a prison, and locked every monster inside. The humans who had been hiding slowly came out, and over time, they rebuilt the world. But here's the thing—the Nine Magicians vanished after that. No one knows what happened to them, and the world moved on without them."
Fren frowned. "So… all the monsters are sealed in another dimension?"
Ress nodded. "Yep. But here's the kicker. Those monsters aren't dumb. Over the millennia, they've adapted to their prison. Some of them have learned to crack the dimensional barrier, which is why you're seeing monsters now. The ones we face today? They're nothing compared to the ones slumbering deep in that dimension. If those ever wake up…"
Fren's voice trembled slightly. "If they wake up… the world would go back to the Dark Age, wouldn't it? Where monsters roam freely again?"
Kai, noticing Fren's growing fear, nudged him playfully. "Don't look so grim, Fren. We're not dead yet."
Ress chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Relax, kid. The ones cracking through now are usually low-level monsters. The big ones—the ones you're worried about—are in a deep slumber. Unless something catastrophic happens, they're not waking up anytime soon."
Fren sighed in relief, but his brow furrowed again. "Wait… those low-level monsters you mentioned. Are those the ones we fought the other week?"
Ress smirked. "Oh, no. Those were mid-level. The low-level ones wouldn't have lasted five seconds."
Fren's jaw dropped. "What?! That was mid-level?!"
Ress shrugged. "They've evolved over time. But yeah, you'll be fine. Probably."
Fren groaned. "That's not reassuring at all."
Kai laughed. "Welcome to the club, Fren. You'll get used to it."
Fren's mind raced with questions, but one thing stood out. "So… the Dominion. They're the ones keeping this whole balance thing going, right?"
Ress nodded. "Correct. The Dominion has existed since the time of the Nine Magicians. They're the ones making sure normal people can live their lives without worrying about monsters. And anyone who awakens their stigma—like you—gets transferred to the Dominion to help with the fight secretly."
Fren frowned. "Wait… so that means…"
Ress grinned. "That's right, kid. You, Kai, and all of as here is part of the team that fights the monsters." He clapped Fren on the back. "And I'm the lucky guy responsible for training you two!"
Fren groaned dramatically. "Great. I'm doomed."
Kai smirked. "Don't worry, Fren. At least we'll be doomed together."
Ress laughed. "See? Teamwork already. You two are gonna make me proud—or make me lose my hair. Either way, it'll be entertaining."
The group's laughter filled the room, easing the tension and leaving Fren with a strange mix of fear and excitement for the journey ahead.
To be continue..