The morning sun rose slowly over the ruins of Emberglen, its light piercing through the shattered remnants of Richard's home. Smoke lingered in the air, a bitter reminder of the night before. The village lay in silence, its few surviving inhabitants too afraid to emerge from their hiding places.
Richard sat in the middle of the wreckage, clutching his mother's bloodied scarf in his trembling hands. Her lifeless body had already been buried by the villagers silent, somber figures who dared not speak to him. Fear lingered in their eyes; fear of the monstrous creature that had attacked, and perhaps even fear of him.
The memory of the shadowy figure's words haunted him. "You will be the one to change it. But be warned such power always demands a price."
But what power did he have? He was just a boy, no older than sixteen, with no family, no home, and no strength. The overwhelming weight of his mother's death bore down on him, but beneath the grief, there was something else a spark.
Anger.
The world had taken everything from him. The gods, those who were supposed to protect and guide humanity, had allowed this to happen. Monsters roamed freely, unchecked, preying on the innocent. Villages like Emberglen were left to fend for themselves while the so-called strong sat in their cities, chasing riches and fame.
Richard clenched his fists. No more.
He would change it. He didn't know how yet, but he knew where to start: the Tower of Eternity.
The Tower of Eternity was a massive structure that pierced the heavens, visible even from the farthest reaches of the world. Legends said it was created by the gods themselves as a test for mortals, its 102 floors filled with monsters, traps, and treasures. Thousands of adventurers sought to conquer it, but none had ever reached the top. Those who survived returned with unimaginable power or were consumed by the darkness within.
Richard's mother had once told him stories of the Tower when he was younger. She had warned him of its dangers, told him it was a place where only the strongest could survive. But now, it wasn't just survival he sought. It was power.
As Richard stood amidst the ruins of his home, an old man approached him. Garret, the village's blacksmith, was one of the few people Richard trusted. Though his age had slowed him, his eyes still held a fire that spoke of countless battles fought in his youth.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Garret asked, his voice low and gravelly.
Richard nodded. "There's nothing left for me here."
Garret sighed, reaching into the pouch at his side. "I figured as much. You've got your mother's determination, boy. She wouldn't want you to waste it."
He pulled out a simple dagger, its blade well-worn but sharp. "This isn't much, but it'll keep you alive long enough to learn how to fight. Take it."
Richard hesitated before accepting the weapon. Its weight felt unfamiliar in his hands, but he knew it wouldn't be the last blade he carried.
Garret placed a firm hand on Richard's shoulder. "The world's cruel, lad. It doesn't care about justice or fairness. But if you've got the strength to fight, you can carve out a place for yourself. Just don't let that anger consume you. Your mother wouldn't want that."
Richard didn't respond. He couldn't. The rage burning in his chest was the only thing keeping him from breaking down. He turned away from Garret, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon where the Tower of Eternity loomed like a beacon.
The journey to the Tower was long and perilous. It was said that the surrounding lands were filled with lesser monsters drawn to its power, and that adventurers often fought and killed one another over resources. Richard had no map, no companions, and little experience, but none of that mattered. He would reach the Tower or die trying.
As he left Emberglen behind, he glanced back one last time. The place that had been his home was now nothing more than a memory.
I'll come back someday, he thought, gripping the dagger tightly. I'll build something better. A place where people don't have to live in fear.
For now, though, all he had was the path ahead a path that would test his resolve, his strength, and his humanity.
And so, Richard North took his first step toward the Tower of Eternity, unaware of the trials, allies, and enemies that awaited him. The spark of resolve in his heart would guide him, but whether it would burn bright or be extinguished by the darkness remained to be seen.