The Silver Curse – Volume 1, Chapter 1: The Marked One
Prologue: A Glimpse Into the Future
Blood dripped from his blade, pooling beneath his feet. The battlefield lay in ruins, bodies scattered across the ground like discarded puppets. A cold wind carried the scent of steel and death, but Yuto remained motionless. His silver eyes, once filled with hesitation, now gleamed with something else—something darker.
He tightened his grip on his sword as the rings on his fingers pulsed faintly, their glow barely visible beneath the gauntlets he wore.
How did it come to this?
A voice whispered in the depths of his mind, insidious and coaxing. Embrace the power.
Yuto exhaled, his breath misting in the cold air. His lips barely moved as he murmured, "This power… I can't stop it."
The world around him faded to white.
Chapter 1: Awakening in Another World
The rhythmic ticking of the classroom clock was the only sound filling the air. Yuto sat near the window, his chin resting on his hand as he stared outside, barely paying attention to the lesson. The mundane hum of life around him felt suffocating. Day after day, it was the same routine—wake up, go to school, pretend to care, go home, repeat.
Nothing ever changed.
The bell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He gathered his things and left the classroom, blending into the flow of students. As he walked home, his mind drifted. Maybe I should finally check out that concert this weekend… or visit that museum I keep putting off.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed the approaching headlights.
The screech of tires. The blinding light. The force of impact.
Then, nothing.
A New Beginning
A deep, suffocating silence surrounded him. Yuto's body felt weightless, as though he was floating in an endless void. He tried to move, but there was nothing to move against.
A voice, calm yet powerful, echoed through the emptiness. "You have been chosen."
Yuto's eyes snapped open. He gasped, sitting up sharply, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His fingers dug into the ground beneath him—cold, hard stone. He was no longer in the city, no longer on the street where he had been just moments ago.
He was in a temple. A ruined, ancient structure, its walls covered in glowing markings that pulsed with an eerie light. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else—something ancient and powerful.
"Where… am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
A figure emerged from the shadows. Cloaked in a flowing robe, their features were obscured, but their presence radiated authority.
"You are in Rynathar, the land of warriors and magic," the figure intoned. "You have been brought here for a purpose."
Yuto stared at them, his mind struggling to process what he was hearing. "Brought here? You mean… I died?"
The figure nodded. "Your body perished in your world. But your soul was given another chance."
He instinctively glanced down at his hands—and froze. Silver rings adorned his fingers, glowing softly against his skin. A strange energy pulsed through them, sending shivers up his spine.
"These rings… what are they?"
The figure stepped closer. "They are both your gift and your curse. Silver is deadly to all who walk this land, but for you, it is power. A power that will draw eyes—both those who seek to claim it and those who seek to destroy it."
Yuto clenched his fists. So that's why I was brought here? To be hunted?
The figure gave a slight nod, as if reading his thoughts. "You will soon understand. But for now, you must survive."
With those final words, the figure faded into mist, leaving Yuto alone.
A New World, A New Fate
The streets of the medieval-style town bustled with life—adventurers clad in armor, merchants hawking their wares, and guild banners fluttering in the wind. It was nothing like the city he had known, and yet… something about it felt oddly familiar.
He stepped into the adventurer's guild, where the air was thick with the scent of ale and sweat. Conversations buzzed around him, laughter mixing with the clinking of tankards.
"Another new face?" The receptionist, a sharp-eyed woman, eyed him as he approached. "What can I do for you?"
Yuto hesitated. He had no idea how things worked in this world, but one thing was clear—he needed answers. And in a place like this, those who knew the most were usually the ones willing to talk for the right price.
"I need information," he said finally.
The receptionist raised an eyebrow but didn't question him further. "Silver rings, huh? That's rare."
He caught the way her eyes lingered on his hands, and a few nearby adventurers turned their heads as well.
Whispers spread.
"Did you see that? Silver…"
"Is he cursed?"
"Whoever he is, he won't last long."
Yuto gritted his teeth. So it begins.
First Battle – A Test of Strength
It didn't take long for him to find a group heading out for a quest. A small team of adventurers—Mira, a confident swordswoman with crimson eyes, and Lina, a quiet but sharp-witted rogue—allowed him to join for a goblin extermination mission.
"Stick close, rookie," Mira smirked as they entered the dense forest. "Try not to die."
The battle began in an instant. Goblins lunged from the undergrowth, their jagged weapons gleaming. Mira and Lina moved in perfect sync, cutting down enemies with precision.
Then came Yuto's turn.
He swung his sword, expecting resistance—but instead, his blade moved too fast, too easily, slicing through a goblin like butter.
He froze, breath hitching. Why… does this feel so natural?
His rings pulsed, a whisper brushing against his mind. You are strong.
Mira glanced at him, a flicker of intrigue in her eyes. "Not bad. For a rookie."
Lina, however, studied him more closely. "That power… is unusual."
Yuto clenched his fists. He could already tell—this was just the beginning.
End of Chapter 1