Two figures stood on a rocky outcrop, far from the bustle of their kingdom below.
One of them—a young man around twenty-five—wore an old-fashioned, full-body suit outlined with glowing white lines. His black-and-white boots were worn but well-kept. His hair was a soft chestnut brown, and his eyes shimmered faintly, their star-shaped pupils catching the last light of day.
"Hey, Torian," he called out casually.
The second man—Torian—wore a similar suit. His hair was jet-black, and his ember-red eyes burned quietly, always watching. He stood still, his presence calm yet alert.
"What do you say to a quick nap?" Ruck asked with a grin, stretching lazily.
Torian turned to him with a raised brow. "A nap? While those things are out there, killing our people? Does that sound fine to you, Ruck?"
Ruck shrugged. "Well... not exactly. But how are we even supposed to find them?"
Before Torian could reply, Ruck's eyes caught a faint glint in the grass.
"Hey, Torian. You see that?"
Torian approached cautiously. Nestled within the tall grass was a shard—jet black, veined with glowing red lines, pulsing like a heartbeat. An unnatural aura surrounded it.
"I've never seen anything like this," Torian muttered. "Careful. It's radiating mana."
"Got it," Ruck said, pulling out a reinforced glass tube from his satchel. He gently picked up the crystal, placed it inside, and sealed it shut.
With the artifact secured, they resumed their fieldwork. The sun dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows. Night settled in like a hush across the land.
A small campfire crackled atop their hill, casting flickering orange light on their faces.
Below them, the kingdom shimmered like a dream—calm, glowing, alive.
"Hey… look at our kingdom," Ruck whispered, his eyes filled with wonder. "It's so beautiful at night, isn't it?"
Torian gave a quiet hum. "Mmhmm."
"Come on, bro! Just take it in for once!" Ruck teased, nudging him playfully.
But Torian suddenly tensed.
"Wait. Quiet. Do you hear that?"
Ruck paused.
There it was.
A faint, distant sound—soft and shivering.
A baby crying.
They turned toward the fire—and froze.
Lying beside the flames was a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
"What the…?" Ruck muttered, heart pounding. "Where did that baby come from…?"
Torian narrowed his eyes. Faint ripples of magic shimmered around the infant, distorting the air like heat above fire.
"Someone teleported it here," he said quietly. "Someone's in trouble. Ruck, get ready. We—"
Before he could finish, the crystal in Ruck's bag began to glow violently.
Then—
A blinding flash.
A deafening roar.
The explosion shook the heavens. A wave of energy tore through the valley, consuming everything in its path.
"RUCK! Hurry—RUCK?!" Torian shouted.
"I got it!!" Ruck cried, throwing his hand forward. A glowing magic circle bloomed beneath them, and a shimmering barrier wrapped around their camp.
Torian's eyes widened.
That spell…? That's a high-tier defense barrier. But no human should be able to cast it… Does his core have that much mana?
There was no time to think.
The shockwave hit.
The barrier held—for a moment.
Then shattered.
Everything went white.
And then—silence.
By some miracle, they survived.
Lying on the scorched ground, bruised and bloodied, they shielded the baby between them. Smoke choked the air. The sky glowed a hellish red as ash rained down.
Slowly, they turned toward where their kingdom once stood.
Their breath caught.
The kingdom—
Was gone.
Nothing remained but a blackened crater, a lifeless void.
Ruck dropped to his knees.
Torian clutched the baby tighter, his hands trembling.
The fire crackled behind them, a tiny flame defying the overwhelming dark.
And in the ashes of a fallen kingdom...
Destiny began.