"To be forgotten... is worse than death." – A Forgotten Voice
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[Time: 2:47 AM | Place: Lysia Rift Lab, Zone 7]
The cleaning mop slid across the floor.
Riven Kael, 19 years old, was cleaning again. He wore an old mask and a work suit. His name tag said:
"LEVEL 0 – JANITOR"
> "Another boring night," Riven thought. "Just me and the Rift again."
In front of him was a big glass dome. Inside it, a glowing crack in space floated like broken glass — this was a Rift, a strange hole to another world.
The Rift was supposed to be closed. But it still flickered like it was alive.
A voice came through Riven's earpiece:
"Kael! Zone 7 check done?"
"Yeah. All good," Riven answered. "But… the Rift looks weird."
"No worries. No danger signals. Just clean up and get out. You're not a hero."
The earpiece went silent.
> No. I'm not a hero, Riven thought again.
He wasn't a fighter. He didn't have powers.
Other people had cool things called Fragments — special pieces of power from ancient gods. They could level up and become strong. Riven was just a janitor.
> No powers.
No levels.
No future.
---
[Suddenly…]
BZZZZT
The dome flickered.
Then, with a loud CRACK, the Rift broke open.
The room went ice cold. Riven's ears started ringing.
He turned.
> The Rift was opening — on its own.
A black rope-like energy shot out and grabbed his arm.
"NO—!" he shouted.
It pulled him in.
---
[Unknown Place | ???]
Everything was dark. Floating. Spinning. Empty.
Riven was falling — or flying — or breaking apart.
Then, he heard a whisper:
> "Do you want to be remembered?"
Riven looked up. A strange black shard floated in front of him. It looked alive. It pulsed like a heartbeat.
> "This Fragment is lost. Forgotten. Take it... or disappear forever."
Riven reached out with his hand.
The shard touched him.
---
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
> ⚠️ ERROR: Host not approved
⚠️ ERROR: Fragment forbidden
✅ Fragment of the Forgotten: NULL-000 — Accepted
Welcome, [UNWRITTEN].
---
[Back in the Lab]
GASP!
Riven woke up, lying on the floor. He was back.
The Rift was gone.
He looked at his arm — a strange glowing symbol was there. It moved like smoke under his skin.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps.
Many people ran in — guards and Wielders.
One of them, a woman with glowing eyes, walked toward him.
She looked angry.
> "You shouldn't exist," she said.
(Chapter 1 Fin)