Chapter 1 - 'Lee' + Prologue

𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊

Where is everyone? I looked around. The streets are eerily silent.Where am I? I don't know what happened here. This wasn't the village before. This isn't our home!What happened—? No! This can't be it. I can't… let them disappear. I need to do something...I can't even think straight—I'm questioning my existence at this moment. I can feel my hands shivering with an immense amount of fear, my eyes reflecting the ashes before me.

"…Anything!" My voice echoed, and a sudden sound of fire crackling came from behind. The smoke turned the sky into a mist. I turned around and witnessed a horrible scene unfolding before me… the people—our villagers—screaming, crying for help.

I can't do anything.I cannot run.Not like this.Not when everyone's in—

"Ethan!"

A familiar sound rang through my ears, calling my name like a symphony in this chaos. I looked around, trying to find the source of that voice...

"Ethan! Wake up, boy!"

I opened my eyes wide and gasped, snapping back to reality. I lifted my head and locked eyes with a face that instantly eased the thunder in my chest. My heartbeat began to slow. I sighed, wiping the beads of sweat rolling down my forehead.

"Oh… it's you," I said, still breathing heavily.

She raised an eyebrow, half amused, half concerned."Is it really necessary to eat those sour apples every night before bed?" she asked.

"Can't help… myself. Who needs beauty sleep when you can have nightmares… right?" I quipped and laid back, taking a deep breath.

"Who even told you this 'sour apples theory'?" she asked while sitting on the bedside table. "And why do you even write such… creepy poems that make you jump outta your sleep like that?" she added, her voice taunting, but with a hint of care in it.

I didn't answer her question but smiled and sat up in bed.I lied when I told her the sour apple theory; truth is, it just ruins my sleep every night.

"You need to prioritize your well-being more. You'll drain yourself mentally like this. Please, for the sake of our trials—" she pleaded, but I cut her off.

"Don't even start from there. The day's just started, and I don't wanna screw it up already," I said, getting up and walking to my window. I opened the curtains, letting the morning rays' pry into my room, lighting up almost every corner. I squinted, my eyes slightly blinded, as I heard her insist again…

"That's not good for you. You should really stop writing those haunted poems, or I'll—"

"Or what?" I cut in. "Tell the Royal Advisor to send me back to the dorms?" I glanced over my shoulder at her but then sighed and turned back to the window.

"Refuse something and be haunted by it until it forces every inch of you to accept it." 

"What was that?" even though she heard me loud and clear."Nothing." I shrugged it off.

"Those creepy goths? Oh, please. Say goodbye to your 'that' passion for gloom and doom," she taunted, gesturing toward my collection of raven feathers and dried flower crafts.

"Father loved it—my collection for the ominous," I said. "It makes me feel alive." I looked back outside the window. "So, no one can put a stop to this… not even you."

"Yeah, sure. If you end up mentally unraveling from those nightmares, that's on you."

She stood up beside the bed, finally giving up the argument and started making her way out of my room. I could practically feel her sighing at my stubbornness. As she reached the doorknob, my voice crackled in the air, stopping her from leaving.

"My only hope is that my nightmares don't become… reality."

__________________________________________________________________________

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 1: "𝕷𝖊𝖊" 

If I want someone's certainty, I must keep this blabbermouth of mine under the radar. Talk too much, lose trust.If I want to be someone's ally, I need to have sincerity in my words. I shouldn't just be uttering one or two meaningless words… how profound.If I want to be someone's 'anchor in the storm,'I need to be confident about my doings because who doesn't love making promises they can't keep?If I actually want a human in my life. Because making out with forest animals isn't the only thing left, I'm not a TARZAN!

Well, seems like I've been an actual coward since birth... dammit.

It's almost sunrise, and I'm still boring my eyes into my skinny arms, lying on the cold sand. I love the view, but not the wind that teased me the whole night prior. I exhaled a deep, anguished sigh, looking up at the fading stars with the dawn.It's useless, but kinda eerily alluring at the same time... the sunrise? Or my soon-to-come death because of starvation?I bitterly smirked to myself. Maybe both.

It's funny— No... No, it's terrible. I won't survive. The only hope left is that someone, maybe a prince, could save me from this nightmare... One moment, I'm fine without anyone, the next, I think, A ghost could work too...Ghost? I hate ghosts. Or maybe it's how they still frighten me, even though I'm a grown-up... almost. Wait! Ghosts are creatures? No, Lee! I shook my head, but it was futile. Spreading my arms across the cold sand, I rolled onto my side. Should've focused on my studies. Ghosts aren't animals either...I'M GOING CRAZY! What the hell am I thinking? I fell asleep, only to be splashed by cold water in the morning. Gasping for breath, I realized it was a wave from the sea near the edge... Great! I'm soaked now... Plagues!

"...You're alive?!"

I jerked away from the voice. It's a girl. I yelled at her, "The hell you are?!"

She blinked at me. "Sorry, I spilled water on ya. I thought you were dead."

My eye twitched as I glared at her. She thought what? How did I not notice this person roaming around here before? She feels like an alien. I sat up straight, crossed my legs, not bothering to dwell on her actions—after a month, I hadn't seen an actual human.

"So, who are you, exactly?" I asked blankly.

"You first?" she shot back, equally blank.

"I asked first," I said, raising an eyebrow.

"K, then. Where are my manners, eh? I'm Nikolaii, Nikolaii Kakolya."

I hummed at the name. "Nik—" I looked back at her face, gaping.

"What's your gender?"

She blinked at me, no response, as if she didn't know that either.

"A boy?" I asked.

"Do I look like one?" she cut in.

"N-no," I stammered, confused.

She turned away for a moment, then fell to her knees, facing upwards. "God! I wanna thank you!"

My left eye twitched, dumbfounded, before bursting into laughter. "But isn't Nikolaii a boy's name?"

She turned back to face me. "Ask my parents! I don't know what they wanted me to be!

I smirked in sympathy before my stomach let out a loud gurgling noise.

"I suppose you're hungry?" she asked.

"Yes... I am," I mumbled.

"I can help you. I know a place; let's go there," she said with a slight hint of excitement.

"Where?" I asked, confused.

"Just follow me, don't be afraid," she reassured.

I stood up as if I were afraid, dusting off my clothes and picking up my satchel, not caring where she was leading me. Because even—let's say—how much worse could it get? No matter if she took me into slavery, made me her bodyguard, or made me a shoe cleaner, I'm up for it. At least I'd get food. Then, negative thoughts crept in. What if she actually kills me? What if she's one of the cannibals? I shook my head, a futile attempt to clear my mind of such thoughts. C'mon, she's just a girl. What could she possibly do—"You didn't tell me your name."

I snapped out of my hypothetical thoughts as soon as I heard her ask me that. I mumbled in a low voice, "Lee."

"Pretty name, I guess," she said, smiling.

We walked past the seaside and into the forest. How could I have never been here before? I'm usually familiar with almost every place in Filthshore, but this... why does it feel so new? It's like stepping into a new milestone of life.

After crossing the winding forest trails, we reached the meadows. My eyes widened with wonder and awe.

"My Lord—" I didn't know Huangshan had so many lush expanses like this. I know this mountain is the realm of the Seven Kingdoms, but…"

"Hey, Nik! This is..." I began.

"Orlendar," she finished.

I glanced back at the dominion before me. "Orlendar…" I repeated. It's the fourth one on the list in Mount Huangshan's map.

"I'm controlling the urges," she added after a moment, smiling toward the front as well.

"What urges?" I asked.

"To scream at that nickname," she said cheekily.

"I'll start calling you that from now on, then," I replied appreciatively. It just slipped out of my mouth... but anyway.

Without hesitation, I slid down behind her, following her through the entrance of the village. But as soon as we reached a courtyard, all the unknown gazes started to bore into us—no, into me only. Even though I don't give a damn what they're thinking... they ought not to learn of my reputation.

Walking alongside Nik, I swiftly swiped an apple off a vendor's cart and tossed a silver shilling onto the wood. Not even the sound of clanking woke the dozen merchants nearby.

There was a barn house set apart from the others, with farm animals fenced off beside it.

"You live there?" I asked.She nodded and led me over.

Inside, a young man—probably around my age—was working at a milliner's table, making… hats?

"I'm back!" Nik waved at him."Took you long enough. Did you bring the feathers I asked for?" he asked without even glancing in our direction.

Nik turned sheepish."I—""Forgot, as usual?" he cut her off.

"Aye, I don't always forget stuff. Anyway, look who I brought with me instead!" she said, grinning with excitement.

He exhaled and hung his head in frustration."Not a crab again—"

But as soon as he looked at me with that blank expression, I clutched the strap of my bag, suddenly anxious about how he'd react.

"Hi," I muttered, finally.

Nik whispered something to him—something that seemed quite skeptical—but he left the hat he was crafting on the table and turned around fully.

"How should I call you?" he greeted politely, giving a slight nod.

Bloody hell! I've never been great at interviews or that kind of thing. What on earth am I supposed to introduce myself with? Seriously?

"Name's Kade O'Connor. Good to meet you."

"O... okay." Now for my name. "I'm Lee."

Kade nodded in acknowledgment."Your last name?"

I just shook my head, wearing a freaked-out expression. I don't want to tell them. God help me.

"Hi," I muttered, finally.

Nik whispered something to him—something that seemed quite skeptical—but he left the hat he was crafting on the table and turned around fully.

"How should I call you?" he greeted politely, giving a slight nod.

Bloody hell! I've never been great at interviews or that kind of thing. What on earth am I supposed to introduce myself with? Seriously?

"Name's Kade O'Connor. Nice to meet you."

"O... okay." Now for my name. "I'm Lee."

Kade nodded in acknowledgment."Your last name?"

I just shook my head, wearing a freaked-out expression. I don't want to tell them. God help me.

He nodded, understanding it was a personal decision. His eyes scanned me up and down—my ripped and dusty clothes clearly not making much of an impression.

"Let's freshen you up," Nik said, grabbing my hand and dragging me inside the barnhouse.

Once we were in, I looked around a little. Finally, a roof.My gaze landed on a portrait of several people together. I smiled when I spotted Nik's face in it too—probably her friends or something.

"Here you go, Lee," she said, turning from a trunk full of fabric, holding out a few warm pieces for me.

I smiled back and said, "Thanks... a lot," as I took the clothes.She left, and I changed quickly.

I opened my bag and rummaged through it until my hand found the dagger. I pulled it out and stared at it for a long moment.

'No, I don't…'

Those three words still haunted me like a daydream. I smirked bitterly and shoved the dagger into the sheath resting in my lap.

Throwing the ripped bag away, I moved out, my hand on the gate's latch. I noticed my fitting—quite tight. Not really a fan of snug clothes, but it's fine if they're comfy. I sighed and stepped outside.

Rubbing my arms against the cold wind, I heard Nik call out, "Over here!"Turning, I walked toward her and settled onto a wooden log beside the crackling bonfire, where a cauldron hung low above the flames. The savory aroma of the cooking meal drifted through the air.

"Nikolaii, the order was up to date, and you still haven't brought the feather for the hat I was making! How am I supposed to complete it?" Kade complained, sitting cross-legged on the grass, his back leaning against a nearby log.

"Feather, you say?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.Reaching into the chain hanging from my belt, I plucked out a feather."I do have one," I added, twirling it between my fingers. "Picked it up after a tussle with the sea eagles over dinner. A little trade-off, you know?" I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood."Here…"

He exhaled. "You're a lifesaver. Thanks a lot! Unlike Nikolai."Both squinted their eyes, glaring at each other. He fixed the feather on his hat. "Haha! They'll love it."

"GUYS! GUYS!" A kid ran toward us, screaming.

"What's wrong?" Nik asked, a little alarmed.

"God's wrath! Everything... Trials—begun..." The kid spat, panting as he dropped to his knees.

Nik's and Kade's eyes widened. "Dead," they both muttered, standing up urgently.

"You guys going somewhere?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

Nik stiffened before grabbing my wrist and dragging me with her… again. "Yes... and you're coming along too."

I ran along, too. All three of us sprinted to the other side of the village. We reached a pit where... people break bones, I guess. A horde of people surrounded it, shouting the one and only word:"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

We peeked through the crowd, stumbling into each other."Shit! What's gotten into his head today?" Nik cursed.

"Who?" I asked, completely out of the loop at the moment.

Kade facepalmed as he stared at the person standing inside the arena, preparing to fight someone.

"Hey! There they are! The suckers!" A few people jeered at us.

"Excuse me!" I retorted, offended by their words. How dare they speak like that? I moved forward in anger until I stopped in front of a beast three times my size. My eyes widened as I stared up at him with a blank expression.

"You with them?" The hulk of a man asked, his voice gruff.

"N— Yes," Nik answered quickly, cutting Kade off.

"Then you should pay your debt for the month too," he spat.

"Debt? No—wait!" I stuttered, but before I could finish, he grabbed all three of us by our collars and tossed us into the pit, landing us roughly on the scruffy ground.

"Oww—!" we all groaned in unison.

I stood up quickly, but the gate inside the pit opened, revealing the crowd sitting in the bowl."We're toasted!" I blurted out, bewildered.

"Hey! Ma' pals here, now we'll burn YOUR ass!" said the boy already standing in the arena.

"I swear to God! I'll sue YOUR ass once we get out of here, You Freak!" Nik cursed to that boy in anger.

"You better take those words back, Zawi! Or I'll—""What? You think you can fight me, Roaster?" Zawi sneered, clearly amused by the threat. He addressed the ginger-headed opponent in front of us, his tone mocking.

"Is that your name?" I asked curiously to the boy Nikolaii cursing.

"Yup" He replied not bothering to look back.

"I'll munch you!" the opponent snarled, gritting his teeth as he unleashed his power. My eyes widened in surprise. Abilities? Here too? He hurled a barrage of fire blasts, but Zawi dodged each one with ease.

"Ooh, impressive," I muttered under my breath, watching in awe. Zawi must be a teleporter if the enemy is a fire blazer.

"At least he can handle that chibi," Nik mocked, watching Zawi face off against the fiery opponent.

"No, he's good when it comes to fighting, it seems," I said, admiring Zawi's skills.

"Yeah, wait until he misses," Nik remarked, rolling her eyes.

"N—Owww!" Zawi yelped, slamming into the wall. We all stared at him, blankly.

"Told ya! Now, who's next?" The opponent yelled, clearly unfazed.

I glanced at Zawi, sprawled out on the ground. "Do we have to fight?" I asked Nik, my voice unsure.

"Not you. You're probably not prepared for this," Kade said, his hand resting gently on my shoulder, holding me back.

"Awww, suckers hiding their precious new daddy's little princess. Poor thing," the opponent sneered, his words dripping with mockery.Kade gritted his teeth, but before he could act, I stepped in front of him, walking toward the opponent, my mind set.

"How about a cruel start, gingerhead?" I challenged, my dagger ready in my hand.

"I like the energy, but don't cry to Nik about your upcoming searing aches!"

he shot back, throwing a fiery blast my way. I cut through the flames with a swift, practiced strike, reducing them to nothing but ash.

We charged at each other, blades clashing with a force that sent sparks flying. Our movements were a blur. I had to make my move fast—I couldn't keep up with him for long, not as a weakling.

After a brief moment, I managed to land a kick to the back of his neck, though it lacked the force I needed. Enraged by the strike, he retaliated with a fierce blow. Before long, our blades collided, locking together as the clash of steel sent sparks flying into the air.

"You wanted a cruel start, eh? Well, here, no one—no one—has ever escaped my inferno! I am Kitt Ashford, the most feared fire blazer of this domain, and I crush little pricks like you in seconds."

The tension in the air thickened as Kitt's words echoed through the pit, his threat lingering like smoke. The sound of our blades clashing was sharp, each strike louder than the last, until our blades locked against each other, tips dangerously close to our throats.

"That wasn't quite pleasant for a lady, you know?" I whispered, my smirk playing at the corners of my mouth as I tried to bait him.

Kitt's expression twisted, a flicker of something—anger, perhaps—shifting in his eyes. But he didn't move. Instead, he pushed back, applying pressure to our locked swords, attempting to force my blade away from his throat.

"You think you can talk your way out of this, little girl?" he growled, his voice low, filled with irritation and barely restrained fury.

He unleashed his final blast. Stumbling back, I tried to block it, but it sent me flying all the way back, slamming against the wall. Coughs blood."Dammit," I mumbled, wincing in pain as I fell and laid against the cracked wall, panting.

The crowd grew deafening as they witnessed Kitt's imminent triumph. "KITT! KITT! KITT! KITT!" They chanted his name like an anchor… pathetic.

"Is it… where are you guys? I mean…" I stumbled over my words, struggling to put my thoughts into coherent speech. My mind spun from the impact, a foggy dizziness clouding my thoughts. I prayed this confusion would linger until we could escape so we wouldn't have to fight. Because I don't think I can… anymore. I turned my head to glance at all three of them.

"Okay!" Nik exhaled sharply, her focus snapping back. "Zawi, Kade, it's our turn, quick." She finally regained her composure after… Well, after letting me… I can't even think of any wit for it right now.

"Well, time for the real match, suckers!" Kitt declared with a grin.

I blinked at him from afar. "Eh?"

"Didn't Nikoniko tell you that you were brought here to fight?" Zawi asked, his tone indifferent.

"HUHHH?!" I blurted out, completely dumbfounded. Me?! Fight?!

She shot me a sheepish glance, flicking her eyes between me and Zawi back and forth like she couldn't decide which one of us was more confused. We were locked in a strange triangle of silent staring, and somehow, it all led back to me. I shrugged it off.

"Next round: Hathquill vs. the Ashens!" the official announced.

"It's time, let's goooooooo!" Zawi whooped. That's a freaky being, can't stay still for even a second.

"Wait! What?! Lo—" Nik stuttered when the next round was announced. The dust engulfed us as we shielded our faces with our elbows, just as the front gate creaked open and the two other members of Kitt's team stepped into the pit.

"Seems like they're extra ready to beat the shit out of us today," Kade quipped, while Nik deadpanned him. But honestly, it really gets my blood boiling when people say stuff like that…

"Why didn't you guys tell me about this before?" I demanded, standing up, my body shaking.

"About what?" Zawi asked casually.

"This fight! You idiot!"

Nik drew in a sharp breath, her expression pained. "L…look, try to understand, please. It's… It's not the time for chit-chat. We need to focus, fight, and win. Just take the motivation, stay strong, and I'll explain everything after this," she urged, her voice almost pleading.

"You—" I started, but she cut me off, her tone firm, yet laced with urgency. "I promise."

I exhaled sharply, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "You better." I grabbed my dagger, stepping forward, instinctively aligning with the others. Our movements were in perfect synchronization, the calm before the storm. My heart raced as I sprinted forward once again, the adrenaline surging through my veins.

"Wait—! Did I tell her they're prodigies? No?! Lee, wait—!" Nik shouted from behind, but I was already flying backward, flipping mid-air before crashing face-first into the ground with a painful thud. My mind spun in a fog… again.

"Yeah, great job done, hindsight leader," I shot back sarcastically, my voice deadpan as I hissed the words from between clenched teeth, barely lifting my head from the dirt.

"Oops, sorry," she grinned, while I glared at her as I peeked up from the ground.

I turned my eyes to the one who'd hit me. A writer? Is he carrying a spellbook or something? He's probably the leader of their team…

At that moment, everyone launched into the attack. The collective howl that erupted from our throats made the crowd roar with excitement. Blades clashed, blows were dodged, sparks flew, and blood stained the ground. I was just about to strike the leader when I noticed a scar stretching across his neck as he staggered on the ground.

"You okay?" I blurted out. I don't even know where that sympathy came from. He looked at me, taken aback by the question. Then—before I could react—he struck back, knocking me off balance and sending me stumbling.

I could hardly believe my eyes—we were actually winning. But just as fast, the tide shifted. The last one rose to her feet, calmly dusting off her clothes, a cold, calculated look burning in her eyes.

"Lee, look out for her. She's called the 'Tainted Storm,' her ability—" Nik was halfway through her warning—as always—when she already blew me sky-high.

At the same time, Kitt hurled Nik and Kade backward, their bodies crashing into Zawi.

"AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

 and there I was, falling back, screaming.

"Gotcha!" Zawi hovered in and seized my arms just before we hit the ground with a soft thud. I landed in a disheveled mess—shaken and had gone through multiple heart attacks. Yeah… soaring is definitely not for me.

Kitt held his sharp edge against my throat as if we lost, I glared up at him in disdain, he burnt my arm. Which hurts… a lot, so here. With our final strike, our blades clashed fiercely, splintering the metal in a violent burst under the force, leaving slashes on both of our necks, screeching with a trickle of blood dripping down.

"AND IT'S A DRAW!!!" the official declared.

The crowd's screams erupted into a deafening roar of bewilderment.

"FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE TRIALS, THE ASHENS HAVE REINFORCED!!!" he added, his voice echoing through the pit.

I turned around, peeking over my shoulder at Nik with an amused smirk and a frown, First time?

She just shrugged her shoulders, giving me a sheepish grin.

"Dammit!" Kitt cursed, wiping his now red-stained neck.

"So… looks like we suckers didn't lose this time," I ribbed, warming up to the team vibe.

So, The Ashens, huh?Even though I was just dragged into all this… how quickly I'm playing along with such massive changes in life—and why? I have no clue. Maybe that's what I should be doing instead of whining? Or maybe… just for fun?