"For good or for worse," the figure in black said as they yanked the sword out of my abdomen.
"Do you ever get tired of this?"
Wait… was it a man? No, maybe a woman. Hard to tell. Things get blurry the higher you climb.
"You deserve worse than death."
I actually smiled at that. Funny what the body does when it's falling apart. Blood filled my mouth, but whatever.
"And why's that? What has the humble me done to deserve getting murdered every time I fall asleep?"
'Normally, I like to think of myself as a good guy. A charming noble kid with big heroic dreams, goals, or maybe just looking for a new lady. Everyone deserves one, right?'
That's when it interrupted me. Guess my commentary wasn't appreciated. Seriously… how does someone not get tired of this crap after so many rounds?
It lifted its sword again, carving arcs through the air like a dancer who hates me personally.
One swing. Another. Then more, lost track ages ago.
Another slash to my torso.
One across the neck.
Right shoulder, next.
Gotta admit, good technique. And to finish, a kick straight to exactly where I belonged in that moment — the floor.
"Disgusting. Weak."
'Elated, huh? Maybe I should call it "her" this time.'
"A bitch has no right to tell me what I am!"
Damn, that felt good.
My head hit the ground, then kept going. The last thing I saw was a beautiful ivory-dark blade.
"I've given thee cortesy enough..."
…
I woke up.
Back to the game. Prison Game, to be exact.
Still dizzy, still nauseous. But walking.
Always walking.
Last day at the academy, supposedly. Hope so, anyway.
'Make money. Retire early. Get out.'
Mental note: do something stupid later to celebrate. Properly stupid. The kind that makes good stories. An achievement.
I pulled up my interface and pinged my best friend.
[Me]: Organize my agenda. Today's important.
[Assistant IO 70.1]: Happy birthday, Kai. Here's your schedule. Have a great day, may the bleassing of humanity be with you.
'And just like that, done. Easy peasy'
Man, everything's easier with this thing. Less work, less thinking, everything faster.
Oh, right. Here they call me Kai. Supposed to mean something about freedom. Like water, or some poetic shit.
Whatever. It's better than what she calls me.
...
School life was always a chore.
The streets converged toward campus, toward the castle-like structure of the old academy.Modern castle, technically. Stone and classical design fused with cutting-edge tech. Massive underground facilities. Towers that looked ripped straight out of a sci-fi movie.
'An ending for some, a beginning for others.'
I passed the cafeteria, the gardens, the library. Reminecing of my days here. Finally, the great hall.
I reached the auditorium.
'Almost late. Everyone's already here.'
The girl I hate stood at the podium. Representative speaker. My first mentor, once upon a time.
The rest? People I don't care remembering. Faces I forget a little more after every dream.
But it's fine. I'm used to it.
'A prisoner, through and through.'
At least, that's what I believe.
...
Blah, blah, blah. Something about building a great future. Go beyond.
'Ha! Sure, worth it.'
But, is it getting hot in here?
And darker?
'Maybe I'm just nauseous.'
Then I saw it.
The shadows.
They were pointing the wrong way.
Every single one.
I blinked. Looked again.
Still wrong.
'What the...'
The gossip around me continued, oblivious.
"Finally. It's almost over."
A couple nearby, crying softly.
"It really is De Vellandorian. I thought Kai would end up doing it this year."
"He probably didn't want to. You know him, focused on his business now."
"The first-years are next. Gonna be rough."
"Don't you feel… cold?"
"Isn't that just nerves?"
That caught my attention.
Someone else felt it.
Then...
A whisper. Right in my ear.
Not cold. But old. I could fell the Longing.
"One day, everything willend."
My spine went rigid. I tried to shake it off. Then the sound hit me again. A ringing.
Sharp. Deep. Invasive.
Like it was tearing through my core. Like glass shattering inside my skull. Like reality itself was fracturing.
'Strange.'
Everything looked the same. But everyone heard it this time. Shock rippled through the auditorium. Gasps. Murmurs. Fear. Something was here.
Not just wrong, something other.
The prison didn't break.
Something broke into it.
Then, as if responding to my thoughts... Runes shimmered into existence. A screen materialized before my eyes.
[Grace]
People started disappearing.
One student flickered—then vanished.
Another. Then three more.
Panic erupted. Screams. Scrambling.
But it didn't matter.
One after another, they blinked out of existence.
Until the auditorium was silent.
Empty.
Just me.
Alone.
I stared at the floating screen. The glyphs were alien, but I understood them perfectly. Like I'd known this language my entire life.
Name: Light
Level: ????
Class: [CORRUPTED DATA]
Descrition: A lone wolf pupping that was find after extended dormancy. The fire still burns within.
Status: Marked by [███████]
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
Light.
Not Kai.
Light.
The screen flickered.
New text appeared.
[Finnaly found you, Firekeeper.]
[Prologue: Survival has begun.]