August 14th.
"RING! RING! RING!"
My eyes shot open.
I stared at the clock.
7:52 AM.
"…CRAP! I'M LATE!" I'd yelled in panic
I launched out of bed—almost tripping over my blanket. I stumbled and bumped into the edge of my desk. The small, sunlit bedroom felt even tighter in my rush.
It was the first day of high school—and I was already messing it up.
I sprinted down the narrow hallway to the bathroom. The familiar tiles were cold under my feet. I showered in record time and threw on my uniform.
Then I realized my younger brother was still asleep in the adjacent room; I'm usually the one who wakes him up.
Without hesitation, I ran straight to my brother's room, past the faded family photos lining the hallway walls.
I didn't knock.
"YO, SHAMUERU, WAKE UP—"
I body-slammed him.
"AHHHH! MAIKERU, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" he yelled, shoving me off.
I pointed at the clock desperately.
"Look at the time!"
He glanced at the clock.
Silence. Suddenly, all the color drained from his body.
Shamueru's eyes went wide in panic, and he suddenly jumped out of bed, moving faster than I'd ever seen as he scrambled to get ready.
"DING DONG"
Just as I was about to check who was at the door, I heard the doorbell ring.
"So... are you going to check who it is?" said Shamueru
I looked behind me. Shamueru stood in his uniform with toast in his mouth. I gave a confused look while saying,
"Are you ready? And where do you get the toast from?"
Shamueru took the toast out of his mouth, then replied
"Yeah, and I premade it last night because I heard a rumor on the internet saying if you bump into someone with a toast in your mouth, they'll become lovers."
My face gave a disbelief look at him, muttering.
"You do know those rumors are might for girls, right?"
"DING DONG"
I sighed, grabbed Shamueru's arm, and pulled him toward the door as I said,
"Let go; today is our first day at school."
I open the door
Outside, two familiar figures waited for us—Lyon and Sana Tamashi.
"Yo, Maikeru and Shamueru, what took you so long?"
It was Lyon and Sana Tamashi—our friends from junior high.
Tall. Athletic. He had long red spiky hair and calm but intense eyes.
Next to him stood his younger sister, Sana Tamashi.
Next to him stood his younger sister, Sana Tamashi. Short and tan. Straight black hair. She was always smiling, like she knew something you didn't.
Our parents were childhood friends who maintained their bond throughout the years, despite having to move to different cities after college.
Years later, after Shamueru and I were born, our families reconnected and sought to reestablish their close relationship.
To ensure their children would grow up together, our parents decided to enroll both of our families in the same junior high school, which is how Shamueru and I first met Lyon and his younger sister, Sana.
In class, our teacher assigned the four of us to the same group, which helped us develop a friendship.
This experience showed me that Lyon is quite serious and attends church every Sunday, while Sana enjoys creating awkward moments, often at my expense.
Still, I consider her easygoing—at least, I hope so.
As we left for school together, Sana noticed Shamueru walking with a toast in his mouth. Curious, she asked,
"Hey Shamueru, why are you carrying a toast in your hand?"
Shamueru looks at the toast in his mouth. He starts to slightly get flustered with embarrassment, muttering,
"Eeh… It's because I saw a rumor on the internet that said when you bump into someone with toast in your mouth, then they'll become a lover in the future."
Lyon and I shared a skeptical look, glancing up at the sky. Meanwhile, Sana shot Shamueru a mischievous grin and said sarcastically,
"You know, you can bump into me, and we can see if it's true or not."
Shamueru's eyes lit up, replying with excitement.
"REALLY!!"
Lyon and I cover our mouths, trying not to laugh.
Sana nods her head in agreement.
Shamueru, bracing himself, leaned towards Sana and smiled, but just as he got close, Sana stepped back quickly out of his reach.
"Bam"
Shamueru hit the ground.
Shamueru instantly got up, looking at Sana with a confused expression, questioning her.
"What happened? Why did you back up?"
Sana's answer
"The reason I did that was to let you know that the rumor you saw was stupid and there was no way it would work."
Shamueru looked down in disappointment, brushed dirt from his uniform, and rejoined us in silence.
"A few minutes later."
We finally reach Jongeku High School, walking through the gates together. Today is our first day.
We all sighed with relief because we made it on time, with one minute to spare.
Everything was going well.
After checking the class board and finding out that we were all assigned to the same class, we attended the orientation in the gym.
Once orientation concluded, we proceeded toward our classroom for homeroom.
"In the classroom."
I look at the seating chart. I'm going to be sitting at the back of the room, at the corner near the outside window.
As I looked at my seat, I saw Sana sitting on my desk. Lyon and Shamueru were surrounding her.
As I walked up to them, they were talking about summer break.
Just as I was about to speak, the teacher walked in.
The Teacher walked in and ordered everyone.
"Alright, class, I am Ms. Richi, and I will be your homeroom teacher for your first year of high school. Now sit down at your assigned seat and let's begin class."
After classes started,
All four of us were chatting in the hallway; at first, everything felt normal.
Yet something about it felt too normal.
"RINGG!!"
We heard the school bell ring, and I looked around to see that there was no one in the hallway.
Lyon suddenly says,
"Wow, everyone is already in class, I guess
We walk toward the class and peek into each classroom, but there's no one in any of them.
I looked at Shamueru, and he looked at me, telling each other.
"Something ain't right here."
We reached our class, but there was no one there. Then we started to feel a strange feeling.
Without warning, an intense, ethereal light enveloped me, Shamueru, Lyon, and Sana, its brilliance so overwhelming that it pressed against our skin and made the air quiver.
In that moment, fear and awe froze us in place—my heart raced in my chest, Lyon's jaw clenched in silent tension, Sana's usual bravado faded into uncertainty, and Shamueru instinctively reached for my arm.
The unearthly radiance not only illuminated our forms but also magnified our panic and confusion, leaving us collectively suspended in anxious anticipation.
Entranced and uneasy, we turned in unison, straining to locate the mysterious source of this unearthly illumination.
Until we saw it.
A strange glowing circle on the hallway floor.
Symbols. Moving. Pulsing.
"Do you guys see that?" Lyon asked quietly.
We nodded
Then the air shifted.
The circle is split into four.
One above us.
One below us.
One surrounds us.
And then—
Darkness.
There was nothing.
No floor.
No sky.
Just emptiness.
But we could still see each other.
I nervously asked them a question.
"What's going on? Where are we?"
Shamueru's answer
"I don't know. What is this place?"
Then a random screen appeared in front of us.
The sign says
A luminous screen materialized before us, its surface flickering with shifting colors as unfamiliar words pulsed into view: "Choose an ability."
Lyon, in confusion, asked.
"What is this? What does it mean by choosing an ability?"
The screen suddenly glitched.
The words turned red.
CHOOSE AN ABILITY. NOW.
Sana's voice shook.
"Just pick something!"
I scroll through the abilities list and come across "light" and "dark," which I find way too basic.
So I pressed on both the light and the dark simultaneously.
The screen flashed violently.
Error.
Would you like to combine these two powers?
WARNING: There is no going back.
My heart pounded.
I press yes, and the screen says
"Power has been submitted."
Then the screen disappears.
I looked at everyone asking a question.
"So what power did you guys choose?"
Lyon's was the first to answer.
"I choose light."
Shamueru was the second to answer.
"I choose Dark."
Sana was the last to answer.
"I choose forbidden."
I gave a curious look as I questioned.
"What do you forbid?"
Sana shrugs, answering.
"I don't know. All the abilities looked bland, but I found one labeled 'forbidden.' I chose it, got an error, then 'submitted.'"
Then, out of nowhere, a voice echoed around us.
"You will be reborn into a new world.
Your memories will vanish until you reach your current age again.
Live. Destroy. Save. I do not care.
Five seconds until transport."
We looked at each other.
Came close and all hugged with sadness
No words.
Because we knew.
We were about to forget everything.
"5… 4… 3… 2… 1."
"Maikeru! Wake up!" A random woman called my name.
I opened my eyes and looked at the person calling my name, but I couldn't tell who it was.
As I rubbed my eyes, I tirelessly questioned
"Who are you?"
After rubbing my tired eyes, I could see clearly and saw a woman in front of me, looking very upset. Then the woman said,
"Are you serious? Ask me that question? Like, how can you forget your own mother, Maikeru?"
Mother, huh... I looked around the room, and everything felt different.
I then look at my mother and say,
"Sorry, Mother, I had a really weird dream."
My mother blankly questioned
"A weird dream, you say?"
I answered
"Yeah, it looks like me but older, from another world as it seems."
My mother clapped her hands and grinned, saying.
"Okay, Maikeru, it's about time for you to start getting ready because your stepfather and I are going to the church."
I felt confused and questioned
"Why are we going to the church?"
My mother let out a deep sigh, answering.
"You're fourteen now! Today you receive your powers!"
Powers?
That word was familiar yet distant.
But distant.
I didn't know yet…
That this day…
Would fundamentally alter how others perceived me, marking me as an outsider and setting the stage for profound personal growth in the face of adversity.
On our way to the church
On our way to the church, I felt strange because everything still felt fuzzy, like I couldn't remember anything before I woke up.
Still, it felt reassuring to have my mother beside me. Hoping to jog my memory, I asked her a question.
"Hey, Mother, can you tell me about magic?"
My mother giggled while replying,
"Really, I don't know how many times I've told you this, but fine. When you're thirteen, your body isn't developed enough to sense mana. At fourteen, you go to the church to discover what power you have."
We were going to church on my fourteenth birthday, so I kept asking.
"Are there different types of magic?"
My Mother replied
"Yes. The most common is Aethercraft magic; the rarest is Primal magic."
This makes me more curious about what makes Aethercraft magic more common than Primal magic, so I continued questioning.
"What makes Primal magic so rare, and what is Aethercraft magic?"
My mother answered
"Aethercraft magic refers to individually tailored or personalized forms of magic that are derived from Primal magic, which itself represents the original and most ancient source of magical power in human history. After the advent of Primal magic, Aethercraft magic eventually emerged and became increasingly widespread. As a result, the presence of Primal magic gradually diminished over generations, to the point where only 5% of humans now possess it."
Okay, I'm starting to understand how rare Primal Magic is. Then I continue.
"Okay, so Mother, what type of magic user are you, and what is your ability called?"
My mother's face gave a disconcerted expression, answering.
"Well, I'm an Aethercraft user, and my ability is a secret."
Soon, we finally arrived at the church.
My mother looked at me with a serious face and started tightening up my outfit while announcing,
"Okay, Maikeru, when you go in there, don't tell them your real last name."
I started to become worried because now she is acting weird, so I replied,
"What do you mean? What is my real last name?"
My mother leaned closer.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your true name is Maikeru Kuro."
The name felt heavy.
"Kuro?"
She nodded.
"Your father carried that name."
My throat tightened.
"What did he do?"
Her eyes darkened.
"He made every kingdom fear it. For now, just use my last name, Zeniki."
I replied
"So your last name is Zeniki."
My mother nods in answer.
"Yes, my full name is Loba Zeniki, and you are going to introduce yourself as Maikeru Zeniki."
I nodded in agreement, and we walked inside the church.
In the Church
My mother waved bye to me, and I did the same. In line, I saw three people ahead of me.
Then a Nun came with a crystal ball, announcing.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to say that today is a special day for these four young people to receive their power. We're going to do this: you four will be in a single-file line. First, I want you to come forward one by one and say your full name. Second, I want you to put your left hand on the crystal. The crystal will show us if you're a Primal or an AetherCraft user. Last, you'll put your right hand on the crystal, and it will shoot a beam at the wooden boards, displaying your power. Okay. Now let's get started."
The first person who came up was a female; she had blue eyes and blue hair with tan skin.
She spoke.
"My name is Sana Loaganis."
She then put her left hand on the crystal.
The nun announces,
"You are an Aethercraft User."
Sana nods while putting her right hand on the crystal.
Nothing happens.
Sana asked
"Is this supposed to take this long?"
The nun nods with disagreement while answering.
"No, it's supposed to shoot out a beam right away."
Sana quickly replied with frustration.
"So what am I supposed to do?"
The nun answers with nervousness.
"How about you take a seat, and I get the priest to help you know your power, okay?"
Sana ticked her teeth and took a seat on the side of the church.
Then another person steps up; he looks like he works out a lot with orange hair and determined eyes.
He announce,
"Hey, Sister, my name is Lyon Tamashi."
Then he put his left hand on the crystal.
The nun's eyes widen with shock, and she announces,
"You're a Primal user."
Everyone gasps and starts muttering to each other.
Then Lyon put his right hand on the crystal.
The hall became silent. All eyes were on Lyon.
As the crystal started to glow white and shoot out a beam
The Board shows
ANGEL OF LIGHT
Everyone was frozen with shock. It feels like saying something or doing something will bring bad luck.
The nun stuttered
"Yo...yo...You are a Primal Light user."
Someone in the background says,
"Light user—there hasn't been a light user in decades."
Everyone started cheering then.
"GROOOOAN…"
Everyone saw the church door open, and two priests and one bishop came in and walked towards Lyon, saying,
"By the gods, boy, do you know what power you have in your hands?"
Lyon awkwardly replied
"Ahh..The rarest power in human history."
The bishop pointed his staff at Lyon and replied with excitement.
"Exactly, boy. Now come with us; the church will provide you all the knowledge of the power of light."
Lyon smiled and left with the two priests and the bishop.
Then the nun clapped her hands, saying.
"Okay, let's continue with the ceremony."
A boy walked up; he was dark-skinned like me, had shaved hair, and was slightly muscular. He announced,
"My name is Shamueru Balfram."
Shamueru put his left hand on the crystal ball.
The crystal ball shows
PRIMAL
The nun gasped; everyone's eyes were fixated on Shamueru.
The Nun announced,
"He's a Primal user."
Everyone starts muttering with excitement, wondering which one it will be this time.
Shamueru then put his right hand on the crystal ball.
The crystal started to turn purple, and then a purple beam shot out at the board.
The board says
RAGE OF DARKNESS
The Nun started walking backward, trembling with fear, uttering.
"No…no…NO, why that one! It doesn't make sense; you're a Primal Dark user, the worst type of Primal user."
Shamueru was confused about the situation.
Then I looked around, and everyone was scared.
BOOM
Two guards burst through the door, and one of them went up to Shamueru and handcuffed him, and the other guard spoke.
"Everybody, please stay calm; we will take him to the king to figure out what to do with him; surely he will be sentenced to the demon realm."
Shamueru's face showed fear, then he forcefully broke free of the guard's grasp and ran.
The other guard saw him running, so he tackled him to the ground, grabbed him, and dragged him outside.
Shamueru started shouting
"LET ME GOOO!! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!"
The church door slowly closed.
KRRR-THUD
Everyone, including the nun, began sighing with relief.
As for me, my whole body was frozen with fear.
Trying to comprehend the situation that just happened
KHMM...
The nun cleared her throat, signaling me.
That's my turn now
I started walking up to the nun; everyone was quiet, and the atmosphere felt heavy.
I announced
"My name is Maikeru Zeniki."
Then I put my left hand on the crystal.
The crystal began shaking, and the words began to reveal themselves.
PRIMAL/PRIMAL
The Nun looked confused and blurted
"Primal Primal"
Someone in the back says
"Another Primal!!"
Then I put my right hand on the crystal.
The crystal viciously shakes.
The Nun and I started to get worried when the crystal turned black and white, spinning around in the crystal.
Then suddenly the crystal stopped shaking.
Chhk..KRRRACK
The crystal ball was cracked open.
One side was white, and the other was black.
The white side shoots a beam at the board, saying.
YANG
I look at it confused.
The Nun gave a worried look and nervously spoke.
"Yang is an ancient word for light."
The black side shoots a beam at the same board, saying.
YIN
The nun fell down on the ground in fear.
"Yin is an ancient word for dark."
I started to get scared, say
"What does this mean?"
The Nun shouted
"YOU'RE A USER THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST…!!"
I repeated
"Exist"
I was freaking out. I turned around and looked at everyone, and they were backing away, including my own mother.
Everyone starts muttering
"Monster..Monster"
I utter
"I'm not a monster..."
BOOM
The guards busted the door open again.
Four guards rushed in and surrounded me.
I back away from them, look around to run away.
As they close in
I rush forward, but two guards tackle me and turn me on my stomach, and the third guard handcuffs my hands and legs and puts me on his shoulder as they take me away.
I shouted
"Mother, what is going on? I didn't do anything. Please help me."
I look at my mother, and she looks away from me.
As the door closes, I mutter,
"Mom…"
KRRR-THUD
And that…
That was the day I learned something important.
In this world…
In this world, an individual's value is determined by the nature and magnitude of their power.
And mine…
Terrified them.
At the king's castle
The four guards who arrested me and I are waiting behind the king's door.
My head was hurting, my stomach was tightening, my eyes felt swollen from the crying, and my throat was aching from the screaming.
I lifted my head slightly, uttering.
"Why…am…I…here?"
One of the guards near me heard what I said.
He replied with an annoyed tone.
"Shut up, you disgrace. You are here to be judged and be given a sentence that is right for you."
My body started trembling with fear.
KURRR...
The door opens.
Everyone went silent
All you can hear is my handcuff and everyone breathing.
Someone came out, but I wasn't the king.
There was a guard who looked different from the others who came out of the king's throne room, holding a rolled-up piece of paper.
The guard with the rolled-up paper looked at me and gave me a disgusted look while he announced
"King Zommand says he doesn't want to see this disgrace of a human being and wants us to take him to the Forest of No Return and let him rot there. Everyone understands the order."
The four guards stood up and said
"Right away, SIR!!"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
So I gathered all my strength and shouted.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO A FAIR TRIAL? DON'T I GET A SAYING? ALL I DID WAS RECEIVE A POWER, AND NOW I'M BEING SENTENCED WITH NO FAIR JUDGEMENT."
"Cough. Cough."
I start coughing uncontrollably from an aching throat.
Then the guard with the paper replied
"King Zommand is a very busy man who can't present himself to a meaningless trial and whatever sentence he gives. We will follow it."
After listening to what I just heard
Every part of my body wants to get up, bust the King's door open, and comfort the King.
But instead fell down flat on the ground.
And everything went black.