Shiebe was both shocked and somewhat excited. He had never had a younger sibling before—it was a completely new experience.
A knock echoed from the front door. One of the maids answered it.
Luni: Is it true, Mrs. Zackaria? Are you pregnant?
Liliana: Yes, Luni. It's true.
Luni, now nineteen and looking older, stepped inside. He didn't visit as often these days, but he still felt like part of the family.
Luni: Looks like you're going to be an older brother, Shiebe.
Shiebe: Yeah… it's definitely going to get interesting around here.
After the celebration, Liliana went to rest. She needed to take care of herself and the baby.
Luni: Hey Shiebe, wanna go out into town? I'll show you what I've been up to these past few years.
Shiebe: Huh? You'd really take me with you?
Luni: Of course.
Shiebe had never left the house in all his six years here. Even in his past life, crowded places weren't his thing. But this was his chance to finally see the world outside.
Xeno: Stay safe out there.
Luni & Shiebe: Okay!
The town was buzzing with people. Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from jewelry to fried food. The medieval-style buildings towered above them, casting long shadows in the late morning sun.
Shiebe: - Damn. There are so many people. I feel like I'm going to faint. -
Luni: You okay? Want to hold my hand?
Shiebe: Oh no, I'm fine.
I may look like a six-year-old, but I'm still fifteen inside. Holding hands would be too embarrassing. -
They finally stopped in front of a massive stone building that towered over most others in the town. The words "Adventurers Guild" were etched in bold, golden letters above the arched entrance.
Shiebe: "This place is huge..."
Luni: "Welcome to the Adventurers Guild. It's the heart of every major city. Where quests get assigned, trouble gets stirred, and heroes are made."
They stepped inside, immediately greeted by a flurry of noise and chaos. Tables filled with mercenaries, warriors, and mages. Tankards slammed on wooden tables. Laughter and arguments blended into the smoky air.
Suddenly, a fight erupted near the mission board.
???: "You bastard, get your dirty hands off me!"
???: "Dirty?! Watch your tone, pig!"
An orc and elf were locked in a heated argument, both on the verge of throwing punches. People nearby egged them on.
Crowd: "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Shiebe was just about to jump in—his adrenaline kicking in at the thought of breaking it up and earning some respect—but before he could move, it was already over.
Both the orc and elf dropped to the ground clutching their stomachs.
Luni: "That's enough out of you two."
He stood there casually, brushing imaginary dust from his cloak.
Shiebe (inner monologue):W-What the hell?! That was instant. I didn't even see him move. He really is some kind of prodigy… and he stole my moment!
Crowd (grumbling):"Aw, come on, Luni. Let 'em brawl next time!""You ruin all the fun, man."
Luni: "This is a guild hub, not a bar brawl arena. Act like you belong here."
A hush slowly settled over the room. Eyes drifted to Shiebe.
???: "Who's the kid?"
???: "Luni, is he yours? Who's the unlucky mother?"
Luni (firmly): "He's Mr. Zackaria's son."
Silence. The name dropped like a stone.
???: "T-That's... Mr. Zackaria's kid?"
???: "Sorry! Didn't mean any disrespect!"
Shiebe: "No, no, it's okay..."
Luni walked to the main reception desk where an elf woman in a sharp shirt-and-tie outfit was arranging papers.
Lia: "Well, well, if it isn't Luni. Stirring up trouble already?"
Luni (grinning): "Hey, it's tradition by now. So—how's my application looking?"
Lia: "Hmm… You're still in your final year at the academy, right?"
Luni: "Yeah. Just a few more months to go."
Lia: "Then it's nearly official. Once you graduate, the Adventurer's Guild will endorse your very own squad—your guild. That's no small feat, Luni."
Shiebe: "Wait… your own guild?"
Luni: "Yep. Top five in my class. One of the few who's passed all the elite-ranked trials. Not just that, but—"
He turned to Shiebe with a spark in his eyes.
Luni: "—I attend the Solaria Arcane Institute. The best magic academy in the world. Only those who've awakened to their syreum with extraordinary potential are allowed in."
Shiebe: "Whoa... sounds intense."
Luni: "It is. It's where the future protectors of the world train. A lot of graduates end up joining the Council of Hope, or even founding powerful guilds of their own."
Shiebe (quietly): "The Council of Hope..."
Luni: "Every child dreams of joining them—even me. One day, I want to stand among them… and protect this world from the Council of Despair and the monsters they enable."
Shiebe: "So... this guild you're building. It's to help you reach that goal?"
Luni (nodding): "Exactly. The Council only accepts the best of the best. You need experience, leadership, and a record of protecting lives. My guild will be my way of proving I'm ready."
Lia: "And he's well on his way. He's already turned in more completed high-rank missions than most adults do in five years."
Luni leaned down slightly to Shiebe's level.
Luni: "You're gonna be strong too, y'know. I can see it. Your syreum… it's different. Unique. You could even surpass me one day."
Shiebe (embarrassed): "Wha—me?"
Before the conversation could continue, the bloodcurdling scream from outside shattered the moment like glass.
And the chaos began...
Just as the conversation began to lighten, the heavy wooden doors of the Adventurers Guild burst open.
A blood-curdling scream echoed from the street outside.
Woman's Voice: "SOMEBODY HELP!"
Everyone turned.
Without a word, Luni grabbed Shiebe's shoulder.
Luni: "Stay close. Let's see what's going on."
They moved with the crowd spilling out of the guild hall. The lively atmosphere turned to dread.
Outside, the scene was horrific.
A man stood in the middle of the square, soaked in blood, holding an orc's severed head high in the air. The orc's body lay crumpled beside him, blood staining the cobblestone.
Luni (stunned): "...W-What the hell?"
The man grinned. His wild eyes scanned the gathering townsfolk like they were ants beneath his boot.
???: "REJOICE! TODAY A GOD IS REBORN! A NEW ERA OF PEACE UNDER A DIVINE WILL!"
No one moved.
Even Luni, normally fearless, stood frozen. The man's aura was suffocating—dense with murderous intent. Just being in his presence felt like standing at the edge of a bottomless cliff.
Guardsman (shouting): "STAY WHERE YOU ARE! HANDS IN THE AIR!"
Twenty armed guards stormed into the square, weapons drawn, led by a young woman with a stern expression and an eyepatch over her right eye.
Commander: "Name yourself!"
The man dropped the orc's head with a thud, sighed dramatically, then turned toward them.
???: "Felix De Gushed. Officer of the Council of Despair."
Crowd (whispering):"Council of Despair...!""That can't be... not here!"
People began backing away. Panic rising.
Random Civilian: "Screw this! I'm not dying today—"
Felix: "You DARE flee in the presence of rebirth?!"
In a blink, Felix surged forward, grabbed the boy by the neck and hoisted him into the air.
Shiebe (inner monologue):I… I can't move… it's like the air turned to stone.
The guards launched into action, their syreum flaring, summoning elemental magic and blazing weapons.
But before they could even reach him—
BOOM.
A black explosion erupted around Felix, smoke devouring the entire street in seconds.
Luni: "Shiebe! We're leaving—NOW!"
He grabbed Shiebe's wrist and sprinted through the chaos, dodging falling debris and fleeing civilians.
Masked enemies poured into the square like shadows given form. Their movements were sharp, coordinated—these weren't bandits. They were soldiers. Trained killers.
Masked Leader: "Seal the exits. Don't let anyone escape."
Luni gritted his teeth, pulling Shiebe behind him as a wall of flame exploded near the town's outer gate.
Luni (to himself):Damn it... they've got us boxed in.
More civilians screamed. People were dragged away into darkened alleys by masked figures wielding glowing restraints that bound even the strongest of fighters.
One villager attempted to summon his syreum—a burst of water surged from his palms, but before it landed—
SLASH.
A masked soldier cut him down mid-cast. His body hit the cobblestone, limp.
Shiebe's legs froze. His mind screamed at him to run, but he couldn't. He had never seen death this close before.
Luni: "Shiebe—look at me."
The boy turned to him, trembling.
Luni (firm): "No matter what happens. Stay behind me. Do not use your power."
Shiebe: "W-Why not?! I can help—!"
Luni (eyes hardening): "Because they'll sense it. And if they know what you are, they'll never let you live."
Before Shiebe could ask what that meant—
CRACK!
A rooftop collapsed behind them, kicking up stone and fire. More masked enemies emerged from the rubble.
Masked Soldier: "You're fast, ... but you're not untouchable."
Luni (grinning): "I'm faster than your funeral procession, though."
In a blink, Luni vanished.
THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!
Three soldiers dropped before they could even scream. Blood stained the air.
More rushed in, ten at least. Luni ducked, dashed, and cut through them with surgical precision. His syreum erupted like lightning—he moved faster than sight. He was a blur of rage and fury, every movement laced with the desperation to protect.
Shiebe (watching):He's... he's not human. Is this what true power looks like?
Luni was winning—until she appeared.
A woman in full black. No mask. Pale skin. A scar stretching from her lip to her ear. She moved unlike the others—no theatrics, no wasted steps. Just calm efficiency.
Woman: "Enough."
She raised her hand. The air trembled.
Luni's body locked up mid-strike.
Luni (gasping): "W-What... is this…?!"
Shiebe: "Luni!"
He sprinted toward him, but the woman was already there.
She grabbed Shiebe by the collar and yanked him back.
Woman (softly): "What a precious little relic you are."
Shiebe (struggling): "Let me go!"
Woman: "You'll be more valuable than you could ever imagine."
She raised her finger—and tapped his forehead.
Shiebe's world shattered.
It was like a flood of darkness rushed into his mind. His thoughts silenced. His vision spiraled into static.
He collapsed.
Luni: "SHIEBE!!"
With a final surge of will, Luni broke the bind. He burst forward in a flash of pure syreum—
Only to be caught.
The woman's knee slammed into his stomach, then her hand gripped his throat. He fought like a caged animal—screaming, clawing, but it didn't matter.
She flicked his head.
Black.
They fell together. Unconscious.
The masked soldiers stood over them, breathing heavy, blood staining their gear.
Masked Officer: "Secure them. Gently."
Another: "Why? Why go through all this trouble for a child?"
The Woman: "Because that child will decide the fate of this world."
The Officer: "And the other one?"
She looked down at Luni, thoughtful.
Woman: "That one? That one's just in the way."