Morning arrived with a golden hue spilling across the rooftops of Stonehollow. The faint chirping of birds echoed through the open window as a warm breeze rustled the curtains. Kayden stirred awake, his heart racing—not from anxiety, but from excitement. Today was the day. The Licensing Exam.
He stepped out of bed and stretched, his muscles tense with anticipation. After a quick bath, he made his way downstairs to grab something to eat. The scent of warm bread and sizzling eggs filled the air, and he quickly devoured his breakfast, eager to begin the day.
Afterward, Kayden stepped outside into the backyard, the morning sun casting long shadows over the training stones and the old oak tree. He began a quick warm-up routine, swinging his arms, stretching his legs, and practicing fluid motions with his fists and feet. His body moved with confidence and precision, honed by years of quiet training and determination.
The village of Stonehollow had begun to stir. Faint voices drifted from nearby homes as early risers opened shutters and stepped out to greet the day. A distant vendor pushed a cart down the cobbled street, the wooden wheels creaking in rhythm. Birds called softly from the treetops beyond the rooftops, and the scent of fresh bread wafted from a nearby bakery, blending with the morning chill.
As he trained, a small voice interrupted him.
"You're so cool, Kayden," said Liana, her bright eyes wide with admiration as she sat on the stone steps with her chin resting in her hands.
Kayden paused, turning to see his little sister watching him intently.
She continued, "I wish I could be like you. I wish I was the Chosen One. Then maybe… I could save the kingdom too. I could protect everyone. You, Mom, Dad…"
Her voice trailed off, and a breeze lifted a strand of her dark brown hair. Her expression was soft and earnest, full of innocent hope.
Kayden stood still, her words weighing heavy on his heart. For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the rustling leaves above. He clenched his fists—not in anger, but in conflict.
He never wanted this title. Never wanted the burden of prophecy. All he ever wanted was freedom. To choose his path, to forge his own future.
But he smiled gently at Liana and walked over, kneeling to meet her gaze. "One day," he said softly, "you can decide for yourself if you want to protect everyone. You don't have to be chosen to do it, Liana. You just have to choose yourself."
Her eyes lit up, a wide grin blooming across her face as she nodded with determination.
Kayden stood, brushing off his pants. He went inside and opened the wooden trunk near the stairs, retrieving the standard-issue prototype sword given to all examinees. Its blade shimmered faintly with unknown magic traits—no soul bond yet, just a tool for today's test.
As he fastened it at his side, his parents entered the room.
His mother smiled warmly, her long blonde hair tied back in a loose braid. "We're proud of you, Kayden. No matter what happens today."
His father stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. With his short beard and thoughtful eyes, he seemed more solemn than usual.
"I know how heavy that prophecy must feel," he said. "To have the weight of the world placed on your shoulders before you even had the chance to live your own life."
Kayden looked up at him, surprised.
Then his father added, "Prophecy is just the road that is created ahead for you. Whether you choose to walk it or not is your choice. What matters is not the road you take, but that you end up at the location you're meant to be."
Those words struck deep. Kayden gave a small smile—genuine and grateful.
He stepped out the front door, turning back only once to wave goodbye to his family. His mother waved with tears in her eyes, Liana bounced with excitement, and his father stood proud.
And with that, Kayden set off toward the square to meet Miya. The exam was waiting.
Kayden arrived at the village square just as the morning sun cast warm streaks of gold across the cobbled path. The fountain at the center glistened under the light, water splashing gently into the basin as townsfolk passed by. Stalls nearby had just begun to open, the air tinged with the scent of freshly baked bread and dew-covered grass.
Miya stood near the fountain, her long blue hair pulled back loosely, a few strands brushing against her cheek in the breeze. She wore a simple light-blue tunic and trousers, and carried her prototype staff on her back. Her expression was calm, but her eyes flickered with something more.
Kayden approached her with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
Miya took a soft breath before answering. "Confident, I think… I've trained hard for this. But still… there's this small knot in my chest. Like part of me's afraid I'll mess up."
Kayden gave a short nod, understanding. "That's normal. Everyone's nervous before something important. But nerves aren't weakness—they're just signs that it matters. You've worked hard. Believe in that."
Miya's gaze lifted to him, her eyes glimmering with admiration. Even if you don't believe yourself to be the chosen one, I believe it for you, she thought silently, holding those words close.
Just then, Miya's parents waved from behind one of the stalls. Her father called out, "Good luck, Miya! We'll be waiting to hear the good news!"
A few villagers waved too, offering quiet encouragement as the two set off toward the exam site.
The sun was rising higher when a sudden scream echoed down the road.
"Help! Please, someone!"
Kayden and Miya sprinted toward the source, turning a corner to see an elderly couple pressed against a stone wall, trembling. In front of them were three snarling beasts—doglike creatures with smoky black fur, glowing blue eyes, and trails of faint, silver mist rising from their paws.
Kayden's eyes narrowed. "Shadowfangs," he muttered. "Common beasts, but tricky in packs. They use short-range warp pulses. You'll have to watch their movements carefully."
Miya clenched her staff. "I… I don't know how to fight them. I've read about some beasts, but not these."
Kayden didn't hesitate. "Then listen carefully. Their weak point is just behind the shoulders. Aim your strikes there—but wait until after they warp. They pause for half a second. That's your opening."
Miya nodded, her eyes wide but determined.
The Shadowfangs lunged.
Kayden dashed forward first, his prototype sword flashing. One of the beasts blinked from one spot to another—but he anticipated it, rolling aside and slashing cleanly through its shoulder in a controlled arc. It yelped, dissolved into mist, and vanished.
The second came from the side. Kayden pivoted, bringing up his blade in time to parry, but it clipped his arm. He grimaced, slid back, then steadied his stance.
Adapt, he reminded himself. He let the beast charge, baited it with a feint, then activated his basic Weapon Art—Arc Blade, a swift, horizontal energy slash. It struck true, slicing through the beast's center and ending the fight.
Meanwhile, Miya faced the third.
It blinked, then lunged. She froze for a split second—but then remembered Kayden's words. She ducked under the swipe, her grip tightening on the sword. The beast warped again, landing behind her. She turned just in time and raised her blade high.
The Shadowfang circled her, its dark body low and tense.
Kayden's voice rang out again, "Miya, aim for its shoulder! Their muscles there are weaker. It'll disable their front legs!"
She nodded, steadying her breathing. The beast lunged, claws swiping. Miya stepped to the side, barely dodging, her sword scraping its leg. It howled, turning quickly. She didn't back down. With a cry, she pushed forward.
"Crescent Slash!"
Her sword pulsed faintly with energy—not elemental, just a sharpened force of will and training. She swung downward, striking the Shadowfang's shoulder with all her strength. The beast let out a final yelp before dissolving into a puff of dark mist.
The silence afterward was heavy.
The elderly couple stared, speechless, then rushed forward. "T-Thank you! You saved us!"
Kayden gave a small smile. "Just doing what we trained for."
Miya breathed hard, chest rising and falling. She looked down at the space where the beast had vanished. "I did it," she whispered.
Kayden glanced her way, impressed. "You kept your focus. That's what matters."
She smiled, still catching her breath, the morning sun now fully bathing the path ahead in light.
And with the road clear once more, the two continued on, hearts steady and ready for what awaited.
After the fight, as Kayden and Miya continued down the path with the morning sun now fully bathing the road ahead, a flicker of unease stirred in Kayden's thoughts.
Common beasts never leave the forests and wild areas to reach this far up north. It's almost as if something in the natural order is changing, Kayden thought to himself.
He kept the thought to himself for now, casting one last glance back at where the Shadowfangs had vanished before moving forward.
The path ahead led them to the great gates of the Guild Academy, where stone pillars rose tall and proud, etched with the ancient crests of adventurers past. The training fields stretched behind the gates, already busy with movement, and the main courtyard buzzed with chatter and motion.
Kayden paused as he stepped onto the academy grounds, his eyes scanning the scene. He took in the open-air stadium to the west, where combat trials had just wrapped up. Banners representing various guilds flapped in the breeze, and beyond them stood the main administration hall—its wide arched doors lined with armored guild recruits, scholars, and scouts.
He spoke quietly. "Everything feels charged… like we're standing at the edge of a battlefield, but also a celebration. This isn't just an exam—it's where futures change."
Miya stood beside him, eyes wide. Her gaze moved slowly from the tall stone buildings to the waiting crowds. "It's more than I imagined," she said softly. "So many people… so much energy. It feels like the air itself is waiting for something important to happen."
They stepped forward, walking carefully through the gathered crowd. Some students stood with their heads low, walking away from the arena in silence.
"I failed," one boy muttered to his friend, eyes downcast. "Guess I'll have to wait until next year."
"Me too," another added, voice heavy. "Didn't even leave a scratch on that thing…"
Nearby, others stood with beaming smiles.
"We passed!" a girl shouted, laughing as she hugged her friends. "Can you believe it?"
One of her companions grinned. "I got an offer from Ironstride Bastion Guild—one of the top five! I'm still shaking."
"Lucky," another said, smiling faintly. "I passed too, but no offers. I'll have to take the guild exam to get in anywhere."
"I don't care," a boy added. "Just let me get to the Soul Bond Ceremony. I've been waiting for this since I was eight. Can you imagine? My own soul weapon…"
Excitement buzzed through the air. Whispers of the Soul Bond Ceremony rippled among the crowd—speculations on which affinity each person might awaken, what form their weapon would take, and stories of the legendary Magical Forge housed at the region's major guild headquarters, where the ceremony would be held later that day.
Amid the hopeful and heartbroken stood figures of quiet authority—royal army ambassadors in polished steel armor, speaking in hushed tones with clipboard-carrying scholars dressed in midnight-blue robes. A ring of adventurer guild representatives watched the students with critical eyes. Some wore their guild's formal colors, while others stood ready for the field, their worn gear hinting at long campaigns and countless battles.
Professors lined the steps of the administrative tower. Kayden spotted Professor Xeni among them—expression unreadable but focused as always. Around him stood the other academy instructors, each representing a pillar of the school's training division. And above them all, at the highest stair, stood the Academy Head: a tall, silver-haired woman in ceremonial robes, her staff of darkened wood and crystal held with regal poise. Even from afar, her presence radiated authority.
Kayden glanced at Miya. "Ready?"
She nodded, tightening her grip on her prototype sword. "Let's give it everything."
With quiet resolve, they stepped forward—into the next trial of their journey.
The instructor's voice rang out across the exam court.
"Up next, Ren Duskveil!"
The crowd shifted. Conversations fell into hushes and murmurs. The royal ambassadors near the viewing stands leaned forward, their eyes sharp and calculating. Ren's parents had sent them to observe every detail. No one watching missed the significance of the moment.
Though infamous for his cocky smirks and arrogant swagger, Ren Duskveil was recognized by the academy faculty as one of the most promising candidates in years.
Guild recruiters whispered among themselves, already debating which letters of invitation to prepare. Some looked ready to offer him a place before he even touched his blade.
Kayden and Miya stepped closer, eyes fixed on the court.
They knew—everyone knew—that Ren was about to set the bar.
To catch the eye of the guilds or the licensing board, they would have to rise to meet—or surpass—whatever display he was about to give.
Ren's eyes swept across the crowd until they locked on Kayden. A mocking grin curved his lips. His way of provoking the young warrior hadn't changed.
Kayden said nothing. He didn't need to.
The instructor raised his hand. "Start!"