The day was clear, the sun shining especially bright. David once again stepped into the academy, heading straight for the lecture he had been wanting to attend. The corridors buzzed with life: students hurried past, some rushing to classes, others to their training.
At last, David reached the lecture hall. Stepping inside, he scanned the room. Not spotting any of his acquaintances, he chose one of the empty seats near the center. Next to him sat a boy about his age. His short black hair stuck up like the spines of a hedgehog, and his face carried an air of cold detachment.
David studied him for a moment but quickly lost interest. Shifting his gaze forward, he noticed a woman enter the room. She appeared to be in her late thirties — tall, with long black hair and a stern expression. She was strikingly beautiful, yet her eyes made it clear: there was no softness in her nature.
The woman walked to the center, placed her belongings on the desk, and spoke.
"Let us begin our lesson. For those who are new here, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mrs. Daria, and in this lecture, we will speak about the history of the New Era."
Her eyes were cold and severe, as though the weight of the memories she carried pressed down on her even now.
David glanced around. No more than twenty students had gathered in the hall. Looks like this class is meant for commoners — those who never had the chance to receive a proper education, he thought.
Daria continued.
"More than fifty years ago, on August 10, 2000, people began to disappear. At first, it seemed strange, but the governments did nothing. In truth, they were too afraid to admit what was happening and cause mass panic. At that time, the internet did not yet exist, and news spread slowly. But the disappearances did not stop. In fact, they grew worse. Over a million people vanished in a single moment."
The room fell silent. Even the most restless students listened, holding their breath.
"No one could explain how it happened," Daria went on. "During the prologue of the First Trial, only a person's spirit could enter the Realm of Fate. But here, even bodies were vanishing. Scientists called this phenomenon the 'Evolution of Fate.' Over time, Fate itself changed, becoming what we know today."
Her expression darkened.
"Those who had vanished eventually returned. Some after a week, some after three days, some after a month. But they came back broken — maimed, crippled. And all of them repeated the same words: 'Fate did not choose us.' No one could understand what that meant. And then, half a year later, something far worse occurred — a lunar eclipse."
Daria clenched her fist, her voice tightening.
"The moon swallowed the sun completely. But this eclipse inspired no awe — only dread. People felt displaced, as if they no longer belonged to this world. And then the true horror began. Those who had failed the Prologue of Fate started to transform into demons. The ones who had killed you in the prologue now possessed your body."
Several students flinched.
"For months, humanity fought back. But the strangest part was this: the eclipse never ended. The world was drowned in endless night. The demons were relentless, merciless. Nations fell one after another. In the end, only three great powers remained — Russia, America, and China. Even they fought to the bitter end, unleashing over five hundred nuclear warheads. But nothing worked."
Daria paused, her voice heavy.
"And then… they appeared. The first Awakened. Their powers rivaled the strength of the demons. No weapon could harm those monsters — but these people could. Humanity's hope was reborn. More and more Awakened appeared with each passing day, and at last, mankind endured. That day, August 10, 2000, was forever marked in history as the Day of the New Era."
She swept the class with a sharp gaze and ended abruptly:
"That will be all for today. I will see you again next week."
The students sat in silence, as if under a spell. For many of the common-born, it was the first time they had heard the truth about those dark days. Even David, who usually grew bored during lectures, had not missed a single word.
As the lesson ended and the students filed out, David's attention lingered on the boy beside him. He looks like someone from a clan… but which one?
Leaving the hall, David made his way to the cafeteria. Stepping inside, he immediately spotted the same group of boys who had once tried to pick a fight with him.