Ruhan suddenly jumped up. His whole body was trembling, and his tear-soaked purple eyes seemed to be losing themselves in fear. He looked at his own hands and let out a mad laugh—but the trace of terror glinting within that laugh was unmistakable.
Sweat dripped from his forehead. His heartbeat thumped so loudly it felt as if he could hear it echoing inside his chest. The moment that man's face came to mind, his ears went numb. His head began to spin, and a wave of nausea surged up his throat.
When he opened his eyes, he looked around and let out a sigh of relief. He was sitting at his study table—he had been reading for a long time, though he couldn't remember when he had fallen asleep.
That horrible nightmare had brought him back to his senses. He asked himself—"Why does this always happen to me?"
His eyes fell on the water jug and glass placed at the right corner of the table. Someone in the house had probably left it there a while ago. But then—why was the jug sweating too, just like him?
The water droplets trickled down in the same way, reminding Ruhan of that moment when the man had pulled the knife out of his stomach. Just like blood dripping from the blade, now the water dripped. The fear was still vivid, carved deep into his memory.
Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming thirst. If he delayed even a moment, his throat would crack from dryness. He reached for the jug, but his hand was trembling uncontrollably. Somehow, he managed to grab it—but in an instant, it slipped and fell to the floor.
As the lid came off, water spilled everywhere—as if Ruhan's own blood was spreading across the ground. His eyes narrowed to needle points. That demonic grin—the man's grin—flashed before his eyes, and all at once Ruhan realized that the wheel of terror had begun turning again.
"That… was just a nightmare. Nothing else… nothing else."
With a sigh, he added softly,
"A nightmare… yes, a nightmare! Maybe the Goddess is angry because I didn't worship her yesterday. That's why some evil spirit possessed me and made me see such a terrifying dream!"
Wrapping both arms around himself, he said through sobs,
"Still… still I remember it clearly! That excruciating pain—it's still haunting me!"
He placed a hand on his forehead and sat down on the bed to the left of the study table. The soft mattress gave some relief to his lower body, but the rest of him felt as if it were submerged in molten lava—burning, aching, and filled with a deep, clinging terror.
Ruhan's room was as simple as that of any other middle-class boy. Nothing extravagant, but cozy enough to be his own little world. The room was rectangular, stretching from east to west.
The entrance door was on the south side, immediately to the right as one entered. Opening the door, the eye will first fall on a large drawing table in the northeast corner. On it lay some textbooks, along with a pile of novels and storybooks.
To the left of the door stood his bed. To the right of the bed—on the northwest side—was the study table. The rest of the room was almost empty, containing only the plain walls and a few ordinary belongings.
Ruhan thought—how, just a year ago, he used to share stories, fights, and sleepovers on this very bed with his two best friends. But, as always, fate had stolen away his happiness.
When they went to the academy and took the test, it was revealed that his best friends, Linara and Akira, were the pride of their respective bloodlines. And Ruhan? He was the burden of his clan.
At just 11 or 12 years old, they had managed to awaken their own Soul Realms.
Those who can do this are called Masterers. Awakening the Soul Realm means stepping beyond the limits of ordinary humans into a magical world. The difference between a Masterer and an ordinary human—physically, mentally, and spiritually—is like the difference between heaven and earth.
Usually, children born to Masterer families awaken their Soul Realm easily between ages 13 and 14. By that rule, Linara and Akira were each prodigies in their own right.
But Ruhan? He was already past 15, and there was still no sign of becoming a Masterer. Even his Soul Mastery—the level of inner awakening needed to unlock the Soul Realm—was only 10%, where an intelligent beast possessed around 11–12%, and an average human 15%.
Ruhan could see clearly how far behind he was compared to the talent of his clan. That silent despair was carving its mark deep within his heart.
The cause and cure of his condition remained unknown even to his family, relatives, and academy teachers. Everyone knew him as a definite "failure."
Yet, Akira and Linara still saw him as a dear friend and brother. Their friendship had remained untouched by family, society, or the world.
In the past, they used to visit his house, talk, play, and help him with studies. Thinking of them lightened Ruhan's heart a little. The time spent with them was his only place of comfort.
But Linara has grown up now. Her chest was far fuller than before! — Ruhan thought with a sly grin.
"They're amazing!!!" Ruhan said. "Better than any girl of my age."
At last, Ruhan lay down on his pillow, feeling a little peace from recalling those memories—especially Linara's chest.
His eyes caught a sheet of paper on the study table. It was a report card from the academy. In the middle, a large letter was printed—F.
This was his final academy result. And failing it meant the next step of his journey was now uncertain.
Ruhan sat still for a while. His vision blurred. Waves of tension and despair churned within his chest. He knew this result wasn't just a number—it was a question mark hanging over his potential, his dreams, and his hope to prove himself.
He clenched his teeth and recalled the teachers' words—
"You'll never make it…A failure like you…"
"He has no true talent. His Soul Realm and Soul Mastery—both are below average. Even a lowly beast has deeper awakening than he does."
"Ruhan… it's as if his soul refuses to grow. His Soul Realm is stagnant, and his Mastery is so low that, at times, I see more vitality in animals than in him."
"His soul is trapped in endless darkness—
where no light reaches, where no talent is born.
His Soul Realm is like a temple covered in dust,
and his Mastery—like a forgotten prayer."
Tears of rage and sorrow rolled down his cheeks. In front of everyone, his family's name had been dragged through shame. Yet his lineage—The Ahmed Family—was a proud and historic clan of Bhola district!
Ruhan's mind suddenly filled with the mocking words of other clans—how often they had laughed at his failure, treating him as nothing but a burden.
Delal Clan:
"The last Ahmed, Ruhan? The name sounds like some ancient legend… yet in reality? On the academy's fail list!"
"I heard the Ahmeds once carried dragon blood… now it seems they carry only air."
Chaprashee Clan:
"Not on the battlefield, but in the exam hall—the Ahmeds have fallen! Times have changed!"
"Even a child from our clan has stronger soul mastery than him!"
"Maybe being the last Ahmed means he went all the way… down!"
His grandfather's (from mom) clan, the Talukdars:
"The Ahmeds were once kings; now they're just red marks on exam sheets."
"His failure only makes our victory more majestic."
"If the last Ahmed is like this, imagining the first ones makes me laugh."
Ruhan trembled—caught in an invisible cycle of rage, disgrace, and failure. He knew these words weren't just mockery—they were a blow to his family's honor, his bloodline's pride, and his own desperate will to prove himself.
Today was October 5th—according to the English calendar. But in this world, another calendar existed: the Moonlight Calendar.
The Moonlight Calendar was made especially for Masterers. It followed the moon's position, its changes, and its outcomes. It deeply affected a Masterers Soul Mastery.
According to the Moonlight Calendar, today was the 5th of Bloodmoon.
Ruhan sighed and looked at the wall clock. It was 9 PM.
He remembered that his parents would soon return from the organization. He could easily imagine their reaction upon seeing his result card. Though no one had ever believed in him, the family's pride and strict traditions meant he would surely face punishment.
The academy exams were divided into two parts—theoretical and physical.
The theoretical subjects depended purely on memorization, comprehension, and understanding. Even without talent, one could do well there. But Ruhan could remember nothing. He couldn't use either his will or intellect freely—behind that lay a deep, unknown cause that still shackled him.
The physical exam was the toughest part of the academy. It didn't test just strength or fitness, but Mastery of Strength—control, endurance, agility, and resilience. For Masterers, it wasn't merely a test; it was the measure of their Strength Type, showing how skillfully one could wield the body with full mastery.
Ruhan's final exams were over. They had completed both primary and secondary education at the academy. Ahead lay the chance to enter the Elite Batch, where after two years of training, they could join the Special Forces as soldiers.
Otherwise, they could pursue higher education to enhance their Soul Mastery and Rank, and earn special positions accordingly.
Ranks ranged from 3 to 1—Rank 3 being the weakest and Rank 1 the strongest.
The rank was determined by Strength Mastery. Strength Mastery was divided into three types—Sentira, Draketh, and Arcanis.
The more a student could control physical and spiritual energy, the higher their mastery—and thus their rank.
Ruhan's 10% Soul Mastery and 0% Strength Mastery placed him at the very bottom of the list, where his talented friends ranked far above.
Ruhan slowly sat down at the edge of the bed. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, his body drained. The burden of failure was so heavy it felt like even his own shadow had trapped him. Tears welled up, tracing down his cheeks.
And yet, a faint, fierce smile curved his lips. It felt as if a fire still burned within the darkness—small, but strong. A hidden voice inside whispered—
"This isn't the end. No one can stop me."
The room was silent. The ticking of the clock echoed like a witness to every failure. Through the window, the crimson moonlight spilled onto the bed, as if mocking him. But Ruhan thought—if the moon can shine with such defiance, why can't I?
His eyes finally closed. Gradually his body relaxed. The waves of pain and despair faded; his tears dried. That faint smile still lingered—as if even within deep darkness, a small light was glowing.
Ruhan silently drifted into sleep, his mind sinking into an invisible struggle—something within him was awakening, waiting… to emerge.
Outside, the moon was full—its Bloodmoon light burning across the sky.
And within, a boy who had lost his light lay quietly in the dark.
Not just this once.
Not just this life.
It was as if all hope had shattered.
Yet… something inside still stirred.
Something that never dies.
An unseen force—small, silent,
but strong.
The moon was crimson.
The sky outside burned.
Inside… in the darkness, he sat alone.
Yet he was still moving.
He had not yet broken.
As if no fate could sever his core.
Not now.
Never.
Something inside was awakening.
Something that would never fade.
Something that was waiting.
Waiting… to break free.