Rian's eyes fluttered open to the sterile white ceiling of the East Wall HQ medical wing. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and his muscles felt like they'd been wrung out and left to dry. The antiseptic smell of the infirmary mixed with something else—herbs, maybe, or some kind of healing salve.
You're awake. Nova's voice cut through his grogginess. She sat in a chair beside his bed, her short red hair slightly disheveled, arms crossed. Took you long enough.
Rian pushed himself up on his elbows, wincing. How long was I—
Twenty minutes. Hiron carried you back while I guided him. She stood, her gray eyes scrutinizing him. Commander Black wants to see us. Now.
The walk to the Commander's office was silent and tense. The hallways of East Wall HQ bustled with activity—guards rushing past, messengers delivering reports, and injured students being escorted to the medical wing. The atmosphere was thick with barely contained chaos.
Commander Marcus Black's office was a testament to military efficiency. Maps covered the walls, marked with red pins and strategic notations. His desk was organized with surgical precision, save for a growing stack of reports that seemed to multiply by the minute. The commander himself stood by the window, his broad back to them, hands clasped behind him.
Sir. Nova saluted sharply. Rian and Hiron followed suit, though Hiron's hand trembled slightly.
At ease. Marcus turned, his weathered face grave. His three medals caught the light as he moved to his desk. Tell me everything. Leave nothing out.
They recounted the events in detail—the Snake Devil, Nova's intervention, the Sköll's appearance, and finally, the mysterious winged man who had called the immortal wolf by name: Shadowang.
Marcus's jaw tightened with each word. When they finished, he leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. The Sköll you encountered, he began, his voice carrying the weight of hard truth, wasn't trying to kill you.
Rian blinked. What?
It was playing with you, boy. Marcus's dark eyes fixed on Rian with an intensity that made him feel like a specimen under glass. A true Sköll, especially one powerful enough to manifest a domain, could have torn all three of you apart in seconds. The fact that you're alive means it was toying with its prey.
The words hit Rian like a physical blow. All that fear, all that desperation—and they'd never been in a real fight at all. Just a cat batting at mice.
But sir, Nova interjected, her voice steady, the man who appeared. He had wings. He spoke to the Sköll like—
Like he commanded it. Marcus nodded grimly. That's what concerns me most. He stood and moved to the largest map on the wall, pointing to a section of forest marked in red. The Sköll is classified as an SS-rank devil.The devils can be ranked as D,the lowest,C which are leader of a small devil group in forests,B used by commanders;also found in forests,then A ranks wh8ch the the rulers of forests,AA are used by state leaders and are summoned by dling rituals,S ranks are used by nation leaders and are summoned by using an ancient script,SS are one of the srongest,thet are 1 of every kind,which means there is no other Sköll than that one in the world,finally SS+ are the absilute strongest.An SS-rank means that creature has lived for centuries and has killed hundreds, perhaps thousands.
He turned back to them. I'm dispatching a specialized tracking team to investigate the area. Captain Yara's squad—they're trained for high-level devil encounters. If there are traces of that man or the Sköll, they'll find them.
A sharp knock interrupted them. A young guard entered, his face pale, clutching a report. Commander, urgent news from the main campus.
Marcus took the paper, his expression darkening with each line he read. The silence stretched, oppressive and heavy. Finally, he looked up, and for the first time, Rian saw something like grief in the man's eyes.
The school's north wing has been almost entirely destroyed. We have confirmed casualties: four students, seven teachers, and three guards. His voice was flat, clinical, but his knuckles whitened as he gripped the report. The attack was coordinated. Precise.
Hiron made a small, choked sound. Nova's face remained impassive, but her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
There's more, Marcus continued. Professor Aldric Venn, the summoner who was controlling the devils for your examination, has been found. He's alive but unconscious. Medical staff are working on him now, but he shows signs of severe magical exhaustion and trauma. Someone drained his summoning reserves and broke his connection to the devils simultaneously.
That's why they went berserk, Nova murmured.
Marcus nodded. Exactly. Without their summoner's control, the devils reverted to their base instincts. Most were minor threats, easily subdued. But several higher-rank devils were included in the exam roster for observation purposes only. They were never meant to be engaged by students.
Another knock. The same guard, even paler now. Sir, analysis team has results from the forest site.
Marcus scanned the new report, and his jaw set like stone. The residual energy signature found at your battle site in the forest matches the energy signature from the attack on the main campus. He looked at each of them in turn. We're not dealing with random devil attacks. This was orchestrated. Someone targeted this school, targeted that exam, and specifically targeted Professor Venn.
But why? Rian asked, the question bursting out before he could stop himself.
That, Marcus said, moving to his desk and beginning to write on an official letterhead, is what we need to find out. I'm sending a full report to Principal Ardent immediately. This is beyond the scope of a standard security incident. He sealed the report with wax and his personal sigil, handing it to the waiting guard. Priority one. Direct to the Principal's hands only.
The guard saluted and left at a run.
Marcus returned his attention to the three students. As of now, we have no concrete leads. No suspects. No clear motive. What we do have is fourteen dead, dozens injured, and a school full of terrified students and faculty. He paused, letting that sink in. And we have thirty students who have just proven they can survive in crisis situations.
Two hours later, the sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and crimson. The surviving students of Grade 8 were assembled in the ground of the school. Rian stood among them, acutely aware of the empty spaces where classmates should have been.
Commander Marcus Black stood on a raised platform, flanked by two senior officers. His voice, when he spoke, carried clearly across the assembly.
Students of Grade 8. Today, you faced a trial that should never have turned deadly. You have my word that we will find those responsible and bring them to justice. He paused, his gaze sweeping across the young faces before him. But we cannot change what has happened. We can only move forward.
He gestured to the officers beside him. As you know, upon reaching Grade 8, every student in Jiyūberta is given a choice. You may continue your studies here, pursuing academics and controlled training in summoning and devil-sealing techniques. Or— his voice rose slightly, you may take the Adventurer's Examination and leave these walls to explore, to grow stronger, and to serve the nation as independent contractors.
Rian felt his heart quicken. This was the speech. The one every eighth-grader had been anticipating.
This year, Grade 8 consists of three sections: A, B, and C. Eighty-five students total. Before today's... incident, thirty of you had chosen to take the examination and pursue the adventurer's path. Marcus's expression hardened. The examination was designed to test your practical skills: tracking, combat, and sealing techniques. The objective was simple—seal four devils of varying ranks within a three-hour time limit using the sealing papers provided.
He held up one of the specialized papers, its surface covered in intricate lunar patterns. These seals are calibrated to match student-level capabilities. They work on devils ranked C and below. Anything higher requires specialized seals and, typically, specialized training.
A murmur ran through the assembled students. Rian remembered Nova's A-rank seal burning to ash against the Sköll's hide.
The exam was compromised. Professor Venn's control was severed, and the controlled environment became a genuine threat. Despite this— and here, something like pride entered Marcus's voice, —many of you adapted. You survived. Some of you even thrived.
His gaze landed on Rian,Nova and Hiron for a brief moment.
Therefore, I am making the following declaration: All thirty students who entered the forest for the examination today are hereby granted provisional Adventurer status. You have proven yourselves in the field under the worst possible circumstances. Your official licenses today only.
A stunned silence, then a ripple of shocked whispers spread through the crowd. Rian exchanged glances with Hiron. They'd passed. Against all odds, they'd actually passed.
You are dismissed. Those of you with injuries, report to medical. The rest— Marcus's voice dropped, becoming almost gentle, —take tonight to rest. Grieve if you need to. Tomorrow, you begin your new lives as adventurers of Jiyūberta. Make those we lost today proud.
Rian and Hirom walked to the hostel of the achedemy to meet Nova,as she was'nt a srudent of the achedemy but she lived in hostel.
What you came for here brats? Hiron asks if she will go with them on adventure.Nova replies,Yea ,i will go.After all the only reason I came to this achedemy to work and get some money.
They packed bags and started walking through the road.The district was a bustling hub with markets, inns, and guild halls catering to adventurers and soldiers alike.
So, Hiron said, breaking the silence, we're actually doing this. Going on adventures together.
Rian nodded, a strange mixture of excitement and trepidation churning in his gut. Seems that way.
I work better in a team anyway, Nova said, though her tone suggested she was trying to convince herself as much as them. She glanced at Rian. You're reckless but resourceful. And you— she looked at Hiron, —you need supervision before you get yourself killed.
Hey! Hiron protested, but he was grinning.
They found themselves on the edge of the district,middle of the highway.Rian turned to Nova, remembering her promise.
You said you'd tell me everything, he said softly. About the fire magic. About why you're here.
Nova was silent for a long moment, her gray eyes distant. Finally, she nodded. I did promise. She took a breath, and when she spoke, her voice was measured, as if she'd rehearsed this story countless times in her head.
I'm not from Jiyūberta. I'm from Drakia—the Nation of Dragons, far to the east across the Crimson Sea. She held up her hand, and a small flame danced across her palm, violet and beautiful. In Drakia, all people are born with the power of fire. It's our heritage, our birthright. We can manipulate flames as easily as you breathe.
Rian leaned forward, fascinated. Hiron's eyes were wide.
I was raised by my grandfather, Aldren Blake. My parents died when I was very young. Grandpa was everything to me. He taught me control, discipline, and the history of our people. Her expression softened with memory. When I was ten, he was selected for a prestigious research assignment here in Jiyūberta. It was supposed to be an honor.
The flame in her palm flickered, turning a darker red.
The research was commissioned jointly by both nations. The objective: to locate the Original Devil, the source of all devil-kind in this land. Jiyūberta had devils for centuries, and locating the Original Devil was supposed to help both nations develop better countermeasures.
The Original Devil? Rian interrupted. He died,did'nt he?
That's what most people think. Nova's eyes flashed. But someone found evidence that it was still alive.Ancient texts, energy signatures,all told that The Original Devil can't be killed.
She closed her hand, extinguishing the flame.Also my grandpa discovered something else. Something he wasn't supposed to find.
Corruption. Deep, systemic corruption within Jiyūberta's government and military. Officials taking bribes to allow devil nests to grow unchecked in certain territories. Weapons trafficking. Experimental summoning programs that used civilians as test subjects. Her voice grew colder with each word. And when my grandfather tried to report his findings through official channels, when he tried to expose what he'd learned...
She paused, and Rian saw her jaw clench.
They killed him.
The words hung in the air like a curse.
I was thirteen. Still in Drakia. One day, I woke up, and there was a Phoenix at my window—made entirely of fire, beautiful and terrible. It carried my grandfather's final message. He'd used the last of his life force, the ultimate fire magic technique, to create it and send it across the sea to me.
A single tear traced down Nova's cheek, quickly wiped away. The message told me everything. What he'd discovered. Who was involved. And a warning: trust no one in power in Jiyūberta. Then the Phoenix dissolved, and I knew he was gone.
Nova... Rian said softly.
I spent the next year training.Preparing. Then I came here, alone, worked at your achedemy as rescure guard in the exam . I'm fourteen now, and I have two goals. She looked at them both, her gray eyes hard as stone. Expose the corruption that's rotting this nation from the inside. And find the person who ordered my grandfather's death and make them pay.
Hiron let out a low whistle. That's... that's heavy.
Now you know why I'm here. Why I can use fire magic. And why I don't trust the system. Nova's gaze fixed on Rian. You summoned a Fenrir, even partially. That's SS-rank territory. You're hiding something too.
Rian opened his mouth, then closed it. She was right, but his own secrets felt tangled and unclear even to himself. I... I don't fully understand it myself yet. But yeah. We've all got our mysteries.
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of revelations settling over them. Finally, Hiron spoke up, his voice determinedly cheerful. Well, we're a team now, right? We'll figure out our mysteries together. Speaking of which— he looked between them, —where exactly are we going? For our first adventure, I mean.
Rian and Nova exchanged glances. In all the chaos and conversation, they'd forgotten that rather crucial detail.
We... didn't actually decide that, did we? Rian said slowly.
We're literally walking with no destination, Nova muttered, a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice.
Maybe we could check the guild boards tomorrow, Hiron suggested. See what contracts are available for new adventurers. I heard there are escort missions, herb gathering, minor devil—
Come...
Rian's head snapped up. The voice was faint, like a whisper carried on a wind that no one else could feel. It brushed against his mind, neither male nor female, achingly familiar yet completely alien.
Did you hear that? he asked.
Nova and Hiron looked at him blankly. Hear what? Hiron asked.
Come... to me... Bearer...
Rian stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. The voice was pulling at something deep inside him. It wasn't threatening. It was... calling.
Rian? Nova's hand went to her side, where she kept her sealing papers. What's wrong?
There's a voice,I have to—I need to follow it.
That's the worst idea I've ever heard! Nova hissed, but she was already following him. Hiron scrambled to keep up, leaving coins on the table for the untouched tea.
Rian walked as if in a trance, following the invisible thread that pulled him through the streets. The sun had fully set now, and everytging started to become dark.
Rian, seriously, this is how people get murdered, Hiron panted.
But Rian barely heard him. The voice was stronger now, resonating in his bones.
And there, in the bottom of a big tree's canopy reality was bleeding.
A portal hung in the air, roughly circular, about two meters in diameter. Its edges rippled like water, and through it, Rian could see... somewhere else. The colors were muted, the light strange and diffused. It looked like dusk, but wrong somehow, as if the sun was setting in the wrong direction.
What the hell is that? Nova breathed.
Come...
The voice was emanating from beyond the portal. Rian stepped forward.
Oh no you don't! Nova grabbed his arm. Unknown portal, unknown destination, unknown danger. We need to report this to—
It's calling me, Rian said, and was surprised by how calm his own voice sounded. Specifically me. I need to know why.
Before either of them could stop him, he pulled free and stepped through the portal.
The transition was instantaneous and disorienting. One moment he was in the highway with his friends' shouts in his ears, the next he was somewhere else entirely.
A battlefield. That was his first thought. But not a recent one.
He stood on cracked, blackened earth that stretched in all directions. Broken weapons littered the ground—swords, spears, staffs, some of designs he didn't recognize. Skeletal remains, both human and decidedly not human, were half-buried in the soil. In the distance, the ruins of what might have once been a great fortress or city rose against a sky the color of old bruises.
The air tasted of ash and something else—old magic, so ancient and powerful that it left a metallic tang on his tongue.
Closer...
Rian turned. In the center of the battlefield, perhaps fifty meters away, something glowed. As he walked toward it, his footsteps crunching on debris, he saw it clearly: a crystal.
It stood upright, half-embedded in the ground, roughly the size of his torso. The crystal was a deep, shifting blue-black, like the ocean at midnight, and light pulsed within it in steady, rhythmic beats—like a heartbeat.
The voice was definitely coming from the crystal.
Rian approached slowly, every instinct screaming both danger and inevitability. When he was close enough to touch it, he paused, his hand hovering inches from the smooth surface.
The crystal's pulsing light accelerated, matching the rhythm of his own racing heart.
What are you? he whispered.
Touch... remember... awaken...
Against all common sense, against every survival instinct he possessed, Rian reached out and pressed his palm against the crystal.
The world exploded.
A massive burst of spiritual energy erupted from the crystal, a shockwave of pure, primal power. It slammed into Rian's chest like a battering ram, lifting him off his feet and hurling him backward. He flew through the air, too shocked to even scream, and crashed through the portal he'd entered from.
He landed hard on the stong and hard road, the breath knocked from his lungs. Nova and Hiron were there in an instant, pulling him to his feet, shouting questions he couldn't process.
Behind them, the portal flickered once, twice, and then collapsed in on itself with a sound like thunder trapped in a bottle. It vanished, leaving no trace it had ever existed.
Rian gasped for air, his entire body tingling with residual energy. His hand, the one that had touched the crystal, felt warm, almost feverish. When he looked down at his palm, he saw something that made his blood run cold.
A mark. A symbol. Burned into his neck, glowing faintly with that same blue-black light as the crystal.
It looked like a stylized spiral , surrounded by script in a language he didn't know but somehow, on some level deeper than thought, understood.
The mark pulsed once, in perfect sync with his heartbeat, and then faded to a barely visible scar.
Rian, Nova's voice was tight with controlled panic, what the hell just happened?
He looked up at his friends, at their worried faces illuminated by lamplight, and realized he had absolutely no idea how to answer that question.
All he knew was that something had just woken up. And it knew his name.