[A companion wishes to serve you as its king]
[Do you accept?]
[—YES—] [—NO—]
"Serve me… as its king?" Daiki muttered, confusion written across his face.
Daiki reached out and moved his hand toward the glowing option.
[—YES—]
[The Spirit of the Forsaken has joined your alliance]
A round, glowing light appeared in front of Daiki, twisting and pulsing before taking shape—a shadowy, black spirit emerged.Daiki stared into it and saw within an endless darkness, a void that seemed to stretch beyond reality itself. The spirit began to tremble, its voice echoing directly into his mind.
[My Liege, I am the Spirit of the Forsaken. I have been sealed within you since the moment of your birth.]
[I shall follow you to the ends of the world.]
[Your wish is my command.]
[...]
Daiki was stunned by what had just happened.
'A talking spirit? I thought the only way to get one was by forming a contract with angelic or demonic souls…'
Daiki stared at the Spirit of the Forsaken, still trying to process what had just happened.
"How… how did I get these powers?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
[They were sealed within you from birth. I was bound to your soul by the demon contract, waiting for the moment you would grow strong enough for release.]
"Why… why me?" Daiki pressed, his brows furrowed. "Why were you sealed inside me, and not someone else?"
[…I cannot tell you that.]
Daiki's chest tightened. "Then… what will happen now?"
[I will assist you on your journey with knowledge and guidance. Not only have I been released, but something greater—the System—has begun to awaken within you. It will help you unlock your powers gradually, as you grow and learn. There are far greater concerns beyond this world—realms you have yet to explore.]
Daiki tilted his head. "Unlock my powers… for what exactly?"
[You will have to find the clues yourself.]
Before Daiki could ask more, glowing text appeared in the air, sharp and clear:
[Find the Key of the Forgotten (0/1)]
The words hung there, pulsating with light. Daiki swallowed hard. This was no longer just about surviving—this was the beginning of a journey that would change everything. The Spirit of the Forsaken began to swirl, its form twisting into something new—shifting and spiraling until it resembled the same kind of gate Daiki had fallen through before.
[Please enter the gate to proceed]
Daiki sighed, taking a deep breath as he entered the gate.
'Here goes nothing,'
And with that, he stepped forward and vanished into the gate's darkness.
***
Somewhere in the forest near Daiki's hometown, a dark gate began to form. From within its shadowy light, Daiki stepped out.
He was exhausted but smiling. He finally had magic—and he couldn't wait to tell his uncle.
Daiki sprinted at full speed toward his uncle's old house, feeling lighter than ever before.
'After all these years of hard work with little to show for it, I had finally gained something real—something that could help me chase my dreams. And maybe, just maybe, I could finally uncover the truth about my parents and the mysteries they left behind.'
While running, the world around me started to blur. My vision dimmed, colors fading into gray as a heavy dizziness washed over me.
'What's happening to me…?'
Before I could take another step, my legs gave out, and everything went dark.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on the cold ground, the forest silent except for my unsteady breathing. My body felt heavy, as if the air itself was pressing down on me.
[You're not much different than before,]
the Spirit of the Forsaken spoke, its voice echoing faintly in my mind.
[You may have unlocked your powers, but you're still weak. Without learning to control your abilities, exhaustion will claim your life before your enemies do.]
I groaned, pushing myself to my feet. Every muscle ached. Still weak, huh…?
By the time I reached the edge of the forest, my vision had cleared a little. My uncle's house finally came into view. I walked up the worn steps, grabbed the handle, and pushed the door open.
[To be Continued]
I stepped inside, calling out, "Uncle? You home?"
The faint smell of soup and wood smoke filled the air. I looked around until I spotted him sitting by the old table, his face tired but calm—until he saw me.
"Daiki!" he shouted, standing up so quickly that his chair nearly fell over. "Where have you been? I thought something terrible had happened to you!"
I smiled, trying to calm him. "I'm fine, Uncle. More than fine, actually."
He blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
So I told him—about the assassin in the village, the strange mountain, the man in golden armor, the glowing orb, and the gate that swallowed me whole. I told him about the monsters, how I almost died, and how something inside me… awakened.
When I mentioned the [System] and the Spirit of the Forsaken, his expression shifted from worry to disbelief. And then I told him about the key—the one the System mentioned.
His eyes widened. The color drained from his face. "The key of the… forgotten?" he whispered.
"Yeah. Why? Do you know what it is?" I asked.
He stared at me, almost in disbelief. "No…You're too young for this, they told me it wouldn't happen so soon.''
"Too young for what?" I asked, confusion rising in my chest.
My uncle pressed a trembling hand to his forehead. "Daiki… there are things I was told not to reveal. Not until the time was right."
My uncle pushed his chair aside and walked to the corner of the table. He crouched down and pried open one of the wooden planks in the floor. A small hidden compartment appeared beneath it.
He reached inside and pulled something out—a faint glimmer catching the light. It was small, metallic, and oddly warm in color.
A key.A bronze-yellow key that shimmered as if it had been waiting for this very moment.
I froze, staring at it. 'The key of the forgotten…?'
My uncle stood up and handed it to me. "Is this what you've been looking for?" he asked quietly.
Before I could even answer, a glowing text appeared in front of my eyes.
[Quest Complete][Find the Key of the Forgotten (1/1)]
I thanked my uncle, relieved it hadn't taken long to find the key. But he didn't share my smile. His eyes were heavy with worry.
"It's too dangerous for you to stay here," he said quietly. "If anyone finds out about this… about you… it won't end well. Get stronger, Daiki. Follow the Spirit of the Forsaken—and use that key wisely."
He pulled me into a tight hug, the kind that felt like a goodbye. "I'm proud of you," he whispered with a faint smile.
I smiled back, holding back the lump in my throat. "Thank you, Uncle."
Then I turned and left the house.
***
Somewhere deep in the darkness of the world…
"My King, there's no sign of the boy you mentioned anywhere near the mountain," said an assassin dressed in black, kneeling on one knee.
"Good," the man in gold replied, his voice low and sharp. "He would've been a real nuisance if he were even a few years older."
He leaned back in his throne, the golden light from his armor flickering dimly in the shadows. His thoughts drifted back to those eyes—one red, one green. The memory alone made his jaw tighten.
"How goes the soul collection?" he asked finally.
"Our assassins are still gathering more," the man in black replied. "We've also located the next Source of Souls, but reaching it may take a few weeks."
"Very well," the man in gold said, his tone filled with quiet satisfaction. "Once we have it, we'll be one step closer. With this calamity, we'll rule the magic world—and bridge it to the other kingdoms."
He rose from his seat, the sound of metal echoing in the silent chamber.
"Very well," he whispered again, almost to himself—his voice fading into the darkness.