Zenith and Anya walked in silence through the dimly lit streets of Lunaris. The announcement from President Gayle had shaken them both to the core. The unknown Green Shield, the foreboding return of the Darkness, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead clouded Zenith's thoughts. The weight of it all pressed heavily on his chest, making each step feel heavier than the last. Anya, usually sharp and composed, remained unusually quiet beside him, her mind seemingly just as burdened.
As they reached home, a modest yet sturdy house built with Lunaris's signature moonstone bricks, Wilson was already waiting for them at the entrance. His aged eyes, wise yet inquisitive, narrowed as he observed Zenith's troubled expression.
"Zenith," Wilson called out, stepping forward. "You look like a man who's seen a ghost. What's wrong?"
Zenith hesitated, glancing at Anya before turning back to Wilson. "What is the Darkness? And what is the Green Shield?"
Wilson frowned at the mention of the Green Shield but shook his head. "I do not know about the Green Shield," he admitted. "Its origins are unknown to most. But the Darkness... That, I have read about."
Anya's eyes sharpened, and she stepped forward. "Tell us everything you know, Wilson. This is important."
Wilson sighed, rubbing his hands together as if to gather his thoughts. He gestured for them to sit near the fireplace, where the dim glow of embers cast flickering shadows on the walls.
"There is a world beyond our own," Wilson began, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "A world filled with horrors we can scarcely imagine. It exists in the void, parallel to our own, yet separated by forces beyond mortal understanding. It is called the Demon World. And at its helm sits the Lord of Demons, the twenty-eighth of his line—Mortiferus."
A cold chill ran down Zenith's spine at the name. It carried weight, as if the mere utterance of it could summon something dark and malevolent into their midst.
Wilson continued, "Mortiferus is not just any demon lord. He is the culmination of centuries of darkness, a being so powerful that even the other demons fear him.."
Anya leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "But why does he seek our world? What does he want from us?"
Wilson's face grew grim. "Power. But not just any
power—immortality. You see, the demons are not like us. They do not live and die as humans do. But they are not eternal either. Their lifespans are long, but they can still perish. Mortiferus has spent eons searching for a way to attain deathless life. And he has found that the only way to do so is to consume the heart of the Earth itself—the core that gives life to our world."
Zenith clenched his fists. "And if he succeeds?"
Wilson's voice was barely above a whisper now. "Then everything we know will be undone. The Earth will crumble. Life will cease to exist. And Mortiferus will rise as an immortal god, reigning over a dead world."
The room fell silent. The weight of Wilson's words seemed to suffocate the air itself.
Zenith broke the silence, his voice tight. "But the Green Shield... It has protected us all this time. How? Who created it?"
Wilson exhaled slowly. "That... I do not know. Some say it was the work of ancient sorcerers, others believe it to be the will of the gods. But one thing is certain—it was never meant to last forever. And now, with only six years remaining before it fails, we are left with more questions than answers."
Anya shook her head, her expression unreadable. "We can't just sit and wait for this to happen. We have to do something."
Wilson looked at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "That is why I am telling you this, Anya. You and Zenith may be the ones who can uncover the truth. There is still time, but you must act swiftly. The answers you seek will not come easily."
Zenith met Anya's gaze. There was no need for words between them. They both knew what had to be done. The road ahead was uncertain, the dangers unimaginable, but they had no choice.
The night air was still, heavy with unspoken words. The faint glow of Lunaris City's enchanted lanterns flickered through the open windows of Wilson's home, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. The quiet crackling of the hearth was the only sound in the dimly lit room as Zenith sat across from Wilson, his mind brimming with unanswered questions.
Wilson leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the fire as if searching for something beyond the flames.
Zenith exhaled, steadying himself. He had been waiting for the right moment—and now, with the weight of the knowledge Wilson had shared about the coming darkness, he couldn't hold back any longer.
"Is there any way to reach the Demon Lord, Mortiferus?" Zenith's voice cut through the silence like a blade.
Wilson's expression darkened. His usually calm demeanor stiffened, his fingers curling slightly against his armrest. His next words were slow, deliberate.
"There is no way to reach him."
Zenith frowned. "But if we could—if there was a way—what would we need to do?"
Wilson turned his gaze to him, unreadable. The firelight reflected in his deep-set eyes, making them seem ancient, as if he had seen things Zenith could not begin to comprehend.
"Even if such a path existed, you would first have to defeat the six elements that guard him." His voice was steady, but there was something beneath it—something that felt like a warning.
Zenith leaned forward. "Six elements? But we only have clans based on fire, water, earth, air, time, and light."
Wilson shook his head. "The elements I speak of are not clans. They are guardians, each a force of nature beyond human control. And none who have faced them have ever returned."
The words settled into Zenith's bones like ice, but they only ignited more curiosity. He clenched his fists, frustration creeping in.
"Then how did my father know about this?"
Wilson's expression didn't change, but Zenith noticed the subtle shift—the slight tensing of his shoulders.
That's when it hit him.
"When my father left…" Zenith's voice lowered, as if speaking the thought aloud might break reality. "He took off his bracelet. And when he did… his veins turned green."
Wilson didn't react.
Zenith swallowed, his heart pounding. "I've studied all the clans. There's no green-veined clan. But when my father revealed his veins, they glowed like emerald fire. And then…" He hesitated, remembering the moment like a scar seared into his mind.
Silence.
The crackling fire seemed distant now. The weight of his own words pressed down on him like an unseen force.
Finally, Wilson let out a slow breath, rubbing his fingers over his temple as if battling with himself over what to say.
Zenith could see it—the hesitation, the knowledge he wasn't ready to reveal.
"Wilson," Zenith pressed, his voice firm. "What was he?"
The older man looked at him, his eyes carrying a truth too heavy to be spoken.
And then, just as Zenith thought he had pushed too far, Wilson leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was softer now, almost distant.
"You'll know… when the time is right."
Zenith felt his stomach twist.
That was always the answer. Always.
His fingers tightened around the bracelet on his wrist—the same kind his father had worn. Was it keeping something hidden? Was it binding something within him that he didn't yet understand?
Wilson stood, placing a firm hand on Zenith's shoulder. "Go to bed, kid. You have a long road ahead of you."
Zenith wanted to argue, to demand answers, but the look in Wilson's eyes stopped him. There was no breaking through that wall—not tonight.
As he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his father's words echoed in his mind, over and over.
"One day, you'll understand why you were born into this world."
Zenith clenched his fists.
One day wasn't soon enough.
The morning sun hung low over Lunaris City, casting long golden beams over the towering Hall of Lunaris. Normally, the city hummed with the quiet magic of its people, their veins glowing in brilliant hues as they went about their day. But today… something was different.
The streets were quieter. The air, heavier.
The Green Shield, the city's most powerful protection, had stood strong for centuries—an impenetrable barrier of light, shielding Lunaris from external threats. And yet, last night, the announcement had shaken every soul in the city:
"The Green Shield will collapse in six years."
For the first time in generations, fear had settled into the hearts of the people.
Because when the shield fell, so would their safety.
It was no surprise, then, that all practice and training had been canceled. The academy leaders had declared a city-wide gathering to discuss the implications of the shield's failure, leaving the students with unexpected free time.
But Zenith, Anya, Kael, and Akash knew that waiting for answers wasn't enough.
And so, as planned, they gathered at the open training grounds near the Hall of Lunaris, the place where warriors had once trained to protect their city. Today, however, the field was empty—an eerie silence settling over the normally bustling space.
Kael, ever the first to break tension, sighed, stretching his arms behind his head. "So, they cancel all training because the shield is dying. Great. Just great."
Anya, seated on the edge of the stone fountain, her white veins faintly glowing in the morning light, shook her head. "It's not just about the shield. It's what comes after. If the Green Shield falls… what's stopping Lunaris from being invaded?"
Kael let out a dry chuckle. "I don't know… hope?"
Zenith, standing near the base of a carved pillar, ran his fingers along its ancient runes, his mind replaying the words Wilson had told him the night before.
"There's a reason you were born into this world."
He clenched his fists.
They couldn't just wait for fate to decide their future.
"We need to find a way to stop this," Zenith said suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet.
Anya looked up. "Stop what?"
Zenith turned to face them. "The shield collapsing. The end of Lunaris. The darkness that's coming."
Kael whistled lowly. "You make it sound so easy."
Akash, standing slightly apart from the group, his violet veins dim, finally spoke. "It won't be easy," he murmured. "But Zenith is right. If we do nothing, we already know how this ends."
The group fell silent, remembering the visions Akash had shared before. A world swallowed by shadows. A battle they were not meant to win.
Anya exhaled, her fingers tightening against the stone. "We don't even know where to start. The shield's destruction is already set in motion. How do you fight something that was never meant to be stopped?"
Zenith hesitated. "Wilson told me something last night. He said… if we ever want to face Mortiferus, we have to first defeat the six elemental forces that guard him."
Kael straightened, eyes narrowing. "Six? What does that even mean?"
Zenith shook his head. "I don't know yet. But I do know that we can't just sit here waiting for someone else to fix this. If we want to change the future, we have to start now."
Kael clicked his tongue, then smirked. "Well, if we're planning to fight the darkness and save the city, I'd say that's a pretty solid reason to keep training."
Anya nodded. "Then we start gathering information. We need to learn everything about these six elements, about the Green Shield, and what's behind its destruction."
Akash glanced at them, then at his own trembling hands. He had spent so long trying to avoid the future. But now, with these people standing beside him, it didn't seem as terrifying.
He let out a slow breath.
"I'm in," he said.
Zenith smiled—not just because of the promise they had just made, but because, for the first time, he wasn't alone in it.
As the four of them stood together beneath the towering walls of the Hall of Lunaris, the wind whispered through the ancient stone, as if carrying the voices of the past—warriors who had once stood where they stood now.
Zenith felt it deep in his bones.
This was only the beginning.