Reiji hesitated as he stood in the center of the chamber, the six doors encircling him, each marked with a symbol corresponding to the rings he had encountered. His heart raced, and his mind swirled with questions. The ring on his finger pulsed faintly, a soft orange glow casting shadows across the floor.
Before he could take a step forward, the ground beneath him shifted. The faint orange light intensified, illuminating the intricate design of the Vongola crest etched into the floor. The glowing symbol blazed to life, radiating a blinding light that forced Reiji to shield his eyes.
The sensation was immediate. The floor beneath him dissolved, and the very air around him seemed to warp and stretch. Reiji felt weightless, as if he were being pulled through space itself. His heart pounded in his chest, and though panic surged through him, something instinctual kept him from screaming.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the world settled. The light faded, and Reiji found himself standing on solid ground once more.
He opened his eyes, blinking against the lingering glow, and took in his new surroundings. Gone was the circular chamber with its six imposing doors. Instead, he stood in what looked like an ancient, grand meeting room. Tall, towering windows lined the stone walls, though they revealed only darkness beyond. A massive round table sat in the center of the room, crafted from dark wood and intricately carved with symbols Reiji didn't recognize. The air here was still and heavy, yet it hummed with an energy that made Reiji's skin tingle.
But it wasn't the room that captured Reiji's attention—it was the two figures standing across from him.
The first man was tall, his posture commanding but not harsh. His presence was dignified, an air of authority and quiet wisdom surrounding him. He wore a long coat, dark and simple, yet there was a noble aura about him, like a leader who had seen many battles but remained calm amidst the chaos. However, Reiji couldn't make out the man's face clearly; it was as if his features were blurred, fading into the shadows. Only his piercing gaze stood out, carrying the weight of centuries of history.
Beside him stood a younger man, more casually dressed but exuding the same quiet strength. His face, too, was hard to see, obscured as though he were a fragment of memory, the edges of his features blurred as if by distance. His eyes, though, gleamed with intensity. When he spoke, his voice sounded distorted—static and distant, as though echoing through time itself.
"You've come far," the younger figure said, his words slightly fragmented. "But the real trial has only just begun."
Reiji's throat tightened. The static quality of the voice, the distant echo… it was the same as the voice he had heard earlier, when the rings had spoken to him. Who are these people? His mind raced with questions, but before he could voice them, the younger man continued.
"We are remnants of a legacy," the younger man said, his eyes locking with Reiji's, though his face remained hazy. "A legacy you now carry. You wear the ring of the Sky, the one that binds the others. But your journey is not complete. To unlock the true power of the Vongola, you must gather those worthy of standing by your side."
Reiji blinked, trying to process what was being said. "Gather… worthy?" His voice cracked as he spoke. "Who are you? What is this place? What is the Vongola?"
But his questions seemed to go unheard. The older figure remained silent, watching, while the younger one continued to speak.
"The rings you found are not just artifacts," the younger man said, his voice crackling with static. "They are keys to a greater power. But their true strength can only be awakened when the bonds between you and your Guardians are forged. You must find those whose hearts align with the flames, those who will fight for you and with you."
Reiji's head spun. Guardians? Flames? His mouth went dry. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his frustration bubbling up. "What does the Vongola do? What does the ring mean? What kind of trial is this?"
For the first time, the younger man faltered, his gaze dropping slightly. He opened his mouth as if to answer, but no sound came out. Instead, he looked to the older figure, who remained still, his expression unreadable beneath the shadows.
Reiji's heart sank as the room seemed to shift once more, the air growing thick and heavy. He could feel his pulse in his temples as silence filled the space between them. "Please," Reiji said, his voice quieter now. "I don't understand. What do you want from me?"
For a moment, the younger man looked almost sorrowful. Then, slowly, he extended his hand. In his palm, a small, orange flame flickered to life, burning brightly without consuming the air around it. The sight of it caused Reiji to take a sharp breath, the heat of the flame somehow radiating all the way across the room.
"The Dying Will Flame," the younger man said, his voice breaking up as though it were transmitted through static. "This is your inheritance. The flame of determination that burns when you are pushed to your limits. Use it wisely, and it will grant you strength beyond measure. But only those who carry the Vongola's true spirit can wield it."
Reiji stared at the flame, mesmerized by its glow. There was something about it—something familiar, yet terrifyingly foreign. The flame seemed to pulse, drawing him in, and he could feel its power resonating deep within him.
"With this flame," the younger man continued, "comes the gift of Hyper Intuition. It will guide you, warn you, and reveal truths hidden from ordinary eyes. You must rely on it in the trials to come."
Before Reiji could respond, the flame in the younger man's hand flared brightly, expanding in an instant and enveloping Reiji in a wave of heat and light. He gasped, instinctively raising his hands to shield himself, but the flame didn't burn. Instead, it flowed over him, through him, filling every part of his body with warmth and energy.
The sensation was overwhelming. For a brief moment, Reiji felt as though he were connected to something far greater than himself—a legacy stretching back through the ages. He could feel the weight of it pressing down on him, the responsibility, the power, the history. It was all too much.
"Use it well," the younger man's voice echoed, growing fainter and more fragmented. "The trial is yours to complete. Find your Guardians. Prove your worth."
Reiji opened his mouth to speak, to protest, but no sound came out. The room around him began to fade, the figures of the two men dissolving into the same ethereal light that had brought him here. Panic surged through him.
"Wait!" he called out, his voice desperate. "I still have questions! What is this trial? What am I supposed to do?"
But there was no answer. The light continued to swallow the room, and the remnants of the two men disappeared completely, leaving Reiji standing alone for a moment.
The next thing he knew, he was back in the room with the pedestal, where the rings still lay in their deliberate formation. The glow of the Vongola crest faded from the floor, and Reiji's surroundings returned to the eerie stillness of the abandoned mansion. The air was heavy, but now it carried the warmth of the Dying Will Flame, still flickering faintly in his chest.
He stood there, frozen, trying to process everything that had just happened. Guardians? Trials? The power of the Vongola?
It was too much. He had barely scratched the surface of this world, and already he was being asked to carry a responsibility he didn't understand.
But one thing was clear. He wasn't just an ordinary boy anymore. He had been chosen for something greater, and whether he liked it or not, the path ahead was one he would have to walk.
With a deep breath, Reiji clenched his fist, feeling the warmth of the Dying Will Flame flare up within him. A flicker of light danced on his forehead, the orange flame pulsing faintly, just like the one he had seen in the remnant's hand.
His trial had begun.
And there was no turning back.