1565 AD
There was a small town called "Wings of Nori", where Nori was worshipped as the Goddess of Power.
Located in eastern Rafance, the town was also known as "Won." The people of Won believed that a legendary artifact, given by the goddess to one of her worshippers almost a hundred years ago, still existed. However, no one knew where it was. Many outsiders had tried to find it, but none had succeeded.
Over time, people started believing that the artifact no longer existed.
The Incident in the Alley
One day, a small alley in town was packed with people, pushing and shoving as if a fight had broken out.
"Clear the path!" the guards shouted, but the civilians did not listen.
Forcing their way through the crowd, the guards finally saw something shocking.
A 13- or 14-year-old boy was fighting against a group of strangers. His name was Louis Corbin. The group had been torturing him with a hammer.
Two of his fingers—his pinky and ring finger—had already been smashed. He sat on the ground, his face expressionless, but his eyes filled with tears. Despite the unbearable pain, he resisted crying out.
One of the attackers scoffed, "That's enough for today. You're lucky we're in town with all these people watching. If we had met somewhere else, you'd already be dead." His voice was laced with menace, his expression terrifying.
Even the guards did nothing. The crowd stood frozen in fear.
Suddenly, a man from the crowd stepped forward.
A woman grabbed his arm, warning him, "You shouldn't go there. They're not just talk. Have you ever heard of the Romani Group?"
The moment she mentioned their name, a wave of fear spread through the people.
The man, however, was unfazed. "What do I care about their name?" he said defiantly. Then, glaring at the attackers, he shouted, "You bastards, leave that boy alone! I am a Rank-E fighting-class adventurer! I'm no ordinary man. Come, fight me, if you dare!"
He smirked. "What? Are you scared of me? I knew it! You guys are all talk—nothing more than a bunch of worthless bra—"
(Sound of a sword slicing through flesh.)
Silence fell over the alley.
The man's severed head hit the ground, rolling away from his body. Blood splattered across the alley walls.
Panic erupted. People screamed and ran in all directions.
Louis, terrified, also started running. With his injured fingers, he dashed toward the nearby forest. Spotting a narrow gap between two large rocks, he forced his way through it, barely squeezing his small frame inside.
At the end of the passage, he discovered something extraordinary—a massive cave.
The Mysterious Cave
Unlike natural caves, this one looked artificial, man-made.
Louis, struggling from blood loss, tore pieces of his ragged clothing and wrapped them around his mangled fingers. Then, as he looked around, he noticed something strange—the cave walls were covered with paintings.
One large image stood out.
It depicted a beautiful winged goddess standing before a kneeling man. She appeared to be doing something to his hand, which was glowing with power. Below the image, an inscription read:
"Ownership given to Ranty Brokman. Shall be passed to the chosen one after the reawakening of the goddess, 100 years from today."
There was no mention of what the ownership was or who Ranty Brokman had been.
Then, it struck Louis—tomorrow was New Year's Day.
He had always prayed on New Year's Eve, asking for his mother's happiness in the afterlife. She had died when he was just eight. He had grown up alone, surviving on his own.
But now... was this the end for him?
His vision blurred as blood continued to seep from his wounds. His body trembled from exhaustion.
"Maybe this is for the best," he thought. "Mother, I'm coming to you."
Stumbling forward, he found a perfectly round rock, slightly elevated above the others. At its center was an unusual marking, encircled by a patterned design.
He didn't think twice. He climbed onto the rock and began praying.
As he whispered his final words, his body collapsed.
Then, he heard it.
A voice in his mind.
"You are the chosen one."
It echoed deep within him, neither male nor female, but something divine.
"The blessing of the Goddess of Power will now be bestowed upon you. You have met the requirements. You will gain a strength that no one has possessed in a century. With time and hard work, you shall grow even stronger."
Suddenly, a blinding light flashed in his mind.
To Be Continued...