A scream tore through the void.
"AAAAARGH—!"
The boy's voice cracked, raw with agony, his cry swallowed by the endless darkness. Pain wracked his body, burning deeper than flesh—searing into his very soul.
"It hurts… it hurts…!" His words trembled, choked between ragged breaths. "Why...? Why me…? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!"
He fell—plunging ever deeper into the abyss.
Hellish flames licked at his skin, scorching him from the inside out. There was nothing to grasp, no end in sight—only the suffocating heat, the relentless void, and the weight of his suffering.
Then, just as oblivion threatened to consume him—he awoke.
Gasping for air, his body jolted upright, drenched in cold sweat. His chest heaved, but the pain lingered, a hollow ache curling around his heart.
The nightmare was over.
Or so he thought.
He had yet to realize that the horrors awaiting him in wakefulness would be far crueler.
For this world is not one of mercy.
This world is one of many tales.
And many horrors.
Prologue: The World of Names
"If I may, let me ask you a question. What is the most important thing in this world?"
In this land, a name is more than a simple word.
It is existence itself.
Woven into the very fabric of magic, names are the foundation upon which life stands. Every soul is born with a name, and with it, a purpose.
Those with a single name are called Beings. They possess an ordinary level of magic, their strength varying by fate or ambition. Some live simple lives, while others take up the mantle of adventurers—warriors, mages, and rogues who brave perilous quests, hunting monsters and uncovering ancient relics.
But among them exist rarer souls—those born with two names.
They are known as Blessed Children.
Gifted with immense power, their second name grants them abilities far beyond ordinary Beings. They wield relics of unimaginable strength, known as Aether Relics—sacred weapons forged to channel their unparalleled magic. Scattered across the world, these relics are as rare as the stars in the midnight sky, and those who bear them carry the weight of destiny itself.
Yet, not all in this world are born equal.
For there are those born without a name.
They are known as Nulls—beings without magic, without purpose. Shunned, feared, and cast aside, their existence is seen as an omen of misfortune.
To be nameless is to be nothing.
This world is vast and merciless, filled with monstrous creatures lurking in the shadows—beasts that prowl the forests, mountains, and forgotten ruins. Adventurers risk their lives to protect the fragile peace, but some dangers cannot be fought with steel alone.
Legends whisper of vanished races—elves, demons, spirits, dragons—spoken of only in fairytales. Some believe they faded into obscurity. Others claim they still exist, hidden from sight.
And in the midst of it all, a lone traveler sets forth—nameless, abandoned, searching for something no one else has ever sought.
A name.
A purpose.
A reason to exist.
His journey will uncover truths long buried, awaken forces long forgotten.
For this is the tale of a soul in search of his fate.
A tale of revelations.
A tale of the Guardian.
End of Chapter 0.