Prologue

Do you have faith in God?

This is a question that can have many different answers, depending on who you ask. Personally, I don't really believe in the idea of some all-powerful beings controlling our vast world... except when it comes to exams. But I could never admit that to my family – they are devout Christians.

As I pondered these thoughts, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished out my smartphone from my cargo pants and saw it was a call from my little brother, Neo. "Hey Neo, what's up?" I answered.

"Are you finished with your exam? How did it go?" he asked eagerly.

"It went well. I should be able to get a good grade," I replied.

"That's awesome! When are you coming back home?"

"I'm on my way now. Just about to leave through the university gate."

"Perfect! I'll let Uncle know. We're having fried chicken for dinner tonight!"

I chuckled at his excitement. "Sounds great! Well, I should start heading back now."

"Okay, see you soon!"

"Bye," I hung up the phone and returned it to my pocket, taking one last look at the wallpaper before leaving – a photo of my parents with Neo and me, their smiling faces radiating warmth as they rested their hands on our shoulders. A pang of longing hit me. "I miss you both so much, Mom and Dad." Currently, my brother and I were living with our uncle and aunt, who had taken us in after the day of the accident.

I blinked away tears and shook myself out of the memories. "No time for this," I scolded myself as I made my way towards the exit.

*

The city streets hummed with life, the sound of footsteps, chatter, and the occasional honk of cars. I walked through the crowd, feeling oddly detached like I was watching everything from a distance.

My mind was still spinning from the difficult test I had just taken, and the vibrant scene around me only seemed to make me feel more alone.

Turning a corner, a sign caught my eye—"AROMA." It was a café Neo had mentioned before. Something about it felt familiar like a thread pulling me in. I paused for a moment, then pushed open the door.

The warmth hit me immediately, along with the rich scent of fresh coffee and baked goods. The cozy interior had a welcoming, lived-in feel, with wooden tables, soft lighting, and large windows that let in the sunlight, casting a gentle glow over everything.

I stood there for a second, just soaking it all in. Maybe I could grab a chocolate pastry for Neo—he was always talking about how much he loved them here. And I could get myself a coffee too, something to take the edge off.

I joined the line, glancing around at the people chatting and laughing in quiet conversation.

When it was my turn, I ordered quickly—chocolate pastry to go, large coffee. The barista, a friendly woman with a bright smile, handed me my order and asked if I needed anything else.

I shook my head, murmuring a thanks before heading to find a seat.

I spotted a small table by the window and settled into the chair, the warmth of the coffee in my hands grounding me.

The café felt alive—people sipping their drinks, talking, laughing, while the sun streamed through the windows, making everything look a little softer.

Just as I took my first sip, a calm voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"May I join you?"

I looked up to see an elderly man, probably in his 50s or 60s, standing in front of me. He wore a brown overcoat over a crisp white shirt, and his round glasses sat on the bridge of his nose. His face, lined with age, softened into a kind smile.

He glanced around, then back at me. "It's a bit crowded. Looks like you've got the only empty seat."

I glanced around the room and realized he was right—there wasn't an empty seat in sight. I hesitated for a moment, then gestured to the chair across from me.

"It's fine," I said, a little awkwardly, but smiling back at him. "Please, sit."

 "Thank you, young man," the elderly man said, relief in his voice as he settled into the seat across from me.

"It's no problem," I replied, offering a polite smile.

"I'm Hector Morgan, but just call me Hector. And you are?" He leaned forward slightly, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"I'm Lucian Crawford. Nice to meet you, Mr. Hector," I responded, returning his smile.

Hector's brow furrowed for a moment, his gaze sharpening as he repeated my last name under his breath. "Crawford?" he asked, sounding a little uncertain.

"Yes," I answered, giving him a confident nod.

"Are you by any chance related to Mr. Richard Crawford?" He tilted his head slightly, his tone laced with curiosity.

'Richard Crawford… that's my uncle's name,' I thought, my mind racing. Could he possibly know my uncle? Richard Crawford was my father's brother.

After my parents passed away, he and his wife—my aunt—had taken care of me and Neo. They were the closest thing I had to family.

"Yes, he's my uncle," I replied.

"Ah, I thought so. I'm his colleague," Hector said, nodding to himself as though a puzzle piece had clicked into place.

"I see," I murmured, unsure of what to make of that.

"So, you must be Lucian, the oldest one?" he asked, eyes bright with recognition.

"Yes," I confirmed, not entirely sure where this conversation was going.

"Your uncle talks about you a lot," Hector added, his voice warm.

"Is that so? What does he say?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Mostly about you being diligent and... well, so-so," Hector replied with a grin, his eyes twinkling.

"Hehe, I see," I chuckled at his words, feeling a little embarrassed.

Hector smiled back, his tone upbeat. "Well, I can see that for myself." He suddenly paused, his eyes widening as if he remembered something important. "Oh, wait! I almost forgot!"

With that, he fumbled around in his coat pocket, pulling out a white envelope. He handed it to me. "What's this?" I asked, glancing at the envelope in my hands.

"It's a letter for your uncle. I was going to visit your place, but lucky for me, I ran into you here," Hector explained.

"I see, I'll make sure he gets it." I took the envelope from him, glancing at it.

"Don't open it, alright? Please make sure to give it directly to your uncle," Hector said, his voice suddenly more serious.

"I understand," I replied, nodding.

"Well, I'd best be on my way," Hector said as he stood up, adjusting his overcoat with a swift motion.

"I hope we meet again, Lucian," he added, his voice filled with a warmth.

"Yes," I said, standing as well. I gave a slight bow of respect.

"And... good luck, ■■■■■■." Hector's words hung in the air for a moment, strange and out of place.

"Good luck?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow, but when I looked up, Hector was gone—vanished without a trace.

I glanced around the café in confusion, scanning the room for any sign of him. He wasn't there.

I turned toward the window, but he was nowhere to be seen outside either.

"Miss!" I called out, raising my hand to get the attention of a nearby waitress.

"Yes, sir?" she replied, walking over with a polite smile.

"Did you see an old man leave? He was sitting with me just now," I asked, still a little bewildered.

The waitress blinked in confusion. "But, sir... you were sitting all alone."

Her words only deepened the mystery, and I found myself even more confused than before. My forehead furrowed as I tried to make sense of what had just happened.

"Sir... are you feeling alright?" The waitress asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I'm fine," I reassured her, offering a small smile despite the questions swirling in my mind. "Thank you."

She nodded, still looking at me with some worry. "Please take care," she said before returning to her work.

I stared at the spot where Hector had been, unsure of what to make of it all. I should probably leave.

I finished my coffee in one quick gulp, grabbed Neo's chocolate pastry, and headed for the door, my mind filled with unanswered questions.

*

As I walked back home, my mind kept drifting back to that strange old man, Hector Morgan. 'Where did he go? What did he mean by 'good luck'?' The questions kept spinning in my head.

"Agh, whatever," I muttered to myself. "I should just get home."

I pulled my phone from my pocket, glancing at the screen. '7:47 P.M.' Great. It was getting late, and I needed to hurry. I quickened my pace, hoping I could make it home before 8. 'Guess I'll be late,' I sighed.

Then something clicked in my mind—Hector had given me a letter, right? The one for my uncle. 'Should I open it?' I paused for a moment, the curiosity gnawing at me. 'You know what? Screw it, I'll read it.'

I fished the letter out of my pocket and ripped the envelope open. Without thinking much about it, I tossed the envelope aside and unfolded the paper, my eyes scanning the words.

-So, you didn't listen to me and opened the letter, curious one, aren't ya?

"What in the actual fuck?" I stopped mid-step and blurted out loud. People on the street turned to look at me like I was crazy. I flushed and lowered my head, quickly reading the letter again, trying to shake off the awkwardness.

-Well, I was lying though—this letter was for you, Lucian Crawford, or not.

I let out a frustrated mutter under my breath, "This damned old fool." My eyebrows twitched as I kept reading, despite the rising frustration.

-Well, whatever. This letter will help you on your journey and the challenges that you will face very soon. That's all I wanted to say to you, My Successor. Peace, Arkansas.

"Wait, what?" I scratched my head in confusion. 'Successor? Arkansas? What the hell is this?' My mind spun, a thousand questions popping up all at once.

My head started to throb as I reread the message, trying to make sense of it. That's when I noticed something strange—the back of the letter suddenly started to glow faintly. I froze, staring at the paper.

The glow intensified, and I flipped the letter over. On the back, there was a symbol—a design similar to those in dungeons of games I played as a kid. But why was it glowing now?

 -Booooooom!

Before I could process what was happening, a deafening explosion rang out in the distance. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly shoved the letter into my pocket, running toward the sound without a second thought.

"Kyaaaaaaaaah!"

"Run!"

"Help! Someone!"

The air was filled with panicked screams. I rounded the corner and froze. A chaotic tide of people surged toward me, their faces pale with terror, eyes wide with dread, their movements erratic as if something terrible was chasing them.

I didn't have to guess what had them so afraid.

-Thud.

The ground trembled beneath me as a heavy sound echoed ahead. My heart raced, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw what had caused the commotion.

Standing in front of something like a huge red portal, a towering figure—easily two meters tall—stood before me, its monstrous silhouette black body. Two wickedly curved horns sprouted from its head, and its claws gleamed like sharpened daggers. In one hand, it held a decapitated body, the severed head nowhere in sight.

My grip slackened, and the packet holding Neo's chocolate pastry slipped from my hand, falling unnoticed to the ground.

'Where's the head?' I thought, my eyes frantically scanning the scene.

I didn't have to look far.

The creature's glowing crimson eyes flicked to mine as it casually clenched the severed head between its teeth. The sharp fangs sank into the neck with sickening ease, blood dripping down in thick streams, staining the pavement beneath. A wave of nausea surged through me, my stomach churning as I fought the urge to vomit.

The creature dropped the lifeless body, the corpse crumpling at its feet with a sickening thud. It stood there for a moment, towering, terrifying before it slowly turned toward me.

-Thud. Thud. Thud

Every step it took felt like a drumbeat of doom, each footfall echoing in my chest, making it harder to breathe. My body refused to move, frozen in place as I stared at the creature, paralyzed with fear.

A chilling laugh filled the air, like nails scraping down a chalkboard.

"Khikhikhikhi…"

The sound sent a shiver down my spine. Its voice, deep and guttural, was something out of a nightmare.

"Kang Wo newo? Lesser," it hissed in a language I couldn't understand, the words foreign, harsh.

My thoughts scrambled. 'What the hell is it saying?'

I could feel the sweat pooling on my skin, my heart pounding faster than ever as my body refused to obey. My legs stayed rooted to the spot, unable to move, no matter how much I screamed at them to run.

The creature took another step forward, its crimson eyes never leaving mine, and I felt my breath quicken. Panic set in.

'Please, move!' I begged myself. But my body remained still, completely at its mercy.

And then, before I could do anything to escape…

-Thap.

A sickening, unrelenting grip tightened around my neck. I gasped, my breath becoming shallow and frantic as pain spread through my neck like wildfire. The creature's claws dug deeper, and I could feel the warmth of my blood seeping through the wounds on my neck. My vision began to blur, the world spinning around me as my consciousness slipped away.

'This is it. I'm going to die.'

I wanted to scream, to fight back, but my body refused to cooperate. Every muscle screamed in protest, every fiber of my being trembling with fear, but all I could do was hang there, helpless.

The creature's grin widened as it watched me struggle, savoring every second of my despair. Its free hand rose, claws gleaming with deadly intent, hovering over my chest. It was almost leisurely, the way it moved, as though taking its time with my demise.

I couldn't breathe. My heart was slowing. The air around me felt thicker, as if it too was tightening in preparation for the end. 'This is how it ends?' I thought, tears streaming down my face as the world around me darkened.

The creature's claws lowered, and I felt a sharp, searing pain as they punctured my chest, sinking into the soft tissue with brutal precision. My lungs screamed for air, but it was as though everything was being crushed under the weight of the strike.

I let out a strangled gasp, my vision going black as the life drained from me.

And then, everything went silent.