prologue

Lying on the soft grass, I stared up at the sky, watching the clouds lazily drift by. The old tree above me rustled gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows over my face. This tiny meadow, barely big enough to be called one, was my little sanctuary—a patch of peace near the orphanage where I could escape the daily noise.

Honestly, I wasn't sure why I always ended up here. Maybe it was the flowers. Maybe it was the quiet. Or maybe it was because it was one of the few places where I could think without someone yanking my ear or calling me a 'pretty boy.'

Oh yeah. The whole 'pretty boy' thing.

Apparently, my face was some kind of magnet. The girls in the orphanage liked talking to me, which would've been fine—except they weren't just being friendly. They wanted to 'get close' or something. I didn't really get it. I just wanted to be left alone most of the time. But no, they had to chat, giggle, and try to hang around me.

Which, as it turns out, made the other boys absolutely hate me.

Darren, the self-proclaimed boss of the orphanage, decided it was his life's mission to put me in my place. I wasn't some 'pampered military kid,' but that didn't matter to them. I was the punching bag, the target for their endless pranks, and the guy who somehow got on their nerves just by existing.

I sighed and closed my eyes.

It wasn't like I had a choice in how I looked. If I did, I would've asked for something more 'average.' Maybe then I wouldn't get randomly ambushed for 'looking smug.'

My parents? I barely remembered them. I was six when they died, heroes who fought for humanity and left behind… well, me. Apparently, they were a big deal in the military, which meant they left behind some money. But I never saw any of it. My lovely uncle and his family took care of that.

And by 'took care of,' I mean they vanished with it faster than I could blink.

Next thing I knew, I was shipped off to some countryside orphanage and forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind.

But hey, at least I wasn't completely miserable. I had my meadow, I had fresh air, and despite the occasional punches to the gut, life wasn't that bad.

Right?

---

The day everything changed started off just like any other.

I had just finished my chores and was heading back when Darren and his gang 'happened' to block my path.

"Oi, pretty boy. In a hurry?" Darren grinned, cracking his knuckles.

Not again.

I gave him a nervous smile. "Uh… kinda? I was actually thinking of—"

"Thinking? Don't hurt yourself." One of his goons snickered.

Great. Another 'lesson' about how much they disliked my face. Just what I needed. I was just about to brace for impact when the ground beneath me shifted.

Wait… shifted?

Before I could react, the rubble under my feet gave way. I felt my stomach lurch as the ground disappeared beneath me. For a moment, time slowed. I saw Darren's face twist in shock, his hands reaching out—but not for me. He was stumbling backward, his gang shouting in panic.

And then I was falling.

The world blurred as I tumbled down, dirt and rocks tumbling alongside me. I tried to grab onto something—anything—but my fingers scraped uselessly against the crumbling wall of the pit I had unknowingly stood on.

The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was Darren's terrified expression as he turned and ran.

---

Pain. Everything hurt.

I groaned and opened my eyes, blinking against the dim light. My whole body ached, my limbs felt like they'd been put through a blender, and my head throbbed like it had been used as a drum.

Where… was I?

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my ribs made me freeze. Slowly, my vision adjusted, revealing… strange structures. Not natural caves or underground tunnels, but ruins.

Massive, ancient-looking walls towered around me, covered in intricate carvings. Glowing symbols pulsed faintly in the darkness, and the air felt… heavy. Almost electric.

What was this place?

I swallowed, my heart pounding. One thing was clear: I wasn't just in some hole.

I had fallen into something far more dangerous.

And I had no idea how to get out.

______

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