Chapter 1

The story begins with Tengen Ruise jolting awake to a cacophony of chaos. The air was thick with the clamor of angry voices, the thud of objects striking the walls of his home, and the shattering of glass. His heart raced as he threw off his blanket and scrambled to his feet, the urgency in the cries outside pulling him fully into consciousness. He rushed down the creaking stairs, his bare feet slapping against the wooden steps, and burst into the living room.

There, he found his Uncle seated calmly on the worn couch, his expression unreadable, as though the turmoil outside was nothing more than a distant storm. Tengen hesitated, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps, before stepping closer. "Uncle," he began, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and dread, "what's happening? Why are they out there? What did we do?"

His Uncle turned to him slowly, his eyes heavy with a burden Tengen couldn't yet comprehend. For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the occasional crash from outside. Then, with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world, his Uncle spoke. "Your father," he said, his voice low and measured, "he broke the seal. The one that kept the goddess of destruction locked away in the dimensional rift. And now... we have only a month before her ascension."

Tengen's mind reeled, the words hitting him like a blow. His father? The man he had never truly known, the shadow that loomed over his life in whispers and half-truths, had done *this*? A storm of emotions surged within him—frustration, hatred, and a gnawing sense of betrayal. His fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as he struggled to make sense of it all. "Why?" he finally managed to choke out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why would he do something like that?"

But his Uncle only shook his head, his gaze distant, as if he too was searching for answers that lay just out of reach. Outside, the angry cries of the civilians grew louder, a reminder that the world was already unraveling, and Tengen stood at the center of it all, unsure of what to do—or where to even begin.

The son of a man whose wife had given her very life to seal away the demon goddess—only for that same man to shatter the seal, rendering her sacrifice meaningless. The weight of this truth pressed down on Tengen like a mountain, crushing his spirit but also igniting a fierce determination within him. He had no choice now. He would have to venture out into the world, gather the powers of the five kings, and use them to seal the rift before the goddess could ascend. It was a desperate plan, but it was the only one he had.

As he stood there, grappling with the enormity of the task ahead, the front door burst open. In rushed Inumashi Takakura, his childhood friend, his face flushed and his chest heaving as though he had run a great distance. "Tengen!" Inumashi exclaimed, his voice sharp with urgency. "I heard everything. I'm coming with you."

Tengen blinked, stunned. "Inumashi, you don't have to—"

"Don't even start," Inumashi interrupted, his tone firm. "You're not doing this alone. We've been through too much together for me to let you face this by yourself. Besides," he added with a faint smirk, "you'd probably get lost without me."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Tengen felt a flicker of relief. Inumashi's presence was a comfort, a reminder that he wasn't entirely alone in this. But the relief was short-lived, as the reality of their mission quickly settled back in. "We don't even know where to start," Tengen admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "The five kingdoms are vast, and we have no idea where the keys are hidden or how to even approach the kings."

It was then that Tengen's Uncle, who had been silent until now, rose from the couch. His expression was grave, but there was a glint of resolve in his eyes. "I have a plan," he said, his voice steady. "But it won't be easy. The journey will be dangerous, and the kings will not part with their keys willingly. You'll need to prove yourselves worthy, and even then, there are no guarantees."

Tengen and Inumashi exchanged a glance, their determination mirrored in each other's eyes. "We'll do whatever it takes," Tengen said firmly.

His Uncle nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Good. Then listen closely. The first key lies in the Kingdom of Lorathis, hidden within the Shrine of Eternal Flame. But to reach it, you'll need to pass through the Forest of Whispers, a place where few have returned from. And that's just the beginning."

As his Uncle laid out the plan, Tengen felt a strange mix of fear and excitement coursing through him. The road ahead was fraught with peril, but it was a road he had to take. For his mother. For the world. And for the chance to right the wrongs his father had unleashed. With Inumashi by his side and his Uncle's guidance, Tengen steeled himself for the journey that would decide the fate of Phaloria—and perhaps, his own.

Tengen knew that before he could even think about embarking on his quest, he had to face the furious crowd outside. The villagers' anger was justified—his father had unleashed a catastrophe that threatened to destroy everything they held dear. The goddess Athna's return would mean the end of their world, and the pain of generations past would pale in comparison to the suffering that awaited them. Tengen couldn't blame them for their rage, but he also couldn't let their hatred consume him. He had to make them understand that he was not his father, and that he was willing to risk everything to set things right.

Taking a deep breath, Tengen stepped out of the house, Inumashi close behind him. The moment he appeared, the crowd erupted. Angry shouts filled the air, and objects—rocks, rotten fruit, and whatever else they could find—were hurled in his direction. Tengen raised his arms to shield himself, but he didn't retreat. He stood his ground, his heart pounding but his resolve unwavering.

"Listen to me!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I know you're angry—and you have every right to be! My father's actions have put us all in danger. But I'm not him! I didn't break the seal, and I don't stand by what he's done!"

The crowd hesitated, their shouts momentarily dying down. Tengen seized the opportunity, stepping forward with his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I'm just as much a victim of his choices as you are. My mother gave her life to seal Athna away, and my father threw that sacrifice away. But I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to fix this. I'm going to restore the seal and stop the goddess from returning. I just need your help—or at least, your understanding."

For a moment, there was silence. The villagers exchanged uncertain glances, their anger still simmering but tempered by Tengen's words. Then, an elderly man stepped forward, his face lined with grief and his voice trembling with emotion. "Your father took everything from us," he said, his words heavy with pain. "How can we trust you? How do we know you won't betray us like he did?"

Tengen met the man's gaze, his own eyes filled with determination. "You don't have to trust me," he replied. "But I'm asking for a chance to prove myself. If I fail, you can direct your anger at me then. But if I succeed, we all survive. Isn't that worth the risk?"

The crowd murmured among themselves, their anger slowly giving way to uncertainty. Inumashi stepped forward, standing beside Tengen. "I've known Tengen my whole life," he said, his voice steady and strong. "He's not his father. He's someone who cares about this village, about all of you. If anyone can fix this, it's him. But he can't do it alone."

The elderly man studied Tengen for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well," he said. "We'll give you a chance. But know this—if you fail, or if you betray us, there will be no mercy."

Tengen nodded, relief and gratitude flooding through him. "Thank you," he said. "I won't let you down."

As the crowd began to disperse, their anger momentarily quelled, Tengen felt the weight of their expectations settle on his shoulders. He had bought himself some time, but the real challenge lay ahead. The journey to restore the seal would be long and perilous, and failure was not an option. With Inumashi by his side and the faint hope of the villagers behind him, Tengen steeled himself for the trials to come. The fate of Phaloria—and his own redemption—depended on it.