Lunopia is a fantastical world where monsters and humans are bound together by a mysterious power. To protect the population from these bloodthirsty beasts, a gift from the heavens is bestowed upon those who wish to become Soul Warriors. These fighters, blessed with limitless potential, see their lives transformed into adventures as thrilling as they are awe-inspiring. It's not uncommon to see young, would-be heroes emerging from every corner of the world in search of power or fame. But while this land is a paradise for adventurers, it can also be deadly to the reckless and inexperienced. Many promising warriors have burned their wings in the eternal quest for new powers.
Far from the chaos of these epic battles, a tiny village called Tipoon lay untouched by any threat. Its inhabitants lived in complete self-sufficiency and desired only one thing: to see their community prosper. Nestled between mountain ranges in the south of the continent of Symeria, this village had not been corrupted by the outside world and enjoyed a peaceful life.
A young boy named Red seemed in excellent spirits that morning. In his usual blunt, simple, and very casual way, he shouted his joy to his friend Cry:
"We're finally ten years old, Cry! You happy, buddy?"
"Calm down, Red! Everyone's looking at us," replied young Cry, embarrassed by his friend's over-the-top behavior.
"Oh, I don't care! It's not every day we get to start hunting outside the village!" Red blurted out, carried away by his good mood.
The two boys had been born on the same day and had been friends since early childhood. They were inseparable despite being very different. Cry was a model child, always ready to help the villagers, known for his kindness toward everyone. His hair was a rare shade of black with faint midnight-blue highlights, perfectly matching the deep blue of his eyes that had charmed all the young girls in the village. Red, on the other hand, was a mischievous troublemaker who loved playing pranks and teasing the shopkeepers. His parents had named him Red because of his hair, a fiery shade of red bordering on crimson. He was slightly shorter than Cry, and his cheeky grin left no doubt he was a born prankster.
Tipoon was about to welcome two new Soul Warriors today.
When a child reached the age of ten, they could take part in the Soul Ceremony. This ritual was led by the village chief, who would call upon the power of the gods and ask them to grant the future warriors a special gift: Harmony. Each warrior would then be able to unite their power with that of a monster. Their physical abilities would change drastically, and the monster would become an integral part of them.
Not everyone wished to become a Soul Warrior, but earning that title was a great source of pride. The birth of a new warrior was always celebrated as a holiday in the village.
Despite their differences, Cry and Red had been waiting for this day for a long time, and they weren't about to risk being late for their ceremony.
"I know you're eager to leave the village, Red, but we have to see the chief first," said Cry, trying to calm his friend's impatience.
"Fine… OK, but let's make it quick! I'm fired up! I can't wait to slay some monsters!"
"By the way, have you seen Summer? She turned ten a few days ago, and I heard she still hasn't harmonized."
"Nope, haven't seen her! I can't stand still, can we go already?"
"Yes! Let's go!" Cry answered firmly.
They then headed toward the village center. A large crowd had already gathered, voices chattering in every direction, when suddenly…
"Quiet down!" said Malik, the village chief, in a firm tone. "Cry and Red, come here, please!"
"Yes, Chief!" the two boys answered in unison.
When the chief spoke, the entire village listened. He was both loved and respected, having spent many years improving life in the village and helping everyone despite the hardships. He was very tall and wore a high-quality leather warrior's tunic. At his belt hung three massive monster teeth, proof beyond doubt of his skill in slaying formidable beasts. To the two young boys watching him with awe, those teeth seemed enormous. They had always wondered what kind of gigantic creatures could have teeth like that.
The chief continued:
"You're both ten years old today! It's not often that two Soul Warriors are born on the same day in our small village. We have very few warriors left, and you will be our future. Make sure you're worthy of it!"
Cry and Red, shy but standing tall, faced the crowd. Red fidgeted like a flea, trying his best to stand straight, while Cry, true to his nature, appeared calm—though inside, he wasn't entirely at ease. Standing in front of the chief and the whole village made him feel self-conscious.
Malik studied them closely. Strangely, he felt something unusual as he looked at Cry. There was something special about this boy, and that surprised him greatly—after all, he was just a ten-year-old child.
"Ahem! Cry, Red! Today you officially become Soul Warriors of Tipoon. Make us proud. We are a small village that has helped one another for generations. Be worthy of the gift the heavens have sent us, choose your monster wisely, and above all, be careful! That goes double for you, Red!"
The crowd burst into laughter. Red turned bright red—being called out like that in front of the whole village, and on the very day he would become a warrior! The boy, not proud of his reputation, had planned to turn over a new leaf once the ceremony was over. But if he thought simply becoming a warrior would polish his image, he was sorely mistaken. It seemed he would have to prove his worth to everyone in a far more spectacular way. The villagers all knew Red's lively, troublemaking nature, but they also knew he wasn't truly bad at heart.
The mood in the square had lightened. Malik grew serious again and called one of the boys:
"I'll begin the Soul Ritual. Cry, step forward, please."
"Yes, Chief!" the boy replied.
Everyone watched closely. Tipoon was a tiny village with no more than ten Soul Warriors. A ritual was a rare event, and this time, two boys would undergo it on the same day—something that had never happened before. Just a few days earlier, their friend Summer had also taken part in the ceremony, bringing the number of new warriors to three in only a few days. The new generation had begun! The village was counting on these youths to help its struggling population survive.
It was easy to tell a Soul Warrior from an ordinary human without powers: the warrior bore a Soul Stone embedded in their right hand. This transparent stone with mysterious powers was the symbol of their strength and inspired respect.
The ceremony began:
"Cry, when I tell you, touch the Soul Stone on my hand," Malik said gravely.
"Yes, Chief!" the boy replied without hesitation.
A heavy silence fell over the square. Malik began the ritual of the gods:
"Where one Soul Warrior stands, another may be born. This power the heavens gave me, I now pass on to you. With the blessing of the gods, grant this young boy the ancient power. Harmony is a precious gift—use this new strength to do good, my boy. Cry, respect every living being on this earth, human and monster alike. We are all bound by our souls, and every species has its place in this world."
Malik extended his arm to the boy. Cry slowly placed his hand on the chief's Soul Stone, which glowed with a brilliant orange light.
"Feel the power, young Soul Warrior—awaken!!!" Malik cried.
A powerful white light descended from the sky. Everyone was blinded; the brilliance was simply too great. The gods had answered his call, and the entire village was bathed in light. Gradually, the glow dimmed, and the villagers could see Cry and the chief once more, standing at the center of the square.
A mysterious, translucent stone had appeared on the back of Cry's hand. Unlike the chief's, his stone had no color. This strange gem had fused into his skin, yet he had felt no pain. On the contrary, he would forever remember the gentle, warm aura of the blessing.
"You are now a Soul Warrior!" Malik said proudly. "You can harmonize with any monster you encounter—though, of course, at your own risk. Remember, to harmonize with a monster, you must touch it with the hand bearing your Soul Stone for at least three seconds. The stronger the monster, the greater the danger. From now on, the village gates are open to you, and you may hunt in the forest."
"Thank you very much, Chief," Cry replied gratefully.
He stared at his stone, feeling pure joy. He couldn't wait to leave the village. Since his father's death, life had become monotonous and dull. Now, a whole new world was opening before him, and his heart pounded with excitement.
Then it was Red's turn for the ritual. Everything went smoothly. The chief recited the same incantation, and a light similar to the one before flared again. Red was strangely calm this time, unwilling to cause a scene for fear the heavens might deny him his gift.