[A companion wishes to serve you as its king]
[Do you accept?]
[YES] [NO]
''Serve me as its king?'' Daiki muttered, confusion written across his face.Daiki reached out and moved his hand toward the glowing option.
[YES]
[The Spirit of the Forsaken has joined your alliance]
A round glowing light appeared in front of Daiki, twisting and pulsing before taking shape. A shadowy black spirit emerged. Daiki stared into it and saw an endless darkness within, a void that felt like it stretched beyond reality itself. The spirit trembled, its voice echoing directly into his mind.
[My Liege, I am the Spirit of the Forsaken.]
[I shall follow you to the ends of the world.]
[Your wish is my command.]
[...]
Daiki was stunned by what had just happened.
'A talking spirit? I thought the only way to get one was by forming a contract with angelic or demonic souls'
Daiki stared at the Spirit of the Forsaken, still trying to process everything.
''How did I get these powers?'' he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
[I was bound to your soul by the demon contract, waiting for the moment you would grow strong enough for release.]
''Why me?'' Daiki pressed, his brows furrowed. ''Why were you sealed inside me and not someone else?''
[...I cannot tell you that.]
Daiki's chest tightened. ''Then what will happen now?''
[I will assist you on your journey with knowledge and guidance. Not only have I been released, but something greater, the System, has begun to awaken within you. It will help you unlock your powers gradually, as you grow and learn. There are far greater concerns beyond this world, realms you have yet to explore.]
Daiki tilted his head. ''Unlock my powers for what exactly?''
[You will have to find the clues yourself.]
Before Daiki could ask more, glowing text appeared in the air, sharp and clear:
[Find the Key of the Forgotten (0/1)]
The words hovered, pulsing with light. Daiki swallowed hard. This was no longer just about surviving---this was the start of something bigger. The Spirit of the Forsaken began to swirl, twisting and spiraling until it resembled the same type of gate Daiki had fallen through before.
[Please enter the gate to proceed]
Daiki sighed, taking a deep breath as he stepped forward.
'Here goes nothing.'
And with that, he vanished into the gate's darkness.
***
Somewhere in the forest near Daiki's hometown, a dark gate appeared. From the shadowy light, Daiki stepped out.
He was exhausted but smiling. Magic flowed through him now and he could not wait to tell his uncle.
Daiki sprinted toward his uncle's small house, feeling lighter than ever.
'After all these years of hard work with little to show for it, I finally gained something real, something that could help me chase my dreams. And maybe, just maybe, I could finally uncover the truth about my parents and the mysteries they left behind'
While running, the world blurred around him. Colors faded to gray as a wave of dizziness hit.
'What is happening to me?'
Before he could take another step, his legs gave out, and everything went black.
When he woke, he was lying on the cold ground, the forest silent except for his unsteady breathing. His body felt heavy, as if the air itself pressed down on him.
[You are not much different than before]
the Spirit of the Forsaken said, echoing faintly in his mind.
[You may have unlocked some of your powers, but you are still weak. Without learning to control your abilities, exhaustion will claim your life before your enemies do]
Daiki groaned, pushing himself up. Every muscle ached. Still weak, huh?
By the time he reached the edge of the forest, his vision cleared slightly. His uncle's house finally appeared. He climbed the worn steps, grabbed the handle, and pushed the door open.
I stepped inside, calling out, ''Uncle? Are you home?''
The smell of soup and wood smoke filled the air. He spotted his uncle sitting by the table, face tired but calm until he saw Daiki.
''Daiki!'' his uncle shouted, standing so fast his chair nearly toppled. ''Where have you been? I thought something terrible had happened!''
I smiled, trying to calm him. ''I am fine, Uncle. More than fine, actually.''
He blinked, confused. ''What do you mean?''
So I told him about the assassin, the strange mountain, the man in golden armor, the glowing orb, and the gate that swallowed me whole. I explained the monsters, my near-death, and the awakening inside me.
When I mentioned the [System] and the Spirit of the Forsaken, his expression shifted from worry to disbelief. Then I told him about the key, the one the System had mentioned.
His eyes widened. The color drained from his face. ''The key of the forgotten?'' he whispered.
''Yes. Why? Do you know what it is?'' I asked.
He stared, disbelief written across his face. "No, you are too young for this, they said it would not happen so soon''
''Too young for what?'' I asked.
My uncle pressed a trembling hand to his forehead. ''Daiki, there are things I was told not to reveal. Not until the time was right.''
He pushed his chair aside and walked to the corner of the table, crouching to pry open one of the wooden planks in the floor. A small hidden compartment appeared.
He reached inside and pulled out a small object that caught the light, a key. Warm, metallic, and faintly glowing.
I froze. 'The key of the forgotten?'
My uncle handed it to me. ''Is this what you have been looking for?''
Before I could answer, glowing text appeared:
[Quest Complete]
[Find the Key of the Forgotten (1/1)]
I thanked my uncle, relieved it had not taken long to find the key. He did not smile back; worry weighed on his eyes.
''It is too dangerous for you to stay here,'' he said quietly. ''If anyone finds out about you it will not end well. Get stronger, Daiki. Follow the Spirit of the Forsaken and use that key wisely.''
He pulled me into a tight hug, the kind that felt like a farewell. ''I am proud of you,'' he whispered.
I smiled back, holding back the lump in my throat. ''Thank you, Uncle.''
Then I turned and left the house.
***
Somewhere deep in the darkness of the world
''My King, there is no sign of the boy you mentioned near the mountain,'' said an assassin dressed in black, kneeling.
''Good,'' the man in gold replied, voice low and sharp. ''He would have been a real nuisance if he were even a few years older.''
He leaned back in his throne, the golden light of his armor flickering dimly in the shadows. His thoughts drifted to those eyes, one red, one green. The memory made his jaw tighten.
''How goes the soul collection?'' he asked finally.
''Our assassins are still gathering more,'' the man in black replied. ''We have also located the next Source of Souls, but reaching it may take a few weeks.''
''Very well,'' the man in gold said quietly. ''Once we have it, we will be one step closer. With this calamity, we will rule the magic world and bridge it to the other kingdoms.''
He rose from his seat, the sound of metal echoing in the silent chamber.
''Very well,'' he whispered again while his voice faded into the darkness.