In a busy city where the skyline gleamed not only with steelglass, ironwood alloys, and other precious materials— but also with enchantments woven into the architecture.
On top of a floating island far enough from the noise of the city stood an obsidian castle like a black crown against the sky.
The castle— a marvel of engineering, architecture, and magic— looked down upon the world like a sovereign judging its domain.
From the balconies of dark steelglass jutted atop the castle, one could see the sprawling metropolis below—a city alive with motion and color. From that height, the river glimmered like a living thread of light, weaving through the heart of the city.
Airships drifted lazily above the skyline, their enchanted engines leaving trails of luminescent vapor while bridges arched over the river glowing hues like colorful ribbons.
And beyond it all, the noise— the heartbeat of millions— lay the obsidian castle atop a floating island.
Up here, the world felt small— distant, softened, almost reverent.
Inside the obsidian castle, on the second floor behind a closed door— inside a room as vast as a ballroom, its high vaulted ceiling carved with intricate runes that shimmered faintly in response to mana flow… was a boy.
Hmm… Wait… He is a boy right?… ...…He indeed is…
One side of his room opened into towering windows framed by dark velvet drapes embroidered with gold sigils. Beyond them, the world stretched out but the curtains were drawn— no light from the outside world came into his room.
The room was luxurious by any standard— walls fitted with magic display panels that can switch between screens, backgrounds, and countless other things at the move of a finger.
In the middle of the room a bed vast enough to make a king's look modest, the furniture matching the old antique aesthetic like the bed.
However, most of the room's space was occupied not by necessities, but by distractions— a couple of VR capsules, bookshelf's overflowing with novels and manga, a floating holo-table, its surface flickering with paused games and projected battle sims and many other such distractions.
The room looked like a collaboration between a 17th century architect and a 22nd century tech geek, a clash between eras.
On top of a beanbag-like cushion lounged the boy, a controller-shaped device dangling loosely from his hand. His posture was a picture of apathy— half-sunken into the cushion as if gravity itself had given up on him.
"Do you know I just died because of you?"
The boy's voice cut through the air— flat, but edged with irritation that barely hid behind his lazy tone.
"I-I'm sorry! Young master I didn't know… I was only told to deliver this to you."
The maid's voice trembled with each word, barely holding together and explaining herself as fear tightened her throat. The maid held out her hand as she bowed her head slightly, presenting a box—a regular parcel, one of many that were delivered to the boys room regularly containing items he ordered.
"Hah… what the fuck am I supposed to do with that?" The boy's tone started flat, bored even—like he couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or just ignore it entirely.
"Do you know that bitch killed me with her party… my first fucking death!"
He leaned back deeper into the cushion, eyes flicking toward the maid without real interest. But the last words came out sharper, louder, the composure cracking as the anger he'd tried to suppress finally slipped through.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Young master please spare my life! I'm sorry…I-I'm sorry…"
The maids knees gave out, her voice now cracking between sobs as she fell on on all fours. The young maid not even in her twenties seemed truly terrified of losing her life for committing a single mistake! A minor one even— walking into the young lords room while he was gaming to deliver a package, interrupting him for a moment causing him to die.
Looking at the maid, the posture less like a servant's bow and more like a desperate animal begging not to be struck… the boy let out a long sigh— his eyes seeming to piece something together as the indifferent gaze returned.
"Are you new here?" The boy asked, his tone felt bored and lazy but there was a clear hint of amusement.
"Y-yes young master… this is my first week!" the girl stammered between sobs, her voice breaking with each word. The maid managed to barely lift her gaze going against the fear that pinned her down, she saw the young boy look over to a wall behind her— his gaze barely even recognizing her presence.
"…I see. You can leave now… and leave the package on my desk." The boy said, his voice losing the speck of amusement returning to the flat tone.
The maid finally stopped her sobs as she looked at the boy who had sunken deeper into his cusion scrolling on his mana-phone. She was stunned—completely frozen, her mind refusing to catch up with what had just happened. At worst, she had expected to lose her life— but instead, nothing. No scolding, no punishment. The boy had barely even raised his voice.
"What the hell do you want now?" The boy asked tilting his head slightly as he looked into the maids eyes.
The maid, a young girl barely an adult in this world, realized she had been staring at the young lord in disbelief for too long. She tried to avert her gaze but the boys eyes met hers… and she saw a light between voilet and rose. The boys eyes seemed to dance between shades of rose and voilet finally settling on an amethyst hue, and they were absolutely beautiful…
Blink.
The boy blinked snapping her out of her trance as she looked at him, his face looking indifferent as ever— but she could feel a 'wtf are you still doing here' vibe coming off him.
"N-no, young master… I shall leave. Yes. I shall leave now. My apologies again!"
The maid bowed at a strict 110 degree angle as she set the package down and made her way to leave in a stiff robotic manner.
The boy glanced over from his phone to the screen displayed on one of the panels lining the wall, one of the panels that had switched from a sleek wallpaper to a screen display of the game.
A death screen.
"Tch, and… ask for a different position. From tomorrow on… if I see you…"
The boy ended with a light chuckle seeing the maids reaction, the maid turned around bowed and said, "A-As… As you wish y-young master!"
The maid stumbled over her words, her voice cracking but she quickly complied and exited the room, she knew what the young master meant.
'Don't let me see your face around me' She held back sobs as she would have to report that she miserably failed her assignment in her first week, but it was better than being fired… no that was the best outcome— it was better than dying!
The boy was alone in his room again… he glanced over from his mana-phone looking at the box placed on his desk.
"Months of planning, and who knows how much money… wasted because of a fucking maid."
The boy muttered under his breath, his voice carrying the anger he felt. He grabbed the controller he was using earlier as he exited the death screen to the main menu.
"Well I should've carried out the plan in the VR pod anyways… maybe it was my own fault?"
The boy wondered… no his plan was perfect. He didn't need to dive into the pod to enhance his speed and reflexes because all he would be doing is running!
The boy navigated to the character screen— delete character?
Yes.
There are no available avatars for Val.
Crete an avatar.
The boy looked at the empty start screen, the one he had seen when he first started this game 3 years ago. The boys indifferent gaze landed at the prompt on the screen— create an avatar.
"It was fun while it lasted."