The sun rose once more, just like every other day. Early in the morning, Noctis woke up, cursing at the light that hit his eyes.
He fixed his messy hair and went to check on his grandfather. The old man was still asleep.
Noctis placed a glass of water beside the bed, then went back to his own room. He thought for a while before starting to train as he used to. He stood in front of a cracked wall, took position, and threw a few punches.
His eyes kept drifting toward his shadow on the wall.
He felt something strange toward it. Noctis stared; the shadow mimicked his every move as always. He knew what shadows were, yet every time he looked at his own—every punch he threw—it seemed as though the shadow wanted to break away from him.
He watched it for a while. During that time, he felt something he couldn't quite explain stirring within him, but he ignored it.
Noctis continued throwing punches for several minutes. He knew physical strength wouldn't matter much in the trial, but he simply wanted to get his body back into shape.
After a while, he decided to go see Sylen.
He checked on his sleeping grandfather once more and left the house. Tired, he chose to walk instead of run. The border gate was only a few minutes away.
'How was Grandpa even able to use the ring? Non-mages can't use magical items. I'll ask him when I get home…'
Noctis looked around at the people wandering aimlessly through the streets, keeping his eyes low to avoid unnecessary attention.
He reached the marketplace and began searching for his uncle, Sylen. The man always spent his mornings with a certain street vendor, and Noctis had no trouble finding him.
Sylen was sitting at a small table, devouring a large bowl of food. Noctis placed a hand on the man's broad shoulder and sat across from him.
"Enjoying your meal, Uncle?"
Sylen nodded in greeting and gestured for him to wait.
A few minutes later, the radiant man finished eating. He told Noctis to grab some food as well, but Noctis declined and settled for a synthetic drink instead.
He took a few sips. It looked like water, but tiny bubbles burst on the surface.
"Uncle, I need to tell you something."
Sylen frowned, motioning for him to continue.
"Uncle… I've become a sinner."
Sylen froze. For several seconds, he said nothing, his eyes and mouth both wide open. Then, suddenly, he raised his voice.
"The spell chose you? When did it happen—and why didn't you tell me sooner? Wait a minute… You say you've been chosen, but I don't sense any magic in you. How is that possible?"
Noctis quickly hushed him. Once the talkative man calmed down, Noctis explained everything that had happened. By the end of it, Sylen was left speechless once more.
"Uncle, please, just calm down. I know it's strange, but it's real. I don't know how it happened either."
Sylen stood and examined him from head to toe, circling him like an investigator. Noctis gave him a confused look.
"Uncle, could you stop touching me already? I came to ask for help, not a physical inspection. I need information."
The moment Sylen placed a hand on Noctis's chest, his eyes widened.
"Noctis… you have a core."
Noctis smirked. "Told you."
Sylen slowly sat back down, took a deep breath, and smiled faintly.
"I see… But why can't I sense any magic from you?"
Noctis shrugged. "No idea. Maybe because I haven't taken the trial yet? You should tell me about it."
Sylen ordered himself a drink. Though he didn't show it, there was concern in his eyes. He stared at Noctis for a few seconds before his drink arrived. Opening it carefully, he took a slow sip.
"All right… but I don't have much time. I need to get back to work soon."
"The spell conducts the first trial while you're asleep.
When you fall asleep, it takes your soul and sends it to another realm. The first trials are always fair—
it won't demand more than you can handle."
Noctis glanced around for a moment, then took a sip of his drink. This was common knowledge, so he didn't press further and simply nodded.
"There's also something called punishment...
We still don't fully understand what the spell means by that. It's rare to receive one during the first trial, but I'd still advise caution. Try not to do anything that could be considered a sin."
Noctis couldn't quite grasp what that meant.
From what he knew, punishment didn't always require committing a sin. His brow furrowed in confusion as he nodded slowly.
"The magical realms... The spell won't push you too hard during your first trial. It'll likely resemble the human realm. You'll usually see people there, though animals are rare—horses and certain birds, mostly. It's very similar to our world."
Sylen took another sip of his drink.
"But it might send you somewhere different.
We don't know all the realms that exist.
The first trial realm usually isn't dangerous...
Mine, for instance, was in a beautiful place.
Nothing like this damned world."
Noctis took another sip, feeling an itch in his chest.
'I hope mine is somewhere peaceful too.'
Sylen stretched his neck slightly.
"Before your trial begins, your soul guide will explain everything you need to know."
Noctis's eyes widened. He'd always been curious about soul guides. Seeing his reaction, Sylen smiled faintly.
"Soul guides are strange beings, Noctis...
Every sinner has their own.
Mine doesn't talk much anymore, but it helps when I really need it.
Before your trial starts, get as much information as you can from yours."
A small smile appeared on Noctis's lips.
'I wonder what mine will be like...'
Sylen leaned back in his chair and pulled a small communication device from his pocket, glancing at it for a few seconds.
"I've got to go soon. But before I do—let me explain the tier system. In your first trial, you'll mostly encounter first-tier beings—awakened creatures. However, it's not unheard of to face second-tier ones too. You can tell them apart by the intensity of the magic they emit."
Sylen took a deep breath and finished his drink.
"There are nine tiers. Humans ascend through wisdom, while beasts descend through ignorance. That's how the spell classifies them…"
[ 1st Tier: Awakened ]
[ 2nd Tier: Elevated ]
[ 3rd Tier: Superior ]
[ 4th Tier: Curious ]
[ 5th Tier: Seeker ]
[ 6th Tier: Sage ]
[ 7th Tier: Sacred ]
[ 8th Tier: Soulless ]
[ 9th Tier: Unknown ]
"That's for humans. For beasts, it's different…"
[ 1st Tier: Decayed ]
[ 2nd Tier: Broken ]
[ 3rd Tier: Corrupted ]
[ 4th Tier: Fallen ]
[ 5th Tier: Lost ]
[ 6th Tier: Ignorant ]
[ 7th Tier: Demonic ]
[ 8th Tier: Soulless ]
[ 9th Tier: Unknown ]
Sylen exhaled heavily.
"Huuh…"
Noctis shook his head at his uncle's effort, then stared at the bubbling drink in front of him.
'Why would the spell name the last two tiers like that?'
A few moments later, Sylen stood up.
Noctis raised an eyebrow at him.
"Uncle... what about rewards and potential?"
Sylen made a strange face.
"Kid, I really have to go, so listen carefully."
He sighed.
"You can earn rewards during the trial—by killing either a beast or a human. Rewards are vital. The spell never grants them without reason."
Sylen glanced at his communicator.
"As for potential... you can't awaken it during the first trial. You'll learn about it later. Anyway, I've got to go. Say hello to your grandfather for me."
After paying for his meal and drinks, Sylen walked off briskly and disappeared into the crowd.
Noctis stared after him, his face unreadable.
He stayed seated for a few minutes, then slowly rose and began the walk back to his crumbling home. In the crowded streets, Noctis stayed alert.
Soul smugglers could appear anywhere—and he knew better than to let his guard down.
Even though soul smugglers rarely appeared in crowded places, the danger they posed was unpredictable—especially with their enchanted weapons. Noctis had encountered them several times before.
If not for the old man's military training and combat teachings, he would've been long dead.
From what Noctis knew, his grandfather had once been a soldier—a good one—and retired a few years after the arrival of magic.
Noctis felt a flicker of gratitude for everything he'd been taught. He sighed quietly and entered the house. Moving carefully, he stepped into the old man's room.
The elder was, as always, by the window.
He lay with his head slightly tilted, white hair shimmering in the sunlight. A strip of cloth was tied around his head, covering his single remaining eye. When he noticed Noctis, a gentle smile formed on his weathered face. His voice was raspy, but there was a warmth to it.
"Welcome back, Noctis."
Noctis offered a faint, bittersweet smile. He sat beside the old man, and they shared a brief conversation before Noctis quietly returned to his room.
He began practicing again—throwing punches and focusing on the military combat techniques his grandfather had drilled into him. He picked up a simple knife and swung it through the air, taking a stance so intense it almost looked real, moving as though an enemy stood before him.
After a few hours, Noctis dropped onto his bed, breathing heavily.
'As if swinging a knife will actually help…'
He exhaled deeply and summoned the dark writings once more.
When he read them, his expression hardened.
[ Time until core detonation: 4 days, 5 hours, 2 minutes, 19 seconds. ]
Noctis sighed as his eyes lingered on the countdown.
'Guess I'm actually looking forward to this…'
He dismissed the runes and, after a few moments of rest, resumed his training once again…