Omneira was a group of continents where the vitality of the world called, Spiritual Energy, was harnessed. It was a place where one could extend their life through cultivating Spiritual Energy, and if one cultivated enough, they could reach immortality and discharge immense power that could change landscape. Despite Omneira’s size, luck was required to reach it from the mortal continents. There’s a magical barrier between the two. Only when its defenses were weakened due to unknown circumstances was the only time one could pass through. It’s more likely to drift to another mortal continent when sailing blindly.

During Hyrion’s childhood days, every child was told of Omneira. They would play imagining any sorts of adventure and fighting monsters their little heads come up with. To him Omneira was a huge part of his childhood dream and he never expected he would be here at this point of his life. He never thought he’d live past nineteen.

His memory was a little bit cloudy, but he remembered his childhood days were over. The time between betraying his allies and the time he was driven to a tipping point. The imperial family governing the continent suddenly died of a disease. Duke Lionfang immediately strong-armed the capital and took control during the confusion. He arrested political enemies and anyone with the blood of the imperial family no matter how far removed.

Hyrion’s late leader expressed unsatisfaction and started his revolution behind the scenes. Hyrion lived close the late leader’s mansion. Thus, he was immediately recruited. Although he was at tender age of fifteen, he managed to do his missions dutifully and was chosen to infiltrate Duke Lionfang’s palace. He lived there as a servant for two years and extracted as much information he could. He wasn’t instructed to befriend Duke Lionfang’s only heir, Nareene, but due to immaturity and inability to talk to those of his age, he went out of his bounds.

He accidentally revealed that he was part of the rebellion to Nareene in one of their night conversations. Fortunately, she didn’t mind and kept it secret from her father. Since the secret was revealed, Hyrion became more open in the way he talked, and they became closer than ever. To him, Nareene was his dearest friend.

The days of their conversation without any reserved were cut short, however. There was news that the eastern lands were rapidly affected with blight. It took the lives of all plants and animals that lived there. Only few humans managed to escape. The empire was put into chaos and fear. There were rumors of a prophecy that told the destruction of the continent. No one knew what caused it. Leaders had the same answer for that and the deaths on the imperial family: no one knows.

The night after the news broke out, Hyrion and Nareene met in her room—both with solemn expression. Nareene explained to him that one of her father’s aide told that it wouldn’t take long before blight expand to other lands. It was slowly killing all lives inches by inches. Hyrion listened as he imagined how difficult it had been for the residents losing their homes and even their families. An hour of silence was all it took for them to decide.

Nareene told him that if she, the only heir, were to escape the country, it would make the population to be more fearful and follow suit. If it was known that the most powerful man on the empire were to force his daughter to run away, then even other nobles would be forced.

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To Hyrion, the idea sounded immaculate that day. If they do that, then surely things would go well. Everyone would be reluctant, but they would still be forced.

The next day, Hyrion talked to other servants much more loyal to Nareene to assist them. However, only an older servant agreed. As the night arrived, they escaped the guards and stole horses to reach the shore. Hyrion was supposed to set sail with them, but he decided to be left behind. He still had some duties left to do for the rebellion. He parted ways with Nareene, wished for safety, and hoped that she reached mythical land.

He returned to the city back at mid-day. Things had changed. Soldiers were preparing to march outside the city walls. Various tents were placed, and loud shouts could be heard from men in formations. Hyrion sneaked through the guards and entered the hidden entrance from the wall.

Instead of rushing back to the palace, he instead went to the home of one of the servants he trusted. The servant told him that their plans were discovered, Duke Lionfang used it quell the rebellion. All members of the rebellion were to be captured and executed in cities.

So much had happened in that week. Most of the rebellion’s leaders were caught immediately. There must’ve been spies in the rebellion as well. Hyrion helplessly watched his comrades die in dishonorable ways. In one of the executions, Duke Lionfang publicly named and thanked him for his efforts. He laughed at the rebellion for putting a teenager in their inner circle.

As a teenager, he thought that if he did things the right way and positively think about it, it would happen as it was. Maybe he got too complacent since he thought Duke Lionfang had no idea who really was for two years. Was it Nareene’s fault? No, another servant must’ve heard them. Hyrion didn’t put much effort into assuring that no one would hear them. Maybe it was one of the servants he invited to leave the empire. Knowing the answer didn’t matter to him at that point. Things had been said and done.

Hyrion thought of surrender, but he still wanted to live. For days, he felt conflicted on which decision he should make. Days went to weeks and weeks went to months. He felt it was his duty to watch his comrade’s execution, for he was the reason had enough political ammunition to crush any support for the rebellion.

Politics, at the end of his days on the empire he never understood. Was that why his late leader took too long to make every decision? Did he consider every position and thought of its outcome before implementing it? During the times, he asked those questions, the leader was long gone. The leader couldn’t answer any of his questions. He couldn’t speak the late leader’s name anymore. He thought it to be dishonorable coming from him.

A year had passed, and Hyrion decided the place for the end of the rebellion should be where it started.

Hyrion sighed as he thought of the last year of his life from the empire. All of those were in the past now and thinking about what he could’ve was detrimental for his mind. He knew how unhealthy his lifestyle was on that year.

He was under care of a young woman who referred to herself as the Witch. She never told him her real name, but she took her time and taught him everything he needed to learn to live in Omneira. Indeed, he was finally in Omneira. He never saw a single soul other than the Witch, so he it didn’t feel like he truly lived there for a year already. He doesn’t remember much after being surrounded from the hut, but all he knew was that the Witch saved him.

He didn’t saw her that day, but she left him a letter. It was short and direct. Hyrion, as much as I’d like to stay with you longer, I still have duties I must attend. Once you become stronger, we will meet again. I have made you my champion, you might not know it means, but one day you sure will. The only advice I can tell is, “Don’t be stiff and take your time.”

Hyrion read the letter with a soft smile. He took his bag with the Witch guidebook in it. There was an insignia inside signifying his status as her champion. He took out the only scroll inside—a teleportation scroll. He tore it apart and he was covered in blue light.