The morning dawned, marking the decisive day for Hope. He couldn't sleep all night. This was the day he had been preparing for 18 years of his life.

It was his birthday, but he didn't bother to celebrate. Shon waited by the door as he dressed, silently, as always.

'Of course,' the boy thought, unsurprised.

The whole city and the world beyond awaited for his oath-taking ceremony, yet Hope dragged his feet. This day, which was considered the most important day of his life, felt more like a chore.

He wasn't against taking the oath. He genuinely wanted to pledge himself to the gods. It's just that his heart wasn't ready, not with the fear that he might eventually become true Despair and Avi wouldn't even call him Hope anymore.

He was filled with excitement, impatience, and nervousness. He descended the stairs and headed for the temple.

People had ideas about gods even before the apocalypse. They were based on myths and desires that did not correspond to any of the gods that exist now.

These gods actively tried to help the living; their aid was the sole reason they had survived this far. If not for them, humankind would have perished more than 200 years ago.

It was their power that marked the beginning of humanity's new fight and, with divine power at their disposal, society stopped retreating and began to push back against the monsters.

They reclaimed and fortified cities, defeated previously untouchable colossal predators, and regained peace, but only on the surface. More than half of the planet remained unconquered.

Then suddenly, a new species that was on par with humans one day disappeared. They left no traces, no fragments about them. The whole scenario was covered in a thick fog, making people tremble in fear.

The process of meeting the gods was not complicated. The main thing is to go to the prophetic shrine and they would handle the rest. For Hope, though, this was uncharted territory.

Shon escorted him to the building. It was the tallest structure in the city, and only the Seeers were allowed to live inside. It looked like a stone tomb and seemed older than the entire street.

Hope, who had come to the structure, became more tense. Several of his thoughts called for escape and hiding. Then he heard a voice—a call growing closer.

"Hopeeee. Hope! Wait for me." A girl's shouts echoed as she hurried toward him.

Shon stopped. He blocked the boy and didn't let Ave near him.

No barrier could stop the girl from speaking.

"Happy birthday!" Her breathing was rapid, bending over to catch her breath. "Here's a present for you." She said, handing him a small notebook.

Books were rare in the world. Hope had only seen them in the hands of instructors. They were the best way to store fragments and carry ancient prophecies. The knowledge they contained was also crucial to restoring the lost civilization of humans.

However, the book that Hope received was empty. There was no text on it, and it didn't emit fragments.

"It's more like a little journal," the girl says, looking at the gift proudly. "There should be something to write with inside."

After taking a deep breath, her energy seemed to return. "You can record your adventures. Isn't that amazing?!"

The boy kept looking between the book and the girl, a knot tightening in his throat. He fought to hold back his tears.

"It's amazing. Thank you, I'll definitely use it." He couldn't hide his smile; he was genuinely happy.

Shon waved his hand and ordered him to enter the building. He didn't do anything but turn around and get back on the road. Ave's voice followed him through the doors. She didn't hesitate to shout encouragement.

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The anxiety from seconds ago seemed to melt away. He put the gift in his pocket and followed the guard.

The world chose him; the prophecies spoke of him, and only he could protect the planet from all dangers.

'Gods, I have come,' he thought to himself and stood before the fountain.

On the second floor, the Chancellor, Don, and Bugator watched from a balcony. They still offered nothing encouraging. He could sense the silent hope on their faces—unspoken, but undeniably present.

He did not think it was worth calling them, not even for a discussion. They would meet soon enough after his encounter with the gods, and there would be plenty to talk about.

Inside, everything looked like a palace, but there was nothing superfluous. The smell was enchanting and caused a pleasant tingling sensation in his body.

At the marble fountain, which was grey like the entire temple, a woman bent at the waist appeared. She was wearing a white robe. It had ornaments embroidered on it that looked like Marks, and it seemed to be constantly shining. She nodded to the boy and offered to lead him to a separate exit.

'She looks like Humpborn,' Hope thought uncontrollably.

"Instead of seeking help in the sky, I seek salvation on earth," she calls out without turning to the boy.

"Excuse me?" The woman's words surprised Hope.

"I explained my situation to you. You were curious, right?" She led him to the golden wooden doors.

"How…?" the boy wanted to ask.

"How do I know that seeing me reminded you of a Humpborn?" She answers with a question herself, but she smiles. She doesn't seem offended. "It's my duty to read the fragments."

Hope's emotions changed. "Wait, are you a Seeer?" Meeting one in the city was rare. Their society usually led a secluded life, devoting its entire life to the accumulation of knowledge.

"You radiate prophecy." Seeer continues as if she hadn't even seen the boy's reaction. "If I hadn't known you were the Chosen One, I would have figured it out by now."

Thoughts arose in the silence that fell. He almost forgot that his thoughts could be read again, so he asked directly, "And what do the fragments say? Do you think I'll succeed?"

It seemed that the time to stand in front of the door was up. She opened it, gesturing for him to enter. "It was never a question. The prophecy says that you are the key to everything. End of the story. No buts and 'what ifs.' Your role is to be a hero. That's why the people chose you as their future leader. Call yourself the main character of the world, or reject the title—it changes nothing. You are the Chosen One, the Fated One, and no one can fulfil this role."

The boy was torn between all the options. He didn't know how to answer. Hearing all this was motivating, especially from someone who knew the prophecy best.

"Kneel!" There was a small fountain in the room. The Seeer sat the boy down in front of him. She was standing, and before everything could begin, it seemed they had one final matter to settle.

"As you already know, you must swear an oath before the gods. This is only the first stage. To become a Binder, you also need Covenants. This is manifested by receiving the Mark, which only activates when you use your powers." She paused for a moment to let the boy digest what he had heard.

"Covenants, like oaths, come in two forms. The first is the Binder path you already know, in which case you receive the Mark of only one god. This is a safer method. Divine power is dangerous for mortals; it can often become uncontrolled, which is why it is forbidden to receive the powers of several gods." She poured the boy water from the fountain, filled his glass to the brim, and continued.

"The second Covenant is Unbound. This means that you are not satisfied with the Mark of one god, and you take more. This is dangerous, sometimes with catastrophic consequences, and as I said, it is forbidden. Usually, even the gods themselves will not agree to this, as their powers are incompatible with sharing a single vessel. All Unbound are on the verge of madness; they may receive more abilities, but for a much shorter time." She filled the glass a second time and did not accept the refusal.

"The decision will be yours. The gods will reveal the fragments; you will learn much more about the prophecy and choose with them." She filled the glass one last time and handed it to him.

Hope drank it. He was already full, but still managed to push himself to finish it. "What should I do now?"

"Wait." He received an answer, but when he looked up, she was gone.

The boy only now paid attention to the room. Everything around him was wooden; he was in a narrow space and had not noticed it before. The only exception was the spring, which flowed into a pond surrounded by a small tree. Its sound was soothing. So much so that Hope's eyes closed. He fought against the heaviness of his eyelids, but it was useless.

'Water,' he realised just as blackness claimed his sight.

Darkness followed his closed eyes. Then a separation from the body, as though his very being was drifting away from his body. It was surprisingly light, free from the heaviness caused by his physical form. Then his vision returned, and he looked into the vast darkness. Every horizon was covered with black, blinding smoke.

'Where am I?' Hope asked himself.

"We welcome you with reverence, Chosen One," Hope heard a voice, a sound unlike any he had heard before. As if it belonged to music and every sound had been replaced by notes. The words were like harmony, flawless and pure.

"We have long awaited the chance to speak with you in the realm of gods," another voice was heard. This one is just as perfect yet softer, like the rustle of leaves in a quiet forest.