In the middle of the vast ocean south of the main continent laid many scattered luscious islands. Hidden underneath the clouds, there was a rather particular island that roughly spanned a 20 kilometers radius.

This island seems to have some structure to it, resembling a circle shape, and in the very centre of the island, there is a straight mountain peak. The island is surrounded by raging tides and menacing storm. In the waters were many different kinds of aquatic beasts. Most of which could easily kill a man.

Due to the unique structure of the island's surrounding waters, this meant that boats were unable to dock safely and the island itself was essentially confined and isolated. it was rare for anyone to dock there. Only once a month would a large ship risk the horrifying weather and dangerous sea creatures to come dock there.

On the island’s north side where there was a precipice was extending outwards, there was a 14 year old young girl wearing thin clothing sitting on the far edges of the cliff. Nora’s pale blue eyes were fixed into the unknowns of the other side of the ocean, deep in thought about life outside of the nightmare.

As the waves crashed onto the cliff side, they would occasionally make large splashes, and with the cold invasive sea breeze, it soaked onto the the rags that were meant to be clothes. Though the rags had holes everywhere and was quite immodest, she seemed to not be bothered by it, as if she’ve been wearing them for years.

“Oh how i wish i could fly, fly deep into the sky, away from this horrible place. I wonder what’s out on the other side of the deep blue. I heard stories of places where people would live in peace and harmony. Of how all children didn’t need to scrape by every day for pieces of food and happily ate 3 meals a day. Oh dear lord, is this true? Oh how i envy them. Oh how i wish i could be them. Though it sounds like dreams and fairytales, a girl could dream, couldn’t i?”

“I’m already 14 years old and in a few months time, i’ll be turning 15. I have seen people being taken off the island when they are 15 and from what i overheard the overseers say, those who are strong would be taken to be trained as foot soldier and those who are pretty would be taken as slaves to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The rest would be dropped into the waters or made into labourers in mines. Only if i awaken my mana would i be able to leave this wretched place.”

“Oh great lord, could thou take pity on this poor maiden and save me from these wretch fates? Though i wish to be humble and say that i am indeed not pretty, i have seen the expressions on the faces of the overseers and i’m worried about my fate. I have lived on this island for many years now and have not seen the outside world. I can’t remember what the outside world looked like and the memories of my life before coming to this island are fuzzy. Who are my parents and why am i here? Though i really wish to be free from the disgusting place, i do not wish for me to leave with a collar around my neck and a man pulling the chains.”

“I have heard stories from people saying that the outside world had a law against slavery, however, from my situation i could say that it is most likely not true. Oh great lord, please hear my prayers and if the heaven have justice, save me from my wretch fates. Though i’m just a insignificant being who the great lord would not even notice, please take pity on my poor soul and save me.” The young girl prayed to the heavens.

After an uncertain amount of time, a sudden sound that resembled a horn, came from the depths of the island’s forest. Birds flew from the treetops in fright as the loud horn signal for everyone to gather. Hearing the loud roars of the horn, she immediately rushed towards the source with a grim expression.

The young girl’s body was skinny, but her movements were very nimble. Even inside this complex forest, she was able to move freely as she please and soon after, she arrived at an open space in the forest. The compound had a radius of about 300 meters and it was surrounded by 30 meter tall walls that were made of thick logs, creating a stockade-like camp.

The camp only had a single entrance, and at that entrance stood four men wearing green clothing. The men looked like they were in their 30s and they didn’t have any particularly outstanding traits.

However, what was worth noticing was the sharp intimidating sword in their hands and wolves beside them on a leash. The hunting wolves revealed their hostility, barking and exposing their gloomy white fangs while readying to lunge. Their eyes darting between everyone as if looking at prey.

“Hurry up and get inside! You’re walking too slowly, do you really want to die? Hmph hmph. Your body wouldn’t even be enough to be a late night snack for my wolf!” One of the overseers mocked as Nora ran into the compounds last.

Looking at the the young girl’s back with an unsightly face, an overseer said with a lecherous expression “I don’t even know who brought that kid here, but she must certainly be a fallen noble with her looks. Oh i wish i could tap that, but orders are orders, sigh.”

“You better watch your mouth, I heard it was the Sir who brought her here, the higher ups must have something planned for her, if i were you, i wouldn't be running my mouth off, lest i wished to be killed,” the other overseered muttered in a soft voice. Afraid of whoever the sir was would overhear “She’s definitely going to have a pitiful fate.”

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“Pitiful fate? Hmph hmph, doesn’t that apply to all the kids here?” Another overseer said carelessly.

“You just don’t understand. This kid was a young mistress of a certain family. I don’t know what happened, but someone hired us to put her here.”

“Don’t think too much, let the higher ups deal with it……oh, it’s almost time. Close the gates. Tonight, we’ll be able to hear them scream again, heh heh……” an overseer laughed cruelly. The others followed and laughed, completely indifferent to the life and death of others.

Within the entire island, except for the few overseers, all the other kids, ranging around 10 to 15 years old, were all forced to take part of the inhumane experiments to study the awakening of mana pools. The kids were forced to fight and live in dangerous situations every day to study the effects of life and death situations had on the awakening of mana pools. It was theorised that when during harsh emotional response or when face with death, the chances of awakening their mana pools would increase, thus this island was born.

This is a world of mages, warriors and all kinds of power and abilities, those who were born without their mana pool already being awakened were considered trash. Though they were cases of people being able to awaken their mana pool in later stages of life, only those born with it were considered great due to the fact that they could start training at an earlier date.

No one knows how people were able to open their mana pool, and there were countless ways people did it. Some were born with it while others awaken it over time. No one truly knew how mana worked. Thus every so often, many youths were forcefully shipped to this isolated island to participate in these life or death situation to study how mana pools worked.

This was the cruellest hell. Instead of facing a teacher’s earnest guidance or awaken it over time, the youths like Nora had to face vicious, merciless, cruel men who might claim their lives at any time! Here, the weak were food for the beasts that inhabited the islands. It was like a nightmare that she could never wake up from!!

Soon Nora line up together with the other few hundred children who managed to survived until now. It was a moonless night. The sea breeze drove the low flying dark clouds to other regions of the sea while the trees swayed in the violent winds.

Inside the camp, on the open ground, a hundred young boys and girls stood shivering in the howling winds. They were dressed thinly and had to endure the harsh temperatures with just rags they called clothes.

They were lined up and standing neatly in order. Around them were a few adult overseers leaning on the wooden walls. These enforcers stood in the same spot, their faces were evident of cruelty and disdain. They stared at the group of kids in a mocked grin, keeping them in check. They each had a wolf on a leash in their hands. The wolves salivating at them with the thought of devouring them. If not for the leash that were holding them back in bay, the wolves would have already ran amok.

Near the entrance, there were three men in long, dark clothing behind a table full of mush they called food. The sturdy-looking middle-aged man in the middle, took a few steps forward and with a expression of disdain, he said “it’s time to your meal!”

Instantly, with ravenous expression on their face everyone rushed forward, pushing and shoving each other like a mob. On the table were large amounts of brown mush. A small group of people was digging into it like pigs, not caring about their dignity. Pushing and shoving each other for more space, they buried their hands into the mush and shoved it into their mouths.

Sounds of screams of pain and the crunch of bones were heard as some of the weak or unlucky kids were trampled by the mob in the rush for food. With only 1 meal per day and only being served scraps of food, everyone was too hungry and starving to care about others and human decency. Once they should compassion or tried to help others, their chances of eating would be lowered.

There were not enough food and not enough space around the table for everyone, thus everyone had to fight for the scraps of food. Nora, using her older body, fought toe to toe with the younger boys. Like usual, blood were sprayed and bones were broken as a massive brawl took place. Punches and kicks flew out as everyone fought. Even though Nora was a young and frail girl, no one cared.

In such a vicious and feral environment, who would care about looks, age or gender. With starving stomachs, it was a fight for survival. Everyone wanted to live another day. Everyone wanted to fill their empty stomach.

Nora gobbled as much food as she could, her dirty and filthy hands grabbing as much the brown mush as i could. It tasted disgusting. Like eating mud, the texture was awful and the smell was revolting. The mixture of grimy mush and mud from the previous people who ate with their hands were mixed together to form a horrid tasting meal. Everyone was racing against each other to see who could eat the most before everything was gone.

However, just as Nora was chewing voraciously, she felt something extremely hard in her mouth. Her teeths crackling in pain, she splat the mush out for her mouth and into her hand to see what it was. In her hand was a metal ring, under the low light and dirtied by the mush, it was hard to see if there were any designs or decoration on it. Putting the thought of the ring to the back of her mind, she shoved it into a pocket in her rags and continued eating.

Soon, everything on the table was gone. With a slightly filled belly, Nora returned to her hut with everyone else to rest for tomorrow. While she was walking, the sound of jingling was her from her pocket. Suddenly remembering the ring that she found, she reached into her pocket. With curiosity overflowing, Nora slide the ring down her middle finger. instantly regretting it.

Suddenly, Nora felt like she was being burnt alive, like thousands of needles were piercing her. A intense soul burning pain filled her body as she tried to scream but to no avail. It was too painful for her to even make a sound. It felt as if someone poured boiling hot water inside of her. Nora’s head felt like it was being smashed by a hammer. Every second that past, she got weaker and weaker. Her body seemed to be frozen in time as she stood still.

Everyone ignored her and walked past her towards the huts. Nora mind was losing conscious very fast. It felt like it lasted for an eternity, however, it only lasted a few seconds. Soon everything went black, as if her soul was ripped out of her body.