As the orange sun dipped behind the horizon, Oren stirred awake, his body aching from the blow Rey had delivered. He sat up slowly, blinking into the fading light. Then he saw Rey, quietly sitting by the edge of the cliff, waiting.
Oren grunted and stood. "You've passed, Rey. You're free to go home."
Rey's face lit up. He jumped to his feet, ready to dash off.
But just as he turned, Oren grabbed his wrist.
"Wait," Oren said, his voice low and serious. "There's something else."
Rey paused, confused.
"There's a skill," Oren continued, "called Private Nexus Sanctuary. Everyone in the world is born with one. It's like your own spiritual realm—your sanctuary of power, growth, and reflection."
Rey tilted his head. "Never heard of it."
"Most people haven't. It's not something you can unlock through force or study. It's awakened through... alignment. Purpose. Even your father—he trained day and night trying to open his, but never could." Oren looked out over the mountains. "The gods have their own version of it. They call it Gods' Domain."
"And you think I can unlock both?" Rey asked.
"I don't just think it," Oren replied. "I believe it with everything in me. You're different, Rey. I felt it during our fight. There's more to you than just power—you're something new."
Rey nodded solemnly. "I'll figure it out. I promise."
With that, he set off.
Hours passed under the moonlit sky. Trees gave way to meadows, and meadows to the familiar outskirts of town. Then finally—he saw it.
Newsville.
Home.
A soft smile crept across Rey's face. "It's been too long," he whispered to himself.
He approached the small house he'd grown up in and knocked gently.
A muffled voice came from inside. "Who's there? I'm coming!"
The door swung open—and there stood Mira.
Her eyes widened. "Rey?"
"Hi, Mom," he said with a sheepish smile, scratching his head with one hand and waving with the other.
She gasped and pulled him into a warm, tearful hug.
"Welcome back, sweetie."
From the staircase, a familiar voice called, "Is that… Rey?"
Luck came down quickly, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
"Yh, it's me, Dad," Rey said.
Luck crossed his arms. "So? How was the training? Did you defeat Oren?"
Rey grinned. "If I didn't beat him, I wouldn't be standing here right now."
Mira clapped her hands together, tears still in her eyes. "Then we're celebrating! I'll make a feast fit for a king!"
Rey laughed. "Sure, Mom. I've missed your cooking."
That night, laughter filled the home. Dishes clinked, candles glowed, and warmth flowed like wine.
Rey shared tales of his training—the grueling sessions, the unexpected lessons, the fierce final test. He left out the part about OBSERVER… for now.
Luck listened intently, his expression unreadable, but pride quietly blooming in his eyes.
And Mira? She couldn't stop smiling.
For the first time in a long time, everything felt right.
But just beyond that warmth, the winds of fate stirred restlessly. Rey's journey was only beginning, and soon… even Newsville would not remain untouched by the tide of destiny.
Three years Later.
The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Luck, bid farewell to his son, Rey. The young boy, only 10 years old, was about to embark on a perilous journey to attend school in the distant kingdom of Valtoria.
"I'll miss you, Father," Rey said, his voice trembling as he hugged Luck tightly.
"I'll miss you too, son," Luck replied, trying to hide his own concerns. "But you must be brave and strong. Your education is crucial for your future."
Rey nodded, taking a deep breath as he turned to face the group of mercenaries responsible for his transportation. He couldn't see their faces because they were all in black cloaks.
The leader of the mercenaries, a burly man named Grim, nodded at Luck. "Don't worry. We'll get your boy to Valtoria in one piece."
As the group set off, Rey's excitement and naivety about the dangers that lay ahead were palpable. He chattered enthusiastically with the mercenaries, asking them questions about their battles and adventures.
But as the day wore on, the group encountered increasingly treacherous terrain. The roads narrowed, winding through dense forests and over rickety bridges.
It was on one of these bridges that disaster struck.
A loud crack echoed through the air as the bridge gave way beneath them. The mercenaries drew their swords, forming a tight circle around Rey as they fell.
But they were not alone.
A group of bandits, armed and vicious, emerged from the trees, surrounding the mercenaries. Grim snarled, charging forward with his sword flashing in the sunlight.
The battle was intense, the clash of steel on steel echoing through the forest. Rey cowered, his eyes wide with fear as he watched the mercenaries fight for their lives.
But despite their valiant efforts, the mercenaries were vastly outnumbered. One by one, they fell, until only Grim remained.
With a final, desperate swing of his sword, Grim struck down the bandit leader, but not before taking a mortal wound. As he fell, he locked eyes with Rey.
"Run boy, Rey!" he shouted, his voice weak but urgent. "Find shelter! Don't let them—"
Grim's words were cut short as he collapsed, his body still. Rey stared, frozen in horror, as the bandits closed in.
Then, something inside him snapped. With a burst of adrenaline, Rey turned and ran, dashing into the nearby forest as the bandits gave chase.
Rey ran for what felt like hours, his heart pounding in his chest. He stumbled, fell, and scrambled to his feet again, desperate to escape his pursuers.
Finally, after an eternity, he saw a dark opening in the distance – a cave. Without hesitation, Rey sprinted towards it, diving inside just as the bandits were about to catch up.
He landed hard on the rocky floor, dazed and disoriented. As he struggled to catch his breath, he heard the sound of rushing water.
A stream, swollen from recent rains, flowed through the heart of the cave. Rey stumbled towards it, his thirst and exhaustion overwhelming him.
As he bent to drink, his foot slipped on the slick rocks. Rey fell, plunging into the icy water. He struggled to swim, but the current was too strong.
Just as all hope seemed lost, a brilliant light illuminated the cave. The water around Rey began to glow, and he felt a gentle, unseen force lifting him to safety.
As he broke the surface, gasping for air, Rey saw a figure standing on the riverbank. A woman, tall and stately, with long silver hair and eyes that shone like stars.