The night was cloaked in the silvery glow of a full moon, casting an ethereal light over the campsite — a stark contrast to the dark fate looming just beyond the treeline.
Around the crackling campfire, a sense of camaraderie flickered to life, warming the chilly air. "Finally! We're done with your doppelganger crisis, Nate!" one of them exclaimed, laughter bubbling among the group. Nate shrugged, his eyes reflecting the firelight. "True, but the wormholes keep popping up, and we still haven't cracked the mystery of the space-time collapse. Let's take a breather before diving back in."
Alice nodded, her usual brightness momentarily dimmed by the weight of their predicament. Leon gazed up at the vast expanse of stars glittering like diamonds scattered across velvet, a wistful look in his eyes. "I wish Mark were here with us, too. It just doesn't feel complete."
"Can you cut it out with the sad stuff?" Luis shot back, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, okay," Leon relented, though the heaviness in the air lingered, hinting that this night might not unfold as peacefully as they hoped.
As everyone finished eating, Nate stood up, "Now only one thing is left...". Everyone looked at Nate with confusion. "I'm sorry that I was hiding this for a long time but..." He paused for a moment. "I'm still not willing to tell you what I was hiding. But I have no other choice.". "What are you talking about Nate?" Questioned Alice.
Suddenly Nate spliced Leon's head using a dagger. Alice screamed. Luis got alarmed and dashed backwards immediately, "What the hell are you doing Nate?!". Nate replied, "I am sorry... I have no other choice", he cried. "You bast*rd!" Luis paused, "Cursed mark activation! Red Mist!" Luis looked around. "Wait... It's not working... Nate, what did you do! And tell me why are you doing this..." Nate quickly teleported behind Luis and chopped off his head
Alice stood there petrified. Nate approached Alice, "Sorry Alice... I could not fulfil my promise". "Is this your only choice? " she cried. "Yes..." replied Nate beheading Alice.
You all are probably curious about why I'm killing my own friends, saying that it's the only way, but to understand me, you must understand what situation our universe was in, and more importantly, I know the solution for the space-time collapse.
First, you can read this scroll below, which a lovely old man will read to his children every year.
"In an age long past, events unfolded that I could never have witnessed firsthand. I lived too long after those moments to recount them myself—yet here I am, writing the truth, hoping it survives. Perhaps you will be the one to finish the story I could not.
In a cosmos where the very fabric of existence once unravelled, the universe stretched outward to its breaking point—on the verge of collapse. But, amidst this impending chaos, life endured, thanks to a figure revered by all as the Great Sage.
According to the legend, the Great Sage created a sanctuary by selecting six extraordinary planets from six distinct universes, along with a unique gem from our own. These celestial bodies were woven together into a solar system, protected by a magnificent barrier of space-time, spun from the Great Sage's unmatched power. Within this haven, we continue to thrive, untouched by the collapse of the greater universe.
The Great Sage's star shines brilliantly, casting radiant light—but no warmth. Instead, heat comes from the barrier itself, where the remnants of crumbled matter generate energy, enveloping the world in its steady embrace. Like a celestial furnace, the barrier holds warmth within and the void at bay.
At the moment of his ultimate sacrifice—pouring his life energy into the barrier—the Great Sage took his final breath. His body crystallized into a magnificent stone, which then shattered into seven distinct shards, each falling onto a different planet, imbuing them with unique extraordinary powers. Yet, on one lonely planet, the shard remained inert—undaunted and unchanged.
For all his wisdom, the Great Sage made a fatal miscalculation. He had attempted to pull seven planets from seven different universes, but what could possibly go wrong? All universes have their own laws of nature, and putting them together in a single universe would result in them conflicting with each other.
In his reckless attempt to save these worlds, the Great Sage tore through the very fabric of space-time, leaving devastation in his wake. Planets trembled and the barriers between worlds began to falter, plunging the cosmos into chaos. From this turmoil, unpredictable wormholes emerged, forging connections between worlds in wildly uncontrollable ways.
One might question the motives of the Great Sage—what could compel one to provoke such destruction? The answer lies in the dire state of his other universes, which were crumbling around him. Desperate to save what little he could—especially the worlds teeming with life—the Great Sage made his choice. Yet, even a being of his immense power faced limitations; he could only save a few planets, but the consequences of his actions reverberated throughout the multiverse.
But the greatest mystery of all—a boy named Nate was born on all seven planets simultaneously, each bearing the same name, the same face. A single truth governs existence: one soul, one body, one place. Nate's birth shattered that law, fracturing space-time itself.
And with him, the first cracks in our sanctuary appeared."
---
And so, the tale of our sanctuary was passed down from generation to generation—until it became nothing more than a myth. But myths do not fade away so easily. Sometimes, they resurface in ways no one expects.
[2 Years ago]
In a quiet village, under the gentle glow of the barrier's eternal warmth, the lovely old man unrolled a fragile scroll and began to read. His young audience listened wide-eyed, captivated as they were every day by his new stories. However, this one was different and a special one.
As the old man completed narrating the myth of the Great Sage, he closed the fragile scroll, his voice barely above a whisper, "Well, that's all in this scroll". The firelight flickered in his tired eyes as silence filled the room.
A small girl hesitated before raising her hand. "What gift did our universe receive from the Great Sage's shard?"
The old man exhaled, rubbing his temples. "We were given thirteen blessed marks, the gifts of creation and thirteen cursed marks, the tools of destruction. Those who bear them wield immense power."
Another child furrowed his brow. "Who controls the marks?"
The old man's lips curled into a tired smile. "Once, two gods watched over them—the Lord of curses and the Lord of Blessings. They kept balance, guiding the marks to those worthy. But with the collapse of space-time… they vanished. Or so most believe—until the marks began appearing at random. Usually, the gods appear before you for a split second when they are bestowing you the mark. Ever since Nate was born, the gods have ceased to appear."
The children exchanged uneasy glances. Then, a voice broke the silence.
"What happened to Nate?"
The room grew colder. The old man stiffened, the warmth in his gaze vanishing.
"No… No more talk about Nate." His voice was quiet but firm.
Confused murmurs spread among the children. The same voice questioned. "Why not? He was just another face in the village a few months ago—"
The old man's body trembled. His hands clenched into fists.
To most, Nate was a friend—full of laughter and warmth. But those who saw his eyes on that haunting day could never forget. Beneath his smile, something terrifying had been waiting all along.
A sharp inhale. A flicker of something dark in his eyes.
Then—
"Yes. I am hiding things about Nate." His voice cracked. He looked away as if wrestling with himself. But the struggle didn't last long.
His frail hands slammed the table. His shoulders trembled. And when he spoke again, his words were laced with fury and grief.
"That blood-stained, ruthless monster!"
"He didn't just kill innocents—he butchered them! My son... My boy... All because of him!"
The children shrank back. No one dared to speak.
The old man gasped for breath, coughing violently. Alice rushed to his side, her heart pounding. "Grandpa! Are you okay?"
He waved her off weakly. "Yes… yes, I'm alright. Don't worry."
But Alice wasn't convinced. She helped him to his feet, watching the exhaustion settle into his gaze. The room remained still as the children slowly dispersed, leaving behind only whispered fears.
That night, the world seemed to hold its breath.
---
Alice returned home in silence, her mind heavy with the weight of her grandpa's words. In fact, it was the day when Alice found it was Nate who killed her father. To Alice, Nate was a great friend, or perhaps the greatest friend she had. But hearing her grandpa revealing the truth, she was heartbroken. She remembered the days when they would go and play in the forest together. But then, suddenly, an old piece of her memory flashed in her eyes.
Alice's laughter rang through the trees. "Nate! Over here!"
Nate sprinted toward her, confused. "What's wrong—?"
A splash of water hit him square in the face. He stood frozen, drenched, blinking as droplets rolled down his cheek.
Alice grinned. "Nice reaction time."
Nate wiped his face with his sleeve, exhaling sharply. "Oh, great. Thanks for that."
Alice giggled. "Didn't I tell you? I'm going to be the strongest mage someday."
Nate stared at her for a long moment. Then, without breaking eye contact, he murmured, "I'll be the strongest."
Alice tilted her head. "Huh?"
His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "If you're going to stand at the top… then I'll have to stand even higher."
"Not a chance!" Alice shot back, her eyes sparkling with determination. "We'll see about that!" Nate smirked, ready to take on her challenge. With a burst of energy, Alice took off, shouting, "First one home wins!"
Nate dashed after her, confident. "You're in trouble, Alice! No one can outrun me!"
Just as they raced through the memories of their past, Alice felt a tug at her reality. "Alice! Dinner's ready!" her mother called, jolting her out of the daydream of that spirited competition.
After dinner, she found herself drawn to her Grandpa's room, seeking comfort in his presence. She peeked inside and saw him lying peacefully in bed.
"Alice," he murmured, his voice faint. " I actually didn't want you to know the truth but..."
She stopped him. "No, it's fine..."
"Anyways, you wanted to become the strongest mage, right?" the old man questioned.
Alice replied "Yes! But... why do you ask? At a time like this? "
His lips curled into the smallest of smiles. "Good luck."
Alice frowned, unease creeping into her chest. "Grandpa?"
No response.
The air in the room seemed to thicken. She took a shaky step forward. "Grandpa?"
Still nothing.
The night was eerily silent when Alice realized—he was gone.
Her grandfather had passed away.
The village mourned him the next day, but for Alice, it was something more. It wasn't just grief. It was the loss of childhood itself. She couldn't bear it anymore; her father died because of Nate, and now her Grandpa also died because of him. She is at the peak of her breaking point.
Alice sat in silence, staring at the fading embers of the funeral pyre. First her father. Now her grandfather. All because of him. A deep, unbearable ache filled her chest—but beneath it, something else stirred. Something cold. Something sharp.
As the funeral pyres quenched, something ignited inside her.
A need. A purpose. A fire.
Nate had stolen everything from her. Her childhood. Her family. Her peace. The fire in her chest burned away the last of her hesitation. If fate had chosen her for this battle, she would not run from it. She was now determined to kill Nate. A tear rolled down her cheek. "I will be fine," she said to herself. "I can do this... I have to do this" she weeped.
Soon, her decision became as strong and clear as a diamond. "Time to keep a full stop for you and your pathetic life Nate!"
---
The next morning, as she washed her face, a sharp glow caught her eye.
Alice froze.
On her left cheek, flowing down to her palm w, as a radiant symbol—glowing blue. Her reflection in the mirror stared back, eyes flickering with the same energy.
This was no coincidence.
She had been chosen.
Rebecca, her mother, stepped into the room—and froze in horror.
"No… not again." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Why does everyone leave me? First your father, then my father… and now you."
Alice turned, confusion in her gaze. "What do you mean?"
But it soon became clear.
Anyone who bore a blessed or cursed mark was destined for military service.
Alice inhaled deeply. "I'll be fine."
Rebecca grabbed her wrist, desperate. "What do you mean?!"
Alice's expression darkened. "I'm going to the Norris Magic High."
Her mother paled. "I get that you have to go to the Norris Magic High, as that's where you will be trained to master your blessed mark. But why does that mean you will be fine? What's there?"
Alice's gaze hardened. "Nate."
Rebecca gasped. "You can't…! He's a demon, Alice!"
A bitter chuckle escaped Alice's lips. "Of course, I have to go. How else can I kill him?"
Her mother tried to stop her. Pleaded. Begged. But Alice's heart was set.
The day she had to take her leave finally came; Rebecca sat in silent sorrow, watching her daughter pack.
"Are you really going to fight him?"
Alice didn't look up. "No."
She turned to face her mother, eyes like steel.
"I'm going to end him."
The door slammed shut behind her.
It was not a short journey.
As Alice stepped through the grand gates of Norris Magic High, one question echoed in her mind.
Who exactly is Nate?
She looked up at the towering academy. Her fingers curled into fists.
"Just wait, Nate." She paused, her eyes darkening. "The first time I see you will be your last."