Shadows of Ascension

The sun had long since disappeared behind the jagged skyline of the city, casting everything in the cold, artificial glow of neon lights. Below, the streets buzzed with life as people moved in clusters, their faces pale under the harsh illumination, their eyes dull with the weight of expectation. Today, thousands of sixteen-year-olds would take the step that would define the rest of their lives—their first dungeon delve.

Kael leaned against the grimy wall of a dilapidated alley, watching the crowds pass by with a disinterested stare. It was the eve of his sixteenth birthday, the night before he would be forced into the same ritual as every other citizen. Tomorrow, he would enter the dungeon for the first time and bind his soul to one of the creatures that awaited him inside.

He’d seen it happen year after year—teenagers walking into those dark rifts, their faces lit with hope and fear, only to come out changed, some smiling, others broken. What creature you soulbound to determined everything: your future, your status, your survival. It wasn’t just a bond—it was a brand, one that marked you for life.

Kael clenched his fists, the rough fabric of his sleeves brushing against his skin. He had no illusions about what awaited him. Orphans like him rarely came out with anything better than the bare minimum—a Tier 10 creature, common and weak, barely good for manual labor. The few who were lucky enough to bond with something better usually ended up indebted to the government or sold into mercenary work.

He had grown up in the gutters of Draelith, barely scraping by, scavenging what he could and staying out of sight. No parents, no mentors—just the cold, indifferent city and its endless labyrinth of alleyways and abandoned buildings. The only thing that kept him going was the promise of the dungeon—a chance, however slim, to change his fate. If he could bond with something stronger, something rare, maybe he could claw his way out of this life.

But he knew the odds were against him. The creatures you encountered in the dungeon were reflections of your soul, and Kael had always been told his was worthless.

“You look nervous,” came a voice from behind him.

Kael turned to see Eryn, a fellow orphan, a year older than him and one of the few people he tolerated. She had gone through the ritual last year and come out with a Tier 9 creature—Nethyr, a swift beast that could cloak itself in shadows but lacked any real combat power. Eryn had fared better than most, but the disappointment still lingered in her eyes. Her bond wasn’t strong enough to change her lot in life. She remained here, in the shadows, just like him.

“Nervous?” Kael scoffed, pushing away from the wall. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

Eryn raised an eyebrow, stepping closer, her eyes scanning his face. “You don’t have to lie, you know. No one’s looking forward to it.”

He shrugged, not meeting her gaze. “I’m not scared of whatever’s in that dungeon. What’s the worst that could happen? I come out with some rat or scavenger beast? I’ve been dealing with vermin my whole life.”

Eryn smirked, but the concern didn’t leave her expression. “Don’t get cocky. The dungeon… it’s not what you think it is. Whatever comes out with you—it’s a part of you. You don’t get to pick what resonates with your soul.”

Kael didn’t respond. He had heard it all before. The soulbinding ritual was supposed to be a reflection of your true self. The creatures that emerged from the depths of the dungeon were mirrors of the soul, an unspoken judgment. That’s what worried him the most. What if his soul was as broken and worthless as everyone said? What kind of creature would bond with someone like him?

He pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the weight of tomorrow. The entire city would be watching. Thousands of sixteen-year-olds would be stepping through the dungeon gates, their futures determined by the creatures that emerged. The lucky ones would walk out with rare, powerful bonds that would elevate them to the upper echelons of society. The unlucky ones… well, they would sink even further into the muck.

Eryn sighed, breaking the silence. “Just… keep your head down in there. Don’t let your hopes get too high.”

Kael gave a short nod. He didn’t need the reminder. Hope was a dangerous thing in this world, and he had long since learned not to cling to it.

As Eryn turned to leave, her figure melting into the shadows of the alley, Kael felt the weight of the night pressing down on him. Tomorrow would be the day he faced the dungeon, the day he finally learned whether he was destined to stay in the gutter or if there was something more waiting for him in the darkness.

He looked up at the looming buildings that surrounded him, their towering forms blotting out the stars, and clenched his fists again. Tomorrow, everything would change—one way or another.

He wouldn’t let this world decide his fate. He would make his own way, even if it meant walking through the shadows.

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The night dragged on, and as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Kael made his way toward the city square, where the entrance to the dungeon awaited. Tomorrow would decide his future, and whatever creature awaited him, he would meet it head-on.