VIRTUS

Cire took a deep breath. Praesul had left the room, leaving him alone to process everything that had happened. The weight of it all pressed down on him like an iron chain. The first realization was the hardest to swallow: he was utterly alone. The thought of his family brought a wave of nausea. He wanted to scream, to cry, to hit something—anything. But most of all, he wanted revenge.

That thought, revenge, led him to his next realization—a cold, hard truth. He was weak. He was only eleven, just a few days shy of turning twelve. 'What am I supposed to do? I'm just a child. Just a kid who only started running yesterday.'

His mood plummeted, but then, with a determined growl, he smacked his face. "I have a mission now. I must avenge my family," he muttered, his face reddened from the impact of his hand. He glanced at the intricate runes carved into the ceiling above his bed. Their faint glow seemed to pulse with his heartbeat. 

Wish of Desire. That being might be the only one who can help me. Even if it doesn't, I have nothing else—only Wish, the Virtus, and Praesul. But I don't understand any of this. I need answers.

Cire swung his legs over the bed and stood up. His body still ached from the battle with the wolf, but the pain had lessened, becoming bearable. He glanced around the room. It was barebones, almost desolate—a rusty bed, a single wooden chair barely holding together, and a small desk topped with a dim lamp. Aside from the runes on the ceiling, the room felt like a forgotten corner of the world. But for Cire, it was a palace. He'd never had a room of his own, let alone a desk. For a brief moment, he felt like the wealthiest man alive.

Gathering his courage, he walked to the door. He hesitated momentarily, intimidated by the unknown waiting on the other side. Taking a deep breath, he turned the handle and stepped out.

The sight before him was breathtaking.

The first thing that struck him was the thunderous roar of water crashing onto rocks. A massive waterfall dominated the center of the cavern, its powerful stream pouring from a jagged hole in the ceiling high above. The light filtering in from the opening cast shimmering rainbows across the mist that hung in the air. The water's sheer force created a loud sound that seemed to reverberate in his chest.

Directly in front of the waterfall stood a towering two-story structure. It resembled an ancient temple, its entrance guarded by thick, rune-covered pillars. The pillars were carved with serpentine patterns that seemed almost alive in the dim light, like writhing chains holding something terrible within. The temple exuded a strange energy, a pull that Cire couldn't ignore. It was both magnetic and foreboding, as though it were watching him.

Cire turned to look at the room he had just left. It was carved into the cavern wall, a simple, rectangular structure with a wooden door. To the right of the waterfall, another identical room stood. That must be Praesul's, he thought. The symmetry of the layout wasn't lost on him—the two rooms mirrored each other, with the waterfall dividing them perfectly.

Curious, Cire walked around the waterfall. He found six statues arranged in a semi-circle on the other side of the cave. Each statue depicted a humanoid-reptilian figure, their faces hidden behind helmets or masks. They were clad in intricately designed armor, each wielding a different weapon—swords, bows, spears, daggers, and shields. However, the unique symbols engraved on their chest plates, glowing faintly, stood out the most. One bore a serpent coiling around a star, another an open eye surrounded by flame. One had a cracked mountain, and another a winged sun. The last two had a broken chain and a crescent moon cradling a single drop of blood.

The statues stood as though ready for war, their expressions fierce and unyielding. Cire stared at them, a strange thought crossing his mind. 'They look like they're preparing for battle... against the waterfall? ' Feeling foolish for the thought, he shook his head and turned his attention back to the temple. The pull from the structure was stronger now, almost irresistible. He took a step toward it.

"You are not ready, boy. You'll die if you step inside that temple," a deep, cold voice said behind him.

Cire barely had time to react before a strong hand grabbed the back of his shirt and threw him away from the temple's entrance. He landed hard on his backside, looking up to see Praesul standing over him. The man's imposing figure was even more terrifying in the dim light, his purple eyes glowing beneath his reptilian mask.

"Get up, boy. I don't have time to waste. Follow me," Praesul said, his tone brooking no argument.

Cire scrambled to his feet and followed, his legs struggling to keep pace with the man's long strides. Praesul was massive, at least two meters tall, his presence dwarfing Cire. He's even taller than Sergei, Cire thought, his heart aching at the memory of his older brother. He clenched his fists, suppressing the surge of emotion, and focused on following the shadowy figure ahead of him.

Praesul led him past the temple and toward the room opposite Cire's. Pointing at the door, he grunted, "Inside."

Cire hesitated for a moment before stepping into the room. It was similar to his own—bare, with a bed, a desk, and two chairs. The faint glow of runes on the walls gave it the same mystical atmosphere.

"What in the name of Desire are you doing? Sit!" Praesul barked.

Cire quickly obeyed, sitting on the edge of the bed. Praesul sat across from him, his glowing eyes locking onto Cire's.

"You may be the most ignorant boy in this world—or the other. Tell me, what do you know about Virtus, the Guardians, and the Empire?"

Cire swallowed hard, his ignorance weighing on him. "Mister Praesul," he began nervously, "I don't know much about this world. My family... we were poor. My parents worked as miners, and I was just a burden on them. My mother taught me to read, but that's about it." He paused, then added, "I do know the name of the Guardian. It's Wish."

Praesul let out a low growl. "Boy, do not speak the Queen's name without proper reverence. So, you truly know nothing of this world? Why... why would she choose you?"

After a moment of silence, Praesul continued. "Alright, let's start with the basics." After what seemed like hours, Praesul explained the world to Cire. He described Virtus as the energy that allowed people to manifest power or perform feats of magic. Only a rare few were born capable of wielding Virtus. Those who could use it were known as Key Masters, their abilities tied to unlocking new power thresholds with keys. The beasts like the wolf that attacked Cire, called Sigils, were also users of Virtus. But unlike humans, Sigils wielded this power instinctively. Praesul also described Guardians, powerful entities who formed bonds with certain Key Masters, making them far more potent than those without a Guardian. These chosen few were called Governors.

When Praesul returned him to his room, Cire's head spun. Alone once more, he sat on his bed, staring at the glowing runes on the ceiling. His world had grown infinitely larger, and he had more questions than ever before.