A Month Ago – Cript, the Southernmost Continent, Hill’s Edge

  The wind howled through the worn wooden walls of their small home, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and burning torches from the streets below. The tension in the air was almost suffocating.

  “Jasmin, please,” her mother begged, gripping her daughter’s wrist tightly. Her voice wavered, desperation cing every word. “Leave this pce. Your father is gone, and you are all I have left. I will stay behind—live while you can.”

  Jasmin shook her head, her dark brown eyes fshing with defiance. “No, Mom. I have to see Bone.”

  Her mother paled at the name.

  “Jasmin, no.”

  “Dad was his right-hand man. Jax can’t just take away our house!” she argued, yanking her arm free. “Bone is the only one who can fix this.”

  Her mother’s lips trembled. “Jasmin, please no.”

  The young woman’s gaze hardened. “Why don’t you want me to see him so badly?”

  For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, her mother whispered, her voice heavy with something Jasmin couldn’t quite pce, “Because I have known him longer than you have.”

  Jasmin studied her mother’s face, searching for answers, but the woman refused to say anything more.

  Finally, she exhaled sharply and turned away. “Fine. I’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

  Her mother let out a relieved sigh, nodding.

  But as the moon rose high above the city, Jasmin silently slipped out into the cold night, her cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders. She didn’t need her mother’s permission. She was going to Dream City no matter what

  Dream City – Red Light District

  In the dimly lit alleyway, the air reeked of cheap liquor, damp stone, and something far more sinister—desperation. A young woman, barely past twenty, stood cornered by five men. Their eyes gleamed like predators who had found easy prey.

  With shaking hands, she pulled out all the money she had, holding it out to the leader, her voice barely above a whisper. “P-please... take this and let me go.”

  The man at the front, a burly figure with a jagged scar running down his cheek, raised a brow. “Does she think we’re thieves?” he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

  The others scoffed, their expressions twisting in mock offense. “How dare you, dy?” one of them sneered.

  The leader turned his sharp gaze back to her, the corner of his lips curling into a smirk. “Are you implying we came here just to rob you?”

  The woman shook her head frantically, her body trembling. “N-no! That’s not what I meant—”

  He nodded slowly, pretending to consider her words. Then, with a grin that sent a shiver down her spine, he leaned in. “Sorry to disappoint you... but we are.”

  His ughter was low and cruel as he took the money from her hands, examining it with mock interest. “This’ll be enough for one man, maybe.” He lifted his gaze, and his smirk widened. “But there are five of us. So tell me, young dy… what else can you offer?”

  Tears welled in her eyes as she stumbled backward. “Please, I—I’ll do anything, just don’t—”

  Her words were drowned by a sudden, heart-wrenching scream.

  It wasn’t hers.

  It came from somewhere deeper in the alley, followed by another, and another.

  The sounds of suffering, of the strong preying on the weak, filled the night like a twisted symphony. Dream City thrived in wlessness, and here, cruelty was nothing more than background noise.

  Pedestrians walked past the alleyway, gncing only briefly before continuing on their way. No one would help. No one ever did.

  And in the midst of it all, the woman's desperate pleas were swallowed by the darkness.Jasmin glided through the streets of Dream City on her Air Treks, the hum of the air-powered skates blending with the chaotic symphony of the city. Neon lights flickered overhead, casting distorted shadows across the crumbling buildings. Music bred from every corner—some lively, some eerie, some drowned by the distant wails of the unfortunate.

  She moved swiftly, cutting through narrow alleyways and dodging the eyes of those who lurked in the darkness. Here, even a second of hesitation could mean disaster. Avoid the predators. Avoid the danger zones. Keep moving.

  Her goal was clear—Milk Tower, the towering structure at the heart of Dream City, where Bone resided. If anyone could help her, it was him.

  The closer she got, the more chaotic the streets became. Fights broke out in open view—men and women grappling, bdes fshing, blood staining the ground. Some bystanders cheered, others hurried past, pretending not to see.

  Jasmin’s heart pounded, but she pushed forward, weaving through the chaos, the wind rushing against her face. Just one more turn…

  She took the final sharp turn toward the tower—

  And skidded to a stop.

  A group of men blocked the path.

  At the center stood Jax.

  His lips curled into a smirk as he spread his arms, as if welcoming her. "Well, well… look who finally decided to crawl out of her hole."

  Jasmin’s blood ran cold.

  Jasmin’s breath hitched as she spun around, only to find more of Jax’s men blocking the other exit.

  Her pulse pounded in her ears. No way out.

  She pressed down on her Air Treks, intending to shoot up and escape over the rooftops—but nothing happened.

  They weren’t working.

  A sinking feeling twisted in her stomach. Damn it… they jammed them.

  Panic cwed at her chest, but she forced herself to steady her breathing. There was no room for fear. No room for hesitation.

  Taking a step back, she raised her fists into a fighting stance, her sharp eyes locked onto Jax.

  "Don’t come any closer," she warned, her voice ced with defiance. "Not a single step. I’m Wolf’s daughter. If anything happens to me, Bone will have your head for it."

  For a second, a hush fell over the alley. Some of the men exchanged gnces, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

  Then, Jax ughed.

  A slow, mocking chuckle that grew louder as he turned to his gang. "Did you hear that? She's Wolf’s daughter."

  He dramatically feigned fear, pcing a hand on his chest. "Oh no… I’m terrified."

  His men burst into ughter.

  Jax then turned back to Jasmin, his smirk widening. "Wolf, huh? Funny… because I heard Wolf died two days ago."

  Jasmin’s heart clenched.

  Her vision blurred as her eyes welled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.

  Instead, she let out a furious scream and lunged—smming her fist into the nearest thug.

  A sickening crack echoed through the alley as he crumpled to the ground, knocked out cold.

  The woman beside him barely had time to react before Jasmin whirled and delivered a brutal elbow to her ribs, sending her gasping for breath.

  She didn’t stop.

  She moved with lightning speed, twisting, striking, dodging—fighting like a cornered animal. A Wolf.

  For a moment, it looked like she might actually break through.

  But there were too many.

  A strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back. A fist crashed against her stomach, knocking the wind from her lungs. Hands grabbed her arms, her legs, forcing her down.

  Jasmin thrashed violently, biting, kicking, anything to break free.

  But it was over.

  Jax crouched beside her, tilting his head as he watched her struggle with amusement.

  "Strong," he mused. "Just how I like them."

  Jasmin spat at him, her expression burning with hatred.

  The saliva hit his cheek.

  The smirk vanished from Jax’s face, his expression darkening.

  Slowly, he wiped it off, then grinned. "Feisty too… I’ll break that spirit soon enough."

  One of his men, still nursing a swollen face from Jasmin’s punch, growled. "What about us, Jax?"

  Jax chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "Don’t worry."

  He grabbed a fistful of Jasmin’s hair, forcing her to look up at him.

  "You’ll all get your turn. But I go first."

  Jasmin’s blood ran ice-cold.

  Jax leaned in, licking his lips. "After that, I’ll sell you to the bck market. I hear girls like you fetch a high price."

  NOTE

  The Bestowing of the Light: The Padin ,Royal Knight and Knight of Pentra

  In the sacred halls of the Temple of Lumara, beneath the radiant light of the Eternal Fme, the Chosen Ones are selected to carry the divine light of Lumara into the world. Among these chosen few are the Padin of Lumara and the Royal Knight, two warriors chosen by the Goddess herself to protect the faith, uphold justice, and spread the radiance of love across Pentra.

  The Padin of Lumara: The Padin is the embodiment of Lumara’s divine will. Chosen from among the most devout and selfless of the faithful, the Padin is marked by an extraordinary connection with the Goddess of Light. Upon their selection, the Padin is led to the sacred altar, where the light of Lumara herself touches them, imbuing them with the Aetherium , a magical force that flows directly from the heart of the Goddess.

  The moment the Aetherium Light is bestowed upon the Padin, their armor shines with an otherworldly radiance. Their sword becomes a weapon of divine power, able to cut through darkness, corruption, and evil with ease. They are granted the ability to channel the light into devastating attacks, purifying the nds they tread and offering protection to the innocent.

  The Padin is tasked with carrying out the will of Lumara, whether it be through protecting the people from evil or defending the sacred knowledge of the Goddess. They are also entrusted with a special duty: to carry the Ethereal Lantern, a relic of Lumara's divine light. This ntern is capable of calling forth the Goddess’s protection in times of great need, surrounding allies with an aura of invincibility and driving away all shadows.