Chapter 1: Arrival at Xaka – Oto Kingdom
The Oto Kingdom, heart of the mythical Xaka Continent, rose like flame against the morning mist—its skyline a fiery cascade of digital towers and arcane symbols. At precisely 8:00 AM, the Owrun Express Blink Train shot into Owrun Station, completing its journey in just one minute.
Lucifer stepped out, his coat trailing behind him like smoke. Waiting near the station gates, Aunt Ilvara waved cheerfully.
"Oh boy, you came right on time!" she said, handing him a cup of chocolate coffee. "I bought this for you."
"Thanks, Aunt," Lucifer said, smiling. "Let's head home."
Ilvara tapped her wrist communicator.
"Oh Creako, my love—come to Owrun Station! My sister's son Lucifer just arrived. Grab the portal bike!"
From the digital ether, Creako's voice responded: "On the way, darling. Two minutes tops."
A brilliant portal ripped open across the street as Creako emerged, straddling a glowing portal-cycle.
"Hey, Luci! Let's go. Your little brother Mato has been bouncing off walls waiting to play."
They sped through the neon roads. The Creako residence stood tall in the outskirts—a rotating home built from wooden beams and tech panels, swirling like a living observatory.
Inside, Mato tackled Lucifer with a hug.
"Big bro! You finally came! I haven't seen you in ten years—you visited when I was a baby! Mom told me all about your top rank."
Lucifer chuckled. "Let's play cat and mouse in the digital pit?"
Mato frowned. "Boring."
"Alright then. Let's use the subspace. Same game, but this time... magic."
Lucifer drew a mana circle, its glyphs shimmering as he cast a Level 10 Subspace Spell.
"Woah! What's a mana circle?" Mato asked.
"All beings start without any," Lucifer explained. "They have to build their own. Each circle stores spells. Ten is the max for most races—but the Mana Crown allows those chosen to wield spells beyond the tenth... to infinity."
"So subspace is a Level 10 spell?" Mato asked.
Lucifer nodded. "Exactly. You'll learn all this next year at Fire Academy of Oto. You'll crush it."
After playtime and some rest, night fell. The family gathered at dinner.
Ilvara leaned in. "Lucifer, what brings you to Oto?"
Lucifer sipped his tea. "A case. While I was in my elite dorm, General Frozy Caron visited. He said: 'You're Rookie Rank 5005. If you solve the White Child's Body Case from Carpted Town, we'll grant you a full office building and all resources for your future agency.'"
Ilvara raised her brows. "That's serious."
Lucifer nodded. "I accepted. He'll report my decision to Epic King Marshel Moto Fire III tomorrow."
He pulled out a calendar page.
"The date is 8th day of the 10th month, in the Ruby Year. There are 16 months, and every year is marked by a gem name: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, Diamond, Pearl, Adamantium, Vibranium, Mythril, and Crystox. As you know, the cycle system with numbered years was banned millennia ago. Days run 32 hours now."
Ilvara exhaled. "I see. So tomorrow at the 14th hour, you begin."
Lucifer stared out the window.
"Yes. And the future begins with a single truth."