The shadow engulfed the city with its everlasting darkness, like the depth of the abyss. No more hope was left in the eyes of the people, with only the hero standing still. His eyes filled with a sense of hopelessness, he couldn't be free from the chain of misery that had forced him to the ground as the evil continued to spread. This is the end, he thought. He is no longer a hero, not anymore.
'This… Is the end… I'm sorry…'
As he was about to close his eyes forever, the chains around him snapped, and he was lifted by someone. This presence, this warmth, it can't be…
He turned his head upwards to see his face, his enemy, covered in scars and bruises. Abyssal, why are you here? The hero thought it was weird, but Abyssal Shadow shook his head before landing the hero on one of the stable buildings, sweating and huffing from lack of breath. The red-eyed man looks at the hero of pure white, knowing that they both must work together to defeat the true antagonist.
"Aegis, we both fought each other purely because we can, but now, let's kick that antagonistic butt."
Abyssal Shadow smirked subtly, wiping his sweat from his chin as he offered a hand for the hero. Surprised, Aegis looked at his nemesis but slowly chuckled and smiled back at him. He took his nemesis's hand and gripped it comfortably, filled with fiery determination.
"Just like how we first met, huh, Abyssal Shadow?" Aegis chuckled while Abyssal smirked. "I remember."
"You were such a weakling back then, Aegis."
It was just a normal day there in the city. Birds chirping in harmony, flowers blooming from the rain, and everyone going about their day as normal citizens, as background characters. Aegis, or rather, the non-awakened hero, Aaron Carter, woke up late in the morning and is now in a rush to his morning classes. He grabbed his towel and took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and put on his clothes before quickly grabbing some buns to eat on the way. His blonde hair is messy, his eyes were blue like sapphires, but shows his lack of time management.
"Shoot, I'm late!" Aaron chimed as he got on his motorbike, driving towards his school as fast as he could. Like a harpoon being tossed to its target, he avoids traffic as much as possible while obeying the speed limit, reaching the school ground in under 15 minutes.
Aaron walks into the school grounds, feeling a bit excited to be in college after his semester break. A new semester means a new him, so he wants to be better than before. But of course, nothing like that is ever easy. How did Lynsey manage to be in the same college as him? That pesky brunette always bullied him whenever she could, her piercing green eyes made it harder for him to cope in school with the amount of homework he had to juggle. She's mean, a bully, yet she called herself a saint. Hypocritical, pathetic girl.
"Good morning, Lynsey. I see you're still here." He commented, being sarcastic at the girl as he placed his keys in his pocket. Lynsey smirked before simply tossing a used napkin at him for fun.
"Yeah, I'm surprised you're here, tho. Repeating papers?" She mocked, laughing on her own without a care. Aaron rolled his eyes at her, throwing the trash away in the nearby trashcan.
"No, but I bet you did." He replied before walking off to class, leaving Lynsey annoyed from the rebuttal. Aaron walks to his classroom for the day and sits down in the second row, trying to get a good seat to see the board and topics later. He checked his phone for a bit before class started. He checked his social media a bit before looking at the recent news article about some political endeavour, a family lost their business and ended up paying a price that they didn't deserve. It forms a bit of empathy in Aaron's heart before he closes it as classes begin. The classes were about his own passion in language teaching, nothing too major. But it was draining. After his classes were done for the day, his energy has been decreasing as hours have gone by.
"Oh yeah, college burnouts…" Aaron sighed as he checked his schedule on the phone. He quickly grabs something to eat before going to a nearby cafe to work. He got this job because of his elder sister as she was the manager of the place, and luckily, he got paid at least, and was not being used as free labor. His sister can be quite strict with him after all, but she's still being fair.
As he worked throughout his shift, a customer caught his eye. Striking, slick black hair, beautiful dark brown eyes, and flawless skin. He could be a famous model because of how handsome he looks, he has already gotten everyone's attention just by being there. His presence was noticeable, but it seems like he's not too interested in being the center of attention.
"Excuse me, can I order?" He asked. Oh, his voice is just beautiful. Yup, this guy deserves to be a model. Aaron knew this reality. Any agency would love this man's beauty and vocals.
"Oh, of course. What would you like, sir?" Aaron asked, ready to put in the order for him. The guy asked for a cup of latte with the signature muffin on the go. "The name is Blake Caliente." The handsome man said before taking his wallet out. After Aaron put in the price, the guy paid with his card before waiting at one of the tables. Aaron tried not to look at him, but it was pretty difficult. He's handsome, who wouldn't look at him? Aaron swiftly and diligently prepares the order before calling him out.
"Order for Blake Caliente?" Aaron asked before the handsome man walked to the counter.
"Thank you, have a good day." Blake smiled before walking off with his coffee and muffin, leaving Aaron to feel something in his chest. That man was dangerously hot. If Aaron could, he would've dated him, but nah. That's just a feeling.
"God damn. What a guy. "
Aaron calms himself down before continuing his work, dealing with some unpleasant customers in the process. After hours of working, he finally finished his shift and left the cafe with a muffin he could take home. He walked towards a park to rest and take a quick breather before noticing something nearby. He gently kneeled and picked up a necklace, curiously looking at it.
"Did someone lose this?" He looks around to find someone who's looking for the necklace, but no one comes. He thought about giving it to the lost and found, but the necklace suddenly glowed and blinded him. As he regains focus, he's in a dark void with a white figure in front of him. A woman with white hair, light skin, and white clothes, like an angel of sorts.
"U-um, who are you?" Aaron asked, slowly walking closer to the woman but still keeping a safe distance between them. The lady looks at him with a soft smile.
"You found my necklace, I assume?" She asked. Aaron nods his head as he takes the necklace out for her to look at.
"Is this the-" His word got cut off by hers.
"Young man, may I ask you to take care of that necklace for me? It's the only heritage I have left, and I cannot live much longer. Everything that you need to know is here." The woman takes out a book for him, not too big and not too thick for him to carry.
"My name is Aegis."
Aaron's eyes shot open, realizing he was in reality. Next to him was a brown book and the necklace he found. Upon closer inspection, the necklace has the engraving on it. Aegis, how interesting. He carefully carries the book and necklace back home, looking through the content of the book as much as he can.
Spells, potions, powers, history. Everything that he needed to know is there. And there on the cover of the book, a small inscription was engraved. It was gibberish and an unknown language to him, but the light from the necklace allowed him to read what it said.
'You are the chosen hero.'
Those words shocked him. What did this book mean? A hero?
"Oh no, no no no. Me, a hero? A protector? No way!" Aaron groaned before looking at the book with a heavy sigh. He took the book and looked at the history of 'Aegis'. Throughout many generations, one hero was selected to defeat the evil known as Abyssal Shadow, who has also been evil for many generations. Both possess relics from ancient times. The Necklace of Aether is imbued with the power of light. The Ring of Darkness is infused with the power of shadow and darkness. If one is being used for ultimate evil, destruction shall strike humanity. It doesn't matter whether it's from the Necklace of Aether or the Ring of Darkness that's being used for evil. As long as one of the artifacts is misused or in the wrong hands, it'll cause destruction upon humanity. There is no good side or bad side. There's just balance.
Aaron puts away the book, sighing to himself. To think that he was given such a big task, it felt too much. He's only a college student, not a full time adult yet. He ponders slightly as the necklace glows for him, as if it's trying to talk to him in his heart. He sighed a bit before taking the necklace and putting it around his neck. Oh well, he was given this gift. He might as well grant the late Aegis before him the wish.
"Alright, Aegis. If that's the name that has been going on for generations, then I'll bear this when I'm ready."