Chapter 1: The lost world
[System:world reset 1913]
A swirling portal tore open and two figures stepped out.
One figure had white shimmering hair, crimson eyes, and eudermic skin. She stretched her arms and whispered, "Home."
The other figure, with black hair, golden eyes, and pale skin, only watched her walk ahead through the portal.
But when Lyra saw the world stretch open, shivers ran down her spine.
This can't be...
Ahead, the streets were broken. Houses lay in ruins — caved-in roofs, half-broken walls, a dark sky filled with clouds, and ashes falling like snow.
They both stopped, eyes wide in despair and fear.
Lyra watched the ruined streets, while Kairis walked ahead, crouching and putting her hand on the ground.
A faint light sparked.
Kairis murmured to herself, "Even the land has stopped breathing."
Lyra stood there, still, as if her body didn't support her anymore.
Her gaze turned to Kairis.
I can't break here. I just can't.
Kairis clenched her fist, her golden eyes glistening with tears she didn't dare to let fall.
Lyra's hand trembled, but she forced herself to stand straight. She walked ahead beside Kairis.
"They should've protected—" Kairis's voice broke near the end.
Lyra could understand her grief, since she had the same grief she didn't show.
Lyra put her hand on Kairis's shoulder — steady, warm.
"If they couldn't protect Eryndor," she sighed, "we should try to protect what's left and rebuild it."
Kairis turned to Lyra, looking at her in disbelief, trying to search for any doubts on her face.
Then the ground suddenly trembled.
Without thinking, Lyra grabbed Kairis's wrist and ran toward one of the broken houses, hiding behind it.
From the mist, a wolf-shaped beast came — it had no flesh, only a hollow skeleton, and in its chest, an ember flame flickered.
Lyra looked at it, and the beast turned toward their hiding spot. Lyra gasped.
Kairis tried to whisper something, but Lyra put her finger on her lips, telling her to stop.
Lyra could feel an enormous amount of dark energy waves coming from the beast.
It sniffed the air and slowly walked into the mist, its claws screeching as they scraped the ground.
When it was gone, Lyra exhaled. She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath.
Kairis slowly turned to Lyra, eyes wide. "What was that?"
For a moment, Lyra hesitated.
A beast releasing an enormous amount of dark energy — a corrupted beast merged with other essence.
She glanced at the spot where the beast had been. "A corrupted beast."
"An essence that couldn't escape the world."
Lyra tilted her head toward the ruined streets that stretched ahead. "It wasn't a normal one — merged with a few other essences."
Kairis lowered her head. "It seems it's worse than I expected."
For a moment, neither spoke. Lyra only looked around, cautious.
Perhaps this is what's left… Mom, Dad… just why? Why did this happen… how...
She slowly turned to Kairis, who hadn't raised her head till now.
She sighed. "Kairis…"
Kairis turned her head slightly and looked at Lyra.
"I think we should try finding something. There might be something left in these ruins."
Kairis nodded slightly. "Yeah… there might be something."
She started to walk toward the ruins, but Lyra stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder.
Kairis turned. "What is it?"
Lyra snapped her fingers, and a pair of cloaks appeared in her hand.
"You might need these."
Kairis looked at her in confusion. "When did you keep these?"
Lyra slowly turned her face away. "I just like to keep spare things."
Kairis took the cloak and nodded before walking into the streets.
Lyra watched her walk away into the distance.
She wore the other cloak and turned to the other side and murmured to herself, "Let's go."
She entered a house. Inside, everything was broken and full of dust — cups and plates shattered, a table covered in grime and a broken in a corner . There was a broken frame one the table she swept the dust away with her hands in the frame a girl stood beside a man wearing a uniform.
Lyra wiped the dust from it and looked at it. She smiled faintly.
"People lived here…" Lyra looked at the roof. "How long has it been since this world was lost?"
Then she heard Kairis's voice from outside. "Lyra!"
She turned and ran toward Kairis.
Kairis looked at her, eyes filled with hope, and pointed ahead — a few houses still stood. "There might be some survivors here."
Lyra turned toward the square of houses, but before she could think —
A knife passed right by her face, close enough to draw a thin line of blood.
Kairis drew her sword and turned to the shadows behind the houses on the left side.
Then a boy stepped out of the shadow. "Well, well, well," he said, clapping his hands — they weren't sure if it was out of mockery or praise. He had dark blue hair, blue eyes, and pale skin.
Lyra looked at him, her eyes cold. "Do you greet new people like this always?"
He smirked, walking slowly toward them. "No," he said, coming closer. "Because people don't survive easily, that's why. You seemed… special."
Kairis gripped her sword tightly.
He grinned once more. "Follow me if you want to enter the square."
He turned slightly. "Name's Kael. And yours?"
Kairis and Lyra exchanged glances. Then Lyra spoke. "Lyra."
And then, "Kairis."
Kael kept walking. "Beasts aren't the only things you need to survive. There are other monsters too — called humans."
Lyra stared at his back. "We'll survive."
Kairis glanced between Lyra and Kael.