Less than seven years ago, on the far outskirts of the State of Abad—away from the noise of the central metropolis and its tangled roads—lay a chain of ancient volcanic mountains.
Although massive in size, these volcanoes had been dormant for generations.
Hidden within one of the narrow valleys between those colossal peaks was a small, secluded settlement known as "Fog Valley."
A strange place—forever wrapped in a dense, drifting fog, as if the mist itself were shielding the town from the cruelties of the world.
As the morning haze rolled softly across the fields, the people of Fog Valley lived their quiet, ordinary lives—farmers tending to their crops, craftsmen working in the dim streets, children running through the heart of the town.
Among these children was a ten-year-old girl named Noor, darting between the fog and the slivers of sunlight slipping through the thick clouds.
Her people, the Spectral Folk—or as they called themselves, the People of the Valley of Mist—were known for their glowing blue eyes that shimmered in darkness like scattered stars.
They lived without social hierarchies, without noble ranks or castes. To them, life was simple, shared, and peaceful.
But what truly set them apart was their extraordinary gift:
The ability to perceive and interact with the "Spectral Energies" surrounding all living beings.
Their fields—small patches of land concealed beneath heavy blankets of fog—held their greatest treasure:
the sacred "Moonlit Mist-Spectrum Herb."
A plant so rare it grew only under moonlight, and only within this valley.
For generations the Spectral Folk guarded the herb and the ancient rituals used to refine it, rituals capable of enhancing their visual abilities.
But the blessing soon turned into a curse the moment attention from the True Seers and Cain himself fell upon it.
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The Night the Fog Shifted
On a moonlit evening like many before it, a strange surge of mist swept through the valley—heavier, unnatural, pulsing with foreign visual power.
The people gathered, following the direction of the energy flow, until they reached the entrance of the valley.
There, a group dressed in the formal black uniforms of the True Seers Organization stood in formation.
At their head was a young but already notorious commander—
Cain.
He and his squad were armed with short-range visual weapons designed for close-quarters engagements.
Cain stepped forward and declared loudly, accusing the Spectral Folk of synthesizing a dangerous drug known worldwide as "Golden Blindness."
He claimed that the drug was derived from their sacred herb, twisting its nature into something corrupt and lethal.
The valley erupted in protest.
An elder with a long white beard, the oldest among them—practically their village chief—stepped out to speak to Cain, demanding evidence, demanding reason.
But Cain merely leaned close and whispered into the old man's ear:
"Give us the secret of your herb… or we will burn this valley to the last tree."
The elder returned to his people, relayed Cain's threat, and the valley unanimously refused.
Some even raised their simple weapons in defiance.
To them, the herb was sacred heritage—never to be surrendered.
Cain only smiled faintly, turned his back, and walked away with his squad.
What the valley didn't know was that their refusal had already sealed their fate.
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The Slaughter in the Mist
A few nights later, while the valley slept in peace, the True Seers launched a sudden assault.
The people tried to resist, but most of them couldn't even stand.
Cain had already poisoned every water source in Fog Valley.
Half the population was dead before the attack even began.
The organization set fire to the sacred crops and food stores.
They hunted fleeing children, capturing them to study their glowing eyes.
Noor's father stood his ground against the attackers, shouting for his wife to take Noor and flee.
Chased by soldiers, Noor's mother dragged her daughter into a hidden cave carved deep into the mountain.
She knelt, pulling Noor close.
"Run to the mountains, my child… and never trust anyone with Golden Eyes. Remember…"
"No… Mama, please don't leave me! Don't!"
Noor sobbed, clinging to her.
Her mother's tears shimmered in the darkness.
"Noor… follow our light. Don't let it fade."
Those were her final words.
Moments later, Noor heard nothing but screams.
Her people—children, women, everyone—were being slaughtered.
When she finally escaped the cave, trembling, she found the mountain path blocked by a soldier.
Her heart collapsed.
But instead of capturing her, the soldier grabbed her arm and sprinted away from the valley.
He didn't speak until they reached the far end of the mountain.
His name was Kiran.
And his words reshaped everything Noor believed:
Cain was linked with state officials.
He wanted the sacred herb for an experimental project—
an attempt to create artificial "Golden Eyes."
The Spectral Folk… were only test subjects.
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The Embers That Remained
Noor lived the following years on the run with Kiran, hiding in distant villages and rugged mountains.
Under his guidance, she secretly trained, learning to use her spectral powers in ways no one had imagined.
Years later, she infiltrated the organization under a false identity—
her heart carrying a single, burning vow:
"I will destroy them from within.
The state, the organization, every accomplice.
Even if it costs me my life…
my people's blood will not be forgotten."
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