The streets of the republic were alive with celebration. Vibrant lanterns of gold and white lit up the night, casting a warm glow over the mass of people gathered for the festival. The hum of laughter, music, and clinking glasses filled the air as citizens revelled in the festivities. This was a moment of unity, of distraction, even if everyone knew the true purpose of the gathering.

  For the eighteen-year-olds, however, the evening was heavy with anticipation. Clad in their gear—light armour, weapons strapped to their sides, and packs filled with supplies—they stood in clusters throughout the square, islands of quiet resolve amid the jubilant crowd.

  Cole adjusted his gear, he wore black light armour, paired with his white scythe that almost seemed to glow.

  The countdown was set to begin in less than ten minutes. Citizens bustled around the square, casting glances at the young ones with a mix of pride and sorrow. It was a tradition for this kingdom, this festival of departure, but for the participants, it was more like a funeral wake.

  Cole weaved through the crowd, his boots plodding against the cobblestones as he avoided the brightly lit stalls and vendors calling out to sell their wares. The air was thick with the scent of food, and the faint tang of alcohol.

  A familiar voice cut through the noise, sharp and slightly slurred.

  “Cole!”

  He turned and froze. Yui stumbled toward him, a half-empty bottle of something amber-colored swinging loosely in her grip. Her cheeks were flushed, her black hair messy and unkempt, and her eyes unfocused.

  “Yui?” Cole’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “Are you drunk?”

  Yui grinned, raising the bottle in a mock toast. “Why not? One last party before we head to... well, you know.”

  “Are you serious?” he asked, his voice low but sharp. “We’re about to go into the Abyss. Do you think this is a good idea?”

  She shrugged, taking another sip.

  Cole clenched his jaw, glancing around to see if anyone else had noticed her state. “Yui, this isn’t the time—”

  She cut him off, her tone shifting from playful to bitter. “Spare me the lecture, Cole. What does it matter, anyways? We all cope differently—and either way I am the strongest.”

  Her words annoyed him, but he didn’t argue. He knew she was right in a way—they were all on edge, waiting for the unknown. Still, seeing her like this unnerved him.

  “Just... stay out of trouble,” he muttered.

  Yui laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about me, hero. I’ll be fine.”

  The word lingered in the air—hero. The way she said it wasn’t mocking or sarcastic, but there was an edge to it he couldn’t quite place.

  Before he could respond, the sound of drums echoed through the square, drawing everyone’s attention. The crowd began to part, making way for the council members as they ascended the platform at the center of the square.

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  Cole’s gaze shifted to the council head as he took his place at the podium. The man’s commanding presence immediately silenced the crowd, the weight of his authority settling over the square like a heavy blanket.

  “My fellow citizens,” the council head began, his voice steady and resonant, “tonight, we stand on the precipice of tradition and survival. These young men and women before us are the future of Vancour. They will face the Abyss not just as individuals but as a testament to our strength and resilience.”

  The crowd erupted into applause, but Cole barely heard it. His heart pounded as the council head’s words washed over him, each one a reminder of what was about to come.

  The citizens began to chant, a low murmur that grew louder with each passing second. “Ten... nine... eight...”

  “As the countdown begins,” the council head continued, “remember this: the Abyss is not merely a trial of strength. It is a trial of spirit, of resolve, of humanity. We send you with our hopes, our prayers, and our belief that you will rise above the darkness.”

  “Seven... six...”

  Cole’s chest tightened as the reality of the moment sank in. He cast one last glance at the people around him—faces filled with a mixture of pride, fear, and hope.

  He glanced at Yui. She caught his eye and smirked, raising her bottle slightly in a silent toast. Despite her earlier state, she looked slightly more composed now. As if the trial that was awaiting her would be nothing but a mere game. Even though this is how she appeared, Cole couldn't help but think that she too, was also nervous of whatever was to come. How couldn't she be?

  “Five... four...”

  The golden banners of the republic blurred in his vision as the weight of the moment pressed down on him. He took a glance at The Absolute standing on the podium, staring at him. There was a subtle exchange of recognition between them as the man nodded in Cole’s direction.

  This exchange was one of a mutual realisation. Their whole relationship, the day they met up until now. Everything would be tested. here and now. Determination etched onto Cole's face.

  ‘I'll show you how far I've come since that day,’ Cole vowed silently. This wasn't to make The Absolute proud, in fact that would be the last thing he cared about. It was solely to prove that he deserved to be exist, to breathe the same air. To breathe the air his brother couldn't.

  To prove that he was strong.

  “Three…”

  “Two…”

  “One...”

  The world shifted.

  Cole’s breath caught in his throat as the ground beneath him vanished, replaced by a sensation of weightlessness. The sights and sounds of the festival disappeared in an instant, swallowed by an all-encompassing void.

  He was falling.

  Darkness surrounded him, endless and suffocating. His heart raced as he tumbled through the Abyss, the sensation of freefalling disorienting and relentless.

  Then, through the blackness, he saw them—three figures, their forms illuminated by an otherworldly glow as they fell alongside him.

  The first was a boy with black hair, brown eyes and a lean build. His wide eyes flickered with surprise due to him falling, but there was a spark of determination in his expression.

  The second was a slightly taller figure with neat brown hair and fair skin, his face set in an expression of calm focus, though his knuckles were white from clutching his gear.

  The third was a girl with striking dark blonde hair, her gaze tired and focused, as if she was not too bothered by the falling sensation.

  Cole’s mind raced as he took in their faces, each one unfamiliar.

  Before he could speak, a distorted voice echoed in the void, deep and resonant, filling the space around them.

  {Welcome, contenders, to the Abyss.}

  The words sent a chill down Cole’s spine. He exchanged glances with the others as the fall continued, endless and unyielding, the realization sinking in:

  The trial of the Abyss has now begun.