In a small and secluded two-story house past a forest...

  there's a sound of sizzling meat on hot oil. It was so early in the morning, the sun had just come up exuding a vibrant golden color to everything. It was a rather juicy, comforting aroma that makes for a refreshing morning environment.

  Inside the Kitchen was the the mother of the household, Sheila, who was wearing her usual simplistic style of shorts and an apron. Her hair was braided and long down her waist, it's color was unique however, as some streaks of bright blue were mixed in with her prominent black hair. She is masterful in the arts of cooking— especially when creating a delicious breakfast for her son.

  beef

  plenty of garlic

  delicious chicken stock complemented with mushrooms and ground peppers

  and the most important ingredient... Love.

  a quick sweep there, another there-! her cutting technique was so fast that a dozen of potatoes were cut to thin pieces in no time, which were then poured straight into a bowl of cold water. Sheila struck a pose, her left hand on her waist opposite side, her right hand's holding the knife up until eye level. She spoke in an endearing tone and an eye looking sharp ahead—"Only for you, it was I, Dauze, who made this specialty..."

  In just a few seconds of keeping that pose, and she couldn't stop herself from giggling, swerving her body in embarrassment. The wooden floor behind lightly creeks, someone's footsteps can be heard nearing closely behind. Reaching in closer to Sheila — she was struck with a quick kiss to her cheek! It was none other than her son, Gachizen.

  . "I'm off, Mom~" he was formally dressed, wearing his deep blue uniform contrasted with the color of gray. He also carried his leather shoulder bag.

  . "Mmhm... wait—" Sheila was surprised

  . "You can't leave yet, You haven't eaten breakfast!" she uttered, her voice was soothing, very gentle but just as strong to hear.

  . "I would love to mother," Gachizen smiled wide before bringing up a big thumbs up, "but nobody woke me up!"

  . "ah—" gasped Sheila

  . "Well your impression of dad was pretty good though!" Gachizen starts walking toward the front door, he had yet to wear his shoes.

  . "hmmm~! well thank you young man, but wait a minute—!" Sheila tries to tone up her voice

  . "Anyway, Mom, did Nas and Kana leave already?" Gachizen interrupts, he was already 2 rooms far from the kitchen into the living room, he's definitely in a rush. Sheila sighs, before turning to her 'sizzling' steaks.

  . "They left already, Uncle Aren's son picked them up, what a nice boy."

  . "geez... Not even Bino woke me up...?" Gachizen remarked

  Suddenly, a little boy shouted from the sofa in the living room,

  . "MONSIEUR GAT-TEN~!"

  he couldn't be noticed the first time due to his small size. There were two little girls sitting on the couch with him, one was frail and very young whilst the other the size of the typical kindergartener and is the oldest. The kids are Sheila's language students. "vethyagth peccano si zendrah thee~? " the smallest one, a girl, spoke in fluent Velian, meaning "Why are you late?"

  "Oh?! You guys are here!" peered Gachizen. He sat down on the 2-step stair parallel to the front door, laying his shoulder bag on the wooden floor. Gachizen thought to himself:

  Geez, the sun must be high up already if they're here...!

  "So what are you guys doing now?" Gachizen said whilst wearing his shoes, as the older girl sarcastically replied "fido~ fido~!" a Velian term for food.

  "Hold on Zenny... " Sheila steps in front of him. "Here, eat this as you go." In her hands was something uniquely-wrapped in scarf cloth, it smelled like bread and ketchup. "Come back later ok? I'll reheat the steak I made then~"

  "Alright... But what is this? It smells... nice." questioned Gachizen.

  "I believe it's called a sandwich, Aren's little boy— Bino, wanted to give them to you three, and apparently the ingredients are very expensive too! But..." Sheila was enthusiastic. "I think I can replicate this, with cheaper ingredients too I'll tell you that!"

  Gachizen observed this 'exotic' bread dish on his lap... and his mother that stared at it too in curiosity, with a bit of drooling.

  Gachizen stood up, sandwich unwrapped, and handed the sandwich back to Sheila. "You can taste it Mom... Hurry- before I go~"

  Sheila seems as if she just saw an angel, with a bit of pride having raised said being. She becomes goofy and a lot more 'swervy'. "I-I'll take the first bite then..."

  "...hmm-"

  "...m-m..."

  "Eat it, it's good--" Sheila mumbled with her mouth full, bread crumbs scattered all over her mouth, the bread was a bit grainy.

  "I will" replied her son with a big smile on his face

  "I'll walk you to the gate... As for you three~" Sheila turns to her three young students watching from the couch. "Could you perhaps tell me what the Velian term for the animal, -bear- is?"

  "Unnani?!" Replied the Sofii, the oldest of the group.

  Pretty close Soffi-! That's a -bull-!

  "fuo... fuon irerah nei..." Spoken fluently by the smallest, Fenee.

  You... sure you dont know...? (You're speaking fluently though?)

  Finally, Bullinard, the boy with a double chin, stands proud with a big grin

  "hmph," he smirks "you're both DUMB. did you two not read the dictionary at all? It's obviously -Phemmew-"

  ...no...

  (he said butterfly)

  also mind your language Bullinard! The term for bear is -iba-!

  Bullinard replies fast "N-no, you're wro—

  || BANG!

  Sheila closes the front door, holding her son's hand. They walk toward the gate of their home through the Garden where she works. The aroma throughout the property was soul-soothing, a therapy in itself. A group of colorful butterflies followed close behind too, until they reached the exit of their property.

  . "Then... I'm off mom~!" peered Gachizen as he kissed her in the cheek yet again.

  . "Walk safe, Zenny~ I loooove you~!" Sheila waved her hand goodbye as her son departed, until the dark shades of the forest covered him to leave her sight.

  Sheila put her hands below her chin, thinking deeply to herself...

  "...Did he forget something?"

  CHAPTER 1

  The family had lived in a secluded area northward from the town for many generations. Middle class, but still known all around town. Today is an exciting day in the eyes of the oldest son of the family— Gachizen Dauze, aka. Gaten, currently 16 years old, and his appearance, especially his jet black hair bears a striking resemblance to his mother. He is filled with ambition and passion for Achievement.

  In a world where everyone is unique, and meant for a great purpose under the influence of Lodia, Gaten Dauze was born with a distinct ability... or curse, let either be.

  "I can see the flow of Mana, and I'm the only one.

  It exists in the form of threads, particles, or even veins in the human body,

  and it glimmers, it sometimes hurts my eyes."

  Being the eldest son in the family with two younger sisters, a gentle mother, and a busy father working out of town, he never allowed himself to be late on any occasion— especially 'school' days...

  He might be running a few minutes late, but at least he got to finish a 'sandwich' as he walked. Though, he already neared the city, passing by several landmarks along the way of the 'Path of Sunlight'...

  A few meters from his house, was the 'Glimmering Statue of Light'... which was obscured by shade, unable to glimmer for the longest time.

  A few more minutes came the 'Lake of the Sun'... which of course was hidden from sunlight because of the towering trees...! A bit Ironic isn't it.

  Finally, the 'Zhayan Groves', a linear path toward the main town, where the foliage caused by the towering ancient trees blocked close to no sunlight from penetrating at all. The entire path from Gaten's house to the city was enveloped in a canopy of trees.

  But alas, he reached the front Gate of the city! Saved 23 minutes by running the usual 40 minute walk.

  . "They... breath*... should really... breath* rename those places." Gaten sat down on a bench affront the town's gates, and he rests there for a minute or two. He looks up at the sky, his eyes wide open, seeming enlightened by something blocking the sun,

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  . "It... It still looks beautiful— I can see the overflow of mana from here...! Asofus Atopuscele—!" Gaten gasped.

  The Sky Dungeon, Asofus Atopuscele, in all its glory and prime, basking under the hot rays of the rising sun. It was gigantic, even bigger than the town almost as big a massive city below it. The dungeon extended way up in the sky through the clouds like a skyscraper, covered in an exterior of extremely thick diamond walls.

  "Phew..." Gaten stood up and continued on his way. He slows down his pace and enters the town— the town of Zhaya of Azura, town of wind and shade. Known as the only city to receive close to no sunlight at all due to the gigantic dungeon floating right above it. It was crowded as usual, as the economy in this town was extremely active due to the vast phenomena occurring in the area. Though, there were unusually more Capital People and Foreigners present in town, the marketplace was extremely busy. Gaten navigates his way through shops and alleys.

  A few more minutes of walking past the traffic of a busy economy, he finally reaches the base of a small flower hill at the outer East edge of Zhaya; there were fewer people there. There was a clear difference from here and the busy section of the city— extremely quiet, where only crickets and the minimal sound of footsteps could be heard. The outer walls of the city blocked the harsh winds from the vast ocean near it.

  Atop the hill was a long extending building of pure white, the study place of Gachizen Dauze— CAPITAL ENTRANCE ACADEMY. It was lit up by lanterns and pulkk-powered chandeliers.

  . "Ho-Hofuu~~ finally here... hurghh" sighs of relief from the boy with overdue attendance. But as said, he just reached the base of the hill.

  Running here was a good idea— but consequently, there was still a long flight of stairs to get past. Gaten's bright smile ran swiftly, leaving his frowned face behind. Forcing every ounce of muscle in his legs to move up just one stair, grunting after every tiny step. It was a harsh perseverance, but he prevailed against it and dragged himself to enter the very large entrance to the Academy while drenched in sweat.

  Gaten looks at the clock near the entrance...

  ****

  ****

  Running in, the already quiet ambience transitions into complete silence, his loud footsteps were echoing throughout the long brightly-lit pale halls, with no other person in sight. The place is extremely spacious and extremely minimalistic in design. Gaten ran so fast though his legs seemingly wanted to give up, He was 14 minutes due time. From the first floor, he jumped up the stairs to the second, and ran a few more seconds until he was finally just a few steps away from his lecture room.

  Suddenly, Gachizen remembered— he left his shoulder bag at home. What a terrible day.

  Sitting on a bench affront the door, was a masked individual, legs crossed... A tall muscular man in his 40s with formal brown hair, he was attired with black pants and a pure leather jacket ornamented with white feathers and adorned with gold. Though prominent in his features was the metal mask, covering his entire face with a white base and a black circular design where the eyes are meant to be. Gaten looked at the man, as the man turned to his head toward Gaten, they locked eyes even through the mask.

  As Gaten approached quick, the man suddenly stood up, his posture screamed elegance and formality, it made him appear a lot bigger than the boy. He walks in front of Gaten, in the same lane as he was too, and he blocks the way with his arms— who then brings his other hand out from his pocket to grab Gaten.

  "-!!!-" Gaten was startled.

  On the man's arms was a marking he recognized — the mark of Capital.

  Keen, and quick-witted, Gaten crouched down and dashed past the man's arm. Although, the man didn't follow.

  Gaten reaches for the door and slides it open. He enters the lecture room.

  The room looked magical, lit by sunlight through the windows, but really it's just an illusion- a Lodiac device. The floors are tiled with wood, with stairs leading up to rows of desks assigned per student. Atop is a glass-pane roof that reveals the edge of the base of the Dungeon and a bit of blue sky. It was a solemn and antique environment.

  The professor was sitting down on his desk at the very back of the class, up a few steps past the long rounded tables of his students. Gaten quickly walks up the stairs toward him.

  'Professor Rura Yoshi' -in the nameplate displayed on his desk. The Professor, Rura, wore a black top hat and a pale yellow scarf above his formal black suit.

  He was quite surprised to see Gaten.

  . "Monsieur Dauze— first time you're late... A bit of a mess too...?" said in a particularly low volume. Gaten bows.

  Everyone else was silent, but still, some moved their glances from their textbooks over to the wet Gaten.

  . "Could I ask for a reason why?" asked Rura

  . "I dont have one." grinned the na?ve student

  . "..."

  . "...?"

  . "Take your seat and read through pages 317 of the textbook," Rura continues reading the lecture book, "we'll finish discussing the components of Lodia by toda—"

  . "Excuse me, Professor, " Gaten interrupts, approaching closer to whisper. The class returns to reading their textbooks. "Could I have a short while to address a matter? It seems a guest from the Capital is requesting for my... presence?" Gaten points toward the door he left open.

  . "Hm...? Gaten, it's against the rules, " says the Professor in a stern manner, "you should talk to them la—" Professor Rura freezes.

  From the door, the masked man stared at them both with menacing aura.

  . "HHHHHhhhHHH—" The professor shouted like that of a suffocated man— no air, just a creaking painful sound. He suddenly became sweaty and feeling cold, then jumping from his chair toward Gaten to push him down the stairs, not even giving the young student any time to process what is.

  . "I-Is it true HE wants to talk to you?!!" uttered Rura as he kept rushing his student forcefully.

  . "Y-yEh...?" lightly replied the boy currently being transported without free will.

  . "Then just do as he says, and ONLY talk when you should—!" The professor successfully pushed his student out of the class, before whispering to him. "one more thing Monsieur Dauze..."

  . "H-huh?"

  . "Good luck."

  || 'BANG!'

  The sound of the loud banging of door spread throughout the empty halls.

  Waiting for the sound to reverberate into nothingness, the loudness of silence started fading in. The academy's sacred rule of reticence, where not even outside sound is permitted came into play. The verge of tension stood up, Gaten's knackering hair rose from the chilling atmosphere, and his face went blank. Until, the masked man approaches Gaten, and reaches out his arms.

  Gachizen puts his guard up.

  "..."

  "...…"

  . "...huh?"

  The masked man starts to walk away not having uttered a single word after taking a... leaf...?

  It was stuck on the pocket of Gaten's uniform.

  What a chad.

  . "Hey...!?" Shouted Gaten, the masked man halts, the leaf still in his hand, it actually had multiple colors engrained on it.

  . "You're... uh, from the Capital right? Monsieur, I apologize—" Gaten straightens his posture, "but um... surely you didn't block me just for that... Leaf?"

  The man turns to Gaten, though still silent. Gaten stares at his mask... which had no eye holes to begin with.

  Again, the man started to step away, before getting stopped by Gaten once more.

  . "Hey! uh," Gaten gulps, "may I ask who you are...?"

  A final time, the man turned around, his hand on his chest, stepping much closer toward Gaten, you could hear him breathe beneath the cover on his face.

  . "Kou" and finally, he spoke.

  He had a deep and condescending voice, very calm much like Gaten's mother.

  . "...Kou?" Gachizen asked anxiously, sweat was dripping from every end on his skin.

  . "You are?" suddenly asked Kou

  . "Ah—! I'm Gachizen Dauze... Monsieur."

  . "Gachizen... Gaten?" Kou replied

  Gaten felt a sudden chill, not of the man and who he was, but of how he knew his nickname.

  Kou held his chin with one hand, his other hand inside a pocket beneath his cloak.

  || 'Click-'

  Suddenly, the black design of his mask shaped on his eye started to revolve around its center point, it was like magic how it happened. He then said sarcastically,

  . "You seemed set to avoid me back there."

  . "Oh! I was... marking my attendance—? I was running late then, Monsieur. I hope you understand"

  . "...You're good at starting conversations." Kou's words gradually became less void of emotion, slightly getting higher in tone.

  . "Ahaha~ surely you jest— oh—!"

  Kou quickly grabbed Gaten's hand and opened it, placing the leaf on his palm.

  . "...This leaf, where were you when it stuck on you?" as he spoke, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

  Winds started to intrude the building down the hall, a bunch of other leaves were carried along with it. The sound of the winding breeze and the ticking of the clock was prevalent in sound.

  Gaten started to feel... different. Something changed.

  . "This leaf... it's a Peuter Leaf isn't it?" utters Gaten, "my mother is a gardener, she grows Peiten herbs in our yard... I'm sure this came from that."

  Kou grows silent for another few seconds, the sounds of the wind and clock were getting to Gaten's head.

  . "...ah—" Kou slowly raises his arm up from his pocket, hand open. The gesture is as if requesting for the Peuter leaf to be handed over.

  Gaten slowly hands it over, Kou swiftly snatching it into his grasp like that of an experienced thief.

  . "You know, that leaf alone is worth millions, not a Peuter leaf... The Blissful leaf, one with a million colors." explained Kou

  . "N-no, I'm sure this is—" Gaten holds his balance on the door.

  Kou becomes exuberant as he continued to talk about the leaf— evident in the faster pace of his speech and a slightly higher tone of voice. "It belongs to a tree with very few leaves— native only to the crystalline depths of Asofus Atopuscele. A single leaf... sought by the rich solely for its beauty and grace. Some would even trade a life for it."

  Gaten tries to interrupt him, "wait, so you tried to—"

  . "What if I didn't?" Kou replied immediately.

  Gaten was taken aback, speechless, his mind started to ache. Even as he was visibly distressed, Kou didn't seem to notice— that or he knew full well.

  . "If one doesn't know of it's full value, is it right for another who does to take it for himself?" asked Kou, the eyes on his mask start to change and revolve rapidly, "I want to ask you something, I'll give you two choices."

  Kou, with the leaf tightly held in his right hand, is raised up to eye level, it is being swayed by the breeze.

  "If this leaf, ends up with one of us, the other has to pay for it in full in Velian Gold. You'll choose who keeps it."

  "But... right now, if just let go... the wind will take it, tear it apart into a thousand pieces, and there'd be none for both of us."

  . "...Monsieur Kou, isn't the first option just... bad for you?" remarked Gaten, his hand now holding unto his head

  . "Gaten, whichever one you choose, there won't be a 'bad guy' with no witness. And besides, there seems to only be one option, don't you think?"

  . "I don't want any of— why did you even give me any of these choices?!" mumbled Gaten, his vision is already starting to get blurry, he sees that Kou is flourishing in Mana. "Why do I even have that—"

  " FATE " Kou voiced sternly,

  "but I fear how time will make a change"

  . "What?" Gachizen was starting to lose consciousness, but Kou still continued to press him.

  . "You know, if I wasn't here, what do you think might've happened with that leaf?"

  . "I would've—" Before Gaten could even say anything, Kou suddenly grinds the leaf against his other hand, crushing it into a wet and deformed piece of rainbow waste.

  Ultimately... throwing it to a nearby trash can— the bitter end of a million colors...

  Gaten was evidently perplexed,

  . "Wa-wait why did you..."

  Kou started to walk away in the direction of the wind,

  . "I apologize for wasting your time with my nonsense, Monsieur Dauze. I just wanted to... test something. That leaf was... just a Peuter leaf indeed."

  Gaten stared all confused at Kou, but as his eyes followed him to the other side of the hallway, somehow a bright sunlight from the hall's end blinds his vision.

  Kou, after a brief hesitation, turns around a final time "But can I—

  ****

  ****

  Gaten was standing in front of the entrance of the Academy, he was lightheaded, staring up into the beautiful orange sky, then toward the floating dungeon. The sun arrived in the afternoon and shone on the Academy Building. Everything lit up in bright orange, as the lanterns and chandeliers automatically turned off to welcome natural lighting. The sun finally passed the cover of Asofus Atopuscele.

  The Capital Entrance Academy time system was unique, for the students rarely had to look at the clock as the sun's arrival marked their dismissal. But even then, inside the Academy, no voice could be heard but footsteps. Only when outside did the students start to talk.

  . "Gaten!" shouted a familiar, broad and high toned voice.

  Gaten turned around, he lightens up as if all his spirits just came back to him.

  . "Bino! how are you-"

  || 'Squeeze-!'

  "nGHHH-!"

  Bino hugged Gaten reaaaal tight... but more precisely 'crushed' his bones.

  . "u-URGH- ok- OK—! you're crushing me—" exclaimed Gaten, shielding his shoulder bag from getting crushed as well. Bino shortly after lets him go.

  Bino was a lot bigger and taller despite being only a few months older. His hair was black with a dash of blue, and his eyes too were sky blue, it makes him look all the more intimidating. He wore accessories of the rich like the silver watch on his right wrist, and his hair was always brushed up, highlighting his splendid sharp eyes and nose. Genetics is something else.

  . "Bino, you know what happened earlier?"

  . "TELL me ALL ABOUT IT... later!" Bino is as LOUD as a truck.

  . "No, I meant—" Gaten kept getting interrupted.

  . "Now we GOTTA start LOOKIN' around for a place to eat while we WAIT!" Bino's mannerism of speech — truly most eloquent.

  . "Wait...? For what?" asked Gaten

  . "...HAH?!" Bino steps back surprised, "Like... Kana and Lil' Nastashia, DUDE."

  . "Ah... right, aha~" Gaten's little sisters' classes end 2 hours after his, or whenever the Sun arrives 2 hours after. Their dismissal was unfavorable, as it is a few minutes prior to dark.

  . "Well... we're off to the Noon Plaza THEN!" uttered Bino.

  --The Noon Plaza, where the shops that work only when under the sun are located.

  Gaten wonders if their favorite shop was open.