Twenty days had passed since Kassandra’s departure, and they were now nearing the Primordial Tower. As she looked out of the carriage window, the sight before her filled her with awe. The tower wasn’t just a structure—it was more of a city, bustling with life. From what Darius had told her, the tower itself was the massive building at the heart of the city, dividing it into three regions. Kassandra’s excitement grew. How could she not be thrilled? This was the place where the most successors in the world gathered—a place where she would learn more about herself and the mysterious origin that had chosen her.

  Her gaze remained fixed on the towering city walls in the distance when the coachman interrupted her thoughts.

  “Young Lady, the carriage cannot go any further,” John said, giving her a polite reminder.

  “Thank you, John,” Kassandra replied as she stepped out of the carriage. Over the past 20 days, she had grown accustomed to John’s quiet demeanor.

  As soon as she got off, Kassandra noticed a large crowd of people gathered ahead, at least a hundred by her estimation. After walking for a bit, she joined the group and saw a raised platform at the front, where three people stood facing the crowd. Time passed, and more people arrived. Eventually, Kassandra struck up a conversation with a girl standing nearby.

  The girl introduced herself as Diana Flores. She had short, wavy brown hair, pinkish-gray eyes, and pale skin. Judging by her elegant pink and white dress, she seemed to be from a noble family.

  “What do you think they’ll have us do?” Diana asked, her voice filled with curiosity. She was quite chatty, constantly talking without pause.

  Kassandra didn’t bother answering, knowing Diana would likely answer her own question.

  “Maybe they’ll have us fight each other,” Diana mused.

  Before she could pose another question, a booming voice from the platform interrupted her.

  “Silence!” the man shouted.

  The crowd fell quiet immediately, including Diana. The speaker, a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and a wild beard, continued. “Today, you will find out if you are truly successors and if you are eligible to join one of the departments.”

  As soon as he finished speaking, a young woman next to him took over. “We will place you in an artificial coma so you can communicate with your origin. When you awaken, you must provide proof that you are a successor to enter the city.”

  Without another word, the third person on the platform, a young man, raised his hand. One by one, the crowd began dropping into unconsciousness, starting with those closest to the platform. Soon, Kassandra and Diana were among them.

  ***

  Kassandra found herself once again in her mind space—an endless, dark void. But this time, the figure before her was different. It wasn’t her doppelg?nger but a tall male figure with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes. His gaze bore into her, reflecting her very soul.

  "Hello..." the figure said, his voice calm yet unnerving.

  "Hello again," Kassandra responded.

  "Tell me, what do you seek? I gave you instructions: feel Agony," the figure said, his voice chilling.

  "I don’t know how to," Kassandra admitted. "Also, I need your help. I have to prove I’m a successor—how do I do that?"

  The long-haired man remained silent for a moment, making Kassandra nervous. Then, without a word, he reached into his chest as if grabbing something where his heart should be. When he pulled his hand out, he was holding a dark, liquid-like orb, swirling with shades of black and green and emitting faint black particles.

  He extended it toward her. Kassandra hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to take it, but in the end, she reached out and grabbed the orb.

  "Shatter it," the man said nonchalantly.

  Kassandra frowned. She tried applying pressure with her palm, but nothing happened. The orb remained intact. Looking back at the figure, she saw his emotionless, piercing eyes watching her. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "What do you think my title is?"

  Kassandra paused, still fumbling with the orb, before tilting her head in thought. "Something with Despair, Agony, or Misery. You wanted me to feel those things, so it must be related."

  "The Everlasting Despair. That is my title," he said, his voice unwavering. "Now, tell me—how do you think you can shatter the orb?"

  Kassandra thought hard but eventually admitted, "I don’t know. It can’t be brute force, right?"

  "You need to be prepared for Despair. Do you see the crack in the orb?" he asked.

  Kassandra examined the orb closely and finally noticed a tiny, almost imperceptible crack running along its surface.

  "That crack is what allows you to see Despair," the man explained.

  "See Despair?" Kassandra repeated, confused. When had she seen despair?

  "The black particles you’ve been seeing around some people," the origin clarified.

  Kassandra’s eyes widened in realization. "My mother..."

  The man nodded. "That is your opening. Shatter the orb from there."

  Following his instruction, Kassandra focused on the small crack. At first, it was frustrating—nothing happened. But then, her eyes briefly shifted color, changing from their usual grey to a faint, dim green. In that moment, she could see the way to shatter the orb. Applying just the right amount of pressure, the orb shattered effortlessly in her hands.

  She stared at the broken pieces in disbelief.

  After shattering the orb, Kassandra turned to her origin with a questioning look.

  "What just happened?" she asked.

  "You glimpsed Despair and controlled it—just enough to shatter the orb," the long-haired man replied.

  "But what exactly did I shatter?" she pressed.

  The man’s voice was chillingly indifferent as he answered, "That was my source."

  Kassandra’s eyes widened in shock. "Why would you let me shatter your source? Isn’t it supposed to be important for origins?"

  "Why would I care about it? I don’t need it anymore," the lifeless figure responded, his voice devoid of emotion.

  Stunned by his apathy, Kassandra paused before asking another question. "What do I do now?"

  The Everlasting Despair looked at her calmly. "Use the fragments that remain to grow stronger."

  "But how?" she inquired further.

  "Continue to understand Despair," he replied, his piercing green eyes unwavering.

  Before Kassandra could ask anything else, her vision began to distort and dim. She struggled to speak, her voice barely a whisper.

  "What’s happening?"

  A moment later, everything went black.

  ***

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the real world.

  Kassandra glanced around and saw Diana standing next to her, already awake and on her feet. As she stood up, she asked, "How long have I been out?"

  Diana turned toward her and smiled slightly. "You’re awake! Good. To answer your question... I don’t know. I have no idea how long I’ve been asleep either. But look around—there are far fewer people here now than before. Something must have happened while we were out cold," Diana said, her voice trailing off as she speculated further.

  Kassandra only half-listened, focusing instead on what Diana had mentioned about the dwindling crowd.

  Why are there so few of us now? she wondered.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the booming voice of the middle-aged man on the platform.

  "Attention!" he barked, silencing the remaining crowd. "The ones still standing here are confirmed as successors."

  The young woman beside him stepped forward and addressed the group. "If you’re wondering how you were confirmed, it’s because only those chosen by origins were able to enter the artificial coma we placed you in. Now, if you wish to enter the tower, form a line. Each of you will select a faction. For those unfamiliar, there are three factions: Orderly, Chaotic, and Neutral.

  "If you want to join the Orderly faction, line up behind this gentleman here," she said, gesturing toward the middle-aged man. "If you prefer the Neutral faction, stand behind me. And if the Chaotic faction is your choice, stand behind the young man over there."

  After a bit of shuffling, the crowd formed a line. The first to approach the platform was a man with a slightly nervous expression.

  "Name, age, and faction," the buzzcut man from the Orderly faction asked.

  "George Stone, 28, and I want to join the Orderly faction," the man replied.

  The bearded man nodded with a slight smile. "Good. Stand behind me." Turning to the crowd, he shouted, "Next!"

  One by one, the candidates approached, stated their information, and were directed to their chosen factions.

  Eventually, it was Diana’s turn. She stepped up to the platform, her confidence evident in her cheerful demeanor.

  "Diana Flores, 19, and I choose the Orderly faction," she said brightly.

  The middle-aged man smiled and gestured for her to stand behind him.

  Next was Kassandra. She walked up to the platform, her expression calm but resolute. The bearded man looked her over and repeated the same question.

  "Name, age, and faction."

  "Kassandra Ulysses, 21, and I choose the Chaotic faction," she replied firmly.

  This time, the man didn’t smile. He simply nodded and motioned for her to stand behind the young man representing the Chaotic faction.

  "Next!" the buzzcut man called as Kassandra walked to her place.

  Once everyone had chosen their faction, the young woman on the platform addressed the group.

  "Now, follow your faction representatives to your designated regions. There, you’ll learn more about your roles and what lies ahead."

  After the announcement, the three groups split, each heading to their faction's designated region. With Diana choosing another faction, Kassandra found herself without anyone familiar.

  The Chaotic faction was the least popular choice, with only seven members out of the original 66. By comparison, the Neutral faction had 47 new members, while the Orderly faction claimed the remaining 12.

  Kassandra glanced around to observe her new colleagues. Including herself, there were four males and three females.

  The first member stood directly behind the representative. Appearing to be in his thirties, he was likely a late awakened. His stern face and sharp features suggested he had little patience for humor or frivolity. His olive-toned skin complemented his short brown hair, neatly cropped on the sides. With striking blue eyes and a muscular build, he towered over Kassandra by 15-20 centimeters, his presence exuding quiet authority.

  The second member was a young woman, seemingly lost in thought. Her pale white skin gave her an almost ethereal look. Her raven-black hair fell over her face, partially concealing her violet-colored eyes. She stood slightly shorter than Kassandra, her slender frame adding to her air of introspection.

  Kassandra stood third in line, her tall frame commanding attention at 180 centimeters. Her olive-toned skin had a warm glow, complementing her deep green eyes that seemed to hold an air of quiet intensity. Wavy, onyx-black hair cascaded down her back, its texture and length adding an effortless elegance to her poised demeanor.

  The fourth member was a man with wild eyes and a manic grin that radiated unsettling energy. His pitch-black hair contrasted sharply with his pale white skin, and his deep crimson eyes seemed to glimmer with chaos. Standing about 10 centimeters taller than Kassandra, his unpredictable aura made him stand out uncomfortably.

  The fifth member, another male, carried an oppressive, gloomy aura that seemed to darken the space around him. His brown skin was complemented by dark brown eyes, and his ash-black hair was tightly curled. A slight beard framed his face, and he stood at roughly the same height as Kassandra, his demeanor subdued and brooding.

  The sixth member was a woman whose calm, nonchalant demeanor made her seem entirely unbothered by the world around her. Her dark skin glowed faintly in the dim light, and her silver-colored eyes matched her braided straight, silvery hair, which cascaded down her back in long, flowing strands. Standing about 5 centimeters taller than Kassandra, her composed presence gave her an air of quiet strength.

  The seventh and final member was a man whose arrogant posture made him immediately noticeable. His pale white skin contrasted with his striking crimson hair, tied in a high ponytail. His golden-colored eyes gleamed with confidence—or perhaps overconfidence—as his smug smirk and raised chin made his insufferable personality all too clear. Slightly taller than Kassandra, he carried himself as if the world revolved around him.

  The group remained in awkward silence as they followed their representative. Nobody spoke—not the new recruits, nor the representative—and the tension was palpable. Kassandra found the silence particularly uncomfortable.

  Finally, the representative came to a halt, turning to face them. For the first time, he spoke, his voice measured and authoritative.

  “First, let me introduce myself. My name is Anach Zokrell, and I’ll be your handler for the next year,” he began. “Second, this will be your home from now on. You’re free to enter and explore. If you have any important questions, you can bring them to me—but only if they’re important.”

  Anach began handing out keys to each of them, continuing as he did so. “Lastly, tomorrow we’ll begin with the serious work. Today, you can rest and get to know your new housemates. And try not to cause too much trouble.”

  With that, Anach entered the building and ascended a staircase that was immediately visible from the entryway, leaving the group standing together in silence.

  Kassandra and the others exchanged glances before entering the building one by one. Inside, the space was functional but unimpressive. The decor was plain, and the furniture looked well-used. Kassandra noticed the arrogant man’s face twist in displeasure as he surveyed his surroundings.

  The group wandered through the building, taking in their new home. Eventually, they found a common room with several couches and chairs—a resting area of sorts. Some of them sat down, while others leaned against the walls, clearly reluctant to relax around strangers.

  Kassandra took a moment to prepare herself, planning to introduce herself and break the ice. However, before she could speak, the arrogant man stepped forward and took the initiative, interrupting her.

  “My name is Lucian Abelheart.” His tone was as smug as his expression. “If any of you need help, you can come to me. I’m sure I’ll end up leading this group anyway.”

  The room fell silent as his words hung in the air, the arrogance behind them impossible to miss.

  Kassandra and the rest of the group turned their attention to Lucian. Some looked wide-eyed in surprise, while others appeared thoroughly annoyed by his bold proclamation of leadership. While the irritated ones silently cursed him in their minds, one of the women broke the silence with a question.

  “Abelheart? As in one of the Abelhearts?”

  Lucian smirked, puffing up with even more pride than before. “Hmph, it seems my family name precedes me. Perhaps you’re from the Sacred Kingdom, like me?”

  His tone was dripping with arrogance, and it was clear he was immensely proud of his family name.

  Before the conversation could shift, the crazy-eyed man spoke up. “Is this so-called Abelheart family even that impressive?”

  Lucian’s face contorted with fury, a vein visibly pulsing on his forehead. “You insolent rat! Who do you think you are, insulting my family like that?”

  The man laughed, clearly enjoying Lucian’s reaction. “Haha, you spoiled little pomeranian. The name’s Ajax Fallcrest,” he said, grinning ear to ear.

  “You... you...” Lucian stammered, his face turning bright red as he began yelling a stream of curses at Ajax.

  Before their childish argument could escalate, the late awakener stepped forward and placed himself between the two. “This is completely unnecessary. Calm down, both of you,” he said, his tone firm but measured.

  Lucian and Ajax both glared at him, irritated by the interruption. Lucian was clearly annoyed at being told what to do, while Ajax looked disappointed that his fun had been cut short.

  Before they could start yelling at him, the man introduced himself. “My name is Karis Zaker. I’m 31 years old and from the Lokfran Kingdom,” he said evenly.

  Karis then raised a hand, stopping them before they could respond. “Let everyone introduce themselves first. Then, if you must, you can go back to fighting like children.”

  Grumbling, both Ajax and Lucian muttered, “Fine.”

  Karis turned to one of the women leaning against the wall, her expression indifferent. “Why don’t you go next,” he said.

  She straightened slightly before speaking. “My name is Asna Highcastle. I’m 18 years old, from the Highcastle Kingdom,” she said quickly and with little emotion.

  “Oh, The fallen princess of the Highcastle Kingdom?” asked another woman, her voice dripping with curiosity.

  Asna’s cold glare was her only reply.

  “Oh my, I apologize. Perhaps I was inconsiderate,” the other woman said, though her tone was completely devoid of actual remorse. It was clear she didn’t care in the slightest.

  Karis gestured toward her. “Your turn, then.”

  She stood from her seat and introduced herself with a nonchalant smile. “I’m Nadia Spelfara, and I’m 20 years old.”

  “Nice to meet you both, Asna and Nadia,” Karis said politely. He looked around. “Alright, who’s next?”

  Finally, Kassandra spoke up. “Nice to meet all of you. My name is Kassandra Ulysses. I’m 21 years old and from the Nessus Kingdom,” she said with a touch of etiquette.

  Karis nodded. “Nice to meet you as well, Kassandra.”

  He then turned to the last man, who had remained silent the entire time. “And finally, you,” Karis said.

  The man glanced around the room before answering simply, “Orn Vodd.”

  Karis nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now that everyone knows each other...” He turned back to Lucian and Ajax with a pointed look. “You two are free to continue your childish fighting.”

  The two glanced at each other, muttering in unison, “It’s not worth it.”