Outside the Festival Hall – City of Kraken
Leo sat beneath one of the great stone pillars, his eyes scanning the ground, while within him surged a single question:
"How can I be different… without proof?"
Loki approached in his usual stride and stood beside him, then spoke in a calm tone filled with paternal warmth:
— "You were incredible, Leo. In the three trials, if you weren't the strongest… you were certainly the rarest."
Leo raised his eyes to him:
— "But I showed no mark, uncle. No Balance… no Fracture… no Light."
Loki hesitated for a moment, about to speak… but a third voice pierced the silence.
— "Hey!"
They both turned to see a young man approaching with confident steps. His hair was short and white, and his gray eyes gleamed with a strange calm.
— "You're the one without a mark, right? Your performance inside the hall was truly impressive."
Leo examined the young man briefly, then replied:
— "Yes, that's me."
— "I'm Drayvis from Blendria… pleased to meet you."
And when he said "Blendria," Leo noticed how his gaze shifted. It held a curious mixture of sorrow, vengeance, and veiled serenity.
Leo was about to ask, but Loki cut the moment short:
— "Let's go."
Leo smiled:
— "This is my uncle… Loki."
Drayvis shook Loki's hand, and together they headed toward a wooden house on the outskirts of Kraken.
—
Loki's House – A Bad Meal and Honest Talk
The three sat around a modest table, where Loki served what he called a "fortifying stew."
Drayvis took his first bite and froze in astonishment:
— "What is this?"
Leo laughed as he continued eating:
— "Loki's daily lunch. A recurring disaster."
Drayvis raised an eyebrow:
— "And you eat it? Every day?!"
— "Believe me… I got used to it after the first year."
The three laughed, and for a moment, it felt as if they had known each other forever.
But Leo hadn't forgotten his goal. He turned to Loki and said:
— "I want to know everything about the Lunar Quest system."
—
The Explanation – The Truth Behind the Rituals
Loki straightened in his seat and spoke in a firm tone:
— "Lunar Quest is not merely a test… it's a gate. A calling heard only by those whose destinies were etched in the Great Aura."
He continued, eyes fixed on the fire:
— "Lunar Quest consists of three main phases:
1. The Trial of Mind: where the candidate faces his own self—his intellect, his ability to think beyond fear.
2. The Trial of Body: where physical endurance is tested—not just through strength, but through sheer resilience when nothing remains.
3. The Trial of Skill: where the candidate must use everything he knows… and act with wisdom, not brute force.
Those who succeed may receive one of the Lunar Marks."
Loki paused, then continued:
— "There are essential marks within the Lunar Quest system, each representing a fundamental power:
— Light: grants the bearer the power to heal, to purge corruption, and to burn with pure brilliance.
— Fracture: a rare ability that dismantles auras and weakens opponents from within.
— Shadow: allows the user to infiltrate, deceive, and manipulate perception.
— Range: expands the reach of both physical and mental influence over vast distances.
— Balance: offers equilibrium among elements—a very rare mark.
— Bond: a deep ability to connect with others and sense their inner truths.
Each mark-bearer is called a Wielder. The strength of the mark depends on its harmony with the bearer's spirit."
Then Loki looked at Leo for a long moment:
— "But sometimes… a person is born with more than one mark. Only in the rarest of cases. They say such souls descend from the Great Aura itself—those whose fates were written in both light and darkness."
He then turned to Drayvis:
— "And you? Where are you from?"
The young man replied quietly:
— "From Blendria."
But the tone in his voice concealed more than it revealed.
Loki asked:
— "Aren't you worried about being away for so long? Your family?"
Drayvis paused, then smiled:
— "No one is waiting for me."
Leo glanced at his uncle, and Loki spoke firmly:
— "If you like… you may train with us. I've prepared a special regimen for Leo."
Drayvis smiled:
— "I'd be honored, Master Loki."
—
Four Days of Training – Under Loki's Rules
The following days were filled with grueling training, unlike anything they had known before:
1. Balance under pressure and sudden changes.
2. Combat within harsh environmental conditions.
3. Survival in a battle with no resources.
4. Perseverance — the most difficult of all.
On the fourth day, both faced a single opponent: Loki himself.
Drayvis displayed his Light abilities brilliantly, and was on the verge of winning, but one slip cost him the fight.
Then came Leo's turn. His battle with Loki was fierce, displaying tremendous strength. In the heat of combat, Loki remarked:
— "This reminds me of the old days… like me and—"
Leo gave him a puzzled look:
— "Who?"
But before he could finish the question, a strike sent him to the ground.
— "No room for distractions. This test… only gets harder."
The duel ended in a bitter draw.
—
The Fifth Day – The Aura Awakens
Loki spoke calmly:
— "Now… show me your true power."
He raised his hand, and life stirred around him. Birds descended from the trees, wolves emerged from the shadows, and even the wind seemed to obey.
— "This is my power… control, attunement, and wisdom with living beings."
Then he called Drayvis.
A pure light emerged from the young man's body, healing Leo's wounds and charring logs without flame.
— "Pure Light… heals and destroys."
Then came Leo's turn.
In an instant… the sky ignited.
Strands of ruby, sapphire, and silver light formed across his back, woven into four interconnected marks:
— Balance
— Fracture
— Range
— Bond
The ground shook.
The city of Kraken trembled.
Blendria felt it.
Its very core stirred.
And then… Leo collapsed, unconscious.
—
Blendria – A Distant Echo
In a shattered throne hall, a tall black shadow stood amidst the ashes of the fallen rulers.
One of his followers whispered:
— "The aura… it shakes us, my lord."
The shadow laughed, his voice parting the air:
— "He has awakened… what is this aura?"