It is a clear blue sky, with only one celestial body visible, the sun.

It shines down on a beautiful valley, filled with lush greenery and vibrant wildlife.

Throughout the valley, the sounds of the animals and the rolling river can be heard.

Except for a part of the valley, where a man is walking slowly and leisurely.

However, with each step, he can move great distances.

As though the ground under him is shrinking.

Everywhere he goes, the wildlife quickly ceases their noises, in hopes of not attracting his attention.

As if he was a hungry predator, ready to pounce on any prey that catch his notice.

But the man soon stopped walking and looks down.

A grin forms on his face

“Here you are.”

***

Deep in the earth.

A giant dark mass was constantly wriggling and moving, creating eerie and revolting sounds.

The mass slowly grows and consumes the surrounding earth blocking its expansion.

*bang*

All of a sudden, an explosion lights up the pitch-black aperture created by the dark mass.

The dust quickly settles, from the direction of the explosion, a silhouette appears.

The figure is in luxuriant clothes and inlaid with a bountiful collection of sparkling jewels and ornaments.

“I finally found you, Murkher the vile.”

A portion of the ooze-like mass begins to morph and turn into the shape of a person after the luxuriantly dressed man’s declaration.

“To have Cayton Alric, the head of the Alric family, sent after me is truly an honor.”

The newly formed individual, Murkher, looks with a resentful face at the head of the Alric family.

Seeing this reaction, Cayton becomes curious.

“Have we met before? To be known by such a celebrity is quite an honor.”

Cayton wants to find out more about this “thing” he was tasked to eliminate, but he can not help but tease.

After all, the damage this one caused has spread throughout the mage world, and his name became renowned for the past few years.

“No, but your family wiped out my-”

“Oh, I see, your another case of revenge, we get a lot of those. No wonder why you’ve caused so many casualties for us.”

Cayton cut short Murkher’s explanation, accompanied by a nonchalant expression.

Murkher’s anger is progressively building while looking at Cayton’s attitude.

“Upset?”

Cayton had a mocking smile.

“You should have learned this by now…”

Cayton takes a short pause before continuing his speech, in order to emphasize his next words, knowing full well his next words will dig into Murkher’s sore spot.

‘It’s that accursed phrase again.’

Murkher thinks to himself, knowing what Cayton was going to say next.

‘It’s that phrase I keep hearing over and over.’

‘That threw at me obstacle after obstacle.’

‘Justifies so many atrocities, justifies my loss.’

‘The phrase I despise most in this world.’

‘Repeated so endlessly, as though all existence must live by it.’

Cayton’s next words boomed and spread throughout the underground crevice as if the world itself resonated with the remark.

“Those not of my blood, are not of my kind.”

Murkher looks on at the smugly smiling Cayton.

“That expression is taught to every person, from the day they are born. In reality, it is an excuse you aristocrat families and clans have used to keep yourselves in power, to justify your repulsive atrocities! But…”

Murkher’s face changes to show a strange smile.

“That will no longer be the case!”

Cayton senses Murkher’s mana moving.

“Well, I guess that is enough chit-chat.”

Cayton did not care what Murkher meant by his words, after all, there is no way for Murkher to survive this day.

“?”

Cayton begins moving but pauses his actions, he senses the mana coming from Murkher is becoming wilder by the second.

“Self-destruct? Heh.”

Cayton chuckles.

*boom*

The black mass and Murkher figure both explode causing a shockwave to spread out.

However, the shockwave was strangely colored black.

Near the center of the explosion, a protective barrier is enveloping Cayton, who has no scratch or any blemishes on him.

“Strange, the impact of the explosion was too weak.”

*sizzle*

“Hmm?”

Cayton notices the sound coming from his protective barrier, he quickly starts investigating the cause.

The next moment, his face changes.

*bang*

A loud mana discharge came from him.

But after the blast, he still had a barrier on, but it was much thicker.

He looks at his hand, where there is a tiny black mark on his index.

“What is this spell? I've heard of his ‘virus’ type spells, but this one is growing at such an alarming rate. It’s difficult for even me to contain it.”

Cayton looks down where the black mass used to be, his expression becoming progressively darker, especially after he looks up, as though he could see past this deep underground area and gaze at the surface.

“What did that vile vermin do?”

***

On that day, a dark wave passes through towns, fields, valleys, and even oceans.

At first, there is no noticeable change.

But, after the first week, black smog begins to appear in small patches.

In a month, the smog expands to cover the majority of the sky, and progressively expands.

Until it blocks out the sun.

Thus, begins the dark age.

***

A young lad was holding a thin book and reading its contents.

On its cover, the title, “The history of the dark age.”, is printed in bold characters.

“Ah, little Sylver, your here. I knew I would find you in the library”

The boy, Sylver, turns to see a brown-haired man with glasses.

“Uncle Conner, do we have any books about the dark age? Ones that explain more about what caused it.”

Sylver asked.

“Silly boy, you’re not going to find books like that in our family’s library. Besides, it’s such a long time ago that most records would have already rotted by now, I would guess anyway. “

“The only reason we have such a book; is because your grandmother inherited it.”

Uncle Conner had a wry smile on, the Usra family is already struggling to get useful mage books, it would be a dream to get rare books like the one Sylver requested.

“But there is no time for you to explore your books, there is a celebration you need to attend.”

Uncle Conner changed the subject.

Sylver avoids his uncle’s gaze and does not say anything.

“*sigh* I know you are worried, but today is your awakening ceremony, it is the family’s tradition to celebrate with the ones you love… and the guest as well.”

Conner tries to cheer up his nephew with a joke.

“But uncle Conner, what would happen if I fail the awakening? Besides, this awakening should have gone to cousin Cain, why did you adults make me take his turn?”

“There is no chance you will fail, you may get a smaller mygan, but it’s not a failure no matter how small. But for the issue of my son Cain, I can’t say, it involves family secrets you will learn once you become a mage.”

“Nonetheless, you should know that me and the other family adults, all care deeply for both of you and the other younglings of the family.”

Conner answers Sylver’s doubts.

***

It took some convincing, but Conner finally pulls Sylver out of the library and they start going to the celebration area.

The party is held in a field right beside the family’s mansion, to accommodate all the nearby villagers that come for the festivities and free food.

While walking, Sylver notices that the light from the morning sky is slightly dim.

He stops to look through a nearby window, wanting to check how cloudy the sky is.

He sees grey clouds till the eye can see…

And covering the light of the two suns that always light up the day, from dawn till dusk.