Capital of Oralio, Theradon.

  A full moon hung above the flourishing city.

  A colorful bird spiraled above a group of troubadours. Drunk out of their minds, they laughed and sang from the depths of their souls, paying no heed to the bird nor the strange phenomenon happening with it.

  The bird's eyes shimmered. Then, its body rapidly burgeoned and erupted in a whirlwind of lightless flames. When the flames died out, a graceful figure took its place.

  White as snow, she was.

  The lady, who was draped in a sanctified robe that flowed like a perfect stream, had her eyes obscured by a topaz-adorned blindfold. A golden girdle cinched her lean waist, and her abundant hair nestled just beneath her lower back. Runic engravings ran along her exposed arms, telling tales of what once was.

  She looked like the holiest of beings— a true creature of divinity.

  When her bare feet settled on the surface of the sky, she spoke:

  “Sorrow lurks where humans once walked;

  A dreamless child, a forgotten cord.

  The distraught world weeps with a calamitous deed;

  When the king rises, the realm shall bleed.”

  Her voice was angelic, so much so that the heavens sobbed.

  …

  Beneath the same moon, a certain prince was planning to run from the castle— from everything. The boy, with gray hair and a defining frown, paced about his room.

  He considered the feasibility of leaving the castle unseen, as well as what he would do once he was out. Getting out wouldn't pose too difficult a task, as he knew of an underground tunnel that led out of the castle grounds. He only hoped that there wouldn't be guards there this late into the night.

  Consumed by his thoughts, the boy heard a faint snicker. Esau turned his head and glared at the phantom that had appeared at some point in time.

  “Do you even have a plan for when you're away from the castle?”

  “...I'll think of something.” Esau answered with a scowl.

  The phantom that bore an uncanny resemblance to the young prince laughed. It walked over to the window and parted the curtains.

  “Let's see… What shall we call you? The Runaway Prince? No, no. I think ‘The Dreamless Prince’ is a more fitting title. What do you think?”

  Esau didn't respond, trying hard to ignore the fragment of his mind that seemed hell bent on driving him insane. Perhaps he already was.

  The phantom snickered once more.

  “Have you stopped to think that what you're about to do is absolutely foolish? Do you really think for an instant that you would be able to sneak out of the castle? There are so many powerful figures stalking the night. Even if you do make it out, that old librarian would be able to find you in a heartbeat. How do you intend to avoid a Visionary’s gaze?”

  “You have a beautiful life here, one that thousands will stop at nothing to acquire. Your parents love you, your sister adores you. Heather cares deeply for you. What is it you hate about this place? What is it you are seeking?! How do you intend to survive in the big world?! You're just a child!”

  Heather… Esau paused his action of packing a few essential items.

  He was silent for a moment, before saying, “I seek the truth. I want to know why I feel… incomplete. I wish to learn the truth behind my dreams.

  “I'm dying here, can't you see? Day after day, I can't help but feel like a noose is slowly tightening around my neck. It's choking… my heart aches. Yes, thousand others would kill to get the fortune I was born with, but I am not them.

  “I really just want to feel whole. I want to find myself.”

  The phantom clicked its tongue. “The people here can help you with that. Who else can offer greater help than the most powerful people in the entire kingdom?”

  Esau shook his head and smiled faintly.

  “Perhaps.” Then, he turned to look at the shadowy figure and said in all seriousness, “But, I still want to leave.”

  The phantom shook its head. “Such obsession. Do I need to remind you that you have lost your connection with Essence? You'll be defenseless.”

  “It'll work out… somehow.” Esau shrugged.

  “How naive.”

  The boy didn't respond. He took a deep breath and resumed packing.

  After securing clothes and a parchment containing a detailed map of the human kingdom, he shoved an old jewel box into the makeshift sack. He planned to trade it for money when he was out of the castle.

  There were so many things that could go wrong, like getting robbed, for one. In fact, how he thought he could leave the castle without being spotted was absolutely ridiculous. But Esau pushed on nonetheless, like a lost steed without its rider.

  When he was done with his measly preparations, he quietly left the room. Esau glanced down the passage. The stained glass to his right was bathed in moonlight, which in turn, illuminated the path, albeit faintly.

  It was quiet. Eerily so.

  Esau took a deep breath and firmly began his walk. The tapestried rug sprawled along the length of the passage killed any sort of noise he would've otherwise made.

  The boy familiarly made his way to the chapel, making sure to stick to the shadows. He anticipated encountering a few of the royal guards, or at the very least, the maids. To his puzzlement, there wasn't a single soul in sight.

  Inside the chapel, the priest was nowhere to be seen either. It was almost as if every single person in the castle had disappeared into thin air.

  Of course, Esau didn't think too much of this. The guards could simply be taking a break. The maids could've retreated to bed earlier than usual, and the priest could be busy in some other chamber.

  In any way, it aided Esau’s plan to run away unseen.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Everything went smoothly. Esau stepped into the pulpit, his fingers lingering on the ornate marble surface. He took one last glance at the nave—at the murals and hanging lights—and nudged a small, wooden door affixed to the stone wall. The door opened soundlessly, and Esau quickly disappeared into the darkness.

  The hidden doorway led to a descent of stone steps. Esau reached into the sack and retrieved a luminescent rock. He held the rock forward and calmly followed the path.

  Soon, he arrived at the base. In front of him, there was a towering arch with metal railings that barred entry to whatever laid beyond. Esau had arrived at the castle’s crypt, and even though he had only been here once, it left quite a lasting impression on him.

  One, because of the hidden tunnel that led out of the castle walls. The other reason being the amount of secrets it held. This was where all his ancestors lay in rest, after all. Including the Son of Man; Angelos Augustus Goldheart.

  Esau moved closer to the gate and pulled on a metal lever embedded in the stone wall. A low groan reverberated throughout the dimly lit passage, quickly succeeded by loud metallic clangs.

  Esau shook slightly. He turned to look at the staircase that led back to the chapel and watched in silence for a moment.

  …No one came.

  “Hm,” He pursed his lips and returned his focus to the now open gate. The boy held his sack of precious items tighter and walked into the crypt, the luminescent rock illuminating his steps.

  The crypt was a large, circular chamber carved into the bedrock of the underground area, with giant pillars that rose to prop up the dome ceiling. Torches hung from the wall, burning in eerie silence as they gave Esau a clearer view of what was contained within. The torches were mystical, no doubt, as they refused to be snuffed out even after hundreds of years. Furthermore, they burned with an enthralling green color.

  Esau reluctantly shifted his gaze from the torches, instead sweeping his eyes across the dead-silent chamber.

  Alcoves lined the stone wall, forming a curve that spread outwards from a raised platform at the furthest end. These alcoves contained tombs, and on the tombs were sculpted effigies of Esau’s ancestors, specifically the former kings of Oralio. There were vaulted corridors on the left and right corners that contained the tombs of other members of the royal family.

  The young boy held the sack tighter and walked towards one of the tombs. He stared at the effigy for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.

  “My great grandfather.”

  A voice chuckled behind him, “Are you wondering if, one day, you'll be buried here?”

  “Perhaps…” Esau muttered. “However, I would prefer if Imogen got to be queen instead.”

  The phantom chuckled once more, but did not say anything further. Esau stepped away from that tomb and walked along the curving alcoves. Soon, he arrived at the raised platform and stared at the awfully decorated tomb on it.

  Unlike the other tombs here, this one was rather strange. It was made of a shifty-black material that Esau didn't recognize. There were also various gems embedded in it, and there was no effigy sculpted onto the surface.

  Esau had a strong desire to open the tomb, but he held himself back. He was a curious child, but not one stupid enough to do something that would alert his family, thus preventing his ‘escape’.

  Without needing anyone to tell him, he knew this tomb belonged to the first Ascendant in the world's history.

  “Angelos,” The phantom arrived next to him, wearing a brilliant smile.

  “Angelos.” Esau repeated, and something in him stirred. He couldn't place his finger on what exactly, but for a split moment, Esau felt as though he was close to recalling one of his dreams.

  The details slipped out of his grasp at the crucial moment, and he sighed in resignation.

  “I shouldn't waste any more time.” He stepped away from the tomb and briefly explored the other parts of the crypt. Behind King Angelos’ tomb was a brass door that spanned a great width.

  There wasn't any lever or special mechanism to open the door, so Esau could only give up after a moment of staring. He could tell, however, that there was something extremely precious behind that door.

  “I'll return someday.”

  Then, he quickly located the tunnel in one of the narrow passages and hurried through its silent length.

  It took a long time for Esau to reach the end and climb out. Feeling somewhat melancholic, he stood still and basked in the moonlight for a few seconds, allowing the night breeze to seep into his bones.

  He was about to leave it all behind. That realization was both freeing and fear-inducing. He couldn't be sure what sort of drastic changes his decision would bring about, but in his childish bravery, he was prepared to face the consequences of his actions.

  Finally, he opened his eyes, taking in the surroundings. Ahead of him, there was a thick forest, its branches blotting out the moonlight. The sound of sloshing water reached his ears, suggesting a nearby river. Esau retrieved his map and placed it on the soft grass, kneeling to study its details. It was a map of Oralio.

  Oralio was situated west of the Northern Continent. The kingdom’s western and southern borders hugged the coastline, while the rest lay further inland. The bustling capital, Theradon, also lay in the Kingdom’s western quarter.

  Even further, the castle itself stood on the farthest edge of the capital, overlooking the packed city, while also looming over the wild lands in the rear. Esau couldn't understand his predecessors’ obsession with claiming the western reaches of the realm, but due to this arrangement, the protective walls of the capital did not stretch towards this area. In other words, the castle’s rear was exposed to the wilderness.

  Esau didn't mind though. If not for the castle’s strange positioning, slipping away would've been impossible. Now, the only problem lay in the fact that the Kingdom’s one and only port was all the way in the south, which was a three-day ride at best. A port hadn't been built on the western coastline, and Esau had heard it was due to its cursed waters, fit only for wreckage.

  After studying the parchment for a while, he bit his lower lip in contemplation. Which direction was he to go in?

  According to the map, beyond the forest was a river. The river ran through a sprawling valley, and the valley ended just before a shoreline mountain range— which served as the western border of the human Kingdom.

  Where he needed to reach was the port in the south. However, Esau would rather avoid overly populated areas, as there was a higher chance of being recognized as the prince. So, after thinking about it for a while, he settled on Hearthbridge— a riverside village.

  That would be his first stop.

  At that moment, he heard a low cough.

  Esau suppressed his disgust and raised his head to frown at the manifested fragment of his mind, however, he froze in place when he saw two awfully familiar figures instead.

  “F-father! Heather…”

  In front of him, seated casually atop a boulder, was the King of Oralio. As for Heather, she leaned against a tree and deftly moved a pebble in between her fingers. Unlike his father who wore a soft smile, the beautiful lady's face bore a deep frown.

  Esau visibly paled as he struggled to form words. He wondered how long they'd been watching him, and how in Heaven's name he had not seen them.

  King Odora glanced at Heather, then chuckled and said to Esau, “Pay her no heed. She's merely hurt that you didn't think to leave a farewell message.”

  Esau was confused, but most of all, he felt guilty. He looked at Heather and muttered, “I was afraid I would lose my resolve if I tried to write anything…”

  The king's smile widened.

  “You've always been too wise for your age.” Then, he jumped down and walked over to his son.

  Esau watched as his father knelt before him. He asked hesitantly, “Did you know that I was going to try to run away? Is that why it was so empty inside?”

  King Odora nodded.

  Esau asked again, “You're not angry?”

  The king shook his head. “No. I am not here to drag you back either.”

  The boy was visibly confused. “I don't understand… why?”

  Odora fell silent for a moment. Instead of answering, he chuckled and said, “When I was just a boy, I wanted nothing more than to roam the world. I was what you would call a free spirit, mischievous and always getting into one trouble or the other. I felt suppressed behind the castle walls, and I hated it.

  “Then, your grandfather passed away, and I was forced to rule our kingdom at a very young age. I was forced to lord over the entire Human race. How do you think I felt for the first few years?”

  Esau thought for a moment, then said with an air of melancholy, “Scared… unsure…”

  King Odora nodded.

  “That's right. It was nothing short of frustrating. More than that, I felt… stifled. I doubted my ability to sit on some throne and bark orders, when I could be out there, yielding to my heart’s desires. At some point, I wanted to run from it all.”

  Esau shifted uncomfortably.

  His father continued, “But I couldn't leave. Because I realized that no matter how constricting ruling the kingdom was, it paled in comparison to facing the unending horrors of the world. In the end, I was too scared and chose to rule behind the safety of the walls. I met your mother not too long after, and so things quickly grew bearable. Fun, even. Haha!”

  Behind, Heather's expression softened, and she even resisted the urge to chuckle.

  The king ceased his laughter and tapped his son's shoulder. “So, you see, your decision to leave is nothing short of brave. You are a child, yet you move with the grit of a Sage. You are about to embark on a journey, one fraught with danger— and believe me, it will be especially perilous for you. However, I hold no doubts that you shall overcome any adversity, no matter how insurmountable. Because you are a Goldheart. Tell me, son, what is your name?”

  The boy's lips quivered. “Esau Avidius Goldheart…”

  “Louder.”

  Esau’s heart was suddenly set aflame. He clenched his fist and declared, “Esau Avidius Goldheart!”

  King Odora smiled and patted his hair. “There you go.”

  Esau also smiled. At that moment, he felt a connection with his father unlike never before.

  Suddenly remembering something, the boy chuckled and said, “But, father, you lied earlier. You said that you were too scared to face the world and instead chose to embrace comfort behind the walls. No, what you did was choose responsibility over desire. That, in itself, is a greater act of bravery.”

  “Heh…” Heather's face beamed with pride.

  King Odora was stunned for a moment. His mouth hung open, and his dark-blue eyes flashed with a certain emotion. After a while, he slowly smiled and shook his head.

  “You really are too wise for your age. Bah! Trying to make your old man cry, are you? Let's leave all that talk!”

  He beckoned for Heather and said with an air of excitement, “Of course, I'm not just going to let you leave without sufficient protection.”

  Heather stopped next to both of them and snapped her fingers. A dark-red gap cut through reality, taking on the form of a bloody maw. The mouth filled with jagged teeth spat out a fairly large orb.

  The orb landed in the palm of the king.

  He eagerly explained, “This here, is one of the rarest magical creatures there is. It's an Orbulus, and although this one is a youngling, it still possesses wondrous powers.”

  Esau studied the Orbulus with great interest. As he watched, the magical creature suddenly squirmed and assumed a less-solid state. Strangely, two glossy eyes poked out from within the rippling surface of the orb, and an area parted to take the shape of a mouth.

  It let out a popping sound, which caused Esau to giggle. He reached out to receive the wondrous creature.

  “He's adorable. Thank you.”

  Odora smiled with content. He rose to his feet and said, “I prepared a lot of enchanted items, but Heather mentioned you would most likely reject them.”

  Esau nodded seriously.

  The King chuckled and patted his son’s hair once more. Then, he stepped back and gave the inseparable pair some privacy. The man had initially wanted to ask his son about the nightmares—if he indeed couldn't recall them—but decided against it after some thought.

  Heather and Esau merely stared at each other, almost as if they could read the other's thoughts through their eyes. In the end, Heather fell on one knee and hugged him tightly.

  “Little brat, I'll miss you.”

  “I'll miss you more.” The boy mumbled with watery eyes.

  Heather wiped his tears and said in all seriousness, “Goldhearts don't cry.”

  After a while, she spoke once more, “Esau, I want you to go into the world, bring it to its knees, and then return straight to me. Do you understand?”

  “I do. I will.” The boy nodded with unwavering resolve.

  Heather leaned forward to kiss his forehead as she said, “When you return, I'll be here waiting.”

  “Alright. Do help me bid farewell to mother and Imogen, and Tilly. I shall miss them dearly.”

  Soon, Odora returned to their side. The dignified and muscular man stretched his arms and asked, “So, where will you go?”

  Esau turned to look in a certain direction. After some contemplation, he answered, “The sea.”

  Heather and Odora both looked south. The former took a deep breath.

  “To the sea.”

  End of First Testament — Genesis.