Moonlight filtered through the window, casting pale silver light across the quiet room.
Ethan lay on his bed, staring silently at the small locket resting in his palm. The metal surface glimmered faintly under the moonlight. It was simple, old… yet to him it was more valuable than anything else in the world.
His mother had given it to him.
Ten years ago.
From the kitchen downstairs, the warm sound of cooking echoed through the house. The aroma of food drifted gently through the hallway.
"Lily, call your brother. Dinner is almost ready!" his aunt called from the kitchen.
Lily, his cousin, immediately shouted from downstairs.
"Brother! Come down! Dinner is ready!"
Ethan slowly closed the locket and held it tightly for a moment before placing it around his neck. The cold metal rested against his chest.
He took a quiet breath and stood up.
The hallway outside his room was dim. Only faint light from downstairs illuminated the narrow staircase. Each step creaked softly as he walked down.
When he reached the dining room, he paused.
The table was already full.
His uncle sat at the head of the table, smiling faintly. Lily sat beside him, swinging her legs happily under the chair. His aunt stood beside the table, placing the final dish down.
When she noticed Ethan standing at the doorway, she smiled warmly.
"Why are you standing there? Come sit."
Ethan smiled softly and walked over to the table, sitting beside Lily like he always did.
As he looked at the table, his eyes widened in surprise.
Every single dish… was his favorite.
"...Aunt," Ethan said slowly. "Why did you cook only my favorite dishes… and all of them too?"
His aunt giggled slightly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Well," she said with a gentle smile, "tomorrow is an important day for you. I thought cooking your favorite food might cheer you up."
Before Ethan could reply, his uncle spoke.
"Tomorrow is a big day," he said calmly. "You will participate in the Beast Summoning Ceremony. The beast you summon will become your partner in protecting humanity."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"And besides…"
His uncle looked at Ethan with a serious but caring expression.
"I promised your mother—my only sister—that I would take care of you."
The table suddenly became quiet.
The cheerful atmosphere faded.
Ethan lowered his gaze slightly.
Ten years ago…
The memories he tried so hard to bury slowly surfaced again.
---
Chaos.
Screams echoed everywhere.
Monsters poured into the city like a flood. Buildings collapsed as massive creatures smashed through them. Fire spread through the streets while people ran in panic.
Some were crushed beneath debris.
Others were torn apart.
Ethan ran desperately through the burning streets while holding his mother's hand tightly.
"Run, Ethan! Don't stop!" his mother shouted.
Then suddenly—
A collapsing building crashed toward them.
His mother pushed him away and shielded him with her body.
The impact shook the ground.
When the dust settled, Ethan looked up in fear.
His mother was injured.
Blood stained her clothes and her leg was trapped beneath broken debris. She tried to stand but couldn't.
"Ethan… listen to me," she said weakly.
He shook his head desperately.
"No! No! I'm not leaving you!"
Tears streamed down his face as he tried to pull her up.
She gently held his face and placed something in his hand.
It was the locket.
"My mother gave this to me," she said softly. "And now… I'm giving it to you."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Whenever you look at this… remember that I am always with you."
She took a painful breath.
"Your father died in a dungeon protecting others."
Her eyes filled with determination.
"You must survive… and become strong. Just like him."
Ethan cried and shook his head.
"I won't leave you!"
But his mother pushed him away with the last of her strength.
"Run!"
Ethan ran.
He didn't want to.
But he ran.
After a few steps, he looked back.
And saw it.
A monster as large as a house emerged from the flames. Its massive claws grabbed his mother before she could move.
And in a single horrifying moment—
It devoured her.
Ethan stopped.
The world around him was filled with screams and destruction.
Yet he stood completely still.
Silent.
Frozen in the middle of chaos.
---
The memory faded.
Back at the dinner table, Ethan's eyes had become slightly red.
But he didn't cry.
Instead, he tightened his fist under the table and forced a small smile onto his face.
"Brother!" Lily suddenly said excitedly.
"If you summon a dragon, wolf, or lion tomorrow… will you let me ride it?"
Ethan chuckled softly.
"Sure," he replied.
"But only if you give me back massages every day."
"Mom!" Lily immediately complained.
His aunt laughed softly.
"You two, stop it and eat your food," she said. "And go to sleep early. Tomorrow will be a long day."
The warm atmosphere slowly returned to the table as everyone began eating again.
---
Later that night…
Ethan lay quietly in his bed.
The house had fallen silent.
He held the locket again, staring at it as moonlight shined through the window.
Slowly, his eyelids became heavy.
Still holding the locket in his hand…
He fell asleep.
---
Darkness.
Endless darkness.
Ethan suddenly opened his eyes.
He was no longer in his room.
An endless void stretched in every direction. There was no ground, no sky, no light.
Just darkness.
Panic filled his chest as he looked around.
"Where… am I?"
Then he noticed something.
Far in the distance…
There was a faint shape.
He began running toward it.
As he got closer, the shape slowly became clearer.
A man.
The man was kneeling.
Massive chains wrapped around both of his arms, binding them tightly. The chains were carved with strange runes Ethan had never seen before.
A cloth covered the man's eyes.
Behind him stood something even more unbelievable.
A throne.
An enormous throne… also wrapped in the same chains.
The man had long black hair that flowed down his back. His skin was pale, and his body was perfectly built, like a warrior or king.
Ethan stopped a few steps away, his heart racing.
Questions flooded his mind.
Where is this place?
Who is this person?
Why is he chained like this?
Then—
A voice echoed through the void.
Deep.
Ancient.
Powerful.
"Child of my final error…"
The chained man slowly raised his head.
"Shall we begin the masquerade?"