[Scene: 100,000 Years Ago, The Ruin Field of Atraxion]
Thunder split the sky as crimson lightning rained across a battlefield of ash and ruin. The once-sacred plains of Atraxion had become a monument to death.
Blinding towers of celestial fire crashed against molten infernos and cursed steel.
"Divine Nova: Luminarch Requiem!"
A voice rang with holy wrath—Seraphiel, a high-ranking Angel with white eyes like falling stars. Her rune, Solmara, glowed like fire across her collarbone—a starburst fused with a radiant cross.
Wielding her Rune of Purity, she summoned spears of celestial light that rained from the heavens, vaporizing entire demon legions in divine fire.
From the other side, a monstrous aura surged.
"Hellbrand Manifestation: Wrath of Nine!"
Azakai, the Devouring Warlord, bared his fangs—seven glowing red eyes lighting his face. The demon bore the rune Malzakar, engraved along his spine like a burning skeletal chain—a horned skull with fire curling from its jaw.
Wielding his Rune of Rage, his hand tore through space, and a claw of molten red lightning slashed the skies, dragging down angelic hosts with a roar that shattered sound itself.
Across the battlefield, archdemon—Vaemora, Rune of Umbraxis, A black flame with jagged edges forming a claw.
Wielding her Rune of Shadow (shadow-flame manipulation)—vanished into black mist, reappearing behind angels mid-flight, her purple eyes gleaming like poison. Her rune curved around her wrist like a clawed bracelet, inked in flickering shadow.
"Blades of Umbral Reign!"
A volley of pitch-black daggers tore through radiant wings.
Wings burned. Horns shattered. Mountains fell.
Then—silence.
Not of sound—but of spirit.
From the farthest edge of the field… he walked.
A man with no rune.
Barefoot. Cloak less.
Untouched by fire or light.
Where others radiated power—he nullified it.
The world around him rippled. Light dimmed. Wind stilled. The air bent unnaturally, folding inward around his every step.
Even Zerakhiel, an archangel bearing the Judiciel rune across his throat—a scale wrapped by an all-seeing eye, and wielding the Rune of Judgement—felt a tremor in his divine core.
And Dazhrek, high ranking demon, Rune of Sangrael, Rune of Blood (blood dominion), with crimson eyes and a rune resembling a goblet overflowing with spirals, paused mid-slaughter.
Everyone felt it.
The man raised his hand.
No incantation.
No name.
No rune.
Only intention.
The world cracked.
A silence-deafening pulse exploded from him—runes shattered, divine enchantments undone, ancient contracts erased.
Thousands were thrown to the earth.
In an instant, the war stopped.
And then—
From the smoke, Azakai returned.
A horned silhouette.
Seven burning eyes.
His body torn, yet fury undying.
"You should not exist."
In one blink, Azakai vanished—then reappeared with his arm driven through the runeless man's chest.
His cursed claw—wreathed in layered spells and soul-venoms—shattered dozens of unseen barriers.
The man coughed blood.
And smiled.
Azakai's triumphant expression faltered.
Because the man did not resist.
He whispered something no one heard.
And then he fell.
The demons retreated into the veil.
The angels stood still in awe.
The world burned.
And from that day…
They never spoke of him again.
Until now.
[Present: The Unmarked in Eldoria]
The cobblestone path echoed under my worn boots as I walked through the heart of Eldoria's capital. Sunlight fell between the banners hanging high above the streets, swaying gently with the breeze. The scent of baked bread, leather oil, and dust lingered in the air. People bustled past, heads high, their eyes full of purpose. Unlike mine.
I wore a dull, scratched leather armor that barely clung to my frame. It didn't shine. It didn't stand out. Just like me. A sword I bought for two silver coins hung loosely at my side, chipped and uneven. I wasn't a knight. Not a noble. Not even a proper soldier. Just… a body in a crowd.
My name is Aerin Valhart. I am seventeen, slightly tall for my age, with messy black hair that always falls into my silver-gray eyes. People say my eyes look empty—like there's something missing. Maybe they're right.
In this world, power is everything. And power comes from one thing: the rune that marks your body when you're born.
A little girl dashed past me, laughing. On the back of her left hand shimmered a glowing mark—a spiral gust circling a glowing orb, lightly pulsing as she moved. She waved her hand, and a breeze followed her feet.
Her rune was already active. Must be wind-based. She couldn't have been older than eight.
I lowered my head and kept walking.
When a child is born, a rune appears somewhere on their body. Neck, chest, hand, forehead, shoulder, even under the eye. The place doesn't matter. What matters is what it means. That symbol decides your fate.
Some are born with minor runes. Simple powers—just enough to get by. Some are lucky and get major ones. Fire, wind, water, earth. The gifted ones grow up to be warriors, magicians, royal guards, or even nobles. The extraordinary? They're born with more than one rune. Two marks. Three, if the gods are drunk. Those people are rare. Special. Worshipped.
I passed a merchant shouting prices for enchanted fruit. His rune was visible on his shaved scalp—a flame wrapped in a circle, glowing faintly orange. A fire-type. He snapped his fingers and lit a lantern to attract buyers. Simple magic, nothing fancy. But the crowd still clapped.
And then there's people like me. People with no rune at all.
No mark. No light. No power.
I wasn't chosen.
My fingers gripped the leather strap across my shoulder.
They say it happens sometimes. One in ten thousand. A birth with no rune. People whisper you're cursed. Broken. Forgotten by the world. In the beginning, I waited. I thought maybe my rune would appear late. But after seventeen years, there's still nothing.
A royalty woman stepped out of a carriage ahead of me. Her dress shimmered like glass, and servants rushed to open her parasol. On her exposed collarbone, a glowing sigil pulsed—a sun with wings extending outward, Solvaris, Rune of Ascendance. Everyone near her bowed, even the guards. She didn't notice me as she passed. She didn't need to.
That's a high-ranking rune. Divine. Maybe even angelic. People like her rule this world. Their bloodlines carry strong runes. Power stays with them. People like me? We're shadows. We live between the cracks. Unseen. Mocked. Ignored.
Two boys about my age walked by, laughing. One had a symbol on his right forearm—a snowflake fused with a shard-shaped spear—and the other had a gear with a sword at the center on his shoulder. They stared at me for a second too long. I turned my eyes away.
They know. Everyone knows. They can tell by the way I carry myself. No light. No glow. Just this cheap armor and a blank body.
I walked toward the plaza, past statues of ancient heroes. Each one had their rune carved into the stone beneath their feet—symbols of their might, their legend, their importance. I tried not to look at them too long.
Sometimes I wonder why I wasn't chosen. Did I do something wrong before I was born? Am I a mistake?
The wind picked up. I pulled my cloak tighter.
I stood still in front of the towering statue of Eldoria's first hero. His stone face looked proud and strong, his chest puffed, his hand gripping a giant sword that touched the ground. His rune was carved deep into the statue's chest—a lightning bolt wrapped by a ring of stars, Fulminar, Rune of Thunder, one of the greatest ever recorded.
I wondered what it felt like. To stand tall. To be chosen.
"Aerin!"
A cheerful voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned. A girl with short brown hair and bright green eyes was waving at me, running across the plaza. She wore light leather armor and a blue scarf around her neck. On her right forearm shimmered her rune—a swirling gust shaped like a spiral, Zephyros, Rune of Gale simple but alive.
Beside her followed two others—a taller girl with long silver hair and a serious face, and a boy with messy blond hair and a goofy smile.
The silver-haired girl had a snowflake fused with a sharp, shard-like spear, Cryospina, Rune of Frost.
The blond boy had a small flame twisting upward, marked clearly on the back of his left hand, Pyralis, Rune of Ember.
"Hey, you're spacing out again!" Kira said as she reached me, panting a little. "You're always standing here like a lost puppy."
I gave a small smile. "Sorry. Was just... thinking."
The silver-haired girl crossed her arms. "You think too much." Her voice was sharp but not cruel.
"That's Selene," Kira said, laughing and pointing at her. Then she poked her thumb toward the blond boy. "And that's Gray."
Gray gave a small wave, grinning. "Yo."
Selene rolled her eyes.
"So, what are you all doing here?" I asked, pulling my cloak tighter as the wind picked up again.
Kira's eyes brightened. "We're going on an adventure!" she said proudly.
"Adventure?" I tilted my head.
"Yeah! There's been rumors." Gray leaned in, speaking in a half-whisper. "Weird noises coming from the forest east of Eldoria. Animals running away. Lights at night. The guards are busy, and the nobles don't care, so we thought... why not check it out ourselves?"
"...We?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Kira nodded quickly. "Yes! Us three! And you too, if you want!"
My heart tightened. I looked down at my hands. No rune. No light. No power.
I shifted on my feet. "Are you sure?" I asked quietly. "I don't have a rune. I'll just slow you down."
Kira's smile didn't fade. "So what?"
Gray shrugged. "Not like we're fighting a dragon or something."
Selene, even with her serious face, gave a small nod. "You're smart. We might need that more than flashy magic."
I hesitated, feeling their stares. Their trust. Their honesty. It was strange. Most people turned away when they realized I was rune-less. They treated me like a broken tool. But Kira, Gray, and Selene… they didn't care.
Maybe… maybe I can belong somewhere.
I gave a small breath. "Alright. I'll come."
Kira cheered and grabbed my hand, pulling me forward. "Let's go before it gets dark!"
The four of us made our way through the busy streets, leaving the golden walls of the capital behind. The dirt road stretched toward the thick woods ahead, where tall trees swayed like giants whispering secrets.
Kira skipped beside me, her hand resting near the dagger at her belt. The wind occasionally stirred around her, little bursts of air reacting to her Rune of Gale without her even trying.
Selene walked ahead, silent and focused. Her Frost Rune pulsed faintly on her shoulder, a cold mist following her steps when she got too close to the trees.
Gray hummed a song, twirling a small fireball between his fingers. His Rune of Ember gave a soft orange glow, lighting the path when the shadows grew thick.
Me? I walked quietly, my cheap armor clinking softly, my hands empty. No power. Only my mind.
We reached the forest entrance. The air was colder here.
Kira stopped and placed her hands on her hips. "Alright, team! We're here to investigate. No running off, no starting fires, no freezing the birds!" she teased, looking at Gray and Selene.
"I won't freeze anything unless it tries to eat us," Selene replied calmly.
Gray chuckled. "No promises about the fire."
I smiled slightly. They were idiots, but... they were good idiots.
We stepped into the trees, the world growing quieter with each step. Only the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds filled the air.
"See anything weird?" Kira asked after a while.
I scanned the area carefully. Fallen branches. Scratch marks on some of the tree trunks. Nothing huge, but strange enough.
"There," I pointed to the ground. A small patch of dirt was disturbed, like something had dug it up.
Selene knelt and touched the soil. "Fresh. Maybe an hour ago."
"Could it be an animal?" Gray asked, looking around nervously.
"Maybe," Selene answered. "But animals don't usually scratch in circles."
Kira looked closer and gasped. "It's a rune symbol?"
She was right. Scratched roughly into the dirt was a faint mark—an uneven spiral with claw-like points. It wasn't clean, wasn't perfect, but it was deliberate.
I narrowed my eyes. "That's not a natural rune. Someone made this."
"Could be a trap," Selene said, standing up. Her hand rested near her sword.
Gray shivered. "I don't like this."
Kira grinned. "Which means we're on the right track!"
I knelt beside the mark.
Whoever did this… they were either trying to scare people away, or send a message.
"We should keep moving," I said, standing. "See if there are more signs deeper in."
The others nodded. We pressed onward, weaving through the trees, hearts beating a little faster.
As we walked, the light faded behind the trees. I kept my eyes sharp, my ears tuned for any noise.
For once, despite the heavy silence, I didn't feel alone.
Maybe I'm not as useless as I thought.
The deeper we went into the forest, the more silence wrapped around us. The usual sounds of birds and insects faded as the trees grew thicker and the shadows darker. The air felt colder too. I kept my eyes sharp, my senses on high alert. Something was off.
We stopped when the path became a dense thicket of underbrush. Kira motioned for us to be quiet. She crouched, peering through the bushes ahead.
"What is it?" Selene asked, her voice low.
"There's something ahead," Kira whispered.
Before I could respond, there was a sudden, loud rustling in the bushes. Without warning, a massive direwolf lunged at us, its glowing purple eyes shining in the dim light. It was huge—twice the size of a normal wolf, its muscles rippling with each movement.
Gray raised his hand, flames gathering in his palm. "I'll handle it! Pyro Burst!" he yelled, launching a wave of fire at the creature. The flames scorched the air, but the direwolf dodged with surprising speed.
Selene's eyes froze. "Not good. We need to fight smart."
The wolf growled, showing its teeth, and suddenly lunged at Kira, who barely managed to roll out of the way. The wolf's claws scraped the ground where she'd just been.
I took a step back, watching in shock as the wolf charged again, this time at Gray. "Gale Slash!" Kira shouted, summoning a gust of wind that pushed the direwolf back for a moment, but it didn't seem to affect it much.
We weren't doing enough.
"Frost Vortex!" Selene shouted, her hands forming a sphere of ice that shot out in all directions, freezing the ground where the wolf stood. For a moment, the direwolf slowed, its paws slipping, but then its glowing eyes flashed again, and it broke free with terrifying speed.
The next moment, I felt its claws rake across my side. I cried out, falling to the ground, blood soaking through my cheap armor. The wolf's pawprint left a deep gash along my ribs.
"Aerin!" Kira screamed.
I tried to get up, but the pain stopped me. My vision blurred.
"Focus!" Selene barked, raising her sword.
"We can't let it overpower us!"
But the direwolf wasn't done yet. It lunged again, this time aiming for Kira.
"Pyro Burst!" Gray shouted again, a wall of fire exploding between Kira and the beast, but the wolf broke through. It was stronger than we thought.
Kira slashed at the wolf with her wind, but it seemed to shrug off the effects. Its movements were erratic, unpredictable. As if it were being controlled.
"Look!" Gray shouted, pointing at the wolf's back.
On the wolf's fur was a glowing purple rune, shaped like a spiraling spiral with two sharp claws curving around it. It pulsed with power, lighting up with each movement of the direwolf.
"That's… not natural," Kira said, her voice filled with suspicion.
"Animals don't have runes," Gray muttered, his hands shaking. "This... this isn't normal."
Selene gritted her teeth. "It's being controlled. We have to stop it before it kills us all."
Together, we attacked in unison. Kira
launched another Gale Slash, knocking the wolf off balance. Selene dashed forward, her sword flashing in the twilight. "Frost Cleaver!" she yelled, sending a massive blade of ice toward the wolf. The strike hit hard, but the wolf just howled, breaking free of the ice and charging again.
I pushed myself to my feet, my body screaming in pain. I grabbed my sword and staggered forward.
I can't just lie here. I have to help them.
I slashed at the wolf's side, but it barely seemed to notice. The purple rune on its back pulsed brighter, and the beast snapped its jaws at me.
"Aerin, get back!" Kira shouted, using her wind to push me out of the way.
In one final push, Gray slammed his fist into the ground. "Pyralis Fury!" A huge explosion of fire erupted, catching the wolf in a fiery storm. This time, the wolf howled, its body writhing in agony as the flames engulfed it.
Finally, the direwolf collapsed, its body twitching. The purple rune on its back flickered one last time before it went dark.
We all stood still, panting.
Selene walked up to the beast, her face cold. "It's dead," she said, kneeling beside it. "But the rune on its back… It wasn't just some wild animal. Someone is controlling it."
"Who would do that?" Kira asked, looking at the glowing mark. "And why?"
I winced, still holding my side. "It doesn't matter. We need to get back. I'm… I'm not good for this."
Kira glanced over at me, frowning. "Stop it, Aerin. You're part of this now. You can't blame yourself."
I didn't respond. The pain was too much.
We stayed there for a little longer, making sure nothing else was around. The shadows grew longer, and the cool air carried the scent of damp earth.
The afternoon passed, and I had been bandaged up by Selene, though my side throbbed painfully. I could tell they were worried, but they didn't say it out loud.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, we started walking back toward Eldoria.
"It's getting late," Kira said, looking up. "We should report this to the castle and get paid for the work."
"Right," Gray said, his mood lifting slightly. "We did what we came for."
We arrived at the castle just as the last light of day faded. The gates opened for us, and we made our way inside. A man wearing fine armor and a stiff expression approached.
"You four?" he asked, eyeing me with disdain. "What's the rune-less doing with you?"
I felt my heart sink. I was used to being looked at like this.
Kira, however, stood up for me. "Aerin came with us. He fought."
The man didn't seem convinced, looking me over from head to toe. "You're not welcome here. This is a place for those with power. Not…" He turned away with a flick of his hand, dismissing me.
I wanted to say something. To argue. But the words didn't come.
We got our payment—small, but enough to buy supplies—and walked out of the castle. I was quiet, the words of the soldier still echoing in my ears.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, looking down. "I wasn't any help today."
"Don't say that," Kira said, punching me lightly in the arm. "You were hurt. You did the best you could."
"I know. But I still couldn't…" I trailed off.
Selene looked at me, her expression unreadable. "It's not about the runes, Aerin. We choose to be here with you. You don't need a glowing symbol to be valuable."
I looked up at them, feeling warmth in my chest.