Prologue - His Own Nightmare

In the midst of the aftermath of a Level 3 gate opening, a boy holding onto what seems to be an infant is slowly walking through the flames. Around them, countless people can be seen screaming for help. The boy ignored them, as his only concerned with the survival of him and his sister.

After an unknown amount of time, the boy's legs gave in. He found it difficult to breathe, as the flames burned through the oxygen at an astonishing rate, showing that they are not of a mundane nature. The boy cradled the bundle of blankets to his chest as he laid down on his back.

When faced with death, humans may see their life flash before their eyes. Even so, the boy cannot remember a single thing before this catastrophe. He can barely remember his name and the name of the infant that he recognises as his sister.

As the boy laid his empty gaze upon the moon, he asked himself, why is this happening? Why does so many people have to go through this?

As he figured he would never get those questions answered, he laid on the rubble, staring listlessly as he waits for his own demise. That is when he noticed a man with messy black hair, wearing a trench coat run over to him at inhuman speeds.

The man takes his little sister out of his hands, before summoning a golden sheath out of white sparks. He proceeds to place the sheath on the boy's chest, before the sheath dissapeared in a flash of golden light. The man grabs the boy's hands.

"Thank goodness," the man said, as he cried tears of joy.

The boy was confused. He wondered why the man was so happy when he was the one who was saved. As he stared at the man who was smiling down upon him, he had one last thought before he closed his eyes.

Can I ever smile like that?