A boy with white hair and piercing blue eyes adorning ragged second hand clothes, was on a stroll through the city of zephyhaven. The city wasn't anything special. In fact, the city hurt to look at. That is the part of it he lives in at least. Lucas Vale and his family had grown up poor, dirt poor. They were barely getting by, and so inevitably they were living in the slums, the outskirts of the city. Lucas watched as a kid his age was being reprimanded for attempting to steal. He sighed inwardly thinking about how seeing something like this became normal for him. Out of the blue the kid being reprimanded started screaming his head off shouting "it, it's a curse" the man didn't believe him at first thinking he was just trying to escape punishment. After repeated screaming the man turned around fainting on the spot. Many onlookers turned to see what the commotion was all about and then they saw it themselves. A curse. It was lurking in the distance however the distorted silhouette of it inspired total fear into the minds of all who saw it. Lucas was one of these people. Panic settled in. Lucas sprinted toward his run-down house, desperate to warn his family. The streets were in chaos—the air thick with soot and river grime, narrow lanes littered with broken carts and refuse. Arriving at his house Lucas finds both his parents as well as his three sisters standing outside. Lucas's mother Mya softens upon seeing Lucas "Lucas we need to go urgently." Lucas senses the desperation behind his mothers voice and follows after her. Fleeing from the area, his father, James, asked, "Lucas… did you see it?"
Lucas stammered, "S-see what?"
"The curse… did you see it?"
Lucas went silent, then muttered softly, "y-yeah I did."
James muttered to himself, "I see."
The family of 6 desperately run towards the centre of the city attempting to seek some form of refuge in the more wealthy area of the city. Arriving at a stop the family is met with a long line of people checking people's identification before allowing them to pass the gate that enters into the more wealthy region where there are sorcerers of higher rank and status. Lucas notices something off. Thinking to himself Lucas theorises "There's no way they're only letting important people through… right?" He asks himself whether or not that could possibly be the case before inwardly thinking "no it could be, what use would some poor commoners living in the slums be worth to those rich nobles."He doesn't speak up however his attitude sours causing his father to catch on and question him "Lucas what's the matter?" He doesn't respond. Lucas then notices a family who had already spoken to the guards flee the area. This confirmed his theory. Lucas starts thinking "shit, shit, shit, what can I even do?"
The line crept forward inch by inch.
Iron gates towered overhead, embedded with glowing sigils that hummed faintly — barriers meant to repel curses, but just as effective at keeping people out. Armed guards stood watch in polished uniforms bearing noble crests. Their armour was clean. Untouched. Untainted by slum dust or fear.
Lucas watched carefully.
Each family that approached was questioned. Names checked. Papers examined. Some were waved through immediately. Others were turned away without explanation.
And those turned away… didn't argue.
"Next," a guard barked.
The family ahead of Lucas stepped forward — well-dressed, trembling but composed. The guard barely glanced at their documents before stepping aside.
"Proceed."
The gates parted just enough to let them through.
Lucas felt his jaw tighten.
When it was finally their turn, James stepped forward, placing their worn identification on the metal podium. The guard picked it up between two fingers as if it were contaminated.
His eyes flicked over the paper once.
Then twice.
His expression didn't change — but something behind his eyes did.
"…Slum registry," the guard muttered.
He looked up at James. Then Mya. Then the girls clinging to her sleeves. Finally, his gaze settled on Lucas.
It lingered.
"You'll have to turn back," the guard said flatly.
James stiffened. "Sir, please. There's curses moving this way. We won't last out there."
"That area is already being evacuated," the guard replied without interest. "This zone is restricted to registered citizens of standing."
"Standing?" Mya's voice cracked. "We live here. This is our city."
The guard's eyes hardened. "You live outside the city."
A murmur rippled through the crowd behind them. Fear. Anger. Desperation.
Lucas felt something twist in his chest.
"Please," James said quietly. "My children—"
before he could finish screams erupted behind them.
"THEY'RE COMING—!"
People surged forward in panic. Someone fell. Another was trampled. The guards snapped to attention, spears lowering instinctively — not toward the crowd, but outward.
Lucas turned fully noticing the outer walls had been breached noticing curses had gotten in.
A guard hastily muttered over a communication device "whispering vines have breached, multiple of them around 16 maybe more, we need backup." he then continued "it's not just that either, in the distance th-theres a primal roar, please send someone over fast." he then took a breath coldly saying "otherwise thousands are going to meet their end."
The person on the other side of the communication device muttered "i'll see what I can do, but close the gate to the central district." The guard confused stammered "b-but we'd essentially be leaving these people to die" the other side returned saying "we don't need to worry about those useless commoners, just close the gate." At the same time of the conversation the whispering vines rampaged the streets terrorizing everything in their path. They were making their way towards the inner gate. Their long tendrils pierced the body's of anyone in their way.
The guard shouted "close the gate."
Even more panic erupted amongst the crowd as they watched the gate slowly come to a close.
tremors were sent through the ground as the lone primal roar moved closer towards the city.
"Some citizens tried to confront the Whispering Vines. It was hopeless. Mere common folk like them couldn't touch a curse, not even a common grade one such as the whispering vines."
As the whispering vines neared in on Lucas and his family Buildings crumbled and Blood splattered the streets. Lucas felt the vibrations travel up his legs, and a metallic tang filled the air. Fear tightened around his chest as well as something more.
Something inside Lucas pulsed, a heat and cold rushing through him all at once. He didn't understand it — not yet — but he knew it was connected to the horror before him. His heart pounded in his ears. Hands trembling. Breath short. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but he stood firm.
Lucas's parents knew deep down they were to weak to do anything and regretfully apologized to their kids.
someone nearby screamed yelling "THEY'RE HERE" being pierced by a whispering vine tendril mere seconds later.
Screams and shouts tore through the streets as people ran in every direction, some tripping over the broken rubble. Panic was contagious; chaos spread faster than the vines themselves.
Belle, Lucas's eldest sister aged 9 dismissed her mothers grasp inwardly saying "I just want to protect them" as she glances back at her family just before conjuring her lightning affinity sending weak strikes of lightning at the whispering vine only to have them dismissed as if they weren't there.
The curse then counters sending it's tendrils after her. Blood splatters as Belle screams in agony. Her foot was pierced after being unable to dodge due to her weak stature. As the whispering vine prepares for another attack and another one nears belle fears death. Seeing she has no choice Belle activates her cursed technique lightning bind. She activates it narrowly before the whispering vine makes its move. Belle sends 3 chains of electricity towards the curse hitting the approaching one as well, temporarily stunning them.
Belle collapses, still conscious but barely hanging on due to the exhaustion and pain. The 2 curses regain their composure as another one joins them. Thinking to himself, Lucas muttered "how pathetic, am I seriously gonna die like this? I REFUSE!" Lucas laughs out loud "HAHAAHAHA! NO WAY AM I LETTING IT END HERE."