A thousand years had passed since the final battle between the Last Hero and the Demon Lord.
Humanity had stood on the edge of extinction.
Cities burned. Kingdoms fell. Hope was nearly erased.
And yet… the impossible happened.
The hero defeated the Demon Lord and brought peace back to the world.
Some said he died in that battle.Some said he vanished.Some said the Demon Lord was never truly destroyed.
But history remembered only one truth:
He was the last hero.
And this… was his legend.
"Do you also want to be a hero, Kaele?"
The voice belonged to Dornin Ashford, his father.
Kaele looked up with bright, determined eyes.
"Yes, Father. I want to become a strong adventurer like you. And one day… I will become a hero who saves the world."
Dornin laughed softly and placed a hand on his son's head.
"There is no great threat to this world anymore," he said. "But you can still protect people. Monsters still roam freely. Villages are attacked. Travelers are killed. Becoming strong to protect others is a noble dream."
Elara Ashford, his mother, smiled gently as she spoke:
"Dreaming is never wrong, Kaele. But dreams require effort. Discipline. Pain. Sacrifice. And a will that never breaks in front of your enemies."
Kaele clenched his fists.
"I won't give up."
"Then let's train," Dornin said, standing up.
"Hah!" Kaele replied excitedly.
"If you want to become an adventurer, you must learn how to swing your sword… and how to face your enemy without fear," Dornin said firmly.
They lived in a modest stone house in the city of Vasto, one of the industrial cities of the Valoria Kingdom.
Vasto was a city of smoke and steel.
Blacksmith forges lined the streets.Merchants shouted in crowded markets.Adventurers passed through the gates daily.Knights patrolled the stone roads.Steam rose from workshops.Metal rang against metal.
It was a city built on labor and strength.
After a long day of training, they returned home exhausted.
"Dinner is ready!" Elara called.
"Coming!" Dornin and Kaele replied together.
As they ate, Elara looked at her son with gentle concern.
"Kaele, you should eat more. You're only six. Your body needs strength to grow."
Then she smiled.
"Do you remember what tomorrow is?"
Kaele's eyes widened.
"…My birthday."
Dornin leaned forward.
"And what happens when you turn seven?"
Kaele swallowed.
"I choose my class."
"Yes," Dornin said. "Have you decided?"
"I will become a warrior like you," Kaele replied confidently."…And I hope I get a secondary class."
In this world, children who awakened two classes were called Scions.Those with only one class were called Fallows.
Scions were respected.Fallows were looked down upon.
Most Scions were nobles.Most Fallows were commoners.
And commoners like Kaele were often treated as worthless.
The Next Day
"Kaele, wake up," Elara said softly.
"Okay, Mom…"
"Eat your breakfast and get ready."
"Get ready for what?" he asked sleepily.
She smiled.
"Today is the day you choose your class and enroll in school."
His heart started beating faster.
They walked through the streets of Vasto toward the Class Academy.
The building was massive.
Tall stone towers.Wide marble stairs.Golden banners.Runic carvings.Magic crystals embedded in the walls.Statues of legendary heroes and ancient knights.
Kaele stared in awe.
"It's so big… I wonder how many rooms it has… and what the other students are like…"
Elara enrolled him and gently held his shoulders.
"Be brave. Make friends. Take care of yourself."
Then she left.
Kaele entered the classroom.
It was large and circular, with stone desks, magical lamps, and high glass windows.
Many children were already inside.
Well-dressed nobles.Confident scions.Quiet commoners.
He sat down nervously.
Then the teacher entered.
A tall man in blue robes with silver runes.
"Welcome," he said calmly. "I will call your names. When your name is announced, stand, introduce yourself, and declare the class you wish to choose."
The names began.
"Lorian Valcrest — Knight class.""Seraphine Moonveil — Mage class.""Draven Holt — Crusher class.""Elric Dawn — Healer class.""Nyra Feld — Archer class.""Cassian Rourke — Warrior class.""Veyla Sunmere — Mage class.""Tarin Blackwood — Tank class."
Then—
"Kaele Ashford."
He stood.
"My name is Kaele Ashford. I want to choose the Warrior class… because I want to become strong enough to protect people."
Some nobles laughed quietly.
Some students ignored him.
Some looked at him with curiosity.
The teacher nodded.
"Very well."
In that moment…
No prophecy appeared.No light descended.No divine sign manifested.No hero's mark awakened.
Only a boy.
Only a меч.Only a dream.
And a path filled with hardship.
Thus began the story of a boy with no destiny…
No bloodline…
No blessing…
No divine favor…
No chosen fate…
Only will.
Only effort.
Only fire in his heart.
The story of Kaele Ashford had begun.
Not as a hero.
Not as a Scion.
Not as a chosen one.
But as a Fallow.
A boy the world would never expect to become anything more.