In this world, memories are more than just echoes of the past. They can become weapons, ignite flames, and grant strength beyond human limits.
And in this world lives a boy named Kian. He grew up in the village orphanage, known for his stubborn spirit. No matter how many times he fell, he always stood back up. His friends laughed at him for never giving up, but that was what made him different.
That afternoon, he was playing with the other children, though his eyes kept drifting toward the guards training nearby. Their swords were dazzling—some burned with fire, some flowed with water, and a few glowed like stars.
The one that amazed him most was Captain Gerald's. His sword blazed with a red flame, brighter and larger than the others. To Kian, the captain was simply the strongest man in the world.
Unable to hold back, Kian ran up to him.
"Captain Gerald… how do I become strong like you? How do I get those magical powers?"
Gerald rested his sword on his shoulder, smiling at the boy's determination.
e"Every ten years, shards fall from the sky. Those shards hold power. Claim one, and it can make you stronger."
Kian's eyes widened. "Shards…?"
Gerald chuckled. "After all… ten years are almost over. Your chance will come sooner than you think."
That night, curiosity gnawed at him. Back at the orphanage, he tugged at the elder's sleeve.
"What are shards? Why do they fall from the sky?"
The elder's eyes softened, a gentle smile forming.
"Ah, curious as ever. Shards are fragments of memory and power, boy. They awaken what lies inside you. If your will is strong, they can grant knowledge or great strength. But they also carry echoes of the past—memories you must endure."
Kian frowned, trying to picture the sky breaking apart.
"Fragments of memory… could they really hold pieces of the past?"
That night, Kian's thoughts swirled with the elder's words. If I could claim one… would I become strong like Captain Gerald…? The question echoed in his mind until sleep finally pulled him under.
Morning came.
I blinked my eyes open, the world still hazy from sleep. My friends' voices drifted in from outside, calling me to play. Rubbing my eyes, I pushed myself up and shuffled toward the door.
The moment I stepped outside, the brightness hit me—warm sunlight flooding my vision after the darkness of sleep. I squinted, blinking against the light, until the world slowly came into focus.
Then I looked up.
The sky was a clear blue, scattered with soft clouds. But in the blink of an eye, those clouds changed. They no longer looked soft and white—they looked as if they were made of countless pieces of glass, some small, some large, floating high above.
From them, rain began to fall. But it wasn't ordinary rain. Each drop was like a tiny shard of glass, glimmering as it fell. When they touched the ground, they shattered into smaller pieces, breaking apart until they faded into fine particles that disappeared into the air.
I stretched out my hand. The shards landed on my palm, breaking into smaller fragments before vanishing. They didn't hurt. Instead, they felt strange, almost otherworldly—like holding something fragile and divine.
Curious, I stepped forward, watching the glass-like raindrops break against the ground in dazzling bursts of color. Then, less than a meter ahead, a large piece of glass fell. It was as tall as me, see-through like glass, yet faintly showed my reflection. My own image shimmered inside it, blending with the world beyond.
My reflection inside the glass began to burn.
My vision pulled closer, as if the shard itself was drawing me in. Suddenly, I was no longer standing on the ground, nor floating in the air— I was just there, in a space that felt endless.
Flames surrounded me, rising higher and higher. I could feel the heat pressing against my skin, yet it didn't hurt. It was overwhelming, but strangely gentle, as if the fire itself was alive.
Then, cracks spread across the fiery space, glowing faintly. Is the world breaking…?
The scenery shattered. Tiny fragments scattered into the air, circling me like wings. Flames ran along their paths, glowing as they spun in the pitch-black void.
They're surrounding me… why?
I tried to touch them. The fragments rushed toward me, gathering until a faint symbol formed on my skin. It glowed for a moment, then sank into me.
What is this mark…?
The blackness cracked too. Light pierced through, breaking apart the void. Each piece fell and shattered, until the village slowly came back into view.
My chest tightened. The warmth from the symbol spread through me, heavy and draining. My vision blurred, the world tilted. I… can't… stay awake…
The strength left my body, and I collapsed.