Beyond Realities

It's a nice day today. A little windy, not too hot—perfect for warm-up training.

Gods, I hope there's no sudden mission or quest. I hate being dragged around by the Spade team. They're loud, chaotic, and worst of all... efficient. Ugh. Except for Seraphina, of course. My beloved Seraphina. She's the flower in this muddy world.

So, there I was. Walking through the grand hallway like a man with no cares in the world. People passed by me. Servants bowed politely. Knights pretended not to judge me. I ignored all of them. I had more important things to focus on—like stretching properly so I don't snap a muscle during warm-up.

As I turned the corner and neared the throne hall, something felt… off.

Why is it so loud?

Why is everyone dressed fancy?

And why—oh no.

I peeked through the throne doors.

There they were.

My two younger siblings—Simon and Sophia—kneeling proudly before our royal parents. King Alaric and Queen Lyria looked so pleased. Everyone in the room was clapping. Cheers filled the air. The throne hall was glowing with admiration, pride, and—

…I was late again.

"H-Hehe…" I scratched my neck awkwardly and laughed to myself. "Didn't know there was, uh… something happening today."

Apparently, it was a royal commendation ceremony.

Yeah. That would've been good to know.

"I overslept," I whispered to myself. "But it's not my fault. I trained the whole day yesterday! Slept late, woke up late. That's disciplined."

Without rushing, I strutted down the hall like I meant to be late. Like the world didn't faze me. The nobles on both sides whispered behind their fans.

"That's the eldest son?"

"Still using a pickaxe, I heard."

"He looks like he just rolled out of bed."

To which I thought: Ha! You talk behind my back, but I still have royal blood. Bleehh.

I imagined sticking my tongue out like a child. But I didn't. Because I'm dignified. Sort of.

I approached my siblings, who were glowing with praise. The people adored them.

Me? I took a deep breath and stood with confidence at the edge of the carpet like a forgotten guest.

Then the ceremony continued. They introduced the next name.

"And now… the most honorable knight, Sir Andre of the Golden Order, promoted to Royal Captain."

Clap clap clap… cheer cheer cheer…

I clapped lazily.

I had been standing there for an hour. My legs were tired. My mind wandered. I stared blankly at the chandeliers. My stomach growled.

No one asked me to kneel.

No one even looked at me.

Great. What an exciting day.

Can I go back to training now? I thought. At least my pickaxe appreciates me.

After the long and painfully boring ceremony, I rushed out of the palace like a prisoner finally set free.

"No time to waste," I declared to myself. "I'm going to train. I'll get stronger. Stronger than my little brother! Stronger than destiny! Stronger than—"

And then, of course, I arrived at the training ground…

…only to see him.

Simon.

There he was, perfect as always, swinging his sword like he was born with it attached to his hand. Muscles flexing, hair flowing, looking like the Kingdom's favorite hero.

I stood there, holding my pickaxe, feeling like a disappointed miner who accidentally walked into a knight's duel.

"Ugh…" I sighed, dragging my feet away. "Maybe I should just go… eat bread or something."

So I left. I wandered the streets of Archeon like a man with no goal, no direction, no dignity—just vibes. And as if fate hadn't had enough fun with me, my feet dragged me straight to Seraphina's house.

I didn't mean to.

Okay, fine. I meant to.

Standing outside her window like a total loser, I gave the most awkward wave in history.

"Hi, Seraphina…" I called out, trying to sound smooth.

She was there, sitting by the window, sunlight glowing on her hair. She looked like a painting. No—like a goddess sent to remind me of my uselessness.

"Hi," she said without looking.

Just one word.

Flat.

Emotionless.

My heart? Crushed.

My pride? Shattered.

But did I leave?

Of course not. Because I'm a fool for love. A very handsome fool.

And then, like a nightmare dressed in smiles and chaos, Lance Caelum appeared, bouncing around the street like a happy little demon looking for someone to annoy.

I froze.

Oh no. Not now.

I ducked behind the nearest barrels like my life depended on it.

Please don't see me. Please don't see me…

"Hey! Have you seen Vael?" Lance asked Seraphina.

And this woman—this angel I adore—pointed right at me.

Et tu, Seraphina?

I peeked. I saw Lance. Talking to her. Grinning.

I ducked again.

I took a deep breath. "Safe. I think I'm safe."

I turned slowly to the side…

AND THERE HE WAS.

LANCE.

Leaning right next to me, peeking with that cursed smile of his.

I screamed like a child.

"AAAHHHH!"

He burst out laughing. "There's a new quest, Vael! Spade Team's assembling at the Awakeners' Quest House!"

I slumped to the ground.

"Not again…" I groaned.

"Come on, grab your pickaxe," he winked, skipping off.

As I sat there, still curled up behind those barrels, I stared at the sky and whispered:

"…I just wanted a normal day."

And so, the great and mighty Spade Team—yes, that includes me, unfortunately—set off from the glorious kingdom of Archeon and into the mysterious Greendale Bat Cave.

Dark. Cold. Smelled like something died in here a hundred years ago and is still waiting for a proper burial.

As we walked deeper into the shadows, Lance marched beside me, talking nonstop.

"You know, Vael, I heard these caves go all the way beneath the kingdom. Maybe we'll find treasure. Or ancient relics! Or dead kings! Or maybe—"

"I swear to the gods, Lance," I muttered, "if something jumps out of the dark and eats you, I'm not helping."

Up ahead, Seraphina gracefully raised her hand. Her fingers shimmered as she gathered the ambient mana in the air. A soft, golden light began to glow around us, illuminating the cavern walls like warm moonlight.

And that's when it happened.

BATS. HUNDREDS OF THEM.

They exploded out of the walls like a furry black storm, squeaking and flapping in chaos.

I screamed.

I'm not proud of it, but yes—I screamed.

Out of reflex, I jumped forward and grabbed Seraphina's shoulder like a terrified toddler grabbing his mom during fireworks.

She turned her head slightly, unfazed. Meanwhile, I was holding onto her like a lifeline.

"Hehe…" I laughed awkwardly, letting go and pretending I meant to do that. "Just testing your reflexes. Y'know. Safety check."

Behind me, I heard the devil laugh.

Lance.

He was doubled over, holding his stomach.

"Y-You should've seen your face, Vael!" he choked through laughter. "You looked like a scared baby deer!"

I smiled.

Then I smacked him on the head with my pickaxe. Gently. But with meaning.

"OW! YOU PSYCHO!" he yelped, rubbing his head.

"Oops. Slipped."

As we continued deeper into the cave, we reached a strange part of the cavern. The walls widened into a chamber that resembled some kind of ancient nesting ground.

And there they were—bat nests.

Dozens of them, built from bones and strange crystal webs. Eggs the size of my torso sat glowing with faint red light.

"Uh…" I pointed. "This doesn't look friendly."

Before anyone could reply, a low growl echoed from the shadows.

And then, from the darkness…

Two glowing red eyes opened.

Out stepped a beast straight from a nightmare—a massive wolfbat hybrid, towering over us like a twisted guardian of the underworld. Its fangs dripped with venom. Its wings spread wide, stirring dust and fear.

Everyone drew their weapons.

Seraphina's hands glowed with psychic fire.

Alcred twirled his sword, smirking.

Lance leapt forward like an excited puppy.

Simon, my dear perfect little brother, calmly unsheathed his blade like he was born for this moment.

And me?

…I took a step back.

"You guys got this," I said, nodding proudly. "Go ahead, team! I believe in you."

They didn't even look back.

Battle broke out in a flash.

Seraphina blasted mana at the beast's wings, staggering it. Lance zipped between its legs like a maniac, slashing wildly. Alcred fought with the grace of a seasoned knight, and Simon landed a clean cut across its chest.

The wolfbat roared, swinging its claws, tearing rocks from the ground, but they dodged in perfect sync. These guys were insane.

I, meanwhile, found a good rock to sit on.

And began poking at a bat egg with the handle of my pickaxe.

"Yeah," I said to myself. "No need to get involved. I'm just the support guy."

While the rest of the Spade Team were still locked in an epic clash with the monstrous wolfbat—swords clashing, spells flying, and Lance yelling something heroic but probably dumb—I, Vaelenor Vaelen, took it upon myself to do the most important job in the cave…

Sitting down and minding my own business.

But then something caught my eye.

There, on the far left side of the cavern, was a hole. Not just a little tunnel—no, this thing looked like the earth itself had opened its mouth and whispered, "Hey loser, come look inside me."

And like the genius I was, I listened.

"…Well, they've got everything under control," I muttered, brushing dirt from my pants and casually strolling toward the ominous void. "I mean, no one's even screamed for help yet. I'm practically a hero already."

Inside the hole, the air turned heavier. The light from Seraphina's glow magic barely reached here. The walls were slick and covered in strange roots. And at the very end of the path, sitting in the center of a jagged stone altar, was…

A swirling, black orb.

It pulsed with shadows—inky tendrils slowly twisting around it like smoke frozen in time. I stared at it.

It stared back.

And for some reason… I felt drawn to it.

My steps moved on their own. Like something was pulling me—not with force, but with curiosity, like an itch in my brain that just wouldn't leave.

"Huh," I mumbled, standing in front of the orb. "Is this one of those cursed objects they warn about in books?"

I raised my pickaxe.

WHACK!

I hit the orb like it owed me money.

"Do I look stupid to you!?" I shouted at it, eyes twitching. "What do you think I am, huh? Some protagonist with a chosen fate!? HA! Joke's on you! I'm not even a side character!"

The orb trembled slightly.

Smoke slowly seeped out… and into the air around me.

I froze.

"…Huh?"

I sniffed the air.

Then gagged.

"Ugh! What the hell?! This place smells like fermented demon socks!"

I flapped my cloak, trying to wave the smoke away. "Argh—blurggh! It's like rotting garbage mixed with wet goat and regret!"

Still coughing, I spun around. "Yeah, no thanks. Not today, cursed orb. I've had enough trauma in this cave. I'm out."

And with that, I began my exit, still waving away the mysterious smoke that clung to my hair like it had a crush on me.

"Some orb of destiny that was… Smells like someone microwaved doom."

I finally climbed out of the strange side tunnel, still muttering curses under my breath and patting soot off my cloak. That orb? Total scam. Didn't even explode or anything cool. Just gave me a permanent nose trauma.

As I stepped back into the main chamber of the bat cave, I was met by a scene of pure carnage—and by carnage, I mean absolute victory.

The Spade Team stood tall. Or well… most of them stood.

Lance was lying dramatically on the floor like he'd just survived a war movie. Alcred was wiping blood from his blade, pretending he wasn't flexing. Seraphina looked calm and elegant as always, like she'd barely lifted a finger. And Simon? He was polishing his sword with the cold-blooded focus of a man who's secretly keeping score.

And me?

I cleared my throat and strutted into view.

"Wow," I said, tossing my pickaxe over my shoulder. "Didn't think you guys would survive without me."

Lance shot me a grin from the floor. "Oh, thank the gods. Our moral support has returned."

"Hey," I pointed a finger at him. "I didn't see you collect any mana gems, huh?"

And with a smug grin, I pulled out a small pouch and shook it. Clink. Clink. Clink.

"Boom! Profit!"

Seraphina looked over with her usual unimpressed stare. "You disappeared."

"I went scouting," I lied confidently.

Simon gave me that look—that older-brother-is-a-failure-but-I-love-him-anyway look. It hurt more than swords.

"Let's just get out of here," Alcred said, adjusting his cloak. "The bats are gone. Quest complete."

I let out a big sigh and stretched my back. "Finally."

As we exited the cave together, I couldn't help but smile a little. The air outside was cool, the sky already shifting to early evening.

"Ahhh…" I inhaled deeply. "Smells like victory."

"And guano," Lance muttered beside me.

I ignored him.

We walked side by side, the Spade Team—young, loud, full of scars and stories—and me, pickaxe slung like it was a legendary sword.

I glanced toward Seraphina, who was walking ahead. My heart did its usual flip.

"Someday," I whispered dramatically. "I'll show them all."

"…Show us what?" Simon asked, walking behind me.

"Nothing! Mind your business!" I snapped.

He rolled his eyes.

And just like that, the cave was behind us… but something in me felt like it wasn't completely over.

Something from that orb…