Ruler of Beyonders

We saw an unknown land, following the darkness itself and seeing the light coming only from one crack.

We dove into that crack, looked inside, and saw a hidden chamber.

A chamber of the past.

It looked old but still new. On its walls, many carved symbols were seen. Some were unknown to us, like they were lost with time. All around it, we saw only one thing: chains and hooks binding a person. But only his shadow was seen in the faint light spreading from some unknown flames, each flame glowing like a rainbow, each having a different color. Then the man slowly opened his eyes and looked toward his hands.

"Hmm... I am still alive."

"Why? Did they not kill me?" His eyes began to fade slowly, like he was dying or becoming unconscious.

Slowly, slowly, he was falling into a deep sleep.

His eyes stopped moving.

His body started to become cold, looking like he was about to die, or maybe already dead.

When he was near death, one word echoed in his mind, and then severe pain struck his head.

"Why did you not kill me? Ahhh!" he shouted in pain.

The unknown voice in his mind continued to echo, and his pain kept increasing.

Suddenly, during the pain, his mouth unintentionally or involuntarily spoke one name. Then dark blue mist surrounded him, and all the chains that once captured him disappeared.

His pain vanished with the smoke, and he felt better.

He was amazed by what had just happened. But instead of thinking too much, he started walking to enjoy his freedom. A smile was clearly seen on his face, like he had been captured for a very long time.

He punched the chamber wall and cracked it. Then he walked ahead, moving toward the land.

A land where light forgot to come.

A dark land.

All around, only darkness was seen.

"I am free now, stupid man."

He laughed and started running across the land.

A plain, desert-like land where nothing was seen for miles.

He enjoyed his moment of freedom.

But...

"You are free? Really? The world sealed you because you deserved it. And again, you will be sealed soon. Hahaha."

A figure appeared behind the freed person. A figure of light in the darkness. A godlike figure.

He raised his hand, and reality shattered. The freed person was sealed again. Even his eyes did not flicker. He was sealed once more.

"What did I do? Why are you sealing me again? That was not me. Those bad people did those things to me. I am innocent."

He was shouting, becoming both angry and sad.

He kept shouting, but the figure disappeared without hearing his voice.

"I am alone now too. What can I do here? What should I do? Who am I? Why did they seal me? I only remember one name that echoes in my mind every time, and that is 'Ruler.'

But Ruler of what? Where do I rule? And what does it mean?"

He talked to himself, slowly losing his mind.

When he finished saying those words, the same incident repeated. Smoke surrounded him, he became free, and then he was sealed again by the mysterious figure.

Like he was trapped in a loop.

But what did he actually do to suffer this kind of punishment?

Why was he sealed?

That answer remained a mystery to him.

He cried, became angry, felt sorrow, felt depressed. He felt everything.

But there was nothing he could do.

His eyes opened but were lifeless.

He did not move. He did not speak. He only listened.

Listened to the silence that followed him like a curse.

He slowly, slowly lost consciousness again.

Like he was fading. Like he had died.

The smoke thinned.

His heartbeat slowed.

His breath stopped.

Silence.

Then a voice.

"Wake up."

"Wake up."

"Hmmm... Ouch."

A young boy sat up with a sharp breath, rubbing his head.

His hair was messy. His face pale with sleep. His eyes half-closed, like he had just crawled out of a dream too deep to forget.

He blinked.

Looked around.

The room was normal. Small bed. Books. Morning light through the window.

But something in his chest felt heavy.

Like he had died somewhere else.

And come back here instead.

"Ren. Hey, Ren. Wake up."

A small voice broke through the fog.

Ren Calder opened one eye, then winced. His head hurt. Not like a normal headache. More like something had cracked open inside his skull.

"Ugh…"

"You're going to be late again," the voice said, this time more annoyed. "Mom told you to stop staying up so late reading weird books."

Ren blinked and sat up slowly. His little sister stood at the door, arms crossed, already dressed in her school uniform.

"Good morning to you too, Mira," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

She raised an eyebrow. "Did you dream about monsters again?"

He paused. "…Not monsters. Just chains."

Mira rolled her eyes. "You're so weird."

She turned to leave but stopped halfway.

"Oh. Breakfast's on the table. Toast and eggs. Don't take too long or I'm eating yours."

Ren gave her a small smile. "Thanks."

As she walked away, her voice floated back down the hall. "And comb your hair. You look like a ghost."

He ran a hand through his messy hair and let out a breath.

Normal house. Normal sister. Normal morning.

So why did it still feel like he had just died?

He looked down at his hands. No chains. No blood. Just fingers, pale and shaking a little.

Last night's dream lingered in his mind like smoke.

A shadow. Hooks. A voice in the dark.

And that name.

"Ruler…"

He whispered it under his breath. It made his chest tighten.

But there was no time to think. He got dressed, splashed water on his face, and grabbed his bag.

★★★

At the table, Mira was finishing her second slice of toast.

"Took you long enough," she said, mouth full. "You'll miss the bus."

Ren sat across from her. "I could just walk."

"Lazy."

"You're the one who steals my food."

She grinned and held up a third slice. "Want this?"

"…Yes."

She gave it to him with a smug look.

They ate in silence for a minute.

Then Mira glanced up. "Hey. Are you okay?"

Ren blinked. "Yeah. Why?"

"You look… sad. Like you're about to cry."

He looked down. "…I'm fine. Just tired."

Mira didn't press. She picked up her bag, slid off the chair, and started heading for the door.

"You'll feel better once school's over," she said. "Friday's pizza day, remember?"

Ren nodded.

Before she left, she turned back one last time.

"And if you have another weird dream… tell me. I'll beat it up for you."

He chuckled softly. "Sure. I'll let you know."

The door closed.

Ren sat alone for a while.

Then looked at his hand again.

No flames. No smoke.

But something was changing.

He could feel it.

And whatever it was…

It had already begun.