[SCENE – 2000 YEARS LATER | RUINHAVEN CITY MARKET]

  Revahn Sil, a fmboyant treasure hunter with a sharp tongue and patience as thin as tissue—one of the new humans born of generational evolution—was in a heated debate with an old merchant.

  Revahn:

  “FIVE hundred Ethera? SERIOUSLY?! This is an original Orythian warrior’s artifact! Look at the engraving, look at the material! I found this in an ancient b beneath the desert…!!!”

  Merchant:

  “That’s just a broken shoulder guard.”

  Revahn:

  “THAT’S A CRIME AGAINST HISTORY!”

  Frustrated, Revahn snatched back his item and stormed off with a scowl. The dusty street and bustling market faded as he headed for his favorite beach.

  ——————————————

  [SCENE – SECLUDED BEACH]

  He sat, compining and pouting. Then his eyes caught sight of something unusual… a massive, ancient armor piece stranded at the shoreline.

  Revahn:

  “What in the Holy Seven heroes…!?”

  He approached and touched the chest pte—suddenly:

  ZRAAAMMM!

  Ether light formed intricate patterns. The armor activated. Revahn stumbled back, shocked.

  Revahn:

  “WAAAH! What—what the hell?!”

  Mechanical sounds hummed. The armor absorbed ether from the air… but not from Cael—from Revahn. His hand glowed, connecting with the armor core.

  [AI SYSTEM – ARMOR INITIATED]:

  “Partial Ether detected. Compatible Catalyst found. Beginning external energy transfer.”

  Revahn panicked.

  Revahn:

  “Hey, hey, hey! What’s happening?! Why is my body absorbing ether particles without my command?!”

  The armor finished charging; some cracks healed. Then…

  [ARMOR CORE > REVIVAL MODE ENGAGED]

  His eyes opened. Slowly. Heavy breaths. A new world. But… the old war in his memory was not over.

  ——————————————

  Scene: Awakening

  Dim twilight shimmered over the silent beach as the half-buried armor suddenly glowed softly. Low mechanical whirs followed—

  “Hkk—!”

  Cael jolted awake. His breath was heavy, body stiff, yet his memories were sharp: the roar of the sea, his sword cshing with the god’s trident, and—

  THUD!

  His head struck something.

  “OW DAMN—”

  An annoyed voice followed. Revahn, disheveled and fed up, held his forehead.

  “You wake up and immediately headbutt someone? Can’t you be gentle?!”

  Cael said nothing. His calm, piercing gaze swept the beach, the sky, the horizon—as if reading a world unfamiliar to him.

  “…What happened?” he muttered, then paused. He corrected himself:

  “Ah… wrong. I shouldn’t ask a stranger who just saved me.”

  He rose slowly, posture erect despite his heavy limbs.

  “Thank you,” he said briefly to Revahn, then walked toward the far end of the beach, the sea breeze whipping his tattered cloak.

  “System: Recovery complete. Last combat data: partially lost. Accessing logs—”

  Cael bowed his head slightly, listening to the AI voice within his armor. But only one line emerged—

  “HEY! LISTEN UP!”

  Revahn grabbed his shoulder roughly from behind.

  “I have no idea what I just did, but you woke up, and that— that’s gotta be because of me! So… payment? Money? Something?”

  Cael raised an eyebrow and replied evenly:

  “I… have no money.”

  Revahn snorted.

  “Typical broke warrior.”

  But he stayed. After a moment, he sighed and eyed Cael from head to toe.

  “…You look strong. How about this? I need help exploring ancient ruins. Lots of artifacts there, but also monsters. I can’t go alone.”

  Cael paused, then nodded.

  “If that is the price of your help… then I agree.”