Birds were chirping outside the window on the morning of Mark's 16th birthday.

  The spring breeze, which carried with it the smell of summer, timidly appeared between the curtains, and happiness was in the air.

  Especially because, soon, Mark would be taking the entrance exam for the Great Convergence Academy.

  The dream of every boy or girl born in the Coalition of Light is to study in the most important academy in the universe, located in a space-time particle separated from the continuum.

  A place outside of time, created to instruct and train the Protectors, those who defend the Coalition from the advance of the Dark.

  Mark was so excited that he didn't even need an alarm clock.

  His big day had arrived.

  He descended the stairs, jumping three steps at a time.

  As usual, his mother scolded him affectionately, without even turning around.

  “Mark! I know today is an important day, but do you want to arrive in one piece?”

  “Sorry, Mom, you're right!” he replied, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

  “Come to the kitchen, I made you breakfast of champions!”

  “Waffles and French toast?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  “Who knows...” said Anna giggling as she set a steaming plate in front of him. On top, golden waffles were stacked like towers, crowned with a cascade of maple syrup.

  The kitchen at Dereth's house was small but full of life. Above the refrigerator, a yellowed photo showed Mark as a child, holding a wooden sword, his father behind him adjusting his oversized helmet.

  “Hey, kid, are you ready for today?” said Rob, the father, noisily closing the newspaper and setting it down on the table.

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  “I'm super loaded!” replied Mark with his mouth full.

  “Hey hey, don't gorge yourself like that or you'll choke!” laughed his father, patting him on the back.

  Anna, wiping her hands with a canavaccio, approached her son and handed him something: a thin silver necklace with a symbol, now time-worn and incomprehensible.

  “It was Grandfather's,” she said softly as she placed it around his neck. “Take it with you. It will bring you luck.”

  Mark clasped the calloused fingers of his right hand around the jewel. Clasping it between his fingers was like holding a promise. A promise he would never break.

  “Finished!” he exclaimed, getting up sharply.

  “Hey kid!” exclaimed the father.

  “Today you have to show the world who Mark Dereth really is.”

  He said getting up from the table, taking his wife's hand and approaching him with open arms.

  “I love you!” said Mark, hugging them tightly.

  And, without looking back, he opened the door and went out into the morning light.

  -Break-

  As he approached the admission area, his determined stride hid a heart in turmoil.

  But not out of fear.

  It was nostalgia.

  His grandfather's face came back to his mind, bent by time but always illuminated by a serene smile.

  He remembered his words, spoken in front of the fireplace, when the wind outside sang forgotten songs and the fire seemed to respond.

  Words that spoke of the sacrifice of a legendary man, of Oneness and Skill.

  “Remember, Mark,” the old man said in a rough voice, ”this world did not come into being by accident.

  Earth, like other distant worlds, is made of magical essence.”

  “And when a person is born, the System wakes up with them.

  It is not just a gift, it is a promise.

  It shows you your path: the level, the skills and your uniqueness.”

  Then, as the fire crackled as if listening to him too, Grandfather told another story.

  That of the Lost Hero.

  “Once ... there was a man named Kael.

  He had nothing but the courage to brave the darkness.

  It is said that, facing the Primordial Darkness, he sacrificed himself by fighting against all the monsters generated by it bringing the light of hope to humanity.

  From that moment, the human race was able to rise from the ashes.

  The Light is not just hope, Mark-it is choice, will, and sacrifice.”

  Mark clenched his fists.

  Grandpa was gone, but his words still burned inside him, like a flame that would not go out.

  Today, he would take his first step into the world he had been told about.

  Today, he would find out who he really was.