Chapter 01: The Awakening

Lukas Morales had always felt out of place. At sixteen, he should have been worrying about exams, basketball practice, or the next school event. Instead, a strange restlessness gnawed at him, an unshakable feeling that he didn’t belong in this world. He often dismissed it as teenage angst, but deep down, he knew there was more to it.

It was a humid afternoon in Manila. The kind where the sun scorched the pavement, and the air was thick with the smell of exhaust fumes and street food. Lukas navigated his way through the crowded streets, his school bag slung lazily over one shoulder. He walked with a slight slouch, his headphones blasting music to drown out the noise of the city. But even the rhythmic beats couldn’t quell the unease bubbling inside him.

He glanced at the sky, noticing dark clouds gathering in the distance. A storm was coming, but there was something odd about it. The clouds seemed unnaturally dark, almost as if they were alive, swirling with a menace that made Lukas’s skin prickle.

As he turned the corner, he spotted a small, dimly lit shop wedged between two larger buildings. The sign above the door was old and faded, written in Baybayin script—something he recognized from his history classes. He’d never noticed this shop before, despite passing by this street almost every day. Curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself pushing the creaky door open.

Inside, the air was cool and smelled of incense. Shelves lined the walls, filled with all sorts of trinkets—old books, carved wooden statues, and various oddities that seemed out of place in the modern world. At the back of the shop, an elderly woman with silver hair sat behind a counter, her eyes sharp and knowing. She looked up as Lukas entered, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“Ah, I’ve been expecting you,” she said, her voice soft yet commanding.

Lukas blinked, taken aback. “You have?”

The woman nodded, her gaze never leaving his. “You’ve always felt it, haven’t you? That pull… like you’re meant for something more.”

Lukas felt a chill run down his spine. He had no idea how this woman knew about the thoughts he’d kept buried, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words.

Before he could respond, the ground beneath him trembled. The entire shop seemed to vibrate, and the strange storm outside intensified. Lukas could hear the wind howling, though it was oddly muted inside the shop. The old woman stood up, her expression calm despite the chaos outside.

“It’s time,” she whispered, reaching beneath the counter and pulling out a small, ornate box. She handed it to Lukas, her hands steady.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Your destiny,” she replied simply.

As Lukas took the box, a blinding light erupted from it, engulfing him in its brilliance. He tried to cry out, but the light swallowed his voice. The world around him dissolved into nothingness, and for a moment, there was only silence.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the light faded. Lukas found himself lying on his back, staring up at a sky that was no longer filled with storm clouds but with stars—thousands of them, brighter and closer than he had ever seen. He sat up, his heart pounding, and realized he was no longer in Manila.

The air here was different—cooler, cleaner, and filled with the scent of pine and earth. He was in a forest, the trees towering above him like ancient sentinels. The ground beneath him was soft with moss, and in the distance, he could hear the faint sound of a stream.

Panic welled up inside him. How did he get here? Was this some kind of dream? He pinched himself, but the sharp pain confirmed that this was real—too real.

As he scrambled to his feet, he heard a rustling behind him. He spun around, his heart racing, and came face to face with a figure that made his blood run cold. It was a man, or at least it looked like one at first glance. He was tall, with skin the color of mahogany, but his eyes—those weren’t human eyes. They were dark, glowing with an otherworldly light. And he was dressed in traditional clothing, like something out of an old legend.

The man—or creature—stared at Lukas with a mix of curiosity and something else, something darker. Lukas took a step back, his mind racing for an explanation, but none came.

“You’re not from here,” the man said, his voice deep and resonant. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

Lukas swallowed hard, his mouth dry. “No… I’m not. Where am I?”

The man smiled, but it was a cold, predatory smile. “You’re in Theos, boy. A world far from your own. And you… you have much to learn.”

Lukas felt a surge of fear, but also a strange sense of purpose. As terrifying as this was, a part of him felt… right. Like he was finally where he was supposed to be.

The man turned and began to walk away, glancing over his shoulder. “Follow me if you want to survive.”

With no other options, Lukas hesitated only for a moment before following. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—his life would never be the same.

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