It was a bright and peaceful morning. The wind moved gently through the trees, the sky was painted in blue and gold, and the air felt fresh and clean. Birds chirped quietly in the distance, and the sun warmed the stone road that led to a massive gate.
In front of this gate stood a boy.
He was not rich. He did not belong to a great kingdom. He came from a very small village, in a very small country that many people didn't even know existed. He had no special clothes. He wore a simple brown shirt, some old pants, and worn-out boots. On his back was a wooden sword, scratched and smooth from years of practice.
His name was Ren.
He had trained since he was young. Every day, he would swing his wooden sword at trees, at rocks, at the wind itself. He would bleed, sweat, and cry. But he never stopped. The people in his village always believed in him.
"You are the hope of our country," they used to say. "Go to the academy. Show them what our land is made of."
Now, standing before the tall black-and-gold gate of Craezent Sanctum Academy, Ren felt his heart race.
"At last, I am here," he whispered to himself. His voice was soft, but full of dreams.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward.
---
The courtyard inside was huge. Stone paths led in every direction, with students walking, chatting, and showing off their magic and weapons. Some were laughing loudly. Some looked proud. Some looked like they didn't want to be there at all.
Ren looked around. He didn't know where to go. Everything was new. The buildings were tall, with glass windows and shining banners. The students looked rich, powerful, or famous. He felt out of place.
He walked up to a girl who stood alone in a silver-blue dress. Her hair was like white silk, and her eyes were cold.
"Um... excuse me," Ren said politely. "Do you know where the dormitory is? I heard the ceremony is happening there."
The girl turned slowly. She looked at Ren's clothes, his shoes, his wooden sword. Her lips curled.
"F*** off, you peasant."
Ren froze. He didn't understand what he did wrong.
Just then, another voice came from behind him.
"Don't you know who she is? That's Princess Althea of Valrune. She's a noble from one of the strongest kingdoms."
Ren turned. A boy with messy brown hair and round glasses smiled at him.
"I'm Kiro," he said. "Don't worry, not everyone here is rude. Come, let's go to the ceremony together."
Ren nodded. He followed Kiro through the crowd.
---
Inside the great hall, the ceiling reached the sky. The room was filled with students. Teachers stood on the stage, all looking serious. The Headmaster walked to the center.
"Welcome to Craezent Sanctum Academy," he said. His voice was deep and calm. "This place will be your home, your battleground, and your future."
He began to explain the rules. There would be classes for swordsmanship, magic, strategy, and control of evol.
Behind him stood the teachers:
Master Vellan, the combat teacher, tall with muscles like stone.
Mistress Elira, the magic teacher, with kind eyes and a glowing staff.
Professor Niro, the history teacher, who looked half-asleep but knew everything.
Among the students, Ren saw a few interesting faces:
Arven, a quiet boy who held a real sword.
Lio and Rina, twin mages with electric energy around them.
Mira, a soft-spoken healer from a noble house.
Then, the ground began to shake.
---
It was sudden.
People screamed. The lights flickered. Dust fell from the ceiling.
A guard ran in, blood on his face.
"The barrier has been broken! UMBRA MANUS is here!"
The room froze.
From a black hole in the air, five figures stepped out. The one in front wore red armor and had a cruel smile. Behind him were two assassins, each with strange weapons. Beside them stood two large demon monsters, growling.
Umbra Manus.
They were a shadow group. No one knew their true leader. They attacked guilds, schools, and kingdoms. They believed the world was fake, that peace was a trick. They wanted chaos. They wanted only the strong to live.
"You all are just toys of the system!" the leader shouted. "We bring the real future!"
One of the demons roared and charged.
Master Vellan raised his hammer. "Get the students out!"
Elira cast a barrier to block the demon.
Kiro grabbed Ren. "We need to hide!"
"No," Ren said. "I want to see."
Arven slashed one assassin. Lio and Rina fired lightning spells. Mira tried to heal the fallen.
But they were losing.
The Headmaster took out a glowing stone. "Call the Guild. We need help!"
A voice replied, "A Warden General is on the way. Hold on."
---
The sky outside turned black. A silver crescent moon appeared.
"Look! It's the Crescent Emperor!"
Kael Vire appeared, wearing silver-black armor with a moon symbol on his chest. His face was calm, but his eyes sharp. He moved fast, cutting down a demon with a glowing blade.
"You won't harm the students," Kael said.
But the enemy leader laughed and escaped using the second monster as a distraction.
Kael wanted to follow.
A message came: "Do not chase. There may be another attack. Solarex Caelum, the Sun Emperor, is on his trail."
---
Scene Change: Umbra Manus Hideout
Deep underground, the leader was inside a magic circle. Red energy wrapped around him. He had fangs now. His body was changing. Wings spread from his back.
"Now I am the strongest!"
Suddenly, a door burst open.
A man entered. He wore a cloak.
"Who are you?!" the leader screamed.
The man removed his cloak. Golden light filled the room.
"The sun doesn't ask the sky for a place," the man said.
His clothes became royal. His hair turned gold. His eyes glowed.
"Y-You're Solarex Caelum?! The Sun Emperor?!"
Solarex said nothing.
"I have the power of a Vampire Lord! You can't beat me!"
"We'll see."
They clashed. Fire and darkness danced. The leader threw blood spears. Solarex burned them away.
"You gave up your soul for power," Solarex said.
"Power is all that matters!"
"Not to me."
Solarex shouted, "Solar Nova!"
A blast of fire consumed everything. The leader screamed. Then silence.
---
Scene Change: Guildmaster's Office
Solarex Caelum stood tall.
"You were told to bring him alive," the Guildmaster said.
"He would've escaped."
"Still, you broke orders. One week suspension."
Outside, Kael Vire waited.
He entered and patted Solarex's shoulder.
"Don't worry. This always happens."
Solarex smiled a little.
"Yeah. Every time."
---
And so begins the journey of Solarex Caelum, the Sun Emperor — once a forgotten prince, now a force of justice. With fire in his hands and pain in his past, he walks forward to protect the weak and stop the growing darkness of Umbra Manus.
> TO BE CONTINUED...