Forsaken Blade

The Boy Who Looked Through The Glass

Chapter 1: The Boy Who Looked Through the Glass

The boy stood before a cracked mirror in the orphanage corridor.

Black hair fell messily over his forehead. Brown eyes, too large for his thin face, reflected someone small— someone easy to overlook.

He was twelve years old. His height barely reached 140 cm.

But his eyes… They were fixed on the window beyond the mirror.

Outside, the Karans were returning.

Armored figures rode through the stone-paved streets, their banners fluttering in the wind. The people gathered in waves—cheering, calling out names, throwing flowers, shouting praises.

“They’re back!”

“The dungeon was cleared!”

“Long live the Karans!”

Aiska pressed his hands against the cold glass.

The warriors were covered in dust and dried monster blood. Their weapons glinted under the sunlight. Some walked, others rode horses. Their faces were tired—but proud.

They were heroes.

The ones who fought the Saner. The ones who entered the dungeons. The ones who protected the world.

Aiska smiled quietly.

Someday… I’ll be like them.

His heart pounded.

Without thinking, he turned and sprinted down the corridor.

Footsteps echoed loudly.

Thump—!

“Oi!”

His collar was suddenly yanked backward. Aiska’s feet lifted off the floor as if he’d been plucked by an invisible hand.

A girl stood behind him, one eyebrow raised.

“So you were here again,” she said flatly. “Why did you miss class?”

“Aiska.”

She wore the uniform of the orphanage staff. Blonde hair tied neatly behind her head. Golden eyes sharp with irritation.

“Mam Sivra Olem…” Aiska muttered.

She sighed. “Your drama again?”

Aiska struggled. “Please, let me go! I just want to see them from the other window!”

“Absolutely not.”

“I won’t go to class! I want to see them!”

Sivra dragged him toward the classroom door.

“Stop it, Aiska. Why are you so obsessed with that job?” she snapped. “They kill monsters. That’s all they do. Their hands are soaked in blood.”

Aiska glared up at her.

“No! They’re awesome! They’re amazing! They’re cool!”

Sivra suddenly stopped.

“…What did you say?”

Her lips curled into a strange smile.

The classroom door opened.

She threw Aiska inside.

“Wha—hey—!”

The entire class turned to look at him.

The teacher paused mid-sentence.

Sivra stood at the door, smiling with a gentle expression that somehow felt like a death sentence.

“Take your seat,” she said sweetly.

Aiska swallowed.

…Maybe I should just stay silent.

He walked to his seat, shoulders slumped.

The teacher cleared his throat.

“My name is Aakar Salowan. Now that everyone is present, listen carefully.”

He turned to the board and wrote several words.

Mire

Droth

Iven

Falk

Nera

Primarch

“These are the Grades of the Karans,” Aakar said. “Mire is the lowest. At that rank, a Karan can only wield basic swordsmanship. No elemental power. No mana techniques.”

Aiska leaned forward.

“Droth and Iven gain access to magic and enhanced physical abilities. Falk and Nera are elite. And Primarch…”

Aakar’s chalk paused.

“…is the highest grade. The strongest Karans known to the kingdoms.”

Aiska stared at the board.

So that’s how it works…

Outside the window, Sivra stood watching the returning Karans.

Her golden eyes lingered on a single rider at the front of the group.

Red-brown hair. Black eyes. Confident posture atop a white horse.

Rellin Fosk. Droth-grade Karan. Height 176 cm.

At his side:

Aven Torkyl Fire mage, red hair, red eyes, 169 cm

Yari Quenth Healer, black hair, green eyes, 170 cm

Keshra Water mage, blue hair and eyes, 159 cm

Orrin Vaeskar Fire mage, black hair, black eyes, 176 cm

The people cheered wildly.

Sivra smiled faintly.

Rellin… my love. I hope you’ll have time to speak with me today.

Rellin glanced up.

For a moment, their eyes met.

He smiled.

Sivra’s breath caught.

Then—

She noticed Aiska staring from the classroom window.

Her eyes in disbelief.

The World of Dungeons

In this world, dungeons appear without warning.

They open in cities, forests, mountains, oceans— anywhere.

Once a dungeon is cleared, the same location becomes dormant for seven days before reopening. But the world holds millions of such points, meaning humanity is under constant threat.

Inside the dungeons dwell creatures known as Saner.

The Saner are not natural beings. They are born from distorted mana pools deep within the dungeons—formed when the world’s mana becomes unstable.

When left unchecked, Saner evolve.

They grow stronger. They mutate. They multiply.

This is why dungeons must be cleared quickly.

To fight them, humanity created warriors known as Karans—humans who awakened special abilities after being exposed to dungeon mana.

But Karans are not just warriors.

The bodies of the Saner contain core fragments, bones, crystals, and organs infused with raw mana.

These materials are:

Forged into weapons and armor

Refined into industrial power sources

Used to create medical catalysts