Prologue

The room you were sitting in was dark, and you could feel your small body trembling from the cold air that was making it's way to your lungs. You could barely see at all, as you held your head down, your silver eyes watching the muddy ground. You had no idea how many days have passed, but it felt like you had been locked in this room for thousands of years by now. You body was aching for contact, needed to touch something, know that you could still hear, and see and speak.

You would often close your eyes and try to imagine what it felt like to feel the sunlight coloring your cheeks, wondered what it was like to be held in someone's loving arms. But it wasn't long, that you could hide in the comfort of your mind, as there was always someone, or something making sure you remembered exactly where you were, and most importantly, why.

The door opened hastily, immediately you raised up to your feet, the dim light that made it's way into your room almost burning your eyes, after so much darkness.

The man standing before you said nothing, and he needed not to. You knew exactly where to go and what to do. You took a moment to pace yourself, sounds could become overwhelming when you've heard nothing but silence for days.

You were still in the underground, and you were very aware of what awaited you soon, and yet still none of that mattered, so long as that meant that you were finally no longer alone. The isolation period had finally ended, and you felt like whatever your training would have you endure now, you could handle it, so long as you didn't have to be alone again.

You listened carefully to every word that the older woman was saying, although your eyes were carefully watching the ground. You never liked looking at your teachers in the eye, as the last thing you wanted was to bring any unnecessary attention to yourself.

Sometimes you felt angry. Sometimes you didn't understand why they were putting you through this, why you had to suffer and starve and why on god's earth you had to learn so much about magic and monsters and why they would always have to remind you of the horrible things that the monsters did to your family. Sometimes you wished you could just be normal. But in those moments you reminded yourself that this was all you had, and that this was all that you were, and that you needed this, even if it was just to prove that even though you were rotting underground, you weren't dead. You were alive. You, and all the other children standing by your side, are the last hope. Because of you, humans would rise once again, and monsters would pay for everything they have taken from you with their blood.

"Look around you, look at the misery that surrounds you. Do you know who's fault it is?"

You eyed the woman before you carefully. Her hair was long, and messy, and her face looked almost as sour as she sounded. And how could you blame her, really? You wondered what type of things she'd seen during the war.

"Monsters are demons, creatures of the underworld. They are the sole blame for the death of billions, the reason for all of the pain you have felt in your lives. Blood covers their hands. Everything that you are put through is a constant reminder of that, and a way to make sure that you become strong and capable, strong enough to destroy them!"

You were barely even a teenager, but the life that you have had to live has forced you to grow up too quickly, just to simply stay alive.

But you were not only alive, your mind and body has endured so much it has made you stronger. It has proved that you can endure any and all kinds of pain.

You were alive. And you will rise.

At least that's what they always said down here.