Tales of Seven

Episode 1 - Gaia

"I have learned that it is not the blade that makes you strong, but the will to wield it – even when your hands tremble." - Aiden Blackthorn

Friendship—a bond stronger than steel, forged in the flames of shared destiny. It is a force that unites people inseparably and endures beyond life itself. Yet, like every blade, this bond carries a hidden sharpness. What happens when the winds of fate shift? When one friend suddenly attains immeasurable power? Then the true nature of the heart is revealed. For the deepest friendships can shatter faster than the eye can perceive, and betrayal, like a creeping poison, can sever the once unbreakable bond in an instant. This is a story of loyalty and betrayal, of trust and disappointment—and the realization that even the strongest friendships can break when tested by fate.

It was a typical Wednesday afternoon, and sixteen-year-old Aiden was sitting with his six friends in the school library, studying for an upcoming exam. The group was inseparable, and although Aiden wasn't particularly fond of studying, he was glad to spend time with his dear friends. Suddenly, Ash, one of the friends, returned to the table with a book titled "The Journey to Paradise" in bold letters. He had gone off a few minutes earlier to find something to study with. Mikko, another friend, looked at him puzzled and asked, "Aren't we supposed to be studying? What are you doing with a fantasy book now?" Ash, slightly disappointed, responded, "This isn't a fantasy book. It's a guide on how we can reach paradise!" Mikko burst into loud laughter, prompting Yuichiro, another friend, to lower his book and say, "We're in a library, so could you please keep it down?"

Aiden brushed his hair out of his face. The boy had a rather unique appearance, with alternating blonde and black strands in his hair. A large, round pair of glasses sat on his nose, and around his neck hung a silver ring on a chain that he always wore. "Don't be so stubborn," the distinctive young man began, "Even if it doesn't work, it's sure to be a fun experience." With these words, Aiden managed to convince the rest of his friends to give the strange book some attention.

After a long chapter in the book, the friends finally knew how to enter paradise. They followed the instructions written in the book and placed their hands on top of each other. Then, Aiden began to recite a sort of spell: "Bound by friendship, united in heart, open the gate that now sets us apart. With trust in our hearts and courage in hand, we venture forth to a distant land. Through space and time, let us now go. Together, united, we shall grow. Powers of the world, heed our plea. Guide us safely to this new place to be." As Aiden read the spell aloud, books began to fall from the shelves. It was as if a powerful gust of wind was blowing through the windowless library. The friends' hair fluttered in the wind until a strange, electrically charged energy enveloped their bodies and made them disappear.

Chapter 1 - Gaia

Aiden opened his eyes and found himself in a pitch-black room. The darkness was so intense that it was impossible to tell whether the space was infinitely vast or simply shrouded in shadow. Before he could ponder further, a flat, blue, transparent display appeared before him, resembling a window from a video game interface. On this display, nine buttons were visible, each labeled with a word: Warrior, Mage, Beast Tamer, Necromancer, Demon Slayer, Shadow Runner, Street Fighter, Archon, and Prophet. "Street Fighter? Who would choose something like that?" Aiden muttered, recognizing these names as classes from an MMORPG. However, the Prophet button was dark blue, while the others glowed brightly, indicating that the Prophet class had already been taken. "Fine, then Demon Slayer it is." But just as he was about to select the button, it too dimmed. "Huh?!" One by one, all the other classes were taken before Aiden could choose. The only remaining option was Street Fighter. "Seriously?!" With no other choice, Aiden selected the Street Fighter class. As soon as he did, the strange energy enveloped him once again, and he vanished.