In the heart of an ancient, grand hall bathed in soft golden light, the air was thick with an otherworldly energy. The stone walls were adorned with intricate carvings of forgotten deities and symbols that pulsed faintly with a mystic glow.

    The floor, a perfect circle of smooth obsidian, reflected the seated figures of twenty children, each around sixteen years of age, arranged in a meditative stance. Their eyes were closed, faces serene, as they sought the inner key that would open the gateway to their destiny: the Celestial Tower.

    At the center of this solemn gathering stood a woman, robed in deep, flowing azure fabric. Her presence was commanding, yet serene, like a calm storm waiting to unleash its fury. She was their guide, a master in the Celestial Tower, and her name was revered among the children and elders alike. Her voice, though soft, echoed through the vast hall as she instructed them.

    "Focus your breath," she spoke, her words as smooth as a mountain stream. "The Arune Key lies within you all. It is the essence of your spirit, the key that will unlock the path to the Celestial Tower."

    The children sat in silence, their focus sharpening, guided by her presence. Each of them had been preparing for this moment for years, a journey of meditation, discipline, and growth. The Arune Key was their purpose, their first step into a greater world.

    Among the children, seated in perfect stillness, was Leon—an orphan like many of them, but unlike anyone else. His messy, dark hair brushed lightly against his forehead, and his sharp green eyes, now closed in concentration, betrayed the stillness he maintained on the outside.

    While the others focused solely on their inner journey to unlock the Arune Key, Leon''s mind was constantly pulled by memories that no one else here could even fathom.

    Beneath the surface of his mind, Leon could feel something stirring. It wasn the Arune Key, the mystical force they all sought to awaken. A warmth spread through his chest, like a forgotten power resurfacing, demanding to be recognized.

    The guide, sensing his sudden shift in energy, turned her attention to him. "Leon," she called softly, her voice cutting through the silence. "You are close. Trust in what you feel. The Arune Key is within you."

    Leon''s breathing deepened, steadying as the warmth in his chest grew more intense. He could feel it now—a surge of energy coursing through his veins, awakening something dormant within him. His body trembled slightly, but he remained seated, holding onto the calmness he''d mastered in his previous life.

    The Arune Key, the mystical force they were all striving to unlock, was no longer a distant concept for Leon. It was real, tangible, like a flame flickering brighter with each passing moment. His thoughts, once clouded by memories of another world, sharpened as the energy pooled in his chest, coiling like a spring ready to unfurl.

    Suddenly, a searing sensation spread across his torso. It wasn''t painful, but it was intense, as though the very essence of his being was being branded with something ancient, something powerful. His eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with a golden hue as he looked down at his chest. Beneath his shirt, a light pulsed—a symbol forming just beneath his skin.

    The guide''s gaze fixed on him, her calm demeanor hiding a flicker of surprise. The other children remained unaware, still deep in their meditative trances, but Leon could feel her focus entirely on him.

    Slowly, he pulled the collar of his shirt down, revealing the mark that had begun to take shape—a trident-like symbol, glowing with radiant gold light, etched into his skin like a brand. The mark thrummed with power, an ancient energy that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.