Zen Felix and Rene arrived at Mataland—a breathtaking island adorned with blooming flowers and a magnificent, one-of-a-kind mansion infused with ancient magic.
That morning, Felix woke up on a sandy beach, but Rene was nowhere in sight. He could still remember vividly how the two of them had been swept away by a powerful wave, as if drawn toward Mataland by some invisible force. The last thing he saw before falling asleep was Rene's body being thrown not far from his own.
"Damn it! Where the hell did that guy go? I didn't even get to ask his name," Felix muttered under his breath.
After regaining his strength, Felix wandered into a garden at the far end of the beach, where the grand mansion stood like a palace pulled from a dream. He followed the neatly arranged pathways, attempting to reach it. But after failing once and ending up in a dead end, he paused to collect his thoughts. The path before him felt like a shifting labyrinth—twisting, changing direction, and constantly reshaping itself. It was, in fact, the most complex maze ever crafted by a master sorcerer.
There were only two ways to reach the mansion: either outsmart the magical mechanisms surrounding it, or submit to a lifetime oath under the influence of white magic through a blood pact. The latter was the path Matale had used to allow Rene entrance.
Meanwhile, Matale da Luna—one of the most powerful sorcerers to ever live—had chosen to bring Rene into her mansion after sensing something extraordinary. Though the traces were faint, she recognized the noble blood of the Zarthas Empire in him. Matale was certain Rene carried the lineage of a holy knight. But because only one person was allowed to enter her sanctuary, she had chosen Rene, having sensed his sacred aura with her magic. Felix's aura, on the other hand, remained sealed—hidden beneath the immense power of the Hadrian Ring. Not even Matale's spiritual eye could pierce its veil.
Inside the magical mansion, Rene awoke and immediately began searching for Felix.
"Where did that man go? I don't even know his name. If it weren't for him, I'd be dead," he muttered, puzzled.
He wandered down a luxurious corridor, marveling at the enchanted objects that moved on their own—sweeping floors, pouring tea, arranging books. The sheer strangeness of it all terrified him, and he began to wonder if he was trapped in some bizarre dream.
"Aaaaaah! Help!" he screamed, ducking as furniture floated overhead and chandeliers shifted midair.
The further he went, the more unnatural everything seemed. Eventually, panic took hold and he ran—only to stop dead in his tracks as an elegant old woman with flowing white hair appeared, floating before him.
Trembling, Rene fell to his knees and begged for mercy. "Please, forgive me—I didn't mean to come here. That man dragged me along, I swear!"
"Useless child! You have the weak spirit of a bastard son," Matale scoffed, her voice cold.
Rene dared not raise his eyes to meet hers.
"Stand up, boy!" she snapped. "You have a blood pact to fulfill with me. If not, I'll throw you into the sea myself!"
"Tell me your name, bastard child of Zarthas!" she demanded, descending gracefully until her feet touched the floor.
With a trembling voice, Rene replied, "M-my name is Rene Sirius Dravenhart, ma'am."
"You have no right to call me 'ma'am'. You will address me as Matale," she corrected sharply.
"O-okay," Rene stuttered, startled when he finally registered the name. "Wait... Matale? The Holy Sorceress? The Celestial Angel?"
"That's right," she said with a calm nod.
Matale da Luna, wrapped in a flowing white gown, carried the grace and power of a Celestian Imperial Sorceress—a living embodiment of angelic majesty.
"Now tell me—why did you and that man come here? You invoked the ancient words of my blood pact with the Celestian Empire. And yet, you're a bastard of Zarthas. Why would you utter such a sacred incantation?" Matale's tone sharpened, slicing through the air.
"I didn't say it. He did. I… I don't know anything about it," Rene said, his voice barely a whisper.
"What?" Matale blinked, clearly stunned.
"Then what use are you to me?" she hissed. "I should've thrown you to the sea! Worthless boy!"
Just then, a calm voice interrupted from the massive doorway behind her.
"I said it," came Felix's voice.
Both Matale and Rene turned in shock. Rene rushed toward him.
"Where have you been, man? I've been looking for you all morning!" he said, bewildered.
"How did you get past the maze?" Matale asked, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"I just walked through it. The plants shifted, but I kept moving," Felix replied casually.
"What?! No one has ever gotten through that! Don't lie to me!" Matale cried, still unable to comprehend what she was witnessing.
"Why would I lie? I woke up on the beach. He was gone. I was worried about him," Felix said, nodding toward Rene.
Matale studied him carefully, then asked in a lower, more serious tone, "Then tell me—why are you here?"
Her voice carried the strength of a seasoned warrior, though her face—lined with age—still shone with a timeless beauty.
"I don't have a clear reason," Felix admitted. "But I was brought here by Uncle Grovenborn, at the request of my friend, Lumina."
"Lumina?" Matale's eyes lit up. "How is my beautiful granddaughter? And how do you know her?"
"I met her in Torsgad. We became close friends. One day, a sorcerer came and killed Uncle Morro and his wife. I lost control… I almost killed everyone. In the chaos, Lumina gave me this ring. The rest is a blur. I woke up on a ship with Grovenborn, headed here on Lumina's orders," Felix explained.
Matale studied the ring on Felix's finger with growing intensity. It was the Hadrian Ring—a powerful seal once bestowed by the former Emperor Celestian to Lumina, the bearer of extraordinary white magic.
As he stared, Matale fell into a silent reverie. What had happened to Felix was no ordinary event. It was a secret buried deep, shrouded in layers of mystery.
"Fate has brought Black and White together," Matale whispered under his breath.
"Very well," he said at last. "If you have no other matters to tend to, I'll help the two of you leave this island."
Rene immediately bowed low and said, "Great Sorcerer, I wish to learn from you—the strength and courage to confront evil. Please, take me as your disciple."
Felix spoke calmly, "Allow me to stay here for a year. I do not yet know the way back, nor where I should go. But according to what Uncle Grovenborn once said, Lumina will come for me in a year."
Matale turned to Rene. "I can take you as my apprentice—on one condition. Once you've learned magic properly, you must accept the price that comes with it. And, of course, only if you manage to master it."
"I will give it everything I have, Master," Rene answered with fierce resolve.
But Matale wasn't done. His eyes shifted toward Felix with a penetrating gaze.
"So be it. If this is my granddaughter Lumina's request, I won't object. But tell me, boy, what is your name? And why are you dressed in black from head to toe?"
Felix gave a faint smile. "My name is Zen, though my grandmother in Pafilia gave me another—Felix. My body turned pitch black after I lost control in Pafilia and… killed thousands. Lumina believes I'll slowly return to my human form if I manage to save lives. That's why I wear black—to hide the fire-darkened skin of my body. When I lost control again in Torsgad, my face blackened once more, and it remained that way even after I stayed with Grovenborn. But this morning, on my way to this grand house… my face returned to normal. I don't know whose life I've saved."
Matale smirked. "Isn't it obvious? The one you saved… is standing right beside you."
Felix took a deep breath. Only now did he realize the truth. He had saved Rene—yet at the same time, Grovenborn had been slain… brutally.
"So, the rumors were true," Matale said with a sigh. "Still, I've long retired from the affairs of the world. I won't kill you. If it weren't for Lumina's request, my duty as a white sorcerer would have compelled me to end your life."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Felix replied calmly. "I've accepted the fact that those dear to me seem cursed to meet a terrible fate. I do not wish to involve myself further in your affairs. But if Lumina truly plans to return for me in a year—for my safety—I'll wait in this remote and hidden place."
Matale finally brought the conversation to a close. "Very well. I cannot teach you the sacred arts of white magic—not with the darkness rooted in your soul. But perhaps, you can train in physical strength instead. Follow that corridor; it will lead you to the underground chamber. You may remain hidden there for the year. With the intelligence you've already shown—navigating the Maze of Enchanted Roses and finding your way here—I believe you'll gain much insight from studying the ancient scrolls and secret manuscripts of nature's power. Some even delve into the realm of physical force."
Long ago, Matale da Luna had chosen to withdraw from the world of magic and relinquish her command over the Celestian Empire's armies. Yet as one of the empire's cornerstones—noble-blooded and formerly second only to the Prime Minister among the Holy Knights—Emperor Hadrian insisted she retire with a new purpose: as guardian of the imperial archives. It was a freedom bound by fate, her destiny forever sealed by duty.
In her solemn role, Matale carried a sacred incantation: "Valowa da kaviatkha ukhridum Celestian." When spoken three times, the spell opened the path for any worthy soul to enter the hidden island of Mataland. Only the highest elders of the Celestian Empire—the custodians of Mataland's sacred library—knew of this invocation. They alone traveled here to retrieve the empire's most vital scrolls.
One of Celestia's greatest masterpieces was the Maze of Enchanted Roses, a breathtaking labyrinth designed to test the legendary Matale da Luna herself. For fourteen long years, she attempted to unravel its secrets, yet every path deceived her. Because of that failure, Matale could only bring one person into her grand mansion through magical means.
So when Zen Felix arrived on his own, breaching the Maze's long-uncracked mystery, Matale was utterly stunned.
Guided by a mysterious magical force, Zen Felix slowly began deciphering the ancient texts within the grand library of Mataland. Among thousands of perfectly preserved volumes, he uncovered secrets woven into every page—unveiling glimpses of both past and future.
Meanwhile, Rene began to absorb the essence of true magic. With each step, she gained a deeper understanding of spirit, eternity, and the living wonder flowing through Matale's teachings. The winds of Mataland whispered strength and purity into her heart. Her journey was not just about learning spells—it was a quest for selfhood in a world steeped in mystery and power.
Among ancient labyrinths, grand mansions, and the empire's hidden archives, the fates of Matale, Felix, and Rene became entangled in an epic tale of magic, sacrifice, and self-discovery.
A new era had begun—where every incantation, and every step through the maze, would shape the next generation destined to change a world long broken.