Forged by Fate

Chapter 1: The Awakening of the Chosen one

Jay Montes never thought his skills as an Occupational Therapy student would extend beyond aiding recovery or designing tools to help people regain independence. But his life took an extraordinary turn the night he found the sphere.

The obsidian artifact sat on his desk, its faint golden etchings shimmering under the soft glow of his desk lamp. Jay had been drawn to it ever since it mysteriously appeared in his belongings, though he had no memory of acquiring it. On a whim, he reached out, tracing its intricate patterns.

A sudden warmth spread through his fingers as the sphere pulsed, glowing brighter. Before Jay could react, the room dissolved into white light, and the world shifted.

---

Jay awoke to a desolate wasteland. The air was thick and acrid, the ground cracked and lifeless, and the sky churned with swirling gray clouds. In the distance, grotesque creatures prowled, their glowing red eyes cutting through the haze.

"What… happened?" he muttered, sitting up. The sphere floated before him, its etchings alive with golden energy. It seemed… sentient, almost.

Before he could process his surroundings, a scream shattered the silence.

Jay turned to see a woman and a teenage boy sprinting toward him, pursued by a monstrous creature—an amalgamation of lizard and machine, its molten veins glowing ominously.

"Help us!" the woman shouted.

Jay froze. The sphere rose higher, projecting an image of five radiant weapons:

"Dawncleaver", the sword.

"Heavenstring", the bow.

"Lightspire", the spear.

"Seraph's Dagger", the dagger.

"Aegis of Virtue", the shield.

"Choose and prove your worth," a deep, resonant voice echoed.

Acting on instinct, Jay reached for the shield. Light enveloped him, and **Aegis of Virtue** materialized on his arm. The monster's claw slammed into it, sending shockwaves through his body. Yet, the shield held firm, its golden energy flaring brilliantly.

The beast growled, retreating into the shadows. Jay collapsed, breathless, the shield vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

---

The woman introduced herself as "Selene Arathor", a wandering scholar and healer. Beside her was "Tomas", a resourceful teenager who had lost his family to a demon raid.

"You saved us," Selene said, glancing at the sphere. "That's… not just any artifact. Where did you get it?"

Jay hesitated before explaining. "I… I don't know. I was on Earth—my world. I'm a student, not a warrior. Then this thing…" He gestured at the sphere. "It brought me here."

"Earth?" Selene's brow furrowed. "You're saying you're from another dimension?"

"I guess? I mean, Earth doesn't have demons or… whatever that thing was," Jay replied. "Just normal problems—traffic, rent, exams…"

Tomas frowned. "You're saying there's a whole world without demons? Sounds like a dream."

---

Selene led Jay and Tomas to a hidden settlement, one of the last safe havens in "Dawn". There, Jay met "Ronan Blackthorn", a grizzled former knight who had spent years fighting the demonic hordes. Despite his rugged appearance and brusque demeanor, Ronan became a mentor to Jay, teaching him the basics of survival and combat.

Ronan eyed Jay critically during their first meeting. "You're not much to look at," he said, arms crossed. "But neither were most of the heroes I've fought beside. Strength comes in strange packages."

Jay raised a brow. "Thanks… I think?"

"Don't thank me yet," Ronan growled. "That shield saved you once, but it won't keep you alive forever. If you're going to make a difference here, you'll need more than luck and magic tricks. You'll need grit, discipline, and the guts to stand your ground when every instinct tells you to run."

The next morning, Ronan had Jay out at dawn, running drills with a heavy wooden shield. Every time Jay faltered, Ronan barked, "Hold your stance! The moment you drop your guard is the moment you lose your life. Learn that now, or you won't survive the next attack."

Later, when Jay asked why Ronan was helping him, the knight sighed. "Because I've seen too many people die trying to fight these demons alone. If that sphere chose you, then you've got something worth fighting for—even if you don't see it yet."

---

As they settled in, Jay shared more about Earth. He described its blue skies, bustling cities, and the absence of magic or monsters. Selene listened intently, her sharp mind piecing together the puzzle.

"I've studied the rift theory for years," Selene said. "Dawn and Earth are connected—like two sides of the same coin. When the demons began their invasion, ancient texts warned that if Dawn falls, Earth will follow. The dimensional rift linking our worlds would collapse, consuming both in chaos."

Jay stared at her, stunned. "So, you're saying… if I can't help fix this world, my world is doomed too?"

"Exactly," Selene said. "And that sphere—it's an **Aetherial Relic**. Artifacts like it were supposedly forged by divine hands to fight the demons. But this one seems… different. It chose you."

"Why me?" Jay asked, frustration creeping into his voice. "I'm just a student, not some chosen hero."

"That remains to be seen," Ronan interjected. "But if the relic deemed you worthy, there's something in you worth fighting for."

---

As days passed, Jay constantly train under Ronan's watchful eye. Selene provided insight into demon hierarchies and magical lore, while Tomas helped him navigate the practicalities of life in Dawn.