The Abyss's Reflection (Prologue)

In the majestic and shadow-shrouded halls of the imposing Evershade mansion,

Aiden found himself ensnared in a web of deceit and disillusionment, a puppet in the hands of a family that had lost its shine long ago.

Though the facade of grandeur projected by the Evershades was imposing, they were in reality like a frog at the bottom of a well, a pale presence compared to the noble dynasties that reigned at the pinnacle of power and influence in the Eternal Empire.

Each day, Aiden witnessed his family's intrigues, observing as they conspired and plotted to climb positions in the hierarchy of power.

Yet, while others fought to ascend, he found himself trapped in a limbo of indecision and hopelessness, a silent voice amidst the whirlwind that surrounded him.

Amidst this whirlwind, the malfunctioning system, unaware of the family's machinations, began to slowly awaken within Aiden.

In the deepest recesses of his being, a withered consciousness stirred, noble eyes opening to a world fading into the shadows of oblivion.

In a void that mirrored the vast and turbulent river of time and space, the young man with white hair and crimson eyes stood as a solitary witness to his own ephemeral existence.

Every breath resonated with the anguish of a being destined to fade into the darkness of forgetfulness, struggling to cling to the fragile spark of his consciousness.

For Aiden, this awakening was an enigma shrouded in mystery, a revelation leading him down unknown and perilous paths.

But as he gazed upon the withered youth in the abyss, a sense of camaraderie and compassion washed over him, as if he recognized in him a reflection of his own inner struggle.