The preparation ceremony, a modest assembly conducted by the three major Houses in the world, was typically set to commence upon the emergence of the Black Moon, whereby the children who had attained the Age of Maturity within the Households would be convened and transported simultaneously.
Other children across the world who reached the Age of Maturity were abandoned to their fate without any form of assistance.
Only a few families were affiliated with one or two of the Houses, and even that alone was deemed a stroke of fortune.
According to the novel, House Rothyl once encountered an incident whereby the younger brother of Oliver was transported into the Garden of Death despite being two years short of the Age of Maturity.
It was the first occurrence of its kind, but this was deliberately concealed from the other Houses.
Thus, since then, House Rothyl had also been covertly investigating the irregularities that might have emerged within the established order.
It was around this time Oliver was also tasked by his father, the Head of the House, to locate his younger brother within the Garden of Death and ascertain his condition.
If alive, he must be brought back safely.
Since it was part of the plot, Oliver decided to abide by it as well.
Alongside cultivating greater strength for the impending conflicts, he would have to find Joshua and safeguard him.
Oliver adjusted his newly worn attire in preparation for his transfer.
He wore a black shirt and black trousers, and in his hands was an Imperial longsword.
'What a tedious burden…' the young man thought, vexed by the task he had to undertake alongside growing stronger.
In the novel, it was never revealed whether Joshua was ever found, nor was his precise location within the Garden of Death disclosed, making this an exceedingly arduous task for him.
Night had fallen, and the Black Moon was gradually coming into view. Oliver stepped out of his dressing room and proceeded toward the main hall of House Rothyl's mansion.
There, Bethel Rothyl, the Head of the House and his father, stood waiting with three elite guards positioned beside him, each gripping a Violet sword.
A century prior, the world had undergone drastic changes, rendering advanced technology obsolete and forcing its abandonment. In its wake, people sought new means to earn a living and ensure their survival within this dystopian reality, the only viable path being the perilous venture into the Garden of Death, which ultimately gave rise to the three dominant Houses.
The level of technology that remained was far from that of modern Earth, instead resembling that of the Industrial Era. Firearms had yet to be introduced within the current timeline, leaving swords as the primary weapons of choice. However, these were no ordinary blades, as they were classified into three distinct tiers: Tier One, Imperial; Tier Two, Star; and Tier Three, Violet.
The Imperial tier stood at the pinnacle, and it was the very same grade of weapon that Oliver possessed.
Oliver bowed halfway to his father and greeted:
"Good evening, father. I have prepared for the Mass Exit."
Bethel Rothyl maintained a rigid expression. His father had never truly favored him, the eldest son, as he was an illegitimate child, but instead cherished his younger brother and had been devastated when he was taken away by the Black Moon into the Garden of Death.
His mother had since become bedridden.
'Frigid.'
After a minute of absolute silence, Bethel Rothyl spoke:
"Remember the task I assigned to you, Oliver. Ensure you find Joshua and bring him back safely. If you fail, you know better than to ever set foot here again."
Oliver raised his head and met his father's gaze with a cold, unwavering stillness.
"Father, you should be reminded that I am your son as well, not a caretaker for my little brother… Is that all you have to say?"
Bethel was momentarily taken aback by Oliver's response.
His brows furrowed.
"Is that how you speak to your father, brat?"
"Let us end the conversation here. The guests must be waiting in the courtyard, and I do not think it would leave a good impression if they were to notice what is happening." Oliver responded quietly.
Bethel exhaled and turned away, striding out of the main hall without another word, though a simmering anger lingered within him at his son's manner of address.
He chose not to prolong the exchange any further, as less than an hour remained before the Mass Exit.
Bethel Rothyl was entirely accustomed to this.
Naturally, this had been the original Oliver's disposition toward his family, and as for the current Oliver, he merely perceived them as fictional constructs, treating them accordingly while adhering to the storyline.
Oliver followed closely behind his father to the courtyard, where members and the heads of House Snow and House Devon had already gathered, engaged in quiet exchanges.
At the forefront, within a dark circular formation, stood two figures.
He recognized them.
Teresa, the main character of the story and the future Villainess. She was as effortlessly beautiful as described in the novel, with white hair cascading past her shoulders to her waist, her skin smooth and pale as fresh milk, and her features possessing an almost divine elegance.
She had a well-defined hourglass figure, subtly accentuated by the black attire she wore, fitted trousers and a tight long-sleeved top that traced the contours of her form.
Teresa was often portrayed as a cheerful girl with a heart of gold toward everyone, which made her eventual revelation all the more devastating.
Beside her stood Kaden, the prodigious sword genius from House Devon, and a cold-blooded individual. He was also a significant figure in the story and would ultimately meet his end while battling Teresa in the future.
His hair was a deep crimson, curly and voluminous, bearing a resemblance to that of a wild beast.
He possessed an athletic physique comparable to Oliver's.
Both of them stood with their backs turned to everyone, their gazes fixed upon the Black Moon in the night sky.
Bethel glanced back at his son.
"What are you waiting for? Join them in the circle," he commanded.
Politely, Oliver replied:
"Yes, father."
Upon entering the circle, Teresa glanced at him.
However, she continued to stare, as though captivated.
Sensing the weight of her gaze, Oliver turned to meet it, and in the next instant, she looked away, her expression composed.
He raised an eyebrow.
'What's wrong with her? Well, according to the story, she wasn't particularly open with members of House Rothyl and House Devon. But why was she looking at me like that?'
The three of them remained silent as they awaited the commencement of the preparation ceremony.
The three heads of the prominent Houses stepped forward, commanding silence without uttering a word.
Bethel Rothyl extended his hand forward, followed by the other two Heads, and soon everyone present in the courtyard mirrored the gesture.
Then he spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a quiet authority:
"Tonight marks your passage into the Garden of Death. This is a path none of us can alter, no matter our standing. What awaits you there is unforgiving, but you have been prepared for it. Remember who you are, and do not falter. Survive, grow stronger, and return."
In the next instant, a white radiance struck the Black Moon in the sky, signaling the beginning of the Mass Exit.
Across the world, thousands of children who had reached the Age of Maturity began to vanish.
Slowly, the three of them started to fade, their bodies dissolving into the air like smoke.
Teresa looked at Oliver once again, but this time, there was something darker in her expression.
He felt the shift immediately and turned his gaze toward her, only to be met with a faint, unsettling smile, her sky-blue eyes trained on him with an inexplicable intensity.
Oliver flinched.
'What the hell? This wasn't in the story. Why is she looking at me like that…? Wait—'
Before he could finish the thought, they vanished completely into the air.
***
Oliver found himself on the shore of a frigid, crimson sea. His eyes snapped open in horror, his hands stretched forward as though grasping for something. The first thing that appeared before him was a glowing red screen, suspended directly in his line of sight.
[Ready, Human.]
[The Garden of Death welcomes you.]
[Condition fulfilled. Your Blessing has fully evolved.]