EoS Chapter 01

Seventeen days before the Eve of Snows, Tokodin, a monk from Istinjoln Monastery, plays Hawk and Snake, a high-stakes dice game, in the Chanting Caverns with his childhood friend Meliu, now a priestess, and others. Under the watchful eye of the formidable Angin, Tokodin’s luck sours, draining his coins despite the thrill. As the game ends, ominous flashes and rumbles rise from the Crack of Burdenis, a sacred chasm. The disturbances escalate into chaos—explosions, screams, and eerie lights signal disaster below. A battered priest emerges, clutching scrolls and warning of a failed "diamond" and approaching "hells." Tokodin joins Guntar’s escort to deliver a critical message to Istinjoln, with Meliu leading them through a shortcut. As they flee, the cavern ignites with fire and lightning; Angin falls to an unseen force amid a desperate stand by the holy defenders. Stricken with dread, Tokodin pushes the group to hasten their escape from the unfolding nightmare.