Everything was dark and cold. Makoto Torishima knew as much. All that she could remember was sitting in the back seat of her family's car, looking at her new hometown. And then, there was a ghastly noise, followed by screams.

• Am I dead? Makoto wondered to herself.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared in front of Makoto's very eyes. She had to shield them with her hands lest she be blinded. Eventually the light faded to reveal a squirrel-like creature, clad in a cloak of some sort and carrying a wooden staff.

• Who are you? Makoto asked the creature.

The creature made a quick bow and then introduced himself: Greetings, chosen warrior of hope. I am Ratatoskr, Messenger of the Tree.

And now Makoto was even more confused. Ratatoskr? Messenger of the Tree? She still wasn't sure whether this was a dream or a nightmare. Nevertheless, she decided to ask him some questions.

• Greetings to you too, Ratatoskr. What do you mean by 'chosen'?

• Ah yes, this situation must be very confusing for you at the moment. First off, let me assure you that you're not dead. Your real body's merely in a slumber as you're being carted off to a hospital.

• WHAT! Makoto screamed.

• It's alright, you were merely wounded in that car crash. But man, was that a close one.

• Phew, thanks for reassuring me…

Just to make sure, Makoro checked that all of her limbs still worked. Well, in the land of dreams at any rate. Judging by the vision Ratatoskr showed her, it looks like she was the only survivor, meaning that her parents Chihiro and Hajime and her younger brother Ichiro perished in the crash.

• As for you being a 'chosen warrior of hope', I'm afraid I come bearing grave news. The Realms are all in danger of being consumed by the Dark Ones.

• Dark Ones? Makoro inquired.

• Long ago, the Realms were lands of prosperity, watched over by the Allfather. But out of nowhere, the Dark Ones emerged. They began to spread throughout the Realms, infecting their denizens with Despair. Terrified by their malice, the Allfather gathered a bunch of warriors from all the Realms. Giving each of them a holy artifact, the so-called Hope Knights began to fight against this menace. But as long as despair exists in the souls of every sentient being, the Dark Ones can't be vanquished forever. And fortunately, they managed to discover a ritual that they used to banish the Dark Ones within a seal. And for millennia, they have slumbered inside it, making the Realms peaceful once more.

• Lemme guess, someone or something has broken that seal?

• Correct. And that's where you come in. We detected that you possess the necessary qualities to become a Hope Knight. You are about to wake up soon. Next time we meet, it shall be my duty to train you.

After making an another bow, Ratatoskr disappeared in the same light that he arrived in. And as predicted, Makoto began to hear desperate sounding voices and beeps, serving as a signal that his real body's going to awaken soon. Thinking back at the business with Dark Ones and the Realms, Makoto wished that she can go through that ordeal in a safe manner. And if they were indeed behind that crash, they're gonna pay...