A cold breath of night brushed her cheeks as her eyes fluttered open, greeted by a vast dome of stars—so many that it almost frightened her. They burned fiercely, brighter and denser than she'd ever seen.
The grass beneath her was damp and soft, cradling her like a memory. She lay still, listening to her heartbeat thrum against the hush of the field, the blades whispering secrets in the wind.
Above, the night stretched forever, a sea of lights so close she felt she could lift her hand and gather them by the handful.
———
Beneath the blue sky of Eucadia, beside the great lake Valentina. Two teenagers, both looking like a mess, were skipping stones. One got bored quickly and lay down early on a boulder.
The other picked up a smooth, flat stone and flicked it with a lazy wrist.
It danced across the water, skipping four times, each landing a soft splash— one, two, three, four splashes — before vanishing beneath the surface.
Their lives were truly uneventful—so uneventful that the one resting made an outrageous proposal.
"Yo."
"Hm?"
"Wanna cook some drugs?"
"No."
———
On their way back to town through the jungle trails, the taller boy swung his arms carelessly, while the shorter one carried a gloomier air.
"Where'd you even learn about that?" asked the taller boy, Wilhelm Grimmer.
"Grandpa's books," answered the shorter, blonde-haired Thomas Soon.
Warm sunlight pierced through the green canopy, landing on their skin in thin beams. Birds chirped, cicadas sang, and a soft breeze rustled their curly hair, but he wasn't content.
"I wanna do something more than just mining, trading, drinking, eating, and shitting, man," Thomas ranted.
"What's the deal with the drugs?"
"Apparently, they cure diseases. But they also cause this thing called addiction. It means everyone who tries it once gets hooked forever."
"Why do you wanna cook that? No one's sick." Wilhelm kicked at a branch for no other reason than because he could.
"Because, Will—if you'd been paying attention—drugs are perfect to keep traders coming back."
"Hm?"
"Think about it!" Thomas lit up, his gloom gone. A curious, energetic teen with a grin spread across his face. "One try and they're hooked. They'll want more and more because they can't help it!"
"Because of that 'addiction' thing you said?"
"Yes! That's an instant, permanent trading partner!"
"Wait." Wilhelm stopped in his tracks and turned to Thomas. "So this thing cures diseases, but somehow everyone who takes it needs to keep taking it forever. So… is the disease ever cured if they're hooked for life?"
"I don't know, man! It's just what I read in the book. You can't even read, so you have no right to judge me."
"Alright… fair." They kept walking. "Wanna crash at Phil's?"
"Yeah, sure. Got nothing better to do anyway."
"nOtHinG bEttEr tO Do," Wilhelm mocked, pitching his voice high. "Yeah right, you just wanna sit on your ass instead of hauling it to the mines."
"Oh, I'll kill you, man."
———
Phil—Philip Wellington's place—was a farm. A humble wooden hut with a spacious porch, facing a beautiful golden cropland that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Philip Wellington, an old man pushing seventy, sat relaxed on a rocking chair, eyes closed.
"Phil!" Woken by a familiar young voice, Philip opened his eyes and watched from the porch as the two boys made their way through the fields, waving with wide grins.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked with a warm smile.
"Mom's out alone. She still won't let me hunt by myself, so I've got nothing to do," Wilhelm said.
"And I'm guessing Tommy just doesn't want to work even though he can," Philip added.
Thomas scowled at that remark. It had become a running joke how much he avoided work.
"See? Even Phil says you should get your ass back in the mines. I'm making tea." Wilhelm stepped into the hut as if it were his own home. Thomas made himself comfortable too, taking Philip's rocking chair the moment he got up.
"I'm bored, Phil. And no—I'm not fuckin' working. They left enough for me to survive three lifetimes anyway."
"That's only if you grow up single and have no one to provide for."
"You did that. You're doing fine, so I'll do the same."
Philip sighed, leaning against a porch pillar, hands in his pockets. "How's your grandma holding up?"
"Expecting to pass."
"So… doing well then."
"Yeah, but… she's been coughing a lot more lately." Thomas tugged at his hair, clearly uneasy.
"She'll be fine. She's been expecting to pass since last year anyway."
Thomas chuckled dryly, but the laugh never reached his eyes. His grandma's condition was starting to weigh on him.
"Tommy." Philip's tone turned serious. Thomas looked up. "This might be an uncomfortable thing to bring up, but I think it's necessary."
"Go on, then."
Philip's face grew stern. "In the near future, if she passes… Will's too busy hunting to provide for his family, Tyler will be too busy mining. I might not be around long either—my back hurts more every day, to be honest. When that happens… don't you think you'll just feel even more bored?"
The future—a thought Thomas hated. He grimaced at the word alone. His future sounded horrible. His parents left him a fortune, yet his life felt so bland. So empty.
"I guess…"
"You should find someone. Or something," Philip said gently. He spoke as an elder who truly cared for the boy. "A purpose in life. Something that drives you. A motivation—"
"I smell work. Fuck no," Thomas interrupted, shutting it down before Philip could finish.
"Tommy…"
"Come on, Phil. There's gotta be something else out there. I don't want to spend my days doing the same thing forever."
"He wants to cook drugs," Wilhelm said, stepping back onto the porch with three cups of tea. "Some fantasy nonsense he read in those old books."
"It's not fantasy."
"I don't know, Tommy," Philip chuckled. "Sounds pretty made-up. Last time you were telling us about people fighting over putting a ball in a basket."
"Okay, that one does sound absurd," Thomas admitted. "But this one sounded real! You'd know if you read the book."
"All you do is read. No wonder you're bored out of your mind," Wilhelm teased, handing Thomas a cup of tea before giving one to Philip.
"Oh, shut up. All you do is hunt."
"And it's fun! Every hunt's more thrilling than the last—especially with my mom. You have no idea how far behind I still am compared to her. She's too skilled. There's always more to learn—tracking beasts, tackling dangerous terrain—"
"Okay, man." Thomas cut him off with a dry reply.
"Tommy," Philip said, "seriously—think about your future. Time flies."
Awkward silence followed. Thomas stared at his reflection on the rippling tea.
"Damn," Wilhelm said suddenly, dragging a small table over. "What's with these serious vibes? Come on, let's play cards."
They played cards and chatted away the afternoon. Eventually, Wilhelm left to hunt with his mother. Before Thomas left too, Philip gave him one last reminder.
"Tommy—find your purpose."
"Any more serious talk and I might just scream."
Philip laughed. "Alright, alright. Take care."
Thomas stepped into the tall golden wheatfield, the crops brushing his chest as he muttered, "My purpose… huh?"
———
Thomas was deep in thought on his way home. He passed a stretch of beach—maybe the perfect time to explain Eucadia, the magical island that holds humanity.
Eucadia sits surrounded by endless water called the Sea. It's a vast, donut-shaped island with a massive lake at its center, named Valentina. Most of the island remains unexplored: a rich rainforest brimming with untapped resources.
Beyond the Sea lies a monster called the Ocean, which devours all travelers who stray too far. Beyond the Ocean is the world's end—where nothing grows, nothing lives.
Thomas entered his brick house without greeting his grandmother, who lay in bed. He dropped his sword in a corner, grabbed a book from the shelf, and headed to his room.
"Tommy…" a frail voice called.
"What?"
"I think… I think my time has come."
"YOU'VE BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE LAST YEAR!"
"I'm serious, this— **cough, cough.**"
He paused at the door, annoyed but worried. His face stayed sour as he turned back to her.
"Tommy…"
"Yes?"
"I'm hungry. Get me a bowl of porridge."
"IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!" The pot sat within reach of her bed.
"I CAN'T— **cough, cough.**"
"Alright! Alright! Fine!" He stomped over and scooped her a bowl.
"Here."
"Thank you, Tommy." She accepted it with trembling hands.
"Tommy…" she called again before he could leave.
"What?"
"Open the window."
"THAT'S ALSO RIGHT NEXT TO YOU!"
"I'm drinking porridge," she said firmly, taking an exaggerated sip while glaring at him over the bowl.
"Ugh. Fine." He walked over unwillingly and pushed the windows open.
Just when Thomas thought he could finally get to his book— "Tommy…"
"Oh my fuckin' god, what now?"
"Go to work, you lazy prick."
"WHA— How dare you?!" Thomas shouted.
"You heard me…" She took another calm sip of porridge.
"LAZY?! LOOK WHOSE OLD ASS BEEN LYING IN BED FOR A YEAR, BARELY EVEN ABLE TO MOVE—AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN SICK!"
"I'm old, Tommy. Old and frail… and weak."
His sympathy kicked in. He sighed, gave up, and put the book down—picking up a pickaxe instead.
"Tommy." She stopped him at the door.
"WHAT?!"
"When I'm gone…" She pushed the bowl aside and picked up a small circular metal plate. "Listen to this…"
"Listen to what?"
She shook it. "This!"**Cough.**
"Listen to what?! Clink clank clink—I'm a round flat metal plate?"
She rolled her eyes. "Just listen to it when I'm gone… Where are you going?"
"…Mining. With Tyler." Thomas slammed the front door behind him.
Inside, his grandmother smiled faintly as she finished her porridge.
———
The woods of Eucadia were truly enchanting. Dense foliage surrounded every corner, and the evening's orange glow bathed the forest in warm light. It was a magical place — a paradise for wildlife to wander freely, like this carefree snow-white bunny, who—
**THUMP.**
—was brutally pierced through the heart by a sharp arrow, its final sound an agonized squeak.
"Yes!"
"Your aim has improved," Wilhelm's mother said approvingly.
"It's still nothing compared to yours, though."
"Yeah, well…" She took his arms, adjusting his archery posture. "Your shoulders need to be more squared, and hold the arrow a little higher."
"Ah…" Wilhelm grinned awkwardly. "Same mistake as last time. My slouched back really is a big problem, huh?"
"It's your confidence." She tapped his chest. "Do everything with your whole chest, you know?" Nicole Grimmer, his mother, teased.
"Alright…"
Nicole picked up the dead rabbit and dropped it into their basket. "Come on then — let's find another target."
———
"Shh…" Nicole gestured for Wilhelm to stay quiet. She had heard something rustling in the bushes up ahead.
They crept closer in careful steps, making sure not to make a sound that could startle their prey.
"Oh, hell yes…" Nicole whispered when she spotted it — a lone deer. Venison wasn't easy to come by in Eucadia.
"You take this one. I don't want to mess it up," Wilhelm offered, handing her the bow.
"No way, Will. You're taking it. I'll guide you."
"…Okay…" He was reluctant, but his "okay" carried some degree of confidence.
He drew the bow carefully as Nicole adjusted his posture again. He steadied his aim. One shot to the heart would drop the deer instantly — anywhere else and it would run.
"If you're confident with the aim, release it," Nicole whispered. Wilhelm took a deep breath, then—
**THUMP. WHOOOSH. THUMP.**
The deer cried out. It wasn't dead — the arrow had missed its heart.
"Shit," Wilhelm hissed as the wounded animal stumbled forward in a frantic attempt to flee. Nicole wasted no time.
She grabbed an arrow from Wilhelm's quiver and sprinted after it. Moving with practiced skill, she leapt over roots and brush. With one powerful jump, she caught up and rammed the arrow straight into the deer's throat.
The deer let out a final cry before collapsing.
"Mom! You okay?" Wilhelm called out as Nicole rolled off the animal.
"Hahaha… YESSSS!" Nicole shouted with glee. "WE'RE EATING GOOD TONIGHT!"
———
**Knock. Knock. Knock.**
The man who answered the knocks was Tyler — short, with a plain, forgettable face. Like Thomas, Tyler came from a mining family, one of the wealthiest professions in Eucadia.
"Wanna go mining together?"
It was an abrupt invite, but Tyler didn't have anything else to do anyway.
———
**CLANK**
"OOOH! That sounds like something good!" Thomas cheered as his pickaxe struck something metallic.
The mines of Eucadia weren't exactly mines. They were more like vast, torch-lit dungeons stretching beneath the entire island — a maze only partially explored. Though the dungeon had been discovered long ago, huge boulders and dirt piles still hid valuable resources waiting to be dug up.
It's not a safe place for miners to explore alone, they usually go in pairs or groups. The reason being various monsters of different strengths lurks in the ginormous maze, only purpose of their existence being to kill.
"What'd you find?"
"A key! YES!"
Scattered throughout the dungeon were keys buried in random spots — keys that unlocked massive gates, hidden chambers, and unexplored corridors.
"A red one! Any red gates nearby?"
Tyler looked around. "There. Down the hall."
"YESS!" Thomas skipped ahead. "I can feel it! There's gonna be a book behind this gate."
"Probably just an attribute book."
"Oh, don't be such a fuckin' downer man — it's gonna be an ability book."
"That only happens once in a blue moon."
Thomas shoved the key into the lock, turned back to Tyler, and grinned. "Wanna count it down?"
"I thought you hated work. What's with this enthusiasm?"
Thomas's smile faded immediately. "Usually I don't get this lucky. Normally it's just boring ores — but this is exciting." He waved the key in hand.
Then he added, more softly, "And besides… you're here. Makes it less boring."
Tyler smirked. "Aw, you're sweet."
Thomas shot Tyler an exasperated look before unlocking the gate.
With a loud groan of stone on stone, the red gate opened slowly, revealing a puzzle room.
"Argh, another puzzle." Thomas sighed.
Inside, blocks with letters carved into them lay scattered across the floor. The puzzle was simple but tricky — arrange the blocks to spell a word on the podium.
"I've got an M and an E. You?"
"G, T — there's an A over there too," Tyler said. Some blocks were hidden in corners, so they split up to search.
While they worked, Tyler spoke up. "Hey, Tommy."
"Yeah?"
"You hear about the election yet?"
"The election?" Thomas asked while searching for more blocks. "What election?"
"It's happening the day after tomorrow. Flyers are all over town — not that you'd notice."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Thomas always got offended at being called clueless, even though it was true.
"Nothing."
"So what's the election about?"
"Someone in New Angeles wants to unite the Three Lands Around the Lake. But each town has its own leader now, so they need a vote. Everyone votes, majority decides who'll lead the new Eucadia."
"Who's this 'someone'?"
"Some rich guy named Schwartz from New Angeles. All the voting's happening there too. People from Xelz City, Saisei — here — anyone who can travel is encouraged to vote."
Tyler gathered a few more blocks onto the podium, psyching himself up for what he'd say next.
"My family, the Windows — you know we're one of the richest in Saisei, right?"
"Yeah, because your parents do nothing but mine, mine, mine, mine, mine."
"Yeah… so I'm leaving for New Angeles the day after tomorrow. Not to vote — but to run."
"Run? You're running to New Angeles?"
"No! What? No — I mean I'm running for president. To lead the Three Lands."
Thomas turned to Tyler, eyes wide — then burst into laughter, "HA HA HA HA HA HA! YOU?! LEADER?! YEAH RIGHT! HAHAHA!"
"Tsk. I'm literally the Wearer of Wind. Give me those blocks!" Tyler snapped, blasting Thomas's hair a mess with a gust of wind from his palm.
Still laughing, Thomas dropped his blocks onto the podium. Tyler arranged them carefully until the word NIGHTMARE spelled out.
"Done," Tyler said, stepping back as a lectern rose from the floor in the center of the room.
Atop it sat a book, surrounded by a faint purple aura.
"YESSS! Told you!" Thomas whooped. Tyler clapped as Thomas danced around the lectern.
But Tyler frowned at the aura. "It's tinted more red than blue. Could be a curse, not a blessing."
"Who cares! I'm just gonna sell it." Thomas pulled on a pair of gloves —necessary when handling dungeon relics.
"Yeah, yeah — be care—"
"WHOA — ARGH!" Thomas slipped on the stairs. His face slammed straight into the book. The purple aura vanished instantly.
"Tommy!" Tyler rushed forward.
"Oh… fuck…" Thomas groaned, face still buried in the lectern. "Whatever!" He stood up with a grin. "At least I've got a special ability now."
"Dude, the aura was more red than blue. That's not good."
"Relax, I'm not cursed, I don't feel cursed."
"Do you feel blessed?"
Thomas tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Hmm…"
Tyler sighed, "Let's just get someone to decipher it."
"It'll be good, trust me."
Tyler picked up the lifeless book with bare hands — its magic gone now that it had poured all of it into Thomas.
"Let's hope so."
———
Back in town, they walked through Saisei's peaceful streets. Kids played tag nearby. Friends laughed over beers. Couples strolled arm in arm. A simple, content place — at least for most people.
"Leader of the Three Lands, huh?" Thomas snorted. "You're only nineteen."
"They want someone young! The guy who pitched the idea was twenty-two."
"Meanwhile our leader's, what, a hundred and twenty?"
"Seventy-one."
"Sheesh."
"It's a big deal for me, Tommy. I was chosen to be one of the protectors in the prophecy. I want to do something. I want to matter."
"Why bother? I don't even know what the other three are doing. So what if you can move wind? Doesn't mean you gotta fuckin' run the world."
"I don't want to be like the other three," Tyler said with quiet conviction. "The nameless Wanderer of Waters. The ghost-like Elite of Earth. The non-existent Forger of Fire. They hide. I won't. I'll protect us when Doomsday comes."
Thomas gave him a sideways look. "You really believe that prophecy crap?"
Tyler glared back. "Yeah, I do. Plenty does."
"Fine, fine. But moving a breeze doesn't make you king. You can barely push a wheelbarrow."
Tyler knew Thomas was half-right. But he'd made up his mind. Someone had to do something.
"Back already?" Tyler's father called when they got home. He was an expert at deciphering ancient texts. Perfect timing.
"Tommy found a key, opened a gate, solved a puzzle, got this ability book." Tyler explained, holding out the book.
"Oh you should know this, Tyler. This is a fake, an ability book would emit an aura even visible to the—"
"No, it's definitely an ability book, Tommy touched it." Tyler said while pointing at Thomas.
"Tommy..." Tyler's father said disappointed.
"What?"
Tyler's father adjusted his glasses and flipped through the empty pages. "Was the aura more blue or red?"
"Red," Tyler said.
"Tommy..."
"It's still an ability man! Can't be that bad."
The old man sighed and closed the book. He looked Thomas straight in the eye, "The ability to see the future."
Both boys gasped. That was absurdly powerful.
"GUYSSSS!" Wilhelm's voice echoed from down the street. "WE GOT A DEER! DINNER AT OUR PLACE TONIGHT!"
"HA! Today just keeps getting better!" Thomas said, grinning wide.
"Go get your grandma," Tyler's father said gently.
"Yeah. Alright. See you, Tyler."
"Bye."
———
"Oi." Thomas called as he stepped into his house. "Wake up — we're eating deer at Will's tonight."
No response. His grandma lay still on the bed, the bowl of porridge beside her cold.
"Grandma?" His voice wavered as he stepped closer. "Oi… wake up."
He knelt by the bed, resting a finger under her nose, a hand on her chest. The faint smile he'd been wearing vanished. His neck slumped forward. His legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees beside her, head resting on her chest — the front door still open, the house silent.
———
Due to the small populations of each town, whenever humanity loses one of its members, almost everyone in town attends the funeral.
There is a grand ritual for every passing: the one closest to the deceased lights six torches on the beach, dressed in formal black.
Her body lay on an intricate wooden raft, floating on the sea, anchored by ropes tied to the six torches.
Using the flames from the torches, Thomas burned each rope one by one.
Legend says the lighting of the six torches awakens and informs the beast — Ocean — that lives far beyond the horizon. It is told: tonight, you will eat.
The flames ate through the ropes until the raft itself caught fire. Thomas gave it one final push, and the waves carried the burning vessel farther and farther from shore.
The body was cooked by the fire — prepared as an offering to Ocean. This ritual was believed to show gratitude to the beast. The end of the world lay past that horizon, and Ocean was its Cerberus. The elders were thankful for its presence — for beyond Ocean's domain, they believed, worse horrors awaited.
Thomas performed the ritual under the gaze of the entire town. His grief was raw and obvious. He watched as the raft drifted out to sea, eyes locked on the flickering flame. He didn't turn away. He didn't blink.
Dawn broke. The orange sunlight rose from the ocean's edge and disguised the glow of the fire. Only then did Thomas let himself look away.