<h2>Chapter 1 : Atlas Exploration Corps </h2>


    Aegia Continent, Nation of Temasik, Temasik Suburban Area


    Twenty-three years later…


    In the island nation located in Eastern Aegia, a peaceful and vibrant region where people from many cultures coexisted, a quiet neighborhood along the western coast served as the backdrop to countless stories. On this day, five siblings were walking home from school, their conversation light but tinged with exhaustion.


    Satoshi: "Ughhh… today was exhausting, don’t you think?"


    Shirou: "Absolutely. It felt like it would never end."


    Keiko: "I just want to flop onto my bed and never move again."


    Taiyon: "Same here. I’m going to take the best nap of my life."


    Hikaru: "Me? I’ll probably hop on a game with my friends."


    Shirou: "Count me in for that!"


    The five siblings—Satoshi, the oldest at 17; Shirou and Keiko, 16-year-old twins; Taiyon, 14; and Hikaru, the youngest at 13—chattered animatedly as they walked. They were part of the Lorenzo family, a lively group with Fornian and Hoshinese heritage.


    Shirou: "Too bad for Hikami. She’s so studious she’s staying back for extra lessons. Seems like our younger fraternal twin siblings are way less chill than us."


    Keiko: "You’re not wrong. Hikaru and Hikami are total opposites of us."


    Hikaru: "Well, she and I aim for excellence… unlike you two."


    Taiyon: "Alright, you three. Enough bickering. Satoshi and I are way too tired to deal with this."


    Hikami, Hikaru’s younger twin, had stayed back at school for supplementary exam classes. She was the youngest of the nine siblings in the Lorenzo family.


    When the five reached their home, a modest but cozy house surrounded by a neat yard, they drifted off to their respective rooms. Shirou and Keiko shared a bunk bed. As soon as Keiko climbed up to her top bunk and flopped down, Shirou lay on the bottom bunk, lost in thought.


    Shirou: "Keiko…"


    Keiko: "Y-Yeah?"


    Shirou: "I’ve been thinking… should I join the Atlas Exploration Corps?"


    Keiko bolted upright, shock written all over her face.


    Keiko: "What?! You want to join that? You’re serious about being an explorer?"


    Shirou: "Yeah… I want to see the world. Explore Atlas."


    Keiko: "You know Mom’s the biggest worrywart alive, right? No way she’ll let you! She practically keeps us all on leashes!"


    Shirou: "I’m thinking about it after high school, once I’m 18."


    Keiko: "Good luck, then. Mom’ll ground you for just asking, let alone doing it. Hell, she’d probably ground you for even thinking about it."


    Shirou: "Maybe she’s changed since we were kids. Maybe she’ll understand."


    Keiko: "Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you."


    Dinner that evening was a lively affair, with all the Lorenzo siblings present except for Haruna, the 20-year-old third sibling studying medicine overseas. The eldest, Elena at 24 who was a Fashion Designer for the Temasik Creativity Center; 3rd eldest, Sumire at 21 was in her 2rd year studying Commerce ; and fourth brother, Kaien at 19 working and studying to be a public service officer, joined Satoshi, Keiko, Shirou, Taiyon, Hikaru, and Hikami around the large dining table, the 2nd eldest sibling Haruna was 22 and she was Overseas studying Medicine in her 3rd year and was absent. Chatter filled the air until Shirou broke the flow with an unexpected announcement.


    Shirou: "Mom, Dad… I want to join the Atlas Exploration Corps."


    The room went silent, save for the clatter of utensils dropping onto plates. Shock was written across everyone’s faces—everyone, except Keiko, who gave Shirou a knowing look as if to say, “Told you so.”The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    The Atlas Exploration Corps was a global organization dedicated to studying Catastrophe and Ethereal activity, exploring uncharted parts of Atlas, and conducting scientific research. Though it had regiments specializing in combat, many Corps members focused solely on exploration. Even so, the Corps’ reputation was tied to dangerous encounters, given Atlas’s history with Catastrophe entities.


    Sakura (mother): "The Exploration Corps?! Of all things, you want to join them?!"


    Her voice trembled with a mix of fear and anger.


    Callen (father): "Honey, calm down—"


    Sakura: "Calm down?! Our son wants to risk his life! I won’t allow it!"


    Shirou: "But—"


    Sakura: "No! Absolutely not! It’s too dangerous!"


    Callen (gently): "Let’s hear him out, Sakura."


    Sakura’s sharp gaze softened slightly at Callen’s calm tone, though her worry was palpable. Callen turned to Shirou, silently encouraging him to explain.


    Shirou: "I understand your concerns, Mom. I really do. But I feel this pull toward the Corps—an innate desire to explore and discover. I want to see the wonders of Atlas for myself."


    Sakura: "What about us, Shirou? What if something happens to you? This family can’t afford to lose you."


    Callen: "Sakura, you know the Corps has divisions that don’t involve fighting."


    Sakura: "Even so… it’s dangerous. What if he encounters something he can’t handle?"


    Callen: "He’s 16, and he’ll be 18 before he makes any decisions. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."


    Sakura sighed, torn between her instincts to protect her son and the reality that he was growing up. The table settled into uneasy silence, the earlier lively atmosphere gone.


    Later, Shirou stood on the balcony of his room, gazing at the twilight sky. The distant hum of traffic and faint laughter of children playing drifted through the evening air. He mulled over the argument at dinner, unsure whether he’d made progress or stirred more tension.


    The door creaked open, and Keiko stepped in. Without a word, she joined Shirou on the balcony.


    Keiko: "You okay, bro?"


    Shirou: "Yeah, just thinking. It’s hard to see Mom so worried."


    Keiko: "That’s how she is. She means well, but she’ll never stop worrying."


    Shirou: "Still, I can’t shake this feeling. Joining the Corps feels… right."


    Keiko: "You’ve got two years to figure it out. Who knows? Maybe Mom will come around."


    Shirou (wryly): "You think so?"


    Keiko: "Maybe. Or she’ll double down. Best have a Plan B."


    Shirou: "Like staying home forever? No thanks."


    Keiko laughed, nudging him playfully.


    Keiko: "Whatever you decide, we’ve got your back."


    Shirou smiled, grateful for his sister’s support. As the stars began to dot the night sky, he resolved to hold onto his dreams, even if the path ahead remained uncertain.


    Later that night, the Lorenzo household had quieted down, the din of the evening fading into calm. Shirou sat at his desk, leafing through an old book about Atlas’s history that Kaien had gifted him years ago. He absentmindedly traced the worn edges of the page, the words blurring into a cacophony of imagined adventures and uncharted horizons.


    He had always been drawn to the idea of the unknown—the ancient ruins, hidden biomes, and myths tied to Atlas’s chaotic formation. To Shirou, the Corps wasn’t just about dangerous missions; it was about pushing boundaries, understanding the world, and forging one’s path.


    The sound of a soft knock at his door pulled him out of his thoughts.


    Shirou: “Come in.”


    The door creaked open, and Taiyon’s head peeked through.


    Taiyon: “Mind if I sit here for a bit?”


    Shirou nodded, gesturing toward the chair by the window. Taiyon shuffled in and perched himself there, his frame slightly hunched with residual fatigue from the day.


    Taiyon: “So… about dinner. Mom’s not mad mad, you know.”


    Shirou: “She seemed furious to me.”


    Taiyon: “Nah, she’s scared. That’s different.”


    Shirou closed the book, giving his younger brother a questioning look.


    Taiyon: “You know how Mom is. After that big fight with those bullies a long time ago, she never stopped being on high alert with us. And also the time some older teenage boys gave almost gave us a cigarette, Mom saw it and chased them with a stick looking all furious, she never let us interact with older boys again”


    Shirou: “You also mean when Haruna stormed the playground with that wooden stick too and chased everyone who dared harm or try to influence us in a bad way?”


    Taiyon grinned.


    Taiyon: “Exactly. You almost broke your arm, and Haruna wouldn’t calm down for days after that. If she wasn’t studying in Arkansa, she’d hover around us like a hawk. Guess Mom took that same protectiveness to heart and multiplied it by nine.”


    Shirou: “Makes sense.”


    Taiyon leaned back, staring out at the faint streetlights that dotted their coastal neighborhood.


    Taiyon: “I think you joining the Corps would actually be… pretty cool. But you better not leave me stuck cleaning up your share of chores when you’re gone.”


    Shirou smirked.


    Shirou: “I’ll owe you. Big time.”


    Taiyon: “You already do.”


    The brothers chuckled softly before Taiyon stood, stretched, and ambled toward the door.


    Taiyon: “Good luck convincing Mom, though. You’ve got your work cut out for you.”


    When Taiyon left, Shirou lingered at the desk, pondering the exchange. His family’s worries weighed heavily on him, but so did the call of his dreams.