《Reach Higher》


 Living in Peace Truly is the Best

    Chop, chop, chop.


    Crack, split... thud.


    The warm summer sun bathed Rupert''s body, the sky clear and saturated with a bright blue, dotted with a few white clouds drifting lazily above. Birds chirped and sang, cicadas buzzed loudly, and crickets rubbed their wings. Rupert, deep in the woods, had already cleared a small area the size of a farm using his old, second-hand axe. He wiped the sweat from his face with a small towel and sat on a stump. Reaching for the leather bottle beside the towel, he took a long drink. Sunlight glistened off his skin as he gulped down the water, droplets falling around his mouth and down his throat. Rupert let out a short sigh.


    "Finally, that''s the thirtieth one for the day," he muttered. "I guess I''m slower than usual today. My back hurts... all because of Mr. Han. He wouldn''t lend me the horse yesterday, so I had to break my back moving the logs around. I''m not going through that again today. If he wants me to sell him the logs, he should at least give me a horse."


    With that, Rupert moved through the woods, deciding not to cut the logs into planks today. Instead, he took only his minimal gear and headed into the mountains, moving through the shadows. The sunlight cast hundreds of small, varied beams on his lean frame. His deep black eyes were sharp, and his long black hair, tinged with gray, swayed behind him. The ground was covered in a green blanket of weeds and grass, and small boulders, mossy and soft, were scattered around. Wildflowers of white and yellow dotted the landscape, their fragrant scent cutting through the damp, rocky air and reaching Rupert''s nostrils.


    He was heading toward his home, deep in the mountains and further into the forest. The tall, sturdy trees occasionally blocked his path, but Rupert, skilled in navigating the woods, moved with confidence toward his house.


    Ahead, the light marked the edge of the forest, signaling the start of the plains. As Rupert reached the light, he stumbled into a semi-circular clearing¡ªhis home. His log house, which he had built with his own hands over the years, stood proudly in the middle. Rupert was no professional lumberjack nor carpenter, but through countless failures, the cycle of trial and error, he had managed to construct a modest yet decent home. It was as big as a typical family house, resembling the mountain village homes, with an elevated first floor and a roof made of wooden shakes. Rupert stepped inside.


    He put his gear away and sat down to relax for a moment. If I sit here too long, I''ll get lazy and start thinking about skipping work, he thought. Shaking off the urge to rest, he cleared his mind of any thoughts of laziness and headed outside to begin stacking firewood. I didn''t sell the logs yesterday because I had no carriage or horse. Today, I can''t sell the logs either. I''ll have to carry the firewood on my back instead. Firewood sells for less than logs, so I really want to sell the logs while it''s still the dry season. When it''s dry, I can move more logs with the carriage, but in the rainy season, the ground becomes too soft and slippery, making it much harder to transport them.


    Rupert sighed. I guess I have no choice but to get a horse from Mr. Han today. But at least I can sell firewood for now.


    With that thought, he shouldered a heavy load of firewood and set off for the town.


    Rupert lived alone in the forest on the mountain, far from Tohe Village, a few thousand steps away. His life was quiet and secluded.


    The fresh air, even in summer, breezed through the forest, cutting through the woods and sending its slight chilliness towards Rupert. During the day, while the sun shines brightly in the sky, sending its warm, gentle blessings towards the land, the air blows from the west, the seashore side, and onto the mainland. Tohe Village is located far to the western borders of the Angela Kingdom, hugging the shore tightly. Rupert''s house is situated to the north of the village. He is heading south towards the village, climbing down the mountain one step at a time, careful not to fall while maintaining a constant, controlled pace to avoid losing control of himself and the firewood he is carrying on his back.


    "Just how many years do I have to do this work to reach my goal? At the rate I''m getting paid currently, I would have to work the rest of my life. If I were to sell the logs and planks, I would get around 90 gold coins, and if I could sell that every day from now on, hmm, let''s see, 90 per day for 1,000 days would be 90,000. I need around 600,000 to retire. I don''t need anything in life besides food and a house. I can build the house myself, so I don''t need to pay for a house. According to Mr. Han, I need that 600,000 to make sure I don''t run out of money before I die. It would be a disaster if I were to live to 80 and ran out of money at that age. Yeah, at that age, making more money wouldn''t be an option. One look at Mr. Han, and I can tell that I''m not going to be running and jumping around at that age. I would be exhausted just by thinking about cutting trees. 90,000... 180,000... 270,000... that''s 7 times 1,000 days, which is around 25 years-no, it''s like 20 years. Yeah, 20 years. I don''t want to work for another 20 years." Rupert thought while descending the mountain.


    A gust of wind blew from Rupert''s right-hand side, blowing his long neck hair to the side. His smooth, thin hair strands, so soft yet dense, danced and swayed through the air as if a ghost was pulling his hair. Rupert, deeply saddened thinking about the long future awaiting him, felt as if he was mentally being blocked by an iron wall, completely hopeless. He was going to work for a long time from now on. The future is not exciting for him at all.


    "I need to ask Mr. Han to find me a high-paying job as a carpenter or something. I would need to work 20 years if I were to save everything I earn while only selling logs and planks. This is clearly not realistic, as I would normally be selling firewood for most of the year, thus I would actually need to be working for 40 or even 50 years to save certain amount to retire. That''s right, being optimistic isn''t going to help anybody. It will only raise my expectations, and when I fail to meet those expectations-which I certainly would- I will only become disappointed and hurt myself. I have done this job for 7 years now. What''s a few more decades to go? People work for decades, so why can''t I do the same? Am I less incapable than other? No, I''m not.


    ... Recently, time has been moving faster and faster. If this keeps up, then the next decades will pass by in an instant. I can''t wait to reach retirement. It''s going to take a while, but it is a peaceful life. I will enjoy the journey to my retirement. There are many who are bound by this world''s inescapable problems, unable to enjoy peace and a relaxing life. I will, for their sake and for my own, in my retirement and in the years leading up to retirement, enjoy my days eating delicious food, lots of meats too. Then, maybe I can buy some pen and paper and learn to draw. Maybe I can become a huge artist in the west even." Rupert laughed slightly in his heart.


    The future is uncertain, and Rupert could only combat the uncertainty with his mind, grabbing and holding onto this peaceful life.


    Rupert reached the base of the mountain, the valley, being flatter with a few hills here and there, covering quite some distance before his eyes. The village before his eyes housed a dozen thousand villagers, being a mid-sized village in this world. One-third of the village is on the hillside, while the rest is on relatively flat plains. The houses are built on raised foundations to cope against extremely rainy weather and flooding. The stone pillars underneath the first floor are built by the priests underlings abilities, the pillars sturdy beyond reasoning. The space between ground and first floor approximately the height of Rupert. To an outsider it may seem unnatural but these houses are made to combat the harsh weather of this region.


    The Angela Mountains, where Tohe Village is located, is a rainy region where it rains more than one whole season per year.


    The sun poured down its light from above, brightly shining on the village houses, making their dark brown reflect pure, untainted brown colors, the colors sharp and consistent. The wall around the village, made out of pointy wooden logs, thick and sturdy, planted in the earth, unfazed by nature, blocks any and every unwanted creature, with two gates on opposite sides of the village.


    Rupert walked down the hill and towards the western gate, entering the village. Being midday, the village was fairly crowded with workers going up and down the village in a hurried manner. "I''m living my life not so different from you guys. I''m working hard too, you know," Rupert thought to himself as he remembered the newly assigned guard a few minutes ago sneering at him with disgraceful eyes, as if to tell him that he, who is not providing any value to the village and is living as an outcast, should not leech off the village''s economy. The bigger reason for his sneering was that he could not stand watching a younger kid having an untamed life, unbound from the rules and norms of the village, living his life more freely than him. But he can''t do anything to Rupert realistically, since he is officially coming to the village to trade his firewood. Denying his entry to the village without cause is punishable and is an act of disruption of the village entry rules. Besides, Rupert was born in this village, and this is his home village. Having been in and out of the village so many times daily for the past few years, the guards already knew him and granted him access without a word.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Mr. Han... Mr. Han, wake up, Mr. Han." The old man called Mr. Han by Rupert was napping in his chair, slightly leaning against the wall in the back of the workshop. Upon entering the building, the small room of the workshop is filled with example products of a few different textured wooden planks and timbers hanging on the wall, some rooftop materials of different types, some grainy and hard, and others smooth, soft, and lightweight. This person who just woke up from a midday nap is Mr. Han. He is an old man around his 60s, short in build, with a light gray robe covering his whole body, hiding away this man''s true identity. Rupert knew him well already. He learned early on in his childhood not to let his eyes deceive him, for what he sees could be far from reality. Rupert, in his younger years, learned some basic carpentry skills from this man, and although he looks weak and scrawny right now with his robes on, he is a demon when fired up.


    He poked this demon when he was younger, waking up the passion of the man unknowingly. Rupert asked a question while on training in his early years, although he has forgotten the question, he remembers clearly Mr. Han''s brown-greenish eyes shining brightly, the muscles in his face turning stiff, the veins in his forehead and face pumping with hot blood. He took off his robe, revealing a body unattainable by many, even with years of hard training. The muscles were so dense, and his body so lean, revealing saturations throughout his whole body. He then shut himself in the workshop for days on end, refusing to come out, much less train Rupert. Rupert hopelessly spent that week hunting for food in the forest, plucking and eating wild berries and catching snakes for food. At the time, Rupert was only 7 years old.


    Mr. Han came out of the workshop backroom after 6 days, looking malnourished and depressed yet again. At that time, Rupert was not concerned about Mr. Han in the slightest; he was only there to learn carpentry from him. But looking back, Rupert slightly regrets not asking about his welfare.


    Mr. Han let out a deep grunt. "... Is it already so late?" he asked with eyes almost thin, woken up from a nap. It seemed his vision was a little blurry. "No, Mr. Han, I came early today because I skipped working on the logs today," Rupert said to him with a calm and indifferent voice. "Why would you do that, you brat?! Are you so rich already that you can waste a beautiful day like this?" Mr. Han let out his complaint in a grumpy, irritated voice. I was having a peaceful nap on this beautiful day, I wasn''t supposed to wake up this early, my peaceful nap got disrupted by this ungrateful kid.


    Although it was midday in summer, it was only slightly warm inside the workshop. Mr. Han doesn''t do carpentry himself anymore, so the workshop is empty, and customers are few most of the time¡ªa perfect condition and environment for lazing around all day. Rupert, indifferent to Mr. Han''s complaint, replied in a calm manner, "Mr. Han, I did not have a horse and carriage yesterday, so I moved the logs around by and worked on them with my own strength, and I couldn''t bring it down to village to you. Today, I woke up to unnecessary fatigue, which slowed me down all morning while cutting down trees. I figured out moving the logs around myself without a carriage is inefficient and a waste of energy. Thus, I came here today without working on the logs." With a slight pause, he continued in his mind, Besides, it''s not like you have been outside since morning, calling me out as lazy. It''s not like you are any better than me. You have been napping here all day, drinking wine like an addict. No, you are an addict.He dared not let out his thoughts, for his only source of income was sitting right in front of him.


    The only person in this village who would be willing to buy from Rupert was this old man, Mr. Han.


    "I see, Rupert. I told you two days ago that I was going to lend the horse to a merchant friend of mine yesterday and that he will have the horse for a while. He was heading down south to Helsi Village, but one of his horses got sick the day before. He came to me, requesting my support, so I lent him the horse. I can''t just turn a blind eye to a friend who is in trouble. Besides, it''s not like I lent it to him for free. In exchange for me lending him my horse, he is going to bring back their signature wine, Golden Flower Wine of Helsi Village, with him." Mr. Han talked in a low, calm, serious voice.


    Rupert did not buy it. You old man, you can''t fool me. Just how long do you think I have known you for? You might be able to trick other villagers, but I am not so easily deceived. You were at the tavern for a drink when you heard the rumor about Sanshi, the merchant in need of help. You were previously not even interested in this man, not even greeting him in public. Although he is a small-time merchant, you, who are an even smaller merchant than he is, should be the one taking initiative of going up to him and making connections. Yet you refuse to sit on the same level as others. I know you were not in the slightest thinking of helping him out of your good will. You were only interested in the free wine that came from lending him your horse. You don''t even use your horse for anything these days. So you grabbed onto the opportunity, trampled over me, and disrespected me as your student and your material provider, all in the name of free wine. Rupert was infuriated with Mr. Han, but he couldn''t do anything nor say anything to him.


    There aren''t many carpenters in the village, and those who work as carpenters all have their own official wood suppliers who cut and supply clean and neat processed timbers to them. Their timber quality is much higher than Rupert''s, the supply high and consistent. Who would want to buy timbers from an unknown kid? He cannot supply the carpenters'' needs efficiently and will only mess up their workflow and efficiency. They cannot afford to add an uncertain variable to their work when they don''t need to. In reality, these carpenters don''t need some unprofessional kid''s timbers; they have their own high-quality wood suppliers.


    He can only sell the firewood to the merchants in the village. One trip to the village will only be enough for a meal, the merchants offering only lowest prices to him. With such prices, he would need to make two trips per day at least just to maintain his life. And in doing so, he would constantly struggle to make a living besides just surviving. Is a life really worth anything if you are constantly struggling to survive? How is it any different from beasts in the wild?


    Rupert does not want to live a life of constant struggle. He wants to live a life full of relaxation and peacefulness.


    "How am I supposed to work on the logs now then?" Rupert asked, his voice calm. "Hmm, let''s see. I thought about it a little yesterday." One jar of wine is not enough. I should have asked for more from Sanshi. I should have been greedier. He was in need of help. What is wrong with using that as an advantage? I should have asked for two or three wine jars at least. If I asked for more, maybe he would have rejected my offer for help. Maybe not? Damn it, was I in fear of his reaction to my offer? He should have been jumping at any offer given, since he would be profiting much from his sales anyway. I should have asked for a portion of the profit, then used that as a starting point, drifting conversation away from profit, to end up with more wine jars. Maybe it would have turned out differently. Augh... What''s done is done. It''s now all in the past, and I can''t change the past. Hmm... I really want more of that wine. It is truly the best wine in this region. Its aroma is delicate and crisp, reminiscent of wildflowers in sunny meadows, while its taste is harmonious, a subtle sweetness balanced by refreshing acidity.


    He thought while reaching into his robe with his hands.


    He pulled out a pouch almost empty of gold coins, the pouch fist-sized in worn fabric material. He reached out his hand with the pouch in it and signaled Rupert to take the pouch. Rupert took the pouch from him, and upon opening the pouch, his eyes raised slightly, shocked. Rupert counted, and there were 10 large gold coins. Rupert looked at Mr. Han with confusion and asked, "What is this money for?" although he had his assumptions and guesses already. He knew that this much money wouldn''t be handed to him for no purpose. "I want you to head to Helsi Village on the carriage right now. Sanshi will be heading back after tomorrow. Go there today and buy five Golden Flower Wines. Spend tomorrow there and find Sanshi, then head back with him after tomorrow. It''s not a problem if you can''t find him, but you would be spending your money on a carriage back home that you could have saved otherwise." As Mr. Han was telling him this, he took 450 gold coins out of his pouch and put them on the desk in front of him. "50 coins for woods, use this 400 as travel expenses. The change is your payment."


    Rupert''s deep, dark eyes shone brightly. He was in joy because, with 400 coins, he could save at least 200 coins if he spent it wisely. If he found Mr. Sanshi there, then it would be 260 coins at least. He would then be able to save all of it at once. This was a chance to save up more than a week''s worth of savings in one go.


    The carriages leave at the fourth bell. With that thought, he took the coins on the desk and put them in the pouch, then secured the pouch by putting it in his pants pocket. He then took his leave, but he did not rush. Although he was overjoyed over this matter¡ªan unexpected opportunity to earn some coins¡ªhe was calm beneath the surface. His mental state was like an empty vase just being tipped over, nothing being poured out. This event changed nothing in him, for his goal of a peaceful life and retirement was still much further than his current economic state allowed. But unbeknownst to him, his heart rate increased slightly.


    With the next goal in sight, Rupert walked through the village, passing through the crowds and carriages on the stone-paved road. The hustle and bustle of the day truly showed the liveliness of the village. Everyone is busy with their own life, none of them truly interested in others. Yet, this chaos brought by their selfish desires and goal has brought them together here in this moment. The noise is deafening. The merchants eager to sell their goods, the old women in a group surrounding the shop owner and haggling, the kids running after one another in the alley, another kid crying in a corner, probably lost, while the shop owner beside him is calling for customers. This was the main shopping district of Tohe Village. In order to reach the eastern gate where the carriage was waiting, Rupert was walking through the shortest route there. He would usually avoid the busy street, as he had no reason to be here other than shopping from time to time. But this time, taking the shortest route was the rational and obvious choice.


    After walking to the end of the shopping street, he took left and right turns, slowly reaching the carriage awaiting by the gate. The carriage owner requested 60 coins as the expense, and Rupert handed it to him in a swift motion, hiding away the amount of money he had in his pouch.


    With this, Rupert Anghert was on his way to Helsi Village to buy wine jars for the old man, Mr. Han.

 The Flames of my Undoing is Gradually Burning me Inside out

    The sky is deep red. Looking east, far into the horizon, the sky kisses the ground, turning into a deep ocean blue. Looking west, the strips of burning flames cover the innocent wavy clouds, taking away their pure white color, gradually tainting them pink, then orange, and red by force.


    Rupert does not have the ability to view this scene.


    The carriage is being pulled by two large horses, with the wagoner controlling them to maintain a steady pace. The carriage follows the forest path on the dirt road, where the forest is not very dense. Rupert sits in the seat closest to the tailgate, staring far into the distance. It takes a quarter of the day to reach Helsi. I''ve been sitting here for a while already. We should arrive soon, right after sunset... When was the last time I visited Helsi? Rupert has lived his whole life in Tohe. Although he has been to Helsi before, that''s about the extent of his traveling history. He hasn''t been to the towns and villages beyond the closest ones to Tohe.


    Bang. Bang. Bang.


    The sounds of explosions in an unrhythmic manner echo in the area, carrying sharp metallic clangs between each. The passengers take notice of the noise, but they are not in panic. Their faces show only curiosity, awaiting answers from the wagoner to ease their assumptions.


    "Don''t worry, it''s the students of Helsi," the middle-aged, deformed, and overweight wagoner tells the passengers to ease their concerns. "They''re practicing near the ocean. It''s far from here. They''ve been training all summer. It''s a summer training camp."


    I can''t believe they''re training right now. At this time of the day, I would be running to bed with a big smile on my face. I can''t believe they''re my age doing all that.


    In this world, people experience an awakening moment, revealing their ability, which is unbound by mortal reasoning. Children ranging in age from 10 to 15 will have an awakening at some random time during a five-year period.


    You hear the rumors from time to time: parents who gamble with their own and others lives, thinking they know better. So arrogant and stubborn that they won''t let their kid attend the awakening dormitory, only to end up burning in their sleep or exploding into pieces. Hell, some even choke to death.


    The awakening dormitory is a specialized building exclusively for kids in the awakening age range. Parents must pay to have their kids access the dormitory. These buildings exist in almost all towns, as they are seen as essential for protecting not only the parents but also all the citizens. Having fires randomly start every other night is not sustainable for the people¡ªeconomically, mentally, or physically. They would be in constant fear of losing something in their sleep, be it their life or resources. Although not everyone is gifted with abilities, all are expected to attend the awakening dormitories and the school of the dormitory.


    Fire is not the only ability awakened. The abilities are said to be random, but most are elemental¡ªfire, earth, water, and air. Non-elemental abilities exist, and they are not rare. Powers like light, lightning, explosives, and sometimes poison or space, even wood abilities, are said to exist. Although two people can awaken the same type of ability, one could rise to the top, reigning supreme over others, while the other would stay at the bottom, only to be toyed with by the harsh world.


    Yes, it''s the mana capacity¡ªthe other determining factor in the life of a gifted person. Mana capacity remains unchanged throughout an awakener''s life, its quantity determined when the gifted person first awakens their ability.


    Rupert, while pondering about the world he lives in, experiences time passing by in an instant. The carriage has arrived at the destination. The wagoner drives the carriage through the gate and parks near it before moving the horses to the stable.


    Rupert gets out of the carriage and takes in a deep breath of fresh air, only to inhale the smell surrounding the line of carriages. The distinct, musky smell of the horses, the rich warmth of the saddles, combined with the dry, grassy smell of the hay. Rupert is let down. Although he''s used to such smells, he forgets, for a second, where he''s standing and tries to take in a deep breath of fresh, crisp air, only to be met with the disappointing scent of the carriages packed in one spot.


    Rupert moves on, walking through the town, shaking off the soreness from the ride. Helsi is about the same size as Tohe, but there''s a distinct difference between the two. It feels more cramped and packed. I can''t believe such houses can survive in this region. I can''t believe they build houses on the ground. The houses and buildings here are built on the ground, with slight foundations made by stone ability users. These houses even have basements, a foreign concept to Rupert. Although he''s heard of them from Mr. Han, he has never personally seen or been in one before.


    I want to save as much as I can. Opportunities like this don''t come often. Where''s the cheapest inn in this town? I also need to find somewhere that sells golden flower wine... nah, the inn comes first. I''m dead tired and drowsy for no reason. No, I know the reason¡ªit''s because I overworked yesterday. I shouldn''t do that anymore. I was arrogant and naive, thinking I could move the logs around with just my own body and not accumulate fatigue. I guess these small mistakes are called experience, the differentiating factor between a me and an adult.


    While reflecting on his mistake, Rupert asks the locals about the cheapest inn¡ªfirst an elder man, then middle-aged guys sitting by the road, and then a group of two guys and one girl in their mid-20s standing in the alley.


    "Huh?... Cheapest inn?... Keh keh kahkaka... Kid, I don''t have time to waste on you. Get your broke ass out of here before I make you." The long, horse-faced guy with a slender body, long hair, and piercings on his face warns Rupert to leave. Rupert, having no intention of starting trouble, instantly turns to walk away unfazed by his demeaning attitude.


    Rupert is wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants, the quality so low that only peasants would wear such clothing daily. Rupert, having no fashion sense, couldn''t care less about others'' opinions of him.


    "Hey, wait a minute," says the girl standing in the middle. At first glance, she looks aggressive and intense, with reddish-brown hair and sharp eyes like a tiger. "I know of a place. It''s far from the center of town, but it''s the cheapest place here in Helsi. I lived here my whole life, I know this town inside out, I can guide you there." Upon hearing this, Rupert is suspicious of her offer, his eyes glaring at her with intensity, slightly frowning. The other guy, short and fat but with a charming face, says, "Of course, we''re not doing it for free. When we take you there, you have to buy us a drink," with an awkward smile on his face while shaping his left hand like holding a drink and demonstrating a drinking motion, his fingers curled and thumb slightly opposite to the curled fingers.


    Rupert eases up. How could a goofy guy like him have ill intentions? Though Rupert is still not relaxed, he eases up his guard around them while following them closely from behind.


    "Kid, where are your parents? Surely you''re not traveling alone?" asks the girl, indicating that she''s the group''s leader.


    "My parents are in Tohe. I''m just here to visit a shop." Rupert answers with an awkward pause, longer than just a pause between sentences but shorter than what would seem ready for changing the subject. "I was done with work just in time for the last carriage, so I arrived after the shop closed for the day," Rupert answers in an indifferent voice. Although he''s clearly lying, how would they notice? They are just strangers in another town. He would never meet them again after tonight, so why should he give them accurate information about himself?


    Stolen story; please report."Oh, I see. So you don''t live far away from here then," the girl replies. "We''ve been living here since childhood. We know the town inside and out. You''re lucky to have met us." After a brief pause, she continues, "By the way, I''m Lawres. He''s"¡ªpointing to the fat guy¡ª"Ona, and that guy is"¡ªpointing to the slender guy who resembles a mixture of a snake and a horse face¡ª"Shank. What''s your name, kid?"


    "My name is Rupert." He''s unsure about giving them his real name, but what harm does it really bring? Names are just made-up sounds to get someone''s attention; they don''t have any real meaning, so why should he fear giving them his real name?


    They walk for a while in silence, moving away from the crowded street, hustling with young and old people walking around town, consuming foods and delicacies, or engaging in conversations near outdoor shopping stalls selling a wide range of products, from accessories and jewelry to daggers and bows. They walk far from the main street, moving through the alleys one after another. The alleys grow darker, the town''s lights failing to reach these parts. The narrow alleys, wide enough for only three people side by side, stretches for thousands of steps in this town crowded with more than ten thousand residents.


    Eventually, after a right turn, the downward-tilting alley slightly widens and turns into a dead end.


    "We''re here," she says, staring toward the door on the right side of the alley, halfway from the dead end. "As you can see, it''s cheap for a reason. It''s not just because it''s a long walk, but it''s kind of gloomy and stinky down here. So of course, people don''t even know this place exists."


    "They charge 20 coins, but if you can haggle for a lower price, you could probably get away with 15. Much better than the rate others are offering right?" she encourages Rupert to negotiate the lodging fee.


    Rupert walks cautiously, wary of his surroundings. The alley smells like piss, and rats crawl and run here and there. The doors and windows of the buildings are broken, shut with pieces of thin wood blocking them. It seems like abandoned houses, tightly built close together in this narrow space.


    They walk in and open the door¡ªthe only door that''s semi-functional.


    "Hey, bookkeeper, wake up. Come down; I have a customer for you," she shouts toward the top of the staircase beside the hallway, while standing in front of Rupert, her back towards him.


    In an instant, the two guys get behind him and stand between him and the door. Rupert feels all the pores on his body contract, his hairs standing up, pulse quickening. He unconsciously realizes the situation he''s in. Rupert had assumed this possibility. He knew and was suspicious of them from the beginning. Why would they guide a broke kid like him when they owe him nothing? Why would they, who look so obviously vicious and untrustworthy, generously extend a helping hand? Rupert knew they wouldn''t do such a thing without ill intentions. He knew that, yet he followed them all the way to the corner of the town. He was suspicious from the beginning, yet he played right into their trap. Even a sheep turns around and runs away when facing hyenas. Rupert sensed the danger. He knew this was a threat to his life, yet he did not dare to walk away. There was no pressure on him to keep following them, yet, mindlessly, like a worker ant, he walked toward his own demise.


    Rupert, at this moment, felt his self-worth, status, and intelligence to be even lower than the food he puts in his mouth.


    He turned his head around in the same instant. Little did he know, this was his biggest blunder yet. Everything else had been a mistake anyone could make. Replace these three idiots with three master manipulators, and no one¡ªnot even the smartest people¡ªwould be able to see through their motives. But Rupert believed himself to be better than most in every aspect of his life, and naturally, he believed himself to be smarter than most. He wasn''t supposed to make mistakes that even the biggest idiots in Tohe wouldn''t. Rupert had peeked through their words and seen their ulterior motive early in their interaction, yet this was the result.


    In this instant, the calm and cool Rupert would have tackled the girl in front of him, knocked her out with a hit, and then turned around to fight the two lowlifes behind him. But instead, he grew impulsive and emotional, losing control of his mind, surrendering his active thinking to his unconscious brain, helplessly watching the events unfold as if he were a mere spectator.


    He turned his head around, throwing a glance behind him. Lawres, in that instant, used her ability to shock the nape of his neck. Rupert''s entire body relaxed. His lean frame packed with dense muscles loosened, and he fell to the ground with a thump.


    They leaned him against the corner, sitting him upright. Rupert wasn''t unconscious, but his vision was blurry, and his hearing was impaired. He commanded his eyelid muscles to stay contracted, trying not to give in to the deep drowsiness that covered his eyes like an iron curtain.


    He could hear them, though blurry, he could hear their conversation.


    "Sis, why bother messing with this guy? We could have found some rich fool with the time we wasted on him."


    "This is why you need me. Calm down and observe carefully. Don''t you see anything?"


    "Sis, what are you talking about?"


    "Do I need to show you everything? You need to observe people more carefully. Look at his waist."


    "Hmm... Oh, no way. Sis, I''m nowhere near as good as you..."


    "What should we do with him, though?"


    "We could kill him here... but it would be bothersome. They might get serious with their tracking. Leave hi-"


    Rupert passed out. His eyes shut. Was he at peace, knowing they might not kill him? He couldn''t know. His brain had shut down, and he was barely conscious after getting shocked at the nape of his neck.


    An incredible silence fell upon the alley once again, the group''s commotion finally silenced. One could hear the wind passing by the ear, as if the land, heaven, and everything in between were connected, moving in harmony. The deep night sky, covered with the brightest and most colorful stars, could be observed from the alley¡ªa scene only visible to those in the darkest parts of the world. The people of the town, moving around under the streetlights, were unaware of their surroundings, never raising their heads to observe the neglected night sky. The night sky, always above them even during the daytime, had been with them throughout their entire lives. It made them forget their place in the world, constantly thinking that everything was given to them, as if the sky would always be there forever, just for them¡ªentitled and arrogant, as if the world owed them. They tore each other apart, only able to hoard resources by taking from something else. They did not know that heaven is indifferent to the land, unable to differentiate between humans and insects. For what reason must we take? It is only the realization of the absence of something that drives our greed to take, trying to satisfy the empty place in our minds marked only by that absence.


    A groaning noise was made, inaudible to anyone nearby.

 The Heavens Chose Me; They Are Looking Down on Me

    In the silence of the darkness, Rupert''s groaning could be heard. He had blacked out after being surprise attacked, but how long had he been unconscious? He couldn''t know. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his eyelids heavy, resisting as if they had been glued to his lower lids. The area inside his skull, the nerves and muscles attached to his eyeballs, ached. He could feel his optic nerves tingling, as if starved ants were chewing on them. It felt like he had just woken up from an afternoon nap¡ªnapping in a hot sauna while suffering from a nasty cold, drenched in warm, uncomfortable sweat.


    Upon opening his eyes, he was met with the darkness surrounding him. Pitch-black darkness. He blinked twice before finally starting to absorb the almost non-existent light bouncing and reflecting on the surfaces of the room.


    "Aah...water, I''m thirsty and hungry..." he groaned. "Eh...?"


    He assessed the layout of the room. He realized he was tied to a pillar. There were four pillars in the room, seemingly arranged in a square, evenly spaced from each other and the wall. Rupert looked around. To his right was a wall just a step away, to his left a pillar four steps away. The same went for the pillar in front of him. Diagonal to him was another pillar, and beyond that pillar, a stone staircase led to a floor above. The thickness of the pillars was comparable to a mature birch tree trunk.


    Rupert felt the pillar with his arms tied around it. There was no way to break free; the rope was knotted so tightly it wouldn''t budge.


    "No way, no way, no way, no way. I can''t believe I''m still alive. I can''t believe it. Thank God, the heavens, and every divine entity watching over me, for letting me stay alive. I can''t believe I''m still here, breathing. I was so sure I would be killed off by them. My death was inevitable..." He paused, then the realization hit him, one after another. "I didn''t deserve to be saved. It''s only natural for the weak to be killed by the strong, the simpletons by the intelligent. Yet, I was spared. It''s against the laws of nature for the weak to survive against the strong. I''m pissed off. They pitied me for getting tricked. They looked down on me, indifferent to whether I lived or died. My life mattered so little to them, they probably viewed me as lower than a weak creature¡ªso low they''d ignore the laws of nature, the laws of the world, of any world."


    Although Rupert was grateful to still be alive after making such a huge, life-threatening mistake, he felt infuriated at the same time. In this world, or any world for that matter, those with power have the authority to rule and decide the fate of the weak. Power, whether through position, status, money, or gifted abilities, allows them to trample over the weak. They rise higher with each step, while the weak can only struggle to crawl out of the way, hoping they won''t be crushed by the destructive forces that could ruin their lives.


    In this case, the group that lured Rupert to the corner of the town and ambushed him, causing him to black out, had the power to decide his fate. They literally had his life in their hands. The natural outcome would have been to silence him by ending his life and burying him underground. This way, no one would raise an eyebrow, and he would just be filed as missing.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    But there exist abilities that are unconventional for thieves and murderers¡ªabilities that can track others. Though these abilities don''t enhance the wielder or make them a powerful mage, they can be used in professions like detective work and guarding. They are crucial for maintaining law and order in these corners of the world.


    Lawres, realizing this, decided that leaving Rupert alive, tied to a pillar, was the best choice. If he were found alive, which would eventually happen¡ªperhaps by a homeless person looking for a place to sleep¡ªthe only real crime committed would be theft. This would make their case a lower priority. Filing a report on theft without proof of the stolen money would only slow down any investigation, if there were even one. But if Rupert were found dead, it would immediately become a high priority, making its way onto the town''s murder board. Residents would make a ruckus, forcing the investigation to become urgent, and a detective would likely be on their tail much faster.


    Lawres didn''t care if Rupert died while restrained, but at least leaving him alive would buy them time to decide their next move.


    Rupert tried calling for help, shouting out with his life on the line, his screams desperately reaching for someone, anyone. But after a few dozen shouts, his throat grew sore, and he could taste blood on his tongue. His throat was bleeding. He realized shouting wasn''t going to help; it would only make him thirstier and could seriously injure his throat. He chose to abandon this strategy, as it seemed like no one¡ªno matter how loud he shouted¡ªcould hear him. It was expected. Why would they tie him up in a place where people could hear him? Why wouldn''t they imprison him in an isolated area, far away from anyone?


    Rupert realized shouting wouldn''t free him from this place. He felt depressed, sitting alone in silence for what seemed like a long time. He wanted to cry. He really felt like crying. But he knew tears wouldn''t help either. He felt a deep sense of hopelessness, drowning in a sea of emotions. His mind was like a turbulent sea, the sky furious like a raging dragon. The waves humongous, the force so strong, that even the most experienced sailors would be taken down by them. And here Rupert was, riding this ocean in a wooden raft. How could he expect not to be overwhelmed by the waves? How could experience, hope, or mental strength help him in this situation? Only hard, objective reality could save him now. His fate was out of his hands. He closed his eyes, retreating into his mind.


    "Mr. Han, I''m sorry, but I don''t care about you or the money right now. Right now, I just want to break free from these ropes. My life is more important than your money, my life is more important than anything in this world. I can pay you back later, but I won''t get a second chance at life. You can be mad at me all you want later, but right now... right now... right now... I just... need to piss..." He sighed with relief after relieving himself. How embarrassing, how shameless. I don''t want to be seen right now.


    Rupert hadn''t urinated in a long time¡ªprobably over a day by now. It was natural for him to lose control over his bladder after holding it in for so long. Thankfully, he hadn''t eaten anything since his last bathroom break, when he returned home to store his equipment. Otherwise, the room would likely have smelled foul by now¡ªperhaps even more so than his own sweat¡ª and he would''ve died from the smell before starvation.


    Time passed. Rupert, unsure how long he had been there, began to feel drowsy and slowly drifted to sleep. How could he fall asleep in this position? How could he be so relaxed at this time? Not only that, but it seemed like this was the best sleep he''d had in a while. He fell into a deep slumber, so deep that it felt like he would never wake up from the dream. His heart rate slowed, his muscles relaxed. Sitting down, leaning against the pillar, his head bent forward, chin resting on his collarbone¡ªRupert was asleep, dreaming sweet dreams.


    Tired from the recent events, Rupert fell into a deep sleep.

 Abandoned by the World, Bound by Strange Fate

    Winter had passed, with spring taking its place. The chilliness of the rain that had washed down on earth the day before, still lingered in the air, but the warmth of the sun was pushing it away. The shadows were cold, but just a palm away, in the light of the sun, the warmth could be felt soothing the standing hairs caused by the chill.


    Here in the capital of the Bransi Kingdom, Bransica, a young man had just turned 16. It was his birthday today.


    Bransica housed hundreds of thousands of people. Right now, in this densely populated city, this young man¡ªof average height but overweight¡ªsat on a bench in a small park. The park was decorated with white, pink, and light green leaves slowly drifting away from the tree as the wind blew over from time to time.


    This young man, his head down, shadows covering his face and his tired eyes, had a black line under his lower eyelids. He held a piece of paper with both hands slightly clenching it. His forearms rested on his thighs, and his clenched hands were positioned between his legs, his body bent forward. His gaze was focused on the line on the ground, formed by the worker ants.


    .....


    "Congratulations on graduating from the Bransica Career & Technical Education Awakeners Trade School. You have worked and studied hard these past 5 years, honing your knowledge and mastering the skills of your specialty, and for those who awakened, mastering your own abilities. Those who did not awaken their power, fear not, for I can assure you that our kingdom, Bransia, will gladly accept each one of you as an upstanding citizen of this kingdom. The skills and the experience you have accu¡ª"The speech noise blurred as the young man retreated into his mind.


    Ah... give me a break... What have I been working so hard for? This is insulting to listen to. Accepting us as upstanding citizens? You just want us to run the society for you, the gifted people. We will work hard so you guys get all the benefits. Carpentry, my ass. I just chose this school because it had the cheapest awakener dormitory prices. I couldn''t care less about this school. What is so fun about carpentry that has you looking excited like this? You guys are going to be working like slaves, building and refining houses that will just get destroyed by the awakeners. They''ll fight each other but bring all the damage to the surroundings, destroying and insulting our lives and the time spent building them. They think money and resources can fix everything, but they are greatly mistaken. It''s the people, us the carpenters, who can fix the damage caused by your selfish fights. I hate the fact that I''ve learned about carpentry. I shouldn''t need to know the pain of a craftsman. I didn''t need to know that, but the price I''m paying to attend this school, I might as well use everything that I''m paying for¡ªevery resource, every corner of this place, every book. I have every right to use all of them. I''m the one paying for it, so I will, of course, use everything I''m paying for. It''s not shameless; it''s my given right... But I wanted to be one of the gifted, more than anything. I wanted to be the ones who can fix others'' lives with money¡ªthe ones with real power.


    This hazel-eyed kid, Han Anghert, had not awakened in the awakening years, ranging from 10 to 15 years old, and graduated from the awakeners school with a carpentry certificate. Although he was given the certificate, he was expected to find master carpenters and perform on-site training under them as an apprentice.


    Han was orphaned by the civil war that had taken place a decade ago. He had been living in an orphanage until his 10th birthday. Shortly after his birthday, Han left the orphanage and found part-time jobs in small restaurants, working day and night as a dishwasher, cleaner, servant, waiter, and later on in kitchens and delivery work. He worked to fund his own life¡ªeducation, housing, and food. He bought his own clothes and shoes, passing the little free time he had between work and school in the school library, taking advantage of the knowledge stored in these books, for he believed it was only right to use every resource available to him.


    Han had realized early in his life, when he was living in the orphanage, how cruel the world is¡ªespecially for the ungifted. Being at the mercy of people with power, living life meant being at risk of death at any time. His goal and hope, the only light guiding him in his life since childhood, was to awaken a great power. This would eventually lead him down a life of ease, standing beside fate instead of in front of it. But that hope was, in itself, at the mercy of fate. Han never had the chance to shape his own destiny with his own hands. He was always at the mercy of fate¡ªabandoned by his parents, the kids he thought he could make friends with grew distant from him, and the ones in the orphanage and at school seemed to abandon him as well.


    Feeling betrayed by the world, he walked out silently after the graduation ceremony, walking past the kids laughing, smiling, crying, and chattering with their parents and friends¡ªbeing praised and congratulated. Han had his head down, trying his best to ignore the unfairness of his world. He knew this was a possibility, but he hoped it wouldn''t become his reality.


    The pink leaves blew gently in the air. Han walked down the path with an unknown destination. Eventually, he reached the park and sat on the bench looking at the ground.


    How cruel¡ªhis ceremony day was the same day as his birthday, the 11th of the fourth month. He knew his birthday because his parents had left him a necklace made of wood. It was shaped like a cylinder, with half of it flat. On the flat side, his birthday and full name had been carved.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Han had spent some of his free time in his dormitory room, frustrated by the contents of the book he was reading. His glance fell upon the necklace. He had held onto it even though he resented his parents for bringing him into this world. He did not like the design of the necklace¡ªit was simply shaped and boring. No real detail, no real effort had been put into it. He felt as if the necklace determined his life''s worth. Right now, it was a boring, simple, rough-edged necklace. Han did not want to admit defeat to his fate. Thus, he spent the next nights in the workshop making a pocket-sized, round-shaped jewelry box. He was done with this project after two days.


    The jewelry box had enough space for the necklace charm. He took apart the charm from the fiber strand and placed it in the box. On the other side, still inside the box, he made a clock. He bought and took apart a few pocket watches, taking inspiration from each one, breaking apart the components, and teaching himself the mechanics behind them¡ªthe functions of each part. Eventually he learned, replicated and tweaked the clock inside the jewelry box to his own liking. The interior of the box had a stripe pattern, with deep brown-colored stripes. It looked smooth and well-processed inside the box. The surface felt smooth and glossy.


    After placing the charm in the box, he closed it. The circular-shaped jewelry box, although it looked like a pocket watch, was not thin enough to be called one.


    The box had an extremely detailed exterior, with all the details handmade by Han. Around the exterior was a long dragon, the tail underneath the surface and the head at the opening lock. The dragon twisted and bent in different ways throughout the surface decorations. In the background were engraved small flower leaves, colored brown and orange. The background color was white vanilla. The dragon''s scales were colored blue, and the spaces between the scales were red. The dragon''s head was at the opening of the box, holding an orb in its mouth. The lock mechanism used the orb to click the two sides together.


    It was truly a magnificent piece of work¡ªan art, a craftsman''s art.


    Han had sat down on this bench for a while now, watching the ants walk by one by one, carrying insects and grains. He was inspired by these hardworking ants. How could such lowly creatures¡ªwhose lives were at his mercy¡ªgo on and try hard to live in this world? Right now, Han felt his status was the same as them. He did not want to get even lower. He did not want to be lower than these ants beneath his foot. Therefore, he had to push forward.


    He reached into the breast pocket of his shirt, beneath the black vest and uniform black pants, where he always kept his charm, wanting to check the time before his shift at work. When he took out the box, a middle-aged man, taking a stroll nearby, noticed it. The wind blew over, and his redirected gaze fell upon this piece of art held by Han. Immediately, he was stunned¡ªeyes wide open. His muscular body pumped blood throughout his veins at incredible speed. This middle-aged man had sharp features, a slight beard patch, and green eyes. His eyes were glistening with passion. One could say he was handsome in the eyes of women. He immediately approached the young man.


    "Excuse me, young man, I''m interested in the pocket watch you are holding. Where did you buy it?" he asked.


    Han looked up to meet the man''s eyes. He was stunned. Han was attracted to girls and was not interested in any guys. Never had he tried to make friends with other guys, yet he found the man to be extremely handsome¡ªin a jealous way. If there were ten girls in a room looking for a partner and these two were the only guys in the room, all ten girls would choose the man over him. This jealousy, which he made up in his own mind, made him annoyed. Although the man hadn''t done anything, Han was pissed at his own lack of features. What pissed him more, though, was the man''s question. He was angry that the man would think the handmade artwork was bought and not self-made.


    He replied, "Piss off, old man. It''s a jewelry box, and it''s called Chronaroth. And it''s not for sale." He had been thinking of that name for a while but had been too embarrassed to actually use it. However, in the heat of the moment, he blurted it out as if it were nothing.


    The man didn''t budge, not thinking about backing down in the slightest.


    "My apologies for not introducing myself. My name is Rupert Goldenleaf. I''m a master craftsman and carpenter. I have been traveling kingdoms in search of talents to recruit to my company. The jewelry box you are holding¡ªChronaroth¡ªhas such a delicate design that I must say it has piqued my interest. I wanted to find and reach out to the talented craftsman who crafted this masterwork to recruit him. I will compensate you for any lead you have, of course. How about ten thousand coins? Will that suffice for the compensation?"


    Han was shocked and flattered one after another. Huh? Talented craftsman? Recruiting talents? Goldenleaf? Master carpenter AND craftsman? Doesn''t seem like he''s joking. Wait, ten thousand coins? No, wait¡ªI''m the talent. So I get ten thousand coins and apprenticeship? The world is finally smiling at me.


    "First of all, I need the ten thousand coins to be guaranteed. How could I trust you to pay me after I tell you the craftsman who created it?" said Han.


    Rupert responded, "That is not a problem.


    "He knew the craftsman himself? Han was in luck. He didn''t need to run after leads now. Rupert reached into his suit and took out a high-quality pouch from the internal breast pocket of his suit. He handed over ten large coins.


    "Will you tell me the details of the craftsman who created this now?" he asked.


    Han, overjoyed at this opportunity, told Rupert all about his work and his background¡ªeverything about himself and his craftsmanship. Rupert stood there, listening, realizing he had hit a jackpot. A real young genius was sitting in front of him. Rupert recruited Han to his company, which he had only recently established in the Bransi Kingdom. This fated meeting, this fated event, changed the course of Han''s life for the better.


    For the next four decades, Han worked in this company, spreading his name throughout the capital for his genius works. He became a master carpenter after just three years of work under Rupert. After a decade, he took over the company branch in the capital and allowed Rupert to once more travel the lands. They became the biggest infrastructure company in the capital, and small branches were opened in towns near the capital, spreading influence all over the region.


    Han Anghert became the richest and most successful carpenter in the history of the Bransi Kingdom.


    But soon, the winter arrived, and the strings of fate once again started to toy with his destiny.

 Isolated in a Room, Cut off from the World

    Boom, Boom, Boom


    The ground started to shake. Rupert woke up from the sudden vibrations, the room shuddering in response to something. The heavy tremors rattled the ground and sent reverberations through Rupert''s bones.


    Dizzy from waking up so abruptly, Rupert was confused about what was happening outside.


    "What is going on out there? Hey, is someone there? Hey, help! Help! Is anyone out there?"


    He tried shouting, hoping to reach someone, but it was obvious that his voice was drowned out by the overwhelming vibrations.


    What''s going on? This feeling¡­ these types of vibrations¡­ This feels just like the tremors that echo through the mountains when students train their abilities. Is it really explosions out there? Has there been an accident or a fight? Either way, I can''t do anything¡­


    His thoughts spiraled as he glanced around the unfamiliar space.


    What is with this room? Why didn''t I pay more attention to it before? Why is the door flat and horizontal? Am I in an attic? No¡­ No attic is made entirely of stone. Everything in this room was shaped by a stone user''s power¡ªno doubt about it. This light gray color is the trademark of their work; everyone knows that. If this isn''t an attic, then where am I?


    The basement? Am I really trapped underground, in what they call a basement? I''ve never been in one before, so I can''t tell, but I can''t think of anything else this could be¡­


    Is this a curse or a blessing? Most explosive powers can''t easily break through stone walls, so whatever is happening outside probably won''t affect me. It won''t affect me¡ªbut is that really for the best? What if being affected would save me from this situation?


    How long can I stay here before I die? Is there really any way for me to get out?


    Rupert struggled against his bindings, but his arm was numb in its stretched position.


    "Someone¡­ Someone, anyone¡­ I''m here¡­ I can''t break loose¡­ Someone, I beg you, please help me!"


    Starving and thirsty, his eyes ached, his brain fogged over. Tied to a pillar, he suddenly saw it¡ªthe only thing he shouldn''t have seen.


    The vibrations grew heavier by the second. The ground shook violently, reaching its peak. It felt like an enormous beast had been chasing him and had finally caught up.


    At that moment, the nonexistent hope in Rupert''s heart vanished. The wooden horizontal door, seemingly level with the ground, collapsed. Small boulders poured in before everything came to a stillness.


    For a brief moment¡ªbefore the room filled with dust, blocking his vision¡ªRupert witnessed the unimaginable unfold before him. His breath hitched.


    He shut his eyes. He never wanted to open them again.


    What was the point?


    This was the end.


    There wasn''t a single chance he would be saved now. The only opening in the room was blocked by boulders.


    It marked the end of his life.


    No one would be coming to help him anymore.


    Rupert, at the lowest point he had ever been, didn''t know what to do. He didn''t know how to feel. He didn''t know how to respond. He just sat there, covering his mouth with his elbow, using his shirt to block the dust from entering his nostrils.


    He had his eyes closed and waited.


    His mind shut down.


    Random thoughts surfaced¡ªonly to fade just as quickly.


    The storm passed.


    The vibrations calmed, slowly fading until finally, the room fell into complete silence once again. The dust settled. Stones and small boulders rested on the stone stairs and floor. Small rocks were scattered everywhere.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Then, something sparked in his mind.


    A sense of inspiration hit him.


    Rupert came to his senses after zoning out for the duration of the tremors. He opened his eyes and looked around the ground.


    All I need is one stone. If it''s not sharp, then I''ll sharpen it. I''ll sharpen it with my teeth if I have to.


    He scanned his surroundings.


    There it was.


    To his luck, a stone lay nearby. It wasn''t round, but it wasn''t the sharpest in the room either. Still, it was enough¡ªsharp enough to compare to his canines.


    He reached for it with his legs, stretching as far as he could¡ªthen stopped.


    There''s a better way to do this. I can''t rush. There''s no need to rush. I have all the time in the world¡­ I have all the time in the world¡­ But if I mess this up, the rest of my time will be significantly shorter. I can''t afford to half-ass this.


    Rupert adjusted himself, turning his legs toward the wall. His arms remained stuck in place. Carefully, he removed his leather boots, placing them close to the wall.


    Using his feet as if they were hands, he maneuvered the boots skillfully.


    The scene resembled an ape moving through the branches¡ªhands gripping for balance, feet holding fruit. But in Rupert''s case, it was his boots.


    He stretched his toes, moving them around before making his next move.


    He took deep breaths. Slowly inhaling. Slowly exhaling.


    His focus was locked on the stone in front of him.


    Then, he moved.


    He reached out with his feet, his entire body stretching into a straight line. Supported only by his feet and the base of his neck against the pillar, he could feel the tension along his spine, glutes, and hamstrings.


    He reached the stone slowly¡ªone toe at a time.


    Don''t mess this up¡­ Don''t shoot the stone farther away¡­


    Like a tarantula crawling toward its prey, he advanced.


    One toe away.


    The stone¡ªabout the size of a chicken egg¡ªlay within reach.


    He moved his right foot over it, placing the bottom of his toes and the arch of his foot above the stone.


    He clenched his foot, muscles tightening, and softly lifted the stone, carefully dragging it toward him.


    He did it.


    The stone was now close to his groin. Sweat dripped from his face. His heart pounded, the intensity of the moment catching up to him.


    Now¡­ all I need to do is get it into my hands and tear the fibers of the rope apart, strand by strand.


    But the rope was too tight. His arms were wrapped around the pillar, his hands barely meeting on the other side.


    His arms had been numb for a while, the lack of blood flow turning them pale.


    But I have to do it.


    It''s my life or my arm¡­


    Wait¡­ I can''t be rash. Is there another way? Any alternatives? Maybe my feet¡­?


    He tried.


    Holding the stone with his foot, he stretched toward his wrists.


    He couldn''t reach.


    He tried with his other foot.


    Same result.


    No matter how much he strained, he could only reach his forearms.


    His arms were tied so tightly they wouldn''t budge. The bindings were at knee level¡ªtoo high.


    There was no other way.


    He had to get the stone into his hands.


    And to do that, he had to move his arms down the pillar to floor level.


    No choice.


    Rupert placed the stone as close to his hands as possible.


    Shadows fell over his eyes. Determined yet afraid, he gritted the collar of his shirt between his teeth.


    Then, with all his strength, he pulled down his arms.


    His forearms scraped against the rough texture of the pillar, like sandpaper against bare skin.


    He screamed as layers of skin peeled away.


    But he had to keep going.


    Thankfully, Rupert had good mobility. Unlike his foot, which couldn''t reach his hands, his shoulders could fully extend without much trouble.


    Little by little, his arms moved lower.


    His entire body flattened against the floor, arms finally resting at ground level.


    He reached out his left hand.


    Grabbed the stone.


    Blood dripped onto the rope, then onto his hands and the stone.


    Slowly, carefully, he cut through the fibers.


    Strand by strand.


    Until finally¡ª


    The last thread snapped.


    His arms sprang free, each flinging to the sides.


    Rupert gasped. His whole body ached.


    But he had done it.


    He was free.


    Rupert straightened his neck. Every part of his body ached¡ªfrom his spine being stretched out for so long, his glutes from sitting on the hard, cold floor, the headache that hammered at his skull, to the worst of it: his forearms, now bleeding more as the tight veins loosened and began to pump again.


    But Rupert was relieved. He had freed himself from the pillar. Now, all that was left was to break through the boulders and escape.


    Or so he thought.


    After a brief moment of stretching and trying to ease the pain in his body, he walked up the stairs, clearing the small stones from his path. When he reached the boulder blocking the entrance, he felt it with his hands.


    He placed his shoulder against the stone, compressed his body by standing on the highest stair, and pushed with all his might. But despite Rupert being a lumberjack who could shift logs by himself, he could not budge the boulder.


    His heart sank as he realized the grim truth.


    It felt like he was trying to lift a mountain. There was no way to move it.


    Rupert tried again¡ªpushing from different angles, attempting every position he could think of to unlock his full strength. But each attempt ended the same.


    Defeated, tired, hungry, and thirsty, his forearms still bleeding, Rupert trudged back down the stairs. He stumbled to the pillar where he had been tied, his body aching from every angle, muscles refusing to hold his posture. His bones ached like they were chewing on a mouthful of ice.


    He gave in to the thought that this place¡ªthis dark, stone prison¡ªwas his grave.


    He sat down and let his mind wander, reminiscing about his life. How far he had come. How little he had accomplished. Time dragged on until sleep finally claimed him.


    Dreams were all he had left.


    And for now, it was the most his power allowed him to do.