《Adtraic Verity》


 Prelude

    Long ago, there were thousands of habitable worlds; Each thriving deep in the brightest and darkest corners of their universe.


    At that ancient age... was a time of peace... A time for evolution. Many civilizations came and went, but none ever had reached advanced technology.


    It wasn''t until later... that among the hundreds of habitable worlds, one civilization found a world possessing extraordinary, magical power.


    An age of revolutionary consequences. Hundreds of worlds grew accustomed to this world-changing power.


    And soon before they knew it, they became transcendent beings, materializing things and even... worlds out of thin air.


    But that age of prosperity didn''t last long.


    One day... a star-swallowing darkness (The Black Flood) consumed thousands of the habitable worlds.


    Pure destruction and chaos.


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    All of the worlds, civilizations, and cities were destroyed by the tide of the Black Flood. It had demolished almost everything except for one special world.


    This special world was Gincad.


    It served as the last bastion for humanity.


    The last habitable planet left amongst the planetary corpses of thousands.


    Using the magical powers emanating from this planet, a group of powerful individuals countered the Black Flood by reorganizing the ever-changing world.


    Each person of the transcendent group pieced the world back together using fragments from hundreds of fractured worlds.


    After grabbing all the world fragments they could find, the group sealed all of the hundreds of pieces together, forming a reaction that repelled the tides of the Black Flood, and creating a barrier.


    . . .


    Long after the galactic calamity, resting among the surface of the changed world, Gincad; rested a King and Queen not native to this realm.


    They were the last of the transcendent beings. Powerful beings that possess immeasurable strength and creativity.


    The power to create.


    Utilizing the remaining substance from the magical core of this world, the transcendent two sprouted forth fertile land from the ashes, creating sky scraping mountains and darker seas. Nations and Continents, cities and civilizations. All of it were created by these two.


    Some call them deities. Others call them fake.


    However, they are known to be The Adtraic.


    And thus, with the remaining magic energy, the two became rulers of this special world and brought forth a new prosperous age where all nations were unified.


    It wasn''t until one peaceful day...

 Chapter 1: Just a Faint Memory

    A monstrous veil of light descended from the heavens upon the world, bringing with it an unconquerable catastrophe.


    Large glowing cracks opened up between all continents.


    Enormous walls of flames swept furiously across the scorching peaks, spreading into the most distant lands, burning every town in sight.


    All were helpless in this disaster.


    Various kingdoms fell to the engulfing radiance, massive glaciers crashed into the sea; grasslands scorched to a crisp, and vicious, restless vortexes of destruction dragged villages and cities into the white abyssal depths.


    Decades, centuries, and even millennia of work¡­ obliterated.


    Not even the skies were spared.


    The engulfing light swallowed the night sky, twisting the once-blue hue of the atmosphere into the boiling shade of crimson.


    Before the catastrophe, this world had thrived and prospered under the Adtraics dominion.


    All, however, perished and were pulverized into a sea of fire, ash, and brightness, without ANY warning.


    "Our world..."


    A boy with snow-white hair, gray eyes, and fair skin stood atop an ash mountain, bewildered and dreading what stood before him.


    As he passed through the molten winds, a brown scarf blew away from his arms.


    "No. So much has already been lost. I will not stand by and watch as the unknown takes another thing I care about." He grieved.


    Just as it flew away, he desperately reached for the scarf, keeping it near his chest like a mother would for her child.


    The boy''s name was Asahi, one of the three children of the Adtraic family.


    Despite having possessed unimaginable power, he could do nothing more than watch the destruction of his family''s world unfold.


    As if mocking him, the sky began to glow brighter, illuminating the land below.


    This was the end.


    "I''m sorry¡­."


    His voice bounced back to him from the sinking mountains.


    It was a lonely sound.


    One that no one else would ever hear again.


    "I just want a peaceful life."


    With his head down, Asahi slowly turned around.


    He gazed upon the world he loved and cherished, thinking it was forever gone.


    There was no longer any reason to stay.


    And yet, he couldn''t bring himself to leave.


    He felt compelled to remain here.


    Even though everything was annihilated, he wanted to witness how far this calamity would reach.


    But someone had stopped him.


    "Asahi!" A distant voice shouted.


    The boy tilted upward and saw a faint light cast above his head. A slender pale arm emerged from the collapsing stone, giving off pathways of light and hope.


    He desperately reached over to it and saw a white-haired girl pulling him up. Without resistance, he gripped tightly on her hand, rising up from the hole.


    "We have to leave." She trembled as a silver-haired girl followed her back.


    Afterward, the siblings frantically sprinted across the scorching fields, watching as a cluster of meteors pierce through the clouds.


    Then in the distance, the two heard the screams of those trapped within the wall of light tremble their ears.


    "Save... us."


    Several innumerable and intelligible voices echoed across the fading world, begging for help.


    But there was no way for the Adtraic to save anyone anymore.


    All they could do was run.


    Run away.


    Far, far away.


    * * * * *


    Suddenly, as if it was some sort of film, the smoldering world was replaced with the sight of a forest with emerald green trees, vast meadows, tall sienna mountains, and rivers across the horizon; a completely different view.


    "Get back here, you thief!" Two siblings screamed as their feet flew across thick brown dirt and leaves. As they paced through the hills, their gray eyes shot at a person cloaked in a long dark hood, sprinting swiftly into a forest


    The thief''s eyes glanced behind, noticing a girl catching up to him.


    "Ugh." He complained as he grabbed hold of something. "My destination is still so far from my reach."


    Cradled in the thief''s gloves was a long, shimmering, unearthly scarf coated in hues of brown. Its soft fabric was enough to comfort even the most hardened of people.


    The reminiscent aura that had emanated from the scarf heavily implied that this item was far more valuable than just some ordinary scarf. Something with value and love; the genuine feeling that drove the siblings to chase after it.


    "Stop, and give us that back!" The girl hollered as she pushed her white bangs to the side, "That''s not yours!"


    "Goodness, I couldn''t even spot you from a meter away with the attire you have on." The cloaked-individual mumbled as he leaped across a ravine. "As if they could c--


    Appearing straight from behind, a white-haired boy with a brown fluffy scapular attached to his shoulder, leaped into the air, focusing all his attention on the thief''s movements.


    "I won''t allow anyone to take that scarf like the winds almost did ten years ago." As he muttered this, he amplified his pace, and propelled himself across the ravine with a magical white luminance; the girl following his tracks.


    Airborne, he landed safely on the ground, before immediately continuing onwards, trailing the thief''s every movement.


    Trees around him flew across their vision like a blur.


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    There was no time for stopping, only chasing until finally their eyes met with the cloaked individual once more.


    Once sighted, Asahi tightened his transparent gloves and conjured a dazzling white light around him, preparing to retrieve the object in the thief''s hands.


    Just before Asahi''s fists could reach the thief, the cloaked individual narrowly scrambled to a thick patch of bushes, vanishing into the shadows.


    "You''re not getting away that easily!" Asahi yelled as he skidded his boots on the ground. "Show yourself!"


    After silence left in their wake, the same, mysterious voice responded to him.


    "With pleasure."


    Suddenly, the thief launched himself from the bushes, hoisting an old wooden sword with a red blade. He swung the weapon and aimed for the boy''s heart, striking with all his might. But with each rapid strike, an incredible dodge-pattern was made from Asahi.


    After the last slice, Asahi hurriedly pulled out his sword and countered the attack by deflecting the strikes, and sending a powerful blow toward the thief''s stomach with his fist.


    In reaction, the thief quickly rolled to the ground, with white sparks discharging from the magical punch.


    "You''re not even from this world," He hollered as he back-flipped back up. "A foreigner. An alien!"


    While the golden beams of sunlight peeked through the circle of clouds and treetops, the thief hurriedly sheathed his sword and ran away from the siblings.


    "If you don''t want to get hurt, " Asahi informed as he reached over to grab the scarf once more, "you should never have stolen the scarf to begin with."


    "Pfft, yeah right." The thief snickered "If only you were to know why I''m doing this."


    With that being said, the thief hurriedly turned his head to another patch of bushes, sprinting as fast as he could.


    Nevertheless, Asahi wasn''t going to let him escape. His close-fitting gloves glowed a brilliant white, and as his eyes anchored over to the cloaked individual, Asahi delivered yet another earth-shaking punch, sending the thief flying back.


    "It appears you don''t know who we are." Asahi said as he ejected the luminance clinging on his hands, bending over to the cowering thief. "We''re gods."


    Abruptly, from the shadows, a girl with long white hair intruded the area. She quickly clutched the tip of the brown scarf and threw it on the cloaked individual, wrapping around him like a rope. Her evening gloves absorbed the sunlight, flying around as she struggled to pull the scarf back.


    In reaction, the thief hurriedly snatched the scarf from Aletha''s hands and skidded his feet away from the two siblings, questioning with a face full of sweat.


    "H...Huh? How is that even possible? You two don''t even look like-


    Simultaneously, Asahi rushed and bolted to the thief, showing a cheeky smirk as his hands captured a full grip on him.


    "Surprised?"


    The thief gulped, froze still, and answered tremblingly. "N...Nope."


    Asahi shook his head and clicked his teeth.


    "Tsk Tsk Tsk." He clutched the thief''s neck with his metal arm, engulfing his hands in a magical white light. As the thief struggled to move, Asahi hollered at a white-haired girl approaching from behind.


    "Aletha, grab the scarf now!"


    She snapped her fingers and hollered back, giving a subtle wink.


    "Right on it, bro!"


    After she climbed the cliff and barreled into the area, the girl hastily cartwheeled toward the brown scarf and clutched the tip of its fabric. She then charged at the thief and swung the long, shimmering scarf around him, as done previously, but this time, it was actually attached.


    Before the thief could breach out from the soft fabric, Asahi bolted toward the other side and squeezed the thief tightly with the scarf, suffocating and hurting him, forcing him to cry.


    "NO!" He gasped as he collapsed onto the ground. "Okay, okay! You win."


    Asahi lifted his chin and squeezed his fists in refusal.


    Hearing his response, a cold, chilling, seriousness plastered itself on his face. He crossed his arms and stepped forward, responding to the thief in a rude manner.


    "I''m annoyed that someone like you would take something for no apparent reason." He said as he clutched the scarf.


    Aletha shook her head and sighed, hearing the thief implore loudly to Asahi.


    "Stop squeezing me! Please, I''ll do anything. I will even tell you why. The reason why I snagged your scarf is that it looked like mine."


    Aletha drilled the thief''s eyes with a cold glance of disapproval; her white pupils glowing as she saw the aura of lies float in the thief''s false face.


    After they grasped the situation, the girl shook her head and objected.


    "You''re lying! That thief didn''t steal the scarf because of a misunderstanding. He stole it because he thought he could sell it!"


    Asahi''s eyes dragged his hawkish gaze back at the thief''s little, entangled legs and tightened his fists with rage. In a dour expression, he knelt back to the thief and uttered.


    "Is this true? Were you trying to sell our family''s scarf because you just wanted some sick fortune?"


    The thief cowered with a begging smile.


    "N... No... not at all! If you could JUST listen to me, maybe you will understand--


    Aletha sneered at him, crossed her arms, and shot her eyes at the thief with a look of truth, saying.


    "He''s lying."


    Asahi squeezed the thief harder, forcing the thief''s face to turn blue and his legs to flail all over the place. The thief cried out.


    "AHH... I can''t... I can''t breathe! PLEASE! Dear god, give me mercy!"


    After Aletha saw the thief choke and cough to death from the pressure of Asahi''s grip, a shameful and pitiful feeling emerged in her; as if she wanted to spare him. She muttered shamefully, seeing the thief cry and cower.


    "I can''t afford to see this no longer."


    Before any more pain could be inflicted on the thief, Aletha nagged her brother''s arm and yelled.


    "Hey, Asahi, you can stop now. I don''t want to see anyone die. Just keep that thief from escaping. I need to have a word with him."


    Asahi weakened his grip and glanced downward at the thief quietly. In all his years, he would never have done this; but this relic was important to him.


    With an urge fuming down his neck, Asahi turned back and answered Aletha with a tone.


    "There is no reason why we should spare such a being." He said as he kept his hands away from the scarf. "I understand we are not from this world, but I can''t fathom why such a being like him would steal something like that from us. What makes you think he is good?"


    Aletha looked upward and made a thoughtful look.


    "Because... I don''t believe that he is evil. The only reason why he was lying is that he was scared." She said as her eyes dropped downward to the cloaked individual. "Well, at least I hope so."


    The thief hurriedly shook his head as he felt relief fly into him at last.


    "Yeah, yeah, you tell him!" The thief clamored as he trembled in shock.


    Aletha chuckled dismissively and smirked at the cloaked man.


    "Now, don''t get cocky now. If you continue to act that way, I may allow my brother to hurt you. Stop being a liar, and tell us the REAL reason why you decided to rob our scarf away from us." To add tension into the request, Aletha added. "Or else, face the fist of my brother."


    "NO, DON''T!" The thief pleaded, sighing without count. "Fine, I''ll tell you." With that conflict pushed out of the way, Aletha smiled and nodded, leading the entangled thief to a tree with Asahi.


    * * * * * * * *


    Then, without any moment to take a breather, Aletha immediately interrogated the thief.


    "So, why did you steal our scarf? I want an honest answer, not some lame one such as, ''oh, I want to sell this for money.'' The best thing you could get from this scarf is five coins, and that''s on a good day." Aletha mocked the thief as she crossed her arms.


    The thief gulped, shook his head, and tried to remain silent with sweat sliding down his pale face. He kept his shadow-veiled eyes on Aletha, hoping to find a way out. Then when she wasn''t looking, he scanned the place to escape the siblings.


    But before he could even think of running, Asahi stepped forward and sneered at him with his gunmetal gray eyes, warning.


    "Don''t even think about it."


    The cloaked individual hunched his shoulders and gulped, feeling the absolute power radiating within Asahi. He knew well that if he were to intervene or even try to escape, he would be slaughtered by him on the spot. So, in regards to that, he did what any normal person would do in this situation.


    "Bye!"


    Without warning, the thief fled off with the scarf in a hurry, leaving behind a trail of footprints in the dirt.


    "What a coward."


    Aletha sighed in disappointment, disbelieving of his actions.


    "He is just SO determined to run away from us." Aletha said as her body fumed with rage. "Well, I guess we have no choice. Chase after that liar!"


    With that said, Aletha and Asahi continued their pursuit of the thief, increasing their speed with each step.


    The shrouded man dashed across the woodland, and continued to run until he came to a tiny clearing in the trees, stopping in his tracks.


    "I''m nearly there." He said with a half breathless murmur, "Only a few more meters..."


    Just as he finished praying, he balled his fists, hung his head down, and whispered as he stared at the ground.


    "...then we ALL can go back home."

 Chapter 2: A Fading Lie

    "I''m sorry Asahi and Aletha." The thief revealed as his face turned to the warm golden rays of sunlight. "But it''s been too long since you two were last seen in our home world."


    Ahead of him, mountains spanned out almost endlessly, giving way to vast grassy plains, and clear lakes. A sweet ambrosial scent floated in the fresh open air as he slowly exited the forest. He sighed and walked closer to the cliff''s edge. His lavender eyes traveled from one side of a colossal crater brimming with vegetation to the next, fascinated.


    Absorbed in the scent and murmur of the quiet day, the man''s expression hardened with seriousness as he spoke.


    "This is the place where I wanted them to go." He said with a vivid and arresting presentation. "It took years for me to reach this moment."


    His long black cloak swayed gently in the wind, hearing heavy footsteps getting closer to him. But despite that, he gazed at the vastness of this unknown world, feeling the sense of composure run down his veins.


    "After all, this is just another world." He said as he gave a light shrug. "Nothing close to home."


    The aura that radiated around him didn''t give a broad presentation of what a thief would act like anymore, rather, it gave off the behavior of a wise and mysterious man.


    With a pale face, he closed his eyes and whispered.


    "I know how much those two value this scarf." He said as his fingers skimmed the fleecy fabric. "But... it is the only method that I can think of that could lure them here."


    After he said that, the hooded figure turned around, and headed toward the vegetation-infested crater.


    Not long after, Asahi and Aletha approached the cliffside, searching for the man.


    As they stood at the cliff, Aletha pointed at the other end of the crater and smirked proudly.


    "The thief went over there." She informed Asahi "Just across that crater, through those dense patches of trees."


    As she hastily sprinted down the crater, Asahi nodded his head and answered,


    "Okay."


    . . .


    In no time, Aletha and Asahi arrived at the opposite side of the crater. There, they found the thief standing tall and proud, facing the ground, mumbling something under his breath.


    "Hey, can you give us that scarf now?" Aletha asked as she carefully approached the man. "It''s very important to us."


    Upon hearing her voice, the thief glanced at Aletha and froze upon recognizing her, clutching the brown scarf.


    "Y-You''re...!"


    The man swiftly shook his shock away and pulled out his wooden blade, pointing downward, and saying.


    "Below us."


    Then, like a dagger, he threw and pierced his blade through the ground, forming cracks on the surface.


    "No matter what you do," He mumbled with determination written all over his face. ",we''re going home."


    Seeing that the man refused to answer, instead of lashing out on him, Asahi decided to approach the situation in another way.


    "Settle down," He carefully admitted to diffuse the tension. "All we desire is that scarf. No need for any trouble. Just give it back and all problems will be solved."


    Clearly, the cloaked-individual wanted nothing more to bring these two home.


    In addition to the cracks that appeared and scattered across the surface beneath them, tremors followed in its wake.


    The thief stared hard into Aletha''s eyes, sensing the ground tremor rapidly. No matter what they could do, it was too late for them to escape. He rooted his feet into the ground.


    Trees rocked back and forth, slowly slumping into the dirt. Moreover, everything inside the crater began to shake violently, including the surrounding mountain range.


    "No, stop!"


    That was the moment when they noticed that this was a trap.


    Seeing that the crater was going to collapse, Asahi quickly rushed towards Aletha and pulled her close, whispering. "Stay by me."


    Suddenly, the earth beneath their feet split open, gaping wide like a mouth. Their feet balanced on each plate, but before they knew it, the hole opened up, allowing everything in the crater to be swallowed into the dark abyss.


    Rocks, tree branches, and rivers collapsed, slid down the surface and fell into the giant hole in a storm, vanishing into the dark abyss below.


    The only sounds that accompanied Asahi and Aletha during their descent were the echoes of their screams.


    * * * * *


    Much of what happened remained unexplained.


    Their eyes bulged out to a wet space surrounded by bubbles and a clear turquoise color. Their breathing stopped, silence surrounded them, feeling pressure push against them anywhere they moved.


    Aletha was the first to break the surface. She gasped for air and tried to take a deep breath, regaining her senses. Her eyes were wide open, seeing nothing but vast darkness.


    Chills crept up everywhere she moved. Rubbing her shoulders, she took a few steps forward and looked around.


    "Where... am I?"


    Asahi was the second to break the surface, coughing and gasping for air. At first, all he saw around him was darkness, stone, and a few holes giving away light. But then, climbing up the natural pool of water, he realized a lot more had awaited for them.


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    Standing before them were several mountains of steel structures encompassed by a tall and colossal open rocky cavern. Rusted-over mechanical gears were attached across tiny pools, and an enormous glossy black cube stood underneath a circular opening in the ceiling of the cavern, allowing sun rays to shine on it like a spotlight.


    A redolent, odorless scent flew in the stuffy, suffocating air, followed by a pungent aroma, stinking up the vast expanse. Aletha couldn''t help but to find her feet rooted in the ground, shocked at this eccentric place.


    "What is this place?" Aletha wondered aloud.


    "It''s called ''The Cradle." A voice said as something emerged from the water. "One of the many advanced civilizations that once sheltered millions."


    Immediately, Asahi and Aletha leveled their glowering looks to an individual cloaked in a sharp and dynamic cloak, climbing out from the wager.


    Without explanation, the man approached Aletha, his gaze piercing hers. He took a deep breath, and as the silence continued, he provided an explanation to them.


    "There are many cradles dispersed across our universe." He said. "Many devices were lost to abandonment. However, what you see behind me will be the only device alive that will bring us all home."


    Wrapped around his wrist was a scarf; a sparkling soft scarf coated in shades of brown. The man knew just by seeing Asahi''s cold and hardened face that he couldn''t have it anymore. So, before Asahi could land a hit on him, the cloaked man revealed.


    "Pardon the intrusion of stealing your scarf." He said as he placed it back on their hands. "It''s the only method I could think of to lure you two here.''''


    Given the strange response, Aletha raised her eyebrow and asked.


    "Who are you?"


    The thief looked back at her with a grim expression of realization on his face.


    "Oh right."


    With no other choice, he sighed deeply and took off his hood. Long silky dark hair framed his jewel-like purple eyes, and his attire was as dark and celestial as the stars. A lavender eye piece was attached to his right eye, matching the pattern of waves in the sea.


    Swiftly, Aletha jumped out. "Hey you look like someone I know¡­" Her gray eyes broadened in realization. "Wait a minute, Akwan?! How did YOU get here?"


    Akwan was a god of pretentious and mysterious origin; one of the many that once ruled over Gincad.


    Much like the siblings, he too came from their world.


    But during their world-traveling after they fled from the engulfing light, never would they have expected that Akwan appeared in such a distant place in the universe.


    Recalling the calamity. Aletha lowered her voice down and twiddle her thumbs.


    "I thought you joined the... other gods."


    Filled with doubts and regrets, Akwan looked at his hands and recalled the calamity.


    A time at which their world lost itself to a consuming-luminance.


    The sheer thought of such a sight haunted him.


    No one had an idea who or what caused it; all they knew was that they lost everything.


    "Let''s not speak of that." He said as he scratched his head. "It has been a long time since that happened."


    To avoid sparking a situation, Akwan accelerated their pace and led them through the ruined city.


    Towers of ruin scattered over the area. Wires entangled themselves from the deepest pits of the surrounding sea of emptiness, to the highest sharpest rocky ceilings.


    "Much has happened since you two were gone." Akwan seemed upset as he spoke. "And I''m afraid that there is more I have yet to tell you."


    His glare traveled the outermost sights of the ruined city with unnerving thoroughness. Capsules, shattered beyond compare, once-cloud-piercing spires tipped over, and split like a cookie. Nothing seemed glamorous about this area.


    That was, until they approached a bizarre object at the center of the circle of debris and stalagmites. A colossal device composed of glossy black glass was located at the very top. Green stems creeped from the cold, solid surface, climbing up the cube. Imperious white gears grinded and tore itself, trying to click and emit a single spark. Five to seven wiry, long, steel arms extended from every side of the cube, folding itself like a card. And, slender, narrow lines of white light flickered on the surface of the glass.


    Up went their brows as they tilted up, noticing the size of the device. It was almost as tall as the ruined city itself. Despite witnessing its rather unmoved state, Akwan led Asahi and Aletha toward the surface of the device. The glass on the cube was so shiny that it reflected all their appearances without any struggle.


    "Woah!" Aletha said with sparkling eyes of fascination. "This device looks cool!"


    Asahi''s eyes were also on the surface, carefully observing the device from all angles. Though his voice was rather muted of seriousness upon this moment, he couldn''t help but compliment the intricate architecture of each wire.


    "I have never seen such complex constructions before."


    Turning back to Akwan, Asahi abruptly redirected the topic.


    "Akwan, tell me, what is there to come back to? Nothing is left of our world, not even our kingdom. It''s the only reason why we''re in this situation in the first place. There''s nothing we can do other than to wander the stars."


    As Aletha narrowed her gaze to Asahi, he clenched his fists and expressed a stifling expression of pain in his voice.


    "You don''t understand how much we have lost¡­ to that catastrophe. So many individuals we loved, so many places we cared, so¡­ much¡­ traditions we held onto," He suppressed and kept his tears in his eyes, as he stepped forward, shouting in a shaky voice. "All for it to fatally go to waste! Our parents are gone, our loving sister is gone, most of the lesser gods in our world vanished. Tell me, just tell me one reason why I should return to a world covered in ash!"


    Silence erupted after his voice echoed across the cavern''s walls.


    "Because hope exists, Asahi." Akwan replied. "The lies we tell ourselves are what gets us this far. By just accepting the truth without resistance, there is nothing you can possibly be."


    Aletha couldn''t help but to agree on Akwan''s response.


    "Yes, stagnation leads to decay. You can''t just avoid something without trying it first."


    Asahi felt his heart flutter. He wanted to believe in Akwan. But deep down, he knew that the words of hope were hollow.


    He looked away from the device and gazed around the ruins. The entire scene made him feel like he was walking inside of a graveyard. The ground was stained with dried blood and littered with trashed metal parts. Shattered crystals lay scattered all over the ground, as if they had been crushed by an earthquake. The atmosphere was dark, and filled with the scent of death.


    Fallen into urgency, Aletha looked over to Akwan and urged him..


    "So¡­ let''s try it." She said as she approached the device. "Let''s return to our homeworld and see what truly awaits us."


    As a silent reeking wind flew by, Akwan nodded his head in agreement and soon, Asahi followed.


    . . .


    When they approached the device, Akwan told both the siblings to place their hand on the device. He said that because of both of their appearances, there was a possibility that activating the device may be easier than the intended activation process. And so, they acted in accordance with what they were informed.


    After a simple countdown, Asahi skimmed and prodded the black surface of the device with his fingers.


    Suddenly, a white spark pulsed under the layer of glass, sending out glowing digital ripples across the cube like dropping a stone into the water. In reaction, Asahi backed up, turning over to Akwan to see if this was right.


    He couldn''t have been any more correct.


    "Ripples have surfaced the device. The activation is successful!" Akwan praised as he saw the flickering glowing white lines flicker into a stagnant position. "Now, Aletha, touch the device as well. There may be a chance that we don''t have to do anything other than that."


    Asahi didn''t know what to say when Aletha took off her gloves and placed her gloved hand on the surface. This action made him nervous. He was afraid that whatever happened next would cause some sort of fatal damage to them.


    But surprisingly enough, the device did not explode or blow up.


    Instead, the surface became warm against their hands.


    "What''s happening?"


    A deep robotic voice suddenly spoke from it.


    [:// ://: ://:]


    "It''s the forgotten language from the ruined civilization." Akwan said. "The once-universal language now forgotten."


    Aletha turned over and asked Akwan with a genuinely confused tone.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Doesn''t matter." Akwan said as he heard loud digital growls sound behind him. "Just continue touching the device."


    [BEEP]


    Millions of white iridescent lines and dots exploded from the device.


    [Host Identified]


    Akwan, eager to see the results of his labors, shoved Aletha and Asahi''s hands up against the side of the gadget, setting off a powerful pulse that powered the entire machine.


    [Second Host Detected]


    [Universal Scanning¡­ Complete. Protocol for Planetary Navigation initiated.]


    Slowly unfolding from the device''s top, five black "arms" emerged. After expanding the hologram, it reached to the ceiling and rotated erratically.


    Akwan seemed enthralled by the gadget''s motions, as though he, too, wanted to touch it.


    To his dismay, a blast blew him away just as his hands were about to smooth up the surface.


    "I''m deemed incompatible for a device such as this." Akwan said. "Just... stay put."


    The apparatus let forth another volley of holograms in the form of a gigantic white light explosion, and the constant droning of the apparatus caused their ears to ring.


    [World Name: Gincad. Hosts are rendered with familiar genes. Opening Sequence for Cosmic Teleportation]


    [10¡­]


    As the device jiggled and their bodies swung rapidly to the left and right, the ground underneath them began to shake.


    [9¡­]


    [8¡­]


    [7¡­]


    The immense cave was illuminated by a blinding ray of light.


    [6¡­]


    [5¡­.]


    Tension clung to everyone as the device''s white lights illuminated its four corners.


    [4¡­]


    [3¡­.]


    [2¡­]


    [1¡­]


    Instantly, a deafening sonic boom rocked and hurled the three upward as their eyes were dazzled by an encompassing white light.


    [0¡­]


    In less time than it takes to blink their eyes, the massive spectacle of the cavern, the device, and the ruins trickled down, replaced seamlessly by a vast white abyss.

 Chapter 3: The Forgotten

    Nothing.


    Absolute Emptiness.


    No stars, trees, clouds, mountains, ground, or sky. Nothing was here except for fluttering white shards of light and an endless white void.


    A sense of disillusionment overwhelmed him as he stared mindlessly into the white void in complete silence.


    The flash from the vast underground city to the empty white abyss stunned him; indeed, he knew what this light belonged to, but he would have never guessed that this was his world.


    Unlike the calmness in Asahi, Aletha was undoubtedly panicked.


    A frozen chill of fear grew in her as she dashed left and right from the blank void; only she saw her shadow and heard her footsteps.


    "This... can''t be our world." She said, "Akwan isn''t even here anymore."


    With so much fear pressuring her, she collapsed to her knees by sheer panic, gritted her teeth, and angrily slammed her fist on the empty white surface.


    "Where did that thing take us?! Was Akwan lying to us?"


    Each hit echoed over the vast white abyss.


    "Asahi, answer me!"


    Silence answered her, leaving only her voice to echo throughout the emptiness.


    There was no confirmation whether or not this was Asahi and Aletha''s world. They had only assumed that it was since it had been stated by the strange device.


    Although Asahi was undoubtedly immersed in this bizarre unearthly location, it had not stopped him from recalling.


    "Why is this¡­ white glow, so familiar? Have I seen it before?"


    Suddenly, before anymore could be spoken, a mysterious, strange, croaky voice sounded out from emptiness.


    "Ah, so it appears that one has forgotten about their past. What a pity."


    Cutting off their words there, after several minutes of silence; Asahi and Aletha immediately began searching to find where the voice came from.


    "Could that voice be Akwan? We haven''t seen him since we have been in that cavern." Aletha whispered.


    "No." Asahi mumbled. "The voice is too crooked to be Akwan. Just keep moving¨C


    Abruptly, appearing from a misty veil of white before them was a strange monstrous-looking figure wearing a dark cloak with glowing magenta lines inscribed on their chest.


    Every centimeter radiated within this man exuded an aura of powerful and corrupted energy.


    "Hey, are you responsible for this¡­ void?" Aletha shouted angrily. Like again, silence answered her, leaving her to realize. "Wait a minute, I don''t remember seeing your face. Who are you?!


    After Aletha finished her sentence, the mysterious and powerful figure turned its gaze toward them and let out a sinister laugh. He dispersed his dark tendrils from his head, lifting them as if they were arms.


    "Of course. Of course. OF COURSE OF COURSE OF COURSE, you would say that!" The figure exclaimed as he clenched his nasty fists and slid them against his crumpled and disjointed face. "I am The God of The Forgotten. And you two. Who dare call themselves ''Gods'', have abandoned the very world that made you WHO. YOU. WERE!"


    Aletha drew her lower lip between her teeth and clenched her fists.


    "But¡­ we never abandoned the world."


    "We had no choice!" Asahi said as he slowly reached over for his blade.


    In response to the sudden loudness of Asahi''s answer, The God of The Forgotten crossed his arms over his chest and chuckled dismissively, raising his strange stringy legs.


    "Oh really? I sense liars. Then, let me clarify something for you."


    The strange humanoid creature lunged his dark tendrils into the white surface and started laughing maniacally, abruptly changing into an ear-piercing scream.


    His five limbs raised in the air like a parachute before flying down and piercing the void. As Asahi and Aletha pivoted backward, reaching for the hilt of their blades, The God of The Forgotten revealed.


    "YOU TWO DID! And to make matters worse, I erased the memories of your family''s very existence from EVERYONE in Gincad. YES!" He screamed with a shuddering voice. "The Adtraic Family! The supposed rulers of Gincad; fallen onto their knees by a SIMPLE light."


    Every time they were to take one step forward, everything surrounding them would flicker into black and white like a blinker.


    Asahi and Aletha couldn''t bear to comprehend the sudden reveal they were just given.


    "The Adtraic Family''s existence, removed from our world? How could one do that?!" Asahi pondered aloud. "That¡­ shouldn''t be possible."


    The God of The Forgotten forced his lips into a devious smile.


    "Oh but it is." He said. "...and now you two will now be recognized as nothing but ordinary fleshy, powerless humans." Putting his hand to his forehead, The God of The Forgotten looked heavenward and asked once more.


    "Now tell me. Do you two know who I am?"


    Despite silent moments, rummaging for clues, answers, or even recollections of this strange being; not once had a spark been emitted from both of their minds.


    They could see from the look on the creature''s eight sharp magenta eyes that it wanted the correct answer this time.


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    But struck with memory loss and confusion, it made the process of answering him almost physically impossible to accomplish.


    Nonetheless, because of his close proximity, Asahi and Aletha had no choice but to answer.


    "No, we don''t."


    Fury braced every corner of this evil and goopy creature''s body. From the waist up, purple energy surged across his exposed veins. His five magenta eyes glowed a piercing brightness, strong enough to blind mortal eyes.


    "Oh? Really? Are you sure¡­?" He assured with a broken smile.


    In reaction, Asahi gulped and stepped back from The God of The Forgotten.


    He knew that answering him would infuriate it even more.


    Yet, Aletha, as clumsy and oblivious as ever, dared to answer the creature.


    "Yes."


    A mirthless laugh spewed out of the God of The Forgotten''s mouth. He blew out his cheeks and treated the answer as if it was some sort of joke. But the disturbing look on his elliptical eyes contradicted his act, exhibiting it more as a warning or a threat for Aletha to ''run.''


    "Keep your heart beating," The God of The Forgotten warned; His entire face scrunched purple as he bent over and watched Aletha quiver and tremble in fear.


    As the tension of the moment escalated, The God of The Forgotten leaned over to Aletha''s ear and whispered. "...because not even the warmth of your own blood will save you from what you said."


    A potent blast catapulted Aletha several meters away from the creature, rupturing a crater inside the solid white wall of the void.


    Immediately, Asahi darted to the god and hastily unsheathed his sword.


    His shining white blade impaled and skewed a piece of The God of The Forgotten''s skin, peeling it like a fruit.


    Screaming in agony, The God of The Forgotten fell prone onto the white void, feeling a white burning sensation consume his skin. His contorted face skewed up into an expression of absolute wrath as he spoke.


    "Nothing more a blade can do."


    Without warning, the creature launched up and mauled straight toward Asahi. Layers of his skin pulsated and squirmed like bubbles as he struck the boy with their screaming goopy tendrils, landing several hits.


    Time slowed as Asahi''s eyes caught the same piece of The God of The Forgotten''s scaly goopy skin scraping and landing against his body. His vision, along with the others, flashed in white soon after.


    * * * * *


    A massive white light tsunami surged, smashing against the soil and engulfing the land, reducing everything to slag.


    "Husband¡­"


    The second wave of lethal light rose up, burying the first before its colossal body broke apart, turning what once were kingdoms into nothing but white.


    "Please."


    * * * * *


    Just as the memory could continue, it flashed into darkness, returning to the void once more.


    "What¡­ was that?!" Asahi muttered as he felt the flow of time speeding up to its original state.


    Before he could even notice, The God of The Forgotten turned his attention to Aletha, watching her scream and cry in pain. He began muttering under his breath as if something had gone wrong.


    "Calm down. Calm down! It''s just a shred of my skin. I''m sure nothing will be remembered, right? It''s only ONE PIECE!"


    Aletha''s body was covered in wounds, writhing and trembling in pain. Her screams were muffled by the white walls of the void.


    "I''ll kill you!" She shrieked at the creature, tears streaming down her face.


    "Oh look, the same tears I saw on you in your tragic memories. Aw, look how broken you look." As he pierced its sharp goopy tendrils through Aletha''s skin, the creature said. "Who dared had the authority to call you a god?"


    "Don''t you dare touch my sister!" Asahi shouted with fury boiling down his neck.


    "You think you have a say in this? You''re nothing more than a mortal to your world''s eyes now. Keep your mouth shut." The God of The Forgotten replied.


    His tone had become very harsh as he glared at Asahi, who stood there with his dark sword held high above his head.


    "You don''t understand anything. What can you possibly know about your world?"


    Asahi''s gunmetal gray eyes narrowed upward, looking up at the creature.


    He wanted to tell him that he knew all too well what his world was; that he knew the pain, suffering, blessings, and virtues they inflicted upon people.


    Nevertheless, his memory was too foggy, leaving him to prove The God of The Forgotten''s point by using his magical power. Before the creature could unleash its powerful ball of explosions, Asahi blocked the blast and flew in the air.


    Then, narrowly tilted, he shot black beams of darkness at The God of The Forgotten, forcing even more fragments of his goopy skin to be peeled.


    His eyes bulged in shock as he saw the brown scarf rest peacefully against Aletha''s trembling and bruised hand. Then, his vision cruised over to the two pieces of The God of The Forgotten''s skin, seeing it fall onto the brown scarf like fallen leaves.


    Before anymore could be said, time froze still.


    Asahi, Aletha, and even The God of The Forgotten''s bodies were paralyzed, allowing another memory to invade their minds.


    * * * * *


    A long, neatly-patterned black door stood beautifully in the hallway.


    Suddenly, in nothing short but a flash, the vision was ruined by the burning fire behind the windows, collapsed ceilings, and stone; and the door was just a bit pried open.


    . . .


    What remained on the other side of the pried-open door were only piles of dust scattered everywhere in a trashed room. The bed was flipped over, blue glowing holes were all over the walls, and the furniture was trashed in piles of sparkling dust. There were signs of struggle in every trace of the room.


    "N¡­No¡­"


    A young white-haired boy knelt down at the sight and cried shining tears, unable to fathom the view he had just witnessed.


    He knew just by seeing that sparkling brown scarf that had lied silently against the tiled floor served as an indication of what happened to...


    Although they were told by the white-haired boy to wait, the silver-haired girl entered the room and darted her eyes to the brown scarf; her face mixed with emotions of confusion and sorrow.


    "What¡­ happened, brother?"


    Realization kicked through the boy''s heart the more he heard silence. He fell to his knees, knowing he had failed to keep this hidden from them.


    "Asahi, what''s wrong?" The white-haired girl asked.


    His body quaked in pure fear and terror, tears fell on his pale cheek, and his hands fiddled quietly with the silken brown scarf.


    As the silver-haired girl and Aletha bent toward them, worried about what made Asahi so upset, the parent''s room wall collapsed, revealing the burning kingdom they once knew.


    But despite that, the two girls ignored it; only worried about what Asahi had to say. The white-haired girl pushed the silver-haired girl aside and leaned over to Asahi, asking him.


    "Asahi, why are you crying?


    In one quiet, trembling, and horrified voice, Asahi turned his pale face toward his sisters and shakily replied.


    "We¡­ lost¡­ our parents."


    * * * * *


    A ghastly whiteness overspread his cheek after the memory dissipated away.


    Hearing The God of The Forgotten chuckle menacingly, Asahi stepped forward, straightened his posture, and interrupted him.


    "That''s our mother''s scarf." As he took a deep breath, Asahi clenched the brown scarf against his fingers and gritted his teeth, his face consumed in pure wrath. "I will commit my life to find whoever was responsible for destroying our world."


    Seething with anger, Asahi approached The God of The Forgotten menacingly, unsheathing his blade and engulfing his fists into a white flame.


    "And it all starts..." Asahi grumbled as the white fire transformed into a murky black. "...with you."

 Chapter 4: Wanderers

    Asahi''s anger riled up the more he hit.


    After all the recollections, he tossed and beset a storm of thrashes at The God of The Forgotten, slicing and tearing his skin with a black flame burning on his bubbling body.


    "Now this... this is the TRUE POWER OF THE ADTRAIC!" The creature rasped as he saw several consecutive strikes across his chest. "Now. Let all come into ruin."


    The white-haired boy spared not even a second for him.


    "SILENCE!" Asahi yelled with a shuddering voice, pointing his blade at the bottom of The God of the Forgotten''s chin, "You have no right to speak."


    The creature sneered at him and shook his head.


    Suddenly, he dispersed a clump of spiky, goopy tendrils from his back. Each marvelously skewed and tossed Asahi into the air, flinging and puncturing through parts of his attire. A suppressed cry came from the attack¡ªpain striking every corner of his heart.


    But that hadn''t stopped him. Not even the tendrils. When he looked back into the void, seeing Aletha in shambles, her hair tossed aside in strange patterns, Asahi''s eyes flashed with realization.


    "I am a god." He mumbled. Something was captivating about his presumption. The name ''God can be depicted in many different ways. From the thought of an all-superior singular being to multiple expansive hierarchies of religion, the sole idea of it has manifested throughout time.


    But here, in the world of Gincad, the term is exhibited as an identifier of a race. A powerful race with faith and order in oneself, devoting all their dreams to The Prism.


    The only name higher than a God can only be a Sovereign. However, the names of those who have belonged to the category have long passed.


    With the exceedingly powerful words he uttered, Asahi flew upward from the ground and opened a barrage of black lines to attack The God of The Forgotten.


    "Oh, is that all you got?" The god hollered inside the storm of black strings, striking each one with his tendrils as if they were scissors.


    A feeling of inscrutable irritation boiled down to the ice-cold heart of Asahi. He knew well that if he were to obtain his parents'' powers, Asahi would be unmatched by anyone. Yet, now stuck with zero options, Asahi chose the only thing he could do in this situation.


    He bolted away from The God of The Forgotten and scrambled toward the white-haired girl enveloped by lethal black tendrils. Instantly, he drew out his sharpened sword and lacerated the tendrils, pushing them away like snakes.


    "Get up!" He yelled as he tried to retain his composure. "There''s a thief to chase after."


    Despite the pain stinging her, Aletha forced herself to push herself up and grab her blade. She nodded at Asahi with a blank face, mumbling as she slowly approached the creature with trembling hands.


    "Yeah, I know. The brat that steals memories."


    Suddenly, Aletha unleashed a colossal strike with her sword through The God of The Forgotten''s body, leaving a black line to stain the white void like a canvas.


    "You will pay for keeping those memories away from us!"


    While the slimy creature was tearing apart pieces of his flesh and scattering them throughout the space, he pushed his feet back up and reorganized his tendrils into a single, linear line.


    Finally, he employed both of his tongues and licked on the cluster of his sharp tendrils, imbuing it with strength and sturdiness.


    The act of simply giving his tendrils a single lick was enough for "The God of the Forgotten" to convert them into a blade. Nonetheless, that had not stopped both siblings from attacking them mercilessly without any remorse.


    "DIE!"


    Both their swords intertwined with one another, discharging powerful sparks on each collision.


    They flew across the white expanse and spun their blades around, exchanging furious glares with each strike. From one direction to the next, they soared and clashed their swords against each other''s like a magnet, swooping in back and forth until their appearances were nothing but a blur.


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    As their feet skidded back onto the ground, he forced Asahi and Aletha to stumble back using a shockwave. He swiftly raised his tendril-made blade and forced it through the mist, forming a storm of sparks to spew in-between.


    Hopelessness swallowed Aletha''s heart as she saw her blade clash against the creature''s. Her heart beat so fast to where it paralyzed her. The grip on her blade slowly slipped out of her trembling fingers, forcing her to drop her sword.


    "Huh?!"


    Then, in a vicious strike, the creature unleashed a powerful kick and launched Aletha toward Asahi, hitting them.


    As the smoke cleared, The God of The Forgotten shot them disgustingly, illuminating his goopy hand with a flickering pink light.


    "Eavesdropping on you two has never been this easier." He said as he tore a piece off his bubbling, scaly skin. "It appears you minor nuisances arrived here from a different place. Just face it, your grip on this world is gone."


    Sharpening fringes, the creature seized tightly on the hilt of his blade, fusing it with the pink luminance. In a series of explosions, the edge emerged from the flames, and without thought, he lunged at Asahi and Aletha at unbelievably swift speeds, striking them both in the chest.


    "You two should have stayed away from this world." He griped as he saw Asahi and Aletha retreat from the black smoke, preparing to fuse their powers. "If you''re so powerful as They say you are... slaughter me, self-proclaimed Gods. Stop being weak, and kill me. NOW!"


    Aletha and Asahi glared at The God of The Forgotten, their swords glowing with dark black, ready to pierce through the creature''s heart. Then suddenly, there came another roar from beyond the white void. It was an overwhelming amount of power. The God of The Forgotten shivered with his eyes wide open as a massive form landed before him.


    Aletha and Asahi stared at The God of The Forgotten, their swords blazing dark black and poised to penetrate the creature''s heart. Then, suddenly, another roar came from beyond the white emptiness. It was an excessive quantity of power bunched altogether in one particular area.


    The God of the Forgotten recoiled in fear as he watched a gigantic shape land in front of him with his eyes wide. But even so, he queasily approached them and stared them straight with his eight pricking magenta eyes.


    "I will destroy you as much as you did to my humble abode in the past." The God of The Forgotten said as he pressed his forehead against both of them. "I will break you. I will steal all your memories. I will steal everything. I WILL steal every fraction of your family''s happiness right before your eyes!"


    As he spoke, he reached out his hand toward Aletha and Asahi, his fingers glowing with a pink light.


    But before he could touch them, they swiftly slashed their blades down at him, piercing through his body.


    A thick cloud of black smoke erupted from the wound, and The God of The Forgotten screamed in agony. His body writhed, trying to escape the intense pain.


    A mysterious voice hollered out from the void during the creature''s boasts.


    "I won''t let you,"


    From afar, a tall, slender figure stood in the center of the white void. His skin was pale and transparent, like glass, and his black cosmic blue armor fluttered in the wind.


    The tall and mist-veiled man hoisted his right arm with his palm up. Then, he freed a loud, demanding, deep yell that resounded across every wall of the vast white expanse.


    "None of The Soil belongs to either of us."


    Nothing more of the man was seen than his piercing dark blue eyes and nothing more of the woman next to her other than her extremely bright skin. With the combinations of these two powers, you expect The God of The Forgotten''s Defeat. But¡­ even so, the towering, dark creature resisted.


    "Ah, yes. Angels from an unsightly realm. Powerful as you may all be, will it not affect me? If you dare lay a finger on me, blonde-one, I will make sure my presence is known in every corner of Gincad."


    "Inferior Born." The towering figure said ominously. "Even gods have flaws."


    "HAAAA!!" And with those words, a massive shadow covered the whole space before them, enveloping it in darkness.


    . . .


    As long as never, Asahi and Aletha were consumed in the occupiable darkness.


    The same mysterious, resonant voice they heard before, sounded out from the dark abyss.


    "Both your time had long lasted, but nothing can rule out the actions that you two have enacted. Take my hand and feel the land; you will now be established as Wanderers who will command."


    No one, not even The God of The Forgotten, knew who this being was, but the way he spoke delighted and comforted Asahi and Aletha. They knew that once this darkness ceased, something would wait for them; whether that be The God of The Forgotten, that strange woman, or the man before them.


    As the silence of the void started to drown Asahi and Aletha, the mysterious man with thick locks of blonde hair sticking out from his cloak, whispered to them.


    "In this state, neither of you can speak nor breathe. No matter what the cost, some of your memories will be lost. But need not worry, for the enemy that seeks you will hurry."


    Chimes and bells echoed from the void as the mysterious man parted from The Wanderers (Asahi and Aletha)


    Their legs, feet, torso, head, hair, arms, hands, and everything of their existence slowly disintegrated into shimmering white flower petals, hearing the intense screams of The God of Forgotten echo away.


    "NO! Leave me be!"


    All sank through the void floor toward a more profound, deeper cold darkness.


    Pink luminescent strings slowly materialized from the black and wrapped around the petals. Their motion matched a loving and guilty expression, with a familiar orotund feminine voice whispering.


    "You two are still alive."


    After the glistening white petals grazed the floor of the dark abyss, a white emergence quickly ruptured and shone beneath them, transporting them to¡­


    * * * * * * * *

 Chapter 5: Drowned in Unfamiliarity

    As the mist of the void swelled and dissipated, the darkness around his vision propelled away like an expanding balloon, revealing a storm of bubbles rising to a rippling watery ceiling.


    Schools of fish swam around walls of coral and beams of sunlight pierced through the ceiling of blue, barely skimming over his pale face. Threads of his white hair flew back and forth like the waving kelp beneath him.


    His hearing muted.


    His lips closed.


    He was clueless about everything and barely could he recall what happened beforehand.


    Saltwater stung his eyes.


    Clusters of bubbles continued to slip out his mouth.


    With just five seconds, Asahi realized that he was underwater. His mind grew numb from the surge of water bursting into his body; the seconds of the clock ticked as the light above him grew denser and denser.


    It felt to Asahi that all of his strength had dissipated. And yet, after two minutes, he didn''t drown yet.


    . . .


    He couldn''t hear anything. His legs were stiff, and his arms were... barely moving.


    The silence of the sea threatened him, and yet... he still felt calm.


    (Is this my world?) Asahi thought. (No... it can''t be. Why am I underwater? Where is Aletha?)


    Aletha. That name-- that realization, made Asahi panic. He kicked his legs and flailed his arms, floating above the sea bed and searching for Aletha.


    Just before he lost hope, Asahi found a girl with long white hair, slumped and floating above the roof of a ruined building. He cut through the vines and swam upward, dodging vicious sea creatures before finally grabbing the girl.


    Five minutes have passed.


    Not a bubble was seen.


    Asahi realized he had the ability to breathe underwater. If he obtained this power, so should his sister. With all the energy he had left, he carried Aletha up to the surface.


    The weight of the lady constantly dragged Asahi down; yet he fought the force with all his determination and kicked his legs as strongly as he could.


    As his windpipe moved, Asahi felt a current of cold electricity pass through the air. His ears unclogged. The sounds of the waves, the droplets, the fresh salty breeze-- he could hear again.


    The waves were merely sleeping, sluggish and slumbering in their liquid robes. Asahi took a deep exhale and clutched Aletha tightly, keeping him and her afloat. He rubbed Aletha''s cheek and saw the tattoo glimmer bright from faint rays. A relieved smile cracked up from his worried frown.


    "Thank goodness you''re safe." He whispered as he carefully swam forward. "Now, where did that thing take us?"


    The dark blue of night gradually faded away to a bright amber color. Shadows of the great puffy clouds hovered over many patches of the water, unveiling the morning light like a curtain. He realized that it was just seconds before morning.


    Asahi turned to the horizon and saw a glistening orange ball of fire rise up from a waterfall of clouds. The warmth of its luxuriant golden rays shone across the expanse of the sea, then to their faces.


    As he whispered that, suddenly, a huge wall of water approached them.


    It was a colossal wave tinted with crystal cold blue, bubbling up with salt. His heart raced, his palms numbed.


    Before Asahi could even see the tiny shoreline south of him, Aletha and Asahi''s bodies were swept away to the shore with the wave, like ragdolls being juggled.


    * * * * * * * *


    From the darkness, flickers of bright golden sun rays fluttered through his eyelids. His heart thumped rapidly. He felt a breeze pass by, he heard birds chirp over the trees, and his nose caught a whiff of a dense earthy smell.


    Asahi was clueless on where he was.


    Usually, he would look around his surroundings and analyze where he was, but because of how much strength it took to keep both him and his sister afloat, and the fog that obstructed his memories, Asahi decided to slump and lay on the ground like a dog.


    After a relaxing break, Asahi lifted his body up and rubbed his eyes. He realized that his energy quickly recharged.


    With the fog in his mind being lifted, he could think clearly and do what he had usually done when he awakened to an unfamiliar place.


    To his right he saw bushes, and to the left he saw many trees.


    "I don''t recall seeing the grasslands being so¡­ closed up." Asahi said as he stared at the birds flying by, "Trees, bushes, and flowers. This is better than what I expected."


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    What he had in mind was a vast endless brown plain with everything in shambles; an empty wasteland robbed of life. But now, seeing it in-person, Asahi''s views have shifted, driving him to think.


    "It doesn''t seem like five years have passed here." Asahi thought as he passed through an opening in the trees. "Rather¡­ It feels like it has been thousands of years. If that''s the case, then our world wasn''t destroyed¡­"


    A stream of falling leaves flew as his eyes shrunk in absolute disbelief.


    "... it was changed."


    . . .


    Upon wandering the forest he had awakened to, the first thought that sparked in Asahi''s mind was, how did he arrive here?


    Sure he saw a shore, and yes he was caught in a wave, but shouldn''t that mean he had to awaken on the shore? Why was it that Asahi awakened in a forest, rather than a shore? Where did his memory go? And most importantly, where did Aletha go? These questions bit his mind the more he walked through.


    "Hmm, if I was pulled into the forest, could that mean that Aletha is still¡­" His eyes broadened in realization. "... IN THE SHORE?!"


    Just after he yelled, Asahi followed the sunlight and ran through the forest. hoping to approach the shore. But instead, Asahi stumbled across a shadow-covered area with thick dangling moss, blankets of gray flowers, and withered logs. This place alone gave him a sense of uneasiness.


    After he passed halfway, Asahi stopped in his tracks and scratched his head, looking back and forth. He mumbled.


    "This isn''t anywhere close to the shore? Had I stumbled upon the wrong path?"


    Suddenly, an unearthly roar sounded behind him.


    "SCREE!"


    A hot pain lashed across his lower back.


    The sudden attack forced him to trip and stagger to the ground. He frightfully looked back and forth, trying to find where the attack came from. And then,


    "AHHH!"


    Soon before he knew it, a red streak flew across him, forcing him to the ground. His skin immediately started to swell up. Blood rushed to the area, making the pain on him sting like pure alcohol. He rolled around back and forth, crying, and screaming.


    "What is happening? Why can''t I¡­"


    A third scratch pierced through his right arm. The pain shot up in all three areas like fire. He cringed and rolled on the ground. He hadn''t remembered screaming like this since he was young. His eyes darted back and forth the shadows surrounding him.


    But just as the blinding light could reveal the enemy, his vision blurred.


    "AHHH! What is this?!" He said as he felt every corner of his body sting. "This sensation is so¡­ unbearable! Is this what mortals¡­ f-feel?! MAKE IT STOP!"


    This pain was far worse than his imagination.


    It was like needles had been dipped in alcohol and jammed through his skin.


    To put it simply, it would feel as if you were stabbed in all directions.


    In reaction to the unbearable sensation, Asahi hunched down and tried to suppress his cries, feeling his skin bubble and swell up from the point of impact.


    Then, to make matters worse, his sight blurred even more to where he couldn''t see anything passed his fingers.


    His tongue, his cheek, his heart was swiftly caught in fear at the creature above him.


    A dark figure crept over his face, dangling its twenty long dark arms and wagging its hideous tail. Slowly, it started prying open its jaw, revealing seemingly endless sets of sharp daggering teeth and a glowing purple circle at its tonsil.


    It croaked and gulped, staring at Asahi''s face with its two tiny glowing purple eyes. As it raised its claw, lowering its jaw toward his neck, preparing to slaughter the defenseless boy, Asahi lifted his arm and opened his palms, mumbling.


    "This¡­ has¡­ to work."


    Suddenly, a small white glow emerged above the tip of Asahi''s palm. The monster stood still at its feet, tilting its head in confusion and curiosity. As if it was attracted to the light.


    The idea was to summon a storm of darts to hopefully pierce the monster into oblivion with its sharp luminescent blades. He had always depended on this attack.


    When he would be in danger, all it would take to save him was a barrage of sharp, magical white needles. It was the most basic attack he could use, and he had hoped it would work on the monster too.


    However, something was wrong.


    Before the light could even form into the shards, it crunched into a tiny pulp, splitting and destroying itself until nothing remained.


    Asahi''s eyes shrunk in pure horror.


    "H-Huh?"


    He tried again to summon the attack. First, a white ball of luminance would appear, then it should transform into shards of light, and finally, it should fly toward the target.


    But instead, all the attack did was crunch into a tiny pulp, splitting and destroying itself like before.


    This concerned Asahi. Never had he seen his magic perform like this.


    To keep the creature distracted, Asahi tried to use another attack. A white laser beam.


    He lifted his left arm, pointed it to the monster, and fabricated a white ball of luminance at the center of his palm.


    All of his attacks were to be summoned by a white ball, but usually the ball shouldn''t be visible, as the sheer speed of the summoning was so quick that all the ball would look like is nothing but a tiny flash.


    But because of some sort of error, every attack Asahi used at the moment would just be a tiny white ball before shattering like glass.


    With no hope of the attack, Asahi resorted to the only option he had.


    He swung his steel fist at the creature''s jaw and forced it to skid away. He saw the black goop and teeth of the monster fly into the air like pellets before crashing onto the dirt. Hope lifted him upward.


    The creature reeled back to the tree and crawled up it on all fours, twisting its repugnant head and hissing at Asahi like a snake.


    Although he managed to swing a fist at the creature, it looked like it was healing already.


    "H¡­Huh?"


    Suddenly, the creature threw its goopy arm through Asahi''s chest and opened a massive wound, spewing white dust out his body.


    At this point, Asahi couldn''t feel anything anymore.


    His vision darkened.


    He closed his eyes and trembled. He had thought returning to his world would be the greatest idea, but instead, it turned into a nightmare.


    "ASAHI!"


    A voice rang through the circle of trees, eclipsing the loud roars, and even Asahi''s rough breaths.


    His eyes broadened in shock.


    Behind the trees, stood a girl. She had long white hair stretching to her back, wore tight black attire, and had a concerned gaze piercing at the creature.


    From his trembling lips, Asahi muttered with a smile of relief.


    "Aletha¡­"

 Chapter 6: A Fragile New Leaf

    His pain writhed inside his burning heart.


    Each bristle of grass around him was painted black from the beast''s goo. His sister was right there, in front of him, standing in place.


    "Get your hands off of him!" Aletha exclaimed as she hoisted her arm upward, preparing to attack the beast.


    Yet the creature hadn''t reacted, nor had it moved. It stood in a stagnant position, shifting its hazy glare at Aletha. Only the wind could be heard for a moment because of how silent it was.


    To take full advantage, Aletha crouched down and tried to sneak her way to her brother without being caught by the monster''s gaze.


    One. Two. Three seconds pass. The creature''s growls and croaks echoed over the whistling forest. Aletha was just centimeters away from her brother''s grasp.


    Four. Five. Six seconds more, and Aletha''s feet barely skimmed the metal arm on Asahi''s hand.


    (Just a few steps away.) Aletha thought quietly.


    Although it had been roughly a minute since encountering the beast, Aletha had yet to catch a good sight of the creature because of how dark it was. She turned her head toward the monster and held her rampant breaths, fearing not to alert it.


    But the sight that would be presented before her eyes was almost just enough to make Aletha scream.


    The beast looked like a lizard with an abnormally large body and a tail, covered in a strange otherworldly black substance. Its entire body was covered in spikes that resembled claws, and its eyes were as big as two silver coins.


    Its face was similar to a human, but instead of lips or a nose, it only had a single slit-like opening that ran across the top of its face.


    Its most noticeable feature however, was its massive wings. Longer than a human''s torso, surface smooth and glistening, it could tear anything in its path with just one flap.


    Every small stride Aletha took caused her heart to rush.


    She knew that her entire body was exposed to the monster''s sight.


    Quietly, Aletha pulled her hair back and grabbed her brother''s wrist, dragging him slowly away from the pile of dirt. Asahi held back his cries, and just before the monster could see them, he fell on the ground, feeling the gentle grass bristles support his back.


    As she slowly lifted herself up, glaring at her wounded brother, she leaned over to Asahi''s ear and whispered.


    "You will be alright."


    Without warning, the creature slashed at Aletha with its razor-sharp claws, digging into her skin like sticks poking through the sand.


    Aletha''s breath caught in her throat as her legs shook under her. She let out a short yelp


    "AHHHHH!!!"


    The sound of flesh tearing was audible as Aletha fell backward onto the hard ground, holding her injured shoulder.


    Her vision went black for a brief second after she hit the ground, but when she opened her eyes again, she saw the creature flying away from them in the distance, heading straight for the sky.


    Aletha was too afraid to get up, her heart thumping rapidly.


    Instead, she clutched her shoulder tightly as she looked up at the sky.


    Asahi was still lying on the ground, completely unconscious, breathing heavily, his face pale white. Blood poured down the side of his face, making his wound look even worse.


    "Asahi!" She screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Don''t die on me..."


    She began to shake violently, unable to control herself anymore.


    The swirling thoughts in her mind became a blur as she stared blankly at the ground below her.


    "Why? What did we do to deserve this? Does the world... hate us now?" Aletha sobbed. "I¡­ just want a peaceful life."


    Her voice grew distant, echoing over the trees.


    But then, just before she thought she was safe, the winged creature flew down and tried to strike Aletha, swooping down and digging its sharp wings through the dirt.


    Luckily enough, Aletha hurriedly rolled out of the way and dodged each strike, furious about the creature''s decision.


    Yet as she stood still with a confident pose, Aletha completely took the beast off guard and immediately fled away from it, through the bushes toward a secluded area away from the monster.


    However, her plan didn''t last for very long.


    While Aletha was running away, the monster had finally found its target.


    The beast lunged forward, snarling, aiming its claw-like hands at Aletha.


    (It''s coming right for me. I''m going to die¡­) Aletha thought desperately. Despite her best efforts, she couldn''t move.


    All she could do was stare at the beast that loomed over her, ready to attack.


    "No, anyone but my brother."


    Then suddenly, after she blinked, she found herself to be transported to an entirely different area, several meters away from her original position.


    . . .


    "H¡­ Huh?"


    Her heart palpitated, silence entered around her. Even with the sudden calmness, her breath grew cold in realization that her brother was in danger.


    Aletha could hardly imagine what grim stuff could be done to her brother, making her stressed beyond comparison.


    In panic, she hurriedly ran over through the bushes, in search of Asahi, but to no avail, she couldn''t find him.


    Struck with horror and stress, Aletha cried out to the seemingly endless forest.


    "Where am I?"


    Yet only the wind answered her.


    When she looked at her pale hands, she was reminded of the times she used her blade.


    A thick, glittering, long blade coated in the color of black and white, with pale dots shimmering across its sleek and sharp surface. A pattern that matched her attire.


    She remembered delivering blows with this powerful weapon.


    To slay even the largest of enemies with just one strike. The blade was perfect.


    (''It would be a relief if I could use it now.) Aletha thought as her eyes darted over to her palms.


    But unfortunately, that thought had only lived inside her imagination. For she couldn''t find her sword no matter what she did.


    This was the worst position to be placed into, being devolved into nothing but a measly human now.


    Frightened on what would happen next, Aletha froze still and prayed.


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    "Please don''t kill me. Please don''t kill me..."


    As she heard leaves rustled around her, a man stood a few steps away from where she had been, calling out as his eyes widened in shock.


    "Hey! What''s going on here?"


    To Aletha, the man appeared to be a brown blur because of his swift movements. And so, her superstition bested her, thinking the man was with the monster.


    She charged at him with all her strength, arms wide open, yelling, "I''ll kill you!"


    But just as her hands were about to skim the man''s attire.


    "Whoa whoa whoa, I''m not the enemy here!" The man called out to her as he held up his hands in defense. The intensity of the situation immediately died down as the mellow rays of the sun shone on them.


    Although the man was a stranger, Aletha had no choice but to stop attacking and listen.


    It wouldn''t be long for him to add on, "If you don''t want my help, then so be it. This will be the only time I''m doing an act of kindness. So please, don''t disregard it."


    A silence formed in between them.


    Aletha had indeed been trying to attack the man, but it was only after hearing what he said that she stopped herself.


    And when she saw his face...


    "...A human?"


    At first glance, this man looked like a regular person¡ªnot just any person but someone who could pass for a commoner or even a peasant.


    His long brown hair covered his entire head and fell down his back, his eyes were a deep green color, and a small mustache and beard framed his lips. The skin on his face was smooth and cleanly shaven.


    He wore black pants and a plain black suit that hung loosely off his shoulders. There was a belt wrapped around his waist where his sword and knife rested. It was a simple outfit, nothing fancy, flashy, or ostentatious.


    There was something odd about his appearance, though.


    For some reason, he seemed familiar.


    Perhaps it was his looks, or maybe it was how he carried himself?


    Or perhaps both?


    Regardless, Aletha ignored him and started swinging at him in full force, despite the warning.


    "Why are you here?"


    Her weak and thin arms flew around the man like the wings of a hummingbird.


    Yet after each strike, the man quickly deflected each hit with his bare hand.


    In fact, it didn''t take much effort for him to block her attacks. As Aletha''s panicked swings began to die down, Brich stood in a straight posture and smiled confidently, taunting her.


    "Heh. Is that all you got?"


    Not a dent was seen in him, even after all she did. Not in his shoes, pants, shirt, or hands, nothing relating to injury was seen upon the man. Aletha''s heart paced in shock, disbelieved that the man remained unharmed.


    After the man brushed the dirt off his attire, he shook his head and sighed, asking her.


    "Do you want me to help you or not?"


    When Aletha realized that the man wasn''t going to hit her, she immediately lowered her guard down and stared at the man with her mouth agape. Tense about the situation, she quickened her pace and screamed.


    "Who are you?! And, why did you attack me? "


    Brich wasn''t at all phased by her blunt reaction. He just pushed that silly act aside and shrugged his shoulders, answering Aletha casually.


    "My name is Brich. I attacked you out of self defense. Look, I''m trying to help you, here!"


    Immediately after, Aletha reacted with a rude and offended tone.


    "Well then, Brich, how about you don''t scare me like that again!" Her body was still tense, afraid to look at Brich again knowing that she was weak. The best thing she could do was stay quiet.


    As she heard the monster''s menacing growls resound over the forest, her eyes trembled, she took deep breaths, and she clenched her fists, mumbling with a desperate tone.


    "Please¡­ just help me."


    The only thought that came up in her mind at this very moment was that there was no other choice than to trust this man right now.


    After all, she thought, if she tried attacking him again, he would surely win against her.


    Silence after silence, as the seconds of Asahi''s demise ticked away, Brich offered his hand to Aletha and pulled her back on her feet.


    "Finally. Follow me!"


    He then turned his head over to the patch of greenery where the monster was and mumbled as he saw Asahi''s body resting against the dirt.


    "That beast..."


    Aletha felt sick looking at the corpse. She wanted to vomit at the sight of Asahi''s torn apart remains. But before she could make another move, Brich grabbed her arm and led her behind a thicket of bushes.


    They hid themselves inside the dark and dense foliage.


    "I''ll protect you," said Brich.


    As Aletha held tightly onto Brich''s sleeve, they watched from afar as the creature approached the dead body.


    "Don''t worry, I have this under control," whispered Brich, patting Aletha''s shoulder. "Your brother... will be fine."


    Aletha''s heart stopped in horror and shock.


    "What do you mean? H... How..."


    She couldn''t finish her words, she was beyond terrified seeing her brother, the most powerful being she knew, scattered in chunks of dust and flesh; it made her sick to her stomach.


    "This can''t be real. This can''t be real. This can''t be real..."


    Aletha repeated the same phrase over and over until her voice ran out of breath.


    And so Brich decided to comfort Aletha, who was losing hope.


    "It''s alright. Everything will be okay. I promise."


    A gentle smile graced Aletha''s lips.


    "Okay." She nodded, gradually starting to feel the sense of security. Thank you."


    Aletha placed her hand on her chest and breathed deeply.


    "I don''t even know who you are, and yet... It feels as if you are my friend already." She said as she looked into the dirt. "How will you help? Your magic? Your sword?"


    "Oh it''s not me who will save you." Brich said with a prideful smile. "But someone else."


    Before anymore could be said, his entire existence vanished into light particles.


    * * * * * * * *


    It seemed like hours had passed since Brich disappeared into thin air.


    In all actuality, it had been only five minutes.


    He had been gone for such an extended amount of time that Aletha became restless and worried. It didn''t seem like Brich was coming back anytime soon. She wondered what happened to him while she waited anxiously for his return.


    Without warning, Aletha found herself in the same place the creature was; defenseless and afraid. After she felt a slimy grip on her ankle, Aletha was thrown into the air and slammed into the ground, getting gnawed and torn by the monster.


    "Weak."


    That word streamed into both their minds. Aletha gritted her teeth, and despite being in pain, she whipped a branch at the creature and screamed.


    "STOP!" She said as she shuddered. "Where in the world is Brich?"


    Before she could even wield it, the twig shattered into pieces; all the attack did was angered the beast even more.


    . . .


    Heavy pressure forced both of them to the dirt.


    The creature drooled and scraped its legs over its backs. That same word burst in them as they felt their life spill out.


    "WEAK. WEAK. WEAK..."


    Birds chirped, the winds whistled, and insects hummed.


    Even in this circumstance, the world wasn''t focused on Asahi and Aletha, as if their lives were worthless.


    Disbelief flew in both of them.


    Was this what it came to?


    To be defeated by a battle with the unknown, to awake to what COULD be their world, lose their powers that made them gods in the first place, torn and shredded by a monster¡­?!


    "UNLEASH PURNIMO ULTIMATUM!"


    Suddenly, a massive lavender beam of light struck the monster straight in the face, launching and shriveling its first layer of goopy skin into oblivion.


    The beast let out a painful shriek.


    It unleashed its two tongues but shrieked even louder as the purple light continued to burn it, bringing it to fall down onto its stomach.


    A second later, another purple ray shot through its torso, finishing and reducing the creature into nothing but ash.


    Moments later, the creature fell flat on the ground, leaving with it a huge dust cloud in its tracks.


    As the dust lifted, it unveiled a silver-haired boy with two cat ears perched on his head.


    Asahi and Aletha were paralyzed in shock, not just from pain, but the inability to clearly identify the mysterious person that unleashed that powerful beam.


    In seconds, they saw the enemy that almost killed them effortlessly disintegrate from a beam of light.


    "Brich, ESCORT the strangers to the hills, now!"


    A familiar brown-haired man rushed to both of them and carried their dust-covered bodies on his back. The mysterious boy and the man ran through the forest toward an open grassland.


    But as Asahi and Aletha''s vision slowly faded into darkness, the wounds and cuts on their bodies swiftly healed from a faint green luminance, and the mysterious two placed them soundly against their shoulders.


    The same tranquil voice yelled as he heard loud growls from each corner.


    "Get the carriage. It should be a kilometer away¡­."


    "On it, Sadiki!"


    The silver-haired boy turned to Asahi and Aletha, rubbed their heads, and whispered to them with a calm voice and an uneasy smile.


    "Y-You two¡­ will be alright¡­."


    As Aletha got escorted away from the forest, she caught sight of a mysterious young woman veiled in a dark mist standing behind the deceased creature. The eerie and threatening look on her magenta eyes made Aletha''s heart stop, forcing her vision and senses into darkness at a speed so quick, time slowed down. Then, the moment Aletha blinked, the sight of the mysterious figure eerily vanished; as if she was never there at all.

 Chapter 7: On the road of Distortion

    At a time of uncertainty and anticipation, when they thought they would have been warmly welcomed to their world, Asahi came to the discovery that it was changed rather than destroyed.


    The brown-haired, golden-eyed man, Brich, and the mysterious unnamed silver-haired boy ran down the hills as fast as they could, sprinting away from the figure.


    Upon doing so, the silver-haired boy grabbed the siblings and carried them on his shoulders, speaking to Brich with a calm tone.


    "Brich, get the carriage. It should be close by. I figured that we would have arrived at the city by now, but due to that shooting star we saw just before sunrise¡­." Sadiki hunched his shoulders and took his breath, placing Asahi and Aletha''s bodies against a soft grass bed. "... things have changed."


    Without resistance, Brich snapped his fingers and vanished into thin air, leaving brown particles as he went.


    "Understood."


    In the meantime, the silver-haired boy decided to hospitalize Asahi and Aletha, hoping they would awaken soon.


    * * * * * * * *


    The wind blew strongly on the grass, gently brushing the passing clouds in the sky and causing the trees to move in rhythm with its beat.


    As the warm sunlight gently stroked her skin, Aletha inhaled deeply from her slumber. She brushed tiny dirt particles off her eyelashes and parted her eyelids, observing where she was.


    The terrain appeared to be a large, practically treeless grassland plain with rolling hills, large swathes of gorgeous vegetation, and crystal-clear lakes all around; a very different view in contrast to the clumped and claustrophobic labyrinth that was the forest.


    The only thing that really came up in her head at this very moment was that spine-tingling and unnerving sight she noticed in the forest. Two piercing magenta eyes, cold, empty, and hollow, pierced her gaze without any movement. It made her heart stop, stained in her mind without any renown.


    "Where are we?"


    "You''re in the Grasslands of Purity." A mysterious and familiar voice said from a distance. "The Nation of Pladtioa; One of the most isolated and secluded nations in Gincad."


    Immediately, Aletha tilted her head to where the voice came from.


    He had shining ashen hair, bright blue-lavender eyes, and fair skin. Aletha''s eyebrows raised at the radiating aura he presented. A presence devoid of mistakes, with a face as clear as the stars. A large gray stripe stretched from the top of his face to his chin, and he was wearing a dazzling shirt with a mixture of dark gray, purple, blue, and white scattered all over.


    She placed her hand over her forehead, trying to compare the silhouette she saw emerge from the smoke to the one she witnessed now.


    (Is this the boy that saved us?) Aletha thought with a disbelieving expression plastered on her face. (He looks so¡­ pure.)


    "I apologize for that encounter." The silver-haired boy said as he looked over to the sun. "You two shouldn''t really be wandering in a place like that. I''ve heard it reeks with the stingy aroma of creatures."


    After a deep exhale, the pure boy approached Asahi and Aletha and introduced himself.


    "The name is Sadiki, a white knight of Pladtioa. A pleasure to meet you two." He said with a firm handshake. "So, what are both of your names?"


    As Asahi stepped back, taking his time to immerse himself and digest the view of his new surroundings, Aletha proudly straightened her posture and answered.


    "Oh, my name is Aletha, and that boy over there is my brother, Asahi."


    "Aletha and Asahi¡­" Sadiki said as he scratched his chin. "Sounds like they''re both very uncommon names. Say, where do you two come from?"


    At that moment, Aletha''s eyes broadened in shock. Not because of the obvious question but what he said prior. "Uncommon names."


    Although Asahi couldn''t care less about it, Aletha felt composed to root her feet in her stance, ensuring that this wasn''t some sort of trick. So, she repeated herself.


    "Uh, I''m afraid you have been mistaken. I''ll repeat it." Aletha said as she gulped. "My name is Aletha Adtraic, and that boy over there is Asahi Adtraic." She made sure to emphasize speaking their last names.


    "Oh, Adtraic is both of your last names," Sadiki said. "Sounds like a relatively unique last name. To be honest, I have never heard it before."


    "WHAT?!"


    There was something wrong about what Sadiki answered that busted Aletha''s bubble.


    In the past, when the family of The Adtraic was still prosperous and conquering the entire world of Gincad, it was unusual for someone to claim that they had never heard of the Adtraic before. Because in all actuality, no matter where anyone went during that era, the names of The Adtraic would be inscribed everywhere in the world.


    It was a respected and worshiped name; even enemies knew because they knew indefinitely that The Adtraic were the True Rulers of Gincad.


    But now, after the calamity and being absent for ten years, their names have been completely wiped out. And then came the memory from the white void.


    . . .


    ("And to make matters for you worse, I erased the memories of your family''s very existence from everyone in Gincad. Yes. The Adtraic Family!")


    Once Aletha recollected those screams from that unforgivable creature, she grew silent and refused to speak.


    . . .


    As Aletha stood still in disbelief, staring at the clouds with blank gray eyes, she eavesdropped on Sadiki and Asahi''s conversation not just a foot away.


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    "While you two were unconscious, I managed to find these strange swords falling from the sky."


    Without hesitation, he gave one of them and placed it in Asahi''s hands, saying.


    "I figured that since these blades matched the same pattern as your attire, I thought it was only respectful to give you them back."


    Two long, dazzling blades coated in the color of night, each bearing a sprinkling of pale dots that shimmered across its otherwise smooth and sharp surface.


    He felt an overwhelming sense of relief as he clutched his blade. It had a hefty and substantial feel and was icy to the touch, just like he remembered it. Although much had been lost, Asahi cracked a little grin on his face and said.


    "Thank you."


    Not long after, Aletha started to calm down and retrieved her blade. She held it firmly between her fingers, staring at it with love and care. "I never want to be separated from you again." She said as she stared at the glittering white dots sparkling on the blade.


    Sadiki couldn''t help but chuckle at the response Aletha gave. He could never believe someone could be so attached to a weapon. Nonetheless, it was apparent that he knew nothing about Asahi and Aletha; and had only saved them out of the good spirit.


    Before Sadiki could say anything else, a high-pitched sound shook their ears.


    (SCREE)


    "He''s here." He mumbled.


    On its sides, the carriage had two horses pulling the carriage, with four windows on each side.


    The structure of the horse-drawn carriage was a box shape, with diamond patterns painted on both the left and right sides and three clear windows on the front, back, and left sides. The horses that drew the carriage looked to have bright white fur and gorgeous lavender eyes, matching what a Pegasus would look like.


    Both animals projected a look of strength, power, and speed.


    One could only assume what type of individual could be inside.


    Promptly, the carriage''s wheels skidded on the ground and approached an abrupt halt centimeters away from the log.


    Sadiki signaled the carriage by waving his arms and seeing the horses stop.


    "Hey, you two... follow me!"


    The wanderers nodded.


    "Okay..."


    Afterward, Sadiki guided the wanderers (Asahi and Aletha) to the carriage doors.


    A click sounded behind the entry, and two doors slid open and parted away while a wooden staircase rolled toward the ground.


    The bright ceiling lights shimmered at the entrance, revealing a figure slowly walking down the stairs.


    Upon closer inspection, Sadiki noticed it was a man wearing a black suit. His hair was tied into a bun and judged by his skin color; Aletha immediately recognized who this man was.


    "Brich?!" She exclaimed with a stupefied expression.


    Sadiki smiled at her reaction.


    "Yes."


    The man reached the bottom step and walked past Sadiki, stopping right before Aletha and Asahi.


    He stared directly into Aletha''s eyes with his dark brown eyes and asked her in a soft tone.


    "Didn''t I tell you to wait for Sadiki? Now, look where you are!"


    The man took off his hat and brushed his long, light brown hair behind his shoulder, exposing his smooth, pale neck.


    Aletha gulped, then blurted out.


    "... You''re Brich, aren''t you?"


    "That''s correct," he answered in a calm tone. "And who might you be?"


    At this point, Brich was trying to test her memory and see if it was still intact.


    Aletha glanced at Asahi, then back to Brich, finally answering.


    "I''m Aletha."


    "Ah, yes, I''ve heard of you." He said sarcastically. "I think I met you back in that forest and helped you out, didn''t I?" Brich started to chuckle at his own joke.


    Aletha stood up straighter and gave Brich a cold stare.


    "Yes, and you vanished without explanation."


    Silently, Asahi added to Aletha''s sentence inside his head.


    (Much like The God of The Forgotten.)


    This thought seemingly triggered a memory to return to his mind.


    ("If you dare lay a finger on me, blonde one, I will make sure my presence is known in every corner of Gincad!")


    As the memory faded from Asahi''s mind, he looked down at the ground and mumbled.


    "I remember. The God of The Forgotten was serious. I can already sense his presence."


    While he saw Aletha walking into the carriage, with Brich laughing at his own jokes, Asahi continued to mutter.


    "He didn''t die then. Each fragment of his skin contained a memory. So if he really meant by making his presence known everywhere in Gincad, it could mean¡­."


    His eyes flashed with realization.


    "That the God of The Forgotten is not only messing with EVERYONE''S memories but those memories are also scattered everywhere."


    * * * * * * * *


    "We''re ready to depart as soon as you get on board, so hurry along."


    When they entered the carriage, Brich made his way up the steps, lowering the lever and pulling back the wooden staircase.


    "Something is tampering with my memories," Brich mumbled as he shut the door, clenching his fist and closing his eyes. "I don''t recall acting like this at all. I was¡­ I was¡­" He slammed his fist against the wooden wall, frustrated beyond comparison. "Ah, I can''t remember."


    Asahi''s eyes widened in shock seeing this. He knew immediately, just by gazing at the action previously betoken him¡­ that¡­


    (These have to be traces of The God of The Forgotten.) He thought as he felt a heavy feeling pressuring him. (And it''s getting stronger by the second.)


    Suddenly, the world around him was muted for him; there was no sound of carriage, mutters, or anything; Only the company of his mind was heard.


    He could sense a ghostly presence encircling him, crawling on his back like a spider.


    When he returned to the door to check if anyone was around, he felt something nagging him to remember.


    But there was a barricade, a blockade blocking everything.


    As he took a seat among the five red cushioned chairs around the carriage, he heard Aletha ask from the background.


    "Wait, Asahi, where did our mother''s scarf go?"


    AND THAT''S THE MOMENT WHEN HE REALIZED.


    "Our mother''s scarf!"


    . . .


    "What scarf are you talking about?" Brich asked as Asahi became silent.


    The carriage had already taken off, drifting across the dirt road, swerving its way through the rolling grassy hills. If not, it would take approximately ten minutes before they reach their destination.


    Although Asahi couldn''t recall any detail of the scarf anymore, Aletha wasn''t hesitant to answer.


    "A brown one with sparkling patterns." She said with a confident and prideful look on her face.


    "Oh, you are looking for that?" Brich replied as he placed his glass on the table next to him. "I saw it appear with a shooting star the other day. It came from the clouds, crashing down into the grasslands. Indeed. And I saw that my friend approached and grabbed it. I guess he thought it looked nice and took it to the city to sell it."


    Asahi''s eyes winced with disbelief. He had always endeavored not to allow anyone except himself or his sister to take possession of the scarf.


    So the very act of being informed of the most prized relic of which they cherished the most, being stolen from a stranger prior, drove him to the very core of rage.


    But suppressing the thought like extinguishing the chaotic, disjointed flames of anger, Asahi responded to it with a slight tone.


    "Are you being serious?"


    "Absolutely," Brich said with a wide grin. "A city not too far from here."


    As Sadiki looked over to the window, Aletha hoisted her arm into the air and tilted her head to Brich with narrow eyes.


    "What city?" She asked with a lifted chin.


    "Pladtioa City. The capital of this nation." Brich answered with a discernible tone. "It is the most prominent and busiest place around here. You haven''t been there before?"


    Sadiki scratched his head and added in a nervous voice.


    "I thought I already informed them we are taking them there."


    Brich laughed it off and shrugged his shoulders, leaning back and spitting out his glass of water.


    "I guess they forgot."


    Although most around the carriage have been relatively humble, Asahi was still drowned in suspicions of The God of The Forgotten.


    He knew that if The God of The Forgotten were to make an appearance at any moment, his personality and emotions would be undoubtedly tampered. In a swift and haste tone, Asahi interrupted the bouncing laughs of the others and uttered.


    "Look, all we want is our mother''s scarf."


    Silence filled the carriage.


    Brich looked back at the paintings and thought the ride would be much more enjoyable with visitors around.


    But due to the urgency of Asahi''s anxious and uneasy attitude, Brich decided to amplify the pace of the horse, going at speed so fast that the surroundings behind the glass transformed into a blur.


    As Brich placed the glass back, scratching his stubble, he replied with a neutral tone.


    "Oh, if you want it so badly, Sadiki and I can take you two to the city faster," Brich said calmly as he noticed Aletha holding onto the chairs for dear life. "I must admit, being in t


    he wilderness of Pladtioa can either be a blessing or curse, depending on where you are. You never know what dangers lurk here."


    A serious, sharp look flared from his golden eyes as he squinted at Asahi''s face and resumed.


    "And it only gets deadlier."

 Chapter 8: Stars and their Evening

    "We lost our powers, almost drowned at sea, and got rescued from a monster. Is there anything more to prove that we lost our grip on this world?" Asahi mumbled as he looked through the window.


    Before he lost faith in himself, his eyes cruised over to the black bade sitting next to him, and he began to retort.


    "At least we retrieved our weapons. I still can''t bear losing anything else."


    Beyond the farthest edge of evening rests an amber horizon following the ball of light.


    The carriage tossed pebbles and crushed twigs, rolling across the pathway as quickly as possible before they started getting chased by any more Cesspids.


    Sadiki yelled.


    "We''re almost there! Just a few moments away before you two depart. Asahi, Aletha... please don''t get in any more danger. That was only a peek at what''s to offer in this world."


    Asahi raised an eyebrow, questioning.


    "Where are you from?"


    Sadiki rolled his eyes and turned to Brich.


    He crossed his arms, and with a wavering expression of dishonesty, the boy lowered his ears and mumbled.


    "Umm... well¡­ I come from an isla--


    "He''s lying." Aletha immediately interrupted.


    She could still detect Sadiki''s dishonesty, even without hearing him say anything close to a lie.


    "Huh?!"


    Both Asahi and Sadiki turned to her and bounced in shock.


    Given the narrow and swift response time, Aletha knew well what the boy was hiding. A tremor came from Sadiki''s dry lips as he felt the carriage come to a complete halt.


    "Seriously? How do you know that?"


    Before anything else was said, Brich raced to the door, wrapped his fingers around the doorknob, and turned it open, revealing a seemingly cloudless horizon with rolling green hills and scarlet flowers.


    He bent over and pulled the stairs, extending them toward the ground, and escorting The Wanderers outside it, whispering.


    "Pladtioa City shouldn''t be as far now. The only reason why we went so fast is because we have other events to attend too."


    Asahi scratched his head and noticed that even though the view of the city was more transparent than before, it still seemed like it was pretty far for a drop-off.


    Just before Brich closed the door, Sadiki rushed out of the carriage and yelled.


    "Wait!"


    The siblings glanced behind them and saw the cat boy approaching them with a glassy expression of worry floating on his face.


    "Brich forgot to tell you something."


    Aletha''s eyebrows lowered to him, showing a look of irritation on her. As Brich carefully sheathed his blade back into his holder, he turned to the wanderers and said.


    "It was a pleasure meeting both of you. You two seem trustworthy to me. So since you are new and just arrived here, take this."


    He pulled a small fabric pouch and placed it in Aletha''s hands, speaking as the cool air rushed inside the carriage.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "This pouch will assist you in purchasing needed goods like food, water, shelter, weapons, and tools. I highly recommend you use it to purchase your much-needed relic." Brich said with a radiating wink. "You never know who your competitors will be."


    Both Asahi and Aletha''s eyes widened in shock. They never thought they could be given such a generous gift.


    Asahi nodded while Aletha screamed out with a smile.


    "We will. Thank you!"


    "You''re welcome."


    (The God of The Forgotten''s traces have already begun.)


    * * * * * * * *


    While approaching the city, Asahi and Aletha saw four tall masculine silhouettes marching on an elevated green hill.


    The four had tall spears, bows, and heavy dark armor. The wanderers couldn''t see much because it was evening, and they didn''t have a light source. However, the people in armor do.


    Immediately, Asahi and Aletha got alarmed and dived behind a large boulder at the bottom of the hill. They heard the guards chatter above them.


    "This is so boring. Why did we even choose to get this job?"


    Aletha was curious, so she leaned her head away from the boulder and peeked. The guards had a magical staff with similar properties to a flashlight.


    As the guards patrolled the area, Aletha moved away from the boulder and whispered to Asahi.


    "What are they doing here?"


    Asahi responded with a snarky tone.


    "Probably looking for trespassers."


    While the beam of light slowly turned toward them, the wanderers leaned their backs against the rock and prayed that they wouldn''t get caught.


    "Hey, is anyone here?" A guard yelled.


    After a few moments of silence, the guard muttered.


    "Must''ve been the wind."


    The wanderers breathed a sigh of relief and knew that they were safe. They turned toward the ground and tried to cover themselves as much as possible.


    As the lights continued to fly around the area, Aletha whispered to Asahi.


    "How are we going to get around?"


    Suddenly, a soft, muffled, high-pitched whisper sounded from beneath them.


    "I can get you around them.~"


    At first, the wanderers tried to react, but then they remembered that guards were there. They covered their mouths and slouched down toward the mysterious individual.


    While they tried to search for the voice, Asahi confusingly asked Aletha.


    "What was that?!"


    Aletha lifted her leg off the ground and saw a girl-shaped figure that wore a mask and dark robe; beneath Aletha''s feet. The mask covered her whole face in the shape of a flower.


    The material seemed to be made of steel.


    Asahi and Aletha were paralyzed in total shock and tried not to scream.


    "Who are you?!" Asahi whispered confusingly.


    The masked girl swiftly covered Asahi''s mouth and harshly whispered.


    "Shhh! Do you want to get to Pladtioa city or not?"


    Both of the wanderers silently nodded their heads and gave a thumbs up. The girl silently clapped her hands and then replied.


    "Good. Then, follow my orders."


    She pointed her hands to a trail with fireflies fluttering around.


    "See that trail with fireflies? When I snap my fingers, you two run over there. Don''t turn your head back. I will deal with the guards myself. Make sure you continue to run too."


    The wanderers nodded their heads and replied with a faint whisper.


    "Okay¡­"


    The masked girl gave a solid thumbs up and patted their heads. Asahi was irritated about this. However, Aletha seemed to enjoy it. As the light passed by them, the masked girl whispered.


    "Good. Now, wait for my signal. I will simply make an ''O'' shape with my hand. It will be your time to move when I make that shape."


    The guards continued to chatter above the green hill.


    "Hey, did you hear about the announcement? The Queen of Pladtioa will host not only a Royal Meeting but a ceremony."


    A larger-looking second guard responded as he pointed his flashlight down.


    "Oh, yeah... I''ve heard rumors that she''s going to announce the new king. It will be surprising since there hasn''t been a king in Pladtioa for thousands of years."


    "I know..."


    As the guards were distracted, Asahi and Aletha prepared and turned toward the masked girl. As the wind blew their hair upward, the girl formed the ''O'' shape with her glove and nodded her head.


    The wanderers then sprint toward the firefly trail with all their might. They turned their head back to the girl as they approached the path and saw her vanish.


    A guard pointed its flash staff toward Asahi and Aletha and hollered.


    "Huh? Trespassers!"


    The other two guards turned toward the wanderers and ran down the hill. Aletha and Asahi then jolt as fast as they can along the trail.


    They kicked rocks and sticks out of their path.


    Just as the guards could reach them, the masked girl appeared from thin air, and she instantly struck all four guards with sharp, glowing green claws.


    Asahi and Aletha resisted turning around and heard the guards scream in agony. The masked girl tore their armor off them and pulled a dagger from her pocket. She swung it fast and pierced the weapon through the guards'' faces.


    Another guard approached the girl from behind, then instantly, he was torn into shreds. Bright flashes of green light sparked over the girl and the guards.


    "Stop in the name of The Queen!"


    Just as they could see the girl, she swiftly struck the guards with her two hands and made them vanish into dust.


    She stomped her foot on the last vanishing guard and scratched him again before he vanished. She slowly lifted her head and saw the wanderers turning back.


    The girl growled and screamed at them.


    "Didn''t I say to NOT look behind? The situation is settled; it doesn''t matter. Just get to the city before more guards appear!"


    Both of the wanderers replied.


    "Got it!"


    Quickly, they sprinted with all their energy across the grass field and entered a gate toward Pladtioa City.


    As she saw them enter the city, she slaughtered the last guard, sighed, and whispered to herself.


    "Sigh, adventurers...."