2. Tommy

On that late night, after having dinner, Kai sat on the rooftop, gazing at the stars and the planets, each shining with its own unique colors. The view of the sky in Migi was vastly different from Earth. As he immersed himself in the sky, his mind wandered deep into the story Lilly had shared earlier.

Amidst his thoughts, his mother came to check on him.

"What are you thinking about, Kai?" she asked.

"Oh, Mom! When did you come? I didn't realize you were here. I was lost in thoughts about the story Lilly told me today," Kai replied with a serious expression.

"Don't dwell on it too much, okay? It's just a bedtime story,"

his mother said, followed by a brief pause. Then Kai responded,

"No, Mom, it's not just a story. Lilly has never mentioned anything like this before, and she told it only to me, you know. Even Ervin wasn't there. Since I came back home, I can't stop thinking about it. You know, Mom, I miss Dad. I really want to know what happened to him."

"It's going to be alright, Kai,"

his mother, Kayal, reassured him while giving him a warm hug. She looked up at the sky, where a black hole was reside. Even at night, sky is filled with shining stars and other plants which make the night beautyful. Kayal thought to herself, "I wish you were here with us, honey" as a tear welled up in her eye.

It had only been five years since the last disaster took place, and Kai's father was one of the awakeners with the ability to control wind. A few days after the disaster ended, he went missing. The last catastrophe was known as the Mega Flood.

After the last mysterious disaster, Lilly came to the villagers and spoke these words:

"The previous generation of warriors attempted to put an end to this cycle of disaster but failed miserably. However, this generation will change that, mark my words, my fellow kiddos."

Then she walked away.

Since then, the villagers had been in a state of panic. They worked hard and prepared themselves for the worst. That's why Kayal felt nervous when her son was left alone with Lilly.

As the day passed and a peaceful night's sleep ensued, Kai woke up early in the morning because village life started early. He ran towards his best friend Ervin's house, which was just a five-minute run from his own home. Kai considered this a mere warm-up. On his way to Ervin's house, almost every villager he encountered waved at him.

Kai was known as the crazy kid who did all sorts of wild things, which sometimes annoyed the villagers. However, it helped them momentarily forget about the miserable lives they led. But since the last disaster and the disappearance of his father due to awakening, Kai hadn't done anything crazier.

Upon reaching Ervin's home, Kai called out for his best friend, but it was Ervin's father, Tommy, who responded.

"Ah, it's you, as usual! . Come in, boy. He's getting ready," said Tommy.

"No, Uncle Tommy, I'll warm up my body outside while waiting," Kai replied.

"Well, come with me for a second. I'll show you something that might interest you," Tommy offered.

Kai froze for a moment; he knew exactly what Tommy was referring to. Tommy was the village's best blacksmith, and almost nobody was allowed to enter his smithy. Kai had entered it once before with his father, but never after he turned seven-year old.

At that time, Kai didn't fully grasp the value of the smithy, but he later realized its significance when it was too late. Now, he had the precious opportunity to enter again, and a grin appeared on his face. Filled with enthusiasm, he followed Tommy eagerly.

As they walked, Kai heard someone singing loudly and the sound of someone bathing. It was Ervin's sister, Eva. Kai blushed when he heard his name mentioned in her song.

"Oh boy, you're going to be in big trouble," Tommy said with a laugh.

Kai blushed , a playful remark in response to Tommy's teasing

they arrived at the entrance of the smithy. Tommy turned back and waited for Kai to meet his gaze. Kai wasn't ready to face him after the recent incidents. Although they weren't in love or very close friends, Eva had a crush on him, which she never confessed.

Kai looked at Tommy, attempting to put on a smile, but to his surprise, Tommy's face became serious, and the atmosphere grew tense. Tommy began to speak.

"Kid, this is my life and my world. I don't want anyone who disrespects my work to enter my world. If you do anything foolish here, consider yourself dead," Tommy warned, causing Kai to gulp nervously. Tommy had never been one to be serious.

Kai nodded in response, indicating his understanding and agreement. They entered the smithy together.

Inside, the smithy was well-organized. One side of the wall was adorned with hand combat weapons such as swords, blades, and daggers. On the other side, various types of armor and defensive items were displayed. In the opposite corner, Tommy worked his skillful hands, hammering and shaping metal into works of art. A fire burned brightly in the hearth.

Tommy returned with something for Kai, covered with a black towel.

"Boy, you know something? Many of the fine weapons here were designed by your dad. Look over at that wall where all the swords are displayed. The item wrapped in red cloth is a masterpiece created by my skill and your father's design, specifically made for you, Kai. He always feared that something like this would happen. However, you're not ready to wield it yet. So, Keep this instead, and I'll give that to you when you're ready," Tommy explained, revealing his deep respect towards Kai's father.