1 Beginning

A massive dark beast laid on top of a mountain range. Void energy radiated from its body, spreading and consuming everything in its path. A figure floated in the sky, looking down upon the unknown visitor. Unlike other living beings that had vacated the area, she descended and approached. Her pale hair and white billowing sleeves contrasted against the darkness exuded by the beast. She landed where the beast rested its head. It opened its eyes, showing irises with pulsing colors. The woman met the beast's eyes without an ounce of fear. She raised her hand and placed it near one of its eyes.

"You're a long way from where you should be," she said.

The beast didn't reply for it could not speak. It never had to. It closed its eyes again, wanting to rest.

"Tired?" she asked. "Are you not the first of your kind to step in this world? Giving up so soon? I was expecting a fight but found a dying beast."

The beast kept its silence.

"Hmm… perhaps you can't understand me?" The woman reached out using her energy and connected herself with the beast and pushed her message using concepts. The beast's eyes jolted open. Its pupils shrinking and expanding repeatedly.

They both stayed like that for a long time, exchanging thoughts. When they cut the connection, an agreement had been made.

"Shall we start?" the woman asked with a smile.

***

A boy was stumbling across the barren land. The sun shone bright, scorching his back. Drips of blood marked his path. His left hand was covering his wounded stomach. He dragged himself under a tree and slumped there. He unfurled his right hand. A small bead rested on his palm. It was rather small. Its diameter was the width of two fingers. Inside the transparent bead, wisps of black twisted.

"How are you doing?" the boy asked with a hoarse voice. "That was rather chaotic. I almost thought that I had lost you."

A voice came from the bead. It was neither mellow nor deep, yet it had a strange mystic tinge. "Why are you asking me? You're the one who is bleeding."

The boy exhaled as he tried to make his position more comfortable. "I will be fine. Just... let me rest for a while...." He looked up at the sky. It was bright and cloudless. Such blue sky. Looking at it made him felt that nothing had changed. He was still leisurely spending his days away besides master. "I wonder if master is alright...."

"She will be fine," the bead said, "you on the other hand not so much. Can't you try to stop the bleeding? If this keeps going you will die first before help arrives."

The boy shook his head. "I don't think it will work. They're getting crafty. The wound is... poisoned." The boy exhaled and his eyes fluttered close.

"Stay awake!" the bead said.

"I'm a bit... tired."

"Of course you are but you have to stay awake!"

The boy's eyelashes quivered as he fought against the encroaching sleep. "Sorry... can't keep... my promise...."

"Wake up!"

The boy hummed, but his eyes were closed.

The ball began rolling on his half-opened palm. It threw itself to the boy's face, bounced back, and fell to the ground.

The boy's eyes were still shut tight.

"I said wake up!"

***

A girl in a red dress laid on the bed as she listlessly flipped through the pages. She closed the book and sighed. It was yet another slow day. The life on the island moved like a calm stream. There was not much going on. The sky was always blue. When the rain came, it landed softly. The temperature was not too warm nor too hot. There were no plagues nor disasters. Under the protection of the ancient one life here was like a paradise.

Yet these days, Liana felt stifled. Books no longer satisfied her. The grand tales taunted her every time she read. It reminded her of her weakness.

Liana put down the book and looked up. The sky was painted reddish yellow when she wandered in the garden. The brightly colored flowers swayed in the breeze.

It would be a while before the stars came out. Brianna would be mad if she found out that she stay outside in the cold but Liana could not make herself care. She made herself comfortable and tried to take a nap.

"What are doing?"

Liana jerked and turned to her left. Nea was sitting beside her. Her short brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. A thin layer of sweat lingers on her skin. Her green eyes curved in mischief.

"Nothing," Liana said. "Shouldn't you be having martial arts training, right now?"

"It's boring. There's nothing left that I can learn. They should let me go with the scout soon y'know to gain experience."

Liana smiled with a taste of bitterness. She was born with a weak body and could not suffer physical work. Despite her best effort to increase her stamina, she could barely run for 10 minutes. Joining the scout and leaving the island would be impossible.

Nea nudged her shoulder. "What's with the face?"

"It's nothing."

"Liar." Nea leaned on her.

"No." Liana avoided Nea's sticky skin.

"Come on." Nea leaned on her further and jabbed Liana's cheek.

Liana turned her head away. "Stop it."

"I won't stop until you tell me."

"Try it."

"Okay." Nea struck and began to tickle Liana.

Liana tried to fend off Nea's hands but she soon burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Okay, enough!"

Nea pulled back, smiling. "Ready to speak?"

Liana calmed her breathes and flicked Nea's forehead in retaliation. Nea only tilted her head and moved her fingers threateningly.

"I'm just feeling a bit stifled," Liana finally said.

Nea barked out a laugh. "So you actually can feel bored too. I thought your books can accompany you for eternity."

"I will still read," Liana said. "Just... not right now."

"Sure, sure, what do you want to do then?"

"I don't know. It's not like I can run around like you." Because of her weak body, Liana mostly spent her days in the sanctum. Whenever she would venture out, she would always be accompanied by a guard, usually Brianna. Because of this, she couldn't do any 'risky' or 'dangerous' activities.

"If you can't go out, then how about you go in?" Nea said.

"Huh?"

"I heard that there is this secret archive in the sanctum. Maybe you should check it out?"

Liana frowned. "That's against the rules."

Nea's eyes sparkled. "So it actually exists?"

Liana hesitated. She was not sure but there were parts of the sanctum that she could not access despite her position. "Whether it exists or not, I shouldn't traipse around places I shouldn't go. Brianna won't agree."

Nea crossed her arms. "I swear you become more and more like her. Brianna said this. She won't agree. She said I should do this. How about being a bit more adventurous? We are still young so we should act like one. The worst thing that could happen is she will yell at you, it's not as if she will spank you."

"Not going to do it."

"How boring." Nea poked Liana's cheek again and laughed when the other swatted her away.

In the end, the two of them stayed in the garden until the sky turned dark and watched the stars. The night animals began to wake up, humming their song in the silence of the night.

"When I go out, is there anything that you want me to bring back?" Nea asked as they lay on the soft grass.

Liana thought for a while. "More books?"

Nea laughed. "Boring. Hey, remember that weird animal that looks like a bird but walks on land? Maybe I can bring that back for you."

"Of course not, it can only live in cold places. You can't take it here."

"Right…." Nea pouted in disappointment but quickly bounced back. "Do you think they will let me stay outside when winter arrives? I heard that you can freeze your nose off."

"Maybe if you whine long enough."

Nea jabbed her with an elbow. "I don't whine."

"Sure, you don't."