The beginning

As Rune stood behind the city walls for the very first time, he found himself captivated by the majestic forest stretching out before him. By his side stood Miko. Rune briefly glanced back at the towering walls, feeling a tingling sense of farewell in the air. As if on cue, a gust of wind swept through, lending an air of mystique to the moment. "So," Miko spoke up, breaking the silence, "your name is Rune, isn't it?" Rune shifted his gaze to meet the inquisitive eyes of the young girl and replied with a hint of intrigue, "Yes, indeed. My name is Rune. As for the story behind it... well, let's just say that's a tale for another time. And your name, Miko, it is, isn't it?"

"I'm the one," the girl chimed joyfully, her smile unwavering, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of their current situation. "Let's go," Rune responded, his back turned to the towering city walls. Determinedly, he began striding towards the majestic forest that loomed ahead.

As Rune and Miko strolled towards the enchanting forest, they were greeted by a delightful array of butterflies and other magnificent creatures, such as ants and birds, gracefully meandering through the lush greenery. The towering trees, adorned with vibrant flowers of varying colors – purple, blue, green, and red – created a breathtaking scene that evoked awe and wonder. "So beautiful!" exclaimed Miko, clearly captivated by the landscape. However, Rune couldn't help but be haunted by the chilling tales he had heard from those who had ventured beyond the protective walls. Undeterred, they ventured deeper into the forest, traversing over jagged rocks and maneuvering through towering trees. "It's frustrating," Rune muttered, still bitter about the lack of provisions provided to them. "They didn't even offer us the basic necessities – not a single blanket or change of clothes. They simply forced us to leave." As they continued their journey through the forest, their eyes widened in awe as they stumbled upon a sight that until then, had only been whispered about in folklore. Perched upon a large stone in front of a majestic tree was a graceful deer, illuminated by the warm rays of the sun as it grazed on the verdant grass. "Nature truly is Wonderful ," Rune murmured in reverence, his appreciation growing. Caught up in the magical ambiance, Miko couldn't contain her delight. With an expression of pure joy, she turned to Rune and asked, "May I touch it?"

Upon hearing the question, Rune stared at Miko with a solemn expression before firmly declining. "If we approach that area and encounter any danger, such as a trap, we will be completely stranded in this perilous forest without any help." Miko's initially cheerful face transformed into a gloomy one upon hearing this cautionary statement. Observing Miko's disappointment, Rune let out a sigh and reluctantly allowed, "Alright, you can attempt to touch its feet, but I am almost certain that it will quickly flee before you even have a chance. Nonetheless, go ahead and give it a try." Miko's gloomy expression swiftly morphed into one of excitement as she nodded her head and exclaimed, "Okay!" They slowly proceeded towards the deer, which stood on the stone in front of the tree, leisurely grazing on grass. Surprisingly, despite Rune's expectations, the deer did not run away, and the closer they got, the more Rune began to sense something was off.

Standing six feet away from the deer, Rune's instincts told him something was terribly amiss. Without hesitation, he firmly grasped Miko's hand and sprinted away. Only after finding safety behind the cover of a tree did Miko inquire about their sudden flight. "Didn't you say the deer wasn't dangerous?" she asked. Rune hushed her, cautiously peering out to observe the deer, which remained stationary while feasting on grass near a stone. Noticing a fallen branch on the ground, he swiftly picked it up and hurled it towards the deer. As the branch made contact, the deer remained motionless, but the stone it stood on shifted, revealing an open eye on its side. Suddenly, the top part of the rock opened, revealing an unforeseen truth - the deer, seemingly alive, plummeted into the void below.

The deer was affected by a plant it was eating off a rock, implying a connection between the grass in the rock and the monster, Rune explained. Apologizing, he acknowledged that this forest might not harbor any cute animals, but perhaps they could find them elsewhere as they planned to leave. Hearing this, Miko remained silent and they both stood up, venturing through the forest in search of an escape route before encountering dangerous monsters. While journeying, Rune found himself gazing at Miko, realizing that she reminded him of his younger sister from before the tragic incident that claimed his family. They were a wonderful family consisting of Rune, his sister Mia, his brother Michael, and his parents Nia and Jake. Rune held a special place among his siblings, being the older one to his sister and the younger one to his brother.

During a pivotal era in history, following a devastating meteor strike, those who bravely resisted succumbing to become monsters and instead acquired extraordinary abilities were initially regarded with kindness and admiration. However, the situation took a turn when it became apparent that as individuals advanced and obtained new powers, there was a risk of them transforming into formidable monsters. Regrettably, this phenomenon proliferated, causing widespread destruction within the city's walls, resulting in the tragic loss of my beloved family. The repeated occurrences of such transformations compelled the city's inhabitants to rise up and demand the expulsion of those who had successfully resisted becoming monsters, as there remained a lurking uncertainty that they too might eventually transform.