THE NEXT DAY....
Elendil was with Neptur at the town that afternoon. When the two entered the library, they were greeted by the soft rustling of pages and the warm glow of lanterns hanging from wooden beams. Books filled every wall, and townsfolk sat quietly, reading, writing, and browsing through shelves.
Elendil's eyes lit with wonder. He had never seen a place so peaceful and beautiful.
Elendil: "So… why are we here, anyway?" he asked, glancing at Neptur.
Neptur: "I'm just returning the books I borrowed. While we're here, maybe you can look around. If something catches your eye, feel free to read it. Just don't wander too far, yeah?"
Elendil nodded with a small smile and walked down the hallway. Wooden archways framed endless rows of shelves, giving the library an ancient, almost sacred feel.
He soon noticed an elderly elf struggling to reach a book on a high shelf. Elendil hurried over and gave it.
Old Man: "Oh, thank you, young man," the elf said with a warm smile. "Hmm… you seem new here. I haven't seen you around town."
Elendil: "Oh....well, I just moved here a few weeks ago."
Old Man: "Weeks ago? I see. And who are you staying with?"
Elendil: "Someone I know," he answered politely.
Old Man: nodded, still smiling "Well, young man… would you like to hear a story?"
Elendil:eyes sparkled "Yes, please! I'd love to."
The old elf chuckled softly and settled into a nearby chair. Elendil sat in front of him, eager.
The old man placed the book down.
Old Man: "I'll tell you a story about this island."
Elendil: "The island?" His interest grew even more. "Okay!"
The old man began.
Old Man: "Centuries ago, this island was nothing but pure wilderness. Thousands of creatures roamed freely, and the land flourished untouched, no buildings, no roads, not even half-humans. Just life… pure and peaceful."
Elendil listened closely.
"After a hundred years, a powerful mage arrived. He stepped onto the untouched soil and claimed the island as his own, not by force, but with curiosity and compassion. He built small huts, befriended the creatures, and explored the mysteries of the land. He became known as the Emperor of Life."
The old elf's voice lowered.
"He was brilliant. From scraps scattered across the island, he created machines far ahead of their time. He crafted half-humans using strands of creature DNA so that he would never be lonely. He nurtured the island. He gave it purpose."
"But as years passed, more visitors arrived, humans, mostly. At first they lived peacefully with the Emperor, helping him like a family. But soon, one person disobeyed… and others followed. Their greed spread like a disease."
Elendil frowned slightly.
"Nature began to fade. Forests were cut down. Buildings rose, swallowing the land. Creatures were hunted, not for survival, but for sport. Even the half-humans the Emperor created were enslaved and mistreated."
"A century later, the island was unrecognizable. Concrete replaced grass, smoke replaced clean air. The Emperor tried to stop them, begged them to stop, but the humans refused to listen."
The old man's expression darkened.
"In despair, the Emperor drove his wand deep into the island's heart. Magic surged, the ground split, and the island shattered into four great sections."
He pointed at the book beside him.The Four Great Islands of Kairos.
Calestian Crest. The largest of all, the kingdom of the mages. The Emperor lived there, and a massive statue stands in his honor. Deepforge Dominion, home of the strongest races: dwarfs and giants. Known for unmatched strength and nearly unbreakable defenses. A magical barrier surrounds their stone-forged temple. Havencrest Horizon. The island of humans, researchers, scholars, and explorers who study rare materials and creatures of land and sea. Zharkos Sanctuary. The smallest, yet deadliest. Hunters, corrupted humans, and rejected half-creatures live here. Ancient monster bones line their shores. Their hunger is endless.
The old man folded his hands.
Old Man: "And if you're wondering where we live…"
Elendil: "Oh! I want to know!"
Old Man: "We live between the Calestian Crest and the Havencrest Horizon."
Elendil: blinked "Huh? That doesn't make sense…"
Old Man: chuckled "Come. I'll show you."
He guided Elendil to a large map hanging on the wall.
Old Man: "This… is the map of Kairos. Named after the Emperor himself, who died at the age of ten million. Elves live very, very long lives. If you wish to learn more, visit Calestian Crest and speak to the chieftain."
Elendil: nodded "This island is bigger than I imagined."
Old Man: "Indeed. In the center, Calestian Crest. Below it, the Havencrest Horizon. To the top right, the Deepforge Dominion. And here," hepointed again, "lies the Zharkos Sanctuary."
Elendil: "The Zharkos Sanctuary looks small…"
Old Man: "It only looks small. In truth, it is far more terrifying than the others. The Pacific Ocean lies close to its borders. The bones you see scattered there belonged to creatures humans hunted long ago."
Old Man: tapped the map "And this, right here, is where we live."
Elendil: sighed softly "I still can't believe humans can be that cruel…"
Old Man: looked at him carefully. "That is humanity, young man. Some kind… some cruel. Remember that."He smiled gently. "I hope you learned something from this story."
Elendil: "I did. Thank you so much."
The old elf patted his head and walked away, leaving Elendil thoughtful.
Elendil: He stared at the map. "Wow…"
A voice came from behind.
Neptur: "Elendil, I'm back. Oh? Interested in the map?"
Elendil: "A little… That old man told me everything about it."
Neptur: "Really? That's good. Stories like these teach us a lot more than we realize."
Elendil: "Yeah. I understand more now… about humanity."
Neptur: smiled and ruffled his hair. "Come on. Angel's waiting for us at home."
Elendil nodded and followed him out of the library.
--------------------------------------
((LOCATION: House))
When the two finally reached home, the house was spotless, floors shining, shelves neatly arranged, not a single speck of dust in sight. Neptur let out a relieved sigh as he collapsed onto the couch.
Angel: "Hm? You two are back."
Elendil: eyes widening "Wow, Angel… the place looks even cleaner than before!"
Angel rolled his eyes lightly, pretending not to care.
Angel: "Whatever. I made lunch. Come eat."
He headed to the kitchen and returned moments later holding a wooden tray filled with steaming dishes. He set the tray on the table.
Elendil: "Yummy! I love your cooking, Angel. I'll never get used to how good it is!"He quickly grabbed a plate and started eating. "Oh! And an old man told me a really cool story about the island today!"
Angel sat down, curious but hiding it under his usual calm expression.
Angel: "What story?"
Elendil: "It's… super cool!" continues eating happily
And so, while chewing his food excitedly, Elendil began explaining the entire story of the island, the history, the Emperor, the four separated lands, and everything the old man had told him.
Neptur chuckled softly, turned on the TV, and joined them at the table, eating quietly while listening to the two talk.
((TO BE CONTINUED...)