The morning sun broke through the curtains of Zaru's room, casting golden stripes across the messy floor.Clothes, half-packed bags, comic books — it was a battlefield of chaos, with Zaru lying right in the middle, snoring softly.
"Zaru! Wake up!" his mom's voice rang out like a cannon.
He grumbled, pulling a blanket over his head.
No mercy.
The door swung open.Zaru's mom stormed in, hands on hips. "You have school today! First day of Velken studies! Get moving!"
Zaru poked his head out from under the blanket, hair sticking out in every direction."Mmmph… five more minutes…"
His mom wasn't having it.She tossed a pair of pants at his face and pointed dramatically toward the bathroom.
"And wear your pants properly this time! Honestly, you're twelve, and you still can't tell the front from the back!"
Zaru groaned but dragged himself out of bed.
As he struggled with his shirt — trying to figure out which hole was for which arm — his mom flicked on the news screen in the corner of the room.
A stern-looking news reporter appeared, speaking urgently:
"Breaking News: Last night, a 12-year-old boy from the jungle tribes escaped from Velken Prison after reportedly eliminating every single guard inside. Authorities are on high alert. Citizens are advised to stay away from the jungle borders until further notice."
Zaru froze, one arm halfway through his shirt.
His mom shook her head dramatically. "Look at that! A boy your age is out there fighting and surviving, and here you are still wrestling with your clothes."
Zaru laughed awkwardly. "Maybe he had... better training?"
She smirked. "Maybe he had *parents who didn't have to tell him five times to tie his shoelaces."
Zaru finally managed to dress — backwards, of course — and grabbed his backpack.
"Velken studies, huh?" he muttered as he swung the bag over one shoulder.
His mom softened a little, ruffling his hair. "Yeah. Big stuff this year. It's important you understand how the city and the jungle work."
Zaru made a face. "I thought it was boring history stuff."
"Not boring," she said. "Necessary. Jungle people and city people... we've never gotten along. Better you know why."
Outside, the streets buzzed with life.
Hover bikes zipped through the air, vendors shouted about fresh fruit and steaming breakfast wraps, and digital billboards flashed giant ads: "Stay Safe — Stay Velken!"
Zaru met up with his best friend, Noah, near the school gates.
Noah was bouncing with energy, his curly hair a wild mess. "Dude! Did you hear about the prison thing?! A twelve-year-old! That's like... us!"
Zaru grinned. "Yeah. My mom compared me to him. I'm losing."
"Same," Noah laughed. "My dad said if I fought a prison guard, I'd probably trip and knock myself out."
They both cracked up, punching each other's shoulders.
But underneath the jokes, Zaru felt a weird flutter in his chest.A boy their age... surviving prison... escaping...It didn't feel real.
School that day felt different.
The giant screen in the auditorium flashed the headline over and over: PRISON BREAKOUT - JUNGLE BOY AT LARGE.
Teachers whispered in corners.Security drones floated above the playground.
During Velken Studies class, the history teacher, Mr. Avren, clapped his hands sharply."Alright, listen up! Today's lesson is important."
The screen behind him shifted, showing an old map of their world:
City territories — shining like stars.
Jungle lands — dark and wild.
"Long ago," Mr. Avren began, "the world was divided. City people built Velken to protect themselves. Jungle tribes stayed hidden in the forests, living by their own rules."
He tapped the map."Trust between us? It never existed. They don't like us. We don't like them."
Noah leaned over and whispered, "Sounds like a big family fight."
Zaru chuckled, but he couldn't shake the image of that boy — the one in the news — running through the jungle, alone, hunted.
He wasn't sure if he felt scared of him...or sorry for him.
Maybe both.
As the final bell rang, Zaru slung his bag over his shoulder.
Noah grinned. "Hey! Wanna come over later? We can check out the jungle books in my dad's old library. Might find something cool."
Zaru hesitated.
Something was pulling at him.Something about the jungle.Something about that boy.
"Yeah," he said finally. "Let's do it."
Together, they raced off into the busy city streets, not knowing that their lives were about to collide with a world far more dangerous — and far more wild — than they had ever imagined.