The sound of footsteps and Gheo's heavy breathing echoed in the quiet morning. He wasn't running fast, but he had been training since dawn, and now it was nearly midday. There was no wind, only the blazing sun accompanying them. Today's solo training with Master Thareon felt like pure torture.
"Gheo, faster!"
Thareon's firm voice called out from above, standing a few steps higher on the staircase. Gheo was hunched over, drenched in sweat, barely able to catch his breath.
"Wait… Master Thareon, I'm exhausted…"
"Come on, it's only ten kilometers. In space, you'll go through worse. Be strong."
"But… out there, we just float or fly."
"Same thing. Now move!"
Master Thareon continued climbing, leaving Gheo to catch up. It was all meant to help him improve—but it felt like cruel punishment.
"I'd rather ride something than walk this far... I hate long hikes..."
He muttered complaints but kept climbing, not wanting to fall too far behind. The old man really was selfish toward younger people—and they never admitted it.
When Gheo finally reached the top, he saw Master Thareon picking mushrooms with his bare hands from trees, roots, and the ground. It looked odd. Gheo hesitantly joined him, collecting a few mushrooms nearby. Then, he noticed a large, beautiful blue mushroom with golden specks.
"Um… Master Thareon, can I pick this one?"
Thareon didn't respond, still busy searching for something—more mushrooms or perhaps an animal. He was strange like that.
Gheo had to decide for himself. He examined the mushroom closely. Its surface glowed with a vibrant blue, dotted with golden spots. Without hesitation, he plucked it.
POOFF—
A burst of blue spores exploded in his face. Gheo coughed, eyes burning. Thareon turned and burst into laughter.
"AHAHAHAHA!"
He laughed uncontrollably. Gheo felt like he'd been hit by three explosions.
"Stop laughing! I didn't know it would explode!"
"That's why I left it there. It's a bomb mushroom, you blue-headed fool."
"Heyy!!"
They started bickering. Gheo felt bullied by Thareon, who always seemed to enjoy messing with the clueless new guy. Behind them, something strange began to happen. A faint blue ripple appeared at the mushroom's stem. It pulsed, growing larger and darker, but they didn't notice.
Thareon eventually did. His eyes narrowed as the ripple swelled, threatening to burst. He lunged forward, grabbing Gheo by the collar and throwing him aside.
"W-What's happening?!"
Thareon drew a small blade coated in crystal from his pocket. As the ripple prepared to split open, he slashed downward. The wave tore apart, releasing a small shockwave—not fatal, but enough to injure Thareon's hand.
"Airuna's still unstable…"
He stared at the glowing blue fluid, now tainted with black. It was strange—but common in accidents like this. He didn't touch it. Touching it would change everything—his body, his title, his identity. He was fine just being a father.
"Master Thareon… what just happened?"
Gheo rose shakily from where he'd been thrown. He walked over, staring at the glowing liquid in confusion.
"I'll explain later. This place isn't safe anymore. Be more careful next time, alright?"
"Yeah..."
"No, seriously—be careful. Let's go back to the village. It's already late."
"Oh—okay."
Gheo took a small basket from Thareon to help carry the harvest—especially since the old man's hand was injured.
—
Back in the village, Master Thareon shared a meal with his beloved wife. Gheo was invited too and ate alongside their daughter, Nil—a cheerful, sweet girl. Gheo fed her gently, making sure she didn't choke.
Later, Nil and Gheo played together. She excitedly talked about her fantasy books, explaining intricate plotlines and past events with surprising understanding. Gheo was overwhelmed—but impressed. She was only ten, but she grasped heavy fantasy concepts easily.
"Gheo."
Someone called his name from another room. It was Thareon, finally reappearing after keeping Gheo waiting forever.
"Took you long enough."
"I was talking with my wife. Come—there's something important I need to tell you."
"Like yesterday?"
"Yes... something like that. You were born from destruction, Gheo. And now, you've been chosen as a Keeper."
"A Keeper?"
"Come."
Thareon walked ahead to the porch. Gheo followed, curious about what the old man would reveal this time. Thareon always knew too much.
They sat outside, a cool breeze brushing past as night fell. In the village, there were no electric lights—only fire. But they didn't mind. The stars and auroras lit the skies.
"About earlier… that wasn't a miracle. It was population control. And power."
He dropped the statement like a bomb. Gheo blinked, recalling the blue-black wave and the alien ripple.
"...Population control?"
"You know the Aphothemi, right? That's where they come from. They're powerful, yes. But their origins vary—some are born from mushrooms, others from trees. Raphiel, for example, came from a flower petal."
"Wait… isn't Raphiel a Xenon?"
"Yes, but Xenons come from Aphothemi. Aphothemi bless living things and make them their right hands. Honestly, you could've been a Xenon… or even an Aphothemi. But you were born of gold. Your origin is different."
"Why is that a problem?"
"Because you were born from the destruction of the universe. From lifeless matter. From gold."
Gheo went silent. He hadn't realized how strange his birth truly was. Since then, Aphothemi numbers had dropped. Many were dead or missing after Prince Ghevian's death.
"Don't blame yourself. Honestly, it's Airuna's fault."
"Airuna?"
"Hard to explain. Airuna is... everything. The law of the universe. But ever since… something happened, it's been collapsing. I don't know why. But I know there's a reason."
Gheo looked down, playing with his fingers. He wondered what would happen if things were left unchecked. He decided: starting tomorrow, he'd gather information. He would learn, grow stronger, and find the truth—about everything. Even the three suns, which grew clearer with each passing day.
But for now, all he had were fragments of a far greater mystery.
And someday… would he face something even greater than this?
Night settled gently over the village, wrapping every rooftop in stillness. The stars above blinked quietly, scattered like ancient runes carved across the heavens—each one watching, waiting, remembering. Gheo leaned on the railing of the porch after Thareon returned inside. The warmth of the meal, the laughter of Nil, even the brush of starlight on his face… none of it could silence the thrum beneath his skin.
He felt it now.
Not just confusion, or fear, or curiosity—but something deeper. Something primal. As if his bones remembered a time before he was born, a time of war and collapse, of light splitting into three. Was he really born from destruction? Was that why his skin shimmered like gold, why people looked at him the way they did?
He watched the sky, scanning the curves of the horizon. The three suns were gone now, but he swore he could see a faint ring of light—like a scar the sky couldn't heal.
Somewhere out there… the truth waited.
Somewhere, Airuna was unraveling.
And somewhere, someone knew what it all meant. He didn't yet—but he would.
"I'm not ready," Gheo whispered to no one.
The wind didn't answer, but it didn't deny him either.
He turned to the door and stepped inside, letting the night close behind him like a curtain.
Tomorrow, the path would begin.
Not just to become stronger,
…but to understand why the universe had chosen him at all.
Even if it meant walking into the fire.
Even if it meant becoming something else entirely.