Chapter 2: Unexpected
Buried beneath ruin and war, a secret awakens. As the village burns, two strangers cross paths—one lost in grief, the other lost in time. Together, they walk into a world neither is ready for.
As the non-war zone was attacked, guild members rushed in to counter the assault and protect the villagers. Shinra's parents, both guild members, quickly hid their sleeping son in a secret underground room beneath their bakery. The chamber was filled with weapons, medical supplies, and surgical equipment. At its center stood a large glass tube, glowing with unknown liquid. It was hard to see what was inside.
With no time left, they placed Shinra inside—and vanished into the battle above.
All around, chaos erupted.
The enemy had struck every nearby village without warning, turning the entire region into a warzone. The guilds were caught off guard. They had no time to prepare. The Governor Council's military, led by high-ranking commanders, pushed deep into guild territory.
Guild warriors fought back fiercely. The battle became brutal—loud, fiery, unrelenting.
Deep underground, Shinra awoke.
"Mom? Dad?" he called, looking around in confusion.
No response.
He stood up and observed the strange room—a fusion of armory and surgical lab. His eyes landed on the glass tube.
He stepped closer.
Suddenly, a monitor beside the tube beeped. A heartbeat appeared on-screen—fast, rising. Something inside the liquid moved. Alarmed, Shinra yanked the computer's plug.
The tube exploded.
Glass shattered,Glowing liquid splashed out, and from it emerged a man—naked, breathing, fully conscious. He sat up, blinking at Shinra.
"Are you human… or elf?" he asked, noticing Shinra's slightly pointed ears.
Shinra frowned. "Who are you? What were you doing in that tube?"
"I don't know," the man replied. "Where are we?"
"I don't know either," Shinra said. "I just woke up. I'm looking for my parents… but they're gone."
The man spotted a folded letter beneath the keyboard. He read it silently, then looked back.
"You got anything I can wear?" he asked.
"I don't know. Let's check," Shinra said.
As they searched, he asked again, "What's your name?"
"Samy," the man replied. "That's all I remember."
"Well… we'll figure that out," Shinra muttered.
Soon, Shinra found a heavy metal locker. He tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. "Hey! I found something!"
Samy walked over, placed his hand on the locker—and it clicked open instantly.
"What? I tried that! It didn't move!" Shinra exclaimed.
Inside were twin katanas and several sets of clothing. Samy smiled, took the weapons and clothes, and suited up. Now armed and ready, they searched for a way out.
A staircase led upward. At the top—an iron door.
"Step back," Samy said.
With a single punch, he blasted the door off its hinges.
They stepped outside.
The wind was cold. The sky was heavy with silence. The bakery stood in ruins. The village was gone.
Samy observed the broken world before him. (There was a battle… Looks like it's over now.)
His expression darkened.
The guilds had lost. Many of their strongest fighters had fallen. Survivors were scattered. The Governor's forces had taken large portions of land.
Among the missing were Shinra's parents.
Samy brought Shinra to the nearest rescue shelter, where surviving guild members regrouped. After speaking with officers, they were given the devastating news: Shinra's parents had been confirmed killed in battle. Their unit had been overwhelmed defending the village perimeter.
But no bodies were found.
"They were last seen fighting side by side," a guild officer said. "They held the line until the final blast. We found their cloaks… their gear… but no remains."
Shinra stood still.
Samy placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"So... they're really gone?" Shinra whispered.
The officer nodded. "We believe so."
Hours later, they returned to the destroyed bakery.
The ruins were cold. Quiet. Shinra stood at the threshold. He picked up a half-burnt loaf of bread and stared at it for a long time.
Then he sat on the broken step. Tears streamed down.
Samy sat beside him, saying nothing.
"Do you want to come with me?" Samy finally asked.
Shinra wiped his face, then nodded.
"Grab your things," Samy said. "We're going on an adventure."
Shinra stepped into the ruins. He collected a few clothes, some food, and at last—his father's cloak. He wrapped it tightly around his shoulders.
Without looking back, the boy and the man walked through the ashes of the village—and into the unknown.