Moonareth Region, Year 567 of the Fragmented Calendar. "Crystal Kingdom."
In a scene of chaos and destruction, the Crystal Kingdom was present. A kingdom that had once been a prosperous land, a symbol of union and strength among nations, but now... it was at war. All the other kingdoms had fallen. Only one remained standing, and every soul still breathing fought with all they had to prevent its fall.
Only ruins, smoke, and corpses were left—those who, just hours ago, had been defenders of hope.
The ground was stained red. The sky, covered by a dense haze, completely hid the sun.
Amidst that hell, a white-haired woman, dressed in black and orange, was kneeling. Her left arm bled, and her breathing was labored. On her shoulder, a strange emblem glowed faintly: the symbol of an organization that still fought to restore the light.
The woman raised her gaze, confused. Broken. She looked upon the remains of the battlefield as if her mind refused to accept the truth. Around her, more people in the same uniform struggled to stand. Some injured, others in complete silence, and many… lifeless.
Then, a voice pulled her back to reality.
—"Captain, here they come!"
She turned her head and saw a young woman with orange hair running toward her. Her eyes, burning like fire, carried the urgency of the inevitable. Her shout was the only warning before disaster.
A rain of electric arrows fell from the sky like divine punishment. There was no time to scream. Not even to doubt.
—"Create individual coverages, now!" —ordered the white-haired woman firmly.
The other nodded and, using her superior aura, manipulated the rubble around them. Chunks of stone and metal rose instantly, forming improvised barriers that shielded each of their comrades, themselves included.
For a few seconds, the thunder stopped. The covers held against the worst of the attack. And when the dust settled, the barriers collapsed, revealing the warriors still alive... exhausted, wounded, but standing.
Then, it fell.
A figure descended from the sky like a malignant shadow. Its bluish energy vibrated in the air like a restrained roar. Upon touching the ground, it created a shallow crater... and a pressure that crushed the soul.
Around it, four other figures appeared with synchronized movements. Their mere presence was enough to understand: they were not human.
The white-haired woman rose with difficulty. Her body trembled, but not from fear... from fury, remembering the vision she had seen many years ago.
—"Just as I saw... all of this was written," she murmured in a low voice, heavy with determination. "But I will not allow it to end this way."
—"PREPARE YOURSELVES!" —she roared.
And then, all the warriors bearing the emblem on their arms rushed forward, shouting with a mixture of pain, rage, and hope.
The six enemy figures did the same.
And thus... the final battle began.
Ten years earlier...
Moonareth Region, Year 557 of the Fragmented Calendar.
"Autumn Leaf Village." (Territory of the Great Tree Kingdom)
In a small village located in the remote west, surrounded by green hills and vast farmlands, lived Sato, an 18-year-old young man with hair as dark as night and black eyes full of determination. That morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves of the tall trees lining the main road, dyeing the village in a warm, golden glow. The air smelled of freshly baked bread and damp soil, remnants of the morning's watering.
The wooden houses, modest yet welcoming, were adorned with hanging pots brimming with wildflowers. The sound of birds awakened the villagers, while children ran, laughed, and tossed pebbles into the stream that crossed the village.
Sato walked down one of the main streets with steady, calm steps, carrying a bucket of milk in each hand. His arms, used to daily labor, moved naturally. He wore a light linen shirt, slightly wrinkled from work, and simple work trousers. Despite the routine, his face carried a serene, almost cheerful expression, savoring every moment of that simplicity.
As he passed by one house, a grandmother leaned out from the window.
—"Good morning, Sato!" —the old woman shouted with a hoarse but kind voice.
—"Good morning, Mrs. Marla!" —he replied energetically, stopping for a moment to leave one of the buckets at her door—. "Today's milk is fresher than ever."
—"Always so hardworking," —the grandmother said with a smile—. "Your mother would be proud of you."
Sato nodded, his gaze a mix of gratitude and nostalgia. He then continued his path, greeting other neighbors who waved kindly from their work: the baker pulling a new batch of rolls from the oven, the blacksmith already striking his hammer at the forge, and a little girl who offered him a flower in exchange for a smile.
Thus his mornings passed, in a routine that, though repetitive, wrapped the village in daily warmth and harmony.
By evening, as the sun began to sink behind the hills and the sky turned shades of orange and violet, the village was bathed in a soft, melancholic light. Shadows stretched long, and a cool breeze swept through the streets, gently stirring the branches of the trees and the curtains of half-open windows.
Sato walked along the cobblestone ground of the main street, carrying the last empty bucket in one hand. The murmur of the nearby stream and the final songs of the birds accompanied his steps, while the weariness of the day settled on his shoulders. Despite it, a calm smile traced his face. There was something comforting about completing his routine, even as his mind began to drift toward more distant horizons.
Ahead of him, his friend Tiya's small shop stood, adorned with a hanging sign painted by hand that read: "Fresh products and more." As he stepped inside, a gentle warm light spilled from the windows, and the air was filled with the scent of dried herbs and sweet fruit.
—Here's the last one —Sato announced upon entering, setting the bucket softly on the polished wooden counter.
Tiya looked up from the jars she was arranging on a shelf. Her brown hair, tied back in a messy braid, fell over her shoulder as her eyes lit up with joy at the sight of him.
—Good job, deliveryman of the month! —she said with a playful smile, placing a jar in its spot.
—Ha, ha… very funny —Sato replied, rolling his eyes with a weary grin.
—I mean it —Tiya answered, leaning against the counter—. You're so responsible. Most people would complain about going door to door delivering milk, but you do it without protest. And you're always on time.
—Well, it's not that bad. You walk, see people, breathe fresh air… Though sometimes the buckets feel twice as heavy —he joked, stretching his arms back.
Tiya let out a small laugh and then grabbed a cloth to wipe the counter as she spoke.
—Still, you do it every day without complaining. I'd go crazy if I had to walk across half the village every day carrying those buckets.
—I guess I'm used to it —Sato said, shrugging—. Besides, if I don't do it, who would? I don't want Mrs. Marla to go without milk.
—You're a good guy, Sato —she said with a genuine smile—. Always helping everyone without expecting anything in return.
He looked away, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the compliment.
—I just try to do my part.
Tiya set the cloth aside and observed him quietly for a few seconds. Then, in a sincere, gentle tone, she asked:
—I've never asked you this, Sato, but… do you have a dream? Something else you want to do or achieve, beyond delivering milk?
Sato looked at her, surprised by the unexpected question.
Tiya smiled warmly and added:
—Because I think you do. I've known you since we were kids… and I've always believed you're capable of great things.
Sato let out a short laugh, incredulous at what he had just heard.
—What are you talking about? —he said, chuckling, unable to hide his surprise.
Tiya rested her elbows on the counter, her expression calm yet sincere.
—What I said. What's your dream?
Sato opened his mouth, but no answer came right away. He lowered his gaze, thoughtful, then let out a nervous laugh.
—I don't know… I guess I've never really asked myself that.
Tiya smiled kindly, without pressing him further.
The conversation ended with a simple farewell, but her question lingered in Sato's mind like a persistent echo.
As night fell over the village, Sato walked toward his home. The lights of the houses began to glow one by one, and the whisper of the wind brushed against the trees lining the path. The first stars timidly peeked out in the sky, and the air grew colder, heralding the arrival of night.
The young man walked on in silence, listening to the crunch of gravel beneath his feet. His hands were in his pockets and his shoulders slightly hunched, as if he carried an invisible weight.
At home, he repeated his usual routine: lit the stove, took a shower, prepared a simple dinner, and sat down to eat in silence. But Tiya's words echoed powerfully in his mind.
"Do you have a dream? Something else you want to do or achieve, beyond delivering milk?"
That question gave him no peace.
Later, lying in bed, Sato tossed and turned, unable to find rest. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he got up. He walked barefoot to the window and pulled the curtain slightly aside.
The moon bathed the distant fields in a soft, silvery glow. The wind whispered through the trees, making the leaves murmur forgotten secrets. The whole village slept, but inside him, Sato felt that something was awakening.
He remained there, staring at the landscape, lost in thought, while images of his childhood returned to him: stories of brave warriors fighting monsters, saving villages, battling against evil… true heroes.
—What if I could be one of them? —he murmured, almost without realizing—. What if… I'm meant for something more than this?
He lowered his gaze and pressed his forehead against the cold glass.
—I don't know if I have what it takes… but I don't want to spend my whole life here wondering what would've happened if I had tried.
He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. In his chest, the desire to live a true adventure began to beat strongly.
The next morning, Sato arrived at Tiya's shop with a leather bag slung over his shoulder and dressed like a casual traveler. His expression was resolute, and his firm steps spoke louder than a thousand words.
Tiya, seeing him enter, raised an eyebrow with curiosity and gave him a teasing smile.
—And now what? Will you be delivering cheese too? —she joked as she arranged some bottles on the counter.
Sato shook his head and walked closer, a special spark in his eyes. There was something different about his gaze.
—The question you asked me yesterday made me think… —he said with a steady voice—. And I've decided. I'm going to fulfill my childhood dream: to become a great warrior.
Tiya looked at him, surprised. Then she laughed tenderly.
—Are you making fun of me? —asked Sato, frowning in mock annoyance.
—No, no! —she hurried to say, waving her hands—. You've impressed me, Sato! I never imagined you, the village's star milkman, would dream of becoming a great warrior. It's… unexpected —she added, covering her mouth as she continued to laugh.
—Could you say that without laughing? —he replied, arms crossed, pretending to be upset.
Tiya took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and raised her hands in surrender.
—You're right, sorry. I'm not mocking you, really. It just caught me off guard —she paused, lowering her voice more seriously—. And where do you plan to go?
Sato straightened his posture and answered firmly:
—To the Great Tree Kingdom. I'm going to enroll in the Warrior's Center and begin training. That's where the great heroes start their path, isn't it?
Tiya's eyes widened. She blinked a couple of times before asking a simple yet direct question:
—Do you know how to fight?
The question hit him like a bucket of cold water. Sato froze for a few seconds, staring into nothing, as if the thought had just crossed his mind for the first time.
—No… —he said slowly, then lifted his chin with renewed determination and added—. But I can learn.
Tiya remained silent, worried. For a moment she seemed doubtful, but upon seeing the resolve in Sato's eyes, her unease faded. Her expression softened, and a warm smile appeared on her face.
—Wait here a moment —she said gently.
Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the back of the shop. Curious, Sato waited quietly. After a short while, Tiya returned with something in her hands: a necklace with a two-colored crystal, half blue and half orange. The pendant glowed faintly as it caught the sunlight streaming through the window.
—What's that? —Sato asked.
—It's a crystal my mother gave me. It means a lot to me. It's the last thing she left me before she passed away, and it's the most precious thing I have of her… I want you to take it and carry it with you on your journey.
Sato's eyes widened, and he shook his head.
—I can't accept it. It's too important to you.
—I'm not giving it to you —said Tiya, placing the necklace in his hands—. I'm lending it to you. When you achieve your dream, you'll return it to me… and tell me everything you experienced.
Sato closed his fist tightly around the crystal, deeply moved. He looked up and nodded with determination.
—I promise. Thank you, Tiya… truly.
Tiya walked with him to the edge of the village. The dirt path, lined with trees and fields, stretched into the horizon, bathed in the gentle light of dawn and the murmur of the wind through the leaves. There, at the village's border, they stopped.
Sato lowered his gaze, torn between gratitude and regret.
—Thank you for everything, Tiya… and I'm sorry for leaving like this, overnight. I know I've abandoned the work…
Tiya shook her head, smiling sweetly.
—Don't worry. You've worked enough. Now it's time to spread your wings and take flight.
Then, she pulled something from her pocket and placed it in Sato's hands: a small leather pouch.
—Here —she said—. Ten copper crystals. Your month's pay.
Sato looked at her in surprise and refused immediately.
—No, Tiya… I can't take this. You've already given me too much.
But when he looked at her, his words faltered. Tiya's eyes were full of tears, though she still held that warm smile that always comforted him.
—Please… take it. It will help you on your way. And for me, it's enough just knowing you're chasing your dream.
Sato looked at her face with sadness. For a moment, he hesitated, but finally he accepted the pouch, holding it carefully as if it were something fragile.
—Thank you so much, Tiya… —he murmured, touched.
Tiya didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward and embraced him tightly.
—I wish you the best, Sato. I'll be waiting for you when you achieve your dream.
Sato wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
—I'll come back, Tiya. I promise.
And with firm steps, he walked down the path, leaving his home behind… and taking his first step toward the destiny that awaited him.