The world is large, larger than anyone can imagine, larger than our small brains can think. Yet, within this vastness, it is filled with creatures and monsters that roam freely, creating caos in their wake.
In this vast world, everyone has a dream they desire, hope for, can feel, and that brings peace and freedom. But can everyone achieve that dream? Can everyone enjoy the taste of their dream?
"Yawn!" Yalamber woke up from bed. He stared at the cracked wooden ceiling with spider webs and water droplets falling down. "Ahh, so hard to sleep," he muttered, lying on a wooden bed with no pillow or blanket. He was fully soaked due to the rain. "Dammit!" He was poor, nearly about the age of 17, but he didn't have anything: no family, no friends, nothing. The only thing he had was "despair." He got up from his bed, the floor fully wet due to the rain. He went to the door, but there was no door.
He went outside to get the sunlight as he had to go to work just to get some money to survive. The village and the villagers were the same; everyone was poor, everyone had to work just to survive, but there was one difference. Everyone seemed to be happy.
He didn't understand why. Everyone knew that their time would come; they would be fed to the monsters. It was just a matter of time; everyone here would die. But if so, why were we even working? Why not just die of hunger? Why so much just to survive for some time? Was it hope, was it human instinct, what was it?
He thought, "Do I have hope? Do I have a dream?" His heart beat rapidly as an old man around his sixties said, "Let's go, son. We have to get to the mine before it's too late." He handed Yalamber a slice of bread. He was the head of the village. Yalamber was happy for it. "Thanks, Gramps, let's go."
Around fifty people started to move toward the mine, which was about thirty minutes away. He heard murmurs among the people. "Did you know that the crystals we mine are so valuable? I heard they sell for more than 100,000 YANG. I'm planning on taking some and getting out of this place"
Money!
Country!
"Absolute fools. Do these people think it's that easy to steal? There are guards patrolling the mines 24/7," said Yalamber.
As they were walking, the head of the village shouted, "Everyone, get on the side of the road and get down on your knees!" Everyone was confused. "Why? What happened?" said someone. "Just do what I said!" Everyone went to the side of the road and got on their knees. Then they heard a noise; the noise was of a golden buggy. There was a man riding on the buggy. Yalamber's heartbeat started to rise.
The buggy stopped as the buggier said, "Are you the miners?" The head stepped forward and said, "Yes, these are the miners, and I am their head." The buggier said, "Good." He pointed toward the passenger and said, "This gentleman here is the owner of this mine. He has come here to appreciate your work and to visit the mine." The head said, "We are pleased." The passenger smiled at them. Then the buggier said, "Okay, then we will move forward." They started to go on the buggy.
"Who was that guy?" said one of the villagers. "He is one of the gifters," said the old man. "What's that?" said the villager. "Gifters are the people who have special powers. Some of the people are given this power when they turn 18."
Everyone was curious and amazed to hear this. "There are ten people in our village who are going to be 18 this year. If one of them got the power, we can be saved!" The head laughed. "Yes, we can be saved, but the probability of getting this power is one in a million. Don't get your hopes high, kid." Yalamber was listening silently, and something had emerged in him. He was confused. He thought, "What is this feeling? Am I having déjà vu? Why does this guy feel like I have seen something like him before?"
As his mind was racing and questioning various things, they reached the mine. There was a golden buggy parked outside. The buggier was taking a nap. They started admiring the beauty of the buggy, but the head told them not to stall and to come inside the mine fast. Everyone started to move, but Yalamber kept staring at the buggy. The buggier woke up and said, "What are you doing, kid?" Yalamber, startled, said, "Oh, yes, I just thought that I think I saw this type of vehicle somewhere." The buggier said, "Did someone else use such a vehicle?" Yalamber replied, "No, but this seems familiar somehow." The buggier laughed. "You must have dreamed, kid." Just then, the head shouted, "Yalamber, what are you doing? Come fast!" Yalamber said to the buggier, "I have to go now."
"Yes, I'm coming!"
"Sorry, Gramps," he said as he entered the mine.
"Huff, this boy," the head muttered.