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Chapter One: The Spark of Beginning
At the top of the hill stood an old church, surrounded by the cold winds. Inside, a gathering of villagers sat, listening to the priest's sermon, their eyes fixed on his words.
Among them sat a handsome young man, with brown hair and blue eyes that gleamed with passion and curiosity. His name was Yuno. He listened intently, while the priest spoke with a voice full of conviction:
"War, famine, disasters... all are but passing trials. With patience and faith, we overcome them. Whatever befalls us, everything fades—only the light of God remains in the hearts of the faithful."
But amidst the solemn silence, a harsh laugh rang out. Everyone turned, and there sat an old man in the back rows. His eyes were sunken, his face covered with deep wrinkles, yet there was something strange in his gaze—something unsettling.
The old man spoke in a mocking tone:
"Faith? Patience? Put them in the heart of war, and let's see who dies first!"
A sudden tension filled the place. The priest did not reply. He knew the old man well. Once a soldier, now just an aged figure stripped of his vigor… or so everyone thought. The villagers saw madness and frailty in his eyes, but Yuno caught a glimpse of something else… something like hidden strength and knowledge.
The sermon ended, and the people departed one by one.
The old man slowly rose, leaning on his cane. But then he heard a young voice call out:
"Excuse me, sir… do you have a moment?"
The old man turned and stared at the boy.
"Who are you?"
Yuno answered with a quiet confidence:
"I'm the son of the village's gardener."
The old man raised his brows.
"Ah… so you're his son. And how is his injury?"
"He's well, thank God."
A short silence followed before Yuno asked directly:
"I heard what you said inside the church… and I wondered—what did you really mean?"
The old man gazed up at the clouded sky, then replied in a hoarse voice:
"Everyone thinks war is just a field of cannons and bullets. But the truth… it's something else. To walk out of war alive—that is possible. But to return as you were before? No… that is almost impossible."
Yuno furrowed his brows.
"I don't understand."
But suddenly, he heard his father's voice calling from afar:
"Come along, my boy! It's time to leave!"
Yuno turned and said:
"Goodbye, sir."
But the old man muttered behind him, his voice carrying a cryptic weight:
"Wait… why did you ask me?"
Yuno stopped for a moment, then replied:
"Just curiosity."
The old man gave a mysterious smile, his eyes gleaming as though he had discovered something:
"Curiosity? No, boy… instinct. When an animal senses danger, instinct drives it to flee at once. But humans… they question the nature of danger before running. You are not as naïve as the others think… But tell me, will such awareness be enough for you to survive?"
The old man laughed in a broken chuckle, waving his cane, then whispered as he watched the boy's back fade into the distance:
"Hahaha… who knows? Who knows?"