Both had found a shelter in a half-burned house where they were resting, Ana handed Atom a small rice ball, her smile was soft and warm.
"Thwese aree feor youu," she said gently.
Atom accepted with gratitude, his voice calm yet sincere. "Thank you, Ana."
She giggled softly, watching her brother take the first bite. This moment was simple and humble but in that silence, it felt sacred because for once, the world outside didn't matter...
...
....
....
This world was born from the hands of the God. The Creator of all that breathes, burns, and dreams. In His divine wisdom, He entrusted fragments of His power to chosen beings. Those who received it were called Lords, the protectors of the world.
But faith is fragile, and power hungers. The three greatest of His warriors blessed beyond measure betrayed their own Creator. Their hearts once pure got consumed by greed. Together they struck down the God, chaining the very being who had given them life and with their combined might, they stole the essence of creation itself and the world fell under their reign...
For A thousand years, they ruled the world but when the memory of the true Creator faded into the myth, a man rose upon the Peak of Creation, the first mountain ever shaped by the God's hand. he stood cloaked in divine light and burning with unyielding will. His aura split the sky, his voice shook the stars. He challenged the false Lords... Their battle raged for days, this was the war between the Gods and a men.
His body was torn, his arm were severed, yet he refused to kneel. Even as his blood painted the earth, he stood tall, fighting for the justice he had believed in all his life and when the dust settled, both the Lords and the imprisoned God had fallen. Yet before his final breath, the man sealed their stolen powers into a sacred stone, hiding it where no one could reach.
And then... he vanished.
Some say he died that day.
Others whisper that he ascended beyond life itself to become the Lord of Lords.
After the God's death, the fragments of His divine power scattered across the world, drifting like whispers in the wind. They sought new host, choosing those worthy to bear their strength. And so, the thousand years of Ruler's Era came to an end… and it gave birth to a new age, known as the Era of the Lord.
Centuries later…
A young man named Atom wandered through the ruins of a burned house, with his sister Ana following close behind they searched the houses quietly, hoping to find anything of use but the ruins offered nothing but silence.
Then-
A sound.
Atom froze. His senses sharpened. Was it an animal… or something else?
He gestured for Ana to stay behind him, his eyes fixed on the overgrown bushes ahead. The leaves rustled once more and out hopped a small rabbit.
Ribbit ribbit~
Ana exhaled, she was half annoyed and half relieved.
"Youu're wasy twoo serioouss," she teased him softly, but a faint smile tugging her lips and she asked, "Whhy dwon't youu everr smiillee, what had happened to you?" Before he responds she knelt down and reached for the rabbit but it darted away into the shadows. She sighed again.
"Gwuess ewen raebbits dwon't traust uss," she murmured. Atom gave her a quiet look And together, they left the ruins behind, unaware that destiny had already begun to move.
But Atom didn't knew…
In the shadows behind those same bushes, someone was watching. Hidden eyes followed his every move. "He's the one…"
Atom and Ana made their way toward a nearby town. The burnt horizon faded behind them, replaced by the distant hum of life, the merchants shouting, wheels rolling, people talking.
But something felt off.
As they walked through the crowded streets, people turned to look at them, they were whispering, staring, and even avoiding eye contact.
The air became unease, as if the siblings carried a curse upon them and Ana, however, seemed untouched by it all. Her eyes sparkled when she spotted a small jewellery shop.
"Brwother, waeit!" she said, tugging his sleeve.
She saw the glass cases shimmered with stones and silver. The dim light made everything glow it was a moment of beauty in a world of ruin.
Ana's gaze stopped on a delicate emerald pendant. She lifted it carefully, her face lighting up with joy.
"Isen't itt preettty?" Atom couldn't help he used his little money he had, he paid for the emerald and for that brief moment, the world felt peaceful.
But as they stepped out, the shopkeeper stood frozen, Sweat running down his neck. He stared at them long after they'd left.
"Thank the Lord…" he whispered while trembling. "He didn't kill me."
As they moved through the bustling market, a small child suddenly stumbled into Atom and fell hard to the ground. Atom knelt down immediately. The boy's leg was scraped, blood trickling down his shin so the child whimpered softly, his tiny hands trembling in pain and before Atom could say anything, Ana rushed forward.
"Aare youu okaeyy? Litttle oone," she said gently, kneeling beside him. She took out a small ointment bottle from her bag but just as the boy reached for it, a harsh voice cut through the air.
"Don't touch him!" She was his mother, she stormed over and slapped his son. The sharp sound echoed through the market, the boy burst into tears, his mother pulling him close with fear in her eyes, she warned him, "Don't go near them!" Glaring at Atom and Ana she left with his son and for a long moment, the market was silent. Then came the whispers.
"Look, he hurt that kid."
"What kind of man harms a child?"
"Is she really his sister?"
"Poor girl, her life's ruined because of him."
"Don't be stupid! He might kill you!"
"He's dangerous…"
"He's a bad guy… a really bad guy."
The voices followed them as they moved forward. But Atom said nothing. He took Ana's hand with calm expression and left...
When they entered the forest the world became quiet again, the air smelled of moss and rain, the sunlight breaking gently through the trees. Ana was tired, "Brwother… cann wee reast a biit?" She was exhausted.
So Atom looked around there were no house, no shelter, only rocks and trees. They left the town behind a long way. Then without a word, he placed his palm on a large stone nearby and he whispered,
"Lord Almighty… Nifl." The stone began to tremble and cracks spread across its surface, glowing faintly with light. Atom moved his hand slowly, shaping it as if sculpting the air itself and within seconds, the rough boulder reshaped into a smooth stone chair, strong, elegant, and warm to the touch.
"You… made this?" Ana blinked in awe, as she sat down, a soft wind passed through the trees at that moment the forest felt alive...
[Note: this is a power system explanation...
"Lord Almighty" is the mantra used by the one who wields the power of the Lord. There were three Lords each possessing their own unique mantra and Atom had used 4 activation spells: Nifl, Sihur, Shield, and Death. They are the 'Commands' spoken after the mantra to channel a specific effect.
(Sihur: Enhances the atomic growth of any object, allowing it to increase in height, size, or mass.)
(Shield: manipulates gathered atoms to form a shield capable of absorbing any form of attack.)
(Death: simply represents Death.)
(Nifl: accelerates atomic aging, causing the object to rust, decay, or decompose rapidly.)
For example, when Atom invoked "Lord Almighty; Nifl," he accelerated the aging of the rock's atoms, allowing it to weaken, crumble, and be shaped easily according to his will.
Now back to the story....
"Ana, I'm going to make some arrangements for the dinner." Atom went to the nearby river and Ana remained behind, sitting quietly and soaking in the serene beauty of the evening.
The sky was glowing orange, and the last light of the sinking sun shimmered across the water felt peaceful that Ana eventually drifted into sleep.
So when Atom returned, with the fish in his hand, he noticed she was resting.
So without making any noise, he began to prepare the place for cooking. Gathering dry wood and stones from around the clearing, he sprinkled a few drops of water over them and whispered the mantra:
"Lord Almighty; Vish." The water ignited instantly, bursting into steady flames.
As the fire crackled to life, the aroma of cooking fish slowly filled the cool evening air.
Waiting for the fish to cook, and then Atom's gaze drifted towards Ana.
Her face looked tired yet cheerful as if nothing in the world could disturb her sleep it was because Atom had made a soft bed of leaves for her which was comfortable enough to ease her exhaustion.
"I'm sorry," Atom was worried over something because this was what he was thinking, "I have to find a safe place for you. But every time I look around, I start to doubt... Does such a place even exist? Somewhere you could live without me constantly worrying about you?" And as her brother he carried a deep weight in his heart. Her safety was his greatest concern especially because of that day, the day that shattered their lives and set them on this endless path of running...
"The night… the stars," Atom gazed at the sky and he felt the vastness and the emptiness over him because they may shine bright but whenever Atom looks at them, he only witnessed darkness just like his own self. This is why he was concerned about her sister And this is why he thinks if his sister stay with him the darkness will consume her too... the consequences of his actions through his decisions lead Atom's heart torn between love and fear.
He decided that he didn't want Ana to live with him, because he cares for her too much. He wanted her to live safely, far away from the chaos that is around him so she can live safely without worrying him that one day the darkness rising in him would sink her even more deeper. But deep down he knows, This world isn't safe anymore. She doesn't belong here… not in this cruel reality. And if he ever let his guard down. Even for a moment he'll never forgive himself. Atleast, not this time... Because the weight of responsibility and the urgency of survival blended into one overwhelming feeling for him; confusion, guilt, and love. Atom is trapped. He already has lost too much. So in his second chance he don't want to waste it, he decided not to sleep that night and under the vast empty sky full of light he felt he's surrounded by the quiet songs of the stars which he kept watching while guarding his sister but the light of the night felt alive as if they are humming softly, as if the heaven itself was singing a lullaby.
And in that stillness, Atom drifted into a waking dream.
He saw himself running through a field of flower with his sister smiling and carefree.
Then amidst the gentle rustle of petals, her voice echoed softly, "Will you really protect me, brother?"
Atom's eyes opened. The fire had long died down and Dawn was already breaking.
He sat up his senses sharp again but something! Something felt really wrong.
The place was too quiet. It wasn't like before.
"Ana?" he called out. There came No answer.
He rose quickly, scanning the area. At first he thought maybe she's bathing at nearby river.
"Ana!" he called louder this time, his voice echoed through the forest but still. There came no response...
And this moment Panic gripped him. He rushed toward the river.
He ran and ran, calling her name again and again… but silence was his only reply.
He stopped, and breath heavily.
"Ana…" his voice started to break but a chilling realization struck him. Someone had taken his sister.
His only family.. and his reason to keep moving.
Which now has long gone.