For thousands of years, the wise have spoken about seven heavens above this universe, and beneath them seven great lands.
But humans have only known the First Land…
the land on which they live.
As for the other six lands, they remained mysterious secrets no one has ever reached, and no one knows where they begin… or where they end.
In this vast world, in a desert that stretched without end—where the wind howled between the dunes and the sands swallowed the footprints of travelers—there lived an old man named Giafakro.
He was a man who had grown old, and his heart had become heavy with disappointment in humanity.
For many years he had lived among people as a traveling merchant, moving between cities, yet he had seen nothing but lies, betrayal, and greed.
Partners he trusted had deceived him, and wealth he had earned through years of effort was taken from him, until his heart became filled with bitterness.
One quiet night, Giafakro sat alone in his room, staring into the darkness.
He sighed slowly and whispered to himself:
"Why must I suffer because of people? Why do I see nothing among them but lies and greed? Is this what remains for me at the end of my life?"
The old man spent the entire night thinking, searching for a way to find peace in the years he had left.
And when the sun rose…
He finally made his decision.
He would leave everything behind.
He sold his house and most of his belongings, then left the city that was surrounded by sand from every direction, heading toward the deep desert.
He brought with him a small cart filled with supplies, his old sword, and several barrels of water, then began his long journey.
Giafakro knew the desert roads well.
In his younger years he had traveled as a merchant between many cities.
Despite his old age, his body was still strong.
But this time, his purpose was not trade.
It was to escape from people.
After three days of traveling between the dunes, he began to worry that his water might run out.
But he remembered a small lake in that region, so he decided to head toward it.
The lake was a place where animals and birds came to drink, and sometimes traveling merchants stopped there as well, since there was no other water source nearby.
When he finally arrived, he slowly stepped down from his cart.
Both he and his horse drank until their thirst was satisfied, and he filled his barrels with water.
After that, he began searching for a place where he could live.
Between several rocky hills, he found a hidden spot surrounded by stone from every side.
It seemed perfect.
He gathered pieces of wood and built a small hut, which became his new home.
From that day on, Giafakro's life became quiet and simple.
Every morning he went out to gather firewood and practiced with his sword so his body would not weaken.
Then he returned to his hut to cook his food.
For the rest of the day, he spent his time reading the books he had brought with him from the city.
Days passed peacefully…
Until one day his food began to run out.
Giafakro sat down and started thinking about a solution.
While he was lost in thought, he noticed a small plant growing near the rocks.
He pulled it from the ground and examined it carefully.
His eyes widened in surprise.
It was a rare medicinal plant that he recognized from his years as a merchant.
He quickly brought a basket and began collecting large amounts of it.
Then he went to the lake and waited for traveling merchants to pass by.
When they arrived, he sold them the plants in exchange for food.
This routine continued for several days.
But as time passed, the plants near the lake began to disappear, forcing him to travel farther and farther into the desert to find more.
One day…
He went too far.
Much farther than he should have.
When he tried to return, he suddenly stopped.
He looked around with concern.
The place was unfamiliar.
The dunes were no longer where he remembered them…
The rocks looked different…
Even the wind seemed to blow from a strange direction.
It felt as if the desert itself had changed.
He wandered for two full days, unable to find his way back, until his food ran out.
In the distance, he saw a dark mountain range.
He did not want to go there.
Old rumors said that anyone who entered those mountains would be lost forever… and never return.
But he had no other choice.
So he went.
For four days he walked through rocks and narrow valleys, searching for water or food, until his body nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
Then…
He saw a cave.
As he approached it, he heard the sound of flowing water coming from inside.
He rushed in.
Deep inside the cave, he found a small pool, with water dripping from the ceiling above.
He knelt down and drank desperately.
After quenching his thirst, he noticed strange moss growing on the rocks.
He had no choice.
He forced himself to eat it while tears ran down his face.
Sitting in the corner of the cave, with the wind echoing through the dark passages, he whispered with regret:
"Was leaving the city… a mistake?"
And in that moment…
A deep voice echoed through the darkness of the cave.