Thunder and lightning tore across the heavens, their deafening clash echoing through a dying land. The trees stood brittle and lifeless, their branches stripped of vitality, while the world itself withered beneath the grip of a merciless drought.
"We have nothing left to eat," said a six-year-old Shen Yue, his voice small and fragile against the vast silence.
They stood by the river that flowed down from the steep peaks of Mount Dao. In his hands, Shen Yue held a worn fishing net, while beside him sat an empty container—mocking their efforts, and their hunger.
"We can't go home empty-handed. Mother and the others are counting on us," Mei Lin replied.
Though they were the same age, the difference between them was undeniable seen not in years, but in the weight they carried.
Both of them had been abandoned by their families at a young age. Shen Yue had been cast aside because of the horn growing from his forehead. Even his striking red hair had not spared him from ridicule before he was ultimately forsaken.
Mei Lin, on the other hand, had been rejected for her incompleteness, one arm missing since birth. Yet despite her condition, she refused to let it define her will to survive.
"We've been here for too long. Mother must be starving."
Mei Lin let out a quiet sigh before nodding. If they failed today, there would be nothing waiting for them at home.
Her gaze drifted toward the towering mountain where the river was born. It was their only source of sustenance, and with food growing scarce, the villagers of Zephyrron had long resorted to hunting beasts near the Temple of Dao, an act forbidden in most Holy Cities, though Zephyrron was no longer bound by such laws.
"Mei Lin, let's go. It looks like it's about to rain," Shen Yue urged nervously.
Mei Lin motioned for him to go ahead, but Shen Yue hesitated, his unease evident.
"We won't have anything to eat if I don't find another way. And Mother still needs medicine."
"But Mother said we must never go to that mountain—"
"Listen to me, Shen Yue. This is the only way I can think of."
"Mei Lin…"
"Go home. Take the herbs to Mother. Just… don't tell her where I went."
Shen Yue had no choice but to obey. Though he knew mortals were forbidden from setting foot on that mountain, he could not stop her. Their mother's life hung in the balance, and medicine alone would not save her on an empty stomach.
Unlike other villages, Zephyrron possessed no magic to heal illness. If such miracles existed, they belonged elsewhere outside the city.
Thunder rumbled once more as Mei Lin began her ascent. The storm did not deter her. With her small frame, she climbed through tightly clustered trees, navigating jagged branches and the ever-present threat of wild beasts. Yet strangely, none appeared. As if the heavens themselves had parted a path for her, she encountered nothing but silence and stillness.
Hours passed before she finally reached the summit. And when she did, she froze. Before her lay a world untouched by decay, so breathtaking it felt unreal. It was nothing like the desolation of Zephyrron.
Clear water flowed gently, emerging from beneath the mountain itself. Flowers of delicate beauty surrounded the stream, some even drifting upon its surface. Mei Lin could hardly believe her eyes as she stepped closer, drawn by its serenity. Beneath the water, fish of radiant, shifting colors swam with unnatural grace. It's swift, elusive, almost otherworldly.
Her gaze wandered. Strange plants bore abundant fruit, small yet vibrant with life. Overcome with joy, Mei Lin rushed forward, stepping into the water despite not knowing how to swim.
But the moment her foot touched the surface, everything shattered. The beauty dissolved like mist. Her smile vanished, replaced by shock as an unseen force dragged her downward into the depths beneath the mountain.
When Mei Lin awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar place.
Groaning softly, she held her back and slowly scanned her surroundings. Strange flowers bloomed nearby, it's a species that could only be found in distant villages.
So why were they here?
Darkness enveloped the area, yet a faint glow illuminated the space. It resembled a cavern, filled with countless plants. At its center coiled a massive thorn-covered vine, its surface glistening as droplets of clear water trickled down.
Cautiously, Mei Lin stepped closer. The cavern echoed with each of her movements. A child's cry pierced the silence. Her heart tightened with fear for a moment, she thought it might be a ghost… or something worse like demons hiding from the shadows.
She followed the sound, deeper into the cavern, until she reached what appeared to be the remnants of an ancient temple. There, beside what looked like a grave, was a baby crying softly, trembling as if searching for warmth.
Mei Lin approached, her expression softening. But just as she reached out she froze in the midair. A skeleton sat beside the child. Its posture is stiff, as if caught in its final moment of terror.
Instinctively, Mei Lin clutched her chest.
Death was not unfamiliar to her. Even at a young age, the children of Zephyrron had learned how to kill when necessary. But they did not take lives without reason, only when forced to defend themselves against cruelty.
They believed no gods nor deities watched over them. To them, the heavens had long abandoned Zephyrron. And that truth had bred nothing but resentment.
The baby's cries grew louder, pulling Mei Lin back from her thoughts. Gently, she reached out and stroked its jet black, soft, and strangely luminous hair.
"They left you here… because of your hair," she murmured, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Don't worry. You're not alone anymore."
Memories of her past surfaced, it's painful and sharp. She remembered being four years old, cast out from Sabbath, one of the Holy Cities governed by the heavens. Branded a curse because of her missing arm, she had been exiled to Zephyrron without hesitation.
"Don't cry," she whispered, lifting the baby into her arms. "From now on… you'll live in Zephyrron with us." She held the child close, offering the warmth neither of them had ever truly known.
But deep within the shadows of the Temple of Dao, a devine soul is watching. A soul lingered in the darkness, its presence unseen.
And it smiled. For in that fleeting moment, it knew that the prophecy had begun to unfold.
The day would come when Zephyrron would once again be bathed in sunlight, its name no longer whispered in scorn, but spoken across the world with awe and reverence. And when that day arrived, it would not come quietly.
For soon… a holy war would rise again, one that would engulf the entire world.