Several hours had passed with no changes. Kaztos did his best to keep a clear head as he led his friends through the wasteland they found themselves in. To remain composed, he tried to stay focused on their surroundings. He listened to the steady footsteps they made. It was the only noise he could hear besides his own quiet breaths. It’s hard to believe that only yesterday he wandered through a forest filled with life and noise. Sounds he overlooked before were desperately missed now. Kaztos stopped that line of thought. He needed to stay focused.

  He turned his attention to the ashen wasteland around him. Rocky terrain stretched out as far as he could see. The only things of note were the occasional burnt-out husk of a tree or a small hill. A maddeningly dull gray stained the landscape. A layer of fallen ash had covered any color that could have been there before. At first, Kaztos was worried that the amount of ash would bury them. But the amount on the floor stayed at around an inch in depth.

  That thought had him looking up at the sky. Past the raining ash was the fiery destruction of the skies. Even though the sun had set long ago, the fire above cast enough light to almost deceive someone into thinking it was daytime. It also resulted in an oppressive heat that enveloped everything. Kaztos was accustomed to the temperate climate of Urada. This was proving to be worse than the hottest summer day at home. Altogether, the three of them had found themselves in hell. A miserable place to be in.

  It made Kazto’s mind wander back to what could have happened. What circumstances led them to this situation? It seemed unlikely that the three of them had deserved this fate. To be punished by living in this grim situation. No, it wasn’t the Amedori that caused this to happen. Kaztos wished it to be the case, because the alternative was a more terrifying possibility. That was something that terrified him to his very core.

  “You should be careful staring into the sky like that. You don’t want to get ash in your eye.” Kaztos looked down to see Zeltara staring at him. He hadn’t noticed that she had caught up to walk beside him. Her face, and Saiya’s beyond her, had seen better days. The mix of ash and sweat gave them a filthy appearance. Kaztos doubted he looked any better. What a sorry state the three of them were in.

  Taking his silence as permission to continue, Zeltara said, “I can’t blame you, though. It’s quite a sight to take in. This might be the first time people have ever seen something like this. It almost makes me excited to think about.” Zeltara paused as she looked up at the sky. She seemed to be searching for something. “But there seems to be something off when looking at the sky. You know, besides all the burning and all.”

  Kaztos finally mustered the strength to reply. Putting on an enormous grin, he said, “It is quite a remarkable sight to behold. I’m not sure what you mean by that, though.” That the heavens were on fire was horrible enough to think about. He preferred not to delve any deeper.

  “It just seems like something is missing. I feel like I should know what, but my mind isn’t as quick as it usually is.” That was a sentiment Kaztos could more than agree with. The miserable heat was getting to him too. Zeltara looked behind her at Saiya. “What do you think, Saiya? Do you see anything wrong with it?” The look Saiya gave them made him wish for the conversation to end. She did not look in the mood for conversation.

  “You mean besides the scalding heat, the burning ash, or the irritating red glow? No, I can’t see anything wrong.” Saiya’s glare matched the scathing tone in her voice. Kaztos assumed that the extended walk had further dampened her spirits. Zeltara, seeing the futility of continued conversation with her, turned back to him.

  “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter in the end. We’ll just have to keep going. I had hoped that we had found something by now. Luck just isn’t on our side yet.” Zeltara had an easygoing smile that Kaztos could not understand. How could she remain so collected under these circumstances? The reasoning eluded him. Despite that, he made an effort to mirror her expression to reassure her.

  “Everything will work out great! I am confident that we will soon discover something or someone. We just have to keep faith, okay?” Kaztos gave her a pat on the shoulder and hoped she took it at face value.

  He must not have been convincing enough, because Zeltara’s expression sobered. She scrutinized him for a few moments and then asked, “Kaztos, I know I’ve asked before, but are you sure you’re alright? It’s okay, given the circumstances. If you need to talk, then I can provide an ear.”

  He was tempted to give in and speak. However, Kaztos knew he couldn’t afford to. Someone needed to be a pillar of strength for them. To be the reliable one to help see this through. Zeltara had enough happening at the moment. He couldn’t do something as selfish as burdening her further. He needed to be dependable and to help them through this. If he let anything slip, Kaztos was afraid that he would fall to pieces. He couldn’t let that happen. His ancestors were people who stood tall through several of the crises. He would let them down by faltering now.

  So, Kaztos gave Zeltara as genuine of a smile as he could. He said, “The situation is rather difficult. But you don’t need to worry about me. I’m perfectly fine at the moment.” Kaztos hid a wince. Even he could tell that wasn’t the most convincing. Zeltara’s skeptical look only proved that as she considered his words.

  “Well, just tell me if that changes, okay?” Her response was hesitant, so Kaztos tried to drive the point home.

  “Of course, I’ll let you know. Just know that I’m willing to continue onward.” Zeltara nodded and turned her attention forward. Kaztos was glad that worked. Hopefully, that helped to ease her mind. However, he likely didn’t do well with convincing Saiya if the side-eye she was giving him was any indication. Kaztos took a deep breath and prepared for another few hours of walking. However, before he could distract himself again, he caught Zeltara muttering to herself.

  “Well, let’s hope that we can find something soon, Amedori willing.” Though just a passing comment by her, it managed to redirect Kaztos’ attention back to his inner turmoil.

  Despite his efforts to avoid it, Kaztos couldn’t help but think about it. Because it got to the heart of the matter. What happened to the world and what caused it? Kaztos had already dismissed earlier that the Amedori were the cause. It seemed unlikely that they would suddenly decide to end the world, despite their ability to do so. Besides, there were minor hints suggesting otherwise. The sky wouldn’t be burning and nor the sun be destroyed if the Amedori did this. The holy lords wouldn’t destroy their own home to do this. Heaven wouldn’t be in a worse condition than the world around them.

  It left only one other possibility. That an outside force caused this. The idea terrified Kaztos. Zeltara was right earlier at the cave. The power needed to do this was greater than anything he had ever heard of. Perhaps even greater than the Amedori themselves. The homes of the holy lords burned, and there hasn’t been a sign of them anywhere. Were they still okay up there, or had this cataclysm killed them as well? It happened almost in an instant. Kaztos could almost imagine it. One moment, the Amedori were watching and protecting the mortal realm. In the next moment, they were erased from existence, leaving their children directionless and damned in this new world.

  And where did that leave them? Hell, where did that leave Kaztos? From the very first breath he took, the Amedori themselves had shaped his destiny. They were the ones who cast his family down into disgrace, into squalor. It was because of them that Kaztos sought his family’s salvation. Every day, he tried his best to live a life of valor. To be like the Molinars of old and piously serve the powers above. He visited the church at least once a week for prayer and guidance. The priests there were among the few sympathetic to his struggle and provided a source of comfort. They were the ones who guided him in choosing this path.

  If the Amedori were truly dead, then what was he to do? Kazto’s whole life turned upside down in the space of an afternoon. His beliefs were shaken to their core. How was he to redeem his family if the holy lords he needed forgiveness from were gone? Was he doomed to live a life of shame no matter what he did? What was the point of going on if there was no point anymore?

  Kaztos wanted to distract himself from these thoughts. To keep his head clear so he can help his friends survive this ordeal. But he couldn’t stop himself from spiraling. Taking another look up at the heavens to see the desecrated home of the Amedori made him want to give up. To crawl into a hole and lie there until death came for him. But Kaztos knew he couldn’t do that. He needed to be there to help Zeltara and Saiya. He may be damned already in his destiny, but he couldn’t allow them to die. So, he pressed on and tried to keep hope, for their sake.

  These swirling thoughts occupied Kaztos for the hours until sunrise. Zeltara periodically tried to start a conversation with him and Saiya, but they weren’t very receptive. Their journey was a dreadful march in misery. To make matters worse, there had still been no sign of life anywhere. Their progress futile so far. Kazto’s legs throbbed from the long journey. He could tell that the other two were similarly sore. As the sun was rising from beyond the horizon, Zeltara called an end to their trip.

  They had found a small outcropping of large rocks to take shelter at. Kaztos was grateful, since the temperature was already rising. As if it weren’t hot enough. Kaztos appreciated Zeltara’s foresight in going during the night. They would likely be in a worse situation if they waited until sunrise to travel. The three of them entered the outcropping.

  Zeltara took off her coat and laid it down. She then looked at Saiya and said, “Sorry, I know you like that cloak. But could you take it off and lay it down? It’ll be more comfortable for everyone if we have something to rest on other than the hard ground.” Saiya nodded and did as asked. Between the coat and cloak, there wasn’t much space to rest on. However, there was enough to sit and then rest their heads on to sleep.

  As the three sat down, Zeltara began to take out some food and a waterskin. She handed them their portion of food before drinking for only a few seconds. As she passed the waterskin to Kaztos, Zeltara said, “Damn, I’m still parched. I wish I could have more after all that walking.”

  Kaztos drank from the waterskin as Saiya said, “We need to stretch supplies out for as long as possible. We won’t last as long if we use everything now.” Kaztos felt the burning in his throat subside as he finished drinking. Zeltara was right. His thirst was not fully satiated. He handed the waterskin to Saiya, who drank as well.

  “I know. I’m just complaining about the shitty situation, I guess.” Zeltara started to eat, with Kaztos quickly following. Though mostly tasteless, he found himself savoring the food. He already missed the meals back home. Saiya finished drinking and ate as well. During the meal, a moment of silence envelops the three. Kaztos noticed the exhaustion reflected in their body language. It was a miserable day that taxed all three of them. Finishing his food, Kaztos found himself still peckish, but he said nothing. Complaining wouldn’t help the situation.

  Zeltara looked out of their shelter and said, “Well, at least the ashfall is lessening.” Kaztos glanced out to see that she was correct. While still coming down steadily, the ash was dissipating. At least they didn’t have to worry about being buried under the ash. He then noticed Zeltara smirked. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and get water rain instead of ash. That would be a great help. Could help wash the muck off us.” Her expression turned downtrodden. “I don’t know about you guys, but I haven’t seen anything out there.”

  Saiya said nothing and just stared outside. Kaztos knew he needed to do something to cheer Zeltara up. The last thing they needed to do was lose hope. So, Kaztos squared his shoulders, put a grin on his face, and said, “Nonsense! We’ll find a way out of this. So don’t be down, Zeltara!” Unfortunately, it seemed like his words didn’t have the intended effect. Zeltara only looked at him concerned, while Saiya stared at him. Kaztos cursed himself for not having done a better job. Now, they're concerned about him on top of everything else.

  Zeltara opened her mouth as if to say something. However, she only sighed and rubbed her eyes. She glanced at both of them and said, “I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m exhausted. Let’s try to get some sleep. We’ll eat something at dusk and keep going.” Saiya grumbled affirmatively as the three lay down. Their heads were next to each other as they all sought the comfort of their makeshift bedding. Not that it helped much, Kaztos discovered as he lay there trying to wind down. Zeltara voiced similar thoughts. “This is very uncomfortable. It’s going to be hard to get asleep like this.”

  “Shut up. Your constant complaining isn’t helping,” Saiya said. Kaztos winced at the tone as Zeltara spoke up.

  “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m just making things worse by saying things like that.” Saiya didn’t respond, so Zeltara continued. “I hope you guys sleep well. Goodnight.”

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  “Goodnight,” Kaztos said. He closed his eyes and tried to settle in. To Kazto’s surprise, he heard Saiya respond.

  “Goodnight.” He heard Zeltara give a small hum in acknowledgement. Kaztos felt his first genuine smile of the day as he took comfort in his friend’s presence beside him. He allowed his thoughts to drift away and forgot his worries for the moment. They could wait until tomorrow. With the exhaustion he felt, it didn’t take long before he felt himself falling asleep.

  His mind drifted through an inky blackness. The sound of indistinct voices reached his ears. Try as Kaztos might, he couldn’t tell what they were saying. He concentrated, trying to listen, and felt himself regaining his senses. Kaztos awoke to a memory. Of a time long past.

  He was running down the road in Urada. The downpour drowned out his steps, concealed the tears running down his face, and covered the whimpers from his throat. While he usually hated the rain, Kaztos would tolerate it in order to hide his humiliation.

  It had been a bad day, to put it mildly. It was full of ridicule, shoving, and more. Those who had once been his friends turned into tormentors. The academy, which had once been his favorite place, had become a twisted perversion of itself. Kaztos hadn’t even made it through lunch and had run off when it became too much.

  To think, just a month ago, Kaztos had just been a normal seven-year-old like the rest of them. Sure, they all came from wealthy backgrounds, but they were still kids. It was easy to make friends. To them, he was Kaztos, and that was enough.

  Until it wasn’t. In that history class from a month ago, where his family’s sins were revealed to the class. How his great uncle, who he’d never met, had caused such suffering, and ended so many lives. How now the family he was born into was cursed, and now Kaztos was as well.

  Kaztos could still remember the smirk the teacher had given him. The academy knew who he was, but had kept it quiet before then. Though he had to get used to the countless dirty looks many of the faculty would give him, just having friends in his class was enough. But as the lesson progressed and his own peers turned their gazes toward him, Kaztos knew he didn’t even have that anymore. Their teacher left nothing out, going into vivid detail of what happened.

  After that day, Kaztos wasn’t just Kaztos anymore. To the rest of the academy, he was Molinar, and that meant he deserved their scorn, their hatred. Because his uncle caused the death of at least one family member of almost everyone attending. It didn’t matter that none of them had met their fallen family either. His uncle was horrible, and by the Amedori’s decree, so was any other Molinar. By those who created and governed the very world they live in, Kaztos was nothing but scum.

  He understood his mother now. She had been a baby back then, but it made no difference. Just like it made no difference for him. She tried to warn him, but Kaztos hadn’t listened. He was too excited to go out and see the world. Now look where that had gotten him, running through the soaked streets, trying to find his way back home.

  Unfortunately, Kaztos got lost. Between the rain and his turbulent emotions, he had taken a wrong turn or two. He stopped running and looked around, trying to get his bearings. The sooner Kaztos could get home, the sooner he could ask his mother to pull him from the academy. There wasn’t any point in going there anymore, not when everyone hated him. Not when he wasn’t ever going to accomplish anything.

  “Young man! Are you alright?” The voice of a man called out. Kaztos turned to see that he had stopped in front of the Urada church. There in the doorway was a priest. He wore a brown cloak over a white shirt and pants. Short grey hair matched the wrinkles and spots on his concerned face. Seeing Kaztos staring, the priest called out, “Please come over. You’re going to catch a cold at this rate.”

  Part of Kaztos wanted to just turn and run, but he walked over. After everything from the past month, the warm tone of the man’s voice pulled him closer. It spoke of a comfort Kaztos sorely needed. As he reached the doorway, the priest opened the door and let him inside.

  Kaztos had never been to the church before. His mother never saw fit to take him. However, knowing just what this place represented, he expected something grandiose. Expensive decorations with larger-than-life murals and tapestries. This was supposed to be where people worshiped the Amedori, who ruled over them. It should present the power and beauty they represented.

  But the church wasn’t anything like that. Wooden pews lined both sides of the central aisle. The walls had chipped white paint as their only decoration. Well-worn wooden floors displayed what must have been decades of foot travel. Glancing over, Kaztos inspected the priest. He wore no jewelry or finery. From close up, his clothing had several patches, indicating he had used them long enough to need repair.

  That’s not to say that the place was filthy. The floors, despite their wear, were polished. The walls still almost shone with a cleanliness that Kaztos couldn’t help but envy. There wasn’t a speck of dust or a piece of trash in sight. The church was well lived in and well loved. Despite his choice of clothing, the priest kept himself well groomed. Not a hair out of place.

  “Are you alright, lad?” The priest asked. Kaztos blushed, realizing that he had been staring. He looked to the ground.

  “Yes, sir.” He then noticed the water he had tracked in. His entire face turned red. “Sorry about the floor.” To Kaztos’ surprise, the priest laughed.

  “There’s nothing to worry about. Much more than some rain water has come through these doors. Stay there and let me get something for you to dry off with.” The priest turned and walked to the back of the room, past the center altar, and into another room. After a minute, he returned with a towel. Kaztos accepted it and dried himself off.

  He handed back the towel and said, “Thank you, sir.” The priest smiled.

  “You’re a polite one. It’s no problem. Now that you’re no longer waterlogged, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vellatar.” The priest bowed to Kaztos, which he returned.

  “My name is Kaztos...” He paused. Vellatar seemed so nice. But would he remain that way if he told him his full name? “Just Kaztos.” He blushed at the lackluster introduction.

  Vellatar smiled. “Very well, just Kaztos. Let’s go sit down. You can wait here until the rain ends.” The priest guided him to the nearest pew, and the two sat down. Vellatar sighed as he leaned back. “Now, can I ask you a question, Kaztos?” The boy nodded. “Are you okay?”

  Kaztos asked, “What do you mean?”

  “You seem upset about something. I was just wondering if you want to talk about it.” Kaztos stared at the priest, confused.

  “How can you tell?” Shouldn’t the rain have hidden his tears? Vellatar pointed to his eyes.

  “Your eyes appear puffy and bloodshot. I also heard you sniffling as you came inside. At first I feared you had caught a cold, but you seem fine. So, what’s the matter? Maybe I can help.” Kaztos froze, uncertain of what to do. If he talked about his problem, then Vellatar might turn against him. Just like everyone else in his life.

  “I don’t know if I should say. I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

  Vellatar smiled. “Well, we won’t know unless you tell me. Did you do something wrong?” Kaztos shook his head. The priest hummed. “Is it because of your family? I know that being a Molinar can be difficult.”

  Kaztos felt his breath leave him. Fear crept into his stomach, making him feel nauseous. “You know? And you're not mad?” Kaztos looked into Vellatar’s eyes, thinking he would see the loathing everyone else seemed to have for him. Instead, he found no trace of malicious intent. Just understanding and sadness?

  “I do. Urada isn’t big, so I keep track of the people who live here. I knew that there were a pair of Molinars living here. Your appearance fits the description of the boy from what I heard.” Vellatar’s expression turned sympathetic. “And I’m not mad. Who you were born from isn’t your fault.”

  The sympathy only angered Kaztos. “Well, that’s not what everyone else thinks! They’re all too happy to pick on me. Just for being a Molinar.” He points a finger at the priest. “Why aren’t you mad at me? It’s your Amedoris’ fault that this happened to me.” He struggled to get the words out. “Why is it my fault for what my uncle did?” Kaztos started to cry. He felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder.

  “I may serve as a priest for the Amedori, but that doesn’t mean exactly what you think.” Kaztos sniffled as he glanced up in confusion. “The church has always prided itself on following the Amedori’s teachings. To help those in need, no matter who they are. It is not our job to interpret their actions, only to follow our mission. I don’t know why the great Amedori Xitali proclaimed your family to share the sin of Lilathos’ actions. It isn’t my job to do that. Instead, I’m here to help whoever needs it, even a Molinar.”

  Kaztos finished wiping the tears from his eyes. “And how do you expect to help me? You can’t exactly make everyone like me.” Vellatar smiled.

  “Well no, but we can talk it out. I find that exploring a problem can help it not seem so big. Perhaps we can find a solution.” For the first time today, Kaztos grinned.

  “Really? Well, everyone has been mean to me ever since they found out why it’s bad for me to be a Molinar. The adults always seemed wary, but my classmates were nice. At least until that history lesson a month ago.”

  Vellatar nodded. “That is quite a problem. Happy relationships make for a happy life. You seem in short supply of both recently. How about your family?” Kaztos couldn’t help but scowl.

  “It’s only Mom, and she just stays home all day. I don’t think she even talks to anyone. When I asked her, she just told me to drop out of the academy, saying it was a waste of time.” Just thinking about it upset Kaztos.

  “And do you want to leave the academy?” Vellatar asked.

  At first, he wanted to say yes. But now that Kaztos calmed down, he said, “I’m not sure. I love learning, and it’s good to get out of the house. But I can’t handle how mean everyone is being.” He growled in frustration. “I don’t know.”

  Vellatar hummed in thought. “Well, is it just words, or are they hurting you?”

  “It’s mostly just words.” Today had been an exception, when Holindras shoved him to the ground. But now, he could remember the teacher reprimanding him as Kaztos ran off. “It just gets too much sometimes. I wish I could change their minds about me.”

  “Well, why don’t you?” Vellatar asked.

  Kaztos scoffed. “How do you expect me to do that? I didn’t do anything! It was my great uncle’s fault. It’s not fair.” Vellatar sighed, the sadness returning to his expression.

  “I know. Unfortunately, in my years of working here, I’ve seen plenty of unfairness in the world. People are hurt for reasons that are outside their control. But do you want to know something? There are two things you can still control.”

  “What are they?” Kaztos asked.

  Vellatar pointed to Kaztos’ head. “First, you can control your actions. People may think the worst of you, but you can prove them wrong. By living a life of virtue, you can show that you're better than your uncle.”

  Kaztos voiced his doubts. “But what if that doesn’t work? What if they still mistreat me?” At his questions, Vellatar pointed to Kaztos’ heart.

  “Second, you can control how you see yourself. You’re right. Maybe you’ll never change their minds. But if you keep being a good person, then at least one person will know the truth.” The priest then smiled. “Well, two people will know at least.”

  A surge of gratitude made Kaztos sniffle. “Thank you, sir! You’re right! From now on, I’ll act as a noble should! I’ll prove everyone wrong, even the Amedori! You can count on me!” Vellatar laughed at his enthusiasm.

  “I’m happy to hear it. Now, how about you head home? The rain seems to have stopped.” Kaztos listened and realized that he couldn’t hear the downpour anymore. The two stood up and walked outside. The afternoon sky greeted them. Kaztos smiled at the rainbow above.

  He turned to the priest. “Thank you for everything. I feel so much better now.”

  “I’m glad to hear. If you ever need to talk again, you’ll always be welcome here. Take care.” Vellatar waved him off as Kaztos ran towards him. He promised himself that he would come back.

  As he ran down the road, Kaztos promised himself that he would redeem his family. To live a life of honor and glory. Molinars, no matter where, could hold their heads up high. Even the Amedori themselves would change their minds by the time Kaztos was done.

  “But it doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” The voice made Kaztos come to a stop. He looked around but saw nobody. Strange, that isn’t what he remembered happening next, right?

  “Kaztos...” He whipped around to face the voice behind him. To his shock, Urada was gone. Instead, a black void had taken its place. Behind him was the same. What was happening? The void shook with laughter. He had to cover his ears.

  “Stop it!” His heart pounded in his chest.

  “Such a delightful dream. Too bad it’s impossible now.” The voice was directionless. No matter where Kaztos looked, he couldn’t find the speaker.

  “You’re wrong.” The words that left his lips felt like a lie. The laughter came back with a vengeance.

  “Kaztos.” His head felt like it was splitting. He crouched and covered his head. “What will you do now that the holy lords are gone, and the world is ruined? What’s left for you?”

  He gritted his teeth. “I said stop talking!” Why was this happening now? Kaztos couldn’t breathe. It was all too much.

  “Kaztos!” The shout caused him to wake up in a cold sweat. Kaztos tried to get his breathing under control. His friends stood before him. Zeltara looked at him with open worry on her face while the Saiya just appeared annoyed. He tried to reassure them.

  “I’m okay.” Saiya scoffed at this.

  “No one asked.” Zeltara looked irritated as she took a step forward and put a hand on Saiya’s shoulder.

  “Hey, no need to bite his head off. He said that he’s okay.” Saiya knocked Zeltara’s hand off and turned to glare at her.

  “At least I don’t believe everything that comes out of his mouth. You’re just happy to ignore the problem.” A flash of indignation passed over Zeltara as she opened her mouth to fire back. Fortunately, she stopped herself and took a moment to recompose herself. Looking calmer, Zeltara finally responded.

  “Let’s just eat our rations and continue our journey. We can talk about this later.” Saiya shook her head but didn’t respond. Kaztos was quick to get up and get ready for their trip. They ate the distributed food and water in silence. Zeltara and Saiya put their previously discarded clothing back on. Soon, the three headed out again and walked north in silence.

  Kaztos noted the change in their environment. The ashfall had decreased significantly during their rest. It couldn’t be too long before it stopped completely. The total amount of ash on the ground was strangely less than before. He wondered if it was somehow disintegrating or if something else was happening. It was also much darker than before, as the burning above had decreased. The lingering embers still gave off enough light for them to see. They would likely need to have their own light source soon. Kaztos was glad Zeltara had that lantern with her. Saiya and he could conserve energy by not having to use mana for lighting. The temperature had also fallen from the blistering heat the night before. It made for better traveling conditions than the hellish experience of the last few days.

  Yet, Kaztos couldn’t enjoy the improved situation as a tense atmosphere overtook the group. Zeltara kept sending glares at Saiya every few minutes. Saiya kept scowling at the both of them nonstop. The two seemed ready to erupt and go for the other’s throat. Kaztos could blame only himself. He failed to hide his struggles and insecurities from them. That dream was just the nail in the coffin. He must have been flailing around in his sleep. Kaztos wondered if he had ruined their sleep because of that. Guilt ate away at him as he tried to find a solution.

  He could try to talk to them and resolve things that way. Yet, he couldn’t think of the words that could solve this. That, and talking had gotten them into this mess in the first place. No, Kaztos felt it best to keep quiet for now. He’ll try not to bother either of them further. Hopefully, tensions will die down soon enough.

  An hour passed as they traveled. The only sounds that could be heard were their footsteps. Kaztos did his best to keep his mind off troubling matters, but that was a doomed endeavor. All he could do was take one step after the other through this wasteland.

  A muted sound from the distance caught his attention. Kaztos thought little of it until he saw Zeltara stop dead in her tracks. He and Saiya turned to look at her staring off in the distance.

  “What’s the matter?” Kaztos asked. Zeltara continued to stare for a moment before turning to look at them.

  “That was a person screaming. There’s someone in trouble.” Immediately, all three take their weapons out. Zeltara looked back in the direction the scream had come from. “We should go check it out.”

  “Are you crazy? We’re in enough trouble as it is. And now you want to go find more danger?” Saiya said. Zeltara glared at her. Kaztos gave his thoughts before another argument started.

  “We need to go help whoever this is.” Saiya turned her glare towards him.

  “And risk ourselves in the process? We need to be thinking about how to survive this. Not running to our deaths.”

  “Whoever is in trouble could help us. This is the first sign of life we have found, and you want to ignore it.” Zeltara got interrupted by another quiet scream. “I’m going to help. You can stay here if you want.” Zeltara turned and ran off in the scream's direction. Kaztos hurried after her. He could hear Saiya growl behind them before she followed as well.

  The three sprinted across the wasteland. As they did, the screams got louder and more numerous. The three reach a vast wall of stone. The incline was too steep to be climbed, and it spanned as far as they could see in either direction. Kaztos knew that the formation wasn’t natural. It was like this section of the ground was pulled twenty feet upward. The cataclysm likely created when reshaping the world. There was no time to ponder that, as Zeltara found a small crevice path and entered. Kaztos and Saiya pursued behind.

  By now, the light from the sky has darkened even further. The high walls blocked most of what little light there was. Zeltara brought out her lantern to see better while Kaztos and Saiya channeled small mana lights in their hands. Teal and orange light mixed with the dim red from the sky.

  The screams were close now. Kaztos knew it’ll be only a matter of time before they reached whoever this was. Tension filled the group as they carefully navigated the path. Suddenly, the screaming stopped. All three of them paused for a second before continuing on. Kaztos hoped that whoever that was stopped because they were no longer in danger, but he doubted it. There was likely only one thing they were going to find. They reached a turn in the path. As they walked past the bend, the three found what they were looking for. Horror overtook Kaztos as he looked at what lay before him.

  Origins: A New Beginning

  by KhaosZero

  In a world where concepts live like people, who is to say he can’t become one.

  What You Can Expect

  - Rational Protagonist

  - Some Slice of Life

  - Some Mystery / Psychological / Tragedy Themes

  - Substantial Character Growth, Both for MC and Side Characters

  - A Story that Starts Fast but Slows Down

  - Well Developed World and Magic System

  - 1500-2500 Word Chapters

  - No Instant Overpowered MC

  Release Schedule

  - Daily first 2 weeks followed by 5x Week Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri @ 14:00 CET