The sun burns my skin. I've just pulled my boat to shore, but there's not enough fish to trade for dinner. They say I'm cursed. They want me dead. Sometimes I think… maybe they're not entirely wrong.
I walk toward the river. The water is clear, but not calming. I squat down—one leg bent, the other pressed to the wet ground. My face stares back from the reflection—dull, tired, barely human. A tear falls, rippling the surface. I cup my hands, scoop the water, and drink slowly.
As I pour the rest back, a sharp glint stabs my eyes. I squint, lean closer. A necklace—caught between stones at the riverbed. At its center, a black crystal, glimmering like a night sky full of stars.
I lift it up toward the light, watching it shine from within.
For a moment I hesitate. Then curiosity wins. My fingers touch it—
—and the world rips open. My sight is pulled outward, across a swirl of light and space. My body trembles violently.
ARRKKHH—!
I try to pull away, but my grip won't release. I bite back the scream—no one should hear me.
Then it stops. The crystal falls. My breath shudders. My limbs are weak.
This is magic.
And if it's magic… it's worth something.
---
KRIIINGGG!
The bell above the door rings as I step into the relic shop. The sound pierces my ears. I keep my head low. The old man behind the counter eyes me sharply.
"Where'd you steal this from, kid?"
I stay silent, placing the necklace on the table. His hand trembles as he picks it up, inspecting the gem before glaring back at me.
"Where the hell did you get this, huh?"
"I found it," I whisper.
A slap cracks across my face. My head snaps to the side, but I don't react.
"Did you steal it?" His breath reeks of smoke.
"No," I murmur.
"Huh?!"
"I found it!" I say louder, the words scraping out of me. Silence follows. Only my heavy breathing—and the growl of my empty stomach.
UUKHHH… I clutch my gut, pain twisting inside.
The old man grabs my collar, stares for a moment, then slams his hand on the table.
"Get the hell out of here."
I don't move.
He slams again, louder. "OUT!"
I lower my head, step back, and leave without a word.
---
The hill above the village waits—my quiet place. From here, I can see everything. The wind carries dust and the salt of the sea. I lean against a tree. My stomach growls again, but I ignore it. Even my heart has gone silent. Empty.
My eyelids grow heavy. The world blurs into stillness.
DUAARRRR—!
The explosion shatters the air. I jolt awake. Smoke rises from the heart of the village, dark and thick, swallowing the sky. Flames twist above the rooftops.
Huuh… My breath catches.
From here, I can see it clearly—the place is the old man's shop.
---
The crowd fills the shop's yard, now nothing but rubble. Flames still burn in a few corners; debris falls piece by piece. People shout, some run for water, rushing toward the river.
I stand almost in front of the ruins, staring without knowing what to feel. When I turn to leave, my foot hits something hard. I look down. The black crystal necklace—again.
I stare at it for a long moment, then slip it into my pocket. No shop would buy something like this anymore. I walk toward the hill, where I usually sleep. On the way, I see crowds by the river. They panic, but the water no longer flows. The riverbed is dry.
At the hill, only my worn cloak and a few small belongings remain. The night wind begins to fall. I take a step toward the forest, crossing the narrow path that leads to the next village. My name is already rotten in this one. There, maybe I'm still a stranger.
Evening creeps in. I'm hungry. Thirsty. My legs shake. The black sky presses from every side. I walk a few more steps, but my vision blurs. The world spins.
Darkness.