It was the twelfth day of the journey. After previously encountering many Entities, we finally got enough free time to enjoy a few days of travel.
During this time, I decided to buy new underwear, and for that, of course, I asked my teacher to buy it for me.
We were currently at a market in a suburban town. Although it was a suburban town, the atmosphere here was quite lively. I could see many shops lined up in every corner.
"Teacher, that place over there looks quite complete." I pointed to a shop with a "Lingerie" sign.
"Sure, let's go take a look." My teacher and I entered the shop. Inside, I could see... "Gehh, what is this."
"Pfft..." my teacher held back her laughter, not without reason, because as soon as we entered, we were immediately shown dozens of fishnet lingerie pieces. Not just underwear, but even bras.
Come on, not again. I want something more normal, I thought.
"Teacher, don't you laugh."
"Eh... why?" She pulled out a small-sized set of fishnet underwear and showed it to me. "Isn't this heaven for you? Look, this is quite nice for you."
"In that case, this is for you." I also had something for her; in my hand was a complete set of large-sized string underwear. This wasn't something like fishnet, but just a thin strip of cloth. Her face immediately grimaced upon seeing it.
"I'll take that, but you take this, how about it?" I challenged her. I could see the doubt on her face.
"That's too thin and revealing," she responded. "How about this one instead?" Now she suggested something for herself; a netted set, but one that still had many threads.
"What's with that face?" she said, after sensing the meaning of my stare.
"You don't dare?" I said, a set of underwear in my hand. She stared at it, then snatched it from me.
"Fine, who's afraid."
"Are you sure, Teacher? It's just a string, you know?"
She looked hesitant for a moment, then went to the cashier and paid for it.
"You're braver than I am," I said, after she returned with her shopping bag. Her face was bright red, all the way to her ears.
"Hey... you don't cheat either. Buy the one I picked out for you," she said, handing me money.
"Of course, I'll pick it and buy it, and... you wear that," I said, glancing at her shopping bag as if to say, "You have to wear it."
She turned her face away without a word. This was a first for me; seeing her so red. I didn't know what she was thinking to get that red.
After buying new underwear, I also thought about buying something else, but what? Ah... a hair tie. Of course, a hair tie for my teacher's hair; her hair is very long and it's very annoying, especially when sleeping in the same room with her. Then what else... besides a hair tie, I thought.
"You seem very happy today," she observed me.
Well, she was right. I might be too carried away by the atmosphere today, considering this was the first time we could shop together. Because at the institute, we were always surrounded by books and more books. This shopping experience was very fun for me, or maybe it was what was coming after this that would make me very happy.
"Eh... what is this?"
A rumbling sound was heard from underground; then the ground shook.
"Hold my hand."
My teacher asked me to grasp her hand.
At that moment, my vision blurred slightly; the buildings and various objects around looked like they were swaying. The sounds of screams and cries entered my eardrums all at once. A pain in my head, slow but sure, as I watched the surroundings vibrate. My legs felt weak, like; standing on an uncertain, tilted surface.
Then my teacher pulled me down to crouch. Several people who saw us; followed, until the panic and screams that had previously subsided a little... finally, the shaking stopped and everyone slowly stood up.
"Let's go back."
My teacher pulled me back towards the carriage. The journey back; from the market was not easy. My teacher and I had to jump over rubble, and sometimes pass through narrow places.
I turned back and saw only half of her arms and legs had emerged; after successfully passing through a narrow gap.
"What's wrong, Teacher? Hurry up."
"I'm stuck. Don't pull."
She was stuck, and I tried to help her get free, but she advised against it.
"Why? Then can you get through?" I asked.
"No, this gap isn't big enough," she answered.
The gap isn't big enough, or your chest is too big, I thought.
"Get away from there."
Okay, I moved away; stepping back from that place. Then the sound "BOOM!!!" Debris flew; she punched it to open a path.
"Help..."
Afterward, I heard a faint voice from the ruins behind me. Could someone be trapped in there? I thought.
My teacher approached me. "Teacher, I heard someone from inside." I pointed towards the rubble, where the voice was heard earlier.
"Hm... really? Move back a bit."
She asked me to move away. I didn't think she would go in, because earlier she got stuck in a fairly large gap. I hoped she wouldn't punch it; because doing so might accidentally hit someone underneath.
And... yes, she did neither. She lifted the layer of rubble with both hands. Underneath, a woman and a child were lying; they were hugging. I thought they might be mother and child.
Seeing them made me reflect for a moment, thinking about what my own mother would do if she were in their position.
"Don't daydream."
"BOOM!!!"
Daydreaming made me careless. Above me, the remnants of the building were still threatening to collapse and fall. At that moment, my teacher quickly punched the fragment, shattering it into dust before it could hit my head.
"Sorry," I said.
My teacher stroked my head and said, "It's okay. Now help me, carry them."
After that, we carried them both to a safe place, handing them over to the volunteers.
My teacher and I were now sitting under a tent, which was only covered at the top.
"Teacher, this place is a mess," I said. Before me, as far as the eye could see, there wasn't just building rubble; there were many city volunteers working together to find victims, running back and forth.
"It's not over yet," she answered, then asked me to "look at this"; a glass filled with water.
I looked at it, a glass cup with drinking water inside. But if you looked closely, the water was vibrating finely, sending ripples to the side of the glass.
At that moment, a woman came approaching us.
"What a relieving coincidence," she said. She bowed respectfully and continued, "to be able to meet you in this suburban town."
Her clothes were similar to the Chronicler robes my teacher wore. Could she be a Chronicler? But there seems to be a very significant difference between them, I thought.
"What division are you from?" asked my teacher.
Eh... division? What is that? Could there be something like that and I didn't know? It seems I need to ask my teacher about that after this.
"I am Omega, from the Preservation division," replied the woman.
My teacher then pulled a cigarette from her pocket, lit it, and asked again, "Who are you with?"
"Just the two of us, with my student," replied the woman, and pointed towards a young woman, who was currently sitting alone, enjoying bread in her hand.
Then their conversation was interrupted when my teacher said, "You two go chat over there." The woman and I moved a little away as my teacher spoke with a man. I didn't know who he was, maybe the government or a noble of this city. The man respectfully said, "I apologize for disturbing your chat."
The woman in front of me and I glanced at each other. She was probably thinking of breaking this silence with conversation, just like me. But we both didn't know what to talk about.
Until I finally remembered that the woman in front of me was one of the Chroniclers. Maybe I could ask her something. "Huh... actually, who is my teacher?" I pretended to talk to myself, until the woman in front of me slammed the table.
"Hey... You don't recognize who your teacher is?" she shouted.
I nodded. She got very excited and then said, "Your teacher is, well, very extraordinary..." she said.
"You know about the Chronicler divisions?"
Now she was asking about something I didn't know. I shook my head as if to say "no."
"Okay, so I have to start from there..." She looked frustrated.
I couldn't blame her, because I really didn't know, and my teacher rarely discussed it.
"So... 'Chronicler' is the title or designation for a teacher and a recorder of history," she said, then her face moved closer.
This is too close, I thought.
"But it's not limited to that... we Chroniclers don't just record or teach and find successors." She pulled her head back.
"Then?" I asked.
"Good, glad you're interested." She slid her chair closer.
"There are three divisions: Preservation or Maintenance, Countermeasure or Warding, and Capture or Extermination," she said.
Her face moved close again. I could see her glasses, which turned out to be just frames without lenses. She's probably trying to look smart by wearing those, I thought.
"From the names, you can already imagine, right? What they're like and what the tasks of the three divisions are."
I nodded because, well, like their names; Preservation, whose job is probably to preserve, and Warding, who probably guards, and then there's Extermination, which sounds the scariest to me.
"So... they don't just record, but also participate in what they record. For example, if there's a strange phenomenon, they will record it and find out, to identify it. And the first part that will go in is Preservation, until its classification level is known," she said, after which she stood up.
She stood behind me, looking and examining my body as if I were a subject of observation. Until finally she stopped and was silent for a moment, and finally sat back in her chair.
"When its classification is known, its danger level will determine which division will be responsible," she said. She became calmer.
"Now, for each division, they each have ranks, starting from the leader, Chronicler Alpha, her right hand Beta, her left hand Gamma, in the middle Delta, and finally Omega. And I am at the Omega level, so you can call me Chronicler Omega."
Ho...oh, she introduced herself and mapped out the Chronicler hierarchy that I didn't know about. Now I'm curious, "What level is my teacher at?" I asked.
"This is what's unique. Your teacher is a Sigma Chronicler, who has no rules," she said. She got excited again, her face moving closer, then continued:
"Unlike Alpha, even though she's the highest leader, she is still strongly bound by her division's rules." Her face moved away, then she jumped up and down.
"Sigma Chroniclers have no rules or divisions; they are free. If Chronicler Alpha is the leader of the wolf pack, a Sigma Chronicler is a solo tiger," she said.
Hearing her long-winded explanation and her reaction; I could conclude that this woman really idolized my teacher.
Yes, I could understand why she was like that, although maybe only I know what my teacher is like behind her Chronicler robes.
"Why are you smiling?" asked Chronicler Omega.
She was very perceptive to be able to sense what I was thinking right now.
"Nothing, I was just thinking something about my teacher," I answered.
"Eh, what is it? Tell me, please..."
She begged, but I refused; because I thought it wasn't right to spill things about my teacher without her permission.
Even so, she still didn't give up; she clung to me, begging me to tell her. Until finally, a young woman called her. Instantly, her demeanor changed drastically.
She straightened her clothes and her glasses-without-lenses. Then she said goodbye, bowed respectfully in front of my teacher, and left with her student.
"Bye-bye... see you again," she said, waving her hand.
At the other table, I also saw that they seemed to be finished. So I approached her.
"Start from now," said my teacher.
"Yes, Madam. I will immediately call my people and prepare," replied the man in front of her. Then the man stood up, bowed respectfully, and left.
"Are you done, Teacher?" I asked.
"Yes, come here."
She asked me to sit next to her.
"What's going to happen?" I asked, seeing many men running in the same direction.
"Good you asked. Now open the book to page 011."
I opened page 011 as instructed, which contained:
APPELLATION: The Giant Worm
TITLE / EPITHET: The Earth-Turner, The Pulse of the Underworld, The Devouring Creator
CLASSIFICATION:
Primer: Mythological
Status: Active (in a very long hibernation cycle)
Scale: Global
Level: Primal
ORIGIN: It is not a creature that lives on the world; it is a living part of the world's creation process itself. Before the tectonic plates moved, there was the Worm. Its slow, majestic movements over millions of years are the true cause of the formation of mountains, valleys, and earthquakes. It is not a monster; it is the planet's living geological circulatory system.
FORM / ESSENCE: Its essence is a Primal Terraforming Cycle. It is a silicon-based life form of unimaginable size, its skin resembling a fusion of stone, crystal, and metal ore. The size and shape of its head are unknown, as no one has ever seen it in its entirety; all that has ever been witnessed are the endless segments of its body as it passes through the earth's crust.
APPEARANCE & PERCEPTION: Its presence is not seen, but felt. The first sign is a low-frequency, rhythmic vibration that can be felt in the bones, lasting for days or even weeks. The ground will tremble in time with its "pulse." As it moves closer to the surface, the ground will crack and heave, as if a new mountain range is being born before your eyes. The air will smell of ozone, hot stone, and sharp, alien minerals.
DOMAIN / INFLUENCE: Its domain is geological time and the lithosphere (the earth's crust). Its influence has two contrasting phases:
Devouring Phase (Negative): As it moves, it devours everything in its path—rock, forests, and civilizations—grinding them all into raw material in its magma-like stomach. For life on the surface, this is a local extinction event.
Rebirth Phase (Positive): In its wake, it leaves two gifts. The giant tunnels it leaves behind collapse into new, fertile valleys. More importantly, it excretes "World-Heart Ore," its crystalline waste product that pulses with pure life energy. This ore is the source of all the most fertile soils and magical phenomena in the world.
VULNERABILITIES / COUNTERMEASURES: You cannot "fight" the Worm any more than you can fight a volcanic eruption.
Force of Nature: It is immune to all forms of physical attack. The only effective "countermeasure" is a total evacuation of its path.
Geological Resonance: It is blind and deaf, navigating by sensing vibrations and resonances in the planet's core. In theory, extremely powerful, sustained man-made sonic vibrations or large-scale magical rituals could "disturb" or slightly deflect its path, though the risks are immense.
Sleep Cycle: Its greatest weakness is its own nature. It spends thousands of years in hibernation deep within the earth. Its active periods are incredibly rare and are usually preceded by predictable seismic signs for those who understand them.
ECHOES IN HISTORY & MYTH: Ancient myths of an "Earth Dragon" or "World Serpent" sleeping beneath the ground are echoes of its existence. Many great canyons or strangely straight mountain ranges in the world are believed to be its former paths. Some anomalous theories even suggest that lost cities did not sink, but were simply in the Worm's path when it awoke.
WHISPERS / FRAGMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE:
"A normal earthquake lasts a few seconds. If the quake is rhythmic and lasts for days, sell your land and run."
"Never build on the most fertile valley, because it means the Turner has just passed, and one day it might return."
"No one knows where its head is, or if it even has one. We have only ever seen its endless segments."
Scribe's Note: While researching this entity, I felt not fear, but an awe that made me feel incredibly small. The Worm is not an evil entity. It is a reminder that we are merely moss clinging to a giant, living stone. We are not the center of the story; we are just temporary inhabitants on its ever-moving skin. Perhaps the "World-Heart Ore" it leaves behind is a sort of cosmic apology for the destruction it causes unintentionally.
"A giant worm?" I said after finishing reading page 011.
"Yup, a giant worm."
"So, this worm is what caused the tremor before?" I asked.
"Yes, that was the sign its hibernation is over, and it will soon awaken," she answered.
"What do you mean?"
"Like you, shifting in your sleep and then slapping my face in the morning."
Hearing that, I felt; someone here is unaware, that should be my line.
If just shifting its position could cause such a strong tremor, "then what if it wakes up?" I asked.
"You waking up? Of course, my hair will be a mess."
She was just trying to tease me. Oh yeah, speaking of hair, I have something for her.
"You bought this for me?" she asked, after I finished tying her hair with the hair tie I had bought in secret.
I nodded.
"Wow... thank you."
Then she lifted me onto her lap. I felt this wasn't right, in this place, at this time.
"Teacher, I'm heavy, so put me down."
"Eh... no, you're even lighter than the building rubble," she replied.
I forgot earlier, even the remnants of buildings, huge and many times heavier than her, she could lift with ease.
"Now, in return for the hair tie, ask me something about what you want to know."
"You still haven't answered my question from before."
She chuckled lightly then apologized, "Well, as for your previous question... if the worm awakens, it's an international-scale disaster."
Now this shocked me. If it's an international scale; that means the whole world. Then is this the end of the world? I thought.
"Don't worry, it's okay, everything will be fine."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Of course, because everyone will work together."
"For what? To defeat it?"
"For total evacuation, or to redirect it, not to fight it."
"Is it possible for the giant worm to be redirected or defeated, Teacher?"
"Try focusing on the vulnerabilities and countermeasures section."
As she said, I read that section again.
Force of Nature: It is immune to all forms of physical attack. The only effective "countermeasure" is a total evacuation of its path.
Geological Resonance: It is blind and deaf, navigating by sensing vibrations and resonances in the planet's core. In theory, extremely powerful, sustained man-made sonic vibrations or large-scale magical rituals can "disturb" or slightly deflect its path, though the risks are immense.
Sleep Cycle: Its greatest weakness is its own nature. It spends thousands of years in hibernation deep within the earth. Its active periods are incredibly rare and are usually preceded by predictable seismic signs for those who understand them.
"Here, it has three weaknesses." But none of them were a way to defeat it, I thought.
"Now, we will take advantage of its second weakness."
"Who will do it?" If the scale is international, then it would require sonic vibrations or magical power of a considerable magnitude. But it might be possible if everyone my teacher mentioned works together.
"Each region will be guarded by Chroniclers, and of course, many Organizations will help," said my teacher.
"Organizations?"
"Yup, organizations like the Magisters, the Questers, and many more."
Wow, if so, that moment must be very tense, I thought. Because imagine, many organizations will unite to protect various regions.
"Now, it's important to remember: the giant worm is part of nature. You cannot fight nature. It is arrogance for creatures like us to fight it," said my teacher.
Then she lifted me up and said, "Like water, we don't make it. We are only able to direct where the water will flow."
She stepped and pulled my hand. "Now, for that, we need to get out of its path or make another path for it."
We both walked towards the carriage. Around me, I saw crowds of people fleeing, carrying their respective belongings, from merchandise, livestock, to some people carrying an old woman who looked unable to walk.
I looked at my teacher and asked, "So who will be guarding this region?"
My teacher tapped her chest then answered, "Who else but me."
Well, she proudly declared herself as the only one. I looked at her with doubt, as if to say, "Really?"
"Just you wait and see."
"Alright, then where are we going now?"
We arrived in front of the carriage door, with Mr. Coachman sitting up front. I wondered where we were going, if the entire city was now destroyed. Then where will we spend the night, since it's already getting dark, I thought.
"We are going to the refugee camp behind that hill," answered my teacher, turning my head with both her hands.
For a week, we lived under a tent, on a very vast open field, located far from the city.
Thousands of tents were set up for the residents. I don't know where all this came from, or how much money was spent on it. It must be an extraordinary amount, I thought.
Right now, my teacher and I were gathered with the mayor, and several nobles, as well as shop owners.
"We can't do anything for the city," said my teacher.
Instantly, the faces of those here turned grim.
"Why is that?" a nobleman asked. He probably couldn't accept the helplessness of the current situation.
"Because the city was built on its path," replied my teacher. She smoked the cigarette in her hand then continued, "Even if we try to redirect its path, part of the city will still be destroyed."
My teacher patted the nobleman's shoulder and said, "Houses and shops can be rebuilt. The most important thing right now is your safety. I am not saving the city; I am just ensuring the worm's path does not change," said my teacher.
Then the ground began to tremble. Pebbles and small rocks started to bounce on the ground's surface.
"It's not just this region that will be affected, but the entire world," said my teacher. She put her arm around my body and said, "Hug me as tight as you can."
"Get ready, and pass this on by word of mouth: don't open your mouths, keep your mouths tightly closed, don't let your tongues get bitten, and crouch down," my teacher commanded, which was then passed on from person to person.
My legs felt weak, my vision was shaking; making my head feel a little dizzy. Even though it was [cold] outside, my sweat was pouring.
Pebbles and rocks bounced more and more violently, followed by a light shaking of the ground's surface, as if shifting and swaying, and then it stopped.
I lifted my head, but my teacher's hand held me down. The atmosphere became silent. I couldn't hear anything, not because there was nothing, but everything was quiet, even the animals couldn't be heard. Only the sound of the wind was heard, until finally:
"BOOM!!!"
The ground's surface felt like it was lifting or sinking. I couldn't feel my footing for a moment, until my footing returned, and I felt a slight pain in my joints. I opened my eyes and looked around; half the city's residents were sprawled on the ground.
After that, my teacher released her embrace. "It's not over. This place is the first it will pass," she said. She then stepped forward, and floated into the air.
Eh, she can fly? This was the first time I had seen my teacher fly. I didn't even know or think that she could fly before.
She flew far away, towards the city's location, which was built in the middle, between mountains and hills. I couldn't see her from here, because even seeing the hills was quite blurry; it was very far.
Then the ground began to shake again. I reflexively crouched, just as my teacher had commanded before. My two hands supported me on both sides, planted on the ground.
My head started to feel dizzy, but honestly, even though the surroundings were chaotic and my body was weak, as soon as I saw my teacher leave. my feelings said, "Ah... this is going to be fine."
The ground's surface shook more and more violently, with pebbles and rocks jumping into the air. There was no sound at all, only the gust of wind, and then suddenly a shockwave came; sending all the tents flying into the air.
It's a good thing I crouched, otherwise I might have been blown away with the tents, I thought.
Then, from the city's location, I saw a giant pillar of golden-white light begin to form, followed by smaller, colorful pillars. spaced quite far from each other, but lined up along the horizon.