Prologue: The Night Of Unseen Shadows

Fifty years ago, portals appeared all over the world. Nobody knew how they came to exist, and nobody dared to try and see where they would lead. Despite being an unnatural phenomenon, they didn't pose any threat to mankind. Sometimes an overgrown lizard or an oversized boar would emerge from a portal. Sometimes it'd be a three-headed dog or a snake with a split tail. These monsters were definitely a challenge but they weren't impossible to handle. They'd be easily disposed of by soldiers patrolling the area. The soldiers, even the civilians, got used to these creatures appearing that hunting them became a hobby to some. Oftentimes, the government organized events for "monster-hunts". The appearance of these portals became a norm that nobody wondered why they appear and why they vanish. The government just sneered on the phenomenon, and everybody lived their lives as usual. That was the reason nobody was prepared for the catastrophe.

It was a stormy night. The whole village was in celebration of a good harvest. My mother cooked all our favorites while father was telling us stories about the monster-hunts he participated in. My father was such a good storyteller and we were giggling the whole time. Mother worked as a seamstress and made beautiful clothes. I envied her every time she brought me to work. Her hands were fast but really gentle. She looked like she was caressing the fabric. She was the best seamstress in the village, if I do say so myself. My father worked at the farm. We had wheat, carrots and potatoes. He went to work early in the morning and came home late in the evening. Because of his hard work and dedication for the family, despite going against it in the beginning, mother agreed to let him join those monster-hunts. Killing a monster earned a lot of money. You can either sell them to the government or keep them. A monster's corpse had many uses. The skin was thick and made into durable boots. The fur was turned to coats for winter. A few other parts can be turned to souvenirs or tools. The innards can be sold at the market. Monster meat tasted good, they said. We never had them though. Mother said she'd rather starve.

When dinner was ready, mother called us to the table. We ate happily. My older brother boasted about passing his exams and his plans to study in the city. It was always his dream to live in the city. He said he wanted to be a government official and serve our leader. He even promised to save enough money so the family can move to the city and live a comfortable life someday. Of course, mother was skeptical since my brother had a mischievous side to him. But my mother was always supportive. Both our parents just wanted us to live life the way we wanted, as long as we don't hurt others and live decently.

We were a happy family and we always thought the happy life we had could go on for a long time. Little did we know, that night would turn our lives upside down.