Chapter 3: Exposition (3)

Looking at where we are now.

A mountain landscape, three wooden cabins for 8 children and an adult, a forest with large trees, and even near the shore. It felt like yesterday's pain bore today's beauty. Though, the place did not feel like the usual anymore. Especially that the Elders aren't here.

'I would love to visit that place once again and offer thanks and sorrows to them. But as how young and naïve we are, we should be cautious of what's around us.' I weighed up inside my head. I walked through the shore and splashed the water on my face.

"Reality has been harsh," I said while washing my face with seawater. "But it is fine, we could always stand back."

"Who are you talking to?" A girl said while smacking the back of my head. Her eyes are of the sea, and her long silky hair is characterized by charcoal-like color, and a skin toned like a pearl. "Nothing," I said nonchalantly.

"Seriously, you should try going with us. You're always alone, either watching us or taking time by yourself. Loner." She said pissed.

"I'd try," I replied.

"Don't try, do it."

"I get it, I get it," I said looking away from her face. "I'll follow you later. I have to do something important."

"Make sure or I'll beat you up." She said while pointing her fist near my face. I laughed it off, seeing her all lively after the days of her grief, it makes me want to move on from the fear of that day.

"Sure, sure," I said smiling.

-

After talking to Ei, I stood up and left the shore, and proceeded to the forest to find some food and herbs. Compared to the outside grasses of the forest, the inner grasses seem to be thicker and more countless. Being cautious, I withdrew from finding one.

"It seems to be dangerous if I continue." Not that this place is just a field of grass but rather, monsters might be preying on their prey too. I have once been told by an elder that this world is not a habitat for humans only but also creatures of different species. The elder said they are brutal. Merciless at some point.

However, knowing our island, which I had lived in for years with Ei, the children, the teacher, and the Elders. I have always been told that there aren't that many of them on this island. Yet, I'm exactly not sure.

'How can such things not populate much of the island when they haven't seen it for themselves?' I thought while walking while not minding the direction I'm headed to.

'I'm sure that this island is not that big compared to the powerhouses of the magus.'

-

Magus is another term for a magician. The central core of being a magus is their ability to create, control, and amplify their aether. Whose concept is as mysterious as the stellar and the depth of the sea. Although many have contributed theories to its use, it is said that it is still a mystery.

-

'Forget it. I'm not intelligent, nor were we given a chance to know about what the outside looks like and operates.' I thought annoyingly. 'Maybe I should just learn aether by myself?"

Lost in my thoughts, I have not managed to consciously know where my foot led me. As I found my way out of my thoughts, a big gate unfolded right before my eyes.

A big gate, covered in stones like a cave, with signage with unknown letters.

'Where am I?' I shivered as the warm breeze suddenly turned cold.

The gate looked too big, and even though I have not seen something like this, my body told me to stay still – like a fly trapped in a spider's web. I looked back and forth, appearing like a cat frightened by a rat. I looked back and took a gentle took a step when suddenly a loud noise echoed.

I screamed and nervously looked back to the gate behind me.

'W-what i-is that?' I exclaimed. A bright light flashed through my face and a golden-like clay cave appeared before my eyes. It shone like a chest full of riches and pieces of jewelry.

I looked back for the third time and decided to walk inside the cave. As I enter, the luminous light almost blinded me. The clay-structured cave suddenly turned transparent like it was an interstellar passage, bright light sparkled and sparkled as I walk thoroughly inside.

Suddenly, the bright light that covered the cave disappeared like a bubble and I found myself in a dark place. However, as I look straight and clearly in the narrow direction. I can see a light peeking like there is a hole atop it. On the light, a table can be seen being shone, and atop it was a book.

I hurriedly walk to the ends of the unending tunnel cave where the book was. I slowly catch my breath with every step I take and finally, in front of me, there appeared a golden black book. Suspiciously, it didn't have a title on its shell, like it was a normal stacked paper. I hesitated to touch it.

'It might be a trap, no, a curse of some sort.'

I looked beside the book and carved letters started to appear, however, I cannot read efficiently. The table with the carving was damaged. However, I could decipher a few of them.

'Let one touch this book and-'I slowly read out the texts written when suddenly the cave shook like it was collapsing. I impulsively decided to bring the table but it seemed heavy and it might get broken further. Driven by fear to be buried on the ground, I touched the book and quickly went out.

"Huff… huff… What was that?" I said while breathing heavily. I looked back at the cave, and all there was behind me were big, heavy rocks. I looked down at my body, checking if I scathed any parts. However, I did not notice any but the object I was holding.

"The book!"

The book that was in the cave is in my hands. I panicked throwing the book into the air, afraid to scratch it, it went to my left and right hand continuously until it fell back to my right hand. I calmed down and realize that I touched the book in panic.

"I didn't even finish deciphering the message that the table was meaning to say"

"Ugh." I sighed. "Better not be a curse."

As I looked closely at the book. The plain shell slowly carved some text.

"Exi "

It wrote my name.

'What's with this thing, why did it write my name?' I shockingly asked myself – afraid that this book is really a curse. Suddenly, the book opened by itself and I couldn't get to throw it off in shock. It just slowly flipped the shell off and letters appeared on the book's first page.

'I can't understand what it is writing.'

I forcefully shut it off and threw it beside the cave. But it suddenly teleported to my hand. I threw it off again, and again, and again until I got tired. Every time I throw it, it teleports back. I let out a sigh annoyingly and just proceeded to go back.

-

"I'm back," I shouted.

"Where have you been?" The teacher said with sweat on his face. He looked worked out.

"What happened to you, teacher?" I asked.

"Huff… huff…" The teacher breathed heavily. "I need help. The kids…" My heart throbbed heavily.

"They are so energetic!" He continued. "I'm so tired now, it felt like I had a year's worth of work managed."

For a moment, I was nervous. I thought the Royal Kingdom found us and killed many of us again. I regained my composure and slowly breathed. I looked up and pointed at the teacher while laughing.

He looked at me surprised. His face suddenly transitioned to annoyed and scolded me.

"Why are you laughing? Shouldn't you help me?" He breathed heavily again while scolding me. "Come here, I'll pinch your cheeks hard until it turns red!"

At his threat, I ran while letting out a loud laugh. He chased me for a bit until his breath ran out fully, he decided to lie down on the grass, watching the moonlight unfold. I stopped laughing and running and decided to look after the teacher.

"Huff… huff… I'm tired."

"You just can't chase me." I teased him. I looked into his face once again and he was not laughing the only thing carved into his face was regret. He looked sad.

"You know I can only say this to you but, I actually miss the old times." He said. "I miss the Elders, the festive fun, the usual traditions, and the children smiling all the time, sleeping with no worries.

"I do too." He looked at me back.

"I know really well that you do." He chuckled.

"Let's stop thinking about the past, let's just focus on what the future decides to present us with." The teacher quoted.

"Be it a blessing or a curse. Let's strive to survive… with everyone." I replied.

"Yes." He smiled.

The night had fallen and enveloped the whole world. The teacher and I then proceeded to head inside to rest and eat tomato soup with everyone, taking care of the nostalgic moments we all once had shared.

After finishing my meal, I headed to the wooden cabin, I, Ei, and the others live in. And realized something felt missing.

'The book. The book?!" My head overthought.

I stood up and looked at it everywhere in the room. But it wasn't here. I ran out of the wooden cabin and proceeded to the main hut where we had our dinner.

"I thought you were going to rest?" The teacher said. I didn't mind him and just searched everywhere, I looked up at the chair I sat on and there was no book there.

I ran out once again without replying to the teacher. I proceeded to the plain grass grounds and visibly, the book was not there too. "Where is it?" I said desperately.

I raised my hand and scratched my head. Before I was able to put both of my hands down, I noticed something in the back of my hand. An unknown symbol carved itself on the back of my hand.

'A mark?'