A Strange Planet

As he wondered who the shadowy figure might be, he was completely mesmerized by the ball.

As Ashen fell from the sky and landed in the ocean, he felt like a weightless feather being tossed by the wind. His scream echoed in the vast expanse of the ocean, and he was completely disoriented by the sudden change of scenery.

The sound of his belly hitting the water was loud and jarring, and he was plunged into the depths by the pressure. Eventually, he emerged, floating on the surface, and was greeted by the sight of the full moon casting a pale light over the endless sea.

It was as if he was a small fish in a vast, infinite sea, and he had no idea where he was heading.

It was then that he heard the sound of a rowboat in the distance, a gentle yet insistent rhythm that seemed to echo through the waves. With no other options, Ashen began to swim toward the sound, hoping against hope that it might lead him to safety.

As the boat drew nearer, Ashen could make out the silhouette of a tall, hooded figure. His heart raced with fear as he imagined what horrors this stranger might have in store for him. Yet, as the boat drew closer, the figure extended a hand to Ashen, beckoning him closer.

Despite his fear, Ashen felt a strange sense of trust toward the stranger, and he extended his own hand tentatively. As their hands touched, the figure's robe began to burn away, revealing a tall, middle-aged, handsome man with a kind smile, gentle black eyes, a white beard, and white hair with brown shades.

As he pulled Ashen up onto the boat, the man's question echoed in his mind like a prophecy. "Are you the new lord that this planet is waiting for?" The language was foreign, yet Ashen understood. He nodded hesitantly, still unsure of his own destiny.

"Who are you?" Ashen asked, finally finding his voice.

The man's deep voice boomed with authority. "Apologies for my rudeness, my lord. My name is Dominic, and I was assigned as the guardian of this planet until your arrival. Once you arrived, I became your butler, to provide directions or advice as needed."

Ashen realized that the guide for the game had mentioned that the guardian would become the advisor to the lord, but he hadn't fully understood it until now. Dominic wore the clothes of a butler: a black tuxedo, a classic hat, black pants, and shoes.

Dominic broke the silence by rowing the boat in the direction from which he came. Curious, Ashen asked how Dominic knew where to find him. Dominic joked that it was hard to miss a boy screaming his lungs out while plummeting from the sky. Moreover, Dominic had received a notification that a lord had been chosen for this planet the moment Ashen fell from the sky.

Ashen changed the topic and asked where they were headed. Dominic explained that there was no land on the planet except for a tree at the center of the world, surrounded by just enough land for it to grow. This was their destination.

Ashen was taken aback when he learned that the planet was completely covered in water. 'How would he survive, let alone plan for his future?' he wondered. As Ashen talked to Dominic, he realized that Dominic had been on this planet for a long time. So, he asked curiously, "Where do the inhabitants of this planet live?"

Dominic replied politely, "My lord, there are no inhabitants on this planet except for me, some monsters, and some unspecified species."

Despite his confusion and disbelief, Ashen was curious about the size of the planet and its vegetation, but Dominic interrupted him to say they had arrived.

He felt a sense of wonder and amazement at the sight before him. The tree in the middle of the vast ocean was like nothing he had ever seen before. It seemed to glow with a bluish light, and was surrounded by strange creatures that he couldn't quite identify.

Dominic noticed Ashen's amazement and smiled, saying "Welcome to your new home, my lord. This tree is known as the Tree of Life, and it is the heart of this planet. It provides sustenance for all the creatures that live here."

Ashen was amazed at the size of the tree. It was the largest tree he had ever seen, with roots that stretched deep into the ocean floor and branches that reached high into the sky. He wondered how it was possible for a tree to grow in the middle of the ocean.

Ashen's clothes miraculously dried as they rowed towards the planet's center, where the Tree of Life stood.

Dominic noticed Ashen's curiosity and explained, "The Tree of Life is not like any other tree. It is magical and has the power to grow anywhere. It is said that it was created by the gods themselves to provide life and hope to all who seek it."

As Ashen approached the Tree of Life, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. He noticed that the creatures surrounding the tree were not afraid of him, but seemed to welcome him with open arms. He couldn't help but smile at the sight.

Dominic noticed Ashen's smile and said, "These creatures are the guardians of the Tree of Life. They have been waiting for your arrival, my lord."

As Ashen stood there, watching the peculiar creatures move gracefully around the tree, Dominic suddenly hopped out of the boat and gestured for Ashen to follow. They walked towards the tree, and as they approached, the creatures scattered, leaving behind a trail of glittering dust in their wake.

Dominic reached out to touch the bark of the tree, and Ashen saw that it was covered in glowing blue veins, pulsating with an ethereal light. It was as if the tree was alive, and Ashen could feel the energy emanating from it.

"This is the Tree of Life, my Lord," Dominic said reverently. "It is the heart of this planet and the source of all life. Without it, this planet would wither away and die."

As they stood there, admiring the tree and the creatures that called it home, Ashen noticed that the cute creatures were unlike any he had ever seen. They were roughly 4-foot slugs with fur and ears like a cat, but they also had fins or wings on their sides. They appeared to move effortlessly through both water and air.

Dominic noticed Ashen's fascination and said, "These creatures are called Aquaflys. They are unique to this planet and are the only creatures that can survive both in water and air. They are highly intelligent and are able to communicate with each other and with us."

As Ashen gazed at the endless expanse of water, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions swirling inside him - shock, amazement, terror and confusion. And yet, something else was bothering him - the absence of the sun.

"Forgive me for asking, but how come the sun hasn't risen yet?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

To Ashen's disbelief, Dominic, who had lived on this water-covered planet for over a decade, explained that it was perpetually shrouded in darkness, with only the moon providing any light.

Ashen couldn't believe his ears. This was one of the unique planets he had heard about on the online forums, but to experience it first-hand was both thrilling and daunting.

As he pondered over his situation, another question popped into his head. "Why hasn't my status window appeared yet?" he asked, turning to face Dominic.

The old man gave him a knowing smile. "Your status window will only appear once you name this planet."

Ashen furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Naming his new home was a task he had never imagined he would have to do. But as he scanned the dark horizon, a sudden inspiration struck him.

"From now on, this planet should be called Midnight Bay," he declared with a smile, his heart feeling lighter at the thought of having a name for his new home.

As Ashen stood on the shore of Midnight Bay, he couldn't help but feel like he had stepped into a whole new world. The planet was a vast ocean with only one tree at its core, a tree that was essential to the planet's survival.

Despite the overwhelming beauty of his new home, Ashen couldn't shake off the feeling of trepidation. He was the new lord of this planet, but he had no idea how he was going to survive in a world with no land and no sun. And to top it all off, his status window hadn't even appeared yet.

But as he stood there contemplating his new life, he realized that he had already taken the first step. He had named this planet Midnight Bay, a name that felt just right. And as he watched the moon's light dance on the ocean's surface, he knew that he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

The status window showed system was updating, and so was Ashen.