A Fairy Tale Come True

Today, I went home earlier than usual. I don't know why—my work finished faster. No sudden revisions. No extra meetings. Everything… felt strange. Too smooth. But I didn't think much of it. In fact, for the first time in I-don't-know-how-many weeks, I stepped out of the building without rushing.

The sky wasn't completely dark yet. The sun still hung low on the horizon, painting the tall buildings with a golden-orange hue. The evening light swept across the street, reflected off car windows, danced on the surface of the small river I crossed. I even paused for a moment just to stare at the sky's reflection on the wet asphalt.

Near the pedestrian bridge, I bought food from a street vendor. Its smell was simple, warm, and real—not like the office food that always tasted like routine. I sat on an old bench under a streetlamp, chewing slowly while watching the sun disappear between the buildings. It felt strange, but also… calm. Like the world was giving me space to breathe, if only for a moment.

That was the first time I watched a sunset without being haunted by notifications or rushed footsteps.

Around me, people still passed by with serious faces, phones pressed to their ears, walking fast like time was chasing them. Cars roared in the distance. Lights lit up one by one. But I... stopped. Stayed still. Sat down.

And maybe, sometimes, we do need to stop. Give space to an overflowing mind. Not to run away, but to remember the world can be quiet—if we allow it to be.

That night's walk home felt like returning to somewhere deeper than just a house. I walked slowly, letting the city lights touch my face, letting the night fall without a hurry. In front of my house, I glanced up at the moon before going inside. No one welcomed me, as usual. But tonight, somehow, felt a little lighter.

I studied a bit. Opened my notebook, turned on my laptop, jotted down some project ideas. But my mind tired quickly. My brain half-frozen.

Then I went to sleep. Or tried.

Just as my eyes were almost fully closed—

~GGGRRGRRMMRRR.

That heavy sound came from somewhere. Deep. Really deep. Like… from underground.

My eyes opened halfway. Half-aware. Half-confused.

My window was open. The curtain swayed gently in the night breeze. I looked outside—nothing there.

Maybe just the wind, I thought. Or a truck passing by.

I got up briefly, closed the window slowly, then returned to bed. As soon as my back hit the mattress, the sound vanished. But something lingered in the air—something I couldn't explain. Like an invisible vibration clinging to my skin.

The next morning, sunlight slipped through the curtain gap. I opened my eyes slowly and, unconsciously, smiled.

A day off.

No deadlines. No emails. No notifications that send your heart into panic.

I brushed my teeth while humming some random tune. Cold water on my face felt like rebirth. Today, I decided to go out alone. No map. No plan.

I walked to a park I usually just pass by. Stared at the sea from a distance. Sat on a bench surrounded by pigeons. Bought iced tea from a small stall and sipped it slowly. No obligations. No pressure. Just me… and a city that, for once, wasn't in a hurry.

And sometimes, to feel alive, all we need is to sit in a quiet place, let the wind speak, and let the weight fall off our shoulders for a while.

The world can wait.

Then, just as I sipped the last drop of my drink, I saw him.

A man—wearing a long, dark cloak, standing still beneath an old tree across the street. His face was hidden. He stood so calmly, as if waiting for something. Or… someone.

I turned away, pretending not to care. But when I looked again, he was closer. His steps silent.

He walked straight toward me.

Without a word, he handed me an old book.

I stared at him, confused. Silent. But eventually, I reached out and took it. When our fingers nearly touched, the air around us felt… different. Heavier.

The moment I touched the book, he turned around and walked away. Not hurried, but with purpose. And before I could say anything… he vanished into the crowd.

I stared at the book. Dark brown, thick, no title. No author name. No store sticker. Just marks of time and the scent of old paper.

"What is this…?"

I kept staring at it, my mind trying to grasp what had just happened.

"Why did he give me this…?"

I glanced back toward the tree where he stood. Empty. No one there. As if he never existed. The street was busy again—too normal, like the world was denying something strange had happened.

Nervously, I slipped the book into my sling bag. It felt cold in my hand—not from the air, but from… a hunch.

I walked without a goal. Since the sun was still up, I stopped by a small night market. Bought a pack of instant noodles, some fruit, and canned drinks. Shop lights flickered in colors. The scent of grilled satay filled the air. I smiled faintly. Strange. But pleasant.

"Today's weird… but kind of nice."

When I got home, I put everything in its place. But the book… made me stop. I almost forgot about it, but now it felt the most real. I stared at it for a long time, then placed it on my desk. My mind couldn't shake the curiosity.

I opened my laptop and tried to work again. Typed out some postponed ideas. Two hours passed. Then I yawned big and stretched.

My note in the corner of the page still read:

#Project 58 – Rose Elvainne.

I took a deep breath. "One step closer," I whispered.

Just as I was about to close the laptop, my eyes fell on the book again.

"Oh right… the book."

Curiosity was unbearable. I took it to bed. Sat down. Leaned back. Opened the first page.

And there it was:

"18 Earth Element Users and the Universe."

"Element users…? This again."

I frowned. I'd seen stuff like this on the internet before—wild articles, conspiracy theories about people who could control the elements. But I never believed them.

"Hmph… Just a fairy tale."

I yawned. My eyes were heavy. A tear slipped from the corner of my eye, falling onto the page—

Right on the line:

"It happened in the center of Shionra City."

I rested my head on the pillow.

"—a fairy tale that—"

.

.

.

The next day.

The book lay open in my lap. I didn't remember reading it all the way through.

I closed it slowly, then placed it back on the shelf among other books. Nothing special this morning. I just felt… empty, as usual. Didn't want to touch anything, didn't want to bother anyone. The day only needed to pass, and I just needed to follow along.

I put on my worn-out jacket. I didn't lock the door—same as always. I wasn't even sure if anyone cared enough to break in. Besides, what would they even take from me?

A pale blue sky hung above the city. The sound of traffic hummed constantly in the background. I walked slowly toward the city center, eyes fixed on my own shadow dancing on the pavement.

But something felt off.

My steps halted. The street felt… silent. Not because of a lack of sound, but because everything felt paused. Like an echo in a vacuum.

I turned my head, looking around.

The people's faces around me looked strange. But somehow, I felt like I was standing inside something about to break. My heart beat faster. But my feet kept moving.

Then—

TREMBLE.

The ground shook beneath me. Slowly. Then stronger. The footsteps around me slowed… and stopped.

KRK… KRRRKK…!

The asphalt cracked. A deep rumble echoed from the belly of the earth.

~GGGRRGRRMMRRRR…

I froze. My breath caught. The people around me stood still. Buildings began to sway. Windows rattled.

~BRAAAAAAAKKKKKKKK!!!

A massive hand burst through the split in the road, clawing upward. Dust exploded into the air. Screams erupted in all directions. Then its head emerged. Glowing red eyes. A breath like fire. It all happened right in front of me.

I fell back.

"BEHEMOTH?—It's not just a fairy tale?"