You_ssef

In a land where twisted science has poisoned generations and the word "outcast" is a death sentence, one broken man rises from the ashes of betrayal. Rahin, burdened by secrets he doesn’t fully understand, stumbles into a world that has forgotten mercy. With a girl who believes in him, a maimed mapmaker, and the echo of giants who once protected the innocent, Rahin must uncover the truth behind the name Oustaria. But as eyes watch from the shadows and old sins claw back to the surface, survival may not be enough—he must become the spark that burns corruption to the ground.

OUSTARIA: THE LAST OUTCAST

I hid the body from sight. My hands trembled slightly as I pulled what was left of the cloak over his face. I didn't want anyone to see. I didn't even want to see.

My mind kept spinning—who was watching me? Was it the authorities? Or someone from the Silent Ones who didn't want me to know what I wasn't supposed to?

I made my way back to the Wall again. The twelfth. My eyes scanned the cracked stone, the dead vines, and the ancient dust that clung to the ground. I searched in silence, kneeling and dragging my fingers across the filth until I found it—a book buried halfway beneath a chunk of debris. Its cover was marked with the words: Oustaria is here.

But the pages inside? Empty. Completely blank.

For a moment, I thought it was a joke.

Then it hit me: What if it reacts to touch… like the Wall?

I placed my palm flat against the surface of the Wall again.

Light surged beneath my fingers, bright and sudden. A hum followed it—deep and soft—and the vibrations spread through the stone like a heartbeat. I heard footsteps behind me, fast and excited. When I turned around, I saw them—the townspeople, pouring in with awe on their faces. Their smiles weren't fake. Their eyes weren't empty. They were… hopeful. It was the first time I'd seen that expression in this place.

Then Lin arrived. She walked straight to me and placed her hand gently on my arm, her face glowing with pride. I couldn't help but stare into her eyes. They were full of a strange certainty, like she had known all along that this would happen.

The book in my hand shifted. Words formed on the once-blank page as if written by an unseen hand:

Choose someone to touch the Wall with you.

She didn't hesitate. She reached out and laid her hand on the Wall beside mine.

Suddenly, a whisper rose into the air—soft, trembling, almost unreal.

"I… I'm speaking," said the voice.

My heart froze. That voice… it was Lin's.

She covered her mouth in disbelief. Her eyes welled with tears. After all this time, she could speak again. I had never heard her voice before. It was gentle. Pure. Full of life.

The Wall's glow faded slowly, and the air grew still once more. The crowd erupted in joy. People cried out and clapped. They rushed toward Lin, cheering her name with hands raised high. I just stood there, stunned. For the first time since arriving in Oustaria… I felt alive.

And then—more words appeared on the book's page.

The secrets lie beneath the rubble.

CH6