The Sun in our solar system is a yellow dwarf star. This ginormous sphere of flames is made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
The true purpose of a star is to act as an engine for generating heat and light, while transforming simple elements into heavier ones.
In the afternoon, due to a process called thermal lag, the temperature on Earth's surface can continue rising even after the Sun has reached its highest position in the sky.
And this heat can make the temperature even more intense if the surface is as dry as Sinville's during summer.
Somewhere in the town there was a bar. It was filled with customers...
...Because it was the only one there.
A bald man in all black waited for his order while impatiently shaking his leg.
"Is it ready yet!?"
"I have been sitting here for the last 10 minutes!"
Ford answered from the kitchen behind the counter, "Coming!"
Sweat rolled down his forehead before he wiped it with the back of his arm.
Man, I really need a cook.
It's really frustrating working alone like this!
"I really wish Troov could've helped me with this one too," he muttered. "When will they even come back? Could they have reached the fountain by now?"
Ford was so deep in thought that he completely forgot what he was doing there in the first place.
His attention drifted toward the stove.
"Aw man—"
The milk was about to spill out of the saucepan.
Ford quickly extended his arms to turn off the stove but it was too late.
Accidentally, his hand landed on the stove.
"AHH! FUC—" He gritted his teeth to avoid screaming then turned off the stove.
His eyes watered as he shook his hand and blew on it until the pain was nearly gone.
"How unlucky am I going to be today, man?"
...
At last, he walked out of the kitchen, carrying the order with a slightly annoyed demeanor.
"Thank god, FINALLY!"
Ford placed the plate on the table.
"I am really sorry to keep you waiting," he said while trying to maintain a smile.
Who the hell in their right mind would drink coffee on a hot summer afternoon!?
His mouth was twitching as he tried to force a smile, which the customer noticed.
"Are you good?! What are you standing there for!?"
Ford quickly came to his senses.
"Oh, sorry, sir!"
"Now bring my hot stew!"
"Oh, right. Your hot stew."
Hot stew???
He quickly turned toward the kitchen and sprinted.
NAAAAAH!
This guy is mentally INSANE!!!
Outside the bar...
The scorching heat continued to beat down on Sinville.
Through the open windows, the sounds of the bar spilled into the streets.
Laughter.
Arguments.
The clinking of glasses.
And the bald customer's occasional frustrated shouting.
...
Time passed.
One by one, the customers finished their meals and left the bar.
The once-crowded tables slowly became empty.
The noise gradually faded.
Eventually, only silence remained.
The front door creaked open.
Ford slowly stepped outside.
His shoulders were slumped, his shirt was drenched in sweat, and his face looked completely exhausted.
He stood there for a moment, staring blankly at the street.
"That annoying baldy. Fortunately, I had the leftover stew from yesterday or else it felt like he was going to crush my skull!"
His eyes wandered toward the bar.
"...I need a cook."
He sighed.
"Definitely need a cook."
He shook out his pants.
Jiggle! Jiggle!
Then he smiled.
"At least I made more money than yesterday."
Ford walked through the fiery streets, dragging his feet behind him.
Even a double-A battery would probably have more energy than him.
Tap. Tap.
Someone tapped Ford on the back.
"Hey, how have you been?!"
Ford slowly turned around.
"Oh, Ben?"
Ben stared at him for a moment.
"Dude, you good? You look completely drained."
"Yeah, I'm fine—"
"Fine!? You look like a goddamn zombie!"
"Here, eat up."
Ben handed over a water bottle and a cookie to Ford.
Ford took a bite.
"You could have just called me if you needed help."
"I thought you were busy."
"Busy? You were with Troov yesterday, right? Didn't he tell you that today is our rest day?"
Ford lowered his head, "No..."
They casually walked alongside each other.
...
"Hey, do you know where Troov is?"
Ford nodded, "Yeah, to the forest on our border."
"Why there?"
"Sorry, man. I can't tell you that."
"Sigh... It's okay."
Ford looked at Ben.
Benjamin Griever. A low-ranking soldier in Sinville's 6th military unit.
He's a really good soldier. He occasionally helps me out with my work.
"What happened? Why are you staring at me?"
Ford kept his eyes on the street.
"Oh, nothing."
After their conversation, the two continued down the street together.
Between the three of us, Troov is the youngest and the hardest-working one. He even became a captain through sheer hard work at such a young age.
Truly a genius.
Ford smiled.
Then one eyebrow rose.
For some reason, whenever I hear his full name, I swear I can hear victory drums playing in the background.
"Hey, dude. Wanna grab a beer?"
Ford shook his head, "Ah, no. I was going to clean my fridge today. M-Maybe next time?"
"You've got it!" Ben gave a thumbs up.
Both of them waved.
...
"I wonder if I have any leftover watermelons."
Ford walked a little farther down the street before finally stopping in front of his house.
He stood there silently.
His eyes slowly traveled across the small concrete hut, from the front door to the roof.
For a few seconds, he didn't move.
"...Home."
He stared at it.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Wait..."
He looked at the house again.
"...Who made graffiti on the wall!?"
He looked around furiously, "WHO DID THAT!?"
Someone shouted from inside their house, "SHUT UP!"
"I-I'm really sorry!"
Sigh.
Ford held his door handle and twisted.
Click!
He came in smiling, "At least my house is fine—"
Ford felt something cold on his feet.
An ice cube.
His eyes darted toward the floor...
"No... No..."
Everything was scattered around the house.
Ford immediately bolted toward his bedroom.
Then stopped.
"My... fridge."
His fridge was open and all the things were on the ground.
Ford heard whistling so he turned around.
Pietro casually walked out of the bathroom holding a piece of watermelon.
Their eyes met and Pietro stopped.
"Pietro...?"
Pietro glanced at the open door, slowly put the watermelon between his teeth and immediately sprinted out.
"HEY!"
Ford followed back.
"GET BACK HERE!!!"
They ran across the street before Ford's leg finally gave up.
"THANKS FOR THE WATERMELON!" Pietro shouted from afar.
Ford stood there, pressing his palm against his thighs while breathing heavily.
Watching Pietro slowly disappear.
"YOU MOTHERFU—"
"STOP SHOUTING!!!"
"SORRY AGAIN!"
Ford gasped.
Pietro ran through the busy street with the piece of watermelon still in his mouth.
He stopped just in front of an old man.
"Watch out, young man."
"Y-yeah."
Pietro looked behind.
"Guess he gave up..."
"There wasn't very much food in his house."
Growl.
He rubbed his stomach, "I am still not full."
His eyes darted around and finally stopped at a fruit stand.
"That might do."
He searched through his pocket and pulled out two coins.
"Only two manakins?"
Sigh.
He walked toward the vendor.
"Hey, how much for the... Apples?"
"Oh, apple? They are 5 Manakins."
"5 Manakins!?"
"5 MANAKINS FOR A SINGLE APPLE!?"
"Apples are quite rare in this area so if you don't have the money then don't buy it."
"Why are you being so rude, bro? Okay, I will take that watermelon."
"Of course, my dear sir!"
"Umm. Can you cut it into slices?"
"No."
Pietro wrapped his arms around the watermelon and carried it to a bench beside a utility shop.
"Sir, do you have knives?" He asked the shop owner.
"Certainly."
"How much for one?"
"4 Manakins."
"Can we do... 2?"
With a big smile the owner said, "Absolutely not."
"Damn..."
...
Sitting down on the bench, Pietro stared at the gigantic watermelon beside him.
"Now... How am I supposed to eat this?"
"I can't use magic because I am exhausted. I can't fix my exhaustion because I can't eat. I can't eat because I don't have a knife to cut this. I don't have a knife because it costs 4 Manakins. I don't have 4 Manakins... BECAUSE I'M BROKE!"
He lowered his head and placed a palm on his face.
"What should I do—"
"You should probably try to punch it open," Ben said slowly.
"I can't, I'm... exhausted."
"Maybe I can."
The senior and junior guards from earlier came running toward Ford.
The senior exclaimed, "Ford!"
"Garfield, Pietro! How did he escape!?"
Garfield pointed toward the rookie, "This idiot forgot to lock the main door, Pietro somehow managed to open his cell gate and flew away!"
"He was getting freed tomorrow, right? Why would he escape?"
"I don't know!"
"You two are unbelievable! Mister Ford, you saw him, didn't you?"
"Yeah."
"THEN LET'S GO!!!"
They ran through the street like mad men.
"He went this way, I suppose!"
"OH LOOK! THERE!!!"
"ON THE BENCH!"
"WAIT—IS THAT BEN BESIDE HIM!?"
Ben held the big watermelon and punched, splitting it in half.
"There you go."
Pietro raised his head and his face lit up with amusement.
As drool dropped from his mouth, he shouted with gratitude, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
"You're welcome."
Ben stared at Pietro's face.
"You know, I think I've... Seen you somewhere."
Pietro's eyes widened.
"But, I can't remember whe—"
"BEN! DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!!!" Ford yelled.
"Get away?," Ben raised an eyebrow. "Who!?"
"PIETRO!!!"
"Huh?"
Ben looked at the bench.
Pietro was gone.
"Where did he go?"
Ford and the two ran past him.
"YOU DUMBASS! JUST FOLLOW US!!!"
Ben joined them.
"So, what are we chasing?"
"PIETRO!"
"Where?"
"YOU WERE JUST WITH HIM!"
"That guy was Pietro?!"
Ben muttered slowly, "No wonder he looked familiar."
"IS IT COMPLETELY EMPTY UP THERE!!!?"
Garfield stopped.
"What happened?"
"Hmm... We're not going to catch him any time soon if we just chase him."
"What should we do then!?"
Garfield looked forward, the street divided into three paths.
"Ford, follow me! And the two of you, go in the other paths!"
Ford and Garfield continued forward. Ben and the rookie went on the other two paths.
Pietro rushed through the street.
"EXCUSE ME PLEASE!"
He glanced over his shoulder.
No, they are coming closer!
"EXCUSE ME!!!"
He forced himself into the crowd.
Ford yelled, "Shit, the crowd is too thick to pass through!"
Ben and the rookie ran past multiple shops on their path.
They finally emerged out and looked at each other while breathing heavily.
Then their eyes darted on Pietro.
"PIETRO!" They shouted in unison.
They are surrounding me!
"EVERYONE PLEASE CLEAR THE PATH! A CRIMINAL IS ON THE LOOSE!" Garfield declared.
The crowd slowly cleared.
Ford and Garfield bolted.
Ben rushed toward Pietro, about to catch him.
Then—
Pietro disappeared.
Oh, no. He just crouched down.
The rookie saw and immediately ran toward him.
Pietro dashed away while crouching and the rookie charged straight onto Ben.
They fell on the ground and Pietro ran away while laughing.
Ford and Garfield reached and saw them lying on the ground.
Ford yelled, "What are you two even doing!?"
Garfield followed Pietro.
Ford followed Garfield.
"Man, don't you think you are forgetting something!!?"
"WHAT!?"
"You can use magic, remember!?"
"Use it to dash!"
"Oh, yeah!!"
Mana ran through Garfield's thighs as his posture changed and he jolted straight toward Pietro.
"AAH!!!"
Garfield's hands close to Pietro's neck now.
I don't have a choice!
Pietro clenched his teeth.
He used the last bit of mana to increase his own speed.
His mouth flew backwards, the air pushed him back as he dashed through the street like a military jet.
Pietro cut through a fruit stand.
Then over a cart.
"Hey, watch where you are going!"
He landed on the ground.
The dash ran out...
While huffing, he munched on the half watermelon like a dog.
This should give me enough energy...
"Oh, no..."
Garfield stood right in front of him.
Before Garfield could even do anything, Pietro shot out the watermelon seeds from his mouth right onto Garfield's face.
"Agh!"
Garfield's vision got blocked for just a few seconds and seeing the opportunity, Pietro flew off.
Garfield wiped the seeds off of his face.
Ben and the rookie came running.
"He is going toward the town's exit gate!" The rookie exclaimed.
"Just as I thought," Garfield said. "Did Ford reach there?"
"I think so, and I hope so," The rookie said.
"Umm..."
Ben looked at Garfield for a second.
"Who are you again?"
"It's Garfield!"
The three of them rushed toward Pietro.
Pietro dashed towards the exit gate.
His face lit up.
"Fina—"
Ford stood before the gate like a human wall.
Pietro tried to back away but—
He stumbled into Ben.
Left?
The rookie blocked the way.
Right?
Garfield spread his arms out.
Pietro stumbled back and stood in the middle.
Now completely surrounded on all four sides, Pietro looked around.
Four directions.
Four guards.
No way out.
He swallowed.
"...Shit."
Garfield stepped forward.
"Pietro, you're under arrest."
Pietro stared at him.
Then at the rookie.
Then Ben.
Finally, Ford.
Ford was glaring at him furiously.
Garfield's hands lit up with mana flowing through them.
"Because you tried to escape, you have added one more day to your punishment."
"So, you are not getting freed tomorrow... Unfortunately."
Pietro raised both hands.
"Okay, okay! I surrender!"
Seeing an opening Pietro tried to run away.
Garfield shot out a mana beam straight to his feet.
Pietro fell down onto the ground.
Garfield smiled.
"Trying to be slick, hu—"
GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
A bone-sickening roar burst through the sky.
Chills ran down everyone's spine.
People flinched.
Birds fled from the rooftops.
Doors rattled.
Glass shattered into a hundred pieces.
Even the ground started shaking.
The rookie, Ben, Ford, and Pietro all froze, eyes wide with fear.
"W-what the..." Ford couldn't even speak as he felt the force.
Their bodies trembled.
Whatever that sound was...
...It was anything but peaceful.