The sound of arrows slicing through the air.
TSSSHT!
One pierces the trunk of a tree.
Another passes just inches away.
A blond boy runs through the dense forest. His body is covered in scratches. His clothes are torn. One of his arms is tied tightly against his own torso.
Even so…
He doesn't look desperate.
He takes a deep breath.
The ground trembles.
The earth rises in blocks beneath his feet, forming natural steps. He climbs them without slowing down.
More arrows fly.
Trees grow suddenly from the ground.
Animals of the forest watch him silently.
He extends his free hand.
Branches detach from the trees, bending through the air and deflecting the projectiles with surgical precision.
An arrow comes from behind.
Roots explode from the ground and crush it instantly.
Silence.
He stops.
Slowly raising his hand.
The soil ahead opens, lifting hidden wooden targets among the trees. Stones launch themselves toward them, destroying every target at the exact center.
Steady breathing.
Absolute control.
The camera slowly lowers toward his chest.
A silver necklace.
Engraved with one word:
ERIK.
The Hunt
Erik hunts through the forest.
A wild boar falls into a vine trap he set.
Night falls.
He roasts the meat over a fire.
Above him, the stars fill the sky.
Completely focused on nature.
Determined eyes.
Serious.
No smile.
Even as a child…
He has the eyes of an eagle.
Cut.
Inside the Wooden House
The table is still set.
The food has already gone cold.
The atmosphere is warm…
But something feels different in the air.
The father clears his throat.
"Ryo… I need to give you something."
Bill and Nara look at each other.
Almost at the same time:
"We're going with him!"
The father is surprised for a moment.
Then he smiles.
"…Take care of each other."
He grabs an old book beside his chair. The cover is thick, worn by time.
He hands it to Ryo.
Ryo blushes.
"Dad… I saw your dream book…"
The old man laughs softly.
"Good. That saves me the trouble of explaining why I'm giving it to you."
THUD.
Bill punches Ryo on the head.
"Ow! That hurt!" Ryo complains.
"That big head of yours didn't read everything. You just skimmed it!" Bill says, crossing his arms.
"He's hopeless," Nara adds.
Their father smiles…
But his voice suddenly changes.
It becomes deeper.
"My children… this book holds my soul."
Silence.
"My father used to tell me stories. Legends the world was starting to forget. I wanted to carry them forward… with you."
The mother carefully opens the book.
"I'll read the list," she says gently. "And show the drawings your grandfather made."
The father turns toward Nara.
"The first one is for you. Listen carefully."
He takes a deep breath.
"There is a legend about a very rare fire. The Blue Fire."
"Blue fire? That's the hottest fire, right?" Bill asks.
"Yes. The hottest."
A pause.
"But the legend also says… there was once a human born with this element."
"The element of Blue Fire."
The room feels quieter.
"This being can heal any wound."
The father's fingers tighten around the arm of his chair.
"My father died searching for this person… hoping they could cure my eyes."
Nara stands immediately.
"I'll find them!" she says firmly. "I'll bring them to you. And we'll heal you!"
"We'll do it for you!" Ryo adds.
Their father smiles, deeply moved.
"My daughter…"
Then he turns to Bill.
"The next one is for you."
Bill straightens his posture.
"There is a rare island. A place filled with the rarest materials in the world. Giant mountains covered in precious stones. Flowers of every color imaginable."
Bill's eyes shine.
"But only those accepted by nature itself can set foot there."
Ryo freezes.
He has seen that place before.
The mountains.
The shining stones.
The unreal colors.
His vision.
"I'll become worthy," Bill says confidently. "I want to see the most incredible things this world has to offer!"
Their father smiles again.
He tightens his grip on the book.
Then he looks at Ryo.
"And Ryo…"
Absolute silence.
"The book will be yours."
Ryo lifts his eyes.
"Live your purpose."
"Keep your soul open to goodness."
The father takes a deep breath.
"You… are different."
A pause.
"And we know that."
The candle flame trembles in the wind.
Cut.
Night
Erik walks back home.
The sun has long disappeared. The sky glows under a bright moon, its light painting the open fields.
He walks in silence.
But his thoughts echo.
"I will become the strongest."
"And I will do whatever it takes to enter the strongest squad."
He clenches his fist.
The ground vibrates lightly beneath his feet.
In the distance, his father watches him from the field.
Erik raises his hand.
The earth rises like a perfect wall.
Absolute control.
Pride.
His father crosses his arms.
"Erik trained his entire life."
"He has always waited for this moment."
His eyes shine with conviction.
"He… is the worthy one."
"Your son is incredible!" says the man standing beside him.
The camera rises.
The moon on the horizon.
A sky full of stars.
"Tomorrow is Saturday… they'll probably come back. I'll show them such an extraordinary talent that they'll recruit me immediately!"
Erik's eyes glow with excitement.
Bill's narration echoes:
"Two children."
"Two paths."
"One destiny."
End of Chapter 2.