Zeo Arasil was a young man of twenty, orphaned since the age of seven. After his parents died in an outbreak that struck the eastern part of the village, he was raised by his grandfather—a wise, quiet old shepherd. The old man taught him how to read the stars, sense the desert winds, and distinguish the footsteps of night beasts from those of wild sheep.
When Zeo turned sixteen, his grandfather passed away in his sleep, leaving behind a small flock of sheep, a modest hut, and life lessons that ran deeper than mere words.
Now, Zeo lived independently with his wife, Kaira—a gentle, wise, and far more mature woman. Kaira was the daughter of a village healer, trained in the arts of healing and herbal remedies, with hands that knew how to calm, not just cure. Though five years older, their love did not blossom from flirtation or sweet promises, but from quiet days spent together across the silent deserts and barren valleys.
Zeo was known as an honest and hardworking young man. He herded his own sheep, repaired broken fences for the villagers, helped carry water from the oasis during the dry season, and delivered Kaira's remedies to households in need. He had no title, no magic, no sword—but he had trust, and in the village of Kurua, that was far rarer.
Kurua itself was a remote village, nestled at the bottom of a rocky valley that formed a natural fortress against the harsh winds of the Azra Desert. At night, the village seemed to float in stillness, lit by lanterns and stars that hung too close. Few came, and fewer still left. And Zeo—he was part of the quiet breath that kept the village alive.
"You don't need to be a warrior or a mage to be someone great, Zeo," Kaira said as she fed him dinner with a soft smile. "Just be a good person. That alone is rare."
Zeo chuckled quietly at that. He didn't know that just a few nights later… that simple life would begin to crack.
---
The sky was turning red as Zeo counted his sheep at the foot of the hill. One was missing—the male, the most stubborn of the lot. He sighed, grabbed a lantern made from dried husks, and followed the tracks north, toward the cliffs.
The Kurua fields were slowly swallowed by night. In the distance, the desert wind carried low howls—some from animals, and others… from beasts that prowled after dark. Not enough to panic an adult, but tense enough to unsettle the heart.
He found tracks among the rocks, leading into a small cave—just wide enough for a goat, barely enough for a person. The night air grew cold. Rather than return empty-handed and cross the desert in full darkness, he decided to spend the night there.
He tied the lantern to the wall and leaned back. His eyes were just about to close… when a light appeared at the edge of the cave.
It wasn't fire. It wasn't ordinary magic. It was a humanoid form, glowing from within, its face too blurred to make out. Its eyes shone like exploding stars.
Zeo leapt to his feet—but his body wouldn't move. The being floated toward him.
Without a word, its glowing hand gripped Zeo's neck and slammed him against the cave wall. His chest trembled. He tried to speak, but no sound came. Then, a voice echoed—not in his ears, but in his mind. A wave of terror washed over him.
"Take off your shirt."
Zeo froze. What...?
Is this a kidnapper? A mad mage? A starving jinn? he thought.
"Take off your shirt."
"No!" Zeo shouted, trying to push away the hand. It was useless. The grip didn't budge. His body trembled in fear, helpless.
"Take off your shirt."
"Why? Are you trying to—?" Zeo couldn't finish the sentence. The grip tightened. His body shook. Breathing became hard. His chest heaved. His mind raced with every worst-case scenario, thinking this might be the end if he didn't obey.
Finally, with trembling fingers, Zeo slowly removed his shirt. His body remained tense, unwilling, but knowing he couldn't fight back.
The being floated behind him and placed a palm on Zeo's back. A wave of heat surged through his spine—like being sliced open from within. Zeo clenched his teeth to stifle a scream.
Golden-blue glyphs began to bloom where the being touched. Strange, living symbols seeped into his skin.
"This is your mission. You are the chosen one. Find him. Save him," the being said.
Zeo didn't understand. He wanted to ask, Who are you? What does this mean?—but no voice came out.
The being vanished in a flash of white.
Zeo collapsed into darkness. The only sound left was his own heartbeat.
---
He awoke to something dripping on his face. When he opened his eyes, Kaira's face was the first thing he saw.
Her face was wet. Her eyes swollen. Her breath uneven.
"Zeo... you're awake." Her voice cracked. "Dear God… I thought you…"
He didn't answer right away. His tongue was dry. The real world felt heavy.
"Kaira, I… wasn't I in a cave?" Zeo asked softly.
Kaira pulled him into a tight hug, saying nothing. Just breathing deeply, pressing his head against her chest.
"Mmm… they found you this morning… in front of the cave, shirtless, unconscious. The shepherds said your body was cold… and I—I thought—"
Her voice broke again. Tears fell on Zeo's shoulder. This time, Zeo gently took her hand.
"I don't understand, Kai… Last night… I was looking for the sheep… night fell, I went into the cave…"
He tried to recall, to form the words. But it was all still hazy.
"Then… something came. Glowing. I don't know what it was. It told me to take off my shirt. I thought it wanted to… do something. But instead, it felt like it implanted something… in my back."
Kaira pulled back slightly, staring at Zeo's face with uncertainty.
"Glowing?"
"Yeah… I don't know if it was real or a dream. But the heat was real. I still feel the pain."
Without a word, Kaira lifted the back of Zeo's shirt. When she saw it, she froze.
A golden-blue symbol shimmered on his skin. She reached out to touch it, and suddenly—
Zzap!
A burst of energy shot from the glyph, repelling her hand.
"Kai?! Are you okay?"
Kaira pulled her hand back. Not hurt, just startled. She looked at her husband with an expression that was hard to read—a mix of fear, awe, and protectiveness.
"Zeo… it wasn't a dream. That symbol… it's real. And I think it holds magical energy."
"Magic? Am I cursed?"
Kaira stared at him for a long moment, then took a deep breath.
"I don't know. But I think you'll be alright… because no matter what it is… I'll always be by your side."
Zeo smiled and nodded gently. But his eyes lingered on the ceiling. Deep in his thoughts, he knew—his life would never be the same. But he had no idea where this would lead him.
If that wasn't a dream… that being said this is a mission. Then maybe… maybe I really have a task to fulfill, Zeo thought.
And thus began the great mission that awaited him.