One thousand years ago, the Supreme Soul destroyed the world.
It had created the ninety-ninth god, Chaos, to watch over Earth. Chaos ruled for one million years. In the beginning, his guidance was firm. But over the centuries, his will weakened. He grew lazy, and the world slipped into decay.
Humans abandoned kindness. Loyalty became rare. Greed and desire ruled over them like kings.
So the Supreme Soul made its choice.
Chaos was cast aside. The Earth was broken to dust. And from that dust, the one-hundredth god was born, to start a new beginning.
A new world rose from the ashes. But new humans didn't start from the Stone Age—they started from the Iron Age, because the Supreme Soul didn't like the Stone Age.
The one-hundredth god quickly learned why the ninety-ninth god was cast aside, and what humans most wanted.
So the one-hundredth god gave every living being the path of cultivation.
---
Present Day in Maple Village
Four children were having a very serious meeting.
"Hi everyone! My name is Menono. I am five years old," said the smallest one—a black-haired, black-eyed boy who spoke like he was the boss.
(Menono meaning: free.)
"We know that already," said Rugo.
(Rugo – age 7, red hair, crimson eyes. Meaning: home.)
Menono cleared his throat. "Ahem! We're gathered here today because a new school opened in the village. And now my mom says I have to go to school to learn how to read and write."
Lumo, Rugo's younger brother, asked, "Wait… so you're not going to fight the neighbor's dog?"
(Lumo – age 6, blond hair, sharp golden eyes. Meaning: light.)
Menono frowned. "Why would I fight a dog?"
Zeno, the youngest brother, piped up. "Because it always tries to bite me! I told the neighbor lady, but she said I was lying. And she called me a stupid kid!"
(Zeno – age 5, fluffy green hair, big emerald eyes. Meaning: divine gift.)
Rugo crossed his arms. "We're taking revenge. If you're going to school, then we'll do it without you."
Menono crossed his arms right back. "Nope. You're all coming with me."
Zeno gave him puppy-dog eyes. "But… my revenge…"
"For a man, revenge comes first," Rugo said gravely.
"But I heard the longer you wait for your revenge, the sweeter it gets," said Lumo.
"Enough with your half-ash revenge! You're all coming with me to school!" Menono barked.
"No way," Rugo said.
"Yeah," Zeno agreed.
"No!" Lumo added.
"What do you mean, no?" asked Rugo.
"Bro… look behind you," whispered Lumo.
Rugo turned and froze.
Menono's face was red with fury.
"AHH! Big Brother, help!!" Zeno screamed.
Too late.
Menono tackled them all. Fists flew. Tears were shed. And in the end… they grudgingly agreed to go to school.
---
In Front of the School Gate
Rugo squinted at the wooden sign. "What does that writing say?"
Menono sighed. "Bro, if I could read, why would I come to school?"
A calm voice behind them replied, "It says Cultivation School."
They turned. A tall young man stood there—black hair, steady gray eyes.
"Who are you?" Menono asked.
"I'm Intaba, head guard of this school," he said with a gentle smile.
(Intaba – age 25. Name meaning: mountain. Calm and gentle, but strong.)
"You four here to learn?"
Menono nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Then come with me. I'll take you to your teacher."
---
Inside the School
The school wasn't big, but it felt alive. Kids were shouting. Birds sang in the trees. A white cat napped in a patch of sunlight. A woman hung laundry. A young man fed breadcrumbs to fish in a pond.
Menono smiled. He liked this place.
---
The Classroom
The teacher was teaching the alphabet to a small group of children—a young man with long black hair and black eyes, calm and patient, but sharp.
"Teacher," Intaba said, "these children have come to learn."
"Leave them and you can go," the teacher replied.
Menono stared. "Are you the head teacher?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Well… all the teachers I've seen are old men, with big beards and scary faces."
The teacher chuckled. "So I should grow a beard?"
"No, I just meant… you don't look like a teacher."
"I am. Now, what are your names and ages?"
"I am Menono! I am five years old."
"I am Rugo! I am seven years old."
"I am Lumo! I am six years old."
"I am Zeno! I am five years old."
"Good. Now go sit behind Roz."
But Roz didn't like Menono sitting behind her.
(Roz – age 5, black hair, pink eyes. Meaning: rose.)
---
Class Begins
As the teacher began the lesson, Menono leaned toward Roz and whispered, "Hey, Roz! Why didn't you tell me you started school?"
Roz didn't even look at him. "Because you're an idiot, and I don't like you."
"I didn't ask if you liked me or not, stupid girl!"
From nowhere, a quiet voice echoed inside the teacher's mind.
(Hey son, those two are talking.)
"Menono! Roz!" the teacher called. "Stop talking and repeat after me: A, B, C... X, Y, Z."
---
Thirty Minutes Later…
"Now I am going to write everything on the board," the teacher said. "You have to look and repeat after me. This is A. This is B. This is C…!"
Menono raised his hand. "Teacher, if we have to read from the board, why did we waste half an hour chanting?"
"Because kids' tongues slip when they say new words. If I say tomato, you might say tamato. That's why we practice."
Menono nodded. "Ah. But my tongue doesn't slip. That means I am better than the others."
The teacher smiled. "Maybe a little."
---
Inside the Teacher's Mind
(Hey son, why waste time? Use your powers to teach them.)
(If I teach them with my power, they will understand the lesson, but they will never understand how to pass it on.)
(Good point. Fine. Forget I said anything.)
---
The teacher clapped his hands. "Again! It's A, it's B, it's C…!"
"Sir! Sir!"
Everyone laughed.
Roz hissed, "You fool. Be quiet for once!"
"What now?" the teacher asked.
"Two things! One: why is that lazy cat here? And what does cultivation mean?"
The teacher replied calmly, "That cat is my pet. His name is Maswerte."
(Maswerte – age 3, white fur, blue eyes. Meaning: lucky.)
"As for cultivation… it's a path to become stronger. That, I will explain tomorrow. For now, class dismissed."