Chapter 01
📖 Chapter 1 – The Road of Fate Leads West
The morning sunlight slowly spread across the narrow street, where small shops stood packed together in a strange, lively crowd. The scent of freshly baked bread, the sharp smell of raw meat, and the sweet fragrance of fruits and vegetables blended together in the air.
Amid all this, a boy walked quietly, his light yellow hair shining under the sun. He looked around twenty-one years old, yet his eyes carried the gravity of someone far older. At times, a strange emptiness flickered in his gaze, as if an old wound was still buried deep inside him.
Sora carefully observed every shop, as though he were searching for something or someone specific. In truth, he was extremely hungry and waiting for his friend, Raijin, to return with food. He paused in front of the butcher's shop, then the fruit stall, and sometimes near the bakery. Each glance held a peculiar focus. Tension rested on his shoulders, as if even the air could sense his unease.
After a while, his eyes fell on another young man. He also appeared to be around twenty-one, with thick black hair falling around his face. A sword was strapped to his waist, its blade glinting in the sunlight. He walked calmly and with measured steps, yet Sora felt a strange pull in his chest, as though fate itself had placed them face to face.
Sora couldn't stop himself. His voice suddenly echoed through the street, sharp and loud.
"Raijin!"
His shout rang between the market stalls. Passersby turned around in surprise, but Sora paid them no attention. His eyes were fixed on that one person. A faint restlessness stirred within him, something he had never shared with anyone.
Raijin turned around, slightly startled.
"Oh, Sora… what are you doing here? I thought you'd be at home. I've already bought all the supplies."
Sora smiled lightly and joked,
"Yeah, I see that. Looks like I would've starved without you."
Laughing together, they walked toward a quieter alley, where the cool morning breeze brushed against their faces.
Along the way, they stopped at small food stalls. Sora bought some fried fritters, while Raijin took a cup of hot soup. Sora tossed a piece of fritter into the air toward Raijin with a grin. Raijin clapped and caught it, laughing.
"You'll never stop being mischievous, will you?"
"So what? You want me to be serious all the time?" Sora replied jokingly.
But a small shadow crossed his mind. Would he really be able to live up to Raijin's expectations?
Amid their laughter, the conversation slowly turned serious.
"So… how are we supposed to defeat the monster called Lord?" Sora asked, his tone steady.
Raijin glanced at his sword, his fingers trembling slightly.
"First, we need to learn about his location and strength. We'll have to go outside the city tomorrow and search for where he was last seen."
They fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Worry lingered in their eyes, yet their friendship kept the atmosphere from growing too heavy. Small jokes and quiet laughter added a touch of humanity to their grim planning.
Without telling anyone, Raijin felt a faint warmth in his palm, as if the seed of his soul was trembling with a slight surge of energy. It was only a minor sensation, but a sharp resolve flickered in his eyes.
He finished the last sip of soup and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Since childhood, Raijin had lived under Lord's terror. He had seen villagers trembling in fear, living each day in silent dread. That shadow of fear on their faces was his greatest motivation. He wanted to end this terror so people could live freely again. Yet, somewhere within him lay a thin line of doubt. Would he truly have the courage to face that fear himself?
Sora lowered his head. His motivation was simpler and deeper than Raijin's. Raijin was his best friend. Sora knew that whatever challenge Raijin faced, he would stand beside him. Still, a faint layer of fear lingered inside him, something he had never voiced. His courage and friendship were what pulled him into this dangerous journey against Lord.
By the time night fell, they returned to their rooms, exhausted. In the dim light, worry and hope mixed across their faces. Tomorrow's search would bring a new challenge, and their friendship was the strength that would give them the courage to face it.
Morning light filtered through the window as both Sora and Raijin woke from their sleep. The house was wrapped in silence, as if the world itself was holding its breath before the coming decisions.
They ate a simple breakfast without much conversation. No jokes. No laughter. Today was different. After breakfast, they headed out in separate directions, sharing the same goal: uncovering the truth about Lord.
Raijin visited countless shops. Some people avoided the topic out of fear, while others shut their doors the moment they heard Lord's name. Eventually, he reached a shop where swords, spears, and armor lined the walls. The smell of iron and oil filled the air.
It was Takashi's weapon shop, where every item seemed to reflect both hard work and fear.
Raijin walked straight to the counter.
"Do you know about Lord?"
The shopkeeper's eyes hardened instantly.
"Have you no manners?" he said coldly. "You introduce yourself before asking questions."
Raijin paused, then bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. I'm a bit anxious. My name is Raijin."
The shopkeeper studied him carefully.
"Fine. My name is Takashi."
Raijin repeated his question.
"Can you tell me anything about Lord?"
Takashi's voice lowered.
"Why do you want to know? Don't you understand how dangerous he is?"
"I do," Raijin replied without hesitation. "That's exactly why I'm asking. My friend and I are going to kill him, so people can stop living in fear."
Takashi didn't laugh. Instead, an old pain surfaced in his eyes.
"Calm down, kid," he said. "I was just like you once."
He stepped forward and lifted his pant leg slightly. One of his legs was wooden.
"I went with my team to kill him too. But when we stood before him… we couldn't even move. We didn't have the strength to raise our eyes. I don't even know what was going through our minds. There was only one thought—run."
Takashi clenched his fists.
"Our leader gathered his courage and told everyone to flee together… but no one moved. Everyone stayed frozen. Somehow, I managed to retreat. No one else moved an inch… and that day, I lost this leg."
A heavy silence filled the shop.
"After hearing all that," Takashi asked, "do you still want to go?"
There was no fear in Raijin's eyes, not even for a moment. Still, a chill ran down his back, as if an unknown fear stood beside him.
"Yes. I will go. I know the terror Lord spreads is built on fear alone. And I will defeat him."
Takashi stared at him. Suddenly, his expression changed. In Raijin's face, he saw his old leader… his elder brother.
"You remind me of someone," Takashi said softly. "If you truly want to defeat him, remember one thing—never fear him."
He then pointed westward.
"His fortress lies in the west. That's where you'll find him."
That same day, in another part of the city, Sora was questioning people as well. He heard stories of fear, incomplete tales, and broken courage. Every story ended the same way—no one could stand before Lord. For Sora, these stories only strengthened his resolve to stand by his friend at all costs. Yet a faint, cold shadow lingered in his eyes, an unspoken doubt slowly dissolving within him.
By evening, both returned home. During dinner, they shared everything they had heard throughout the day. Terrifying stories, failed battles, and the name of the west.
In the end, they made a decision.
The day after tomorrow, they would head west.
Night deepened, and silence filled the house once more. This time, the silence was heavy, like the calm before a storm.
Sora and Raijin lay in their beds, eyes closed, sleep still far away. The west occupied their thoughts… and Lord stood at the center of their fate.
Thank you for reading this chapter.
Author: Mohammad Zaid Saifi