Once upon a time,
in a strange and forgotten village hidden deep between towering mountain valleys, there lived a mysterious boy named Shenjo-kun. A quiet wind always passed through the village, as if carrying secrets from lands unknown.
Shenjo lived with his mother in a small wooden house at the edge of the fields. His father had abandoned the family many years ago, sailing beyond the endless horizon to join a mighty crew of explorers — men who chased storms and discovered worlds no one had ever seen.
To Shenjo, his father was less of a memory and more of a legend.
Before leaving, his father would often kneel beside him, place a firm hand on his shoulder, and say,
"One day, my son… we will sail the sea together."
Shenjo believed those words with all his heart.
But time has a cruel way of revealing the truth —
some promises are never meant to be kept.
A few years later…
The golden sun was sinking behind the mountains as Shenjo returned home from the fields, his clothes dusted with soil and the scent of earth clinging to him. Exhausted, he dropped onto his bed, ready to rest.
Suddenly—
SCRATCH!
A blur of fur darted beneath his bed.
"A cat?" he muttered, his heartbeat quickening.
Curiosity pulled him downward. As he knelt and peered into the darkness, something caught his eye — a plank in the floor, slightly lifted, as if it had been disturbed after years of silence.
He pried it open.
Dust rose into the air.
Hidden beneath the floor was an old chest, its wood cracked with age. Strange symbols were carved into its surface, and a heavy, unfamiliar padlock sealed it shut.
The chest did not belong to this time.
It felt like it was waiting.
Waiting… for him.
Shenjo's hands trembled as he rushed to his mother.
"Mother… what is this? Why was it hidden under our floor?"
For a brief moment, her face lost all color.
She stared at the chest.
Then at Shenjo.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips — the kind that carries years of secrets.
She spoke softly,
"So… you have finally found it."
The air in the room grew heavy.
And in that moment, Shenjo realized…
His life was about to change forever.
To be continued…