[https://i.imgur.com/aCuqV5S.gif]

A distant eruption of thunder reverberated through the air as birds hastily abandoned the trees above us, showering my sister and me with a cascade of golden leaves. The wind seemed to hesitate for a moment, swirling in a confused dance, before subsiding to a gentle stillness.

Suddenly, a strange radiance split the sky, distinct from the morning sun, and sank below the horizon. Birds, their songs tinged with urgency, chorused in the sky, as if fleeing from the mysterious glow.

The dirt beneath my feet trembled, igniting a spark of excitement within me. As the tremors dissipated, my mind latched onto a single word, echoing amidst the settling vibrations: entertainment.

I glanced at Yuridia, whose light blue eyes met mine. “What was that, Kade?” she whispered, her breath misting the crisp autumn air. She took a cautious step back, clutching her wicker basket of berries against her hip. “Let’s leave.”

Leave? Absolutely not.

I refused to let this opportunity for adventure slip away. The origin of that sound demanded a closer look. Our quiet village offered little excitement, and the thrill of exploration had long since waned. My days were typically filled with mundane tasks like checking rabbit traps—an uninspiring existence for someone yearning for stimulation beyond the evening meal. My mind craved a challenge outside the confines of our daily routine.

“I’m not sure, but you should head home. Mother will worry if you’re gone too long, and I want to check it out,” I said, hoisting my satchel over my shoulder.

My occasional disappearance was normal, expected almost. This, however, seemed too dangerous to drag her along. I knew I should heed my own advice and accompany her, but the choice between death by monotony or embracing adventure was clear.

Yuridia’s hand clutched the hem of my linen shirt. “Kade, don’t. Please.”

I tenderly patted her silvery hair and spun myself from her grasp, walking backwards with a sly grin—her hand remained in the air long after I was out of reach. My disobedience shouldn’t have surprised her. She was simply frustrated that I wouldn’t comply with her wishes.

“You know me, sis, always checking the end of a rainbow—it’s nothing dangerous.”

That was a blatant lie.

The situation reeked of danger, but I couldn’t bring myself to admit it. Was I a liar? In a sense, but my deception harmed no one but myself. It wasn’t malicious manipulation; I merely sought to assuage her worries through a lack of details.

Yuridia’s expression was etched with concern, as it always was when it came to me. “But that’s not a rainbow,” she said, her hand dropping to the side of her brown dress. “Curiosity will be your undoing one day, brother. It’s a wonder you’ve made it to sixteen—come back, Kade.” She stomped her foot, well aware that her pleas would fall on deaf ears.

Unlike the village boys who often succumbed to her persistent complaints, her dramatics held no sway over me. Even Father yielded to her whining on occasion. Someone had to resist her whims, lest her manipulation would grow unchecked. And, admittedly, I derived a certain satisfaction from saying no.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “No worries! I’ve got nine lives,” I declared before venturing deeper into the forest.

Yuridia’s voice, laden with futile frustration, trailed behind me as I disappeared among the trees.

The woods lay hushed, the silence punctuated only by the crunch of leaves and pine cones underfoot. I navigated the landscape of white birch and towering pines that blanketed the mountainous terrain.

Though the booming sound seemed distant, the picturesque surroundings made my trek feel less tedious.

Autumn was my favourite season, during which I spent much of my time outdoors. I relished watching the trees, weary from maintaining their verdant foliage through the sweltering summer, exchange their bright hues for the rich tones of gold. While the weather was chilly, it was far from biting, making strenuous tasks like woodcutting and farming more bearable.

Ah, yes—my personal hell in the fields.

The repetitive sweep of the scythe for hours on end was enough to drive me mad. My disinterest stemmed from the monotonous nature of the task, and hauling the bundled wheat to the barn was perhaps the most tiresome part.

However, the bountiful harvest did provide us with delicious meals for several months. Yuridia’s cooking talents added a touch of zest to my otherwise bland life—her soups and pies were unrivalled.

My stomach growled at the thought.

I needed to ensure a swift return home after this adventure, or she might refuse to feed me. Yuridia’s temper was as unpredictable as it was irksome, and she was likely to exact retribution. I hoped to deploy my charms as the endearing little brother to mitigate any consequences.

Sigh.

In truth, I was no different from my sister. Our theatrics were cut from the same cloth, except for the fact that I didn’t parade about town, batting my eyes at the opposite sex for attention.

I vaulted over a fallen tree, my thoughts racing as I ventured deeper into the dense woods.

The passing of autumn’s splendour signalled winter’s harsh embrace. The bittersweet change of the leaves coincided with the onset of boredom, as I found myself increasingly confined indoors.

My mother, ever diligent, would seize any idle moment to teach me reading and writing throughout the cold months. My only reprieve came in the form of chopping wood in the frosty air or watching my father’s sword training in the barn—his own escape from the house.

The relevance of academics for someone living in such a remote area eluded me. I grasped the necessity of mathematics, as many in the village struggled even to count coins. However, the rest of the subjects held little importance to me beyond the basics.

A group of white-tailed deer, bounding past me with a cacophony of hooves, jolted me from my thoughts. I should have heeded their flight as a warning, and the squirrels and other forest creatures that scurried after them in instinctual fear.

Yet, these omens did nothing to quell my curiosity. On the contrary, they spurred me on, my steps quickening with eagerness. The mysterious noise had piqued my interest, and I couldn’t help but imagine what could have caused it. As I delved further into the forest, my heart pounded with anticipation, my mind giddy with possibilities.

Another thunderous boom resounded, accompanied by a force that sent my silver hair whipping back. The leaf litter swirled, releasing a musky aroma into the air.

I raised my forearm to shield my face from the stinging cloud of dirt and pine needles. Once the wind had subsided, I dusted off my clothes and plucked debris from my shoulder-length hair before resuming my spirited dash.

The deeper I ventured, the more I noticed the trees seemed to have been pushed over by some unseen force. Eventually, I reached a spot where the foliage lay completely flattened, stopping me in my tracks.

Some trees had been uprooted, while others were snapped in half like twigs. Even in the absence of flames, a hazy heat shimmered in the distance. It was an odd occurrence for October—I had even considered wearing a coat this morning.

Should I press on?

A sense of danger pervaded the situation, stoking my worry. Despite this, I had already come so far that turning back now would be utterly disappointing.

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Ugh. What should I do?

After a brief moment of contemplation, I made up my mind. “Screw it.”

I forged ahead, casting aside the warning signs and the creeping unease. The downed trees or the looming sense of foreboding couldn’t dampen my excitement. I resolved to make this journey worthwhile, regardless of Yuridia’s impending wrath and the risks involved.

As I wandered the ravaged foliage, stripped of leaves and strewn about, I neared the edge of what appeared to be a… cliff? The inland terrain was hilly, but the inclines were gradual—a stark contrast to the abrupt inclines of the coastal landscape.

A low hum resonated through the air as I cautiously approached the edge, where I discovered an enormous crystal hovering above the ground. It emitted a soft purple glow, accompanied by intermittent flickers of blue, lending it an ethereal appearance. A crack at the crystal’s centre widened with a resounding crunch as I stared in awe.

Dark, roiling clouds encircled the crystal’s peak, accentuated by the rumble of thunder. The morning sun illuminated its shimmering surface, casting a captivating array of blues and purples on the ground beneath like a stained glass window. Its beauty captivated me, and I felt stunned by this mysterious object’s size.

Where did this come from?

The gargantuan crater it occupied made me feel insignificant in comparison. The surrounding trees had been reduced to ash, leaving a barren landscape in their wake. I considered my approach to this intimidating enigma, then eagerly discarded my satchel to the side before sliding down the rocky incline. The rough terrain tore up my heels as I tried to slow my descent—this was really steep.

Seeing my boots in such poor condition—which she had only recently repaired—would undoubtedly displease Mother. Father was the true craftsman in the family. In his absence, Mother had done her best, in spite of lacking his expertise.

After a few minutes of traversing the crater, I reached the bottom and found myself knee-deep in ash, reminiscent of snow with its softness. The soot still contained smouldering embers that radiated heat.

I made my way towards the crystal’s pointed base, which rotated slowly, discharging bolts of lightning. One such discharge struck the ground before me, knocking me flat on my back and sending plumes of ash into the air. Coughing from the inhalation of the dark-grey powder that now enveloped me, I pressed on, undeterred by my own foolishness.

My sister’s worries held some truth. My curiosity could indeed be a burden. If only I weren’t treated like a child and left behind during the village’s hunting trips, I wouldn’t harbour so much frustration. Although taking the lives of animals wasn’t particularly thrilling, it would have been a welcome change from the monotonous labour that left my hands raw and aching.

Upon reaching the base of the colossal crystal, I timidly approached it. As I neared, the air grew thicker and carried the acrid scent of burnt wood—even with the encroaching dizziness; I continued on.

I stood in awe of the enormous structure casting a cold shadow over the ashen landscape below. The titan-like gem entirely obscured the sky.

With hesitation, I raised my index finger towards the glossy surface. As I did so, I felt static sting my skin. Upon contact with the smooth, glass-like structure, a brilliant white light flared, followed by a resonant hum. I considered making my exit as the ground beneath me began to vibrate, sending ripples through the ash.

Yep. It was definitely time to go.

I turned on my heel, ploughing through the soot and scrambling up the crater’s steep incline. Regret for my curiosity swelled as the pulsating hum intensified and a wave of heat emanated from behind me. Loose rocks crumbled underfoot, hindering my progress. I desperately clawed at the gravel to halt my descent, fingertips bleeding amidst the floating ash. My heart pounded, driven not by excitement but by fear.

The searing air scorched my back, akin to prolonged exposure to the sun’s touch. I clenched my teeth in pain as I neared the edge of the pit, desperate to escape the impending danger.

[https://i.imgur.com/4zrwwnZ.gif]

A vivid red Error flashed before my eyes, startling me, and caused me to fall onto my elbows, slipping down the incline several feet.

No matter how I moved my head, the message persisted, following my gaze regardless of my attempts to evade it or even when I closed my eyes. Unfamiliar symbols cascaded around the word, flickering occasionally. The erratic blinking quickly induced a headache, but there was no escaping the ominous warning. A humming sound filled my ears, reminiscent of a swarm of bees, effectively dampening the crystal’s threats against me.

Was this a hallucination? I had never encountered anything so strange. The word Error was foreign, yet I understood its meaning instinctively.

What was going on?

However, I couldn’t afford to dwell on this phenomenon. Instead, I continued to climb, driven by the frantic need to escape. As I neared the top, a gust of scorching wind propelled me up and over the crater’s rim.

My body soared a good ten feet above the ground before I crashed, rolling across the debris-strewn terrain. Splinters of wood embedded themselves in my skin while others tore at my flesh.

As the error message vanished, another window appeared in the corner of my vision, displaying a green bar.

[https://i.imgur.com/Gmc2zJE.gif]

Stumbling and falling to my knees several times, I managed to regain my footing and sprinted towards my village through the forest. My feet were caught on branches strewn across the ground, hampering my escape as I tripped a few times. Panicked thoughts raced through my mind as I propelled myself forward, fuelled by sheer terror.

Before long, I looked up and noticed an addition to the glowing frame. A yellow bar had appeared beneath the green one.

[https://i.imgur.com/ghnWkD3.gif]

As the yellow bar flickered, a searing sensation quickly developed in my lungs and side.

I stumbled to a stop, hands on my knees, gasping for my elusive breath. Moments later, a tremendous force from behind hurled me into a massive boulder. The impact tightened my chest, making it nearly impossible to take deep breaths. When I finally inhaled, it felt like I had swallowed flames. Shallow breaths offered little relief from the scorching sensation inside me as the heated air pinned me against the rock.

I supposed it was still better than being impaled by a branch.

As I struggled to regain my composure, it seemed the heavens considered my notion of safety a challenge. A jagged piece of wood hurtled through the air and lodged itself in my shoulder, shattering the bone in its path. An intense pain shot through my arm, and with tears streaming down my face, I clenched my fists.

Of all the injuries I had suffered, this was by far the most severe.

[https://i.imgur.com/8XwqzKE.gif]

Shoulder Damaged appeared over the green bar with -27 as I struggled to comprehend the purpose of this vision. I prayed that reaching zero on the green bar didn’t signify my death, for it was dwindling alarmingly fast.

A torrent of blinding light surged toward me like a tidal wave, intensifying the scorching air. Everything it touched vanished, and I couldn’t block out the brilliance even with my eyes shut. The radiance engulfed me, and every inch of my body erupted in searing pain. I attempted to scream, but no sound escaped. Seconds stretched into minutes before a wave of numbness washed over me as if icy water had been poured onto my skin.

There was no pain, just awareness, as if my mind existed without a body.

I didn’t believe in a higher power. Sure, I had read about the myths of the Valkyrie and the Fallen, but had I ever seen one?

Hell, no.

Yuridia was probably right about my recklessness, leading to my demise one day. However, I had expected death to be darker.

I was uncertain how long I would remain in this state, as time seemed irrelevant. Thoughts repeated themselves, and at times, I thought I heard the faint whispers of my sister and mother. Their voices sounded distant and muffled, yet equally loud.

When any resemblance of sense returned, it felt like my weight moved swiftly—a sensation only birds soaring through the sky would understand. The direction I travelled had a purpose, and I’m not sure how I discerned it, but it was evident.

Suddenly, the blinding light dissipated, and I found myself lying next to the rock, with the surroundings flickering akin to a flame. The trees bent unnaturally before snapping back into place like taut bowstrings.

A leaf drifted down from above, but as it settled on my chest, it disintegrated into numbers before vanishing. Although the symbols were unfamiliar, their meaning was clear: counting.

I patted myself, ensuring I was real, as the day’s events felt like a dream, or nightmare, maybe even a delusion. My shoulder and fingers had completely healed, and even my clothes were immaculate—previously, they had been torn and filthy with ash.

What had just happened? My curiosity was overwhelming, but I didn’t want to indulge in this madness any further.

I shakily rose to my feet, taking in the forest, which appeared as though the colossal crystal had never existed. Where had it gone? It should have been visible from here, but when I looked up, its purple surface was nowhere to be found.

The antlered deer I’d seen earlier stumbled ahead of me, disoriented, before collapsing to the ground as if they’d lost consciousness. Had they circled around? They had been running in the opposite direction before. Why would they return?

This, too, was strange.

Running my fingers through my wavy hair, I groaned. “What’s going on?” I yelled into the forest, my voice echoing unnaturally.

As I approached a tree and touched it, my hand passed through its surface, causing it to flicker into numbers before vanishing.

Everything seemed... broken. Or maybe I had hit my head. That must be it—a brain injury. Mystery solved.

Concern for my mother and sister grew, and I was eager to check on them. If I didn’t make it home soon, they would send out a search party, and I didn’t want to be in any more trouble than I already was.

My eyes drifted to the window in the top corner of my vision, which seemed to issue a warning.

So that was real.

[https://i.imgur.com/E1bqibF.gif]

Reboot flashed before my eyes, and the green bar was now half full. Two symbols, unfamiliar to me, lined the bottom—and one above the bar.

Turning towards home, my body suddenly gave out, and I collapsed to the ground. Paralysed, I couldn’t move my arms or legs more than a few inches. The environment around me warped, and everything seemed distant. My eyes grew heavy, and keeping them open was no longer an option.

Yuridia was going to be so angry with me.