Chapter 1

Second First Steps

I am physically almost a year old and have explored almost the entire house. They have electricity that is powered using the river. The house has light bulbs that use a pull switch in order to turn it on. However, I am aware that this is not my world, my memory of the asteroid was crystal clear, especially April. My world met its end or just us, at first I thought that maybe it didn’t destroy the entire surface and has continents left unharmed. That logic broke when I investigated further about this place; When my mom first took me outside the house, it was a fresh morning, that was when I saw the sky.

I saw two moons, a smooth small one just about the size of our moon and beside it is an even larger one about three times its size. The larger moon is full of craters just like our moon but this one has an even larger crater in the middle that resembles a diamond star. The place is also full of grassy plains and we do not have a single neighbor; Other than that, our house is beautiful, it is a rustic brick cottage with three floors if you could count the attic. It was constructed on top of a slope hill surrounded by a temperate forest where a nearby lake can be seen at the east with mountains across it and a river that extends to the west.

Even though we’re the only residents in this place, there is a nearby train station for a one way train line just a kilometer from the west side of our house that is only a platform and a roof with two long benches below. The trains that pass are most of the time railbuses that look like a British railbus. I guess designs are also a universal language because of the fact that everything in this world resembles a bit more from mine.

There was a unique train that passed by last time though, it was so big that it almost touched the roof of the station. It was dark at night and the trees that resembled an evergreen were limiting my view when I saw it from the window; However its huge bright headlight gave me a bit of a glimpse of its look. It was monstrous along its loud horn when it passed by. It looked like a double-deck bus you see in London but black, and way more larger from its size like two to four times larger but even longer. Despite that I never traveled to London; It was a dream of April and mine to travel there, so I researched everything about it.

My mom or my imai which is the word for mother in this area, she most of the time sings a chilling song, every time she carries and takes me outside. The more I listened to her sing, the more I knew what it meant. Based on my understanding, it has something to do with a person, music is a universal language anyway. However, due to my lack of vocabulary in this language, I have not yet fully decoded the meaning of the song.

My dad or my apai, spends his time cutting trees. He also does this to put food on our table. He stacks like about a hundred lumber every day and a group of people would collect and carry them into a cargo train once a week. No wonder why imai married apai, he’s truly magnificent, I also got my answer why apai married imai soon after that. Imai is beautiful, that could be it, but she is even cooler.

Most of the time at night time she carries home a whole dead animal that resembles a deer with large antlers, but has the body of a kangaroo with a pouch and a head of a rabbit with long ears. My tooth has not fully grown yet so I can not eat such delicious juicy looking venison meat. They preserve the meat by wrapping it with a cloth with herbs and storing it inside a larder that is located beside the kitchen. It is a week and a half supply of meat since the animal is large and my parents are the only ones eating it while I only get the stew. My apai also often takes a larger portion of the meat since he is built like a mountain.

I never really saw my imai with a bow and arrows, the wounds of the animals were also pierced through the other side of the body, a very unusual wound for an average arrow. I figured that this world might also have a gun, though that is not the case since I never also saw imai with one. It remains a mystery until now, or if I look closely at it, this world is full of mysteries.

Today imai is carrying me to go outside again but the sun is setting instead, she actually did not take me earlier in the morning so that is probably the reason. Imai opens the door wide and the cold wind greets me. The trees are golden and red but some stay green while the sky is pink. Imai wraps me with her scarf and it warms me. She starts to sing the same song again, so I close my eyes to skip the time.

*Clickikik* *Clickikik*

I open my eyes after hearing an unsettling sound. Such a continuous rhythm of clicks that sounds like a call of an animal. I do not see anything that may cause it to make that sound so I close my eyes again.

*Clickikik* *Clickikik*

I heard it again, what even is it, then suddenly my question got its answer in a matter of second. I saw something peeking out far away from the bushes towards us. It looks like a dark face because of its two wide eyes. It takes out its left hand and takes a step, its hand is very skinny, dark and resembles a human. I start to notice that its mouth is non existent as it openly shows its crooked teeth. It is surrounded with white hairs and also extends from its forehead that is an entire fur of it. It takes out its another arm and takes an another steps closer. I am shaking right now so I look at imai but she keeps singing. Am I the only the one seeing this, I asked myself.

It takes another step closer until it starts to crawl fast towards us. It looks like it is spider walking but I can see its spine poking in the back of its skin. Imai is still standing still and keeps singing while it keeps getting closer. So this is where I meet my end again. It is because Imai do not care what is approaching us. I guess I am the only one seeing it. The creature jumps and clicks as it opens its jaw wide open. I close my eyes again and wish for it to go away.

“No-ir A-uwo,” I heard Imai's soft low volume voice along with the sudden gust of wind and crunches of leaves.

I no longer hear imai’s singing, but I can still feel myself, my cowering body. I open my eyes to see what’s wrong. Taking a glimpse of Imai, I can see her straight, serious face. I also realize that her arm is raised towards in-front. My sight follows her straight arms until I see her hand open wide. I quickly turned my head to where it’s aiming, then there, I saw mushed flesh on the ground. The woods from where it came out is raining leaves making the bushes and trees almost bald.

My eyes are wide from what I am witnessing right now, It is beyond my comprehension… No, I now understand, imai doesn’t have a bow or a gun, this world has something more than what I can imagine or more than what I can believe. Something which my world believed as a myth, this world has an unbelievable thing as pure sorcery, I knew she is even cooler. While my mind is still processing from what just happened, imai resumes her song.

It is now night, imai’s combing her hair while apai’s setting his tools as he walks back and forth through the hallway, while I am on my crib. It felt like a day and a half, because it always is. A full day is thirty six hours based on the clock we have downstairs, and yeah it has the same design as what my world had. Now that I realize, I have plenty of time, and who knows what’s the average lifespan in this world. After what I additionally learned about this world, there is magic, an element that has been deemed as a myth in my world, and imai possesses it. Just thinking about it makes me so excited, I just wanna learn more soon.

Sun has risen, though my first question for myself today is, is it normal for a baby to have dreams, especially a bad one. Last night’s dream I saw the asteroid again and I guess the aftermath too. I can tell because of the cracked surface where you can see magma, and stoned figures of the people. The blue sky is absent as it is replaced by a more dark red cloudy atmosphere. I do not know why all of sudden, I have my first dream and a bad one.

[https://i.imgur.com/Ldtx7ru.jpg]

It is a bit warmer than usual nowadays but still cold, maybe about ten degrees celsius. Another thing is, I am now able to walk and run. I may be about physically four years old, but I am still three years old according to this world. Time passes way too slow here, it feels like five hundred days a year. I can now also understand their language and speak it. The song that my mother’s singing was actually about a strong beautiful goddess of the stars. Basically a legend behind the giant diamond star crater on the moon, though it sounds more of a prayer. While I may now know the meaning of the song, the reason behind Imai singing it everyday still remains a mystery, maybe it is a prayer.

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It has also become a norm for imai to educate me about everything from respect, speech, culture and geography. Since we are surrounded by tall mountains, I guess geography is important for my age, kind of. Speaking of geography, my parents have not yet brought me beyond the mountains. However Imai taught me about the capital and some nearby towns, her descriptions are enough to hook me up. She has not yet taught me about the outside of what’s beyond from beyond the mountains though. The only thing she told me was that it is still not necessary for me to learn what’s beyond there.

What gives though, what makes it not necessary, is it because I’m still a little boy, just thinking about it makes me wanna snap. The next time she schools me again, I’m gonna force her to teach me about what’s beyond from beyond the mountains. As those thoughts fill my mind, it calms me down in a matter of seconds. I realized that I’m starting to act more like an immature kid despite having the intelligence of a twenty three years old man. Though am I even mentally twenty three years to begin with.

On the dining table, Imai slams a book in front of me, It is thick and very heavy for me to even lift.

“How about we learn geography, together with history today,” Imai said.

Oh geography again, but with history, I don’t know why it’s necessary for me to learn both at the same time. I take a peek on the book cover to get a hint on what’s about, and figures, it’s all about beyond the mountains again. Did she not teach me enough about it, what’s even the history to be told.

“What’s the matter, tiny farn?” Imai said.

I lay my head down and release a heavy sigh, I just wanna learn what’s beyond from beyond the mountains.

“Can you teach me what’s beyond from beyond the mountains instead, imai?” so I asked.

“No, I will not allow it,” Imai said with a slightly upset tone, “Did I not tell you that it is still not necessary for you to learn what’s out there. You are going to learn the only things that I teach you.”

Why, though, what does it have to do with my age, are the places outside r-rated or something. Why do I also have to always follow what she has to say, she’s not very different from others. Wait no, I should not have that kind of mindset, what’s wrong with me.

“Hey honey, what’s wrong?” apai said from the hallway.

“It's Rafe, he’s not behaving,” Imai said.

Well, I guess I am in trouble, apai’s voice is just so heavy.

“Can you take me outside instead?” I said.

“Outside?!” Imai said.

“What? What’s wrong,” Apai said, “My boy probably needs some fresh air.”

“Well, I guess just outside the house is fine.”

“He’s probably not talking about our yard. What do you say, boy, don’t you wanna go on a field trip?”

I lifted my head the time he said field trip, does this mean we’re going far away, I was actually talking about just the yard, well wherever it is.

“Let's go!” I shouted.

“The kid is excited, you know you can’t resist seeing his cute little farn smile,” apai said.

Imai looks at me with a face that looks like she has no hope left.

“Well, fine,” Imai said.

“Yey!” I shouted again like a little kid.

For someone who is mentally twenty three years old, I am quite too excited or too hype. Well, all I know is that I am just excited to see what is out there, I guess I am a little farn… a little wolf.

[https://i.imgur.com/Ldtx7ru.jpg]

After an hour and a half long train trip, we departed from what seems to be the nearest town from our house that imai thought me, “Hu-sen Ha-che”, that’s the name. The town’s about a kilometer and a half and extends uphill beside a large waterfall. Every building’s colorful and has similar architectures with a wood & brick foundation, a bit similar to our house. The roads are constructed with bricks, being shared to walk by people and horses. Utility poles are also present which also extends uphill.

Everybody wears layers of clothing, some ladies dress elegant or with a hood, while men equally wear suspenders or cloaks. My apai wears a fedora and a very huge cloak, though it looks huge but it fits perfectly to his size. My imai on the other hand… it questions myself, she’s wearing a dress that is like a gown with the same color as her hair. She is such a goddess, to think that I have such a beautiful mother, though she is a literal beast inside.

“So, what do you wanna do first, Rafe, how about we explore,” Imai said.

Exploring, yes, that is what I'm looking forward to.

“Then I will teach you every surrounding one by one, you don’t want to be very lost in a place like this,” Imai said.

Well, another studying I guess, may not hurt to listen, as if it has any difference to what field trips actually are from my world.

“We still have a lot of time for that,” Apai said, “How about we eat first, I’m craving for something to fill my trench inside.”

Apai releases a big laugh from his own words, he just eats a lot but he does not get fat, just gains a lot more muscle. Either way, what a life savior, I guess a meal would help to refresh myself. My brain has been especially tired ever since I woke up. Imai just feeds my brain so much that there’s no more space for my brain to refresh even with countless hours of sleep.

When we arrived at the restaurant, one of the staff took apai’s fedora and coat to keep it somewhere for him. The atmosphere inside is warm and well lit by elegant looking lights. The inside also smells like a strong ammonia-like aroma or a pungent acidic odor, but with a faint sweet like a bakery.

A staff member is now helping us look for a vacant table till we end up on the second floor. Imai is currently carrying me since I’m too little and the surroundings were too tight from my perspective. Since I’m high up, I look around to see the entire interior of the restaurant, it’s not that big since we are in a town. The interior is just the size of a normal second story restaurant from my world.

A table is set for us, the seat is aligned perfect for me I am surprise, the chair that apai’s sitting looks like it is withstanding his very heavy weight. Like any other restaurants, we were given a menu and a waiter waits for our order. As usual, apai wants a large medium rare meat, Imai wants a sliced meat with vegetables, then it is my turn to order.

“My boy gets the san-ge-tsi,” Imai said.

A san-ge-tsi, basically a version of spaghetti in this place, though that is not even what I am craving for. I am also craving for juicy fatty meat. Why does Imai always have to be in charge of everything I wanna do? Now I can’t change my order, the waiter walks away with the menu.

After minutes of waiting, our food Is finally served, apai and imai’s meat and my sangetsi. Well at least the food’s appetizing, I am still depressed about not being able to eat meat today though, maybe next time I guess.

As I’m about to take a portion of my food, a chunk of meat is placed onto my plate. I take a look at who and its apai, he gives me a wink too when I look at him.

“Hey!” Imai said.

“My boy needs protein,” apai said, with a smile afterwards.

Imai gives up with a sigh, looks like she’s hungry to even start an argument or she’s aware that we’re in public. Either way I take a portion and bite onto the meat. The meat is soft, warm and juicy. It’s been a while since I ate something like this. I wonder when was the last time… the last time I ate meat… As I remember a memory of the last time, her face appeared after me, April... It was the time we were at a restaurant, the surroundings were brightly lit where I could see her pretty smile. I feel like I was still at the exact moment, It was pretty chilly and… comforting. The comfort I am feeling right now but a sudden chill runs down through my spine. I feel something heavy beside me, I have to look away from her pretty smile to see what’s disturbing me. Then I saw a tall looking figure, wearing a very dark cloak. I looked up to see what’s above and saw him wearing a hood with a conical hat. Its face is dark but I can see green glowing eyes, the iris is clear along its entire white eye, but its face remains dark. As I keep staring, it stares back, menacingly. I can see the guts on its eyes. I can’t move the parts of my body. I wanna look away, but I can’t. I feel like I am looking away but it just snaps back. I can't blink either, it is just frozen solid. Same thing to my eye but I can see something from the left side. I can see its arm, extending, reaching onto me. It even sounds like clanging of metallic rocks. I feel empty, I feel consumed from his presence alone. I guess it’s over, just finish me… It stops, is it hesitating… No… I can see a fork on its hand.

“Excuse me, I apologize for my child’s behavior,” I hear Imai’s voice, I can move my body now.

The entity looks at Imai, Imai seems to be looking away. The entity gets rid of its hand from my sight and walks away. It looks like I made a fuss, almost everyone’s looking.

“Rafe, are you alright?” Imai said.

She’s worried, I guess it is my fault, what was that thing by the way.

“Time to educate you,” Imai said, “That entity you had eye contact with is an a-ki-ba. They’re inanimate mud, clay or stone guardians of the forests that lost their habitat that they swore to protect, mainly caused by… we’ll talk about it once we get home.”

Imai hesitated, what is she about to tell me, about those beings, an akiba. I turn my attention at the one earlier, I watch it walk away to the stairs until it’s now out of my sight. I question myself, what kind of world did I just born, what is God's intention, for him to bring me here. It is no longer just this world that’s full of mysteries, my whole existence is too.