The ground beneath him looked no different than any other patch he had worked on. The earth was fertile, soft, and pliable. He had dug here before without issue, but today… something was off.

He reached down, running his fingers over the broken shards, a chill running up his spine. Was it a hidden rock? No, it felt different. Something in the soil felt unnatural. His gaze darted to the area where the shovel had struck, but all he could see was dirt and roots. It was as if the earth itself had resisted the strike, not with just the force of its depth, but with something far more mysterious.

The laughter of his coworkers faded into the background as Travis’s mind raced. He had to figure out what had caused this. Had he simply been unlucky again, or was there something deeper buried beneath the surface of this land? Something he had not yet discovered.

The day’s heat suddenly seemed more oppressive, and his hands trembled as he gathered the broken pieces of the shovel. Something was happening here—something that had yet to reveal itself. But what? And why him?

His supervisor, a middle-aged man with a permanent scowl etched on his face, strolled over, a lazy smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Well, I guess you’re off early today," he said, eyeing the broken shovel with a disapproving glance. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure this comes out of your salary.”

The words were coated with sarcasm, and he gave a mocking chuckle before turning on his heel and walking away without another word.

Travis felt a surge of anger flood through him, his hands balling into fists. He stared at the man’s retreating figure, and in his mind, he imagined grabbing the broken shovel staff and smashing it against his supervisor’s head, knocking him to the ground.

The vision was clear—satisfying, even—but it was only a fantasy. In reality, Travis simply stood up, his chest tight with frustration. He sighed deeply, slinging the broken shovel over his shoulder and walking away, leaving the fields behind him.

’Why can’t I do anything right?’ he thought bitterly, kicking the ground as he walked.

The dirt crunched under his foot, but the feeling of failure gnawed at him. He had tried so hard, yet every step forward seemed to end in disaster.

As he trudged down the dirt road, heading toward his meager home, his thoughts were interrupted by a sight that made his heart sink. From around the corner, Jessica appeared, walking gracefully with a smile on her face. She was beautiful, as always, her golden hair gleaming in the sunlight, her presence almost ethereal. But it wasn’t just Jessica that caught his eye—it was the man walking beside her.

Sora.

Travis recognized him instantly. A well-known adventurer, celebrated for his strength and skill. Sora was everything Travis wasn’t. Charismatic, confident, and effortlessly powerful. And here he was, walking beside Jessica, laughing as if they shared some private joke. The sting of jealousy shot through Travis like a sharp blade.

’Damn, now that’s the final hit to the nail,’ he thought, his stomach tightening.

He walked past them, trying his best to avoid making eye contact, but the bitterness inside him simmered just below the surface.

When he finally arrived at his home, a dilapidated horse stable tucked at the edge of the village, he felt the weight of the day press down on him even more.

His “roommates” were horses—large, smelly creatures that, for some reason, had become his only company. They gave him an occasional glare but mostly ignored him as he trudged inside, carrying the broken shovel like an unwanted burden.

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With a groan, Travis collapsed onto his bed. It was sturdy, or at least it used to be. As soon as he hit it, a loud creak sounded, followed by a sudden crash. The bed collapsed beneath him, sending him tumbling onto the floor with a thud. Anger flared inside him, and he started kicking at the wooden frame, muttering curses under his breath. The horses, who had been dozing nearby, raised their heads and stared at him, their large eyes unblinking.

One of them let out a soft snort, and another made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. Travis froze, staring at them. "What’s funny?" he muttered bitterly, sitting up and glaring at the animals. "I hope all of you get put down."

The horses didn’t respond, of course. They simply went back to their chewing, unbothered by his outburst. Travis lay back down, staring up at the wooden ceiling, his mind swirling with thoughts of frustration, disappointment, and the sense that nothing ever went his way.

’I’d do anything to get what I want,’ he thought bitterly, the words settling heavily in his chest. But the truth was, he wasn’t sure what he was willing to do anymore. Exhausted from the weight of his own anger, Travis finally drifted off to sleep, the sound of distant hooves echoing softly in the background.

...

Late in the night, when the world around him was still and quiet, Travis suddenly awoke. His mind, still swirling with frustration from the day, was most fixated on one thing: his broken shovel. But what truly gnawed at him was what had caused it to break. What had he struck in the earth that was so strong it could shatter a sturdy tool?

Driven by curiosity, Travis couldn't shake the need for answers. He climbed out of his bed, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he silently made his way out of the stable. He moved carefully, avoiding making noise, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention. After all, sneaking into the fields at this hour was technically trespassing, and he certainly didn’t want to get arrested for something as trivial as a broken shovel.

The crop fields were bathed in the pale glow of the moon, the plants swaying gently in the night breeze. As Travis crept closer to the spot where his shovel had broken, a familiar figure appeared out of the shadows. Bruno, the dog that patrolled the fields, trotted up to him, tail wagging excitedly.

Travis grinned, kneeling down to greet the dog. Bruno barked happily, nuzzling against him, and Travis couldn’t help but laugh. The dog had always been a good friend to him, and now, in the stillness of the night, the two shared a rare moment of peace.

But as much as he enjoyed the dog’s company, Travis couldn’t forget why he was there. He patted Bruno on the head, standing up and focusing on the task at hand. Walking up to the spot where he had broken his shovel, he crouched low, brushing the dirt aside with his hands. His fingers scraped against something hard, and his breath caught in his throat when he saw a faint glimmer from beneath the soil.

’Did I strike gold?’ Travis thought in disbelief, excitement beginning to build in his chest. He reached out, his fingers trembling as he touched the object. But the moment his skin made contact, a searing burn shot through his hand, causing him to jerk back with a gasp. His hand throbbed in pain, and he instinctively sucked his fingers, trying to soothe the sting.

Bruno, who had been watching intently, tilted his head at Travis’s sudden reaction. The dog let out a low growl, as if sensing something strange in the air. Travis stood still, his heart racing, his mind racing with questions.

’What burned me?’ He thought, still in shock. His curiosity pushed him forward. He wasn’t going to stop now. He started digging again, more carefully this time, determined to uncover whatever lay hidden beneath the earth. Minutes turned into what felt like hours as he slowly uncovered the object, inch by inch, the cool night air brushing against his sweaty face.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Travis unearthed the full extent of the object. His breath caught as he stared at what lay before him: a long, red blade, half-buried in the dirt. It looked almost alive, glowing faintly with a strange, internal light that illuminated the ground around it. The blade seemed to hum with energy, and Travis’s hands trembled as he reached toward it.

’A sword. What’s it doing here?’ he thought in wonder, staring at the glowing weapon in disbelief.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the hilt of the sword, his fingers curling around it. The moment he touched the blade, a jolt of energy shot through his body. It wasn’t painful, though. In fact, it felt almost good, a strange, exhilarating sensation that spread through his muscles and bones, awakening something deep within him.

The sword hummed again, its glow intensifying as Travis held it aloft. He gazed at the blade, a sense of awe filling him as he admired its craftsmanship. It was beautiful, unlike anything he had ever seen. He had no idea where it came from or how it had ended up buried in the soil, but in that moment, Travis felt a surge of excitement.

’I wonder how much this will sell for? This has to be a long-lost artifact or something.’ His thoughts raced as he pictured the amount of gold he could make by selling it.

Before he could revel further in his discovery, a voice shouted out from behind him.

“Hey!!! What are you doing there!!”

Travis didn’t even look back. His instincts kicked in, and without a second thought, he spun around and bolted. He sprinted through the fields, the sword gripped tightly in his hand as he heard footsteps pounding behind him. He wasn’t sure who had spotted him, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to be caught.

His heart pounded in his chest as he ran, pushing himself harder, his legs burning with effort. The sounds of pursuit faded as he managed to outpace whoever had been chasing him. His breath came in ragged gasps, but the adrenaline kept him moving.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he reached the stable. He skidded to a halt, his chest heaving as he leaned against the door, trying to catch his breath. Sweat covered his face, but a smile slowly spread across his lips.

’That was fun, honestly,’ he thought, his pulse still racing.

He took a moment to calm himself, then lifted the sword, admiring it once more. The red blade shimmered in the dim light, and Travis’s smirk deepened.

’This is my ticket to get rich,’ he thought, the thrill of discovery and the promise of wealth filling him with a new sense of purpose. Whatever this sword was, it had just changed his life.

TO BE CONTINUED