One day, A group of 10 adventurers are on their journey back from an immense expedition. They have to go through rugged terrain on their way back. The atmosphere feels very dry, the sky is yellowish red with no cloud spotted, and the soil was long parched by the violent bright sun that shines across the horizon.
Everywhere they look, it’s very obvious that there is no way for such living things to survive in that hellish environment. Yet they still have to be careful because of some extreme creature that might be watching them from the rocky terrain that surrounds them.
They're bringing a wagon relic, a specialized wagon designed to traverse unknown environments, covered with defensive mechanisms that are lightweight, yet also quite robust. The adventurers always bring this type of wagon not only to gather valuable discoveries along the way but also for the archer and relic caster to stand atop it, while melee and tanker personnel walk around the wagon.
“Whoaaa, There it is, There it is!” shout one of the members of their squad.
“Don’t let your guard down Archer, we still have to be cautious.” said the leader of the squad, Harold, firmly.
“Aah, sorry.” the archer replied while realizing that they are still in the danger zone
That archer starts to watch their surroundings again.
Harold felt that he was a bit too harsh, though he still feels that it was necessary as he sighed softly. “But you were right Darsha, I can't really deny it either.”
“It's beautiful isn't it?”
“Our village.” said Harold with a sincere smile.
“Yeah.” Darsha smiles in relief without turning her face.
Andi, who's in charge of casting simple defensive relic staff to the back of their wagon, listens to the conversation.
“Man, If only i’m allowed to turn away to just see that view for a sec.” Andi mumbled to himself.
He has a vital role of watching their back.
Carlyn, an offensive melee personnel who is walking behind the wagon heard him and walking a bit faster to move toward him.
“Why don’t you just turn around for a sec then?” said Carlyn who looks a bit confused.
"(She is empty headed as always)" Andi thought while looking at her hopelessly.
“Did you not hear him? he literally just said that we can get attacked at any time if we are not careful” Andi reminding her.
“Then we should just attack back right? I mean you would only turn away for a few second, i can walk backward if you really want it.” said Carlyn with her thoughtless wide smile.
Andi startled by her saying that, then exhaling and think for a sec.
“Ok, i’m convinced, make sure you cover our back for a moment.”
“Okey dokey.”
As the moment Andi & Carlyn about to turn their body, Harold were already walk beside them and strict them for doing that.
“I can hear your whole conversation you know.” Said Harold who already looks a bit irritated.
"ehe..." Carlyn with her panicky smile.
"(i really should learn my lesson to never really listen to her when we are outside.)" Andi said to himself.
Slowly but surely, they are getting closer and closer to their homeland, until they finally return from the other side of the world.
----------------------------------------------------------II----------------------------------------------------------
As they enter the gate, their people are already there, looking at them with concern. But then Harold raises his fist toward the sky, and the people spontaneously burst into joy and cheer them from the bottom of their hearts. A sign of victory, signifying that there’s no fatal casualty from their expedition, which is quite rare for a class one squad.
“Woooooooo, what did you found!, what did you found!” said one of the kids that come to them to check their new discovery.
Carlyn then reach out the wagon and take one of the crystals shard that shines bright gold color she found back then.
“THIS!!” with her prideful bright smile.
“Whoaaaaaaaaa!” the kids simultaneously amazed.
“It’s so shiny!!” said one of the kids.
“What did it do?” said another kid with his curious face.
“Telling by its energy level, if we are able to somehow extract the power to fuel our relic. This shard can power our entire relics squad for like a 5 days journey!”
“Whooooaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
“Hey Carlyn, i think you should’ve not hold it like that.” Anesh said to Carlyn trembly.
“If you crack the crystal by a bit, it would release an energy equal to a full attack of your current relic right now, although i believe it’s also hard to actually crack that.”
“Aah, you got a point, here.” Carlyn give the shard back to Anesh.
Anesh is the operator of the wagon relic in our expedition, one of the most gifted among class one relic specialist. I believe he should be one of the major reasons why we take no fatal casualties in this expedition.
As Andi saw all that happened in front of his eye, he lost in his own thought.
"(This village.)"
"(it’s always feels warm and welcoming.)"
"(despite its small size, it’s pretty compact and feels so lively.)"
"(no matter where I look, there's almost always some sort of activity going on.)"
"(From just a kids playing and running around.)"
"(To people that even come from aboard for expedition, science, and studying.)"
…
"(it's almost feel lik…)"
boop, Carlyn touches Andi’s nose, “Are you done daydreaming?” Carlyn grin.
“You again...” Said Andi, still remembering that she convinced him earlier.
“It’s getting pretty late, let’s find something to eat.” Carlyn invited him, Already forgetting what happened earlier.
“Yeah… that’s a good idea I guess.”
On their way to the food court, they look into the evening view before the sun sets completely.
The fog begins to rise every full moon on the other side of the world, the beasts are much stronger at that time, any outpost made beyond the line would be destroyed by the end of the fog the next morning.
"If it wasn't for Anesh who was able to repair our wagon back then, we might have been caught in the fog by now.” Andi tells her while still can’t really believe that they survive.
She just looked there for a sec, and then continued walking without saying anything.
----------------------------------------------------------II----------------------------------------------------------
They finally arrived at the restaurant.
It's not a particularly spacious place, nor is it very well known, but there are always people there, eating and chattering when they come. Sometimes you can see light from outside through some of the wooden holes in the walls, but even so, the place feels clean and not shabby, lit by a few dim bulbs, but somehow it's enough.
It is a restaurant where they have been together since they were children.
They go to the counter, where there is a variety of foods separated by glass, assisted by the waiter to get the food they choose.
“Rendang with Perkedel?” said the waiter while preparing the rice.
“You know me well.” Andi smirked.
“You always order that when you come here. It's a popular choice though.” The waiter replied to him.
“Yeah, not only does it taste very good, the taste has never changed since I was little.”
Carlyn leaned her body forward, “Can you get me those meals for me too?” Carlyn said to the waiter.
“Oh, sure.” The waiter was a bit puzzled, “aren’t you usually ordering a different one every time you come here.” he asked Carlyn.
“Yea, but I haven't eaten that meal in a long time.” She replied.
“Ah, that’s right.”
They took their food and ate at a table near the window, where the shadows of the windows intertwined their food and table from the light outside. From there, they could see the night view of the village, with people passing by and engaging with their various activities.
As usual, Carlyn was a proficient eater, but this time she seemed to be eating even faster than usual. In less than two minutes, her food is almost gone.
“Anddh, whaut’s yog plaet foy goniyg?” Carlyn asked with a stuffed mouth.
“Finish your munchies first, I can't process what you're saying.”
Carlyn takes a glass of water and repeats her sentence.
“What's your plan for tonight?”
“Uhm, I think I really just want to call it a day.” He is a bit confused, as it’s the only possible answer he can think of.
“I mean, don’t you feel tired after all of the things that happened in the expedition?”
“Nope” Carlyn looked at him like she was waiting for something from him.
…
“What?”
“Cmon, there will be the monthly tale show in about 15 minutes, don’t you want to watch it?”
Carlyn“I'll go right away after I finish my meal.”
"(Uhm, wasn’t that supposed to be a show for kids?)"
“I think I am skipping, I am very tired.“
“Aww, too bad.” she doesn’t look that disappointed though, “welp, i’ll wait for you if you happen to change your mind.”
She then finished her meal and walked up. “See you later.” she smiles.
"(She really should’ve rest.)"
“A tale huh?”
"(Maybe i will just going to see what title they will tell this time.)"
"(Beside is actually happen to be the same direction as my journey back to inn.)"
He then decided to go take a look. The performance location is only about 5 minutes away from where they eat, a medium public field on the side of the village that is usually used for various activities.
As Andi showed up, the stage appeared to be ready, illuminated by several torches. Dozens of people, mostly children, were seated on temporary wooden chairs set up for the event. Carlyn was already sitting in one of the front row chairs and waved to Andi.
Andi then walks toward her.
“Yey, you finally show up!” Carlyn put her hands on her hips.
“I will only stay here for a while.”
Carlyn started to giggle.
“What’s so funny?” Andi asked.
“You said that last month too but ended up watching the whole show.”
“I…( did that?)" Andi still trying to really remember if that was true.
Carlyn sees the narrator walking to the back of the stage, “There she is!” Carlyn shouted while pointing at her, “Aaaaaaaaaa, I am so curious about what story that she’s going to tell today.”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Oh, isn’t that one of the adventurers that we …” Andi suddenly puzzled by an unknown reason.
"(A familiar-looking lady, but no one can quite recall her name.)"
"(It felt somewhat strange, but she wasn't the only one like that in our village.)"
"(In fact, she is not the only one in our village.)"
"(We understand what he says and can read his expressions when he smiles or gets angry, but we can't seem to see his face clearly, nor do we know why he became our leader in the first place.)"
"(Still, we understand each other for such a long time, and it’s not like it’s actually bothering us in any way.)"
Music begins to play.
The torches next to the stage are turned off.
On the stage, an unraveled semi-transparent painting is seen and is illuminated by the dim light of the crystal shard behind it. It can be seen that some objects in the painting are more glowy than other objects as a result of art tech that enchants some of the painting elements with shards.
It was about an adventurer, a very familiar story that they heard several times.
“Ah, this story..” Andi a bit startled.
“Shhh, the story is about to begin” Said a kid that sat beside him.
As the music stops, the narrator behind the stage starts to tell a story.
“A long time ago.”
“In the morning light within the forest, a small group of adventurers stumbled upon an unconscious old-looking lady lying on the ground.”
“She looks pale and fragile, so the adventurer decided to help her.”
…
"(ah, this really brings back memories.)" said Andi to himself while hearing that story.
"(The absurdity of the story somewhat very memorable to me.)"
"(Even though she’s basically just contemplating the basic on how our world might work, it’s strangely fascinating when i really trying thinking about it.)"
Andi leaning back on his chair while looking at the starry sky.
"(but come to think of it.)"
"(maybe this story was what once made me to choose my path as an adventurer in the first place.)"
"(and perhaps…)"
Andi looked at Carlyn’s excited face.
"(This might be a story where i was able to meet her for the very first time.)"
"(This universe feels really weird sometimes.)"
…
“That old lady seems to take pity on them.”
“and then she looks like she is bracing herself until she finally tells them she apologizes before walking slowly into the other side of the world.”
The last frame of the painting was shown, as the stage was starting to darken. Then, the torches around the stage begin to be relit.
“Contract has always been the favorite story among the kids huh, right Carlyn?” He turns his head to her, but she’s not there.
“Oh, she is already there…” Andi sees her that she is already among kids that try to ask question to the narrator.
“What happened to that old lady then, I was asking this 7 months ago, I didn't get a chance to hear the answer till today!?” Andi heard Carlyn asking that from afar.
(“Welp, it’s not like I see her as a grown up person either actually.”) he smiles.
----------------------------------------------------------II----------------------------------------------------------
“See!, you finally watch the whole show!” Carlyn grinning while pointing at Him.
“I wasn’t really paying attention to the show though.” Andi replied.
…
Carlyn suddenly looks down and makes an expression that he rarely sees.
“You know?”
“This is why I always invite you every month.”
“None of our party is really able to enjoy this kind of show anymore..”
“But you still do.”
Both of them are silent, the sound of the overall activity and crowd are surrounding them. Yet the atmosphere feels very quiet, they feel so close, yet they feel so out of reach, as if there’s an unseen line that separates their world. Despite all that, they somehow feel serene.
Andi somewhat able to empathize with her a bit and try to cheer her up, “It’s… very not like you, i think you really need to rest now” He looks worried.
Carlyn looked at him.
“Yeah… I think I really need a rest"
"see you later” She said it with a voice lower than she used to.
“yeah, see you tomorrow.” He replied.
As they begin to depart, Suddenly one of their member parties is running in a hurry and about to pass them.
“What’s happening, Ness?” Andi ask him.
He slowed down for a moment to reply to his question, “There’s a member of the adventurer who got back tonight! I have to tell the leader.” And then continue to run to the headquarters.
“What?, that’s?!” Andi can’t believe what he heard, (“there’s isn’t a single one who’s able to survive when it’s at a full moon mist, not even a full members of class one squad.”)
Carlyn looks somewhat in awe, “I am going to see.” Carlyn said to Andi.
“No!, you should rest now!” he shouted to Carlyn.
“Who do you think you are trying to command me!?” Carlyn resisted.
“CARLYN!”
“Please just go back to the inn, I promise to tell you what happened after.”
Carlyn looks down in disappointment, but can’t really deny him.
He then starts heading toward the scene and as he looks back, he sees Carlyn there alone.
----------------------------------------------------------II----------------------------------------------------------
When he arrives, he sees the adventurer currently hugged by an old lady, a few people including Anesh, and their Leader, Harold, who is apparently already there. He then moves toward Anesh to look out for information.
“Is he ok? What happened?” Andi asks Anesh.
“He looks fine, but I think he might have to take a moment before he’s able to tell what happened.”
“I was experimenting with my customized goggles to see in the fog, so that i’m able to study the activity of monsters in the full moon.”
“For a moment I thought he was one of the monsters, until I was finally convinced his figure was human, I ordered the guard to open the gate, and there he was. I also cannot believe it.”
“The strangest thing is... there’s no monster attacking him or seems to even notice him when I was observing him.”
Andi putting his hand on his chin as he tried to think of possibilities.
“Is there a chance that he's one of the adventurers who’s able to find a way to go undetected in the fog?” While actually unsure of his own question.
Anesh shakes his head.
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
“His name is Bennett, a class one adventurer who went missing 23 years ago.”
“...” Andi fall silent.
“And from the words of her wife, there are no signs of aging at all.” Anesh looked at them.
“Wait? That granny is her wife?! (I thought she is his mother.)”
"(What’s happening?)"
While it was still difficult for Andi to process all the information, Andi saw Carlyn walking from a distance.
"(I kind of know she would come eventually.)"
Carlyn slowly walks toward them until she finally arrives.
“I am not rushing on getting here.” Carlyn said to him while turning her face away.
“Yeah, I know, but you should really rest Carlyn.” said Andi while looking at some slightly visible wrapped bandage of her hand and leg that is hidden by her clothes.
“But, you promised to tell me what happened right.” Carlyn still persists whilst showing a guilty face.
Andi sighing.
“yeah… I will keep my promise.”
Anesh looked at Bennett, “I think I need to ask Bennett a few questions, he seems calm right now.”
“Ah ok.” Andi replied.
Andi then looks at her and starts to repeat the things that’s just explained by Anesh to her.
The more he explains things to her, the more she is showing “that face”, the face when she is not getting a single understanding about things that are a little bit too complicated.
“You don’t get it don’t you?” Andi looking at her hopelessly
“I..I mean i get it, but i don’t really get it” she tries to convince him that she understands.
Anesh walked back toward them with a serious face.
“Andi, you might have to prepare yourself, Our leader were discussing to make an contingency expedition in 2 days”
“What?, right after the fog disappeared?, isn’t the monster still a bit stronger at that time?” Andi replied
“Yeah, but we have no time, the fog is slowly expanding…”
“I asked Bennett what might cause the expanding of the line.”
“He’s still unsure, but he tells us about things that might lead us to some clues.”
“He was splitted by his teammate and found a cave.”
“Inside that cave, he found a gate inside which suddenly opened as he got close to it.”
“He can’t really describe what’s inside the gate, as if there’s no light being able to go out of that gate.”
“Because he thinks that he can no longer get back, he decided to go into that gate.”
“As he enters, he can’t really feel anything.”
“And then…”
“He told us that he is being judged by an unknown being.”
“He didn’t tell us the details though, I think he’s not in the condition where he is able to tell that kind of story.”
“But right after he’s done being judged, suddenly everything gets litten.”
“And he’s there, already near the gate.”
“Judging by that story, that gate should hold some mysterious power that makes the line expand.”
“The closest thing that might be a solution is to close the gate.”
They pondered for a moment.
Andi paying attention to the line that is expanding.
“Is there any reason we should go as early as possible? The line seems to be expanding at a very slow rate isn’t it?”
“Why don’t we wait for the fog to completely disappear on day 3 or even day 4?”
“That cave is located in Amaia mountain.”
“But isn’t that…”
“Yes, it would take us about thirteen to fourteen days to reach there.”
“(So that’s the reason they are rushing, we should get back before the next full moon.)”
“I will join the expedition!” Carlyn said reflectively.
…
“Carlyn… you just can’t.” Andi’s really worried because she’s always stoneheaded when it comes to this kind of thing.
“But you guys would need me to be your frontliner”
“Do you realize what you're saying?” Andi stares into her eyes, “You really are not in the condition to be able to say that” Andi began to raise his voice, "It’s a full 28 days journey Carlyn, one small mistake and it’s over for you, it might also be over for all of us.”
“But that’s more of the reason i should go with you right?!”
“Carly please! Please just stay” Andi begs her.
“The moment we depart, you might not be able to even look back anymore.” Andi tries to convince her.
“THEN I WILL NOT LOOK BACK!!!” Carlyn desperately replied.
…
“I am sorry” Andi said to her.
Suddenly, Harold already there beside them.
(“This ability again!?”)
He grabs & holds Carlyn's bandaged hand forcefully & firmly. Carlyn looks like she's in a lot of pain, he then tightening his grip even more. Carlyn looks like she is really enduring the pain, her eyes starting to get glassy. However, her face is still full of determination.
He finally released his grip.
“You can join the party if you want. You still capable of fighting, and you will also increase our squad offense by quite a lot.” Harold gives a logical argument to her.
“Just remember to not even think about going back once you…” Harold looks into her eyes and realises something.
“Nevermind that, I should prepare to gather some of the members that’s currently away for tomorrow morning.”
Carlyn is relieved but then immediately realizes that Andi is worried.
“Sorry.” she said that to Andi immediately.
“Andi…”
“I…”
Andi tries to comfort her, “if Harold says so, then it should be ok.”
“so, don’t get too reckless, ok?”
“Thank you.” Carlyn said it with a low voice.
----------------------------------------------------------II----------------------------------------------------------
Two Days later, Harold already gathered some of the adventurers for the emergency expedition. It is really early in the morning. The fog is still around on the other side of the world, though it’s already beginning to thin out as the shape of the round moon lights start to get a bit imperfect.
Since it would normally take 28 days of journey, our leader created a formation where we are able to move faster so that we have more time to spare before the next full moon.
Most of their personnel is range units and relic casters because the focus is to keep moving forward while keeping beast stay away.
They had 6 soldiers on the top of the wagon wielding ranged weapons. In front of them, another 4 soldiers wield relics with various specializations. Then at the most front, there’s 2 heavily armored soldiers with 2 more moderately armored soldiers protecting their wing and back.
If there’s a beast that gets too close, the archers can use their back-up weapon and transition into light fighters.
And then there’s Antares, which is kind of like a living relic, about the size of 5-6 adult men that wears full armor relics while carrying a stable placing on his back for a scout.
“Ohh, here we go, he is going to do the things” Carlyn looking at Antares.
Antares, with his cold look, seems doesn’t really care about her, and starts putting some of the crystal shard into his mouth. He then starts breathing a glowish blue fire that illuminates the area for a moment.
“That’s quite a view huh?” Darsha said to Carlyn with a smug smirk on his face.
“Right?!” Carlyn excitedly replied.
“Anyway, how’s your wound?” Darsha asked her a bit of worry.
Carlyn raised her bandaged arm, “It’s pretty much healed by now, but Harold asked me to not engage in a fight for at least the next 2 days if it’s not really that necessary.”
Antares walks into them, and lends his hand to Darsha.
“Oh yea, i will be assigned to be a scout on his shoulder, Harold said i have good eyes!” Darsha says that with her prideful smile.
“Ohhh, That’s so cool!”
“Maybe we can change places later if you’re tired”
Darsha gets into his hand, “Uhm, but aren’t you a melee unit?”
“ah… that’s right, maybe i will first learn how to use a crossbow if we have time.” She smiled.
Darsha chuckled, “yeah!, I will teach you later once we get back.”
Antares then lifted up his hand and put her in the scouting placement on his shoulder.”
Anesh take a closer look at the expanding line before getting into the cart, “(It should’ve been only about 11 meter expanding.)”
Andi notices Anesh, “Is something happening?” Andi ask him.
“The line is already expanding about 14 meters since Bennett returned, it’s accelerating.”
“I see, I hope this formation is enough for us to come back in time.” Harold said behind them as they got a little shock from his sudden appearance.
Andi and Anesh really wonder if he can stop doing that to them.
The morning atmosphere was a bit tense, but somehow they felt ready for that expedition. Harold then orders the guards to open the gate.
“Depart.” he commands.
Like usual, Andi began to cast a simple defensive relic on the back of our squad to ensure our safety.
Anesh’s goggles invention was completed yesterday. A few have been produced for some range units to help them see better in fog.
As they go a bit farther, some of the beasts start to notice our movement and move towards them, “Connor” Harold indicating him to attack it.
“On it.” as He understands his task immediately.
Connor uses a staff that shoots a dense shard energy into their legs, while the archers personnel hold their attack to save the arrow for later.
After a bit of a fight, the fog started to really disappear as the moon lights began to fade as the sky began to light up.
And as they go farther from their homeland. The sun finally begins to rise.
Andi looked back and saw their homeland.
A sight he always sees every time he goes on expeditions.
"(It's so beautiful.)"
"(it’s like…)"
"(Heaven sighting.)"
“Hey Carlyn, do you see what I see?”
“No, I am good.” Carlyn replied.
Andi realizing something, "(ah, now i feel bad for her.)"
"(She's really serious when she said that she won’t look back anymore isn't she)" Andi said to himself feeling guilty.
"(I think I should cheer her up a bit.)"
Andi then ask some of the other relic specialist to switch with him for a moment
As Andi gets close to her, he’s surprised. His eyes widening in disbelief. That is the moment when he realized that…
She isn't looking back not because she doesn't want to.
She smiled in wonder
She isn't looking back simply because she is looking at something that she thinks is more beautiful...
Chapter 1 - Heaven sighting - End