Chapter 1: *The Foundling of the Mount Trashmore*
The sky hung low, smeared with the residue of an era long gone, where nature fought to reclaim a world ravaged by human greed. Among the towering mounds of waste, hidden high on Mount Trashmore, a makeshift home stood, barely more than a cave, yet it provided shelter, warmth, and a place filled with memories. This was the home of Nix Grimwald and his grandmother, Laurie Grimwald, a woman shaped by hardship, and whose life took an unexpected turn when she found him.
Sixteen years ago, Laurie had been scavenging in the dead of night, sifting through piles of garbage for recyclables that could earn her a few coins. Her eyes had always been sharp, trained to spot the gleam of a metal can or the glint of a usable item. But that night, she saw something far more precious. Among the refuse, she found a crying baby boy, barely a few hours old, still connected to the cord of life his mother had left behind.
The mother, a ghost of the streets, had always been known for her madness. She was a woman who drifted like the wind, eating scraps and mumbling to herself, her mind shattered beyond repair. No one knew how she became pregnant, and on that fateful night, after bringing her son into the world, she severed the bond with a feral bite to the umbilical cord and vanished, laughing and weeping into the darkness.
Laurie found the child abandoned on the cold heap of trash, her heart stirring with an unfamiliar warmth. She had lived a life of rejection, deemed too unsightly to be given a chance at her dream of becoming an evolver but was denied by fate and became a hair stylist. Due to her poor background, and unsightly face, no one would hire her. Instead, she collected the hair others threw away, weaving it into wigs that were admired but never truly sought after. But when she saw the baby, so vulnerable and alone, she felt a connection, as if their fates were intertwined. She named him Nix and raised him as her own grandson.
Now, Nix was Sixteen years of age and strong from years of climbing the treacherous terrain of Trash Mountain. He had his grandmother’s perseverance but carried a different kind of longing in his heart. Whenever they ventured into town to sell Laurie’s wigs or trade recyclables, Nix would see children his age with bright, shiny toys, toys bought by loving parents, with money and comfort he could only imagine. But Nix was not one to wallow in jealousy. He had learned from Laurie that if life didn’t give you what you wanted, you made it yourself.
One afternoon, as the sun set behind the distant skyscrapers of waste, Nix sat outside their cave-home, his hands busy assembling his latest project. Scattered around him were discarded metal scraps, bits of wire, and pieces of broken plastic. His latest creation was a makeshift slingshot, its handle carved from a sturdy tree branch he’d found near the mountain’s base. It wasn’t much, but it worked, and that was enough.
He glanced toward the other corner of their small home where a simple trap lay, designed to catch small animals. He had been working on it for weeks, tweaking the mechanism to ensure it would catch something they could eat. Fish, birds, or even a mutated rodent, anything to lighten the burden on Laurie. Life was difficult enough without having to worry about food. Laurie always said that, in this post-apocalyptic world, people survived only by adapting. Nix had taken that lesson to heart.
“Done with that toy, boy?” Laurie’s voice broke through the evening quiet. She stepped out from the cave, wiping her hands on her scavenging clothes, a patchwork of fabrics meant more for practicality than appearance.
image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54034181100_ce930bc8ee_m.jpg]
“Yeah, Granny. It works, see?” Nix showed off his slingshot, pulling back the elastic strap and releasing it, sending a small stone flying into the air. It wasn’t just about making toys for fun. His creations often served a purpose, whether for defense, survival, or just to ease their hard lives.
Laurie chuckled, though her voice was tired. “You always did have a way of making things out of nothin’. Better than those store-bought toys anyhow.”
Nix smiled, but the envy still lingered beneath the surface. He didn’t resent the life they had, but sometimes, he couldn’t help but dream of more. Yet whenever he felt that way, he reminded himself of what Laurie had taught him: if you want more, you have to work for it.
As the evening crept in and the stars began to blink in the polluted sky, Laurie prepared a simple dinner. Tonight, it was a stew made from scavenged vegetables and the remains of a bird they had trapped earlier that week. Nix’s handmade traps had been a small blessing in their lives, catching food in a world where survival was uncertain. He watched as Laurie ladled the stew into two worn bowls, her face lined with the years of struggle and sacrifice.
“Granny, one day I’m gonna make sure we don’t have to live like this,” Nix said suddenly, his voice determined.
Laurie looked up, her eyes soft but full of wisdom. “You’re already doin’ that, Nix. Every time you make somethin’ outta nothin’, every time you help us catch food or fix somethin’ broken, you’re buildin’ a better life. We don’t need to be rich or fancy. We just need to survive, and you’re doin’ that better than most.”
Nix nodded, though deep down he knew he wanted more than just survival. He wanted to thrive, to live in a world where he wasn’t defined by the trash he grew up in. But for now, that world seemed far away, and all he could do was continue building, building toys, traps, and a future he could only dream of.
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As the night deepened and they sat in the glow of their makeshift fire, Nix looked out over the expanse of Mount Trashmore. Somewhere out there, in the wreckage of the old world, lay the future he would create for himself and Laurie. It wouldn’t be easy, but if there was one thing he had learned, it was that hard work could turn even the most broken things into something whole again. For now, that would be enough.
The next morning, Nix woke up with the first rays of sunlight filtering through the cracked window of his small room. He quickly showered and returned to his cramped space—barely large enough for his single bed and a narrow strip of floor to walk on. He slipped into his school uniform, a second-hand outfit that clung a little too tightly to his muscular 16-year-old frame, developed from the daily physical labor of scavenging. At 5 feet 2 inches, Nix height is average for his age, and his lean, calisthenics honed body reflected his resilience. His hair, neatly styled by Granny Laurie, was his source of quiet pride, a visible reminder of her love and care.
After dressing, Nix slung his patched-up bag over his shoulder, feeling its familiar weight. Inside were his lunch, carefully prepared by Granny Laurie, and his tablet, an old, battered piece of technology he'd salvaged from the trash mountain. Despite its appearance, the tablet worked well enough for his school use. As he peeked into his grandmother’s tiny, handmade bedroom, he saw her lying on her worn-out bed. Laurie was pretending to sleep, her face softened with a bittersweet smile as she listened to Nix quietly leave the house. She knew how hard he tried to make life better for her, and that knowledge both warmed her heart and filled her with sadness. She wished Nix could live a carefree childhood, but their harsh reality wouldn’t allow it.
As Nix stepped outside, a determined expression set on his face. He walked over to his trusty scooter, "Scootie," a patchwork vehicle he'd pieced together from parts scavenged at the junk graveyard near the foot of the trash mountain. He patted it affectionately. "Alright, Scootie, let's get to school," he muttered with a smile. He had made sure Scootie was in top shape, always keeping it well-maintained to avoid any breakdowns. The scooter could go as fast as 30 km/h, perfect for the 15 km distancd ride to the nearest train station.
After the train ride, he arrived at the school station and hopped back on Scootie for the final leg, another 10 minutes to school. At the station, his friends were waiting for him: Jeff Gordon, a chubby Archan with glasses who was a year older, Liam Kavana, a tall and lanky Archan kid who was a year younger, and Prabh Puteri, a slim Sudhin girl with a warm smile. They had been friends for years, despite attending different schools. As usual, the train ride was filled with their conversations about weekend adventures. Jeff loved to talk about the latest movies and games, while Prabh gushed about her little pet wombat, and Liam cracked jokes about e-cars. These 30 minutes together were Nix’s favorite part of the day, an escape from the constant struggle of life at the trash mountain.
When they parted ways, Nix arrived at a public school where he attended. Near the gate, his classmate 15 years old Alexandra Schonewille, whom he fondly called Alexi, was waiting. She was petite with curly blonde hair and glasses that she often pushed up nervously. Nix never quite understood why she always waited for him by the gate, but he didn’t mind her company. They walked to class together, exchanging a few words, and soon the day's lessons began.
The hours passed quickly. Toward the end of class, the teacher reminded them of the upcoming final exam, part of the highly anticipated "Awakening Trial" yearly event. This was when the top students to be rewarded with a Crystal Core. These Crystal Core can only be found in newborn mutated monsters, making them rare items since not all newborn mutated monsters produce one. Crystal Core fused in humans heart can give them a 70% chance to become an evolver. Only a few from each school would make it through, with most merely gaining better health but no special abilities. Nix was excited; the thought of becoming an Evolver stirred a deep sense of hope in him. If he could pass, it would bring him one step closer to his dream of joining the Hunters Association, a path that could lift him and Granny Laurie out of poverty.
Lost in thought about his future, Nix was brought back to the present when Alexi tugged on his sleeve. She asked about the exam, sounding anxious about the physical test. Nix smiled reassuringly and told her not to worry. "I'll help you as much as I can. You’ve got the smarts, and I’ll help you with the physical stuff," he said with a grin, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Alexi blushed and adjusted her glasses, thanking him shyly.
After school, Nix was heading back to the train station when Dong and his gang of bullies cornered him. Donghae Mangina, is taller and more muscular, had a well-connected father who trained him to be a future hunter. He had a crush on Alexi and didn’t like that Nix spend time with her. As usual, the confrontation ended with Dong throwing a punch, leaving Nix on the ground. Nix knew he couldn’t match Dong’s strength, so he focused on minimizing the damage, dodging what hits he could. After the beating, Nix got up, dusted himself off, and rode Scootie home.
image [https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54030946635_8a27ed78d1_m.jpg]
At home, Nix changed into his scavenging clothes and set off to check on Granny Laurie, who was working at the trash mountain. He always tried to help, but she insisted he only assist on weekends. Afterward, he visited his traps and was thrilled to find fish and birds for dinner. On his way home, he stopped by his neighbors’ hut to share the catch with Veronica Brith, his childhood friend but Nix calls her Roni as her nickname. Nix still remember when he was just 5 years old, coming across a child sobbing in a corner because her parents were missing, and he offered to assist her in locating her parents. Roni, now 17 years old, 5'4 tall, weighing 120 lbs. Archan, a lively girl with long red hair, greeted him excitedly, and they spent time together, talking about their dreams of becoming hunters.
As the sun set, Nix returned home to find Granny Laurie preparing dinner. He hugged her, hiding the pain from Dong’s beating. She sensed something was wrong but said nothing, instead asking him to clean up while she cooked. Dinner was a quiet affair, filled with unspoken concerns and love. Later, in the solitude of his room, Nix finally allowed the pain to catch up with him. But despite the physical aches, he drifted off to sleep, knowing that each day brought him closer to a future where he could give his grandmother the life she deserved.