Late at night, a boy was lying in bed, unable to sleep.

Ged, nearly 15 and sporting green bushy hair, was wide awake, reading a fancy-looking scroll while smiling from ear to ear.

A candle on his bedside table illuminated the golden lettering on the scroll.

"Your application has been accepted."

Ged sighed with a profound feeling of satisfaction and relief.

Ged's parents were never affluent enough to afford him many things. Yet, he always appreciated their love and care and, as an only child, he wanted to find work to repay them for their kindness. However, his poor grades in school, failed apprenticeships with local tradesmen, and a rejected application to the army left Ged with limited options for careers.

For most people, experiencing this kind of rejection would lead to at least a few reservations about their life, but not for Ged.

Ged was a bit strange.

For as long as he could remember, a green grassy hill existed in his mind. Whenever negative emotions surfaced, the hill would appear, soothing him with its calming presence.

Pain, anger, sadness, jealousy, and hate—Ged felt none of these, thanks to the hill's influence.

This emotional detachment, while shielding him from stress and worry, came with a whole host of downsides. When he failed grades at school or couldn't secure an apprenticeship, Ged didn't care. He simply smiled and moved on, as if the failures were insignificant, leaving him disconnected from the consequences of his own life.

His parents were concerned, but since he seemed so happy in his day-to-day life, their worries faded. His lack of emotional range went largely unnoticed by others.

At fifteen, on the verge of adulthood, Ged was content to go with the flow, eager to join his father working in the mines.

This all changed for Ged when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself.

On an ordinary day like any other, while he was out doing chores for his elderly neighbor, Ged happened upon a crowd surrounding a notice board with an unassuming sign that read:

"Accepting applications."

Underneath it, embroidered in gold, was the emblem of authority from the Church of Mount Existence.

"The main church is accepting new disciples for their faith?"

"This hasn't happened in over 50 years!"

"Only ages 15-20 can apply? I'll have to tell my nephew."

The crowd buzzed with excitement over the news.

The Church of Mount Existence was a powerful institution with a storied history, almost as long as life itself. They enjoyed unparalleled wealth and power, standing as the most influential institute in all the land. And today, they were recruiting disciples.

Ged couldn't contain his excitement. He rushed through the crowd to snag an application for himself. After discovering that he met all the requirements, he borrowed his neighbor's ink and quill to fill out the application.

Submitting it soon after, he was not expecting much of a response.

Now, seeing the scroll in his hands that he was accepted, he couldn't stop himself from smiling.

Ged held the scroll to his face to read its words once more.

"This—this doesn't feel real," he whispered to himself, trying hard not to wake his parents in the other room.

Ged put the scroll down by his bedside, extinguished the candle, and attempted to calm himself enough to finally fall asleep.

Eager for the morning to arrive, Ged awoke full of energy. He sprinted out of his room and into the kitchen, where his parents were seated, getting used to the morning air.

Ged's infectious energy alerted them to his presence.

In her early thirties, Ged's mother was an attractive woman with a stern personality. She had raised her son using strict religious principles.

His father, on the other hand, was burly and masculine, sporting a large red beard. He was normally quiet and timid, but today he was almost a different person.

"Morning, my boy!" he chuckled. "You've really outdone yourself now, getting involved with those rich church folks."

"When you're out making it big time, try to send a few coins to your old man." He finished brandishing a hearty smile.

"Ben! Our son hasn't even started work yet! Don't go begging him for money."

"We should be celebrating his achievement, not profit off it," Ged's mother snapped at Ben.

"Ged, when you become a disciple of the church, you can spend your money on whatever you want. There's no need to concern yourself with us," she spoke to Ged.

"He knows I was only joking, Nora. Our boy's all grown up now; you no longer need to baby him so much," Ben retorted, shrinking his posture.

After a brief moment they looked at each other and a smile came to their faces.

They both turned to Ged, speaking in unison.

"Congratulations, son.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"Ged heard this and felt as if he were in a dream.

Ben left for work.

To celebrate her son's achievement, Nora went all out for breakfast, buying fresh meat from the butcher and making a delicious meat pie.

Ged savored every bite.

After he had his fill, she suggested taking the leftovers to the local temple as an offering.

Ged nodded in agreement, and the two walked down the familiar street toward the temple.

Neighbors, old classmates, and unfamiliar faces greeted him with congratulations. Ged felt as if he had suddenly become an overnight celebrity.

Ged felt dizzy with all the praise, walking on clouds with each step he took, until they made it to the temple.

"Congratulations, Nora. Your son is truly blessed with great fortune." The temple priest was quick to welcome them inside.

Nora exchanged pleasantries with the temple priest and the three of them made their way to a statue of a mountain. Made from pure bronze and about half the size of a person, the noticeable feature of the mountain was its missing summit.

The temple priest held a blue necklace in front of him, and he spoke a few words to the mountain.

"Oh great and tall Mount Existence. Please allow your climbers access to your slopes so they can offer you gratitude."

After a moment of silence the temple priest gestured to Nora and Ged to follow and the three kneeled down on pillows in front of the mountain statue.

Nora held out the plate and placed it in front of the mountain. Closing her eyes, she began to pray.

Ged followed suit, closing his eyes. In his prayers, he thanked the Mountain for accepting him as a disciple of the Church.

Ged knew very little about the mysterious Church of Mount Existence. As a child, his parents had read him fables about priests flying on swords and immortal humans who breathed fire.

However, those inside the main church rarely talked to people outside, so it was hard to confirm many rumors about them.

Bits and pieces did spill out, revealing that those accepted as disciples would undergo a trial.

Many who took the church's trial failed and returned home dejected. When asked about the trial, they could only describe it with vague words like "horrible nightmare" and "a terrifying ordeal," as if their minds had blocked out all the details.

These failed disciples lived short and miserable lives, in extreme paranoia and panic, as if demonic creatures were to descend upon them at any moment and eat them alive.

In contrast, those who were lucky enough to pass the trial were never seen again, their whereabouts hidden behind the iron doors of the great church.

The only thing that escaped was large amounts of wealth sent to support their families. This wealth was not small, and with the additional protection of the church, these families quickly found themselves skyrocketed into positions of great power and respect.

Ged coyly opened one eye to peek up at the towering bronze statue depicting the mythical mountain.

With its base at the origin of all things and its peak towering over the future, the Mountain of Existence is a revered symbol of all that was and all that is yet to come. This great embodiment of life has inspired numerous religious faiths, each with its own beliefs and practices, worshiping the Mountain as a deity.

Devout followers of these faiths liken themselves to mountain climbers, ascending the slopes of everyday life, each faith centering on different aspects of the Mountain.

The Church of the Mountain of Existence stands out among them, distinguished by its grand temples and the prominently displayed statue of the "peak-less mountain." Their prayers focus on the Mountain's slopes, seeking relief from daily challenges and offering thanks for the small victories they achieve.

The absence of the statue's peak serves as a reminder for its followers not to obsess over the outcomes of the future. According to scriptures associated with the faith, the peak is linked to the realm of demons, leading those who strive to reach it down a path of evil and ill intent. These texts caution believers against succumbing to the malevolent aspects of the future, urging them instead to concentrate on the present.

Ged closed his eyes again, reciting what he was thankful for to the mountain statue. The recent events of his life bubbled up in his mind, and Ged couldn't help but smile. However, as he continued to think, intrusive thoughts about his future began to proliferate.

Curiosity about the trial he was about to undertake, and the journey to get there filled his mind. Suddenly a thought about what would happen if he failed the trial caused Ged to fidget uncomfortably.

The green grassy hill appeared in his mind removing these uncomfortable thoughts from his mind and giving him peace once more.

This uneasiness lasted only a moment, but Nora could tell something was off.

She stopped her prayer to ask, "Ged, is there something wrong?"

"Mother, I'm sorry for worrying you. I just had a few thoughts come up about the future," Ged spoke truthfully.

Nora looked at her son warmly. "There is no need to apologize. It seems that this time, the demon was quite fierce, for I too fell into the same state of mind."

"During times of great transitions, it is only natural for this demon to appear. You and your boy have been visited by a demon of change," the temple priest spoke, his eyes still closed in prayer.

"But a demon is a demon only when it is unknown. As soon as it is realized and becomes a part of present-day reality, it is stripped of its evil and ominous nature."

"Embrace this demon of change and guide it into reality. There is no need to fear this future that is in front of you." The temple priest opened his eyes, resting his soft gaze on the mother and son.

"Thank you for your guidance," Nora softly replied.

The days came and went, and the excitement began to fade, until finally the day of Ged's coming of age party arrived.

His parents pulled out all the stops for the party. Brand-new tablecloths, bronze candle holders, imported exotic foods, and reasonably priced wine all combined to make it a truly extravagant affair.

People from all walks of life came to celebrate. Kids from the neighborhood played, and relatives from near and far brought gifts, exchanged greetings, and mingled happily.

Ged was running around in the backyard with a couple other children his age when he heard his father's voice call to him out through the back door of the house.

"Ged, stop whatever you're doing and come here real quick."

Upon hearing his father's words, Ged put down the ball he was throwing and moved closer.

"Now that you've become an adult, it's only right that you get to try the things us adults enjoy," his father said with a hearty smile. Three other men of similar age stood behind his father, all wearing eager expressions.

He held out a cup of red wine to Ged.

Ged sniffed the wine and wrinkled his nose.

Ben chuckled slightly. "This is a cup of sweet red wine, go ahead and try some. It may smell a little bitter but its taste is quite pleasant."

Ged sipped the wine, tasting its bitter flavor, but it was too much for him. He spat the wine back into the glass and made an ugly face. Ben and his three companions saw this and roared with laughter.

"Maybe it's still a bit too early for you. When you come back next, I'll get you something a little lighter," Ben chuckled, patting Ged on the shoulder and giving him a warm smile.

The four troublemakers turned and headed back inside, leaving Ged watching them from the doorway.

Ged watched his father drunkenly bragging about him to a group of family members.

Then he noticed his mother, smiling as she stood nearby, chatting with another group of guests.

Lastly, he surveyed the expensive arrangements, realizing his parents had clearly dipped into their savings to afford everything.

Ged thought about the unfathomable and profound Church of Mount Existence, and the long journey to Main City where the church's headquarters were located.

A dark thought crossed his mind.

"Will I be able to meet their expectations?"

He shook his head and the vision of green hills appeared in his mind, dismissing the thought entirely.

Ged returned to the backyard and resumed his play.

As the night wore on, the party gradually calmed down. His father, having drunk too much wine, was the first to succumb to his stupor, passing out on the front lawn. Soon after, many of the guests decided to call it a night, bidding their farewells as they left.

Ged helped clean up the mess left behind, washing the plates and cups of the guests while his mother went to yell at his drunken father.

Eventually, it was time to go to bed.

The next morning, a carriage arrived in front of his home.