Thousands of years ago, there was this prophecy.
In the future, when mankind becomes monstrous and monsters let their humanity be shown, the world will end.
No more beginning.
Only an end.
It was written by fate. Even Gods could not prevent this Great End.
On the First Day, there would be fire.
On the Second Day, there would be a hurricane.
On the Third Day, there would be an earthquake.
And on the Fourth Day, there would be a flood.
The Great End would erase all kinds of beings – even Gods, who created all things in this universe. Because, in truth, they were the opposite of what creates – the destroyer of the worlds.
But now was not the time. This was not the day of the Great End. And so, the Gods were given a chance to lock them away before releasing them to the world. Locked away in a far place; a faraway realm that they couldn't touch what was created by the Gods.
Just like any other things with locks – they have keys. Four mysterious keys, each one for the four of them. Thus, the Keepers of the Keys were chosen.
At least, that was what Aaric Langhorne told the three of them.
"Bullshit." Sunny, the ever foul-mouthed manic boy, said in an instant.
"It's the first time I heard you talk about this," Azran commented right after. A hint of doubt dripped from her tone.
The boy with white streaks on his hair frowned, looking back and forth at his companions and the bald, old man in front of them. Not that he didn't believe Aaric, but it sounded … off. Although, if he took account of what had happened to him, Aaric's story about the Keepers was not the strangest he had heard.
"What makes you so sure that the late King Verghan Basha was one of the Keepers?" Heon asked, wanting to get a clear thought on this.
Aaric was still leaning back against his single armchair. Three frail-looking fingers tapped against the leather. "Your presence."
"Me?" The frown on his face doubled in intensity. Making sure that he heard it alright, Heon used his forefinger to point at his own nose. "What do you mean, me?"
"Three months ago, King Verghan Basha was assassinated. The kingdom then released the posters that you were the murderer. However, you claimed to be from another world and have no idea about this. Moreover, you also said that the unknown person who brought you here wanted you to retrieve something – who knows what."
They let this piece of guess sink in.
Aaric continued, "If what you said was the truth, then it is only logical that you were brought here to take place left by Heon of this world."
"So, I'm just a replacement?" Heon concluded, unsure how to feel about this.
"That's my best guess," the bald man nodded. "That is if the late king was truly one of the Keepers of the Keys."
Contemplating it for a second, he added, "In other words, if I want to go back to my own world, I have to get what was previously kept by the late king?"
"Correct." Aaric didn't waste another second telling him this. "And I knew what was missing since the King's death."
Heon was almost on the edge of his seat.
"His crown."
"That's crazy."
"Not as crazy as coming from another world, wouldn't you say?"
Nuts.
All of this was nuts.
Heon couldn't believe that this was his life now. He would never think he'd be in a situation this bad before.
However, it was real.
After a long silence on his part, Sunny finally quipped, "You know what sounds crazier?"
Heon looked at the blond, catching the manic grin on his undeniably handsome face.
"Of all people, we find the one who knows it all in a single shot. What is the chance, huh?"
Now that he thought about it–
"Aaric is not lying," Azran spoke right away, defending the old man who was her friend. He didn't know what their actual relationship was – it wasn't father and daughter, nor was it anything like family attachment. But she seemed to really trust the old man.
"I didn't say he is, but Sunny got the point," he said, agreeing with the manic boy for once. "Isn't it a bit suspicious, though?"
Before Azran could say anything, the old man had already raised his hand. "It's good that you don't trust anyone easily. But once in a while, you shouldn't question what was given to you out of kindness."
The blond scoffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Kindness, my ass."
Like a champion, Aaric ignored him. Instead, he turned to Heon with his kind eyes, looking right at him. "I already said I used to work as a guard in the palace, didn't I?"
"Did you cross the king?" Sunny butted in again, seemingly suspicious of his endless question. "Is that why you retired? Because I don't think you can retire from being a guard in the capital. Let alone in the palace."
Aaric clamped his mouth as if what the blond said had struck a nerve. "You're right." The bald, old man's face turned grave. Lips dropped into a faint scowl.
"I retired from being the palace's guard because something happened. I don't really keep it a secret, but I don't flaunt that, either. The palace wouldn't like it if the news that someone could retire from being a guard let loose to the public."
Azran opened her mouth, apparently wanting to speak her mind. She couldn't, though, after the old man stopped her with a single look that said, 'It's fine.'
"Something happened in the palace, and I was partially blamed for it. They gave an ultimatum, forbidding me from stepping foot in the capital again, but promised to let me live as long as I stay on this island."
Once again, the blond probed. "What sin have you done?"
"It's none of your business, but let me tell you this." Aaric locked his gaze with Heon's brown eyes. "I'm really glad someone killed the king."