Hale stared at the sky, wondering what secrets it hid. He had always been fascinated by the stars, the moon, and the sun. He had heard stories of a legendary place where the gods lived, beyond the clouds and the mountains. A place where magic was abundant and miracles happened every day. A place where anyone could achieve their dreams, no matter how impossible they seemed.
Hale wanted to go there. He wanted to see the gods with his own eyes, and ask them for their blessings. He wanted to learn the secrets of magic, and wield it with skill and grace. He wanted to explore the wonders of the world, and have adventures that would make him famous and respected.
But he knew it was just a foolish dream. He was a nobody, a poor orphan who lived in a small village in the outskirts of the kingdom. He had no family, no friends, no money, no education, no talent. He had nothing but a rusty sword that he had found in a dumpster, and a worn-out book of fairy tales that he had stolen from a traveling merchant.
He had no chance of ever leaving his village, let alone reaching the place where the gods lived. He was doomed to a life of hardship and misery, like everyone else in his situation.
He sighed and lowered his gaze. He was lying on a grassy hill, overlooking his village. It was a sunny day, and the air was warm and pleasant. He had sneaked out of his work at the farm, where he was hired as a laborer. He hated working there, but he had no choice. He needed the money to survive, and there were not many jobs available for someone like him.
He wished he could escape from his reality, even for a moment. He wished he could have some fun, some excitement, some magic in his life.
He closed his eyes and imagined himself flying in the sky, soaring among the clouds, feeling the wind in his hair and the sun on his face. He imagined himself meeting the gods, talking to them, learning from them, becoming one of them.
He smiled and felt a surge of joy in his heart. He opened his eyes and looked at the sky again.
Maybe, just maybe, his dream could come true someday. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to reach the place where the gods lived.
He didn't know how, but he was determined to find out.
He was Hale, and he had a dream.