"Do you know that the World wasn't just a dark place before? Yes. Now as we see it, it wasn't like this before at all. It was calm and tranquil, filled with happiness. You could see the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. No, what you are all seeing in this dark sky are not Stars. They are Power Fragments, the Goddess' blessings. The only source of light for us all in this dark World."

"Even the Goddess is unable to bring back the light. So powerful is this dark curtain which has been casted upon us. I hope that we will be able to see the light once again..."

"What was the Sun like? Let's see... It was really bright. It could easily turn the darkest of nights to a bright, blue sky."

"Yes, the sky looked blue when the Sun was up. Gradually, as it would set, the sky would become orange and red. When the sky would turn dark, the Moon and Stars would dimly illuminate the sky."

"I wonder if we will be able to see daylight again..."

"This year's Hero? Oh... So the previous Hero really did die."

"Heroes are people who are blessed by the Goddess. They possess magic to ward off the evil forces which lurk in the everlasting night. It seems that the Goddess can't descend because of this dark veil, and hence has decided to give her power to foolish mortals like us, in order to protect ourselves."

"Or rather... Some selected individuals who would protect us. We should hold this year's Hero Selection a bit early this year..."

"Without a Hero, this Village will be done for."

"When I grow up, I wanna become a Hero too! That way, I can protect the Village!" a child said, smiling at the old man who had just told them the story.

"Me too!" a little girl said excitedly.

"You're really children aren't you? The Goddess herself chooses the Heroes," said a boy who seemed a little older than them.

"So what?" the first boy asked.

"What do you mean so what?!" the older boy said.

"If the Goddess herself chooses a Hero, that means all I need to do is work really hard! Then I can become a Hero!" the younger boy said, beaming at him.

"My goodness..." the older boy said, sighing.

"Haha, such passionate little kids you are!" the old man said upon seeing the kids.

"Yeah, you all will definitely become Heroes one day... If you have a strong will that is..."

-----------------------------x-----------------------------

AND NOW

LET'S BEGIN THE STORY!