In a small, run-down hut surrounded by poverty, there stood an imposing mansion—a striking contrast to the bleak surroundings. Inside the mansion lived a mother and her newborn son, Ray. Today marked the mother's first day of caring for her baby, a task she had never undertaken before. Nervously, she approached Ray's crib, leaning over with a gentle smile.
"Ray... hello... are you hungry? Hmm... Do you need anything?" she asked, her voice soft yet uncertain. She continued, almost as if expecting the baby to reply like an adult. "Maybe you want some beer and pork meat on the table?" she added, her imagination running wild, as if Ray might suddenly demand a full-grown man's meal.
Ray, of course, didn't respond. He was just a newborn, oblivious to the world's complexities, but his mother kept talking to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world. To anyone watching, it might have seemed absurd, but in their world, such interactions were not uncommon. The people of this village were the vanguard of their tribe—hardened by their roles, but also strange in their ways.
As night fell, the atmosphere in the hut grew tense. The village was under threat. A beast had emerged from the wilderness, and the village chief, along with the bravest warriors, engaged in an intense battle. The fight was fierce, with the chief eventually defeating the monster, but the victory came at a high cost—100 men lay dead, their blood soaking into the earth.
Some of the blood splattered onto Ray as well, staining his tiny body. Yet, as the chaos unfolded outside, the mother remained calm, watching the scene with an eerie detachment. Ray, too, seemed untroubled, his young eyes observing the carnage with an unsettling calmness.
"Hmm, Ray... why don't you talk? Are you actually deaf or just unable to speak?" the mother muttered to herself, continuing her nonsensical conversation with the baby, as if the bloodshed outside was just another part of their everyday life.
In the dimly lit hut, the atmosphere remained heavy. The village chief, flanked by authoritative figures, gathered inside. They discussed the aftermath of the battle, their voices low and serious. After the village talks concluded, they summoned Ray's mother.
"Go to the Cotber Galaxy," the chief commanded, his voice firm. "We have secured funds from the last centuries. Take that and make Ray powerful."
Shocked by this unexpected directive, murmurs of protest arose among the gathered elders. Characters like Grom, an old warrior with scars that told a lifetime of battles, voiced their concerns. "This is madness! How can we send a newborn into the galaxy? We need those funds here, for our people!"
Others, like Selva, a woman known for her sharp tongue and unyielding nature, added, "Ray's just a child! What can he do? We've already lost too much tonight!"
But the village chief silenced them with a raised hand, his expression grave. "You all forget the talent I possess. I am a Talent Searcher, one of the greatest divine talents bestowed upon mortals. My ability allows me to see the potential within our kind, though it's limited to mortals. If I were like others, this talent would have upgraded to Talent Finder, capable of discerning the potential of any being. But as a mortal, my ability has limits."
The room fell silent, the weight of the chief's words sinking in. He continued, "Ray is different. My talent has sensed something extraordinary in him, something beyond what any of us have seen before. He may be our hope, our chance to rise from this poverty. If we ride on his potential, we might elevate our status beyond what we've ever imagined."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to contradict the chief. The stakes were too high, and the future too uncertain. After a long pause, the chief added, "He is young and indebted to us. We must invest in his future, for it may also be ours."
With that, the decision was made. Ray's mother, clutching her child close, prepared to leave the planet. The villagers watched as they departed, the weight of their hopes resting on Ray's tiny shoulders. They knew the journey ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty, but they held onto the hope that Ray's future would also be theirs.