The fields around Shu's village stretched endlessly under the brilliant sun, the golden wheat swaying gently in the breeze. Life in the village was peaceful, each day blending into the next, marked by the rhythm of farming, family, and simple joy. Shu, the son of humble farmers, had lived this life for as long as he could remember. But despite the quiet and calm, an unexplainable feeling had been growing inside him—a yearning he couldn't quite put into words.
Shu was not one to dwell on dreams or visions; his nights were quiet, and his sleep, dreamless. Instead, it was the moments during the day—the way the horizon seemed to stretch on forever, or the endless expanse of the sky—that filled him with a sense of restlessness. He often found himself staring out toward the distant mountains, wondering what lay beyond them.
One evening, as the stars began to twinkle in the fading light, Shu climbed the hill overlooking his family's farm. He had been here countless times before, but tonight felt different. The air was still, and the stars above seemed unusually bright. He stood at the top, staring out at the vastness of the world, an odd sense of longing settling over him.
His younger sister, Shuna, soon joined him, her laughter breaking the silence.
"You always come up here to stare at nothing, Shu," she said with a teasing smile. "What's so interesting about the sky?"
Shu shrugged, unable to explain the pull he felt. "I don't know. I just feel like… there's something more out there."
Shuna giggled. "You and your big ideas. We're farmers, remember? What more do we need than this?" She gestured to the fields below, where their family worked, the soft glow of lanterns marking the end of another day.
Shu forced a smile, but inside, the feeling lingered. He couldn't shake the thought that something—something important—was missing from his life.
---
The next morning, Shu helped his father tend to the crops as usual, but his mind kept drifting. He didn't have dreams or visions, but he had always felt that the life he lived wasn't the only path for him. Something about the old stories, the legends told by the elders, sparked a deep curiosity in him.
As they worked, Shu's father, noticing his son's distracted state, sighed and put a hand on his shoulder.
"You've been restless lately, Shu. Is something bothering you?"
Shu hesitated. "It's nothing, Father. I just… sometimes I wonder if there's more to life than the fields."
His father chuckled. "There's plenty of life here in the village. You have family, good food, and work to keep your hands busy. What more could a man need?"
Shu nodded, but the answer didn't satisfy him. It wasn't just about wanting something different—it was about a feeling, deep in his chest, that he was meant for more. But how could he explain that?
That afternoon, Shuna's earlier suggestion echoed in Shu's mind. Elder Hina, the village's storyteller, had been alive for longer than anyone could remember, and she was said to know things beyond the ordinary. If anyone could make sense of what Shu was feeling, it would be her.
---
Later that day, Shu made his way to the elder's home. The old woman sat outside, her hands busy weaving, her eyes clouded with age but still sharp with wisdom. As Shu approached, she looked up, her wrinkled face breaking into a smile.
"Ah, Shu. I thought you might come by," Elder Hina said in her raspy voice.
Shu raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You expected me?"
Elder Hina chuckled. "I may be old, but I'm not blind. I've seen the way you look at the horizon, boy. You've got the heart of a wanderer. Sit, tell me what's on your mind."
Shu sat beside her, unsure where to begin. "I don't know what it is, Elder Hina. I don't have dreams like the stories say some people do, but I feel… like something's missing. Like I'm supposed to be doing more than just working the fields."
The elder nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's no coincidence, Shu. Sometimes, the soul remembers things that the mind cannot. You may not have dreams, but the call you feel—that is the echo of a past long forgotten."
Shu frowned. "What do you mean? A past?"
Elder Hina set her weaving aside and turned fully toward him. "Long ago, before this peaceful life we know, there were great battles fought for the survival of humanity. The world was very different—machines as large as mountains, warriors who fought not for themselves, but for each other. Among them were two souls, bound by fate. They sacrificed everything for this world."
Shu listened intently, the familiar sense of yearning growing stronger. He had heard similar stories before, passed down by the villagers, but never with such weight. There was something in the way Elder Hina spoke that made it feel more like a truth than a legend.
"These two souls," she continued, "they were destined to meet again, in every lifetime. No matter how many times they were reborn, they would find each other, and together, they would face the challenges that threatened the world."
Shu shook his head. "But what does that have to do with me? I'm just a farmer's son."
Elder Hina smiled softly. "Perhaps, Shu, your soul has not forgotten the role it once played. You may not have dreams, but that feeling inside you—it is the call of destiny."
Shu felt a chill run down his spine. Could it really be true? Could he be connected to the ancient heroes of legend?
"And now," Elder Hina continued, her voice dropping to a whisper, "the time may be coming when that destiny must be fulfilled once again. The peace we have enjoyed for so long is fragile. There are forces in this world—hidden and waiting—that have not forgotten the past. And you, Shu, may find yourself at the center of it."
Shu stared at her, his mind racing. "What am I supposed to do?"
Elder Hina looked at him with a deep, knowing gaze. "You must find the other half of your soul. The one you are destined to meet again. She is out there, waiting for you."
---
That night, as Shu lay in his bed, he couldn't sleep. Elder Hina's words echoed in his mind, intertwining with the strange pull he felt toward the unknown. It wasn't just a desire to explore or a simple curiosity. It was as if something deep within him was waking up, a connection to a past life that had been waiting to resurface.
He didn't have dreams. But he didn't need them. The call was real, and it was getting stronger.
Somewhere out there, the other half of his soul was waiting.
And Shu knew, without understanding why, that he would find her.
To be continued...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Authors Note:Thank you for reading this chapter.
If you enjoy this story, remember to vote and leave a review if you haven't.