In a remote town far in the east. Among its residents lived a boy named Desiderio, who shared a dilapidated home with his mother, Hannah. Their house, a structure so pitiful even a goat might turn up its nose, was a testament to their poverty. Yet Desiderio found contentment in his mother's presence. "As long as I'm with my mother, I can live even in the pit of hell," he often said, a phrase that encapsulated the boundless love he felt for her.
Desiderio's life took an unexpected turn when he turned fifteen. On the evening of his birthday, his mother returned home from her job as a cleaner at the local mall. With a tired but loving smile, she called him to celebrate. She produced a single candle and lit it, instructing him to make a wish before blowing it out. Desiderio closed his eyes tightly, made his wish, and blew out the candle with a joyful breath. His mother watched, her heart heavy, knowing that what Desiderio truly wanted was a birthday cake—a simple pleasure she couldn't afford. Nevertheless, he smiled to please her, masking his true feelings.
That evening, they enjoyed what they called a feast: four slices of bread and a single egg. It was a meager meal, but they savored it together, sharing in the small joy of each other's company before heading to bed.
Around midnight, Hannah woke up, unable to sleep. She gently caressed her son's curly brown hair, whispering, "If only you were here, he wouldn't be suffering like this." Her face was etched with sorrow. Suddenly, a glow began to emanate from Desiderio's right wrist. Hannah's heart raced as she saw the light. She carefully lifted his hand and saw a symbol of two opposite arrows etched into his skin.
Hannah's dread deepened. Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently placed Desiderio's hand back down. "Why did you choose him?" she whispered to the night. "Are you unable to fulfill your wish? It looks like I will be gone for a while. Be careful of what you wish for, Desiderio," she said, pressing a kiss to his forehead before quietly leaving the room. Their house, though shabby, did have the small comfort of two rooms, allowing her a place to gather her thoughts alone.
In the silent darkness, Desiderio slept peacefully, unaware of the changes that had begun to unfold. His mother's words lingered in the air, a warning and a premonition. The wish he made on his fifteenth birthday had set into motion a series of events that would alter their lives forever. Unseen forces had taken an interest in him, and the symbol on his wrist was only the beginning.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
In the eastern part of the world, Spain beneath a grand palace in a dark room a computer switch on and an automated voice started speaking with a voice that doesn't sound like a man or a woman.
"System Online
The Wish Equivalent Exchange System 1.0 activating …. 70%
Looking for host...…
Host found ….. Desiderio
Host have made a wish
Wish: Host wants everything to change
Host condition: Poor
New quest given: Reach a net worth of $10,000.00
Quest reward: ??????
Current net worth: -$95
System will now start initiating quest."
In an unknown part of the world, a man with brown curly hair could be seen fighting some creatures with no visible features then he suddenly stop "so it has begun, I hope it doesn't end the same way" he said then he continued fighting.
. . . . .
The next morning, Desiderio woke up and found out that he was going to be late for school "shoot mum has forgotten to wake me up, I'm gonna be late" he rushed out of bed and went to clean himself in the bathroom, after cleaning himself, he wore his torn school uniform and ran to school.
On his way to school, while he was running, a bicycle stopped beside him "hop on, we're gonna be late" a boy with black hair wearing the same uniform though his is not as torn as desiderio's uniform. Thanks Sam, Desiderio told his best friend and perhaps his only friend and he rode off. "Happy birthday, I would have given you a gift but I don't have the money to buy you anything so treat this ride as your birthday gift" Sam said. "Thanks" Desiderio said.Luckily, they arrived at the school before the bell rang.
The classroom door creaked open as Desiderio and Sam stepped inside. The muffled chatter of students halted abruptly, replaced by an uneasy silence. Heads turned, eyes filled with disdain and disgust, glaring at the two boys. Their clothes, worn and patched, stood out starkly among the neatly dressed students. Yet, Desiderio and Sam paid no heed to the judgmental stares. They had grown used to them.
Ignoring the whispering and sneering, the boys made their way to the back of the classroom, where two seats awaited them. Sam dropped his backpack onto the chair, its fabric frayed at the edges, and nodded at Desiderio, who was about to do the same.
But as Desiderio moved to sit down, a blinding white light suddenly flashed before his eyes. He staggered, instinctively raising his hand to shield his face. The symbol on his right wrist, usually faint and barely noticeable, began to glow with an intense, searing brightness.
Desiderio gasped, clutching his wrist as a wave of excruciating pain surged through his body. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, the classroom spinning around him.