600 years ago, on a vast and wondrous planet where the kingdom of Atlastic flourished, life was a paradise. The skies were dotted with majestic flying islands, waterfalls cascading through the air as if suspended in time. The people-citizens, Light Reflecters, and Dark Reflecters- lived together in harmony, united under peace and prosperity. There were no divisions, no hatred, and no reason for strife.
But all of that changed the day a child was born.
From the moment the boy entered the world, it was clear he was different. Born as a Dark Reflecter, there was an unsettling presence about him. Whispers followed him like shadows, and though his mother loved him dearly, others felt a foreboding unease. As he grew, mischief turned into disruption, and disruption turned into something far darker.
The breaking point came when the unthinkable happened: the boy murdered his own mother.
The kingdom was thrown into chaos. Shock turned into rage, and the people of Atlastic cried out for justice. For the first time, unity shattered as fear seeped into the hearts of the citizens. They wanted the boy found and vanquished.
But he was cunning. Powerful. Each time they closed in on him, he vanished, slipping through their grasp like smoke. Yet the fury grew unbearable when his fellow Dark Reflecters took it upon themselves to capture him, no longer willing to bear the weight of his actions.
They found him one fateful day, cornered on the edge of a floating island, the wind whipping through the air. A group of Dark Reflecters surrounded him, their eyes burning with rage and betrayal.
"You think this is funny, kid?" one of them shouted, their voice trembling with fury. "You killed your own mother! Is this a game to you?"
The boy stood there, his small figure unshaken, his lips curling into a smile. And then he began to laugh.
"Hahahahahaha..."
The sound echoed unnaturally, chilling them to their cores. Confused and enraged, one of the Dark Reflecters lunged forward, attacking him with everything they had.
The boy dodged effortlessly, laughter still spilling from his lips like a curse. "Hahahaha..."
But then, one strike landed. A brutal blow that sent him staggering. Blood gushed from his mouth, staining the ground beneath him. The Dark Reflecters closed in, their shadows looming over him.
"Why?" one of them asked, their voice barely a whisper. "WHY DID YOU KILL HER?"
The boy wiped the blood from his lips, his smile never faltering.
"Tsk," another Reflecter snapped. "He's not going to say anything. Let's just end this. Now. Before he hurts anyone else."
Another stepped forward, glaring at the boy. "Any last words? Any final wish before we send you to the void?"
For the first time, the boy was silent. He lowered his head as though in thought, the wind howling around them. Then, softly, he spoke.
"So... you want the truth?" His voice was calm, unnervingly so. "Would you even believe me if I told you? Would you free me from this execution?"
"Nonsense!" one of the Dark Reflecters roared. "You're stalling. You're nothing but a monster who betrayed his own blood!"
The boy's gaze rose to meet theirs, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. He smiled again-gently this time, almost sadly.
"If slavery is what makes you feel proud," he said softly, "then I cannot help you escape it."
The words cut through the air like a blade. The Reflecters hesitated, their expressions flickering with doubt and confusion. What did he mean? What was he talking about?
As they struggled to make sense of his cryptic words, the boy's smile widened. It was no longer gentle but chilling.
"And now..." he murmured, his voice a low whisper that carried on the wind, "it's time to pull off the reality."
Before anyone could react, the ground trembled beneath them, the sky darkening unnaturally. The Reflecters' eyes widened in shock as they felt something shift-a force far beyond anything they had ever encountered.
The boy raised his hand, his laughter echoing once more, and in that instant, the world around them began to fracture.
Everything... changed.
Forever.
The boy's laughter echoed like a haunting melody, twisting through the air and sending chills down their spines.
One of the Dark Reflecters, unable to contain his rage, stepped forward and barked, "What's so funny about this, you wretch?"
The boy's laughter softened into a quiet chuckle as he looked up at them with unsettling calm.
"I pity you," he said, his voice gentle but laced with something dark, something profound. "All of you, blind to the truth. You can't even bear to think about it, can you?"
The Reflecters exchanged confused glances, but the boy continued, his tone sharper now.
"The Light Reflecters…" he said slowly, savoring the weight of each word, "manipulated the Dark Reflecters. You were never their equals, never their allies. They used us—used you—as slaves in their grand illusion of harmony."
A stunned silence fell over the group. The boy's words sliced through them like a dagger, and for a moment, doubt flickered in their eyes.
"Lies!" one of them shouted, though his voice quivered. "You speak nothing but poison!"
But the boy smiled softly, his gaze unwavering. "Is it really? Or are you just afraid to face it—the truth you've always felt deep inside but refused to see?"
He stood taller now, his presence strangely commanding despite the blood still dripping from his lips. "You call me a monster, but what if I'm the only one who dared to break free? What if I'm the only one who saw the chains while you all chose to wear them?"
The wind howled around them as the boy's words hung in the air like an omen. None of the Dark Reflecters could bring themselves to respond. For the first time, their anger wavered, replaced by a creeping sense of doubt… and fear.
A hush fell over the gathering as the boy's soft, yet chilling voice carried across the air.
One of the Dark Reflecters stepped forward, scoffing. "Hah! You think you can rescue yourself by bluffing all this nonsense? Then lis—"
But the boy raised a hand, his bloodied face tilted into a sinister smirk. "Can I start my explanation now?"
The Reflecter faltered, his words catching in his throat. Something about the boy's tone—a calm laced with menace—made him hesitate. After a moment, he gave a reluctant nod.
"Good," the boy said, his voice dripping with mock politeness. He wiped the blood from his mouth, that unsettling smile never leaving his face. "Now, let me explain everything to all of you."
His eyes gleamed, dark and dangerous. "With proper details," he added, his smile twisting into something wicked.
The wind stirred as if responding to his words, and a chill ran through the Dark Reflecters. For the first time, they wondered if they had made a grave mistake.