The sun had just begun its descent over the horizon, casting an orange glow over the sprawling city of Naga. Situated about 21 kilometers south of Cebu City, Naga had long been known for its tranquil charm and scenic views. The Naga City Boardwalk was a gathering place for locals and tourists alike, with its glimmering lights reflecting off the water as the stars above began to reveal themselves. The scent of the ocean breeze, combined with the hum of activity, made it a place of serenity for those lucky enough to be there at the right time.
But for Van, a young man with a past he couldn't fully remember and a future he had yet to grasp, the world outside his window was nothing more than a backdrop to his quiet existence. Living with his parents in the small town of Tuyan, just a few kilometers away from the bustle of Naga, Van was content with the simplicity of his life. He worked part-time, helped around the house, and kept his head down, avoiding the attention of anyone who might wonder about him.
His adoptive younger brother, Dave, on the other hand, was a different story. Lazy and uninterested in much beyond his games and the virtual worlds they offered, Dave often found himself at odds with Van's more reserved nature. He would spend hours in front of a screen, playing game after game, with no concern for his future. Van often found himself wondering how two people from such different backgrounds could have ended up as brothers.
Van didn't know much about Dave's past. He had been adopted when his biological parents had kicked him out of their home due to his disobedient behavior, leaving him to fend for himself. Van's parents, out of kindness, took him in, offering him a place to stay. But as time went on, it became clear that Dave had little interest in making something of his life.
Despite the tension between them, Van loved his brother. He always believed there was something more to Dave—something that might one day wake up, just as Van had the nagging feeling there was something more to his own life.
One quiet evening, as the two of them were eating dinner, Van's phone buzzed with an alert. A news update. The Gates. The term had been circulating for weeks now, ever since the first of the mysterious rifts appeared around the world. The government had been quick to cover up the details, but the truth was undeniable. The Gates were not ordinary phenomena; they were rifts between worlds. And they weren't just opening in remote places. They were appearing everywhere, from the heart of the cities to the deepest corners of the earth. No one knew exactly where they came from or what they meant. But they were here.
"Van," Dave called from across the table, eyes glued to his game. "Are you going to stare at your phone all night, or are you going to join me for some fun?"
Van barely looked at him, his attention still on the news. "It's the Gates again. I wonder if they're going to do anything about them."
Dave scoffed, rolling his eyes. "It's all over the news, but it's not like we can do anything. Let the government handle it."
Van couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to the Gates than just news stories and government responses. His gut told him that the world was on the brink of something big—something life-changing. But he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the quiet of the night around him.
But deep down, Van knew something wasn't right. As the days passed, he began to notice things. Strange energy readings, the occasional distortion in the air around him, and a sudden heaviness in the atmosphere. It was as if something was watching, waiting. But no one seemed to take the signs seriously.
Everything changed the night he heard the whispers.
Van had been walking back to his house after a late shift at the local market when he heard it. A faint whisper that seemed to come from all around him. It wasn't a voice he could place, yet it was so familiar, so deeply resonant within him that he froze in his tracks.
"You are not alone in this."
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the thought. Maybe it was the exhaustion of the day, or his mind playing tricks on him. But there was something about that voice—it felt like it was meant for him.
Turning the corner onto his street, he saw the outline of a man standing by his house, silhouetted against the dim light from the streetlamp. He didn't recognize the figure at first, but something about him felt… off.
The man stepped forward, his face partially illuminated as he spoke in a low, measured tone. "Van, you don't know me, but I've been watching you."
Van's heart skipped a beat. "Who are you?" His voice was hoarse, as though the question was something he'd been waiting to ask for years, but hadn't known how.
The man didn't answer right away. Instead, he pulled out a small device from his pocket, glowing with strange symbols that Van couldn't make out. It emitted a low hum, almost vibrating in the air, and as the man pressed a button, a strange force field enveloped them both. Van was no longer sure if this was real, or if he was trapped in a dream.
"You are more important than you realize," the man continued. "The power within you, Van, is not just a gift—it is a responsibility. You will need to understand it soon. There are those who want to control it. There are those who want to destroy it. But in the end, it's your choice."
Van couldn't speak. The words were too heavy, too much to comprehend. But one thing was clear: his life was about to change forever. Whether he was ready or not.