Under Shattered Skies
Epic Dreams
Chapter 1
Volume 1 - Fork in the Road
Title: Zero Point
He walked, walked, and walked. A figure traversed a massive snowstorm, a storm that seemed capable of swallowing everything, yet the man pressed forward.
As if it were the sole reason he had come into this world, each step he took seemed to last a thousand seconds and, at the same time, no more than a millisecond. He wore armor so rusted it looked like an unearthed relic. In his left hand, he held a short, old, and cracked dagger.
But the man's advance did not last. He collapsed. He fell to the ground and succumbed to defeat, buried beneath the snow. Though he seemed strong enough to escape, the man was deeply sorrowful, as if the reason that kept him moving had vanished, as if there was no longer any...
That was the end, without a doubt. Even if he stood up, it would make no difference. Nothing awaited him wherever he went. There were no shadows of hope; faith, anger, or any other emotion would not be enough to make him rise. It was an abyssal situation.
And yet, the man stood up. He looked toward where he was headed, but there was nothing in the vast horizon. He sighed and turned back, abandoning the path he had been following.
ºººº ºººº
"Good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning!" A boy greeted everyone passing by on the road.
He was on a street in a rural town. It was not a remote place; on the contrary, it was a small, lush green town.
Two children walked together: a young boy and a young girl. The boy was about 8 or 9 years old, with green hair, green irises, and a charming smile. He seemed like the embodiment of purity.
His smile and the aura he exuded made it clear that he came from a loving and caring family.
The girl, around 5 years old, had black hair and green eyes. She wore a beautiful dress and held the boy's hand as they walked along a quiet street. While crossing the road, the boy looked both ways and said:
"Dad always says that when crossing the road, we should look both ways to see if something is coming."
"If I remember correctly, he said to look twice in each direction." Having said that, he looked at the little girl and shouted:
"BUT... that applies when I'm alone. Today, there are two of us, so we have to look four times in each direction!" After his declaration, he closed his eyes, full of pride in himself. The little girl, even though she didn't quite understand what was happening, looked at him with great admiration.
"Alice, you understand me! Your brother is proud of you!" The boy began to applaud.
He brought his index finger to his eyes and pretended to wipe away a tear that wasn't there, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Boy, you're as energetic as ever!" exclaimed a middle-aged man. He had green hair, green eyes, and wore a blue leather coat, with a few white strands emerging from his chin.
"Good morning, Uncle Zucca!"
"Good morning! What are you teaching your little sister?"
"Nothing much. I was just saying that it's necessary to look both ways before crossing the street. But that's not important. Can I come over to your house?"
"My house? You still want to continue?"
"Yes! I have nothing to do these days... or almost always."
"Thank you. You've been a great help. Here are some coins for the work you've done." He took six coins from his pocket and handed them to the boy.
"Thanks! Have a great day. Alice, let's continue our journey."
Mr. Zucca patted Alice's head and said, "You better not listen to everything this lunatic says. Or you might end up like him."
"What's this about me being a lunatic? Alice, don't listen to what this old man says."
"Who are you calling old? For your information, I'm still very young! These white hairs are just to enhance my beauty... Hey! Are you two gone already?"
Indeed, the boy and Alice were already on the other side of the road.
"Another lesson, Alice: never waste time listening to repetitive things." Alice nodded, and Endo smiled, proud of his own remark. A sharp grin formed on his face as they continued walking.
"Brother, what is that?" Alice, who usually remained silent, finally spoke. She pointed toward the sky as she asked.
The boy looked in the direction she pointed, prepared to answer, but...
"That is... WHAT IS THAT?" Not only was he unable to respond, but he was also shocked and in desperate need of an answer.
There was a massive bird flying over the city, so large that its size was comparable to a house. It was entirely reddish, with a few bluish feathers that made it even more peculiar.
"I don't know what that is either. When we get home, we can ask Dad. He should know what it is," said Endo.
"It looks pretty," Alice replied, admiringly, staring at the bird.
Despite its size, the bird's appearance was not frightening—just impressive.
"We've arrived at our destination," Endo said, ending the topic about the bird.
At the Bakery
As they entered the bakery, the owner greeted them with a warm smile:
"Ignatius' children, Alice and Endo, what will it be this time?"
It was a small town with fewer than a thousand inhabitants, and everyone knew each other well.
Alice answered, "Mom asked for the usual."
The woman, a friend of their mother, responded warmly, "Come on in, kids."
Alice and Endo sat on a bench while the shopkeeper prepared their order. Endo stood up and pointed at the cakes on display.
"We'll take that cake too!"
The woman added the cake to their order and then informed them:
"The money you brought doesn't cover everything. Let your mother know you're ten coins short."
"This cake is on me!" Endo said, taking two coins from his pocket and placing them on the counter.
"Oh, I see. You saved up for this."
"I've been helping Mr. Zucca with some tasks, and he paid me."
As they left the bakery with their basket of bread, the shopkeeper joked, "Don't be too greedy, or it might destroy you."
Endo waved nonchalantly and, carrying the heavy basket in his arms, continued his journey with Alice, who was holding the purse.
On the Bridge
As they walked, Endo told stories to Alice, but when they reached the bridge, he noticed she was no longer beside him. Looking ahead, he saw Alice helping another child her age to stand up.
The girl had tripped, and her mother—who was accompanied by another identical child—thanked her. They were twins, and all three had red hair, red eyes, and visible scales on their faces and hands. Their vertical pupils made them even more unique.
Observing the situation, Endo commented, "Looks like you guys just arrived in town. As good neighbors, take this."
He took the cake from the basket and handed it to the family.
"That's very kind, but we can't accept…" the mother replied in a sweet voice.
"This cake is mine, and Alice asked me to share. I can't refuse."
After handing over the cake, Endo took Alice's hand, and they continued on their way. The woman looked at her children, then at the siblings walking away, whispering:
"The purer the heart, the more... koff..."
She coughed, visibly weak, but kept walking.
At Home
When they arrived home, Ignatius, their father, greeted them at the gate.
"Kids, you're back! How was it?"
"It was great, Dad!" Endo replied.
From the doorway, their mother appeared with a smile.
"You arrived just in time! Let's eat."
During dinner, at a table full of food and surrounded by ornamental flowers, the family chatted happily.
"Mom, Dad, we saw a huge bird! It was like a flying house!" Alice said excitedly.
"Really? I want to hear more about it. Tell me the details."
It was another happy day for that small family.
Dawn
The next day, before sunrise, Endo was outside the house, carrying boxes with a proud smile. He was well-dressed, wearing a coat and pants that seemed to have been made with great care.
"Are you sure you don't need help, son?" Ignatius asked.
"Of course, Dad! Don't worry. What kind of man would I be if I couldn't handle such a simple task?" Endo replied confidently.
Their mother watched from inside the house and teased with a playful smile, "Dear, doesn't our son look a lot like you? I'm almost jealous!"
"Relax, love. His kindness is something even I can't surpass. That's something he got from you."
"Dear… love…" they began exchanging affectionate words.
Endo, who was finishing stacking the boxes, rolled his eyes and commented, "Wouldn't it be more logical to say that I take after Mom?"
Ignatius replied with a grin, "Son, minus one point for that question."
"Why? I just asked!"
"Just a question? Minus another point!"
Confused, Endo stayed silent, waiting for an explanation.
"To begin with, your mistake was relying on outward appearances. The second was failing to realize that you had made such a serious and visible error. There are things we cannot see—only feel."
Having concluded this statement, the passionate man embraced his wife.
Endo held his chin, murmuring softly, "Things we can only feel." He lifted his face and responded to his father:
"I understand."
"Father, I'm going to say goodbye to Alice," the boy said, leaving to where his little sister was sleeping.
"Our son is smart, very smart," said Vera, mother of Endo and Alice.
"Not realizing what cost him the second point so he wouldn't make the same mistake again, he stayed silent and looked into your eyes so as not to lose a third point. He wanted to understand why he lost the second one. Our son will be a great merchant—he will surpass you."
"Dear, our boy is too great to be just a merchant."
Endo stepped outside and approached the wagon. Instead of a horse, it was pulled by a massive brown larva with distinct patterns on its back.
"Our son is very excited," Vera said as she approached.
"Of course, he admires his father's work."
"Dear, be careful during the trip. And you, be prudent. I hope you don't do anything reckless."
"Mom, we won't do anything out of the ordinary!"
"I hope so." Having said that, she kissed the boy's forehead.
"Father, we're ready to go!"
With everything prepared, they got ready to leave.
"Don't forget, I packed enough food for seven days."
"Really? Seven days? The trip is only four!"
"I don't want you two looking for strange things to eat."
(That was the plan), both of them thought simultaneously.
"Alright, Mom. I'll be careful, and in two weeks, we'll be back. I hope you and Alice stay well."
After the boy said this, a child stepped out of the door with half-closed eyes. Their mother went to catch her before she could fall down the stairs.
"Son, I don't want Alice to see us leaving and start crying."
They set off. Despite being pulled by a larva, the wagon was fast. As they left the outskirts of the small town, the sun rose.
Watching the sunrise on an exciting journey, promised for so long by his father, was a unique experience. The smell of grass, the sounds of animals... It was all indescribable.
Like any child, Endo couldn't stop asking his father questions. This was his first time outside the city.
"Father, Father, why did you choose to be a merchant?"
"What an unusual question! Is something bothering you?"
"Can't you see I'm growing up? Soon, I'll be an adult. I need to think about the future."
"So that's what this is about?"
"It's too early to be an adult. You haven't even started your studies! Besides, this conversation is making me hungry. Let's eat something."
As the wagon moved, Endo stepped inside, grabbed a meal box, and noticed something curious—it was covered in a crystal-like shell.
"Surprised?"
"Yes, Father. What is this?"
"This is a material called Howlite, used to preserve food. To open it, you must break the crystal."
The boy followed the instruction, and the incredibly fragile crystal shattered. The most surprising thing was the food—it was warm, as if freshly made. The crystal left no harmful fragments. Upon falling to the ground, it dissolved and vanished.
They began eating. The boy was happy, and the taste was so good that the meat seemed to melt in his mouth.
"Son, be careful not to choke. The future is uncertain; a small mistake can ruin everything."
After the meal, Endo resumed his endless questions.
"Father, what is that weird tree?"
"That tree is called Stonefoot. In winter, it bears fruit whose skin remains green even when ripe. Next to it, you see the Poisonfoot. It was named so because it's poisonous, and its fruit's skin is as hard as stone."
They faced obstacles but also marveled at breathtaking landscapes: a massive lake, mountains on the horizon, and a forest teeming with life.
When night fell, they set up camp. The night passed peacefully. The next morning, Ignatius put out the fire, fed the larva pulling the wagon, and made adjustments for the journey.
Suddenly, Endo's father straightened up. He placed his hands on his hips and looked toward a distant hill. His face hardened.
Noticing his father's strange behavior, Endo wanted to ask what was happening.
"Father, what—" Before he could finish his question, he was pushed aside.
Something gigantic crashed down upon them. Curious, Endo quickly looked at the mysterious object.
It was a colossal creature, with crimson fur, ferocious jaws, and three pairs of eyes.
"STAY BACK!" his father shouted, issuing one last warning.