(Before the 1st century BC, somewhere on the Pagan Ocean during a seasonal storm...)
A wooden boat, battered by relentless waves, creaked and groaned under the storm's fury. The sky rumbled as lightning flashed, illuminating the dark and dusty cell below deck. A few flickering bulbs cast weak light over a captured family—the founders—huddled together, awaiting both the storm's mercy and the death sentence hanging over them.
Keth, the father and head of the family, paced the small cell, deep in thought. His youngest daughter, Mariah, clung to her mother, Zillah. On the wooden bench bolted to the wall, Rex, the eldest son, sat beside their servant, Maingan, their hands clasped in quiet solidarity. The air was thick with tension until Mariah finally broke the silence.
Mariah said "Mother?"
Zillah looked down at her daughter and instinctively pulled her closer. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Zillah wished she had answers—simple ones that would ease the child's fear.
"Why was Father arrested? He never broke the law. Why are they doing this?" Mariah asks her mother
Keth stopped pacing and turned toward her, his expression unreadable.
Keth answers "They arrested the wrong man." (His voice was firm, but there was an edge to it—one that hinted at something more.)
Zillah sighed and tried to soften the truth.
"It's not that simple, my love. Your father has something they want."
Before Mariah could ask what, Rex leaned forward, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"What is it, Mother?" Rex asks as leaned forward
Keth studied his son for a long moment, then walked over. Resting a hand on Rex's shoulder, he also placed a reassuring touch on Maingan before finally sitting beside Zillah and Mariah. He pulled them into a firm embrace.
Keth answers "It's a family secret—one passed down for seven generations, from our great-great-grandfather. It's the key to my inventions, the reason my creations come to life. He found it on an island called—"
He hesitated, but Rex, almost breathless, finished the sentence for him.
"Eden."
Keth's eyes flickered with surprise.
"How do you know that?"
Rex grinning slightly, "Maingan and I read Grandpa's journal. He wrote about his voyages, his search for a lake on an island that wasn't supposed to exist."
Keth exhaled, half in admiration, half in concern.
Mariah asks her father
"Father… does the lake really exist?"
Keth hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes… it does."
Mariah's grip on her mother tightened.
Keth continues "Maingan is from that island. Our forefathers discovered his ancestors there. They shared their knowledge with us and even allowed our people to marry their daughters. That is how we came to be."
Mariah's eyes widened.
Mariah asks with a little bit of excitement
"Then… does that mean we're from the island too?"
Zillah's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes, we are."
Rex asks suspiciously
"And what about you, Mother?"
Zillah hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"Your father found me near the island. Maingan and I were trying to escape... from something."
Rex asks curiously "From what?"
Zillah sighed then answers
"A monster."
A cold shiver ran through Maingan, and his voice trembled as he spoke.
"You said… a monster?"
Mariah turned to her mother, her small fingers clutching her sleeve.
"What kind of monster?"
Zillah's eyes darkened with memory.
"A creature born from the wickedness of man's heart. Long ago, a village chief created it, but it was locked away. Someone—out of fear of the Disfigured One—set it free."
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream tore through the air.
A Soldier is heard shouting from above
"Monster! RUN!"
A deep, guttural roar followed. Another voice shrieked—then was abruptly silenced.
"No—AARGH!" Another soldier screams
His cries were cut short, followed by the sickening crunch of bones.
Above deck, Captain Jon's voice boomed.
"Kill that beast!"
A spear soared through the air, striking the creature—a towering, thousand-foot abomination with an insect-like antennae, the shell of a massive snail, and short, clawed forelimbs. Instead of retreating, the monster roared in fury and slammed its colossal fist against the ship.
The wooden hull cracked, splintering into two.
Inside the cell, the prisoners were thrown against the walls as the boat lurched violently. A soldier guarding them staggered, his hand instinctively gripping his sword.
Keth seized the moment.
urgently
"Listen, you don't want to die down here. Let us go—we can escape together."
The soldier remained silent, gripping his weapon tighter.
Rex angrily shouts at the top of his voice
"Are you deaf? Open the damn door, you fool!"
Zillah sharply and immediately corrects him
"Rex, that's not how we ask for help."
Rex respond with frustration written on his face
"Mother, if we don't get out now, we'll all die!"
Keth raised a hand, calming his son.
"No one is dying."
Rex gritted his teeth.
"I don't care! Let Maingan die if anyone has to!"
Mariah gasped, tears welling in her eyes.
"No! I don't want anyone to die—not Maingan, not Rex, not Father, not Mother!"
Keth wrapped his arms around her and spoke to calm her
"No one is dying, Mariah. I promise."
A deafening crash. The ship cracked further, sending them all tumbling as water rushed in.
The monster's claws tore through the hull, leaving a gaping hole. The floor beneath them gave way.
Mariah and the soldier tumbled through the darkness—plunging into the icy ocean.
Keth shouts as Mariah is flushed away
"Mariah!"
The freezing waves swallowed them whole.
---
After a harrowing escape, the family finds themselves on an uncharted island, setting up camp near the shore. They huddle by the fire, trying to catch their breath.
Mariah turned to her mother, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Are they after Father because of the Fruit of Life?"
Zillah's head snapped up.
"Who told you that?"
Mariah hesitated then answers
"Last week, I overheard Father speaking to Lord Garry… and I read about it in his forbidden book."
Zillah's breath caught. She glanced at the boys approaching and leaned in, whispering:
"Don't tell anyone, Mariah. If they find out, we will all be killed. Do you understand?"
Mariah nodded solemnly.
Keth and Rex arrived, dragging a net of fish behind them.
Keth asks
"What did we miss?"
Zillah and Mariah spoke at the same time.
"Nothing!"
Zillah grinning, covering up
"Just discussing how bad you are at fishing."
Keth scoffed.
"Bad? I was the best fisherman of my time!"
Rex whispered to Maingan with a smirk.
"Yeah… his time."
Maingan chuckled.
"All hail the King of Fishers—the man who caught nothing but his own tongue!"
Rex gasped in mock outrage.
"Slug, did you just insult me?"
Zillah sighed, shaking her head.
"I told you boys—no bad words."