Elios had already spent a week on this island. The sea was calm. The island was calm. Everything was calm.
Within the hollowed-out tree, Elios lay on the ground, staring upwards. He had food. He had shelter. He had water.
There wasn't much he needed to worry about. Yet, deep within him, he felt something was wrong. For whatever reason, he couldn't tell what—but something was wrong.
In his mind, he felt serene and relaxed.
Like there was nothing else in this world. Like he had nothing to worry about.
Moving his gaze to the entrance of the hollowed-out tree, he slowly stood up at a leisurely pace, heading out to find some food.
As he walked through the forest, the towering redwoods standing proud, he saw many creatures moving across the forest floor, crawling through the trees—yet they all avoided one another.
He didn't understand why, but he didn't want to break this peace.
After the roller coaster of emotions he had endured in the modern world, this place felt like a vacation—a well-deserved one at that.
Upon reaching his usual harvest spot, where many herbs and fruits could be found, he relied on the landmarks he had left behind to guide him.
A giant redwood tree he had marked with a few lines. A pothole in the ground. A small bird's nest on one of the branches.
Or the dark, eerie cave that shouldn't be there.
Stopping for a moment, his gaze fell upon the cave. As he peered into it, the shadows around it felt infinite. Unstoppable.
"What? Since when was there a cave?"
"That shouldn't be possible, right? Then what is in—"
Before he could finish the thought, his mind blanked. His eyes went empty. His body returned to its previous position and continued moving forward—toward the fruits, the small grapes, and the herbs he ate daily.
Finally reaching the area, light returned to his eyes. Around him, bugs, birds, and other creatures moved about, but they all minded their own business.
Grabbing a large leaf, he began placing different herbs and fruits upon it—a type of grape, a black apple that was incredibly juicy, and many others.
Returning along the same path, he walked right past the cave, carefully holding onto the fruits he had gathered on the large leaf that had fallen from one of the towering redwoods.
Upon reaching the redwood he had begun to call home, he placed the fruits on the ground and picked up a sharp wooden stick—one he had carefully sharpened using the same rock he had used to carve out the tree.
With a relaxed expression, he sat down on the floor and began cutting the fruits—or at least the ones he intended to eat.
Starting with the black apple, he sliced it in two. Then in four. Then in eight.
The inside of the apple was red—blood red—while the outside was black as coal.
Looking at it for a second, Elios ate it without hesitation.
Repeating the process with the remaining seven slices, he glanced at the small bed he had made—an accumulation of fallen leaves from the great redwoods, along with a few bushes he had found scattered across the ground.
Standing up, he walked slowly. Having already eaten his fill, he went to sleep peacefully—unknowing of anything happening in the world beyond.
---
The Ancient World is divided into two great land masses—the Eastern and Western continents, respectively.
Between and around these continents lay water. Endless, infinite water.
In the Eastern continent, a young boy with black hair traversed a bamboo forest. The bamboo, unlike its usual green hue, was tainted a deep, blood red.
But he was not alone.
Similar people—clothed in garments that did not belong to this era—traversed not only the Eastern continent but the Western one as well.
Throughout the cities, villages, and kingdoms, stories spread—rumors of people who did not belong.
Tales of chosen heroes from a time yet to come.
Some feared them, believing they would bring about the apocalypse.
But for those in power, the reason for their arrival was clear. Many welcomed this development. Others were deeply displeased.
Yet, amidst the conflicting beliefs of so many, one thought resounded across their minds.
Whoever these people were—they were not accepted by the gods.