In a remote village near the coast, the villagers live in relative peace. Each person is mindful of their responsibilities and plays an integral part in village life.
Being located close to the coast, the village is primarily agricultural, focusing on livestock breeding and seasonal crops. The inhabitants rely on manual labor for their livelihood.
The village is small and offers only basic amenities, such as shops, union offices, and a few other businesses. Despite its size, this particular village bustles with life, serving as the closest safe haven from the treacherous corridors beyond.
A few kilometers away, a pale-faced, hairy, and seemingly lifeless young man walked toward a shelter, carrying a backpack. He was surrounded by a vast, wide plain.
Mai and Kanami continued walking in silence. The boy looked completely lost in his thoughts. Mai disliked the heavy quiet and wanted to hit him on the head, but she was still too tired and weak from the previous days. Her body refused to let out a single word, so she simply kept walking.
Feeling ignored, Mai finally started talking
"Hey, little boy, when are you going to wake up from this miserable state? Move on—the life won't wait for you, you know. At least try to do something!"
She saw no response from him.
"You know, Kanami, if you keep acting like a depressed little girl, we'll stay stuck here forever. We already have enough troubles to deal with, so be strong!"
Kanami kept walking beside her, seemingly untouched by Mai's speech. Then he responded, "It's so incomprehensible how you run away from your responsibilities like this. You're so useless, Mai."
In silence, they continued on their way, each lost in their own thoughts and immersed in the beautiful nature around them. The vast plain stretched all the way to the horizon. A gentle breeze stirred the grass in a captivating dance, while the trees shimmered with the soft gusts, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere that allowed each of them to drift into their own private reveries.
A kilometer away, the outer walls of the village began to rise amidst the surrounding plains. These high, ancient walls, carved from black ore, had withstood decades of hardship. They were crowned with watchtowers and looked somber and imposing. In the center stood four massive gates, also made of steel and adorned with ancient names and symbols. Village watchmen guarded the gates, keeping the village separate from the outside world and any potential threats.
A number of residents lined up in front of the wide gate, waiting their turn to be searched in the inspection room built inside one of the walls. The room was dark and gloomy. People entered one at a time. Each person placed their personal belongings on a small table, where they were carefully examined. After the inspection, the belongings were returned, and the individual was allowed to enter. However, in case of any disturbance, suspicion, or resistance, the soldiers intervened immediately. They would detain and arrest the individual, confiscate all their belongings, and hold any suspects. This strict security system was all that stood between the village remaining safe or falling into ruin.
At the end of the line stood a thin, short young man with short black hair. He looked different from the rest of the people waiting. He wore worn-out clothes and carried a simple cloth bag. He moved forward quietly. The line included all kinds of people and genders: merchants, farmers, and traders. The people stood on one side, while carriages and their owners waited on the other.
The energetic boy stared at the high black walls of the village. The sky was dark, and the wind howled, its whistling echoing off the sturdy black bridge. The horizon had a beige hue, caught between light and darkness. The atmosphere felt gloomy and unpredictable, yet strangely calm at the same time.
The large gate had a narrow entrance, barely wide enough for two people at a time. The young man entered quietly, studying the inscriptions on the gate walls and trying to decipher their meaning. He found himself inside a small, fortified room containing a single small table. The moment he stepped inside, the boy felt weak and faint. He closed the door behind him.
"Your belongings go on the table for inspection," the guard said loudly.
The boy stepped forward and placed his worn, shiny bag—containing some food—onto the table. Then everything was moved to one side of the wall.
One of the guards entered the room and began searching the boy as part of the routine procedure. After the search, the boy retrieved his belongings. The guard said, "Welcome to our village. You seem to be new here. I advise you to go to one of the guilds. I hope we meet again soon."
The boy bid the guard farewell and made his way out of the room through the second passage, which led to the inner part of the village.
At the end of the corridor, a bright light shone through. The boy stepped forward and found himself amidst a crowd of villagers, strangers, and warriors. The atmosphere inside seemed much more vibrant than the gloomy inspection room.
Kaname sighed and said, "I've never been very sociable before. What will life be like here? Let's start over."
The boy disappeared into the crowd, lost among the narrow streets of this unusual village. Its ancient buildings and strange design made it unlike any other village he had seen. Everything was built of solid marble, like a fortress. The paths and streets were wide and open. In the center of the village was a spacious square with a huge stone sculpture at its heart.
The village seemed to be built on a hill, extending both upward and downward. Above the large square stood a huge building covered with vegetation, looking old and abandoned.
Kaname wandered on, lost and unsure of where to go, because he had forgotten to ask for directions.