1 Chapter 1: The Folktale

"ONCE before the time, there are three gods in Èrthvulir. The god of Destruction named was Váinarumari. The god of Creation named was Váinurmeir and the god of Just named was Érumlivataer."

"The god of Creation commanded his four disciples called Iáshtare to rule the empty vast land beneath Èrthvulir called Ephlamen. The four spirits of Iáshtare wandered around Ephlamen and decided to took a piece of their souls to create living creatures according to their liking."

"The Thrá Era where the forest elf and the underground elf was first created by Iáshtare Fotiá and Iáshtare Véppo created the the water elf. Then, the Ák Era where Iáshtare Ygiáni created creatures similar to men. And lastly, Men Era where Iáshtare Aéras created men. For the first thousand of years, all races lived in harmony not until greed dominate in the hearts of them."

"The first and longest battle called Vaí War occurred when Ánorduin, the only disciple of the god of Destruction started to rebel against the gods. He wants to dominate all life. His greed for power and the hatred in his heart almost awakened the Ancients imprisoned at the Endless."

"Wars after wars, the four Iáshtare successfully defeated Ánorduin and imprisoned him to the deepest part of Ephlamen yet the wars did not stop. Agarr, the loyal servant and allied of Ánorduin continued to spread darkness. He was one of the children of Iáshtare Fotiá. Since the betrayal of his own creation, his own child, Iáshtare Fotiá with a broken heart prayed to the god of Creation."

"In order to stop the wars, the god of Creation makes a decision with the god of Just advice to bring his four disciples back to his kingdom, the Unchanging Land of Érthvulir. Then, the god of Creation judge the Iáshtare children according to what they have done."

"Before leaving Ephlamen, Iáshtare Aéras created The Wys are known as 'Those Who Knows' they are the remaining firstborns of the Iáshtare's children. The Wys will looked after the welfare of Ephlamen and will maintained peace since the Iáshtare will never interfered anymore."

"From then on, Men dominated all lands in Ephlamen. History became legend, legend became myth—"

"And the myth became a folktale." I cut him off and tapped his back.

He turns his gaze to me and meet his hazel brown eyes. Then, he scratched his cheek in annoyance and pouted, "Stop cutting me off from my storytelling."

"Yusong, you do know that they're not going to understand what you're saying." I said in a matter-of-fact tone and pointed the horses who seemed used to the scene of us urging.

"Because you never listened to my stories anymore." He mumbled as he continues his works.

I could not help but rolled my eye and crossed my arms, "You've been telling me that folktale for the nth time. I even memorized every lines of it."

"It's real, Hiraya. It's not just a folktale." He mumbled as he finished his works on the horse stable.

"Whatever you say." I raised the box in front of his pale face, "Just hurry up. I'm starving."

Starring at the clear blue sky as if it was the reflection of the sea. The green hills and the fiery sun above the magnificent tall mountains. The endless malachite-green fields and the trees looks tiny due to the distance. My eyes only sees green and blue.

"You're not even listening to me."

I smiled bitterly when Yusong calls the name that was unfamiliar to me. Everything happens so fast and the next thing I know, everything changed. It's my memories but not my body.

I pretend not to hear him and admired the beautiful scenery in front of me. The wind is chilly as I eat the last piece of strawberry.

As he finishes his food, Yusong walked to the edge of the hill where we are having our luncheon, spread his arms and shouted, "One day, I will go out from this small town, see the big world of Ephlamen and have my own adventure!"

I frowned and shake my head, "Stop blocking the view!"

"And meet the gods and Iáshtare in the Unchanging Land of Érthvulir!"

I winced after hearing the last sentence he shouted. Idiot Yusong and his obsession of the mythology of Ephlamen.

A comfortable silence occurred as the chilly wind whooshed. I watched the leaves dance and few fell on the ground.

I turned my attention to Yusong and asked, "Do you really believe about the gods and the Iáshtare?"

His innocent hazel brown eyes looked at me and cheerfully nod, "Of course!"

I frowned, "You know it's just a tale that was passed down from one generation to another."

"I know. There's nothing wrong if I believe about them or not. And they're real."

"You look like an idiot."

He only laughs at me. Well, he has a point. I watched my chestnut hair dance as the wind blows once again.

Then, I starred at the hazel green eyes reflecting in the water on the wooden cup I was holding and said, "I was thinking of you rewriting that folktale." His forehead creased but did not say anything so I continued, "It's just another cliche story. The plot is too common, evil never wins against the good."

Yusong rub his chin, as if he was thinking and replied to me, "As long as there's goodness left, light will always shine."

I turned my head to his direction and raised my brows, "But what if's evil wins? Does it end the story or it's just another beginning?"

"Hm. Stories doesn't really have endings. It just that where the writer decided to end it."

The corner of my lips slightly goes upward, "You sounds idiot."

After eating our luncheon on the top of the hills, we raced back to the horse stable. I laughed at Yusong who has having hard time catching his own breath.

"I can't believe you run faster than me now." He said while catching his own breath. I only laughed at him. "You changed big time." He continued.

My laughter vanished when I realized what he meant. I grinned at him, "And you never change a bit." I mimic mocked what he said yet deep inside of me there's wary.

He laugh from what I said and in a concern voice he asked, "Does your head still hurts?"

"I'm fine. I'm stronger than you." I half-jokingly uttered, then, mess up his raven hair and made my way out the stable. "I'll go ahead. I still need to run for delivery."

Before leaving the horse stable, I heard him shouting, "Be careful, Hiraya!"

I waved at him as my response. My smile vanished and all the emotions in my eyes left. Hiraya is the name of the girl that owns the body I was trapped.

***