It had been nearly two weeks since that night—the night when the sky changed, when his body was touched by something not of this world.
But since then, nothing had happened.
No glowing being returned.
No voice in his head.
No dreams, no messages, no clues.
Zeo went about his days as usual. Herding sheep to the grasslands, helping with barn repairs, or simply drying their small harvest under the sun.
But there was something he couldn't ignore—the feeling that his body was no longer the same.
He wasn't sick. In fact, he felt too healthy.
He never ran out of breath even on uphill walks. He could travel dozens of kilometers without fatigue. And whenever he touched an injured sheep, the wound healed faster than it should have.
Every night, after Kaira had fallen asleep, Zeo would sit alone outside, gazing at the starlit sky. Sometimes he tried calling out to that being, sometimes he simply waited... for something he didn't understand.
And that morning, something finally happened.
---
A scream broke the village's silence.
A middle-aged woman ran down the dirt path, pointing toward the old well at the edge of the village.
"Help! My son! He fell! He—he—please!"
Zeo, who was carrying water from the oasis, immediately dropped the jug and rushed toward the crowd.
At the edge of the old well, a group of villagers had gathered. From within, faint cries and sobs echoed.
A young boy—perhaps six years old—had slipped while playing. His leg was caught between stones, his body hanging dangerously.
The rope was too short, and anyone climbing down without equipment risked falling in as well.
Some men tried tying knots, but time was slipping away.
The boy's face had turned pale. His cries grew weaker.
Zeo didn't hesitate. He climbed the stone wall and leapt into the well.
Gasps erupted around him—but he didn't hear them. His body fell, brushing the stone walls—
And in that fall, time seemed to slow.
He didn't know how, but his feet landed smoothly on water.
The surface beneath him… froze for a brief second as he touched it—like a mirror of enchanted ice.
Zeo bent down and lifted the boy into his arms.
When he stepped again, the water beneath him flowed as if untouched.
He rose with the help of the rope from above.
Cheers erupted.
The boy was alive—rescued.
But just before Zeo climbed out, something grabbed his ankle from below.
Zeo gasped. The rope jerked.
Before he could make a sound, he was yanked down by a brutal force.
But he had managed to push the boy up.
"Zeo!!"
"He's pulled in! There's something in there!"
Cries mixed with splashing water.
Zeo's body was swallowed into the darkness of the well.
Water engulfed him—cold and pounding like stone.
In panic, he kicked and thrashed.
But the more he struggled, the deeper he was pulled.
Then, from the depths of the dark, he saw it—a pair of greenish eyes emerged.
A water beast.
Eel-like, gilled, large and fanged.
Zeo's body thrashed, dragged by the current.
Unconsciously, his hands flailed—
A burst of water exploded from his palms, crashing in massive waves.
The beast flew back, the walls trembled.
A strong current grabbed Zeo and swept him—not upward, but sideways—into an underground channel connected to the old well.
He slid far, hitting rocks, then fell into a dark chamber.
Zeo coughed, collapsed, soaked from head to toe.
When he opened his eyes, he realized… this place was like a forgotten cave.
Stones on the walls pulsed with pale green light.
He sat up—weak.
"Where… am I…?"
Then, just like that night in the cave, the glowing being appeared again.
But now, its face was calmer.
Its eyes no longer pressed down with divine force.
"Calm yourself," it spoke gently. "I have a message for you."
Zeo stared at it, wary.
"You… from that night…"
"My name is not meant to be spoken. But for simplicity… you may call me ****. I am an agent of The True Divine."
"And you… are the guardian of the one chosen for His Great Mission."
Zeo didn't speak. He just sat there—shivering, soaked, and confused.
"True Divine? Great Mission? Agent? What does all that even mean? Your name… I feel like I've heard it before."
"Do you know what kind of world this is?" the Agent asked.
Zeo just stared.
"Hmmm… Very well. This world is known as Blue Star.
A world of magic, of sorcery, inhabited by humans, animals, beasts, and jinn. And—"
"I know that, but—" Zeo interrupted.
"Do not interrupt," the Agent said firmly.
"S-Sorry," Zeo replied.
"What you've felt lately—those sudden powers awakening—that is your energy stirring.
This world has many types of energy. But three are the main ones:
Entra—the energy of spirit and magic.
Vita—the energy of the body and physical strength.
Arma—the energy used to manipulate tools and weapons.
But balance is crumbling. Dark energy, once separated from mankind—meant only for the jinn—has begun entering the human world.
And you… are tasked with restoring that balance."
"Me…?"
Zeo was stunned. He looked down at his own hands, remembering how the water obeyed him.
"And that… was only the beginning.
But we don't have much time.
I bring a message from The True Divine.
This is your first mission—
Form an adventurer party."
"Party? You mean like… mercenaries?" Zeo asked.
"I suppose you've never left your village much.
These aren't just random fighters.
You'll need companions—not only to gain strength, but because the path ahead is far more treacherous than you imagine."
Zeo opened his mouth to ask more questions, but suddenly—
"Oops," the Agent whispered. "Looks like you have company."
A growl echoed from behind the stones.
Several beasts, in varied grotesque forms, crawled in from the side tunnels.
Fangs dripping venom.
Breath steaming with acid.
"I must go. The message is delivered. And… consider this your magic training," the Agent said, gesturing to the incoming beasts.
"Good luck, and see you again."
"What?! Wait! At least help me fight them—!" Zeo yelled.
Too late.
The Agent had vanished.
Zeo raised his hands in frustration.
"Stupid glowing ego-maniac…"
But there was no time to complain.
The beasts charged.
He tried to summon energy—and his magic exploded wildly—
Bursts of water, waves of pressure, even tiny sparks from his left hand.
Zeo was shocked by every movement.
He laughed and cried in panic—
But one by one, the beasts fell.
His body was scratched, his breath ragged.
But he survived.
After wandering through the underground cave, he finally found a shaft of light—
And emerged… behind the hills of Kurua village.
---
As Zeo walked down into the settlement, he was stunned.
Villagers had gathered in the central hall.
Kaira was crying.
Some people were tying ropes and lighting lanterns.
"If we don't go down now, he could die trapped in that well!"
"I'm bringing a spear! If there's a beast—"
"We have to save Zeo!"
Zeo stepped forward slowly.
"Wait… what are you all doing?" he asked.
Someone turned around.
"We're going to rescue Zeo. He was pulled into the well."
The man froze.
His eyes widened.
"ZE—ZEO?!!"
Everyone turned at once.
Shocked gasps.
"HE'S BACK!"
"HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE—?!"
"WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO—!"
Zeo simply stood there, expression calm.
One of the villagers stammered nervously.
Some began to laugh in relief.
Kaira let out a soft cry and rushed to embrace him.
"You're okay… Oh my God… Zeo… I thought—"
Zeo nodded, hugging her tightly.
"To be honest, I didn't think I'd be coming back either…"
But deep in his heart, he knew—
This was only the beginning.