WORLDWOVEN
Arc 1
—-Creakkkkk.
The sound of a door opening echoed through the apartment.
Coming through the door, a boy with a plain white T-Shirt, loose fitting black jeans, and thick dark hair put his bags on the counter.
"I'm home!" is what the boy wanted to say.
Though, given he lived on his own after being kicked out by his parents, he had no one to talk to.
Well, except one person, but even she had begun distancing herself from him.
Raya.
They met in middle school and progressively got closer. Though, it was ruined by people from school pressuring Raya to leave him, The Failure.
Sorry Hoshi, I just want some distance right now.
What, why?
Those were the last messages exchanged between the pair, Hoshi had lost his only friend left in the world.
Whatever, I don't need her. Hoshi often lied to himself.
He opened his bag and grabbed his dinner for the day: 2 meat buns and a soft drink.
He took in a few bites, scrolling through his phone, no new notifications.
Tomorrow was a school day, he dreaded it.
Due to growing up with not many friends, Hoshi was ostracized at school for his lack of social-skills, popular kids tried to get a rise out of him almost everyday.
Hoshi finished his dinner and threw the empty drink in the trash, walking to his bedroom afterwards.
He plopped into bed, his face firmly pressed against his pillow.
Tomorrow can always be a better day.
He thought to himself, but his real highlight of all his days was soon to come.
Hoshi slowly drifted off, he felt his body become light, almost weightless. It was the transition from the world he so desperately wanted to leave to Th̷̢̦̙̻̞͆e̷̤̖̭͈͙̝̙̖̦̼̚ ̸̯͍͔̤͎͗̀̿̄̕Ẃ̷̢̢̝̰̏̚͘͠ó̵̦̍r̴̰̪̤̩̣̞̘͔̅̊͗͑͒̇̓̈͝͝ͅl̷̩̳̠̞͕̔̐d̴̢̨̧̛̬̲̞̘̬̝̂̊͑̃̋͐̍͘ of Dreams.
Hoshi's eyes slowly opened, his gaze taking in the scene he so dearly loved.
A woman, body clad in a bright light, her face wasn't visible but to Hoshi, it was beautiful.
The Woman looked to the sky, her own body glinting with flames akin to the sun, her hand reached up for the stars.
This was the dream Hoshi had been having for the last month, and he never got tired of it.
"If only." Hoshi spoke, as if he knew this woman couldn't hear him.
"If you were real–"
THUMP.
What the hell?
Hoshi couldn't get a word out, he felt his heart seize–as if it were being threatened.
He looked up from his chest, the woman looked toward him.
What?
The dream wasn't supposed to go like this.
I Please. I
A voice echoed in the dream.
Who is that?
Hoshi felt his vision darkening, only the bright light emanating off the woman coming visibly closer.
Stop– don't come closer.
Hoshi felt his chest tighten further, his mind screamed to not let this woman touch him, for it was a taboo of Th̷̢̦̙̻̞͆e̷̤̖̭͈͙̝̙̖̦̼̚ ̸̯͍͔̤͎͗̀̿̄̕Ẃ̷̢̢̝̰̏̚͘͠ó̵̦̍r̴̰̪̤̩̣̞̘͔̅̊͗͑͒̇̓̈͝͝ͅl̷̩̳̠̞͕̔̐d̴̢̨̧̛̬̲̞̘̬̝̂̊͑̃̋͐̍͘
Upon further inspection, the woman's mouth moved.
I Please. I
What does she want?
I Save– I
Her hand touched his cheek, a sense of dread filled his mind.
A scream ensued, one so shattering that not even he himself could comprehend it. It came from Hoshi, his body reeling in pain.
Please, let this end–
Darkness consumed his vision.
Please let me wake up.
His thoughts were blurry, a pressure seeping through his bones as if he was being split in two.
Emptiness, that's all he could 'feel'.
Wherever he was, Hoshi felt it was no longer a dream, but reality.
"He–"
A voice?
Hoshi was certain that he heard someone, but who was it?
"WAKE–"
Hoshi's face instantly stung enough for his eyes to shoot open, did someone just…slap him?
His eyes instantly adjusted, his vision dashed across everywhere he could possibly see.
Where…
A realization dawned on Hoshi, his back lay on an unfamiliar surface, was it wood? His ears perked up to take in sounds, it was eerily quiet, but he could hear the faint noises of machines and commotion.
"Sorry kid, you weren't waking up." That voice spoke up again. They were clearly a man, perhaps middle-aged? The man's voice was hoarse and dry, as if he hadn't drank water in quite a while.
Hoshi finally rose from this makeshift bed he was laying out on, he looked over at the man who shocked him awake with a slap.
He was right about them being a man. What he didn't expect was for them to be dressed in rugged attire, his face smoldered with what seemed to be charcoal dust. Dark sunken eyes and wrinkly skin, this guy needed a nap or something.
"Kid, you're acting like you've seen a ghost. Say something." The man spoke up to break the silence.
Hoshi hadn't noticed, but he was spending quite a bit of time staring at this stranger.
"Ahh–sorry." Hoshi finally spoke.
The man didn't seem satisfied, he looked Hoshi up and down.
"Where am I?" Hoshi groggily said, the thick air in this place was almost disorienting, it smelled like oil and ash.
The man looked at Hoshi suspiciously.
"You don't know where you are?
Well, it's clearly not my bedroom.
"Um–I must've hit my head or something."
Hoshi lied, he sensed the man's suspiciousness and he needed to gain info on where he was.
"With what you're wearing, you hit your head long ago."
The man looked at Hoshi's clothing, they were a stark contrast from his own.
The man sighed and began to speak once more.
"You're in Floor 1, remember how you got here? Maybe I can call the council to return you to your floor."
The man shifted once he said that word, council.
Hoshi's mind raced with different thoughts.
Council? Floor 1? What was this guy talking about?
"Floor 1.." He mumbled.
"Look kid, maybe a look around will jog something in that head of yours, and wear this."
The man threw clothing at Hoshi's head, the smell of tar filled his nostrils.
"People were already looking at you weird when I found you sprawled out in the middle of town, I'm not trying to get any more talk spread bout' the weird little boy who nobody knows." The man said sarcastically.
Well, he has a heart after all…sort of.
Hoshi quickly changed into the new clothing, putting his old clothes on the bed.
Upon closer inspection, this house he was in had been entirely composed of old wood, brick, and…mud?
He followed the man to the doorway, deciding to speak up.
"What's your name, mister?"
"It's Barek." The man peeked over at Hoshi, was he smiling a bit?
"My name is Hoshi Saito." He held his hand out for a handshake.
The man grabbed his hand, with only a little squeeze Hoshi felt his hand being crushed.
"Two names huh?" The man said, letting his iron grip release Hoshi's hand.
Were last names not normal here?
"You can just call me Hoshi." He said.
"Wasn't planning on calling you by two names either way." He turned his back to Hoshi and opened the door.
Holy shi–
Sounds instantly burst forth into Hoshi's ear: the sounds of hammers, the whirring of machines, children crying.
But that wasn't the most shocking part. Hoshi looked up and his eyes widened in fear.
The sky was..blocked?
A huge ceiling encompassed where the sky should've been, the only light in this place coming from huge watchtowers around the town.
"You don't look too impressed." Barek spoke, snapping Hoshi out of his daze.
He wrapped his big, burly arm around Hoshi and began walking forward.
The pair walked around town, Hoshi was analyzing every spot he could see in this place.
As far as he could tell, this 'Floor 1' was a workers' area, he barely saw people who were just sitting normally, everyone had a job to do.
People looked over at Hoshi, whispers began spreading among the people.
"Is that him?" A woman said.
"Yeah, what's he doing with Barek?" Another woman whispered back.
Hoshi tried to ignore the gossip, he assumed these people knew him from what Barek said earlier.
Even in this place…
Hoshi shook his head, trying to not recall his school days where people did the same thing to him over and over again–gossip.
Eventually, Hoshi and Barek made their way into a blacksmith's forge. Hoshi was immediately met with an unexpected site, a blacksmith's hand burst into flames. His hand pressed against the cold steel and the metal instantly heated with a brilliant glow.
Barek notices Hoshi's reaction and gives him a confused expression.
"Kid, you ever seen magic before?"
Errr..
"Yeah, sorry, zoned out for a sec–" Hoshi lied, trying to play his lack of knowledge off, but that fire–this really was some other world with magic, people who have the ability to summon fire with a thought.
"So is this where you work?" He continued, attempting to get his mind off the various thoughts he was having.
"Right on, kid." Barek grinned, giving Hoshi a firm pat on the back.
"This shop is my pride and joy."
"Pride and joy…" Hoshi repeated, looking around the place.
The shop was decently sized, about 20 workers coming in and out of certain rooms, Hoshi couldn't help but be a bit impressed.
"Anyhow, come on kid, doctor's this way–" Barek turned around and began walking through town.
Why was this guy taking me to the doctor?
Ohh, right. He thinks I'm an amnesiac or something.
Hoshi quickly followed back outside, the watchtower's light flickering on and off. He couldn't help but feel that something was wrong, why was there no sky?
"Hey Barek, would you mind if I ask a question?"
"Not at all kid, what is it?" Barek seemed to enjoy the conversation, his eyes lightening up at the fact that someone was asking for info–probably not a common occurrence.
"These watchtowers–" Hoshi paused, "What are they exactly?"
Barek cleared his throat, perhaps thinking of an appropriate response.
"The council placed them here for light, and they're used for announcements."
Announcements…why does this place feel like a prison more than a town?
The pair were silent until they reached a door. Barek forcefully knocks on a door.
The sounds of tools dropping and someone skittishly walking to the door were heard.
The door opens quickly, a woman with a long coat, and makeshift glasses.
"Barek–I said not to bang on the door when you need me." The woman firmly said, Hoshi noticed the tension between the two, they obviously had some history.
"Sorry ma'am." Barek said sarcastically, obviously not meaning a word.
"I need help with this one." Barek lands his hand on Hoshi's head forcefully, ruffling his hair a bit. "He don't remember squat and I have to get to work."
The woman looks over at Hoshi, her blank expression worrying him a bit as she squints her eyes. "Ah–it's you." The woman didn't look amused whatsoever.
"Eh–? You know 'em?" Barek says, with some curiosity in his voice.
"The whole town knows him." She says with a sigh. "Come on in."
She opens the door and leads the pair into her office.
Great, I'm already known as a weirdo who came from nowhere.
The office was very much the same as any other building in this town–worn down and composed of old materials.
Hoshi peered over at the doctor, she was chewing something and hadn't smiled once since Hoshi laid eyes on her.
"Sit here." She waves him to a seat, sitting down in her own chair.
Hoshi takes a seat and the doctor immediately begins talking.
"So, you don't remember where you're from? Where you live?"
Straight to business, I see.
"Not a clue, I just remember waking up in Barek's house." Hoshi spoke, trying to sound as truthful as possible–but he avoided eye contact with the doctor, her cold glare could've killed him if he stared long enough.
"Right, right—--" She didn't sound convinced, she shifted in her seat and raised her arm.
The doctor reaches over and touches Hoshi's chest.
A crest appears where her hand was placed, Hoshi looks down and sees various incantations on it. The doctor closes her eyes and visibly concentrates, the crest shifting and widening.
"Well, I used a utility spell. I can see he has mana and an Embrasia.", That word stuck out to Hoshi.
"Embrasia—-?" Hoshi's voice slipped out, he didn't mean to speak up but his curiosity peaked.
The doctor raised her eyebrow. "Yes, Embrasia–it's a power given to all by Th̷̢̦̙̻̞͆e̷̤̖̭͈͙̝̙̖̦̼̚ ̸̯͍͔̤͎͗̀̿̄̕Ẃ̷̢̢̝̰̏̚͘͠ó̵̦̍r̴̰̪̤̩̣̞̘͔̅̊͗͑͒̇̓̈͝͝ͅl̷̩̳̠̞͕̔̐d̴̢̨̧̛̬̲̞̘̬̝̂̊͑̃̋͐̍͘."
Barek begins to add, "That's right, everyone gets one at birth and it's tailored to each person, though most never awaken theirs." The sentence loomed over the office, Hoshi sensed a bit of disparity in that statement.
"Did you awaken—-" Hoshi began but was interrupted by Barek, his face and eyes taking on a different expression, one of dread.
"No, but even if I did they'd still see me as tra—-"
'Barek."
The doctor spoke, her voice cutting through Barek's easily.
Crap, why did I speak?
"I'm sorry—-I didn't mean to say anything offensive." Hoshi lowered his head, his fingers intertwining with each other as he sensed Barek's frustration.
"No–it's fine, but here in Floor 1, Embrasia are rare, but even if one of us awakens it–the power is almost always weak. That's why we're seen as scum by the council."
The council seems like they're the higher-ups in this world.
"Though, there is something I'm concerned about." The doctor looked even more serious than usual, Hoshi prepared himself.
"Your Embrasia, I can't tell what the hell it is, and that aura.."
Huh? What is she looking at–
"It's strong, everybody in floor 1 always has an aura akin to a weak flame–but you, I can see clearly that your Embrasia is more like a star."
Hoshi hadn't noticed before, but behind those glasses, the doctor's eyes glew a brilliant yellow, perhaps that's why she could perceive this 'aura'.
The doctor suddenly snapped her fingers, a report of Hoshi's appointment and info she gathered.
"This is going to the council, they need to know."
"Hey now—-" Barek interjected quickly.
"The kid needs time to adjust, you can't just summon the council here on him."
"They'll find out either way Barek, and you know what happens if the council finds out we kept him a secret." The doctor firmly put her thoughts on the table, she wasn't in the mood to argue.
Barek was silent, his fist curling up but he didn't say anything.
The report poofed into the air, Hoshi figured that's how she interacted with the council.
The office was silent–moments passed.
This council–what will they do with me? How the hell did I even end up in this place? Maybe I should tell the–
THUMP.
The same sensation. The feeling he was being torn apart, the feeling of when that woman in his dream touched his cheek.
I…can't–tell them?
It was as if thoughts were being injected into Hoshi's brain.Th̷̢̦̙̻̞͆e̷̤̖̭͈͙̝̙̖̦̼̚ ̸̯͍͔̤͎͗̀̿̄̕Ẃ̷̢̢̝̰̏̚͘͠ó̵̦̍r̴̰̪̤̩̣̞̘͔̅̊͗͑͒̇̓̈͝͝ͅl̷̩̳̠̞͕̔̐d̴̢̨̧̛̬̲̞̘̬̝̂̊͑̃̋͐̍͘ rejected Hoshi's words,.
Suddenly, a loud alarm pierced through the windows of the office. Barek's eyes widened while the doctor stayed.
Hoshi glanced at the window, the previous warm light of the watchtower had been completely changed to a deep red.
"ATTENTION ALL FLOOR 1 DWELLERS, PREPARE FOR THE COUNCIL'S ARRIVAL…"