Slip One: Celestial Threat

In a certain village, located among others and near the shore of a lake, lived a boy by the name of Jun. 11 years of age, silver messy hair with one prominent spike skewing to his right. Many afternoons did he sit on the porch of his broken down home and watch the children of the village play, never participating himself.

This unforgiving world was full of wonders and yet, Jun was bound to his village, never to wander too far. With good reason, moving alone was a potential nightmare for all who weren’t equipped for the treacherous creatures who prey on the sides of roads. Wandering warriors or magicians of the highest caliber were sometimes unmatched when pinned against the wrong opponent.

For the time being, Jun was often joined on the porch by his younger brother Keita. 9 years of age, dark and relatively tidy hair with two spikes protruding in both directions. Keita was a little more outgoing than he, and opposite in many ways. “A few of my friends are coming over tonight. You’re welcome to tag along if you want. One of my buds from a neighbouring town is returning,” Keita offered as he sat beside his brother, carving a totem. Avoiding eye contact, Jun replies as he always does. “Thank you but I think I’ll sit this one out. I have a few plans for tonight. Maybe next time.” “You’re always saying that,” his brother responds, just as disappointed as the countless other times he’s heard that before. Keita had offered his brother a place in his group many times but Jun had never bothered. Jun was rarely asked by others to join in on their fun however he figured he’d rather spectate instead.

On the opposite side of his house was a massive lake which contained healing properties. This giant body of water was surrounded by well populated villages. Good for business because kingdoms often required lots of supply. Inhabiting the lake lived multiple species such as mermaids, few species of serpents, and a capricornus that always made Jun feel uneasy. Those are just to name a few. Jun sometimes spent his time watching the inhabitants of the waters, often spotted and leading to an awkward encounter.

That night after the kids had packed and left for home, “I’d better head off too,” Keita explains as he spots a few of his friends walking toward him. “But first,” he stands and faces his elder brother, “This is for you.” Keita presents Jun with a carving. It was what seemed to be the head of a mouse, with a ribbon underneath on its chest and patterns coming off the sides. Jun observed it, trying to make out what it was, what relevance this piece had to him. After an insulting silence, “It’s Faye,” Keita blurts. “Oh. Oh, yes, I see it now,” Jun responds as to not trouble Keita further. “You do remember Faye, yes?” The tone in Keita’s voice had shifted. “Well of course I do. How do you?”

Faye used to be a close friend of Jun’s, a pet he had from age five to seven. A rabbit he found in the outskirts of town. The two spent hours together each day, and when Jun brought her home, he was scowled at for bringing the animal and was shunned. The next day, the animal had vanished, leaving Jun lonely once more.

“Keita! We’re off now. Trix will be here soon.” Two boys were waiting at the steps to the house - a tall dwarven child with a shorter elf to the right of him. “I’ll see you later, then,” Keita hands over the item to his brother and groups with his friends. “Take care,” Jun voices as the lot sped away.

With all the species on the planet, Jun was what he considered the most boring - human. Taken from his father. Keita was lucky and turned out to be a spriggan - their mother having been a forest nymph.

Jun headed inside shortly after. Passing by his adoptive parents who cared very little, the boy entered his roughly furnished room. The two had been handed to their father’s sister for caring, and she often had men over in hopes a close relationship would form. Jun’s mother was revered as incompetent and his father had been labelled a traitor. It’s safe to assume he was shunned from the village here and their mother followed.

In his room, the furniture inside was mostly made by him and Keita - the desk which sat opposite to the door, beds to the right of the entry (either side of the room), and a window made from a hole in the wall centred between the beds. Jun sits at his desk, looking to the side of him, contemplating for a minute whether or not to start on crafting something in return for his brother. “Tomorrow,” he says yawning. Jun makes his way to his feet, stumbles on over to the mattress on the left and falls. He closes his eyes.

The sky darkens and a storm blurts out of an otherwise peaceful evening. Jun was in for an abrupt awakening. His first moment of consciousness being blinded by nearby lightning and hearing panic of the people outside. Jun jumps to his feet and quickly pulls himself to the window. Thunder and lightning uproariously takes the skies, as far as the eye could see. Rushing outside of his room, empty, dark. He spotted his guardians had already made it quite a way from the house, heading towards the village emergency bunker.

A large dome close to Jun’s home, formed by the government out of some of the strongest materials and magic they could muster.

The ground shakes and throws him off his balance. Jun makes his way outside with great haste. The earth rumbles vigorously and the land afar is peppered with flames - the gods must be very upset.