I feel light... So light that I am not even sure I am real. I am submerged in nothingness. But I exist, my own consciousness is clear, and I am aware of my own being. I focus on myself to try and understand who or what I am, attempting to comprehend my nature. I feel knowledge being absorbed into my mind. Slowly but surely, I start getting the sense of my physical form, the mass and shape of it, the anatomy of my body. Soon after, I manage to feel the space around me, the world taking shape like I was being born anew.
I feel warmth, a sense of safety coursing through me. I manage to acquire sight, opening my eye lids blocking it. The gentle rays of light hitting my eyes blurs my vision. A mask of sort seems to be on my face. I do not know who I am I do not know what I am. I do not remember anything prior to now, except the final words of a strange voice.
― “Seek the Hidden Truth.” I reminded myself.
― “Bring the 7 Lost Flames to the Dying Sun.”
My goals now forged into my mind—undertaking their demands—I pour energy into my body to lift myself up onto the stone I was laying on, readying myself for the upcoming events.
Observing my surroundings, I saw an old man sitting on a rock, staring at me. He has a petite yet strong figure, a seemingly pitch–black colored skin for the exception of his arms, emanating an orange glow that complements the rest of his body. His face , although obscured by his skin, was still discernible; wearing a white–haired beard indicating his old age, along with an amused expression. His gaze is piercing through me, as if judging if I was worth his time. After a few seconds having passed by, his expression changed and his grin grew wider, making the wrinkles on his face emerge. He then straightened his back and finally spoke up;
― “Why hello there young lad! Do you not find it to be rude staring at a person you just met?” He asked, leaning forward, and placing his forearms on his thighs.
I did not understand what he meant yet, my eyes mechanically averted their gaze from him. I bowed my head respectfully. He laughed loudly.
― “Worry not lad!” he said, laughter still present in his crispy voice.
― “I’m only messing with you. The name’s Old Man Coin, you must be a new golem sent here by ‘Them’ huh?” He continued.
I was confused, I did not know what a golem was nor did I did not know who he was referring to. Is he talking about that strange voice? He quickly spoke up once more, as if already knowing I would have this reaction.
― “Anyway, I’m too lazy to explain anything so just go to that big stone altar behind you, you’ll figure things out eventually.”
An altar? I pondered to myself for a bit and turned my head around to look at it but while doing so, my eyes laid upon the horizon in front of me.
Floating islands as far as my sight goes, various structures on nearly each one of them, mostly all of them in ruins. And dominating the view, impossible to miss, is the blinding light who seems to be at the center of this world. It was obvious what it was; my goal and purpose. The Dying Sun.
After contemplating this mesmerizing sight for a while, I lower my eyes and turn to face the altar the old man was pointing me to; although made of stone, it seems to be perfectly sculpted with a symbol of the sun engraved in it, radiating a warm light Smaller rectangular stones emanating lights surrounds the altar and in front are steps leading up to a platform. A strange pattern is carved on its floor. With no other path but the edges of the tiny floating island leading to my demise, going up the steps is my lone choice. Approaching them, I could feel warmth leaking out the altar; It is calling me. A sudden urge to go atop the platform rose and before I could realize, I unconsciously climbed it up in one jump. I landed on it, directly facing the altar. The pattern under my feet started glowing and a surge of light enveloped my entire body, giving me a bright aura. Energy coursing through each one of my limbs, the power of the altar is injecting itself in me. A strange feeling on my back emerged, making me turn my head to find the cause… Words could not describe the sensation I felt when my eyes locked upon the source. A pair of divine looking wings made of silver feathers grew out of me. While staring at them in awe, the aura surrounding me started to be absorbed by them, and the blinding light slowly faded away, leaving the new additions of my body shining a heavenly, vivid white glow. I feel like I could now soar high, riding the sky above me. Looking at the floating islands, the thought of flying across them fills me with an unknown feeling; I am excited. I look at Old Man Coin, he was watching at me with a grand smile that reaches his eyes, revealing a pair of white teeth that contrasted his skin.
― “Go out there and get me some of those things, would you?” he requested while holding a rectangular object radiating a dark yellow glow, a symbol of the sun on both front and back of it.
― “I like to call these things ‘coins’, collect all of them around these ruined lands and there might be a reward for you.”
I nod my head approvingly, accepting his demand, whilst also thinking to myself that his name is quite plain if it came from that alone. But I quickly pushed away all my thoughts and questions. I want to travel out there right away.
I steady myself and prepare to run. My first step hits the floor, then another follows, soon after the third. Each step makes me faster, growing my excitement the closer I get to the edge. I found myself at the border of the island much faster than I thought I would be and jumped right before falling. My wings spread out far to my sides, each feather glowing brighter, and I felt much lighter. I was flowing across the gap separating the tiny island now behind me and the next one at a thrilling speed. As I was reaching the edge of the second island and aiming for the third, I started feeling myself descending and quickly pushed myself back, preventing my fall in the space between the two isles. I hit the floor hard, my back facing the ground. I heard a chuckle behind me but brushed it off. I got back up and regained my posture, making a mental note that I cannot fly, only jump a certain distance. Although I was not able to fly, there was a smile on my face; even if it is much more dangerous that I can only leap, it only resulted in adrenaline getting pumped in me, embracing the danger. I jumped towards the next floating island and, without warning, a scream of joy escaped my body. I am relishing every second of it. Off on my adventure in this ruined world; My Journey to the Sun begun.
I could not help but yell out my excitement once more.
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