Ken slowly opened his eyes beneath the shade of a crooked tree in the woods. As his awareness returned to this peculiar world which he knew as the Solo-Ground, his eyes traced soft, dappled light filtering through the large leaves overhead.

The Head Lit-Land!

His gaze was inevitably drawn upward to the overwhelming, sun-sized, and unmoving sphere of light that hung like a radiant jewel in the sky. The celestial wonder that dominated those lands was Bayad.

It was the sole source of illumination that Ken knew, as it cast its warm, white radiance upon his home below, which light, far from harsh or blinding.

At its luminous center floated a small and enigmatic black sphere. No one knew what it was, so no one even bothered to name it.

Underneath Bayad, wrapped around it in an intricate dance was a serpent-like dragon, colossal and daunting. Its obsidian scales contrasting sharply with Bayad's brilliance. Slumbering, the star system-sized creature was a constant spiral presence, coiling, and weaving in elaborate loops, yet never moving, eternally chained to the luminous sphere.

ObsidianScales!

Also known as Leviolitheon.

Leviolitheon’s enormous shadow stretched across the land in ten spiraling loops, projecting impenetrable walls of swirling darkness that obstructed the view to the horizon. These ten coils of shadow separated the ten Lit-Lands, keeping them divided from each other.

The lands these shadows covered were called the Shadow-Lands.

Ken’s sight briefly fell upon a hovering fragment of an obsidian scale, which fell off Leviolitheon’s frame a long time ago.

Then his sight went further down.

Beneath these celestial wonders lay Felinn, a colossal tree so immense that its grandeur defied comprehension. It stood directly under Bayad, its roots delved deep into the ground below whilst its vast trunk spanned a couple of hundred miles in perimeter. Lush mosses and intricate carvings adorned its surface, remnants of generations past.

The colossal banyan-like tree stood thousands of miles tall, and its branches stretched wide into the sky, covering a couple thousand miles of land with their immense shadow.

Within the intricate web of Felinn's branches and leaves existed a world unto itself; a thriving ecosystem brimming with life and wonder.

Exotic creatures and flora called this arboreal wonder home. Birds with dazzling feathers flew between the leaves, while luminescent insects created a mesmerizing display of light in the perpetual twilight.

As Ken strove to sit up, he took in the scenery around him. This was not under Felinn, but a remote corner of the Head Lit-Land around it, filled with the diverse life sustained by Bayad's glow.

His home city lay closer to a fallen-to-the-ground obsidian shard than Felinn itself. Sights glimpsed but distances unmanageable to cross on foot.

Tales told of perpetual dusk shrouding lands beyond Bayad’s radiance, known only as the Dark-Lands. Tales told of feral creatures that had evolved in perpetual dark, warped by generations of dusk, were enough to turn blood cold. What wonders or horrors existed where light faded to black, he did not know for certain. However, he knew that the boundaries of the Solo-Ground itself seemed endless, with no other Bayad dotting the skies, it was but a vast plane devoid of familiar celestial markers.

The scope of it all stoked his curiosity. What discoveries might be made by ranging further, beyond familiar borders into unknown territories? Questions lingered as his Grandmother's tales whispered in his mind of dark frontiers and untold mysteries existing where Bayad's light failed to reach.

Best not to dwell on such things, he thought.

There was an adventure to be found much closer - within the tranquil glades and secret groves of this remote forest corner if only he dared to explore.

“Ken!” Aria's voice called out, breaking through his daydream. He turned to see his childhood friends, Aria of the GildedManes tribe, and Kael of the RedNecks Tribe, both eight cycles old like him, standing a few steps away.

Aria gleamed with a natural poise and grace. Her rose-pink eyes contrasted prettily against fair skin with a gentle blush. Long golden locks cascaded down her back in soft waves. Though small, she carried herself tall with the supple physique of a natural artist. Yet then, she wore an expression of concern. “Stop skipping class and goofing around.” She scolded gently, her gaze shortly turning toward the distant horizon where the first Shadow-Land loomed, shrouded in perpetual darkness. Her words carried a unique resonance, making each syllable resonate in his chest. “You're going to get in trouble again.”

With a head of bright red hair that refused to lie flat and creamy skin, Kael, ever the prankster, flashed a mischievous grin. “Yeah, Ken, you'll miss out on all the fun if you keep napping under trees!” His large green eyes sparkled with boyish energy and enthusiasm. Though he had not yet grown into his athletic frame, he moved with an adventurous spirit. Friends flocked to his side, drawn in by his playful grin and loyalty. There was never a dull moment when that little firecracker was around.

Looking at them, Ken couldn't help but chuckle.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he took in the scent of the forest and the warmth of the Lit-Lands. Physics here seemed to dance to an entirely different tune. Ken felt a cool breeze ruffle his hair as he inhaled, the air carried a fragrance that combined the sweetness of blossoms with an exotic hint that defied earthly senses. Every breath was a symphony of sensations. Nearby, a crystalline stream babbled, winding through lush bushes.

Here, in this paradoxical realm, Ken found solace in the constancy of friendship and the allure of adventure. As he looked back at Aria and Kael, he felt a profound sense of gratitude for having them while living in the extraordinary homeland they called Arin.

Grinning and without saying a word in response, Ken just stood up and began to dance playfully, as he always did; a stupid childish dance. Kael instantly started to laugh.

Ken chuckled, the sounds resonating with the extraordinary lush paradise around him. He was leaping and spinning in the thriving ecosystem teeming with diverse life around him. Dancing below towering trees of all shapes and sizes, their leaves shimmering in the ethereal light, reached for the heavens, and the air was alive with the sweet symphony of exotic birds and creatures.

He felt it all through every fiber of his being as he continued to dance and laugh.

“Idiot!” Aria chuckled along with them. The sound of their laughter harmonized with the symphony of life around them.

Ken continued to dance in the intricate patterns of light and shadow until he heard someone else far away calling his name whilst running towards them. It was his little brother, Ben, who came running to the three, his eyes wide with excitement. “Ken!” He called out, breathless when he reached them. Ken stopped dancing and looked at Ben with a gentle smile.

Ben, whose raven black hair mirrored Ken's own, stood beside his older brother, a minor contrast in age but sharing an undeniable family resemblance. Unlike Ken’s black eyes, Ben’s eyes were the color of polished silver, glistening with youthful curiosity and excitement. At seven cycles old, he was only slightly shorter than Ken, a testament to the rapid growth that marked the early years of their lives.

“You won't believe it! Our older brothers are looking for you. They want you to go hunting with them!” Ben said full of eagerness.

Ken blinked in surprise. He could not hide the astonishment in his voice as he replied, “Are you sure, Ben? You know father usually doesn’t allow it.” Ken never understood the reason behind it.

Nevertheless, Ben nodded vigorously. “I heard them talking, and they said they've got Father's permission this time. They want you to tag along!”

A rush of delight flooded Ken. He had always longed to be included in his older brothers' undertakings, to earn their approval. But today might be the day he would finally be part of their circle.

“Really?” Ken wondered, his voice marked with hope.

“Really.” Ben affirmed with a beaming smile, “Come on, they are waiting.” Ben eagerly began to run homeward.

Ken prepared to follow his little brother, “Cya!” He said waving at Aria and Kael as he readied himself to sprint. But both of his friends wore expressions of concern, their worry etched on their faces like subtle drops of sweat after a run.

“Ken!” Aria began, her voice gentle but filled with worry. “Don’t go.”

Kael nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting the unspoken concern they both shared.

Ken, however, was brimming with excitement, his heart pounding in anticipation. He barely heard their words as he hurried to join his brothers. With a quick smile and another wave, he turned and began to run behind Ben.

He swiftly passed Ben. “Let’s race little brother,” Ken said without turning back.

“I’ll win this time,” Ben screamed.