"Ohh.. so your name is Reys'a?"
"Interesting.. nice to meet you, my name is Adrian…Veldt Adrian, hey Reys'a do you—" He paused, shaking his head. " Nothing," His curiosity faded, and he quickly changed the topic. "Reys'a, do you want something to eat? You look like someone who… hasn't had a proper meal in a while. Maybe eating will help, hahaha," Adrian said with a smile.
"Huh…e a t?? YES, YES, YES! EAT!" Reys'a shouted in excitement." Let's go somewhere else… There are too many eyes around this place watching the commotion you're causing, follow me." Adrian extended his hand to help Reys'a up.They left the area together.
On the way to find a place to eat, they passed by shops, stores and beautiful landmarks, making Reys'a's eyes widened, clearly showing his amazement at the city. Birds chirped in the morning air as vehicles rushed by, and well-dressed people walked along the sidewalks. "This city is called Dyrian City. It is one of the famous ones here". Said Adrian to Reys'a. "Woah… it's so beautiful." Reys'a was amazed to see the elegance of the city with advanced technology but still maintaining its authenticity, making it more attractive for visitors.Yet, despite the city's elegance, people cast judgmental glances at the two of them. Adrian wore a perfect shirt from the bottom up with polished leather shoes, long pants that covered his ankles and his long shirt was warm, while Reys'a wore nothing but ragged clothes and pants, his bare feet caked in dirt. His stench— as if he hadn't bathed in weeks— made people wrinkle their noses as they passed by. Yet, Reys'a remained unfazed—he simply ignored them. They walked on, ignoring the stares.
"Hey Reys'a, what do you want to eat?
"Anything's fine, I'm just hungry." At that moment, Adrian also noticed a two-story shop with a few customers, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, making Reys'a stomach growl, indicating hunger. "If that's the case, let's eat at this shop, it looks interesting." They entered the restaurant and went straight up to the second floor where there was no one above. Perhaps it was still morning. They sat at a table by the window, where they could see the beautiful city outside with people passing below. A waiter soon arrived to take their order. After they finished ordering their meals, the waiter left.
Adrian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. Then he started his conversation with Reys'a. "Did your leg still hurt? I saw him break your leg earlier, but in a short time your leg healed in the blink of an eye as if nothing had happened. Do you— have a Hearthstone? I'm curious," Said Adrian. "What's a Hearthstone?" Reys'a asked, tilting his head. "The only thing I know is that when I became a slave, they told me I was cursed with immortality. But I don't know what that meant." said Reys'a.
Adrian's eyes widened. "So, it's no wonder you have the ability to heal, it's rare to see with your own eyes someone who has it but how do you survive? From what I know, anyone who is cursed with immortality was caught and sentenced to death many years ago" Adrian was stunned. He hesitated before asking." Do you really not know what a Hearthstone is?"
"No idea." Reys'a shruggy. "I only escaped because something big happened, I don't remember what exactly, but when I saw the opportunity I took it and ran away and that's how I came to this city." Reys'a replied.
Adrian sighed. "Yeah, you're the lucky one, from now on, you can't tell anyone that you have that damned immortality"
" Alright, but what is a Hearthstone?" with a confused face that Reys'a made. "Hmm… seems you don't know what it is" Adrian leaned back, folding his arms and then Adrian started to tell about the long history which made Reys'a look like he was too lazy to listen. "Long ago…, humanity was weak, divided, and trapped in an endless cycle of violence and suffering. The only way they knew how to survive was through war, theft, and torture. But 900 years ago, everything changed.
They discovered the Hearthstone—a mysterious source of unparalleled power. With it, humanity advanced rapidly. Nations flourished, and for a brief moment, unity seemed possible. Yet, power breeds greed. The peace crumbled as empires rose and fell, each vying for dominance.
Amidst the chaos, a brilliant yet deranged doctor sought to break the cycle. Obsessed with knowledge, he pursued the ultimate goal—perfection and immortality. He believed that if left unchecked, humanity would destroy itself. His experiments were inhumane, but he was close to success. However, before he—" Adrian's conversation was interrupted. "I'm sorry sir, actually the menus that you ordered earlier have run out and will be stock back at 2.00 pm, would you like to wait or order another menu?" said the waitress. " Hmm… if that's so, I ordered chicken rice instead and Reys'a how about you?"
"Hmm… I want meat" Replied Reys'a. "Then give him meat fried rice and that's all, thank you." " Okay, the food you ordered will arrive immediately." the waitress left. " Where werewe?" said Adrian. "Nah… I've already forgotten about it." Replied Reys'a. Adrian had forgotten also and was too lazy to continue the conversation because of the waitress, and he started to ask something else that shackles his heart about the curse of immortality."Ohh yeah I forgot… How are you able to heal it? Is it on its own or you need to command it?
"I don't know either, but every time I have a cut or a fracture it will heal on its own if I want it to and it will continue to do so and take a long time to heal if I don't want it to. But the healing process is painful as hell, especially when my skin or bones are trying to reconnect, and sometimes it takes a while to fully heal if the injury is too severe." Said Reys'a. " I'm so sorry to hear that, you must have experienced it several times, I can't imagine what you feel, let alone you as the owner of the body" Adrian replied with disbelief.
"Hmm… so someone will die if they don't have the willtolive?"
"Perhaps, I actually don't really understand how it's work because I'm saying this based on my experience, it could be otherwise"
"But do you really not ha—" their conversation was interrupted twice. "Here is your food sir, the chicken rice and meat fried rice which you ordered earlier." Said the waitress. " Okay, thanks," said Adrian to the waitress. Without thinking twice, Reysa quickly ate the food until it was scattered all over the table. Reysa ate like there was no tomorrow. " Ha ha ha ha, calm down, the food isn't going anywhere… Luckily there's no one here." Adrian just laughed seeing Reys'a eating like that and he thought he eats like that because he's hungry.
After they both finished eating, they left the restaurant and walked away. " Reys'a where you going after this?" "Hmm… I don't know, I don't have a place to go." Replied Reys'a. "Then how about you join me. I have a purpose, a place to live and friends who won't leave me— and most importantly we also have good cooks, haha maybe you'll like it."
"Sure why not," replied Reys'a with a happy tone. 'hmm… this kid is not an ordinary person' after that, they continued their journey to Adrian place. " Hey Adrian, what's your purpose?" Reys'a asked with curiosity. " Hmm… maybe I'll tell you after we arrive." Adrian, without saying anything, continued to look ahead and move forward.
On their way, various interesting items made Reys'a fascinated to see them. The town was noisy with various sounds from the sound of vehicles passing by, people shouting to sell goods from their shops and children running around playing chase with each other. It was like a living market, everyone was happy with their lives with the world that only they knew. Reys'a looked around silently without saying anything. As if he also wanted a life like that. Adrian then looks at Reys'a.
"Reys'a want something?" Adrian asked Reys'a. "Nah it's okay"
"Just tell what you wa—" "I want that's bread" Reys'a interrupted Adrian's conversation before he could finish it. "Haha… just said it, don't be shy, which one do you want?"
"I want that bread shaped like— aaa, I don't know but it's got meat in it." Reys'a explained it like a little kid who didn't know how to tell his mother. " Ohh… that's steamed meat buns?" asked Adrian while pointing his finger to that bread. " Yes, that's one" Reys'a was happy to answer. "oh okay… let's go to that shop" the two of them walked to the shop hoping that they were going to get the steamed meat buns.
"Yes, young man, what do you want?" said the aunt who sold the bread. " Can I get those steamed meat buns two?" SaidAdrian
" What kind of meat do you want? We have beef, chicken, lamb and pork." the aunt replied. "Hmm… What kind of meat do you want Reys'a?"
" Huh? What's the difference?" said Reys'a who didn't know the difference. "If so, two beef meats then." Adrian asked the aunt. "Okay, coming right up." while waiting in front of the stalls. "Here there are steamed meat buns for two, cautious, this is hot." The aunt put it in a paper envelope and gave it to Adrian and Reys'a. "Thank you."
Adrian took a bite of the bun. "Woah…this really good, right Rey—"
Reys'a dropped the bun and ate it on the dirty ground where many people had stepped on and Reys'a ate it like a hungry dog. "Hey, what are you doing Reys'a!?" People were looking at Reys'a for being willing to eat like that. The aunt saw it and got irritated for disrespecting the food like that. Let alone the people who see it.
"THAT'S THE BOY FROM BEFORE, KICK HIM OUT" "GET OUT, GET OUT" "DRIVE AWAY THAT DIRTY BOY, HE'S JUST MAKE A MESS." " Eee… he disgusted me, got rid of him, anyone called the higher ups" All of that came from the mouths of that crowd, cursing, insulting, Reys'a. Reys'a was just quiet and didn't know what was wrong because he just ate his food as usual.
The people were angry and wanted Reys'a to get out of that place.
"SHUT UP, your guys act so high and mighty, but you're no better. Living in this world full of lies can make your happy? By insulting a boy who only eats his way. Do you think your life is so good huh to insult others when—" Adrian, who defended Reys'a earlier, now Reys'a stop Adrian from backing him up. "It's okay Adrian, it's my fault, let's leave this place" said Reys'a. " No, I will give them their lesson." Adrian's index finger pulled out a piece of paper that almost formed an origami like the one Reys'a had seen earlier. "STOP ADRIAAN" Reys'a quickly stopped him before they ended up like a man before. Adrian lowered his hand and looked at Reys'a.
"Tch… they're lucky this time, let's go Reys'a." They turned their bodies and left the crowd. " YEAH… GET OUT FROM THIS PLACE DON'T EVER COME AGAIN DIPSHIT." Adrian just continued his journey forward without looking back with an angry and annoyed face towards them. Reys'a stayed silent, doing nothing and follows Adrian. " Hey Reys'a you should take action if someone insults you like that again, you can't let them do whatever they want to you." Adrian told Reys'a in an angry tone as they left the place. "It's okay, I don't feel sad or discouraged— because I know where I am now, and what they said is true. I shouldn't eat like that in public, but it's become my habit to eat like that."
Fuuhh… Adrian sighed. "It's okay, I'm sorry too. I think we should go home now and you must be tired right now because a lot of things have happened today, right? Let's go back to my house." said Adrian
"My house is on the other side of the city and it might take some time and we will arrive in the evening before sunset if we move now."
" It's okay, let's go." Replied Reys'a. They continued their journey. Just as they were about to leave the place, Reys'a bumped into a random man where he's tall, handsome, dressed in luxurious white, seductive as if he were from a noble family, but his face was not visible, his long hair sticking out from his robe, revealing his white hair. "I'msorry" came out from his mouth. Reys'a also saw it without saying anything. "Who are… you?" The man didn't say anything and continued towards his destination. " Hey Reys'a what are you doing, come on before we are late" Adrian called Reys'a. " okay, okay I'm coming"
'Does Reys'a feel a chill? A sense of déjà vu?'