Thalassa : Beginning Of An Endless Adventure!

Chapter #02: - Shrouded Through Mystery, He Who's Known As Haru

In the town of Sebia, the name Haru carried a lot of weight, though it was spoken in whispers. To some, he was a legend in the making—a young man with potential unlike any other. To others, he was an enigma, a shadow that loomed large over the small town, his actions observed but never fully understood. And yet, for all the stories told about him, He was more commonly known by the Taverns & Motels as the "Broke Wrecker", he would often get into bouts and lets just say the outcome wasn't always favorable to the Town. Though he was loved and respected by everyone, those bouts certainly played a huge role in the debt he owed now a whopping 50 Grand Dinar due to which Haru was no longer seen much in town but taking missions to pay back his debt.

But no one knew him better than Seth, his younger brother, who had been by his side through it all. Seth, however, knew only a fraction of Haru's true nature. To him, Haru was simply "Big Brother"—his protector, his mentor, and the one who would change the world. Little did Seth know that Haru's true burden ran deeper than the quiet smile he often wore.

The sky above Sebia was painted with stars, the silver moon hanging low over the town as the breeze rustled through the trees. Haru stood at the edge of the town, on a cliff that overlooked the valley. The peaceful night was deceptive—far below, in the distance, lights flickered from a nearby city, a reminder that the world beyond Sebia was not so serene.

Haru's thoughts wandered, as they often did, to the past. His hands rested on the hilt of his sword, which hung loosely at his side, though tonight the weapon felt heavier than usual. In the silence of the night, Haru could hear the voices of those who had come before him—the ones he couldn't save, the horrifying events of the night he never dared to speak about his hometown an island northwest of Sebia known as "Illenmia". The Island still exists but the records of any past life back on the island was completely removed from the face of the earth. All those faces, those familiar voices calling out to him, their hands reaching to him, the thread that bound them all together; the "Thread Of Fate". The scars of the past that still causes him to hurt, were invisible to all even to Seth. Haru kept a lot to himself, something he often regretted and used to urge Seth not to do.

He closed his eyes, letting the cool air wash over him. His mind drifted to the days when everything had been simpler, before the chaos and the wars, before the world had been swallowed by darkness. He had been so young then, mind full of dreams, heart burning with passion hot for adventure, believing that anything was possible. But time had taught him otherwise. The world was a cruel place, and the burden of change weighed on his shoulders more than anyone could ever know.

"Big Brother?"

The voice behind him was soft, hesitant. Haru turned, his gaze falling on Seth, who stood at the entrance of the path that led to the cliff's edge. The younger boy had grown accustomed to finding Haru here on nights like this, though he rarely approached unless something was on his mind.

Seth: (It seems Big Bro's restless tonight as well) I....I....I......

"Couldn't sleep?" Haru asked, his voice calm, though a small smile crept across his lips.

Seth shrugged, walking up beside him. "I guess I'm just restless. I keep thinking about... everything. You know?"

Haru nodded, turning his attention back to the horizon. "It's a lot to take in. I understand."

Seth was quiet for a moment, his gaze focused on his brother's profile. Haru always kept such a calm demeanor, to everyone it seemed nothing could faze him. But Seth knew better. He had seen the weight that Haru carried (or so he believed), even if his brother tried to hide it.