A Thousand Galaxies or What we are

Prologue

Jack was walking through the alley with Will and Rick. Drunk with the new sort of drinks they've found in the dungeons. The dungeoner demands it to be "wine". The centuries old drink they used to make from grape. Jack wondered how you can make a goddamn drink of grape when there is no grape trees left on the earth.

"Those trees are extinct now." Rick had banged his fist on the table. He always tries to pick fights when he's drunk.

"Oh, no boy. Not extinct. You can still find the old trees among the forest of Africa. And beside the dried river of Amazon." The middle-aged dungeoner had said.

"So..." Will's voice was heavy. He was already half drunk. "You're trying to tell me that you went from Asia to Africa to find the old trees so that you can make a century old drink that could make you rich beyond my imaginations and still you're here? Selling it to sulky teenagers for six tol a glass??" He looked the man right in the eyes. "Sorry. I don't buy your story."

Will did have a point. But they bought the drinks anyway.

Jack couldn't say it was real wine or not. He had never tasted wine in his entire life. Neither did his dad, or his dad's dad or his dad. But this stuff seemed to be a good drink, wine or not. Five glasses and Will's been falling in love with every women, girl, escort, he'd had a glance upon, and from that stall of the dungeons to the corner of the last street they had crossed. To every one of them, he tried to go with full vigor to state his undying love and Jack and Rick had a hard time holding him back.

Rick was full to his blooms, too. Picking fights with everyone; speaking hotly, mocking everyone in sight. They had to get out of the dungeons just so that they don't get thrown out because of him. Or to be more precise, thrown up.

It was their graduation night. All three of them were selected for UNV last spring. They never expected it though. Will was one thing. A student with straight A's. But for Jack and Rick it was some sort of miracle. None of their parents were really sure back then if they should let their children study at UNV. It may be the third college in world ranking, but it's a college freaks too. But then, it's also the third college in world ranking. And so... all three of them are going to UNV. And it calls for a celebration.

"I'm going back to the dungeons tomorrow." Jack said to both of them. He was the most sober among the three of them. Yet his legs were trembling as he walked. "And I'll go alone. You two are such troubles!"

"Yeah, right" Will snorted, "Like I was the one picking fight with every man in sight."

"No." Rick's drunk voice replied, "You were the one wishing to sleep with every women in sight."

"I was not wishing to sleep with them." Will said, turning his head towards Rick. His sight was blurred. Cheeks were flushed. "You just don't know the great honor of true love!"

Rick roared so laud that Jack flinched. It took him a moment to realize that maybe Rick was intending to laugh.

"Trust is all folly, and all love is fake... wedding are merely funerals with cake." Rick sang to his amusement, and broke in laughter again. To Will's irritation.

Jack laughed with him. Only until he saw someone move on the mouth of the alley. The way they were headed right now. Like a shadow.

"You didn't read the old tale of Romeo and Juliet. If you did...." Will couldn't complete.

"Romeo who??" Rick asked, almost walking into Will.

The shadow moved again, Jack thought. Not one. Two or three maybe. On the end of the narrow alley.