It all began centuries ago, the day that shook the kingdom of Quirinus. A story that seems noble to those who didn't know, but treacherous to those who knew.
Long ago, there was a small tribe who lived happily in the land of Elysian, which was situated on the north side of Quirinus. They were blessed with powers by the Goddess Selyne for their bravery and kindness during the First World War. Their main power was healing, but as they develop, they find that they can use their power of healing to bring life. However, they could never give life to the dead. Although all the power that was granted to them was powerful, it never caught their mind to run amok. They all lived a simple life where everyone knew one another. Fishing, hunting, and gardening were some of their activities each day.
Moreover, they never thought of themselves as close-minded, though they never go out from their beloved village. As they thought they were happy and got all they needed to live here. Unexpectedly, among all of these villagers, there was one person who was eager to see the world. His name is Helios. He was eighteen years old at that time, but he was still a baby to others. Not because of how he acted, but because of the way they're aging. A child who was born from a parent who had powers will live powerlessly for the first eighteen years of their life. On the day they turned eighteen, they will be granted power and eternal life. So they could continue to forever helped and guide those in need.
The sun rose brightly and the wind blew calmly on the land of Elysian. Just like any other day, he woke up with the sound of chicken clucking. There were drawings everywhere, from his floor to his wall. He drew the outside world, where everyone was never bothered about. It was like a ritual for him to wake up with a morning read from the only book that he got. Though it was more than a glance rather than a read. As he never learned to read, and as well as the other from this village. Luckily for him, the book had more pictures than texts.
"Helios! Get up! Go feed the chicken," his mother shouted at him, who was still glancing through his book.
"Five minutes," he replied.
"Now, Helios," his mother said.
He reluctantly stood up and makes his way towards the chicken coop.
While feeding the chickens, his friend Lucy came as quietly as a mouse from behind him and gave him a shock to wake him up.
"Helios!"
She shouted at him and all the chickens jumped in shock. Then, she laughed at him while looking at him startled.
"Lucy! What's wrong with you? Can I have just one day without you torturing me?"
"Tell me Helios, will you be happy if I'm not here?" she asked while pouting.
"Of course not," he said.
"Then, me too. Just thinking about a day that you weren't tortured by me, scares me," she said while smiling at him.
Lucy was the only person who listened to him unconditionally. She was two years younger than him, but her mind knows no border. If only she had the chance to venture through the forest of knowledge, she would be unstoppable.
He lived with only his mind of the outside world, but Lucy was only thinking of him. Even though she knew it was fruitless, but it never stopped her to love him.
Till one day, came a proposal from Lucy's parents. Lucy knew her parents have thought of it for quite some time, but she didn't say anything to either her parents or Helios. She was hoping he would agree as Helios was a kind-hearted person who always thought of others first. As the village itself was not really big, it was not surprising they got matched up together.
That day, Helios was drowned in his own thought. He didn't know what to do, how he should do it, or even sometimes he asked himself why he has to do it. Many factors came running inside his mind. Then on the same night, he went out and called for Lucy. He wanted to know what she thought of this situation.
"Lucy," he knocked on her bedroom window and called to her quietly.
"Helios? Why are you here?" she was puzzled, as he never came late at night like this before.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to ask you something," he said while looking serious.
"Yes, sure. The question is better worth it for you to rush here," she smiled at him.
"Do you love me?" he asked.
"...," she was startled, and her face was as red as a tomato.
"Lucy? I'm sorry, are you not well? Maybe I'll come back tomorrow. You should go back to bed," he said, feeling worried.
Lucy was frightened if she asked for his heart and he refused. So she tends to believe it was better to live in denial rather than rejection. All this time she kept on pondering what she should do. But now, she believed it was the right time. She thought if she didn't say it now, she would still live in fear of rejection. Whatever happened now, she made her choice. The only things that she ever desired were right behind her wall of fear.
"Helios," she called him with a weakened voice, as he was about to turn around.
"I… love you," she stuttered while averting his eyes.
He was surprised, as he never knew she felt that way towards him. They were always together, and there were no secrets between them. He thought of her as nothing more than a sibling. He knew whatever he said, she will be devastated. However, he couldn't help but think of his next words. He doesn't want his words to hurt her more than the rejection itself.
"Helios, I know you didn't love me. You don't have to try hard to comfort me," she said as she forced a smile, while he was contemplating with himself.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
"I think you should go now. It's late. It's not nice if others see you here," she said as if nothing happened before.
"O…kay."
He knew he was being pathetic, but he couldn't help it. While for Lucy, right after she closed her window, she broke down on the floor and started crying. She had expected his answer, but she still felt miserable. She continued crying helplessly till she falls asleep.
That night he took a walk under the gazing moon while thinking about his future. Hours and hours passed, but he was still there, sitting on one of the big boulders gazing out through the open world.
After some time, he made up his mind. He was restless waiting for the day to come, as he was happy with his choice.
The first person he ran to that morning was Lucy. She was part of his plan, so she had the right to know.
"Lucy!" he called her.
"What?" she said while rubbing her eyes.
"Lucy, I am planning to go out from here and see the world," he said.
"What?" she said as she was still half awake.
"I'm planning to leave this village. But not forever, just for a few months," he said. As he was planning to visit the capital of Quirinus and some places which were nearby.
"Then when I return, we can get married," he continued while looking straight at her.
"What?!" she was shocked and it made her wide awake.
"We are going to live for a long time, Lucy. Maybe right now my heart didn't feel like you do, but who knows what will happen tomorrow," he said.
"Are you joking right now?" she was delighted but annoyed. She doesn't want he thought of her precious feeling as nothing more than a joke.
"Lucy, listen. Let's get married and move out from here. Let's go see the world," he said with a smile while both of his hands hold her shoulder.
"I don't think my parents would allow that, Helios," she said.
"Don't worry, we will convince them together," he said.
Both of them were happy like they were walking on clouds. They couldn't wait another second for the future to come, even though both of them yearned for different things, but with the same ending.
Next, he proposed his plan to his parents. They were contemplated at first but eventually agreed. He was delighted that everything worked out as planned. Now, the only thing he needed to do was packed his things and ready to go. Many villagers who knew about his plan disagreed with him and some sneer at him. He knew not everyone understood his journey, but it does not matter to him. Because he lives for himself, not for the entertainment of others. He has the right to his own story, whether it was a bad choice or a good choice. It was for him to learn it, as we all live by making choices.
The day has come for him to go. He was happy, but Lucy and his parents were worried.
"Mother, don't cry. I will take care of myself," he said while hugging his crying mother.
"Stay safe. If anything bad happened, use your power. I allow it," his father said. They never needed to use their power, but they are competent enough as they learned how to control it from their parents.
"Father, don't worry," he said.
Then he turned his eyes towards Lucy who was trying to hold her tears.
"Come here," he said and gave her a warm hug as a parting gift.
She hugged him back, as she buried her face on his chest.
"Don't climb up the trees when I'm not here, okay. Nobody will catch you when you fall," he said to her jokingly while stroking her head.
"I'm not a child anymore," she's sulking.
"Okay. Okay," he laughed at her.
"I'll miss you," he looks at her.
"I'll miss you all," his final words before he makes his own way.
Everything that caught his eyes never ceased to amaze him. His heart was beating from excitement, and his mind never stopped thinking what other new things he would see. He never felt this happy, as this was the best choice he ever made. He knew this journey will change his life forever.