"History is born from actions, but legends… sometimes all it takes is two mischievous boys whose courage is larger than their bodies."
Not every legend begins with a hero. Some begin with a mistake. Or more precisely… the curiosity of two naughty boys who are too stubborn to feel afraid.
Morning in Oryn Village
Oryn Village stands on the northern edge of the continent of Cerythralis, right at the border of the old forest of Irinthal. There is nothing special about that village. The houses are small, made from old wood that has turned dark after years of rain. The main road is only hardened dirt, passed by horse carts and farmers carrying their harvest. The population is only around two hundred people. Most of them live by hunting, cutting wood, and fishing in the small river that flows from the forest.
The villagers had a strange habit. When evening began to fall, no one dared to go near the forest. And whenever the fog grew thick, they would always choose to stay as far away from it as possible. Because from within the trees of Irinthal, sounds are often heard that have never been explained. Sometimes like whispers, sometimes like something moving between the roots, sometimes like laughter that is too far to recognize but too close to ignore.
The villagers no longer try to understand it. They simply call them "the forest spirits."
On the Roof of the Old Church
At the edge of the village stands an old church. Its walls are covered with thick moss, the wooden cross leans slightly, and its bell is only rung when someone dies.
On top of its cracked roof, two boys sit casually like kings watching over their kingdom.
The first one is named Millo. His head is bald and shiny because it was shaved by force by the village priest after he tried to burn the church storage while experimenting and imagining he was making a "dragon potion." He wears an old robe that belonged to the previous priest, the robe is far too large for his body and his face always shows a mischievous expression that is difficult to trust.
The second one is Kael. His body is thinner, his black hair is always messy, and in his right hand he holds a long wooden stick that he swings like a sword. He stands at the edge of the roof, looking at the village like a knight guarding a fortress.
"I will become a knight," Kael suddenly says with a very serious tone.
Millo glances lazily. "A knight?"
Kael nods.
"Yes, not just any knight. A Grand Knight. I will protect this village."
He points toward the small houses below them.
"And you, Millo… you can become my assistant."
Millo immediately scoffs. "More like you'll become my assistant."
He grins widely. "I will become a dragon slayer."
Kael sighs. "Dragons aren't real."
Millo points toward the forest. "Who says? Maybe there's one in there. Or at least… something that makes those noises every night."
Both of them look toward Irinthal Forest. The forest looks dark even in the morning. Thin mist always hangs between the tall tree trunks that rise like giant pillars. No birds fly above it. No wind can be seen touching it. As if the forest is not truly part of this world.
Kael suddenly speaks again. "I heard something."
"What now?" asks Millo.
"There's a man living in that forest."
Millo immediately becomes interested. "Oh?"
"They say he's full of scars. And his hand is made of metal." Kael was just blowing things out of proportion.
Millo laughs loudly. "That makes no sense."
Kael shrugs. "But the people in the village say his eyes can start fire."
Millo thinks for a moment, then says with a cynical tone, "If he's strong, why live in the forest? He should live in a luxurious castle with many servants."
Kael answers quietly while staring at the forest, "Maybe… he's hiding his power so he won't destroy the world."
"Hahahaha… eitss." Millo laughs until he almost falls from the roof. But the laughter slowly turns into a thinking expression. "Kael... listen." Millo's bald head shines very brightly from the sunlight, making Kael next to him squint. A stupid idea begins forming inside his head. And usually… Millo's ideas always mean trouble.
Inside Irinthal Forest
Several kilometers from the village, a man named Noc is walking among the trees. He stops when he sees something beneath the roots of a tree that collapsed because of a landslide. A small stone sticks out from the soil. Its color is grayish green, but thin silver veins run inside it, looking like frozen light.
Noc crouches and touches it. Warm. Not too heavy, and it doesn't emit strange energy like magical artifacts usually do.
"Hm." He lifts it. "Maybe this could be useful."
He puts the stone into the leather pouch on his waist and then stands up. "Time to go home."
But the ground suddenly trembles.
Noc stops. The mist among the trees moves, and from behind the shadows of the forest… something moves.
Nightmare of the Old Era
The trees shake. Branches snap. And something very large emerges from the mist.
Its height is nearly three meters. Its skin is dark gray with red patterns like blood scratches. Long white hair falls to its shoulders. Two curved horns like a ram's horns grow from its head. Its eyes are like black smoke with glowing orange pupils. Its hands are as large as tree trunks.
The creature sniffs the air.
Noc immediately freezes. He recognizes that shape from old stories.
Sil'Turah.
The King of Curses that appeared since the Era of Concordia, a creature with intelligence that became a great disaster in that era. A monster said to be capable of collapsing a kingdom simply by walking through it.
"Damn it…"
"Why would something like that exist here."
The creature turns its head, sniffs again, then directs its attention to Noc's leather pouch.
"Looks like I'm really going to die this time."
Noc swallows. "You… want the stone?"
He slowly lowers the pouch. "Just take it. I don't need it." He places it on the ground and slowly steps back. "I'm still a virgin so… please don't eat me."
Sil'Turah releases a hissing sound.
Noc immediately rolls to the side when the giant foot almost steps on him. He stands up and prepares to run.
But when he moves, the stone inside the pouch suddenly shines. Silver light bursts out, blinding.
Sil'Turah screams. Its voice sounds like breaking metal. Then its body explodes in light. Its blood evaporates, its flesh melts like wax, and within a few seconds the creature that could destroy kingdoms is dead.
The forest becomes silent again.
Noc falls sitting on the ground, his eyes empty. He turns his head and sees something small standing on a tree branch.
The creature is only as big as the palm of a hand. A small body, two tiny horns, and red eyes like gemstones.
The creature slowly flies down and lands on Noc's shoulder. Quiet. And staring at him.
Noc blinks. "Did… you do that?"
The creature only tilts its head, not answering.
Noc exhales deeply. "You're not going to kill me, right?"
The small creature remains sitting calmly on his shoulder.
"Are you okay? Were you trying to save me earlier?"
The creature remains silent and calm while sitting on Noc's shoulder.
"…Well at least."
"You don't look like you want to eat me…"
Inside Noc's mind, panic grows as the creature stays on his shoulder. Yeah hopefully.
"If this creature can kill Sil'Turah, at least I have to be careful not to make it angry."
Then Noc tries to speak to the creature again.
"I'm going to leave… do you want to come with me?"
"Well then."
"…besides, I don't have any friends anyway."
And they slowly walk home.
And… on a tree far behind them, two small boys are hiding. Their eyes are wide. Their mouths open.
Kael trembles. "D-did you see that?"
Millo almost forgets to breathe. "I saw everything…" he whispers in amazement. "He didn't use a weapon. Sil'Turah exploded just because he stood there!"
Kael swallows. "And the creature on his shoulder…"
Millo takes a deep breath, his eyes shining like someone who has found treasure. "Let's tell the village."
Kael panics. "What?! We'll get scolded for entering the forest!"
Millo laughs. "I don't care." He stands on the tree branch. "The legend about that man will be amazing!"
He points toward the direction where Noc walked away. "The Destroyer of Sil'Turah. With his bare hands! And a demon familiar on his shoulder!"
Kael is still trembling. "…he's not an ordinary human." He looks at the forest. "He really is the guardian of this forest. Definitely."
Millo grins widely. "Definitely."
The Night That Changed the Village
That night, the village of Oryn begins to change. Stories begin to spread from two boys who are far too excited, from whispers that grow more exaggerated each time they are told.
And without anyone realizing it, a new legend begins to be born. Not from a hero. Not from a war.
But from two small boys… who are far too excited.