CHAPTER 2

  “Look, he opened his eyes, Poul!” said a woman.

  “Shouldn’t he be crying?” Poul asked with doubt.

  “Maybe not all babies cry at birth, dear.”

  “Yeah, maybe you’re right. By the way, I’ll go buy some supplies.” Poul left the room to make the purchases.

  What’s he going to buy? I hope it’s food. Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to enjoy the best phase of life—the phase where I don’t have to do anything, thought Gabriel.

  “Well, I wanted Poul and I to choose your name together, but since he’s not here, your name will be Hyou Jay,” said the woman with a gentle smile.

  Hyou Jay?! That’s my name? Well… at least it sounds a little nice.

  Maria lifted Jay in her arms, raising him high enough to let him glimpse a small part of the world outside.

  Am I in some countryside of a continent? Jay wondered.

  She lowered him and embraced her beloved son. Days passed since his birth, and Jay was happy with his new family—until, when he was a year old, he began to notice strange things happening. No one seemed to care, but he realized that one day children would be bruised or cut, and the next, their wounds had disappeared as if the injuries had never existed.

  Is this healing magic?! If so, then I really am in a magical world, thought Jay as he rested in his mother’s arms while she rocked him gently.

  Beside them was a bookshelf. Jay stretched out his tiny arms toward it and began to “graia.”

  Maria noticed, placed him in a chair, and asked:

  “What is it, Jay? Why are you making that sound?”

  He pointed his little finger at the bookshelf.

  “You want books, Jay?” Maria asked, surprised by her child.

  He nodded.

  “All right, I’ll get you a ‘book,’ Jay.” She picked one about the history of the world, carried it to her son, sat down, and began reading. Jay’s eyes shone like stars, full of expectation.

  How can a baby have so much expectation over a book? Maria thought with a sigh before opening it.

  “Before the world existed, there was only darkness. Until one day, a god, bored of seeing only darkness, decided to create many things. He created the earth, the sun, the moon, and much more. He became known as the God of Creation.

  But the earth was only rocks, so the Goddess of Life saw that pile of stone and decided to create life. She said: ‘Let there be water,’ and water flowed from the land. She spoke many more things until the world came to exist.

  She created animals, humans, dwarves, and elves...”

  When Jay heard “dwarves and elves,” he was amazed to realize he had reincarnated into a fantasy world.

  Maria continued reading:

  “But the Goddess of Life noticed something—the balance among the races did not exist. So, together with the God of Creation and the God of Chaos, she created magic, giants, and dragons. Over the years, species spread across the continents, and hybrids began to appear...

  The God of Spirits created the magical spirits. But eventually, the elemental spirits rebelled against the gods. As punishment, the elemental spirits were sealed within humans and giants.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  In humans, the spirits were sealed in families: ‘Hyou, Hi, Kaze, Chikyū, and Mizu.’ At birth, one spirit would automatically be sealed in a member of those bloodlines.

  In giants, however, it was random. Whenever a giant was born, it could receive an elemental spirit. Every 10 years, 4 elemental giants were born. This was both a curse to giants and to the spirits.”

  She closed the book and looked at Jay.

  “That’s enough for today. It’s time for you to sleep.”

  Though Jay frowned, he soon surrendered to her lullaby and slept like a stone.

  Time passed. Maria read to him more and more, teaching him about the world. Jay learned that humans worshiped the God of Creation and the Goddess of Life, elves feared the Goddess of Life, and dwarves feared the God of Chaos.

  Jay also discovered that his elemental power would awaken between the ages of 3 and 9.

  “The Hyou family will forever carry the spirits of Ice,” declared the God of Spirits.

  “It is an honor that this duty falls upon my family,” answered the Hyou family head.

  Poul closed the book.

  “And that’s how the Hyou clan received the ice elementals.”

  “That’s so interesting, father!” Jay exclaimed.

  “Isn’t it?!”

  “Father, can you create something with your power?”

  “Hmm... I don’t know.”

  Jay was disappointed.

  “But there is one thing you must always remember—it’s the rule of our family: never hurt anyone, Jay.” Poul smiled warmly. “Do you understand?”

  “Yes. I won’t hurt anyone.”

  Why would I ever hurt or even kill someone? thought Jay, innocently.

  “Good. Now let’s eat.”

  They ate together, then later went to a tree near their house to read about gods—both good and evil.

  “These walls exist to keep us safe and to seal away the worst giants. Did you know that, Jay? That’s why this place is called the City of the Wall.”

  “No, I didn’t. But… why were they sealed, father?”

  “Not all giants were, Jay—only the most powerful ones. All the races united and sealed them behind the wall. But some were never sealed. This city exists to watch over them.”

  “That’s so interesting!” Jay’s eyes sparkled.

  “And that’s why we’ll soon leave here. This place is dangerous.” Poul smiled with pride. “That’s my boy.”

  Night fell without them realizing, and they returned home. Jay lay in bed, about to sleep, when he heard a soft voice:

  “I love you. Your melancholy is delicious—that’s why I fell in love with you. I hope we meet soon, my love.”

  Jay shot up, trembling.

  Was that a woman’s voice?! Am I hearing things? This is insane!

  He didn’t sleep well, carrying the mystery for days, until he finally set it aside.

  Months passed. He studied books about other races and discovered the elves’ arrogance, their dominance over wind and special magics, and their cruelty toward those born different.

  These elves think they’re superior just because of magic. But even humans have magic—healing and shadow magic count too!

  He sighed, but his mother’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

  “JAY, COME EAT!”

  As they headed to eat, a voice echoed across the city:

  “CITIZENS, EVACUATE NOW! GIANTS ARE APPROACHING!”

  Panic filled the streets. Families grabbed what they could and rushed toward the boats.

  Then another announcement came:

  “CITIZENS... OUR VICTORY HAS TURNED INTO... DEFEAT.”

  Fear consumed the city. Poul, Maria, and Jay ran for the boats.

  But the wall collapsed—shattered by a single colossal giant.

  Poul froze, glaring at the monster. More giants poured in behind it.

  They ran. But a tremor shook the ground. Jay turned back and saw a giant chasing them.

  “It’s coming straight for us!” he shouted.

  The giant rushed forward. Desperation struck.

  Maria pushed Jay ahead just before the giant’s fist struck her.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  Her body was crushed and hurled into a wall. With her last breath, she tried to speak—

  “Survive for m—”

  She was gone.

  Poul, trembling with rage, almost charged at the giant, but Jay grabbed his hand.

  “Dad, let’s go!”

  Poul, tears in his eyes, stared at his son… then at the giant.

  “Go, Jay. Live.”

  “I don’t want to lose you too!”

  Poul laughed bitterly, turned, and faced the giant.

  But the giant swung its weapon, shattering Poul’s sword and piercing his arm. Blood sprayed.

  Deafened by ringing ears, Poul spotted a cannon aimed at the giant. He grabbed Jay and dashed, reaching the departing ship just in time.

  They collapsed inside, crying.

  The mysterious voice whispered again:

  “It’s all right, love. She’s with the gods now. She’s happy that you’re safe.”

  The voice embraced him warmly, and Jay cried harder.

  Poul, broken, hugged him too.

  “It’s my fault. If I were stronger, she’d still be alive. Why am I so weak?!”

  The ship sailed away as the Giant King of the Wall fought soldiers with ease, yawning at their resistance. Then, suddenly, he felt a faint but intriguing aura in the distance. Excited, he rushed toward it.

  Meanwhile, Jay swore alongside his father:

  “We’ll avenge her, Jay,” Poul said.

  “Yes. I’ll avenge mom too.”

  Far away, in a giant’s village, Cobel, the King of Giants, fished peacefully by a river. He sensed danger, drew his sword, and faced the Giant King of the Wall.

  “Oh… a wild giant. How interesting,” Cobel said with a smirk.

  The Giant King attacked instantly, his speed shocking Cobel. Their clash shook the land.

  “Guess I underestimated you… King of the Wall,” Cobel said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.