Sayda flinched. His eyes widened while sweat began to trickle down his forehead.

  "W... What are you talking about?"

  His voice stuttered.

  "You're lost, aren't you?"

  The old man asked calmly.

  He staggered back a little.

  "What exactly are you trying to say, huh?"

  Suddenly, the old man held his right hand with both of his own. His eyes lifted to meet Sayda's. His voice was slow, as though the words were meant for Sayda alone.

  "Hear me... That light will come. It never dies–and its persistence is what haunts everything."

  A spark lit up the old man's eyes.

  "Its arrival is imminent... Its interpretation will alter what is considered morally right and ethically wrong."

  Sayda's brow furrowed.

  "I don't underst..."

  Before he could finish his word, the old man interrupted.

  "The moment you think you understand everything–you're already part of the lie."

  With a sharp slam, Sayda yanked his hand free from the old man's grasp. His pulse was racing.

  "What are you trying to say... Huh?"

  His voice was slightly hoarse. Anger started to bubble up inside him.

  But then, out of the blue, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. He turned around only to find a man standing behind him.

  "Aaah, I'm sorry to bother you... But that's my dad."

  Sayda looked dazed.

  "Huh?"

  "Yeah, that's my dad. I'm sorry if he bothered you."

  The man immediately took his father's hand. Sayda was still unable to process everything he had just heard.

  "B... But..."

  "My dad is mentally ill."

  Sayda paused for a moment.

  "What?"

  "Yes, and please try to forget what my father said to you earlier. He's troubled a lot of people here, including you, and I'm really sorry about that."

  "I hope you understand that my dad is..."

  "A... Alright, I get it... th... thank for your explanation."

  "Okay, we'll excuse ourselves then."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  They both left, leaving Sayda alone.

  "So he's crazy after all."

  Tremors began to run through his body.

  "So scary."

  Sayda began to move away, but not even ten steps he had taken. He abruptly pivoted his head to rear when loud yell emanated from the direction in which he was heading.

  The old man raved and shouted.

  "Dad calm down... Dad, please don't make me look bad in front of others."

  His son tried to calm him down, but he wouldn't stop. Instead, his screams grew louder and more frantic, as if something had taken hold of him. Panic spread through the crowd as people began to surround the old man.

  In the mids of chaotic situations, he suddenly raised his hand and pointed his fingers towards the front.

  His trembling finger was pointed...

  At Sayda.

  Sayda was subject of simultaneous gazes, which made him feel dazed and uncomfortable. He took a step back.

  "What is happening?

  Suddenly, the old man spoke up.

  "He... HE... HE IS A THIEF!"

  The old man shouted again, his voice was rough and heavy, almost inhuman.

  "A THIEF!..."

  He began to sweat, and rumours began to spread about him.

  "Did he steal something?"

  "He looks suspicious..."

  A group of women told stories about him. Then, one by one, people from the area arrived, filling the place. Some thought the old man was a madman, while others believed he was a thief.

  "Shit, If I run now, people will think I'm a thief."

  "What should I do now... I need to stay calm and act like an ordinary person."

  He gripped his hand.

  "Uhm... H... Hello..."

  The moment the words left his mouth, every gaze in the area snapped toward him.

  "I... I think this old man might have the wrong person and—"

  Before he could finish his sentence–

  "Seize him!"

  A loud voice came from the old man. His fingers remained pointing upwards. His son tried to placate him, but to no avail; the old man's voice only grew louder.

  "Don't let him get away! Catch him!"

  The bakery shopkeeper was left reeling, unable to comprehend the unfolding events. Then, a boy hurried from the throng of people.

  "Hey kid! What is going on there?"

  The boy shouted without stopping.

  "A Thief!"

  The shop owner fell silent for a moment.

  "A thief?"

  He then patted his forehead and sighed.

  "Since the beginning, Poverty only continues to drive people to steal."

  He turned around, his face completely disinterested.

  "It seems that The Lone's new appointment does not solve any problems at all."

  More and more people walked towards the crowd, eager to see what was happening, until one man reprimanded the shop owner.

  "Hey, aren't you coming to see it too?"

  "Nah, I'm good."

  "Alright then."

  As he watched the man leave, he suddenly noticed something grounded. It was something that felt something familiar, something similar to his own. Without saying much, he stepped out of his shop and rushed over. He looked down and quickly picked it up.

  "My bread... no mistake this is mine. Why is it here?"

  He saw that his bread was fragile. He brought it to his nose, and a single sniff jolted him. The image of the young man flashed through his mind. His attention was swiftly drawn back to his shop when he noticed that one of his long loaves had disappeared from the shelf.

  "This bread hasn't been bought yet today, so it can't be..."

  Sayda's image once again sent a jolt through him. His hands trembled as he gripped the bread in his palm until it crumbled.

  "That... young man!"

  A man walked against the rushing crowd and immediately he called out the man without hesitation.

  "Hey, did you see the person everyone was crowding around? What did he look like?"

  "Oh, that person? He looks young and has black hair that slightly –"

  Without letting the guy finish his word, he immediately ran towards the crowd. Sayda remained at the center of the crowd. Around him, people struggled to calm the old man, who continued to rant without pause. He felt torn, uncertain whether to flee or stand his ground.

  Out of nowhere, a scream pierced the air, causing everyone to turn towards the sound.

  "Arrest him! He stole from my shop... Catch him and don't let him get away!"

  The bakery owner shouted and pointed at Sayda as he ran. Sayda was stunned for a moment.

  "That shopkeeper? H... How? Damn it... Wasting time."

  Without hesitation, Sayda ran away immediately. Someone in the crowd saw him and quickly shouted.

  "He's getting away! Catch him!"

  A group of men broke away from the crowd and chased after the thief. In the commotion, a stone slipped from the old man's left pocket and it was white.

  Sayda ran without looking back. He dashed into a fruit shop, vaulted over the counter, and sent a shelf of fruit crashing down, blocking his pursuers' path.

  A man was out for a stroll, minding his own business and carrying a basket of full of food. Then, out of the blue, he spotted a young guy dashing towards him. Sayda shouted at the man who blocked his path.

  "Get out of my way!"

  The man stepped aside to let Sayda ran past him.

  "What's wrong with that guy? Is he going to be late for work?"

  Again, group of men chasing Sayda shouted at him.

  "Makari... Stop that man! He's a thief!"

  "A thief?"

  He looked at Sayda, who was getting further away. He put his things on the ground, bent forward and placed his right hand slightly behind him and his left hand slightly in front of him.

  "A thief... huh?"

  His hands were transformed into grey fur, his claws sharp, and his fangs grew long. With a single push, he darted forward.

  With a labored, panting breath, Sayda kept running, weaving around people who tried to block his path, until he caught sight of a turn in front of him.

  "Finally..."

  His focus was on the bend. The closer he got, the closer he was to reaching it. Surprisingly, a leg emerged from the bend and kicked Sayda right in the face, sending him crashing to the ground.

  And then, suddenly everything went black. In the pitch-black darkness, a voice echoed.

  "Hey Makari, did you manage to catch him?"

  "He's right at my feet."

  "Makari, you're truly can be rely on–"

  ***

  SHHHHHH...

  The sound of clear water flowing over the top of the cliff and hitting the mossy rocks below could be heard. In the distance, a flock of giant birds descended from the sky. No– they weren't birds;

  They were dragons.

  The dragons soared through the air before landing for the first time. With his eyes closed, one of them sniffed the ground before raising his head and taking a breath of breath. Suddenly...

  PUFF!

  His bright red eyes snapped open.he unfurled his massive wings, his sharp scales glinting in the sunlight. For the first time, he opened his mouth and spoke in deep, fierce voice.

  "I smell blood... Something stopped by here not long ago."

  One of them called out, sniffing at the torn cloth lying on the ground.

  "This way!"

  The dragon looked up at the sky and jumped high into the air. Its wings of darkness spread wide, blocking out the sunlight and sank the world below into the darkness.

  "Come!"

  With thunderous flaps of their wings, their soared swiftly, tracking the trail of the scent.

  ***