Chapter 1 - A Stranger in Paradise

Arke marveled as Echo crafted clothing from intertwined plants, her geomancy powers weaving the fibers into a seamless garment.

"Do you have these powers?" Arke asked, intrigued.

Echo giggled. "At least, you're not what you think... or do you?" Her enigmatic smile sparked Arke's curiosity.

Arke attempted to mimic Echo's connection with nature, but the trees remained unresponsive. Echo's laughter echoed through the forest.

"Seems you haven't awakened yet," Echo said. "These powers require Elyria's blessing – or, as you might understand it, Mother Earth’s."

Arke's confusion deepened. "I feel like a caveman compared to you.”

Echo's expression turned perplexed. "Caveman? What does that mean?”

Arke's eyes widened as fragmented memories resurfaced. He grasped his head, trying to piece together his past.

"In my world... cavemen were ancient humans, unrefined and primitive," Arke explained. "I'm starting to remember. We had history, civilizations, and technologies beyond your wildest imagination.”

Echo's gaze intensified. "Tell me more."

As they strolled through Elyria's pristine landscape, Arke's gaze drifted across the lush canopy, the gentle river currents, and the cave-like tranquility. He took a deep breath, and fragmented memories stirred.

"I... I think I come from a world different from this," Arke began, his voice hesitant. "Images flash in my mind – towering structures, humming machines, and faces... so many faces."

Echo's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her footsteps slowing to match Arke’s.

"Bits and pieces," Arke continued, struggling to recall. "I see conflict, chaos, and... and beauty. Art, music, and laughter. But it's all disjointed, like shattered glass.”

As they walked alongside the river, Arke's words painted an impressionistic picture:

"I sense we achieved greatness, but at what cost? I see shadows of destruction, pollution, and strife. Yet, there's a glimmer of hope a world where humanity and nature coexisted."

Echo's expression turned empathetic, her gaze soft.

"What do you think happened to your world?" she asked gently.

Arke's eyes clouded. "I... I'm not sure. Memories fade in and out. I recall sounds, smells, and textures, but the context is lost. It's like trying to grasp water – the harder I try, the more it slips away.”

The forest's silence enveloped them, a poignant contrast to Arke's fractured memories.

Echo's smile illuminated her face as she grasped Arke's hand. "I sense you're searching for something , a reason for your existence, a purpose for being here.”

Arke's gaze met hers, a spark of determination igniting. "Maybe if I follow you, I'll remember something.”

Together, they approached a settlement nestled within the lush landscape. Unlike Echo's warm demeanor, the villagers regarded Arke with caution.

Echo reassured him, "Don't worry, just follow me. Everything will be fine."

As they entered, a middle-aged man with familiar markings on his left arm caught Arke's attention. The symbol stirred a long-forgotten memory.

"Is that...?" Arke's voice trailed off, his eyes locked on the mark.

The man's expression turned curious. "You recognize our family's symbol? It represents peace.”

Arke's memories teased him, fragments resurfacing. "I've seen it before... in my past."

Echo intervened, her voice gentle. "He's from a far-off land, and his memories are... fragmented. Let's not overwhelm him.”

The villager's gaze narrowed, but Echo's words seemed to calm him. "I'm Kael, Echo's kin. Welcome, Arke.”

Arke felt an unusual sense of comfort, as if Echo's protection wrapped around him like a shield.

The villagers surrounded Arke, their warm smiles accompanied by gentle shoulder grips, a gesture of friendship. Echo's eyes sparkled as she explained, "This is how we introduce ourselves. That's why shaking hands seemed strange to us, hehehe.”

Arke's hesitant smile grew as he introduced himself. "I'm Arke... I'm sorry, I don't remember much, and if not for Echo, God knows what would have happened to me.”

The villagers exchanged curious glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and intrigue.

"God...?" one villager asked, his brow furrowed. "What is God?”

Arke hesitated, aware of the cultural divide. "Uh... I could say something like the creator who made this world, or something like that.”

The villagers erupted into laughter, their eyes shining with amusement. "Oh!!! Aethon!!!! We believe in Aethon!!! We usually say Aethon!! You must be from a distant village, indeed!! Ahahaha!!”

Arke laughed along, despite his confusion, eager to avoid misunderstandings.

Echo intervened, her voice gentle. "Perhaps Arke needs rest, Abba? Could I offer him shelter?”

Kael, Echo's father, nodded. "Very well. Ama awaits at home. Go meet her.”

As they walked, Arke whispered to Echo, "What do 'Abba' and 'Ama' mean? I feel like an outsider here.”

Echo's smile was patient. "Abba means father, Ama means mother. Don't worry, Arke, you'll learn our ways.”

Arke admired Echo's intelligence and wisdom in navigating cultural differences.

As Arke and Echo strolled through the village, nostalgia washed over Arke. Familiar yet foreign, the buildings blended concrete and stone with nature's embrace. Trees grew alongside structures, their branches intertwined.

"This is... unexpected," Arke said, his eyes widening. "It's not primitive, yet..."

Echo smiled. "We've learned to harmonize technology and nature.”

Arke's gaze followed Echo's pointing finger to solar panels and windmills above. "You generate power from the sun and wind.”

"And water," Echo added, indicating a nearby watermill. "It's a balanced system.”

Arke's curiosity sparked. "Do you have... internet?" The word felt strange on his lips.

Echo's brow furrowed. "What's internet?”

Arke's eyes glazed over, memories resurfacing. A flashback seized him:

A woman, possibly his wife, laughed beside him as they played online games together. The screen glowed, their avatars competing.

Suddenly, a piercing ringing shattered the memory. Arke winced, his ears throbbing.

"Arke, what's wrong?" Echo's concern brought him back.

Arke shook his head, clearing the haze. "I... I don't know. A memory, maybe.”

Echo's gentle touch on his arm steadied him. "It's okay. We'll help you uncover your past."

As they continued walking, Arke's thoughts lingered on the mysterious flashback and the unfamiliar term that had triggered it.

Arke struggled to explain. "It's a way to communicate without being physically together. You can talk to anyone, anywhere, through... devices.”

Echo's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Something like this?" Her voice suddenly entered Arke's mind.

Arke's eyes widened. "Uh... yeah.”

Internally, he reeled. "My god... she has powers.”

Echo's expression turned slightly irate. "I can hear you, you know?"

Arke's face flushed. "Is everyone... like this?”

Echo clarified, "Not everyone, but most can communicate without relying on external tools. We've developed our own ways.”

Arke's gaze drifted downward, his thoughts aloud. "Is this the future of human evolution? Not through technology, but through our own bodies? Fascinating... yet, what am I even saying?”

Echo's gentle smile suggested understanding. "You're adjusting to new possibilities, Arke."

As they approached Echo's home, Arke's expectations dissolved. Instead of a traditional village dwelling, they stood before a harmonious blend of nature and architecture. Vines and flowers wrapped around the curved wooden beams, seamlessly integrating the structure into the surrounding landscape.

Arke's wonder grew. "This is... breathtaking.”

Echo smiled, her eyes shining with pride. "Welcome to my home.”

The interior revealed a cozy, organic space filled with soft light and the scent of herbs. Echo's family awaited, their faces warm with hospitality.

"Ama," Echo called out, "I've brought Arke."

A gentle woman with silver hair and a kind smile emerged, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Welcome, Arke. We've been expecting you.”

Kael, Echo's father, stood beside Ama, his expression warm. "Rest, Arke. You've found a new home.”

As Arke's gaze met Echo's, he felt a sense of belonging, a sense of finding something he thought lost forever.