Whispers Beneath the Sky

Woodbeek was a quiet village by the sea. Hills wrapped around it like sleepy guardians, and the salty breeze always carried the scent of old stories. Life here rarely changed. The waves came and went. The sun rose the same way every morning. But Kai noticed the silence in between. It always felt like something was waiting to be found.

The morning light washed over the wooden houses in soft gold. Kai stood on his porch, still half-asleep, listening to the cries of seabirds. It was a school day—but as always, he had a choice: follow the routine or chase something different.

Ren was already gone, probably lying under his favorite tree up the hill. Hachi and Toma were waiting by the tracks, their school uniforms messy, bags oversized, laughing like they always did.

Their school stood on a cliff ten kilometers away, tall and strict, always watching the sea.

But today, the boys didn’t rush. Like usual, they slipped into the small shop across from the school. It was their hideout—snacks, card games, and the joy of ignoring time.

By the time they looked outside, the streets were empty.

“We’re late again,” Toma said, scratching his head.

“The watchman hates us,” Hachi chuckled. “Especially you, Kai.”

Kai grinned. “Guess I’ll be the decoy.”

He walked to the school gate, putting on his best innocent face. The old watchman stood firm.

“You’re late,” he said, not even blinking.

“Oh?” Kai replied. “I thought school was starting late today.”

The man didn’t move. Kai turned away, acting disappointed—but instead of going home, he slipped behind the buildings. A few minutes later, the group sneaked in through a hidden path behind the old abandoned houses near the school.

Their class was on the top floor. Huge windows showed off the endless sea, but even that couldn’t keep the four of them focused. They chose the last bench every time. When asked why they were late, they smiled and told half-truths like poetry.

Their punishment? Evening class.

But instead of sitting through it, they climbed higher—past the classrooms, onto the rooftop. There, under the cool night sky, they spread out snacks and played cards.

While the others laughed, Kai drifted away. He climbed up to an old platform above the roof—rusted, forgotten, and silent.

From there, he looked out at the sea.

And then he saw it.

A light.

Faint. Flickering.

Once.

Then again.

Three times.

It came from far beyond the water. A place no one talked about. A place no boat ever visited.

Kai stared, his heart pounding. No ships. No towers. Just the blinking light.

The next day was a holiday. As usual, Hachi was at Kai’s door early.

“Fishing?”

Kai rubbed his eyes. “Why not.”

They picked up Toma, who was already carrying snacks. As expected, Ren was missing. But when they reached the edge of the island, they found him lying under his favorite tree, headphones on, eyes closed.

“You joining us or just cloud-watching?” Kai asked.

Ren slowly opened one eye. “Just... resting.”

They laughed and dragged him along.

While fishing, Toma brought up a rumor—a rare beetle called the Axebug, shaped like a rhino beetle but with a sharp axe-like horn.

“They say it shows up once every few years.”

“Let’s find it!” Hachi grinned.

They spent hours in the woods, searching. It didn’t matter that they found nothing. They were together. That was enough.

But just as they were heading back, Kai spotted something—a glint on a high branch. A beetle, shining in the light. Its horn shaped like an axe. Then, just as quickly, it vanished.

That night, Kai couldn’t sleep.

The light was still in his head.

He left home and hiked deep into the forest to a hidden place—an old wooden tower no one visited anymore.

He climbed to the top. From there, the island looked like a map under the stars. The sea glittered below.

Then—again—it came.

Flash.

Flash.

Flash.

It wasn’t random.

It was a signal.

Something was out there.

Beyond the waves. Beyond everything they knew.

Kai stayed there until the sky began to brighten.

This island had always been his world.

But now?

Now it felt like the Beginning.