Bad Luck

Next Day...

Morning arrived with a warm breeze brushing Yenza's face. But something blocked the sun. As Yenza opened his eyes, an old face stared down at him. He jolted up in shock.

"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Yenza shouted.

Granny Luzie stood over him, hands on her hips. "You wanna get up and get to work or not?"

Yenza said Not again. "Okay, okay... Gimme a minute."

She left, calling out, "Freshen up and eat your breakfast!"

Yenza gave a small smile. For the first time, aside from the jokes, he felt like someone genuinely cared about him. It made him feel special... and a little sad.

Because deep down, he knew—IT WOULDN’T LAST.


»….»….»……

He walked out to a small, majestic pond near Granny's house, the reflection of the clouds dancing across the water. He sat for a while, relaxing himself and he looked up. Suddenly, he spotted something in the sky.

"A flying ship or a dragon? What was it...?" he said to himself. "So this world has dragons or planes, whatever, I have no idea what that was, so let it be. There's so much I still don’t know."

After cleaning up, he sat outside and ate breakfast: warm bread, hearty soup, and a cup of steaming tea.

"You look fired up," Granny Luzie gave him the cold smile of hers."Here’s your job. Take this bag to the local merchant’s shop—Hxe Wood. And here, take these 3 valz. Buy some vegetables and Tyvan fish when you come back."

Yenza took the bag and coins. "Where's this shop?"

"Find it yourself. This place is huge, after all."

"Great," Yenza muttered. "How am I gonna find it, you old witch?"

"So you don't want to go to the other town, huh?"

Yenza sighed. "Okay, okay... I got it."

»…»..»….

He left the house and wandered through the bustling streets. People traded goods, music echoed from alleyways, and the scent of grilled meat filled the air. He reached a fork—one path to the ships, the other to the port.

"I'll check the port first," he decided.

At the port, he saw a line of people registering for something. One man said, "Today’s the last day."

Yenza rushed to the queue and glanced at his valz.

"Registration fee is 2 valz," the clerk announced.

With hesitation, Yenza paid. Now only one valz remained.

He sat at the edge of the dock, waves lapping at his feet, and stared at the coin in his hand.

"Granny's gonna kill me for this..."

He stood. "Better deliver this bag first."


».».».»……..

"MOVE! MOVE!"

A shout broke the air. Yenza turned—

Crash!

A man slammed into him, sending Yenza flying into the water.

"Thanks for saving me, mister!" the man yelled.

Yenza spluttered. "You're welcome! Now help me out or what?!"

"Oh—sorry!" The guy pulled him out.

"Where are you rushing to?" Yenza asked.

"Registration! I'm almost late!"

"You too, huh?"

"They’re about to close it!"

The guy ran off and barely managed to register in time.

Later, he came back to Yenza. "I never introduced myself. I'm Lan."

"Yenza."

"You're going to explore the continent too?"

Yenza said: I dunno. Just felt like it. Sitting around doing nothing feels pointless."

Lan smiled. "Wanna hang out? There’s a local bar."

"Can’t. Got a job to finish."

"Then maybe tomorrow?"

Yenza paused. Right... I'm leaving tomorrow. He nodded. "Yeah, sure."


»…»…»…….

"You seem to know this place well, Lan."

"I came here a week ago. I'm from the Eastra Continent."

"Eastra, huh..." Yenza tilted his head. "Say, do you know a shop called Hxe Woods?"

"Of course. Near Haxidean Forest. I was heading there anyway. Wanna come?"

"Lucky and unlucky at the same time," Yenza muttered.

They crossed streets until they reached a quiet, shady corner where the shop stood.

"Why is it in such an isolated spot?"

"Because... they move things that probably shouldn't be moved. If you get what I mean."

"Black market stuff? Cool."

Before entering, Yenza eyed the object Lan carried.

"That's a katana?"

"Yeah."

"Why carry one?"

"You’ll see. This place is dangerous. Everyone’s armed. What do you have, Yenza?"

Yenza smiled. "Nothing, I guess."

Lan laughed. "That’s funny. And what’s that weird mark on your hand? Looks... unusual."

Yenza hesitated. The strange cross-shaped scar on his arm pulsed faintly. "I don’t know."

Lan didn’t believe him, but said nothing.


---

Inside the shop, the place was dusty and filled with rare woods. One blackish wood stood out.

"That’s Haxe Wood, right?" Yenza asked.

At the counter, he handed over the bag. "Miss Luzie told me to give you this."

The merchant checked the contents and nodded. "All good. Need anything else?"

Yenza noticed a board with posted papers. "What's that?"

"Jobs. You want to earn valz? Take one."

Lan grinned. "Let’s see the wanted list."

Yenza pointed at one. "This one: collect 5 Haxe Woods. Pays 12 valz. Want to split it?"

"Let’s go."


»..»…»……

HAXIDEAN FOREST

"Hardly any sunlight slipped through the dense leaves. It might as well have been night.”

"Breathtaking..." Yenza whispered.

Lan pointed. "There’s an old cabin made of pure Haxe Wood. We can collect from there."

They went deeper into the woods. The silence was unnerving.

"Thanks, Lan. Without you, I’d be lost."

"We’re friends now, right?"

Yenza smiled. For the first time in his life, he had a real friend.

Back in his old world, people rejected him for being too good. Too smart. Too different.

He hated that world.

They reached the cabin. It glowed eerily.

"Wait... something's off," Yenza muttered.

They approached cautiously—

WHAM!

They hit an invisible wall.

"A barrier? Why..."

Yenza's eyes widened. "It’s a trap."

FWOOOSH!

A spear burst from the shadows.

Lan tore the cloth from his katana and slashed—CLANG!

Both weapons shattered.

Lan activated his Lyth ability. The blade reassembled in mid-air.

"What the hell?!" Yenza gasped.

"Later," Lan said. "First—we have company."

A dark voice echoed from the cabin.

"Ha ha ha... You two are easy prey."

The merchant stepped out—but before he could say more, his head snapped back.

SLASH!

Blood splattered. The people around him collapsed in a flash. Dead.

"Without a word, Yenza and Lan threw themselves behind the nearest tree as footsteps closed in.”

"What the hell..." Yenza whispered.

"Wait," Lan said. "I sense Lyth... a strong one."

BOOM!

An explosion rocked the forest.

Above them, silhouettes clashed mid-air, their powers lighting up the forest like fireworks.

Then—

FWOOOSH!

A blur appeared before them.

Tall, cloaked in black and crimson, eyes glowing with cruel delight.

"You were supposed to be DEAD!" the man hissed.

Yenza's blood ran cold. The man was powerful—too fast, too dangerous.

"Name's Lutwel, by the way," he smirked. "Try not to forget it while you're dying."

He struck Lan with a crushing kick—THUD!—Lan slammed into a tree, unconscious.

Lutwel conjured a spiraling Lyth-spear and he rushed at yenza.

Yenza's mark began to bleed.

Lutwel halted. "That mark... you're not him. But... you look familiar."

He stepped back. Confused. Hesitant.

Yenza gasped. Is this guy one of the ones who killed the body’s previous owner?

His mark glowed bright red.

"You’re weak," Lutwel spat. "You’re not who we killed. But I buried someone in Valroke... someone who mattered."

He laughed madly.

Yenza, desperate, grabbed Lan's katana and cut his palm. Blood spilled.

Suddenly—

A cross-shaped energy surged from his hand.

FWOOM!

Yenza vanished into the shadows.

He focused, the energy feeding on his blood.

"No choice..." he whispered, dizzy.

Then—

BOOOOOM!

The cross-shaped energy detonated, tearing through the forest. Trees exploded. Lutwel’s laughter stopped.

He ran. Fast.

But the energy chased him, locked on.

It struck.

BOOM!

His body burned, screaming until nothing remained.

it was so intense that the darkest forest shine for the first time …



»..»..»…..

Lan woke, groaning. "What happened...?"

They lay beneath a tree, bleeding, battered.

Yenza coughed. "My luck sucks."

Lan chuckled weakly. "Pretty much."

"Hey... Tomorrow’s the final day in this village."

"Yeah."

"Wanna stay at my place? It’s a witch’s house. Don’t worry. You’ll like this witch."

Lan raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about..."

They both laughed.

Even after everything that happened, Yenza wasn’t scared.

As the sun set in a fiery blaze, they walked toward the old house.

For The Last Time.

                          ………..★…………