Unbreathe Me

As the first light of dawn stretched across the horizon, we set out on our quest. The sky still held the faint glimmer of last night's sky gems; their brilliance now more of a gentle whisper compared to their earlier dance. The path ahead was like a teasing riddle, daring us to uncover its secrets, and we answered the challenge.

As the day wore on, we continued our search, pausing only for a brief lunch. Nabilah's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as we ate. "You two seemed awfully cozy last night, huh?" she teased, nudging me with her elbow. "Sitting together beneath the sky, hands touching. Is there something you'd like to share?"

Putri's cheeks turned as pink as the first blush of dawn, and I choked on my laughter, feeling like I'd just taken a wrong turn into Embarrassment City. "We were just... stargazing," I managed to stammer out, avoiding Nabilah's knowing glance. "Admiring the universe's sparkle, you know? Nothing more."

"Universe's sparkle, huh?" Nabilah replied, her grin widening. "Right."

Our laughter and playful jabs continued until the sinking sun cast a golden glow over the land. Trudging up a high ridge, I suddenly noticed a promising rock formation between two peaks.

"There!" I cried, barely containing my excitement. "Do you see that?"

"What? What is it?" Nabilah asked, squinting towards the direction I was pointing.

Quickly, I sketched a spyglass and peered through it. "The cave entrance! I think I've found it!"

Nabilah and Putri rushed over, and I handed the spyglass to Putri, who confirmed my spotting. "He's right! It's there!"

And that's when we all saw it—a peculiar crack hidden high up in the cliffside, marked with an ancient symbol matching the lore surrounding the heart stone. Climbing up the precarious rocks, we confirmed it. The discovery felt like finally pulling that ultra-rare character in a gacha game during a rate-up event, only this time, the rate up wasn't a lie. We had actually found it!

"Finally!" Nabilah exclaimed, her voice echoing in the still air.

"We should consider careers as treasure hunters, don't you think?" I grinned, unable to hide my enthusiasm.

Putri reached out to touch the stone marking, closing her eyes as a soft hum resonated from her being. "It's here," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "I can feel the heart stone's magic. It's like... a faint song calling to us."

I felt it too. A gentle tug, an inexplicable calling that resonated deep within my very soul. It was as though the heart stone itself was reaching out to us, calling us to come closer.

We stepped inside, our hearts pounding like drumbeats, each step echoing with the thrill of the unknown. The air was heavy and thick with a musty odor, as though we had disturbed an ancient slumber. Our job was not finished, but we were a major milestone closer. 

As we entered the foreboding cave, Pyu stayed close by my side. The oppressive atmosphere made Pyu's fur stand on end. Yet as we neared the Heartstone's chamber, her eyes lit up at its radiance. She drew closer, enchanted by its power.

"Do you feel it too, Pyu?" I asked. She nodded, transfixed.

The passage sloped steadily downward, the cold air pressing in around us. Moving deeper, the light from the entrance faded, leaving only our flickering torches to push back the darkness.

The jagged cave walls were etched with strange symbols that lurked at the edge of our torchlight. We proceeded cautiously, senses strained for any sign of danger. But all was still, as if the shadows themselves held their breath.

Then the passage opened up into a glittering cavern, and we froze in awe. Embedded in the far wall was an enormous crystalline structure, radiating brilliant pulses of light - the Heartstone.

We approached slowly, taking in the intricate runes and carvings adorning the ancient walls. Putri delicately traced them with her hands, her voice echoing as she translated fragments of mythic tales.

"It speaks in vague riddles, as ancient texts often do," Putri murmured. "It mentions primordial origins, forces dreaming reality into being, the Heartstone capturing some kind of genesis spark to seed life in the void." She shook her head in frustration. "It's difficult to decipher clearly." The cryptic words hung heavy, hinting at truths beyond grasp.

I drew closer, feeling an odd familiarity wash over me, like a half-remembered dream. The Heartstone—its origins intertwined with gods and creation itself. Its intricate carvings and powerful energy were alluring, yet its true purpose remained just out of my grasp.

Putri reached out delicately to touch the Heartstone first. She gasped as warm energy flowed into her, invigorating her senses. Nabilah touched it next, feeling temporarily stronger and refreshed as well.

Nabilah inspected the glowing crystal and frowned. "I assumed harnessing its power would be simple. But this magic... it's beyond anything I've encountered."

Their reactions were brief. The Heartstone's deeper power remained dormant. However, I sensed something more waiting... if I dared make contact.

I hesitated briefly before reaching out to touch the crystalline surface. The Heartstone's energy thrummed to life, reacting to my presence. With trembling hands, I made contact. A brilliant flare erupted, filling my mind with vivid visions...

In a flash, I was no longer in the cavern but in a crowded convention center, holding a pen instead of a sword. Around me, fans of all ages buzzed with excitement. A speaker took the stage and announced, "And the award for Best New Manga goes to... 'Shadows of Fate' by Nanang Suranang!"

Cheers exploded from the crowd as I walked up to the podium to accept a sleek, glass trophy. I was on cloud nine, my heart swelling with pride. All those nights I'd spent sketching and inking, fueled by dreams and an unhealthy amount of caffeine, had finally paid off. My story about the eternal fight between good and evil, and the never-ending pursuit of hope, had touched people's hearts. But then the vision began to fade.

My heart raced as I pulled my hand away from the Heartstone. Had I glimpsed another life, or was it a half-forgotten memory?

Before the visions fully coalesced, a sudden tremor shook the cavern walls. I gasped, dread gripping my heart as I realized we were not alone.

The shaking intensified. Nabilah drew her blade, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Then the Queen burst through the cracked wall, flanked by her elite guard. Her crown caught the unsettling light of the Heartstone. Meeting my gaze, she was as cold and final as an executioner's axe. "So the prophecy speaks truth—the Fated one has surfaced," she sneered.

I stood frozen, jolted from my fragmented visions to this dangerous reality. Nabilah unsheathed her sword, ready for a fight. Putri gripped her staff tightly, the air around its tip shimmering with potential magic. Both stood beside me, and I couldn't help but feel like the main character in an action movie. Only difference? No retakes if I flubbed my lines or, you know, got skewered by dark magic.

"What do you want, Your Majesty?" Nabilah's tone made the title sound more like an insult than a sign of respect. Her hand gripped her blade, as if challenging the universe itself.

I took a steadying breath, my voice tinged with desperation. "Your Majesty, we came here to rescue the villagers, not to start a war."

The Queen's laughter cut through the air, as biting as the sharp edges of her crown. "You think you can deceive me? I know you're after the Heartstone's power, Fated Fabricator."

Fated Fabricator? She kept branding me with a title I didn't even understand. I tried to reason with her. "You've got it all wrong—"

She cut me off. "Silence! The prophecy of ruin ends now."

Her fingers crackled with magic, swirling motes of deadly energy accumulating at her fingertips. Nabilah tightened her grip on her sword, a steely resolve in her eyes. Putri's staff glowed brighter, a counterpoint to the Queen's dark magic.

As the Queen's magic reached a crescendo, the cavern shook as if rebelling against the impending doom. My drawing tools felt like anchors in my trembling hands.

When had I become embroiled in a life-or-death scenario?

I hadn't signed up to be a world-changing hero—or the chosen one, whatever that was; I was just a guy who wanted to live a simple life and do some good.