Gravel crunched under their dusty feet as a small boy climbed the mountain path. Sweat rolled down his forehead, and he gripped his father's rough hand tightly.
"Father," the boy panted, "why are we going so high? What's even up there that we have to walk this far?"
He glanced back at his younger siblings. "Lumi's legs are shaking, and Arthur looks like he's going to faint."
Their father chuckled softly. "Just a little more, Nyxen. We're almost there. You'll see—some things are worth the effort, even if it's hard."
Arthur groaned. "Worth it? I think my soul is leaving my body."
Behind them, Lumi stopped walking. Her cheeks were red, and she crossed her arms dramatically.
"I'm done," she said. "I'm not walking anymore. Carry me."
Their father sighed but smiled. He bent down, brushed dust off her skirt, and lifted her into his arms.
"Alright, little queen," he said. "Let's go."
Arthur smirked. "Then carry us too! We're all tired!"
Their father laughed. "If I carry all of you, my back will break before we even reach the top."
He ruffled Arthur's hair and nudged him forward. "Come on, just a little more."
Their mother turned and smiled at them. Her face was sweaty, but her smile was bright.
"When we reach the top," she said, "you'll forget about the pain. I promise. Do you know.
Our elders say that on this mountain, a god once fell in love with a human.
And they named this place Amaril
It became sacred to our village.
And… this is also where I met your father."
She smiled again.
Nyxen squinted at her. "A surprise?"
She nodded. "Your father proposed to me up there."
All the kids groaned.
Nyxen made a face. Wow really.
"Why would you tell us that?!" Arthur said.
Lumi looked confused. "What's a proposal?"
Their father waved his hand. "That's enough. You don't need to know everything."
But even he was smiling.
The family kept climbing, slowly, step by step, heading not just to the top of a mountain—but toward a memory, a story carved into stone.
They turned the last corner.
They were all sweating, tired, and dusty. Lumi had been carried most of the way. But when they stepped up onto the final ledge—
Everything changed.
"Is this it?" Arthur whispered.
"Look," their father said, lifting his chin.
Before them, the world stretched wide.
Mountains stood like giants, their snowy peaks glowing orange under the evening sun. Between the cliffs, a rainbow had formed.
It shimmered in the mist, glowing where sunlight hit the waterfall, splitting the light into sparkling pieces. It looked alive, swaying gently in the wind.
Down below, green forests waved like oceans. Birds flew above the trees. Bright red birds darted between branches, and animals rustled the leaves like music.
Near a winding silver river, their village rested—small, golden, glowing.
Smoke rose from chimneys. A cow wandered past a field. Children's laughter echoed faintly from somewhere near the grain barn. From this height, the village looked like a warm pocket stitched into the land.
The children stopped talking.
Even Lumi and Arthur, who had been complaining, stood still.
"It looks like heaven," Lumi whispered.
"If heaven exists," Nyxen said softly, "it might look like this."
Their mother smiled. This was the moment she had waited for—through hunger, debt, and pain. This one peaceful moment.
"I told you," she said. "You'd forget the climb."
She stepped toward the edge. The wind played with her hair.
Then she looked at Nyxen with love and said:
"Happy birthday, Nyxen."
"Happy birthday, son," his father added.
Arthur and Lumi yelled together, "Happy birthday, big brother!"
Nyxen looked at all their faces.
Arthur and Lumi were smiling and leaning against each other. His father kael looked tired but proud. His mother's dress was old and torn in places, but Lara's smile outshone the sky.
Nyxen grinned. "Thank you."
His mother kissed his forehead. His father placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're twelve now," he said. "A big boy."
From her bag, the mother took out a cloth bundle tied with string.
Arthur's eyes lit up. "What's that?!"
"Dinner," she said proudly. "Fresh bread—and Papa brought cookies."
"Cookies?!" Lumi shouted in excitement.
Nyxen laughed and wiped a drool spot from her chin.
"Alright, sit down," their father said. "Time to eat."
Arthur tried to grab a cookie, but Lumi caught him.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"I didn't do anything!"
"You took one! Big brother should get the first one—it's his birthday!"
They began to argue.
Nyxen smiled and gave them both a cookie.
"Here. One for each."
"But you haven't eaten yet!" Lumi and Arthur said.
Their mother broke another cookie in half and fed it to Nyxen.
"It's good," he said, then broke off pieces for his parents.
They sat in a circle, eating slowly, laughing quietly.
There was no roof, no fire, no fancy meal—just love, and crumbs, and warmth.
As the sun dipped lower, their shadows stretched long across the mountain.
The rainbow still shimmered in silence.
Then—
Lumi looked up. Her voice was small.
"Mama… if we weren't born slaves… and don't have this ring mark in our wrist could we have brought a cake? Or better clothes for brother nyxen ? Don't we deserve good things too? Didn't God make us too?"
The laughter faded.
Her mother gently touched her hair.
"Yes, my child," she said softly. "We're poor. And yes, people look down on us. But we have something many rich people don't."
"Love. Honour. And each other." and all of you are my treasures.
Her smile held strong, though her eyes looked ready to cry.
She added quietly, "I heard the king is calling heroes from other worlds. Their training will happen near our village. Your papa is going to help make their weapons."
The children sat straight, eyes wide.
"Really, Papa? You'll make swords for heroes?!"
Their father nodded. "Maybe this time… things will change."
"I'll be a hero when I grow up!" Arthur shouted, jumping.
"Me too!" Lumi added, swinging her arms like she held a sword.
Their father laughed. "Of course you will."
Their mother kissed their foreheads.
"Now sleep. we need to get up early tomorrow
They lay down under the open sky, no fire to keep them warm—only each other's arms.
And slowly, one by one, they fell asleep.
Their mother stayed awake a little longer.
She turned to her husband and whispered, "If we had been born without the mark … we could've sent them to school. Maybe Nyxen wouldn't have to grow up so fast. Maybe he could've done what he wanted to do . Or something more."
Her husband stared at the stars. "I want that too, Lara. But no one helps people like us. They see us as dirt and disgust
She nodded.
"But I heard… these new heroes don't have the ring mark in their wrist. In their worlds and they are free to do what they want .
Maybe they'll be different. Maybe they'll see us. Maybe they'll help."
They looked at their sleeping children.
Their faces were so peaceful—it hurt to look.
A breeze passed through the trees.
Midnight on the Cliff
Lumi suddenly woke up, breathing fast. She grabbed the blanket
Tears came to her eyes.
Her soft sobs echoed in the quiet night.
Nyxen opened his eyes. Arthur turned in his sleep. Lara sat up right away. Kael rubbed his eyes and leaned over.
"Lumi?" Lara asked gently. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Why are you crying?"
Kael brushed her cheek. Do you have a Bad dream, lumi ?"
Lumi nodded, sniffling.
Nyxen sat up beside her. "What did you see in your dreams, Lumi?"
She pointed at Arthur.
"He… he ate all my cookies," she cried, "and he was teasing me!"
Arthur blinked, confused. "What? I was asleep!"
Lara gave him a look. "Arthur…"
"I swear I didn't!" he whispered.
Kael and everyone laughed and kael held out his arms. "Come sleep with me, little one."
But Lumi shook her head.
"No... I want to sleep with big brother."
She crawled to Nyxen and held onto him tightly.
Nyxen smiled and hugged her. "Don't worry. I'm here. No one's taking your cookies."
And he looks at arthur and smile
Do you understand Arthur
Arthur with a annoyed face
Okey okey i understand
The night calmed again. The wind moved softly above them. Stars glittered overhead.
Then— A sudden cold wind blew past them. Sharp and strange.
And with it, a voice. Soft, like it came from nearby.
"…Nyxen…"
Nyxen opened his eyes.
He looked around quickly.
Behind them—only rocks, cliffs, and sky.
Nothing else.
He stared into the dark.
Lumi stirred. "What is it?"
Nyxen paused, then shook his head.
"…Nothing," he said. "Just the wind."
Lumi didn't ask again. She snuggled into his chest.
Nyxen closed his eyes.
"Who said my name"?
But the strange feeling in the air didn't go away.