"Hazen is of age now. Why don't we marry him to Alika? I feel like they make a good match."
Hearing their discussion, Hazen went into a trance, feeling that everything was surreal, like he didn't belong to the place, as if the person they were discussing about wasn't him. His thoughts came to a halt when he heard his grandfather's voice.
"But, I don't think that's appropriate. He's…someone divine." The Village Chief said.
'Divine?' Alika's eyes widened in surprise as she felt confused. She couldn't remember much about her childhood. And after that incident in the treehouse when Hazen was six years old, he didn't express any other symptoms of being different from the rest.
The only thing unique about him was his short height and the mysterious symbol on his forehead that was also inscribed on a large stone pillar in their place of worship.
"That is precisely the reason we must do this." Another elder's voice resounded, "For various reasons, Hazen was reborn as one of us. And he has been and will be one of us until his death. If you wish for him to be happy, then treat him just like the rest. Wasn't that your words, Chief?"
"Hah…I'm becoming senile as I age." The Village Chief's exhausted voice resounded before he said, "Whatever the case may be, I'll leave the decision to Hazen. He's old enough to decide for himself now."
"Besides, any decision he takes would be better than what this senile old fart can come up with." He said, sighing in the end, "If he wishes to marry Alika, I'll be the happiest."
"Yo, they are seriously hitching us…" Alika whispered to her side when she noticed that Hazen had vanished. She then looked around, noticing his silhouette near the edge of the forest of trees, staring at the horizon.
She approached him, not saying anything as she sat beside him, gently massaging his back, "It's alright."
"It's…not…" Tears streamed out of his eyes as he began to cry immediately after, "It's hard to put on an act, for so many years at that."
"Has it become worse?" Alika asked.
"Yes, it's constant now." Hazen said, "I'm able to distract myself from them, but they are ever-present now. I feel like I'm on the verge of going mad now."
"But, I don't want to worry grandpa and others." He continued, "So, I put on an act like I was perfectly normal. But honestly, I'm at my limit."
"These…screams…" Alika minced her words, carefully saying upon seeing how he handled it, "What…do they desire from you?"
"Peace of mind…" Hazen said, "From the start, they've only desired one thing."
"Then…do you have the power to grant that?" Alika asked next, staring deep into his eyes.
"…Yes." Hazen replied, "I do."
"Then…"
"But, it's sealed." He continued, "I feel like I'll become an entirely different person if I undo that seal. And I…don't want to change."
"Then, I'll help you bear the burden." Alika smiled, "Would that ease your pain?"
"Don't speak nonsense." He sniffed, wiping his tears, "You'll go mad in an instant."
"It's not something anyone can handle."
"But you're handling it, right?" She said, "Try me. If I can handle it, then I'll be able to reduce your burden."
"To do that, I'll have to tap into that power in me…" Hazen said, "I have no guarantee of the person I'll become once I do that."
He then shook his head, "Forget it. Just stay beside me. I'll be able to manage it if you do that."
"Wow, since when did you take the lead?" Alika raised an eyebrow.
"From the start?" Hazen tilted his head before bursting into laughter, looking like he had recovered.
"Something's coming!" Suddenly, the duo heard shouts from the villagers as something that resembled a small island approached them.
"Run!" Hazen shouted as he grabbed hold of Alika's hand and began to sprint towards the village.
Everyone that was picking fruits in the outer forest sprinted onto the island, staring at the approaching entity nervously.
"Would it crash into us?" Someone asked.
"The ocean currents should make it impossible for anything to naturally drift to our village." The Village Chief said, panting due to his old age, aching all over his body thanks to the run.
Boom!
The small island crashed into the stretch of trees that grew on the water, blasting through them before gushing out of the water, landing on the land, and forming a long trench before stopping.
"…Origin Beast." The Village Chief muttered in fear, "At the Martial Providence Stage…most probably."
Even though he wasn't sure, as there weren't any proper records detailing that in their village, he still guessed that the Origin Beast before them was at the Martial Providence Stage, judging by the extent of damage a mere crash from it resulted, gazing at the clear path through the forest that had opened to the ocean.
Guooong!
The Origin Beast opened its mouth, unleashing a violent shriek as it shuddered, bleeding profusely, injured in various places. And judging by the teeth marks, it was from a school of violent fish that had clobbered it.
The Origin Beast trembled in pain, roaring nonstop as every villager trembled in fear, retreating instinctively.
Suddenly, the Village Chief looked around before shouting, "Hazen! Stop! It's dangerous! Don't go near it!"
"It's…pregnant," Hazen muttered in a daze as his face sported a sympathetic expression. His eyes reddened as he muttered, "It only wishes for the safe delivery of its child, nothing else."
"Hazen!" The Village Chief almost fainted due to tension, fearing the Origin Beast's thrashing would swat him to his death.
But suddenly, the moment Hazen approached it, the Origin Beast stopped struggling, remaining as still as possible while its eyes trailed after him, expressing its only wish.
"I heard you loud and clear." Hazen nodded as the symbol on his forehead lit up in response, causing faint starlight to sparkle all around him, revealing a dense stream that trailed from the Origin Beast and flowed into him.
The emotions in them were expressed loud and clear, causing even the villagers to hear them.
"Please! Save my child!"
"Got it." Hazen nodded, gently placing his hand on its belly as the starlight seeped through it, "This is the reason for my existence."
