In a quiet era, a small boy stepped out of his white wooden house and walked into the street in front of him. There, he saw another child—a boy with golden hair, around six years old.
"Let's play, Zakryos!" said Seriaj with a smile.
The two boys began playing hide and seek in the street. Zakryos held a red balloon pump in his hand, laughing as he ran. As the sun began to set, their game came to an end, and Seriaj returned to his home.
On Zakryos's way back, a sudden gust of wind snatched his balloon into the sky. He chased after it, following it until it drifted over an old, towering wall covered in thorns and holes. The balloon had become lodged in one of the holes—far beyond his reach.
Suddenly, a mysterious man appeared, dressed in a gray coat and matching hat. He silently watched as Zakryos struggled helplessly to retrieve the balloon. Without a word, the man reached out, plucked the balloon from the wall, and handed it to the boy.
"This is your balloon, little one," the man said gently.
Zakryos took the balloon and smiled with gratitude. "Thank you… Who are you?"
The man smiled faintly. "I'm a traveler in search of something."
Zakryos tilted his head. "What are you looking for?"
The man chuckled softly. "You're too young to understand. Tell me, what's your name?"
"Zakryos!" the boy replied proudly.
"And where do you live?"
Zakryos narrowed his eyes. "Why do you want to know?"
The man's smile lingered. "I might visit someday. I don't know this area very well."
"I live near the Ishbilia fuel station, in the center of this area."
The man nodded. "Then hurry home, little one. Nightfall is coming."
---
Zakryos returned home late to find his mother waiting at the door, worry etched across her face.
"Where were you, Zakryos? I was so worried!"
"I'm sorry," he said nervously. "My balloon flew away. I had to get it back."
"Don't do that again," she scolded gently.
They went inside. As she prepared dinner, she asked, "Did you meet anyone today?"
Before he could answer, a knock came at the door. It was their neighbor, Miriam, holding a plate of food.
"I made this for you and Zakryos," she said warmly.
They exchanged greetings, and Zakryos's mother accepted the plate. After dinner, she said, "Time to get ready for bed, my dear."
Zakryos climbed the stairs and soon drifted into sleep.
---
But in the dead of night, he awoke to find his bedroom door ajar.
Descending the stairs slowly, he saw the couch torn apart, claw marks on the walls and floor, and blood scattered everywhere.
From the kitchen came eerie sounds. When he peeked in, horror gripped him—his mother was grievously wounded. Her right arm and left leg had been severed, her left eye gouged out.
The man in the gray coat stood behind her, gripping her neck.
Zakryos's voice trembled. "M-Mother…"
With tears in her eyes, she whispered, "Run, my son… Run…"
But Zakryos didn't freeze. He spotted shards of broken glass from the shattered window nearby. Without hesitation, he grabbed one and lunged at the man with all his might.
The man caught him by the right arm, holding him in place. Yet Zakryos managed to slash the man's wrist, drawing blood.
The man looked at the wound and smirked. "Even as a child, you resist… Interesting."
He hurled Zakryos across the room with brutal force.
His mother screamed, "Run! Please, RUN!"
And in that cruel moment, the man severed her neck. Her head rolled to Zakryos's feet.
The man then calmly said, "Run, child."
Zakryos fled, clutching a button torn from his mother's clothes.
---
Outside, the neighborhood was engulfed in flames and destruction. Monstrous creatures roamed freely.
He saw Seriaj lying on the ground, bleeding. Through weak breaths, Seriaj whispered, "Save me, Zakryos…" and then went still.
Zakryos cried out in anguish and ran toward the forest, the creatures chasing close behind.
He tripped and fell, and the beasts closed in.
---
But suddenly, a strange girl appeared—a young girl with white hair, cat ears, and a long, white tail. She slaughtered the beasts with terrifying ease.
She grabbed Zakryos by the neck, nearly choking him. But as she looked into his sorrowful face, something changed in her. She released him and stepped away.
Zakryos struggled to his feet and continued running, but his legs felt numb and heavy.
He shut his eyes, ready to die.
---
In that moment, a man appeared, wielding a blood-stained sword. He cut down the remaining monsters with ruthless precision.
He wore a military uniform, and behind him stood a man and a woman, both heavily armed.
"We've cleared the enemies in this area," one of them said.
The commander nodded. "Good."
"Who's that kid?" the soldier asked.
"I don't know," replied the commander, approaching Zakryos. "But he's still breathing."
He knelt beside the boy. "Are you alright?"
Zakryos didn't answer. He collapsed, unconscious.
---