Dark grey clouds covered the sky. Occasionally, rays of sunlight pierced through the gaps, only to be hidden again before one could take a breath. It felt to Liber as if day and night were repeating multiple times within a single day. It was a sight he had never seen in his eight years of life.

Outside the gaps of the wagon, the landscape of gentle plains stretched out. The rich curves of the terrain extended as far as the eye could see. A gust of wind rippled across the ground, causing small plants to dance upwards as if they could soar endlessly.

The contrast between the vague sky and the peaceful plains felt both like the end of the world and a mysterious harmony. Liber gazed silently at the outside world.

"Is the scenery of the Plains Country Plato unusual for you? It's cloudy all year round here," said the wagon driver, noticing Liber's interest.

At first, Liber didn’t understand what he was saying. Although the language was the same as what Liber and his siblings usually spoke, the pronunciation and vocabulary had slight differences.

"It's been about forty years since the new regime started. Now, even such a fine wagon runs in places like this," the driver said, boasting as if it were his own achievement.

Liber wished he could show this view to Luminita and Clara. He looked at his two younger sisters sleeping beside him. They had been wearing the same clothes for a long time, with hair and skin rough from dust and mud. Their cheeks were gaunt, and their faces pale. Liber looked the same. They had travelled by boat and wagon, far enough that he no longer knew where they were. But this arduous journey was soon to end.

From Luminita and Clara’s bags, an old book and writing tools peeked out. Besides these, they had hardly any belongings. Luminita loved to write stories, and Clara enjoyed drawing pictures for them. The three siblings shared a few moments of happiness through these activities.

Soon, the neighing of horses was heard, and the wagon came to a stop. The driver told them to get out of the wagon. Liber woke Luminita and Clara and helped them get off.

The setting sun painted the western sky crimson. The grey clouds were gradually turning crimson. Nightfall was approaching.

"It's a magnificent view, isn't it? The ever-changing weather and constant clouds are the drawbacks of this country, but they also add to its charm."

Liber was more concerned about his sisters than the scenery. Luminita stared at the sky with wide eyes, and Clara gazed at the view with her mouth open. Seeing their reactions, Liber felt relieved for the first time since arriving.

He wanted to show them more of the world’s beauty. However, the wagon was supposed to head to the town by nightfall.

"Thank you for showing us this beautiful view. But… it's getting dark soon. Shouldn't we be leaving now?" Liber asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," replied the driver.

"Look at my wagon. Doesn't it look beautiful standing on the sunset road? It's meant for carrying cargo, but it has springs for a smoother ride. Wasn't it more comfortable than other wagons?"

"Yes… maybe…," Liber replied, though it was his first time riding a wagon.

"This job pays well. I used the grant money to refurbish this wagon! Isn’t it cool? But that only matters after I deliver all of the orphans to their new homes. I have to calculate the cost per head and the number of passengers. You needed to study, you know."

Liber tried to understand the driver's intentions, but at that moment, he saw the wind whip up the grass at the edge of his vision. The wind’s sound changed from a gentle melody to a howling like wolves.

"Have you finally noticed? It seems true that you can't sense the spirits. My grandfather’s village was destroyed by your country. Barbarians from the Substania…"

The driver continued to mutter discriminatory words, but the increasing wind drowned out his voice. Liber pulled Luminita and Clara closer. The girls clutched his clothes tightly. He tried to smile to reassure them, but standing became difficult as the wind grew stronger.

What would happen next? Liber looked up to seek help from the driver. The wagon had already departed, leaving them behind. It was too far to catch up.

"Liber… I'm scared… What happened?" Luminita's tears were immediately blown away by the wind. Unable to withstand the strengthening gusts, the three of them sat down on the ground.

Liber tried to think and organise his thoughts. However, instead of calm reasoning, memories of his life flooded his mind. Noisy yet lonely days at the orphanage. The moment adults came and separated him from his friends. The long walk to the port town. Arriving in this country by boat. Watching friends being taken to new homes while being left behind. The hopeful ride in the wagon. The crimson sky…

The wind intensified, scattering Luminita's belongings. Her cherished notebook and writing tools were swept into the air, and the clasp came undone, scattering the pages filled with words and drawings. Memories of the three of them searching old notebooks for blank pages to write stories came flooding back.

Something terrible was approaching.

"Let's go back the way we came! Hold hands and don't let go, walk slowly," Liber said as loudly as he could, to be heard over the roar of the wind. The dust and sand whipped up by the storm made it impossible for Liber to discern where they had come from, but still, the three of them held hands and began to walk.

Blood trickled from Liber's shin, as if cut by a sharp blade. The pain hit suddenly as he noticed it. Something struck his forehead, and blood dripped down his eyelids. Stones carried by the wind pelted them.

It felt as if the wind itself was angry. Not just the wind, but the very land seemed enraged, lashing out at them.

A fragment that hit Liber's forehead lay on the ground. It wasn’t a stone but a piece of metal. Looking around, he saw rusty helmets, armour, swords, and spears buried in the ground. There must have been a battle here long ago.

A blackened dagger lifted off the ground, caught in the vortex. It danced in the storm, as if an invisible warrior was testing its balance before a fight. The invisible warrior closed in, aiming at the children. The blade was almost upon them.

Liber turned his back to the dagger and shielded Luminita and Clara. Luminita called his name worriedly, but he didn’t respond. Amidst the rising fear, Liber felt a strange sense of floating, as if reality was slipping away. The ground wobbled beneath him, but whether it was the wind or his unstable consciousness, he couldn’t tell.

At least, he didn’t want Luminita and Clara to suffer anymore. At least, he didn’t want them to see this terrifying reality. At least…

Liber repeated the words in his mind.

(At least, please kill the three of us together so that we don't suffer).

As he realised the meaning of his thoughts, tears flowed naturally. Why was he so weak and powerless? Why can’t he fight to save his sisters?

Something soft touched Liber's cheek. It was Luminita's brown hair. Soft, warm, and fluffy.

"Liber, are you in pain?"

Luminita gazed at him with gentle light green eyes.

"No, big brother's just hungry," Clara said nonchalantly, as if it were a quiet moment before lunch, not understanding the situation.

Touching his sisters, Liber regained a bit of composure.

"Sorry, I'm okay," he said.

There was no time to cry. He had to find a way for the three of them to survive. But how…

Amidst the roaring wind, he heard faint singing.

It was Luminita. Since they were in the orphanage, Luminita loved singing. She called it the "Whale Song."

"Luminita, what are you doing?"

Despite the roaring wind, Luminita's song, a melody she called the "Whale Song," reached Liber's ears. The song was like a whimsical children's tale, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy.

For a moment, the violent wind seemed to weaken. Where it had been impossible to stand, now it seemed they could run.

Liber grabbed Luminita's hand and held Clara close as they ran. Amid the fear and excitement, he vowed never to let go of them. It might have been only a few seconds, but Liber felt like they had broken through a thick, soft wall of air.

Suddenly, the wind that had raged around them ceased. It was as if they had been trapped inside a small dome of storm, now broken.

Looking back, Liber saw a small tornado climbing into the sky from where they had stood. Pieces of metal and stone, broken and blackened swords, spears, and parts of armour and helmets danced wildly in the vortex. Even as they disintegrated, they continued to whirl, bent on destruction until the end.

If they had stayed there, what would have happened to them? Liber shivered at the thought.

"What is that?" Clara asked, staring at the tornado. Liber watched closely and saw something glowing faintly, flying outside the dome of the tornado.

Liber squinted and observed carefully. He thought he saw something faintly glowing, flying outside the tornado's dome. Should he stay and observe a little longer? Just then, Liber's sleeve was tugged. Luminita did.

Liber noticed that her complexion didn't look good. It might be best to leave here first.

"Let's go."

He didn't want to make them anxious. Liber took Clara and Luminita's hands and led the way. But…"Let's go"… where should they go? Was there any place for the three of them to return to? The wagon driver had said his job was to deliver all the orphans to new parents. If his job was now done, what place in this country would accept the three of them?

Just as a feeling of weakness began to take root in Liber's heart again, Clara spoke up.

"I'm really hungry. I want to go somewhere with delicious food. And I'm really sleepy. I want to sleep in a fluffy bed."

Clara was as carefree as ever.

"Yes, you're right… A place with delicious food and warm beds. It might not be possible right now, but we'll find it."

"Really? I want it now," Clara said, pouting. Leaning on Liber's shoulder, Luminita admonished her, "Clara, don't trouble your brother too much."

"You're the one troubling him… , silly sister"

"Am not…"

Listening to their bickering, Liber couldn't help but laugh. The two sisters also laughed along.

Evening had passed. It wouldn't be long before the sun was completely hidden. In an unfamiliar land, without any adults to rely on, surrounded by an unseen landscape and mysterious occurrences… Liber's emotions were a mix of anxiety and excitement, making it hard to organise his feelings.

Even so, they were together now. And they would continue to live together.

Night began to cover the sky. The time when day and night lose their boundaries.

Liber remembered the phrase "Ouma-ga-toki" (the twilight hour, a time when the boundary between worlds grows thin) he had read in a book before. The land of this country was becoming enveloped in an endless darkness, yet Liber felt a strange sense of beauty. Even though they had just been nearly killed by the storm, he felt as if something unseen in this land was welcoming them. Was it just a figment of his imagination?

The setting sun offered no answers, only casting the shadows of the three of them far across the horizon.

***

Mythology and folklore, rich nature and ancient ruins... In this world, people lived together with spirits and ancient technologies. Having just ended yet another significant conflict in history, people were now taking new steps toward peace.

However, the scars of the ancient wars still linger.

Spirits, gods, supernatural forces, ancient relics, blessings, and curses… Non-human entities and powers sometimes accompanied humans and sometimes opposed them, weaving history together.

This world is called Almatria.

In the year 1718 of the Almatria calendar, three siblings set foot in the Plains Country of Plato.