Keku, Heart of the World

[PfizerPfish]

Somewhere out in the forest, the moonlight briefly illuminates a scared, trembling little boy. *ROAR* *GROWL* *SCREECH* Woodland horrors thrive at this late hour, the sounds they make drowned out only by the gurgling of his own, empty stomach. Scared, scarred hands clutch onto a sharp stick as he hides against a tall oak, arms wrapped around his knees. Hot tears flow down his cheeks.

".. someone help... please... please...", says the boy meekly. The village people warned him not to hunt at night, but his lousy swordsmanship left him unable to compete with fellow hunters in the daytime. Starving, he ignored their advice. He used to say, "... nobody hunts at night, so nobody can stop me from getting my food! Bahaha!"

Yet, look at what has happened.

The horrors encroach upon his location and so in a panicked fit he springs up, making a desperate dash toward... somewhere, some place. In his foolishness, he is disoriented and left with no way to guide himself back to his village's small camp... except? The stars up above. He uses them to navigate. They have always been there for him.

But how long until his luck runs out? How long before he's monster food? Will he really never get to eat a good meal again?

This bombardment of inner dialogue worsens his mental state and instills a deep fear in his heart.

Is he going to die?

"imdeadimdeadimdeadimdeadimsoDEAD", he continues to mutter to himself as he cries and sprints and sobs and runs. Watery eyes haze his vision, but still he spots something in the blur. Light!

*ROAAAR*

They're almost here! He needs to get out NOW! He follows the illuminated blur and... "ACK!" He trips--tumbling, rolling. When he comes to his senses, his dirtied self sits up, observing the surrounding area.

How did he get here? A group of funny looking children approach him from a distance. ".. huh?"

It all started with a broken finger.

[PfizerPfish]

Dear Keku,

        Twenty years old, huh? No more "teen" in your age. You're a grown up now, congratulations! You'll need some help navigating this new period in your life, because things are about to get real tricky.

Take this letter, and follow the advice given. This is how to be an adult:


1. You're going to be tired, maybe all the time. It doesn't matter. Your job is to help the people who nurtured you to this point. You must keep working.

2. Don't let romance ruin you. Women only cause problems and won't contribute anything meaningful in your life. Stay away whenever you can.

3. You're responsible for the advancement of your people. They need you, so you're not allowed to give up. The world is more important than you.

4. Sometimes you'll feel sad. This is normal. Feel this emotion in solitude, just like you've always done. Don't let it distract you from your ambitions.

5. You can't save everyone. No hero can. You'll need to accept this. The sooner you do, the better.

6. Use all available resources to rid the world of corrupt people, creatures, and creations. You must protect the beauty of the world at all costs.

Hope this helps! Don't bother writing back, I won't be in a position to receive letters.
Love, ▓▓▓▓▓▓

. . .