World of Beasts: The Untold Journey

Chapter 1 — Regret

The monotonous scratching of chalk against the blackboard filled the classroom as the teacher continued his lesson, occasionally pausing to wipe the dust from his fingers.

It was an otherwise ordinary school day.

The classroom, however, was anything but impressive. Its walls were weathered and discoloured, the wooden desks bore years of scratches and splintered edges, and the blackboard at the front had grown so worn that even the slightest pressure threatened to leave another permanent mark across its surface. It was a wonder the school could afford to maintain it at all.

Then again, what else could be expected from a village as impoverished as theirs?

The village itself had little to offer. Its residents struggled to make ends meet, and even the most basic necessities were sometimes regarded as luxuries. Naturally, the school was no exception.

Ritsu sat beside his childhood friend, Chenzi. They had known each other for as long as either could remember, and their relationship had long since grown beyond ordinary friendship. To Ritsu, Chenzi was practically a brother.

Unfortunately, that didn't make him any less annoying.

"This is so boring. Who even believes those beasts ever existed?"

Chenzi leaned back in his chair, looking thoroughly uninterested in the lesson.

Ritsu glanced at him before returning his attention to the blackboard.

"You shouldn't be so laid-back, you know."

"Oh? So you actually believe this nonsense? Never would've thought you were one of those people."

"Of course I do. My mother always told me to remain vigilant of the government, especially since we live in a village like this. Who knows when they'll come and abduct our children?"

Chenzi opened his mouth, seemingly about to respond.

"True, but..."

"But what?!"

Ritsu turned towards him, his voice rising with each word.

"Do you actually believe the government is innocent?! They're the reason my father was executed!"

"Ritsu! Keep your voice down! And you too, Chenzi!"

The teacher's stern reprimand silenced the two boys. Several students turned towards them, their curious gazes lingering for a moment before returning to their lessons.

Neither Ritsu nor Chenzi said another word.

***

The two boys eventually left the classroom, stepping into the corridor as the muffled sounds of lessons continued behind them.

The corridor was scarcely better maintained than the classroom. Its faded walls were marked with cracks, and the wooden floorboards creaked beneath their footsteps.

"It was your fault we got yelled at."

Chenzi spoke with an irritatingly casual tone.

He had always enjoyed provoking Ritsu, even when he knew perfectly well that he was the one in the wrong.

"Huh?! My fault? Are you missing a few screws in your head?"

"Calm down. I'm kidding."

"So you're finally taking responsibility?"

"Hey, I tried being nice. Don't push your luck."

Ritsu scoffed, though the irritation in his expression gradually faded.

"Anyway, wanna take a quick trip to the forest again?"

"Sorry, can't. I've got to fill in for my father and look after my grandmother."

"Can't your mother take care of that?"

"She's busy too. It's difficult enough making a living in a tiny village like this. Meanwhile, people in the city get to spend their days relaxing without worrying about where their next meal is coming from."

Chenzi let out a faint sigh.

Ritsu understood what he meant. Life in the village was hardly generous to anyone. Most families had to work tirelessly just to maintain their livelihoods, and there was rarely enough time left for anything else.

"I guess I'll go by myself, then."

The two eventually parted ways.

Ritsu watched Chenzi disappear into the distance.

There was something he wanted to ask him.

No. He would probably get annoyed if Ritsu brought it up again.

I wonder what it's like to have a father.

The thought lingered in his mind.

His mother had always refused to explain why his father had been executed. Whenever Ritsu brought up the subject, she would either change the topic or tell him that there was nothing he needed to know.

But one thing had always remained certain in his mind.

It was the government's fault.

That was all his mother had told him, and as far as Ritsu was concerned, it was all he needed to know.

He had no reason to doubt her.

---

The forest stretched across an enormous expanse of land, it was forming an almost impenetrable canopy overhead. Towering trees stood shoulder to shoulder, their thick branches intertwining above the undergrowth. Bushes crowded the forest floor, leaving only narrow passages between them.

Despite its imposing appearance, the forest possessed a certain beauty.

Sunlight filtered through the canopy in scattered beams, illuminating patches of earth and casting intricate patterns of light and shadow across the ground.

Yet, for Ritsu, the forest's true beauty lay somewhere else entirely.

Reaching his favourite spot was never particularly easy. The journey was steep and exhausting, with uneven terrain making every step more troublesome than the last.

Nevertheless, he never regretted making the trip.

Not when the reward was something like this.

After finally reaching the elevated clearing, Ritsu approached the edge and looked towards the distant city.

The view was breathtaking.

From his vantage point, the sprawling metropolis appeared almost miniature, its enormous structures reduced to silhouettes against the horizon. Skyscrapers pierced the skyline, standing tall above the surrounding buildings. Beyond them lay sprawling villas, shopping malls and countless other structures that seemed to belong to an entirely different world.

Even the occasional sports car, gliding along the distant roads, caught his attention.

They were things Ritsu had only ever dreamed of seeing up close.

The difference between the city and his village was almost laughable.

One seemed to possess everything, while the other struggled to provide even the bare necessities.

And yet, there was something captivating about the sight.

Ritsu settled down and spent the next hour simply gazing at the landscape, allowing himself to get lost in its beauty.

If only Chenzi were here. It would've been much more fun.

Usually, the two of them visited this place together. They would spend hours talking about their futures, exchanging ridiculous ambitions and making promises neither of them knew how to fulfill.

Ritsu, in particular, had a habit of making rather extravagant declarations.

He would proudly announce that one day he would become king, make their village wealthy and put an end to the government's corruption.

Whenever he said it, he wore an enormous grin, speaking with such conviction that anyone watching might have mistaken him for someone who had already witnessed his own future.

Of course, deep down, Ritsu knew how unrealistic it all sounded.

Still, that had never stopped him from dreaming.

---

By the time Ritsu finally noticed the change in the sky, darkness had already begun to settle over the landscape.

The sunlight had faded beyond the horizon, leaving behind a dim, fading glow that gradually gave way to the approaching night.

He had completely lost track of time.

It's about time I head home. Mom's probably getting worried.

Ritsu pushed himself up and began making his way back down the uneven trail.

However, something unusual caught his attention.

An orangeish glow flickered in the distance, illuminating a portion of the night sky above the village.

He stopped.

For a brief moment, he simply stared.

Then it dawned on him.

Fire.

The village was burning.

His heart lurched.

Ritsu immediately broke into a sprint, scrambling down the path as his thoughts spiralled out of control.

Mom...

Everyone...

Is Chenzi alright? What about Aunt Clara?

Countless thoughts flooded his mind, each more distressing than the last. An overwhelming sense of guilt accompanied him with every hurried step, though he couldn't understand why he felt responsible.

He simply needed to get there.

He needed to know that everyone was safe.

His breathing grew ragged, and his legs began to ache from the relentless running. Yet he refused to slow down.

He still hadn't reached the village.

Through the gaps between the trees, however, he could now make out a massive crowd gathered near its entrance.

And among them stood several police officers.

The police...?

This might have been the first time they had ever heard of their village.

What were they doing here?

We don't need the help of such monsters! No just this once, I need their help!

Ritsu didn't have time to think about it.

Shit! Get up, Ritsu! Move!

Ignoring the pain coursing through his legs, he forced himself forward, pushing his exhausted body beyond its limits.

The distance gradually narrowed.

He was getting closer.

Closer.

And just as the village entrance came within reach, an officer suddenly lunged towards him, tackling him to the ground.

"There's a child here!"

The officer's voice rang out above the surrounding commotion.

"What?! There are still children left? I thought we'd loaded them all into the van!"

A van.

Ritsu had heard rumours about such vehicles before, but never believed they actually existed.

The officer who had caught him glanced towards the others.

"I'll take him to the nearest village and drop him off there."

Before Ritsu could properly process what was happening, a sharp impact struck him.

His vision blurred.

The world around him dissolved into darkness.

---

When Ritsu finally regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't home.

He slowly opened his eyes, blinking several times as he tried to adjust to his surroundings.

Where was he?

He took a few moments to examine the unfamiliar room before the memories of the previous night gradually began resurfacing.

The crowd.

The officers.

The van.

And then, those words.

-I'll take him to the nearest village and drop him off there!

Ritsu froze.

For a moment, he simply sat there, attempting to make sense of what had happened.

But he couldn't afford to waste time on that.

There was something far more important.

Mom.

Mom!

Was she alright?

Was she even alive?

His thoughts spiralled into panic as the realisation of his situation began to settle in.

Shit... It's all my fault.

He hadn't been there.

He hadn't been able to do anything.

And now...

He didn't even know whether Chenzi was safe.

Whether Aunt Clara was safe.

Whether anyone was safe.

His mind returned to the village, to the orange glow that had illuminated the night sky, and to the countless people he had seen gathered near its entrance.

He had wanted to become king.

He had wanted to make his village wealthy, protect its people and put an end to the government's corruption.

Yet, when his home needed him most, he hadn't been there.

It was all my fault.