Chapter Text
*Whoosh….thump*
*Whoosh……thump-*
*Whoosh……thump..*
The sound of multiple arrows in flight can be heard from a far. Looks like the red haired boy was throwing a ‘tantrum’… that’s what people might say, but in reality, the boy had no choice but to accept the unacceptable choice.
“….”
“Why does he make the decisions for my life?” He thought as he shot an arrow.
“Does my life really up against his expectations-?” He shot an arrow again.
“When will I get the freedom to become who I really am?” Another arrow..
“Do I even get to be a Wushou dancer?, Am I ready to have a family?, Do I even want a family? Have I ever have friends? Aren’t I good enough for him?, Should I just-…”
*Chirp!-*
“Huh?” Gaming thoughts was snapped after he heard a sudden chirp. A bird was screaming helplessly. The bird was shot by an..-
“Arrow-? Oh Archon..I think I shot that bird.” Gaming realised.
He shot too many arrows that he didn’t even realise that he just hurt an innocent little bird.
*Chirp!, Chirp!, Chirp!*
The bird was screaming continuously whilst trying to balance their flight. Gaming, from atop of the mountain, immediately ran towards the bird in a panic. The panic adrenaline made himself running towards a deep forest, where trees are as many as the houses around his village, logs scattered around like dead leaves on the ground, and animals wandering around wonders what the world might be.
He kept on running and running, and even, overcomes every obstacles he stumbled upon. Just like a lion chasing for its prey…too focus on his goal without knowing what will come.
But he wonders, why is he suddenly chasing, or even trying to save, a random bird?
He was a hunter.
Often hunting with his parents when he was little, knowing what is right and wrong on hunting, but this bird…is oddly..something….
*Bump-*
—————————————————————————————————————
“Jialiaaang!”
“Jialiang~!”
A soft nurturing voice was heard from afar, calling.
“Yes, love! I’m coming!”
An enthusiastic young man replied as he ran towards his beloved lover voice. He brought along a basket, which was beautifully weaved by his wife, full of freshly picked tea leaves. He put on the basket like it was a backpack for him, or we call it, a back basket.
As he arrived at his house, he saw many villagers around his village chattered so lively like the sparrows at dawn, but the only ‘bird’ that hums distinctly from others, is the swallow that he swears his life to guard on…his wife.
“I’m here, Love! Hehe.” He snickered while he approach his wife.
“Hey! I already told you to stop calling me that!” The wife shrugged.
“Aww, man. Calling you ‘love’ is romantic isn’t?” Jialiang replied.
“Ummm…it is..but, it’s too much for meee.” She complained while her hands hitting him playfully.
“Haha, Okay, Okay! I’ll stop calling you that then! How about…—”
….
“…What?…”
“Where am I?”
“Who are they?”
“…I swear I’ve just heard them earlier..?” Gaming is aware that something was off- Even so, the place here, he himself not recognise..but the environment, sure felt the same as his home. His Old home, to be exact.
He tried to yell to the people around him for help, yet his presence to them, only felt like a mere shadow. Thus, they all suddenly became…quiet. He felt helpless.
As he were wandering around the remoteness ‘village’, a swallow fly through him, sitting at the branch, singing. He must say, the bird he saw is quite beautiful, especially with its majestic blue feathers and how serene to hear the animal chirp.
“..Wait-..”
“THE BIRD!!” He shouts.
“Oh Archon..how can I forget about the bird?! Where is the bird anyways??” Questions fuelled within him but answers still not be told.
*Chirp!*
Another question he added to his mind; “Why do I feel like the bird is calling me..?”
*Chirp! Chirp!*
The bird was indeed calling for him and it looks like it was indicating him to follow. He was skeptical at first, but what other options does he have then?
The bird began to flap it wings then flew away right before his eyes, and Gaming started following it, trusting it fully.
However, things didn’t go quite as well as he plans to…the ground began pulling him in like some kind of quicksand- he had successfully pulled his feet from the ground but it was useless considering the whole ground around him turned into liquid. In fact, the whole village began to melt and became one as the liquidly ground.
His body began to sank and sank, until he was vulnerable. He tried his best to escape the ‘quicksand’ but it was…no use…
The bird from earlier though…saw what was happening and flew right at him to try and save him. Alas, that effort of his and the bird was in vain as Gaming slowly and surely sank into the floor.
*Chirp! Chirp!*
The bird screamed.
Gaming, sinking into the depths of the floor, could only afford to say a few words towards the bird.
“I’m sorry…. I didn-“
He sank.