Woodbeek—a quiet coastal village nestled between the sea and sprawling hills, veiled in salt air and echoes of old tales. For most, life here never changed. The sun rise the same way, the tide sang the same lullabies.
But for Kai, it was the silence in between that spoke the loudest.
The morning had just broken, splashing pale gold across the wooden cottages. Kai stood at the edge of his porch, half-asleep, listening to the seabirds cry. It was a school day, but like most mornings, it began with a choice: follow the routine or chase a moment that might never come again.
Ren had already vanished from sight—most likely off to his sanctuary beneath the lone tree that crowned the hills.
He never cared much for school or schedules. Hachi and Toma, on the other hand, were waiting down by the tracks, their oversized bags and untucked uniforms making them look like rebels from a comic.
Their school was not too far away from their village , a strict institution built on the cliffs, watching over the sea like a stone sentinel.
But today, like many before it, the four had wandered into the shop across from the school—a haven of snacks, card games, and laughter. The morning bell had long rung by the time they noticed the emptiness around them.
"The watchman won't let us in," Toma said, scratching the back of his head.
"He hates us," Hachi laughed, spinning a soda bottle. "Especially you, Kai."
Kai grinned. "Then I'll be the distraction."
He strolled to the gate, pretending to look confused and innocent. The watchman, rigid as ever, blocked his path with a grunt.
"You're late."
"Oh, really?" Kai blinked. "I thought we had a delay today."
The man wasn't buying it. Kai shrugged and turned to leave—but not toward home. As the guard muttered to himself, Kai slipped away, and moments later, he and the others reappeared through a secret path near the abandoned houses behind the school.
Their class sat on the top floor, surrounded by wide windows that opened to breathtaking views of the sea. But the beauty of the horizon wasn't enough to keep the four focused. They were last-benchers by choice and heart. When the teacher asked why they were late, they spun stories with half-truths and clever smirks.
Their punishment was evening class.
By nightfall, while others dragged themselves into the lecture hall, Kai and the rest climbed the stairs past the last floor, to the rooftop—their secret haven. The island air turned crisp. They spread out snacks and played cards, laughter spilling under the moon.
But Kai, restless, climbed a level higher—onto a rusted platform above the roof, a place not meant for students. There, he sat alone, watching the stars blink into life.
And then—he saw it.
A faint, flickering light.
It blinked once.
Then again.
Three times.
It came from across the ocean, far beyond where any road led. A place untouched by the island's routine. A place they had only heard about in myths.
Kai narrowed his eyes. The sea was still. No ships. No towers. No fires.
Just the light.
The next morning was a holiday. As usual, Hachi arrived at Kai's home, already bouncing with energy.
"Fishing?"
Kai yawned. "Sure."
They picked up Toma along the way. Ren, as expected, was nowhere in sight.
Out on the rocky edges of the island, the three cast their lines, talking about a strange rumor—of a rare insect called the Axebug, shaped like a rhino beetle but with a sharp axe-like horn.
"People say it only appears once every few years," Toma said.
"Let's find it," Hachi beamed.
They wandered into the forest. To their surprise, they found Ren already there, lying under his tree, music in his ears, wind tousling his dark hair.
"You're bug hunting too?" Kai asked.
Ren cracked open an eye. "Just... resting."
The group laughed and dragged him along. They searched for hours, finding nothing but scratches and sweat. Still, they enjoyed it. On their way back, a glint caught Kai's eye. There, high on a branch, sat a beetle with an axe-like horn. It shimmered, then disappeared into the leaves.
That night, Kai couldn't sleep. The light haunted him. He climbed the tree tower hidden deep in the forest—an old wooden observatory forgotten by most.
From its peak, the entire island unfolded before him. The sea glittered like molten glass.
And then—it came again.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Kai's heart thudded.
The light wasn't random.
It was a signal.
Something was out there. Beyond the water. Beyond the world they knew.
He sat there until dawn, eyes fixed on the sea.
The island had always been home.
But now it was just the beginning.
...….★★★★★...…..