Three years passed since he became a slave.
All the men and boys from Shajin's village who were enslaved alongside him had long since died from exhaustion. Only Shajin remained alive.
"Hey! Number 35, get over here and mine this spot. You blind or something? No one's working here!"
Shajin silently walked forward and raised the iron pickaxe in his hands.
"Speak up, 35! You're a slave, act like one. What, cat got your tongue? Say 'Yes, master!'"
Still, Shajin said nothing.
"You little shit, I'm talking to you!"
A whip cracked viciously across his back, knocking him to the ground.
"Sister…"
——— Memory Cut ———
"Shajin, remember—poverty and pain are the Mother Goddess's trials. She also grants us blessings. That blessing is your happiness."
"You are a child blessed by the Mother Goddess. You'll lead us to a better future. So always protect yourself. And never—never curse pain or poverty. Alright?"
"…"
"Be good, now. Swear it to the Mother Goddess."
"…Okay. I swear to the Mother Goddess. I'll always protect this fortune."
——— Memory Cut ———
But, Sister… if the Mother Goddess with the Three Eyes is truly watching over us… then why were Father and Mother swallowed by the sands while bringing offerings to her in the desert?
Sister… if every hardship is her mercy and blessing, how great were our sins, that we were born just to suffer and die?
Neither the Mother Goddess nor the Geo Archon Morax ever answered our prayers. All I ever wanted was to protect those around me. Why is that so hard?
As his vision dimmed, no one noticed the stone hanging from Shajin's neck beginning to glow faintly.
…..
"…Where is this?"
Shajin floated aimlessly in a void of darkness, his voice barely a whisper.
"Are those… stars?"
In the vast distance, a few dim specks of starlight flickered faintly.
Was this death? He had no way of knowing. Time felt meaningless—it could've been a day, a month, a year, or even longer.
"I want to live…"
CLANG!
"What is that?!"
His eyes widened.
Before him stood a being whose presence dwarfed even the stars—no, stars were too grand a comparison. Before this entity, even pebbles felt overstated.
The Aeon of Preservation… the Amber Lord of the Universe… Qlipoth.
For reasons unknown, that name and title surfaced in Shajin's mind naturally.
Qlipoth seemed to sense something. Shajin felt its gaze fall upon him—and then, the darkness returned.
…..
When Shajin awoke, he was on the ground, surrounded by Treasure Hoarders.
"Watch out! The brat's awakened a Vision!"
"So what? We've got the numbers. What's one little runt gonna do?"
"A… Vision?"
Shajin finally noticed—the stone at his chest had transformed into something he had only dreamed of possessing: a Vision.
It bore the symbol of the Geo element at its core, but unlike the usual earthy yellow, his shone with a deep, peacock-blue hue.
"Heh… I underestimated you, brat. Should've killed you back then," spat Fang Tu, who had summoned every Treasure Hoarder under his command.
"There's no way you're walking out of here alive."
Two wind blades surged toward Shajin—but his young face showed no fear.
As if guided by instinct, a golden barrier shimmered into existence around him. The wind blades vanished against it like water on stone.
Shajin clenched his fists. If only I had this power back then…
"Unbelievable…" Fang Tu's voice quivered. "That Vision's defensive power is absurd."
The others looked around in shock and fear. What was supposed to be an easy takedown had turned into something much more dangerous.
"Don't panic! We've got the numbers. All of you—attack!" Fang Tu bellowed, charging in first.
His longsword glowed with green Anemo light as he swung down at Shajin.
But Shajin didn't move. He simply tapped his Vision.
Brilliant golden light flared from the stone. Beams of energy shot forth, forming a massive shield that blocked all incoming attacks with ease.
"This… this can't be real!" Fang Tu recoiled, his strikes futile.
Shajin thought of his sister. Of the villagers who died working beside him.
He couldn't let their deaths be meaningless.
"You lost the wager," he said coldly.
His voice carried a calm weight, far beyond his years.
He raised his hand, and his Vision blazed in response.
Suddenly, massive Geo Constructs—shaped like Mora coins—materialized in the air and crashed down on the Treasure Hoarders. Screams filled the cavern. Those caught beneath them were instantly crushed to pulp.
Fang Tu stood frozen, horrified by the overwhelming force. He never imagined this "slave" could wield such power.
"Run! He's a monster!"
The remaining Treasure Hoarders panicked and fled in every direction, armor and weapons abandoned. But escape? Impossible.
The raining Geo Mora were relentless.
When it was over, only one figure lay amidst the blood and rubble—Fang Tu, barely alive.
"…You were right. I lost the bet," he gasped.
"But as a slave, you should never defy your master."
Shajin walked up and pulled the golden Mora from his neck.
"How about one more wager?"
"Heh… You really are a gambler… cough!"
Fang Tu spat blood.
"What's the bet?"
"I flip this coin. Heads, I win—I take your life and your Mora. Tails, you win—you walk away alive."
"…Do you dare to bet?"
"You little bastard… you'll never—"
"I'll take that as a yes."
Shajin flipped the coin.
It landed.
"…Sorry. It's heads."
He raised his right hand, pointed a finger at Fang Tu's forehead.
"Goodbye."
A golden Mora shot forward, piercing Fang Tu's skull cleanly.
He died with eyes wide open—never to close again.