Chapter 1

“Son… you must listen to me…”

“Dad? Is that you?” A shadow slowly creeps closer and closer towards Gerad. There is only mist and darkness everywhere… only the shadow’s outline can be seen… as it advances, another shadow emerges from behind, a shadow the shape of a tiger strides proudly behind its master.

“Dear son, listen to me. You have to keep watch of your brother, don’t ever let him stray… the time will come when both of you shall be tested… and the outcome will decide the fate of not only the both of you….”

“Huh? I don’t understand… he’s the one who’s been taking care of me. What do you mean, Dad? Why are you telling me all this? What test are you talking about? Is something going to happen to Edgar? Dad?”

“I can’t say more. Be strong my son, always believe in yourself… face the challenge with determination. I believe in both of you… ”

“Hey! Wake up, you sleepy head. Can’t believe you woke up this late. It was always me who’s late for breakfast. Hey! Gerad! Wake up already… you think today’s a holiday? We still need to go to school!”

“Huh? Okay, okay… I’m up already… tell mum I’ll be down in 10 minutes.” “What a weird dream…” Gerad thought, still unsure whether it’s a dream or did he really talked to his father whom he has never seen before. He looks across his room and feels melancholy staring at his family portrait with only three people in it: his mother, his twin brother and himself.

Downstairs, his mum is busy washing the dishes; his brother is at the table having breakfast; Gerad slowly walks to the table and puts his bag next to him.

“Good morning, mum,” greets Gerad.

“Oh, so you are finally up. Why you wake up so late this morning? You rarely wake up later than Edgar and you did sleep early last night, did you? Here’s your milk” says his mum as she grabs a glass of cold fresh milk from the fridge and brings it to the dining table.

Gerad glance at what’s on the table: pancakes, sandwiches, and his favourite: hash browns. “Yes, I did sleep early last night, mum… well, actually I sort of dreamt about dad... I don’t know if it’s a dream; it felt so real, mum,”

Gerad’s mother looks at him. “Well, dear, of course it’s a dream. What else could it be? Don’t go thinking too much about it, okay?”

“But mum…”

Before Gerad can continue, his mum asks him and his brother to finish off their breakfast and goes into the kitchen. As she enters the kitchen, their family cat, Felix, jumps up to Gerad’s lap and looks at him in the eye, as if it understood how he feels right now. Felix had been in the family before he is born and it has been his playmate and confidant. He feels better as Felix rubs his fur against his body.

“Are you done? I don’t wish to be late to school. You know the punishment for that,” rushes Edgar.

“Okay, I’m coming… get my bike ready for me, will you?”

“Sure. Hey, want to race to school today? Lunch is on the bet! I won’t wait for you, slowpoke!” Edgar storms out of the house as he speaks. Gerad quickly finished off the last bit of hash brown on his plate, gulp down the glass of milk and grab his bag. Felix jumps off and stares at its frantic young master as he too storms out of the house. By then, the ringing sound of Edgar’s bicycle can be heard indicating the race has already begun.

It is a typical day in the urban metropolis of Neo-Eden, the very first city that prospers after the Great Change. It is a garden-city where one can find nearly all the species of floras that survived.