Mythology: Ragnarok

This is a peculiar universe, filled with bizarre magic and strange battle auras, teeming with countless gods and terrifying demons, a place brimming with both danger and extraordinary adventures.

Our protagonist is currently on an unnamed planet in this universe. The planet's surface is divided into four continents, and the protagonist lives on one of them called Zaka. That continent is filled with numerous countries of all sizes, and our story takes place on the border of one of the small countries called Moore.

In a remote town, a burly man called out to the protagonist who appeared in the distance, "The Argrede boy is back."

At that moment, a young man, probably in his teens, was walking towards him with two rabbits on his shoulders. This boy was the son of the Agrede family, named 'Izzy Agrede'.

Iz replied with a smile, "Yes, Uncle Reiler, my mother's illness has worsened recently. I hunted two rabbits nearby and will give my mother a good boost of nutrition tonight."

Reiler looked at the still-childish young man in front of him with great joy. Izzy wasn't particularly handsome, just average-looking, but he was kind, polite, and exceptionally tolerant, making him very likable.

Reiler glanced at the hare behind Iz, thought for a moment, then called out to Iz, "Iz, wait a moment, I have something to give you."

With that, Reiler turned and went into his hunter's hut. After a while, Reiler took out a huge deer leg and handed it to Iz, saying, "Take this deer leg. It's what we had left over from yesterday, so I'll give it to you."

Iz quickly declined, saying, "No need, Uncle Reller, the meat is so precious, you should keep it for yourself."

Without a word, Rell shoved the deer leg into Iz's hands, saying, "Just take it. It's summer now, there's plenty of game. I'm a hunter, I'm not short of meat. Besides, you learned hunting from me, you're practically my apprentice. I'm a bachelor, I only need to feed myself, so just take it. Your dad's income can't afford a deer leg, and your mother's health isn't good to begin with, don't let her suffer from malnutrition." With that, Rell turned and went home, closing the door as if afraid Iz would return the deer leg.

Iz smiled helplessly at Reiler's actions. He knew perfectly well that hunters, whose profession relied on luck, sometimes earned less in a year than farmers. This cured deer leg was at least a month's worth of meat for Uncle Reiler. Even in the current hunting season, hunters couldn't keep much meat for themselves because they couldn't afford it. Even though meat was expensive, hunters were exploited by lords, markets, and vendors when they sold their prey. To eat their fill and stay warm, they had to sell as much meat and fur as possible; otherwise, when prey was scarce in winter, hunters wouldn't even have tree bark to eat.

Thinking of this, Izzy couldn't help but feel moved. When she learned to hunt from Rael, she envied him for being able to eat meat from time to time, meat that the townspeople couldn't even afford to buy during festivals. Later, after understanding the truth, Izzy was left with only deep despair. Without a good background and opportunities, ordinary people like him in this feudal kingdom could only work until they died just to have enough to eat.

Iz secretly resolved to catch the best prey in the next few days, and then give Uncle Reiler a big gift to thank him for the deer leg. Afterwards, Iz took the deer leg and hurried home. Soon, Iz arrived at the door of her house, which was a small wooden house surrounded by a fence that was so thin that it would collapse instantly if a sheep bumped into it.

Izzy heard from the nearby villagers that their family moved here when Izzy was still an infant. The villagers knew nothing about Izzy's parents' past, only that the family was very good. Even Izzy herself didn't know about her parents' past. When she asked, her parents would just brush her off. Their mysterious manner always left Izzy puzzled.

However, every time Izzy fantasizes about her parents' past, she is amused by those unrealistic fantasies. Her father was a simple farmer and her mother was a slightly educated seamstress. What could their past possibly have been like? Perhaps they suffered some hardships that they were too ashamed to mention. Sometimes Izzy can't help but laugh at herself for being such a pitiful daydreamer.

Iz walked in happily, carrying the deer leg and the rabbit, and shouted, "Dad, Mom, I'm back! You're in for a treat today! I caught a rabbit and Uncle Reiler gave me a deer leg. We can have a good meal today!"

Entering the house, Iz saw her father sitting opposite her mother on the bedside, taking care of her. Both of them looked somewhat panicked and helpless. Iz naively thought they were worried about her condition, so she comforted them, "Dad, Mom, it's alright, don't worry. The doctor said it's just a relapse of an old injury caused by overwork, nothing serious. Just eat more nourishing food and you'll be fine. Look, your son brought some top-quality meat today, so we'll make sure you have a good meal." With that, Iz led the game into the kitchen, butchered it, and started preparing dinner.

Izzy's mother looked at her sensible son with loving eyes, a warmth rising in her heart. Then she looked at her lover and asked softly, "Are you sure?"

Iz's father nodded grimly and sighed, "I'm sure the Church of Light is nearby. I'm afraid they haven't let us go yet."

Izzy's mother merely scoffed and said, "These hypocritical 'wolves' won't stop until they get what they want. It looks like we'll have to move again. But how are we going to explain this to Izzy? Maybe we should just tell him everything?"

Izzy's father glanced back at the kitchen, where the sound of a cleaver striking the cutting board could be heard intermittently. He then turned back to his wife and refused, saying, "It's better not to. A few years ago, I tested Izzy's talent with a crystal ball, and his magical ability was simply too poor. Logically speaking, our child's magical talent shouldn't be this bad, but back then, you almost died in childbirth while pregnant with Izzy and we were fleeing together. It probably damaged the child's very foundation. Now that Izzy is like this, I'd rather he be an ordinary person and not get involved in our feud. I can close my eyes in peace if I can see him live a quiet and peaceful life."

Izzy's mother frowned immediately, and gently punched her lover's chest with her weathered little hand, saying, "What are you saying? It's really unlucky. Quickly spit it out!"

Then, Izzy's mother suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, have you figured out that thing yet?"

Izzy's father shook his head and replied, "No progress. I really can't figure out what's so mysterious about that book. The Church of Light slaughtered us all because of it, but it looks like a book full of ordinary magic theories. There's only a strange question on the last page. Over the years, I've been giving all sorts of answers based on my understanding, but the book hasn't responded at all."

Izzy's mother frowned and asked, "Is it possible that this is all a lie and a hoax?"