Ming was a teenager. He shared an apartment with his mother. The apartment was less than 2 m². A single apartment complex housed dozens, if not hundreds, of tight coffin homes, since the cost of housing was so high that an average worker could not afford to buy a house in their entire life, forcing them to live in extremely precarious conditions.
Everyone in the building had to share the same bathrooms, using the sink for cooking, which frequently contaminated them and reduced their sanitary quality. Many residents smoked inside their rooms and, since there was little or no space, all the air became polluted. It was an urban hell.
Ming's mother was no different; she had to wake up early every day and go to work, which was neither a healthy nor an honorable job. As a child, Ming had to go with her and watch her do obscene things just to earn a living. Her lifestyle, besides her work, was also unhealthy. She smoked near her son. Of course, she hated doing it, but she saw no other way to cope.
One day, she broke down in tears, regretting everything she had done. Her son comforted her with a smile. Despite everything, he always smiled, at school, at his part-time job, at home... He was always optimistic, even when things seemed like they couldn't get any worse.
"I'm so sorry to have you, son..." she said, sobbing. "I shouldn't have brought you into this world..."
"It's okay, mama," he replied, not crying at all. "I enjoy your company." It was almost as if he were delusional instead of happy. He never stopped smiling.
"I will buy a phone for you, I promise... but then... I don't know what will happen... I'm so sorry..."
Some of his classmates had smartphones. He was familiar with them, as his friends let him use them freely. But he didn't have one of his own.
At school, he learned many things because he was dedicated to his studies. However, none of that seemed to matter, since it was considered basic knowledge that any student should have. Among so many other people, he needed a way to stand out.
He loved mythology and mythical creatures, both from the East and the West. It was like a hobby, so he could never invest money in it or be away from his mother. Since he had never seen the outside world, he believed they were real.
One day, he saw a phone case on his bed. He waited for days, but his mother didn't return. "Where's your mother, brat?" the landlord asked disdainfully. "I don't know," Ming replied with a smile. Neither of them hated each other, as both were victims of their situation. The old man let him stay there a little longer.
Ming seized the opportunity to save money and travel to northern China, where he and his friends would photograph legendary creatures and earn a living. He bought new clothes, as the climate there was harsher. But before going there, he scheduled an interview with the local news anchor.
"You see," Ming suggested, "if I prove that mythical creatures exists, something that no one has ever seen, it will be a scandal! What do you think? Isn't that a good idea for your busniess?"
"My business?" The man tapped the desk impatiently. "Do you think this is a circus? That news are about things that don't exist? Conspiracies? I could lose my job if they catch me lying. I was wondering what a commoner like you had to offer me. Congratulations, you wasted my time."
For the first time in a long time, Ming stopped smiling, disappointed. After all, he loved myths and belonged to the city's lower class. So, insulting both his dream and his social standing, as well as that of his mother, hurt him deeply. He had never disrespected anyone, so he simply walked away, holding back tears, for he had been taught never to provoke unnecessary fights.
Despite all the difficulties, he and his friends traveled to the taiga in search of Bigfoot or any local creature. His two school friends simply wanted to go on a trip and to keep him company so that he wouldn't put himself in danger.
"You're not planning to stay here all day and night, are you?" one of his friends asked.
"Why not?" he replied. "We have nothing better to do."
"You don't," the other said. "We're telling you this is just a vacation, nothing more. We're not going to make a living from this."
"You never know!" Ming entered the forest, searching for the unknown. His friends tried to stop him, but he was so engrossed in his dream that he didn't give up.
A wolf ran toward him. "Run!" shouted his friend, trying to escape. Ming stood there, smiling. "Are you a legendary creature?" he asked innocently.
The wolf didn't stop. The other friend ran to grab its arm when someone appeared before them. A tall, beautiful woman. She punched the wolf and killed it instantly, releasing a shockwave that pushed them away.
She turned to look at them. Her hair was white, her eyes blue, and she had fox ears. She wore a white kimono. She smiled at them, especially at Ming.
"Ara, what do we have here?" she said. "Do you not have survival instincts, little one?"
Ming immediately stood up and smiled at her. "There you are! A legendary creature! Hello, my name is Ming! May I take your picture?"
"Ara, you can take a picture of me, little one," she replied, striking a pose.
"That's not a creature, Ming!" his friend shouted. "Let's run! She's no joke!"
They ran to a safe distance to watch everything.
"My name is Fuyuki," she said. "I'm the guardian of this frozen forest. If I weren't paying attention, you could have gotten hurt."
"Thank you, ma'am!" he said innocently.
"Aren't you afraid of me? Seriously, who tries to talk to a wolf when it's running right at you?" She giggled, amused.
"I'm not scared at all! Because I know you're a good person!"
"I wouldn't be so bold..." she raised her hand and pointed her palm toward a nearby mountain. Suddenly, it was piercd by a mysterious force and completely destroyed. Then, the ground began to tremble, until it rose, forming a new mountain where they stood. Now, they could see everything from the sky. "Are you scared now?"
"Not at all! I knew this day would come!"
"You want to prove my existence to the world? Go ahead, I want to help humanity with my powers. I can create unlimited amounts of ice. What do you think about a trade?"
"I have no experience in that area, but I can take you to someone who does!"
"What are you doing, Fuyuki?" a female voice echoed from behind. Fuyuki startled and turned around. The mountain had disappeared; they were on the ground.
Ming lay unconscious in the snow while his friends tried to wake him. "I think he's dead..." one said. "He's been delirious ever since we got here," said the other. They couldn't see the ethereal women.
"Ah, Michi!" Fuyuki greeted her. "Long time no see!"
Michi was a woman with silver hair and blue eyes, wearing a silver coat and a black archer's hat. Her hair swayed in the cold wind, shining brightly.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Well, I'm tired of just playing with my toys. I want to be recognized and receive compliments!"
"That's my job, not yours."
"Come on, don't you feel anything for these poor humans? They suffer much more than we do."
"I was once human before ascending to omnipotence. I know that feeling better than you do."
"So you're playing God now? I never imagined my friend would get so cocky." She chuckled, making it clear she was just joking.
"Since you're my friend, you know me better than I know myself. I'm tired of all this suffering. Don't give them any hope."
"I'm not giving hope; I'm offering an opportunity. I can't do much besides ice-related things, but I want to do my part."
"Don't bother, it's not worth it. I haven't ended this universe yet because the divine council begs me not to. And I'm still uncertain about everything."
"Then let me guide you," Fuyuki said, showing genuine concern.
"I don't need any help; the humans do. Done, this world is now infected with eternal happiness. Are you satisfied?"
"Hey, that's cheating..."
"You bought yourself some time. It's only a matter of time before I get tired and erase all the universes, so enjoy yours while you can."
Michi disappeared. Fuyuki frowned, lost in thought and dissatisfied.
Ara, I shouldn't have stuck my nose in there.