we are chikin

LOGO BY PAXEN IMZI

The Circle of Life

Young Xen spent his days wandering through his mother’s garden, mesmerised by the beauty around him. The leaves shimmered in colours so vibrant they seemed to pulse with life. Their hues were so enchanting they filled him with both awe and unease. The scent of the flowers was gentle, carrying whispers of wildflowers and dew. It soothed him, yet stirred something deep inside.The sun, with its warm rays, wrapped Xen in a comforting embrace as the seasons rolled on. Days turned into weeks, then months, yet something changed. The flowers in the meadows were no longer the same as the ones he remembered from that first day of discovery. Their petals seemed more fragile now and their colours have faded. He wondered why everything seemed to lose its luster, as if time were draining the life from them.Wanting to learn more, he asked his mother about it. It was also during that time that her mother started to realise that it's time for her to teach her son the ways of life. His mother, who is an alchemist, tended to plants with great care, simply smiled. "There’s no secret to life," she said, his voice quiet but certain. "It’s a cycle just like how the seasons change. Like the flowers around our garden, everything blooms yet also everything fades."Xen, who is unsatisfied, wanted to understand the mystery of nurturing life, so he began tending a small garden of his own. He planted some seeds and watched them as its first tender leaves sprouted. With the knowledge of plant magic that his mother taught he spent most of his time developing his magic skills. As time passed by, the garden grew and before long, the flowers radiantly bloomed and were full of colour. But as soon as their beauty reached its peak, the petals began to wither, and the flowers fell.
He watched this cycle again and again. With each bloom and each inevitable fall, Xen started to see the pattern of life more clearly. Every plant and every petal was a fleeting moment in time, and within that impermanence lay a truth he was beginning to grasp.As the years passed, Xen realised that life was a blend of unpredictable flavours, like a mocktail of surprises, each sip revealing something new. It was a carousel, spinning through moments of joy and sorrow, highs and lows, until its time was up. He came to see that the beauty of life was its fragility, a garden filled with thorny roses, each bloom a reminder that nothing lasts forever. He knew that he wanted to improve his skills more, and dreamed of becoming one of the best Plant Magic Cultivators, therefore he decided to apply to Kawaakari Academy.And yet, there was peace in this understanding. In accepting that everything comes to an end, Xen learned to cherish each moment, each petal that danced in the wind before it fell. The fragility of life was a blessing in disguise, for it made each fleeting moment all the more precious. The carousel of life would continously spin on and there might be more obstacles that he will be facing from now on. However, this won’t stop him from appreciating the way of life.Xen, at last, receives a letter of acceptance from Kawaakari Academy which from this day on, he knew he was ready to ride on his journey and he hopes that you will watch over him as he embarks his voyage into cultivating his magic. What obstacles will he face this time? Or will he be able to understand the meaning to life that he has been longing to know?

Flowers of Purgatory

As the time given by Alexandria and Myne are limited, Xen is determined to find his way out of this catastrophe. Using one of the artifacts– AXIUM’s Ourobros’ chessboard, he found himself stuck in a never ending cycle, playing the game of chess with a younger version of him. His younger self was excited to have someone to play with, but Xen couldn't escape the repetitive failure. After countless rounds as if he is playing for all of his life, Xen's frustration grew, but a spark of determination finally took over and this time. He played carefully and formulated a perfect move that allowed him to outsmart his younger self."Checkmate!"Finally. He can get out of this hell.
He congratulates him, excited to have met his match.It was time to go home now.
Mother appears to pick up her child, and smiles warmly as to thank the stranger for spending time with him.Xen was startled, yet in awe at the healthy sight of her.
"Gotta go-- bye, sir!"Hi, Mom... He wish he could say.
Unable to talk to her while she was sick, unable to talk to her now. Stuck in Purgatory.It was time to go now.