Way Back To NeverLand

In the bustling cotton factory, a young boy with pitch-black hair and striking red eyes, standing tall at 180cm, was meticulously picking up boxes from the floor. On his forehead, a mysterious mark added an air of intrigue to his appearance. Just as he lifted the last box, the door to the room swung open, revealing a blonde man with captivating green eyes clad in a snug shirt. This man was none other than Henry Williams, his co-worker, friend, and roommate.

Henry had arrived in Mist Haven after a devastating natural disaster struck his hometown, Silver Brook. At the tender age of sixteen, he had tragically lost his entire family, prompting him to seek a new life in this unfamiliar town. Asher Blackwood, the young boy with the unique mark, extended his hand in friendship and offered Henry a place to stay.

As they toiled together in the cotton factory, their bond grew stronger, and they became inseparable friends. Today was no different as Henry entered the room, after entering he asked him curiously

"Asher, have you heard the rumours of Neverland that are on everyone's lips these days?" Henry asked, walking closer to him.

"No, I haven't. I'm hearing it for the first time from you," Asher said, his level of curiosity rising.

"Hey man, something strange is happening these days. Have you noticed anything lately? They say it's the doing of people from Neverland..." Two men who sat across their table said in a whisper, but it wasn't as though both friends couldn't hear them.

"How can people believe in this type of nonsense? These things only happen in fairy tales," Asher replied, feeling irritated by the nonsense he just heard.

"Asher, I think they might be telling the truth. I also saw some strange footprints the other day at the back of our house."

"Let's leave this topic and focus on work. The boss is about to come," Asher said, ignoring what Henry said.

Asher took a look at the time, and there were just a few minutes more before twilight. He decided to return home a bit early since Henry wasn't feeling well and had to leave his work incomplete.

As he lazily strolled to the small riverbank where he always rested and fed the fish, he spotted an old lady carrying heavy suitcases and helped her since it seemed proper.

After which, he returned to the riverbank. He stared at the sky, and tried to remember his past, revealing the sorrow he always kept hidden with a smile.

It suddenly hit him that the next day was Henry's birthday, and not sparing a single minute, he ran to the shop to get a lovely painting as a gift for him, knowing very well his love for art. After which, he returned home and made sure he hid it properly, awaiting the next day.

Dawn arrived sooner than expected, and Asher jerked out of his bed, making his way to Henry's room, hoping to wish him a happy birthday. But he was nowhere to be found.

Asher gets outside and finds Henry in the courtyard

"Hey, Asher, you're awake," Henry said, startling him a bit, but he kept his composure.

"Yes, where were you?" He asked quietly, taking a seat.

"I went to the market to buy some eggs for breakfast. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, forget it. Anyway, happy birthday to you! Congratulations on turning 21. I'm so lucky to have a beautiful and caring soul like you," Asher said with a bright smile.

"Thank you, thank you so much! I'm glad you remembered my birthday."

"Of course, how could I forget my brother's birthday?"

"Okay, since it's my birthday, we have to make breakfast together."

"Okay, let's do it, but before that, I have a surprise for you," Asher said, restricting his steps.

"Okay," He replied with a small smile, but his eyes suddenly grew bigger seeing what Asher held.

"Oh my goodness, thank you, bro, you're the best," Henry said, holding the painting, and Asher couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

"Alright, it's time for breakfast," Asher said, walking into the kitchen.

They both had their breakfast while grinning from ear to ear when a heavy crash from the sky disrupted their peace.

"What is that?" Henry asked, shock visible on his face.

"Don't know, let me check," Asher replied with a calm expression.

He went out just to find a big rock from the sky. While he was still checking around, he was taken aback by surprise seeing what the stone was.

He quickly restricted his steps to go back into his house when a humongous rock fell on his house too. Remembering that Henry was inside made him quicken his steps.

When he saw the rock fall on the same place where Henry was standing, he fell to the ground, tears streaming down his face. It felt like the end of the world for him

He shouted Henry's name and quickly entered the house through the window of his room. He felt his heart break as he slowly approached the fallen rock.

And what did he see? Henry was safe; the rock hadn't hit him, but it had crushed his left hand. Asher, relieved to see Henry alive, felt a surge of hope.

But the next challenge for him was to free Henry's trapped hand from under the rock. He hurriedly moved towards Henry and sat down, talking to him while Henry was barely conscious.

Asher in a shivering voice "Hey! Hey, Henry, wake up! It's me, Asher. Open your eyes, don't worry, I'm going to get you out of this. Don't lose hope."

Henry, who was barely conscious, replied, "I know you will save me."

He tried to pull Henry's hand, but it wouldn't move. He had no choice but to consider cutting off his hand. He rushed to the kitchen, grabbed an axe, and returned to Henry.

However, he struggled to bring himself to cut Henry's hand. Tears flowed down his face as he hesitated.

Henry, unconsciously, "Do it..." He replied with tears in his eyes. "I can't..." Henry in a loud voice, using all the energy he had. "I said, do it."

Asher screamed and, with great pain, cut off Henry's hand. Henry lost consciousness due to the immense pain. Asher cried and trembled as he picked him up and ran towards the herbalist.

But as they stepped outside, they saw the whole town in chaos. Debris fell from the sky, and people were dying. The town was engulfed in flames. High flames touched the sky, and the atmosphere was heated. Asher had no choice but to take Henry to the nearest neighbouring town, EverGreen, which was about 8 km away.

He quickly found a horse at a stable, stole it, and rode towards EverGreen. It took them around 30 minutes to reach the town, but Henry had lost a lot of blood. Even though Asher had tied a piece of cloth around the wound, the bleeding continued.

Desperate for help, Asher called out to someone as they entered the town, known for its medicinal expertise. People came to him, and he asked where he could find a doctor's clinic.

"Please, tell me where I can take my friend. Where is the doctor's clinic?"

A man told him, "Go straight and then turn left. You'll find an old man with white hair and a long beard named Yuan Xhin. He will help you."

Asher rode in the indicated direction and luckily found Yuan Xhin at the turn of the road. Asher approached him and spoke.

"Hey, old man, are you Yuan Xhin?"

An old man in a polite voice said, "Yes, I am Yuan Xhin. What's the matter, young boy?"

"Please save my friend."

The old man, after seeing Henry, replied, "Come quickly. My clinic is nearby. He has lost a lot of blood."

Asher did as the old man said and took his horse to the old man's clinic.

After arriving, he helped the old man to take Henry off the horse. He then laid Henry on the bed, and the old man told Asher to wait outside while he performed the surgery.

The old man called a nurse into the room and then went inside to operate on Henry. Another nurse also came to Asher. The old man had sent her to take care of Asher's wounds.

The nurse came to Asher and said, "Please follow me, sir. I will show you the way to the ward."

He replied, "I can't come with you. I can't leave Henry behind."

"Don't worry, sir. He is in good hands. Your shoulder is bleeding too."

Asher hadn't even noticed that he was bleeding. He didn't know where he had gotten the cut. He followed the nurse to a room, where she bandaged his wound and offered him some food and warm tea.

From their clothing and lifestyle, it was clear that they were Chinese.

Asher murmured, "Who is this old man?"

The nurse listened to him and replied very gently, "He was a monk. But now he serves humanity as a doctor and the greatest surgeon in the whole town.

"If he was a monk, why is he doing this doctor stuff?"

"He is doing this because his family died from a disease with no known cure, known as Dread Shade Fever. So he became a doctor to find a cure for this disease."

The nurse then put an anaesthetic in Asher's tea so that he could rest and relax. Asher fell asleep, and when he woke up, the sun had already set. He went out of the room and looked around, but there was no one there.

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(Dread Shade Fever is a spooky and mysterious sickness that makes people feel extremely scared and anxious. It's usually connected to dark and cursed locations, and no one knows where it comes from)

Author's note: If you like it, add it to your library and please support my book

The clinic's door swung shut behind Asher, and he was greeted by the sight of Mist Haven at night, vibrant and illuminated. Flames from the town's fire raged so high they were visible even from this distance.

Sitting on a bench just outside, the old man beckoned Asher with a kind smile. "Come here, boy."

Asher approached and took a seat, leaving a respectful distance between them. The old man extended a cup of tea to him.

Concern etched across his face, Asher inquired, "How is Henry?"

The old man's calm reply reassured him, "He might feel weak due to blood loss, but you arrived just in time; he would have perished otherwise."

Asher sighed with relief, "Thank goodness."

The old man leaned in, intrigued to learn more about Asher. "So, you hail from Mist Haven. Tell me about yourself."

With a hint of melancholy, Asher opened up, "I'm Asher Blackwood. I have no family left; Henry is my sole family and friend."

The old man nodded and replied with empathy, "It's nice to meet you, boy."

Asher expressed his gratitude, reflecting on the old man's past, "Thank you. The nurse told me about your history. It's truly saddening."

Sorrow touched the old man's eyes as he shared his wisdom, "Well, my boy, the past is but a memory. You can't change it. However, you can learn from it. So, don't dwell on the past, and don't fret too much about the future. Enjoy the moment you're living in."

Asher acknowledged the wisdom, "Thank you, sir. That's valuable advice."

With a friendly tone, the old man encouraged Asher, "Now, go and see Henry. He's waiting for you."

As Asher entered Henry's room, relief washed over him upon seeing Henry alive and awake.

Sitting beside Henry's bed, Asher inquired with concern, "How are you feeling, Henry?"

Henry's response was reassuring, "I'm getting better."

Asher persisted, "Are you sure?"

Henry's affirmation brought a smile to Asher's face, "Well, that's a relief if you're feeling good."

Suddenly, Henry remembered a debt of gratitude he needed to express, "Wait, Asher, there's something I need to say."

Curious, Asher asked, "What is it?"

Henry spoke earnestly, "Thank you, for saving my life."

Asher's warm smile conveyed his appreciation, "You're welcome." He left the room, heading to the old man's chamber. Politely, he knocked and, finding the door open, requested a moment of the old man's time.

"May I come in, Sir?"

The old man chuckled, "Yeah, sure. It's your house; you don't need permission."

"Thank you. I came to ask if we could stay here for a while until Henry recovers."

The old man responded with a curious look, "I already told you that you can stay as long as you want."

Asher expressed his gratitude, "Thank you."

The old man had something important to share, "I have something to tell you."

Asher inquired, "Yes, what is it, sir?"

With a friendly demeanor, the old man requested, "First, stop calling me 'sir.' You can call me Yuan, Doctor, or anything else you like, but not 'sir.'"

Asher pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Okay, from now on, I'll call you Doctor."

"Great," the old man smiled. "Now, about the disaster in Mist Haven."

Asher was intrigued, "Yes, what is it?"

The old man's revelation was startling, "We can say it wasn't a natural disaster. Devils caused it, and I'm quite certain they were from Neverland."

Asher's disbelief was evident, "Do you believe in Neverland too, Doctor?"

The old man affirmed, "Yes, it's not a mere legend; they do exist."

Asher's anger flared, his desire for vengeance ignited, "If it was the devils from Neverland, then I'll avenge my town, the people they killed, and Henry."

The old man, however, cautioned Asher, "In your current state, seeking revenge without awakening your magic would take a hundred years."

"Magic?" Asher's confusion showed. "Why does everything feel like a fairy tale?"

The old man chose to show rather than tell. "Let me demonstrate." His hand emerged from his pocket, and as he closed his eyes, it began to glow with a green light. A palpable energy emanated from his hand, capturing Asher's awe-struck attention.

The old man explained the source of his magic, "My magic is healing magic, though it's quite limited. Every person possesses their unique magic level. I have relatively little magical power, but it remains useful."

Asher, brimming with enthusiasm, expressed his admiration, "That's amazing! How can I awaken mine?"

The old man shared his wisdom, "Awakening magic isn't simple. It requires intense training and can be achieved through two methods."

"First," the old man began, "you must attune yourself to your body to break the magic seal. This demands daily meditation and hours of practice."

"Second," he continued, "magic can awaken through profound shock, great pain, and an intense desire to accomplish something."

Asher grasped the rarity of magic awakening, "So, not everyone can do it?"

The old man confirmed, "Indeed, only a few chosen individuals can awaken their magic."

Asher's determination shone, "Will you train me, Doctor, so I can awaken my magic and seek revenge for my village, my friend, and the only thing left to me from my father-my house?"

The old man, with a knowing smile, agreed, "I will, my boy. But it depends on your effort and dedication."

Asher's response was resolute, "I'll do whatever it takes to awaken my magic."

The old man chuckled approvingly, "That's the spirit, my boy. I'll see you at 6 am. Can you rise that early?"

Asher affirmed with a broad smile, "Yes, I can, and I will."

The old man summoned the nurse to guide Asher to his room. She led him to his new quarters and, as she prepared to leave, murmured, "If you need anything, sir, please let me know."

Asher thanked her warmly, "Okay, and thank you for your help."

With her departure, Asher found himself in his new room. Early morning light filtered through the curtains, painting a gentle glow across the cozy space. A window beckoned, and as Asher opened it, a refreshing breeze infused with the fragrance of blooming flowers welcomed him.

Outside, a majestic tree stood adorned with countless fireflies, its branches transformed into a mesmerizing constellation of lights. It seemed as if the tree itself pulsed with magic, extending a welcoming embrace to Asher in his new abode.

With the day's adventures still fresh in his mind, Asher settled onto his comfortable

bed, its embrace soothing his weary body. He felt both anxious about the journey ahead and exhilarated by the prospect of discovering his dormant powers.

Lost in thought, he eventually succumbed to sleep, the day's events leaving him utterly exhausted.

The following morning, Asher awoke before dawn, the gentle hues of a rising sun casting a soft glow upon the room. After freshening up, he ventured outside, where the old man had already begun his meditation in the courtyard.

"Good morning, Doctor."

"Good morning, Asher."

"First, we need to focus on building your physical strength," the old man explained. "This week, I will teach you martial arts, swordsmanship, and combat skills. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready, Doctor. Let's do it."

The old man added, "Now, as I am teaching you, consider me your master or sensei, alright?"

"Alright," Asher agreed, enthusiasm evident in his voice.

The old man laid out the daily schedule:

1. Run 5 kilometers every day.

2. Perform 50 push-ups.

3. Complete 50 chin-ups.

4. Spar together.

Taken aback by the rigorous routine, Asher thought to himself, "I think I'm going to die."

The old man led Asher to a nearby track, setting the pace with confident strides. Asher struggled to keep up, gasping for breath within the first few hundred meters.

Sensing Asher's fatigue, the old man offered firm but encouraging words: "With this determination, you'll seek revenge on the devils. Get up and start running. No one will come to save you on the battlefield."

Motivated by his mentor's words, Asher pushed through the fatigue and resumed running. Though his legs felt like lead, he gritted his teeth and managed to complete another kilometer and a half.

"Okay, that's enough for today."

Asher sighed with relief at the prospect of respite...

***

by day's end, Asher's body felt heavy with fatigue after a grueling training session with the old man. Glistening beads of sweat adorned his brow, and a patchwork of bruises marked his chest and arms from intense sparring.

Yet, a sense of accomplishment lingered in the air as Asher reflected on his progress - one and a half kilometers of determined running, 24 push-ups testing his strength, and 12 chin-ups proving his endurance.

After a revitalizing bath, Asher joined Henry at the dining table, captivated by the delectable feast before him - dainty, steaming dumplings, fluffy rice, and a vibrant salad. His hunger overpowered any sense of decorum, and he eagerly savored each bite.

'How was your day, Asher?' Henry inquired.

'Right now, I'm more focused on filling my stomach. I promise I'll tell you all about it later,' Asher replied between mouthfuls, joy evident in his eyes.

Amid laughter and jest, the old man revealed his plans to join Asher in the second week of training to awaken his magic. Henry expressed concern about the old man's recovering hand.

'It will be fine, don't worry. Physical strength isn't the key to awakening magic. My training aims to guide you in unleashing your inner power and to prepare you to protect Henry when needed,' the old man explained, his words steeped in wisdom.

'I understand,' Asher nodded, the meal and camaraderie strengthening their resolve. 'It's settled then, Henry. I'll eagerly await your joining.'

One week later, a new dawn marked the momentous day when Henry would begin his training alongside Asher. With unwavering determination, they ventured into the courtyard, where the old man awaited, their guide into the mystical realm of magic.

'Hey, good morning,' Asher greeted his friend with an encouraging smile.

'Good morning! Your enthusiasm is contagious. I can already see the changes in your body after just a week, and I can feel the strength flowing through you,' Henry remarked.

'I don't feel any different, but anyway, let's give it our best and awaken our magic. Let's see who will be the first to embrace this newfound power,' Asher replied, eager to share this transformative experience with his friend.

'Alright, let's find out,' Henry agreed, ready to embrace the journey ahead.

As the sun began its ascent, the old man approached, their guide on this mystical path. He imparted the ancient wisdom of meditation, instructing them to take deep breaths, quiet their minds, and tune in to the flow of their life force. The courtyard filled with an aura of serenity and determination as the two friends embarked on this profound voyage together.

'Now, close your eyes and feel the rhythm of your blood, the essence of your being. When you sense it, let me know, and I shall guide you further,' the old man's voice resonated with wisdom and reassurance.

'Yes, sensei,' they replied in unison, ready to unlock the mysteries hidden within themselves."

"Close your eyes and take a deep breath," the old man's voice resonated with a sense of calm and wisdom. Both Asher and Henry complied, settling into their meditation postures with crossed legs and straightened backs.

Days passed, and four days had slipped by since they began their arduous meditation training. Despite their efforts, neither of them had succeeded in awakening their magic yet.

But amid a sunlit afternoon, a peculiar sensation washed over Henry. He felt an unusual rhythm within, a gentle flow of his blood, steady and reassuring. Eagerly, he conveyed this newfound awareness to the old man.

With a smile of approval, the old man nodded. "Well done, my boy. Now, delve deeper into that sensation. Follow the path of your blood from your heart to your stomach. There, you will encounter a barrier. Open it, and you shall awaken your magic."

Excitement surged within Henry as he followed the old man's guidance. He traced the course of his blood flow, letting it lead him to the threshold within. With a determined spirit, he breached the barrier and was rewarded with an electrifying surge of energy that emanated from the core of his being.

In a captivating display of magic, Henry's hand began to emit a soft, healing glow. Both Asher and the old man looked on in awe, witnessing the first blossoming of Henry's newfound power.

"Now, open your eyes, Henry," the old man gently instructed.

As Henry's eyes fluttered open, a mixture of amazement and joy danced in his gaze. Asher couldn't help but express his curiosity, "It seems like he possesses the same magic as you, Sensei, doesn't it?"

The old man's eyes twinkled with pride and revelation. "Yes, he does."

Turning to Henry, the old man addressed him with a sense of purpose, "Henry, listen carefully. You possess healing magic, and I will teach you how to master it."

"Okay, Sensei," Henry replied, a newfound sense of purpose filling his heart.

"That's enough for today, Henry. You can go and get some rest," the old man advised, acknowledging the significance of this momentous day for Henry. "Now, Asher, it's your turn. Hurry, as you don't have much time."

With a firm nod, Asher met the old man's gaze

with unwavering determination. "I'm giving it my all, Sensei."

As the evening descended upon the tranquil surroundings, everyone retreated indoors, seeking shelter from the encroaching darkness. However, Asher remained outside, his determination unyielding. Engrossed in meditation, he delved deep into the depths of his inner self.

Then, it happened. A surge of intense power surged through Asher's arm, causing a resounding explosion of energy. The force was so great that everyone inside the house was drawn to the spectacle, rushing out to see what had transpired.

In the fading light of the day, Asher's arm radiated with a brilliant, fiery light. The air hummed with the raw energy he had awakened. The old man's eyes widened in astonishment, recognizing the profound magic that had taken root within Asher.

Excitement and pride filled the air as Asher's magic manifested in a stunning display, heralding the beginning of a remarkable journey that would forever change the destiny of these two young souls..

****