The Tiny Giant [Vol. 1: Two Hearts, One Family]

Vol. 1 | Ch. 1: Spark of Hope

Morning arises behind the mountains of a small valley in Human Territory. Its shine pierces through the clouds, revealing its gradient majesty to this tired little town. It cues the rooster to crow, and the tired little town bustles with greetings from neighbor to neighbor.

It's the start of a new day in Veil Valley.

It begins alongside the town's humble library. A young woman steps out of the house, connected to the library.

She has light blue eyes and dark brown hair with a subtle shimmer of crimson red when she sets foot under the sun, with her smile just as warm and bright. She also wears a long village dress with long puffy sleeves and ties a cloth around her hair.

That young woman's name is 'Ina', Ina Hopeget, the Librarian of the Hopeget Library.

Ina cups one hand to the side of her face as she calls audibly in the open,

"Sweetie, breakfast! Come inside before it gets cold!"

But no response. How strange, she usually comes running when called for breakfast, especially after making her favorite, berry pancakes.

Ina inspects the situation.

She visits her little one's favorite spot, under the shade of a large tree. After inspection, she wonders,

"How odd. I thought she'd be here."

Ina's confused, but not worried. The town she grew up in has always been a safe place and she knows her neighbors very well. A responsible and trustworthy community. Her child even plays and visits the neighborhood children.

Above Ina's head, she hears a rustle and leaves fall on top of her. She looks up and places her hands to her hips while smiling.

She should've known she'd be up there.

Meanwhile, up on top of a tall tree sits a small 6-year-old little girl with long bright red hair who is so into her book that she doesn't heed her Mommy's call.

Ina calls again to her daughter. The little girl looks up from her book and finally hears her Mommy. She follows the source of her voice and sees her.

"HOPE! Come down, it's time for breakfast!" Ina calls, hopefully audible enough to get her attention.

Her daughter responds back,

"Hold on, Mommy! I'm getting to the best part!"

Ina lets out a lighthearted sigh and shakes her head.

Her little girl revolves around that book like the moon revolves around the world. She knows that once her daughter reads her favorite adventure book, almost nothing will split her away from it.

Ina goes into serious parent mode. She places her hands on her hips and says with authority, but with a warm, firm tone,

"Hope! I have to take you to school before I open the library! You can read the book there, okay?"

Mommy has a point. She always has a point. The little one never wins an argument against her Mommy. So, she closes the cover of her favorite book, 'McBride Journal'.

'McBride Journal' is a precious relic. Its cover has old, shredded leather. Pages with faded writing, and the pages themselves tear easily if one is not careful. It holds entries of an adventurer's journey around the world of Size-Terra.

The little girl, Hope, gingerly places the book in her bag and replies to her Mommy,

"Ooookaaay. Be right down in a second!"

Hope reaches into her bag and pulls out an odd-looking contraption.

Time to use the trusty tool that brought her up this tree in the first place.