He was ambitious. Young. And tired. Not sure whether more from the obstacles to his ambition or from the ambition itself. Light breeze caressed his sweating forehead as if trying to calm him down. He was not upset, no. Yet peace eluded him, too. The mountain was steep but his unrest was propelling him up. He couldn't help but wonder, Why the red one? Of all that he could find, the red one? Maybe he chose the wrong mountain. But research showed that all the mountains sloping to the gold-beached coastlines were hiding those peculiar orange crystals.

Oh, the gold beaches! He could have been on one right now, enjoying that soft pearly powder surpassed only by the caressing freshness of the sea and the gentle smile of his mother. Yes, each of those summers had a special place in his heart. But he was no longer a child. And he wished some other people got that, too. He was ready. This summer will be a milestone.

But, why the red one? The voice in his head kept repeating. And why are you climbing to the top? Don't you know crystals are more likely to be found lower in the mountains? Are you searching for a crystal, or for something else? Are you running off? The thoughts almost seemed to taunt him.

He had all the parts. In fact, he almost finished it, but it was still too unstable to turn it on. And he was still hoping to find an orange crystal.