Neverending Book 13 - Souru Sosaeti - The Beginning

 

Souru Sosaeti – Where Souls Drift and Stories Begin

For the 13th book of Neverending, I didn’t start with a story. I started with a place.

Inspired by Japanese aesthetics and the idea of an abandoned spiritual realm, I began building Souru Sosaeti—a forgotten world where the boundary between life and afterlife feels paper-thin. The environment came first: quiet, atmospheric, touched by decay, but filled with small details that invite exploration. It was only later that the story found its way in.

That’s when The Artist and the Cards of Destiny was born.

The Artist arrives here, stranded—his journey interrupted, his boat gently guided by a phoenix. From there, the interactive narrative unfolds. Visitors could wear a HUD, follow his path, and uncover the secrets of the Cards of Destiny—one choice at a time.

This chapter of Neverending isn't just a visual experience. It’s a story you can step into. A dreamlike memory of a place that never existed… and yet somehow does.

 

 Click through the chapters to follow the story

 

Neverending Book 13 - Souru Sosaeti - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Arrival and the First Clues

Souru Sosaeti, once bustling and lively, now lay shrouded in fog and surrounded by an eerie silence. The artist arrived in the harbor aboard his small boat, guided by his constant companion, the majestic phoenix. The bird of rebirth was more than just a symbol; it seemed to have a connection to this mysterious city, whose fate threatened to disappear into the mist.

 

The streets were deserted, skyscrapers towering like sleeping giants into the sky.

The artist found refuge in an abandoned trailer on the edge of the city. He quickly set to work transforming the derelict space into a sanctuary. Unpacking his bags, he spread out his painting sets on a makeshift table, the colors and brushes neatly arranged, ready for inspiration to strike. His music player, a vintage device with a rich, warm sound, found a home next to his old sofa. Lastly, he crafted a special perch for his phoenix, a magnificent creature with vibrant plumage that seemed to glow with its own inner fire. The trailer, once a symbol of desolation, now pulsed with life and artistic energy, a testament to the artist's spirit and vision.

(Find the trailer, sit down on the old sofa and explore the place. Let the vision inspire you.  And search for the artist's pen and paper and read on to see what happens next.)