"Where am I? What is this place?" The question hung heavy in the air, a desperate plea for understanding. Blake Railey felt a wave of disorientation crash over him, the world around him a blur of unfamiliar colors and sounds.
The last thing he remembered was the sterile white of the hospital room, the metallic tang of fear in his throat. His chest ached, his breath labored. He was dying. Then, a voice. "Return to your world, 'Coenobia'. Blake... Don't Die! Hang on! Blaft! Blaft!... Blaft Volsax. You don't pledge an allegiance to a tyrant. You're here because you're protecting someone."
"Blaft... Kill me. It's the only way you can save me, and the entire Iruna. "A third voice, a voice he recognized as his own, whispered in defiance. "But… Princess! As long as you're still at yourself, I will protect you, no matter what. Even if it costs my life."
A chill crawled down his spine. Whose memories were these? What was happening? Was he in Iruna?
Iruna. The name sparked a hazy memory. A game he used to play, a world of fantastical adventures and perilous quests. He remembered the exhilaration of battles, the thrill of exploration, the camaraderie of fellow adventurers.
He looked down, his gaze falling upon a sword, its hilt smooth and cool against his palm. It felt strangely familiar, as if it had always been a part of him.
"I have a sword," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. He swung the blade, a practiced motion, and the sword sang through the air, a familiar melody. He felt a surge of strength, a connection to the weapon, a sense of power that pulsed through his veins.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel, the sound clear in the stillness. A young woman emerged from the shadows, her face alight with curiosity.
"Hello," she said, her voice a gentle melody. "I am Libera. Are you a straye?"
"What's a straye?" he asked, his mind still struggling to grasp the situation.
"It seems you're lost," she said, her smile kind, her eyes warm. "No problem. Follow me."
She was an adventurer, her attire a testament to her profession, her bearing a reflection of her spirit. He recognized her type, the kind he had encountered in his days as a player.
He followed her, his mind a whirlwind of questions, as they arrived at a bustling camp. An old man, his face weathered and wise, stood at the center of the activity.
"It's rare to see a fellow adventurer here," the old man said, a warm smile creasing his face. "Hi! I'm Tenert. I'm the Leader of the Support Caravan for Adventurers. As you see, we are a group of adventurers, traveling town by town. It seems you're lost. Don't mind joining us for awhile. Your name?"
"Yes," he said, his voice still hesitant. "I'm new here. And I'm a bit lost. Everything is hazy. Btw, I am Blaft."
"Oh, Blaft. Nice to meet you," Tenert said, extending his hand.
"WHAT AM I SAYING?!" Blake thought, his mind reeling. "I am Blake Railey. Why did the name Blaft utter my lips?"
A voice, a familiar whisper in the back of his mind, felt like an echo from another life.
"It's because… You are Blaft. It's good that you're back, brother."
"Hey? Are you there?" he asked.
"Oh... I'm sorry. I just got carried away," the voice replied.
Suddenly, another adventurer rushed towards Tenert.
"Captain. I found the monster. It's inside the forest."
Tenert's eyes met Blake's, and the old man's expression shifted, a subtle shift, but one that Blake could feel in his gut.
"Oh, no, Old Man. I have no experience in fighting monsters," he said, his voice filled with a nervous tremor.
"I highly doubt that," Tenert said, his gaze unwavering.
"But… I just recently joined the caravan," Blake stammered, feeling a growing sense of unease.
"Don't worry, Libera will be in your assistance," Tenert said, his tone reassuring. "This is the initiation for all of us, adventurers. The Captain allows rookies to undergo quests when they see potential."
Blake felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. He had never considered himself an adventurer, not in the way that Libera and Tenert seemed to embody. He was just… Blake. A man who had lived an ordinary life until a few moments ago.
"There it is. We're here at last," Libera announced, her voice ringing with a confidence that Blake envied.
He found himself following her deeper into the woods, the shadows of the towering trees growing thicker and darker with each step. A mile from the camp, they were alone.
Blake, realizing that he was not alone, he noticed her strength and grace, her courage in the face of danger. She wasn't just beautiful; she was fierce.
They had reached their destination. Standing before them, a monstrous grey wolf, its fur matted and its eyes burning with a feral hunger, blocked their path.
"Are you ready?" Libera asked, her voice steady, her eyes fixed on the beast. "I will distract it, and you will begin the attack."
"What?" Blake's mind raced. He had never fought a monster before, not in real life. He had only ever done it in the virtual world of Iruna.
"You know it takes a lot of guts to be bait, right? I'll shoot an arrow at him, but it will miss. You need to take a position first. Find a place to hide. When I lure it, it's time for you to strike."
Blake swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no choice but to trust her.
Libera nocked an arrow, her hand steady, her gaze unwavering. She released the arrow, and it flew towards the wolf, just as she had predicted. The arrow missed its mark, sailing harmlessly past the wolf's head.
Blake, his mind racing, found a spot to hide, his muscles tense, his heart hammering in his chest. He felt the beast's heavy footfalls, the rustling of leaves, the beast's feral growl as it charged toward Libera.
"Now! Blaft!" she yelled, her voice clear and commanding.
Without hesitation, Blake raised his sword, his hand guided by a primal instinct that he didn't understand. The sword sang through the air, finding its mark, sinking deep into the wolf's chest. The beast roared in pain, its blood splattering across Blake's face, and then it collapsed, its life force draining away.
"Good job! Rookie!" Libera said, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and admiration.
It was his first kill. His first experience of real death. He felt a shiver run down his spine, a wave of unease mixed with a strange sense of satisfaction.
"Mission accomplished. Now, all we have to do is take this out," Libera said, pulling a knife from her belt.
She deftly skinned the wolf, her movements precise and efficient. She then extracted the wolf's fangs, their edges razor-sharp.
"What is it for?" Blake asked, curious.
"This material can be exchanged for money or can be forged into new weapons and equipment… Are you really an adventurer?" she asked, her eyes studying him.
"Did I look like one?" he retorted, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.
"Do you believe if I say that I came from another world?!"
She stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable.
"Maybe… uhmm… That's a nonsense to say. Anyway… Our job here is done. Let's report this to Captain."
They started back towards the camp, their steps echoing through the silent forest. Just as they were about to emerge from the trees, a shadow fell over them. A massive red dragon, its scales glowing like embers in the afternoon sun, soared above them. Its wings beat the air with a power that shook the very ground beneath their feet.
"Captain and the others are in danger. We have to hurry back," Libera said, her voice laced with urgency.