As soon as the Elf king entered his room, his face turned bleach pale.
The king of Alfheim is no normal Elven king. He was once part of the Tryads that slayed the "White Death", the catastrophe that befell Rath'nia.
His most powerful ability lies within his eyes. They can perceive mana and the soul to the minute levels and can estimate the amount of power a being has as well as harm the soul's true essence.
Recalling his meeting with Kane, his mind was clouded by the thought of a man stealing his daughter.
When he looked at him standing a foot in front of him, his eyes automatically gravitated toward Kane's face. He was shocked by the man's devilish looks seemingly more handsome than his, but soon fear was etched into his soul.
When his mind cleared a bit he used his ability and his eyes started glowing with a golden hue. Time seemed to have stopped, and a part of his soul left his body.
Entering the astral realm, the King quickly entered Kane's body. He peered deep within his soul only to see nothing, it was pitch-black darkness, no sound can be heard, no light can be seen, and not even his hands were visible. But when he looked closer, two giant red eyes were staring at him. The eyes curved as if it was mocking him.
Then a blood curdling whisper creeped into his ears.
"you... don't... belong... here..."
Then suddenly he was pushed back into reality.
A sense of dread surged within him.
Fear cannot describe the emotions he felt facing that being.
Sweat instantly poured down his back again. And thought to himself.
'What the hell was that!?!'
***
"Kane? Are you alright?"
A beautiful woman with blueish-gray hair and rose-red lips was standing in front of him. She was wearing a pure white dress and red heels. Her shiny blue eyes reflected the morning sun.
She looked at Kane and chuckled, "Fufufu, you should look at your face. It's like you've seen a ghost."
Kane had his eyes wide open completely shocked. He then looked down to see that his clothes changed. He was wearing brown shoes, black pants, a white shirt, and a black coat.
'Why is she here? Is this a dream?'
Watching lost in his own thoughts, the beautiful woman felt aggrieved.
"Hey, are you listening? I'm right in front of you and here you are looking at something else."
A tearful look appeared on her face.
Snapping back from his thoughts, Kane quickly apologized.
"Oh, I thought that you were just too beautiful. I had to look away or else I won't be able to stop myself from eating you~"
The lady had a playful smile on her face and said, "Ara, little Kane is being brave today are we?"
Kane completely forgot about this place being a dream and continued playing along.
"Little? Last I recall I'm at least 6 inches taller than you?"
An arrogant smirk was on his face.
"Oh really? To me, you'll always be my little Kane."
Kane had a rare blush on his face. Feeling embarrassed he walked toward her and grabbed her hand.
"Well, I'm not so little anymore, in more ways than one." He said smiling wickedly.
"Is that so? Looks like I have to punish this little boy."
Her eyes glowed a faint red. Then she pulled her hand away from him and started frolicking through the field.
"Your punishment would be… let me think. Oh, you can't touch me unless you can catch me."
"Is that a challenge? If so, I'm quite confident in my running speed."
She chuckled and said, "We'll see about that, fufufu."
Out of nowhere, the flowers exploded scattering petals all over the place. Kane was surprised but quickly recollected his thoughts.
A soft chuckle came from his lips, then he started walking in her direction.
"You can run, but you can't hide~"
A melodious voice tickled his ears.
"Fufufu~"
He quickened his pace. As soon as he got close the petals got thicker.
'What's going on here? Sigh* I knew it wasn't gonna be this easy.'
Kane had to start swatting the petals away in front of him as they started piling up.
'Okay, this might be a bit much. Just where is she? I clearly remember her being here.'
Then suddenly a distant scream was heard in front of him.
"Kane! Help me!"
As the scream entered his ears, the petals in front of him turned blood red and the petals he stepped on decayed instantly.
Thousands of petals began pouring down, completely burying him.
Without a care in the world, Kane started digging faster.
"Don't worry! I'm here, I'll save you!"
His breathing became haggard, and the petals started coating his hands red. Thorns sprouted from the ground surrounding him and replaced the petals in front. The petals falling on his body instantly decayed.
"…Kane….save…me…"
Tears started pouring down his face as he clawed his way through.
He screamed at the top of his lungs. "Stay where you are! I'm coming!"
Desperation was deeply engrained in his eyes.
His nails started peeling, and bone was showing. His vision blurred from the tears he cried.
Then suddenly, the petals stopped falling and the thorns halted.
Kane continued digging, enduring the pain.
His clothes were torn to shreds and slowly dying red.
His hair became disheveled and a thorn pierced through his scalp making blood trickle down his face.
Kane finally broke through the wall of thorns.
Reaching the other side, looking broken down and in pain.
He mustered up the strength to stay standing… but what he saw made him drop to his knees.
"K…ane…"
The beautiful woman lay on the ground.
Her long blue hair was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, her hair was blood red and thick like it was washed in mud.
The white dress she was wearing was gone replaced by black tight-fitting clothes that were barely covering her.
Wounds in every inch and her right arm were severed from her body with her legs cut off.
"…w..here..we.re..you..Kane.."
Her eyes were black, and crimson tears fell from her face.
"…I'm scared Kane… where are you…"
Kane broke down into tears. His vision blurred. His heart beating as if clawing its way out.
He grabbed his head with a face full of denial.
"Please… be a dream… please.. be a dream…please…please."
He closed his eyes hoping for everything to disappear, but when he opened them, the same image still lay in front of him. He looked at her mouth quietly muttering something.
"...you-"
Then suddenly a worried voice entered his ears.
"Wake up Kane! Wake up!"
In front of him was his wife.
"Are you okay?!"
Kane slowly opened his eyes, with tears pouring down his face.
The vision was still etched in his eyes.
The woman and Laura overlapped, and Kane found himself hugging her.
"Please stay with me. Please stay with me. Please..."
Laura was taken aback. She never knew how much Kane was suffering. The pain she felt from their connection didn't feel very threatening, so she expected it to be mild, but she was still worried so she rushed into his room. She reciprocated the embrace and hugged him tighter. Tears can be seen in her eyes.
"It's okay, I'm here. It's just a dream… just a dream."
Kane woke up.
He looked at the person he was hugging and said.
"Hey what are doing here? Shouldn't you be in your room? I know we got married today, but we've only known each other for a couple of hours. Let me get to know you before we do anything serious okay?"
Laura was surprised, then she looked at Kane.
"Kane are you okay? You were crying in your sleep just now."
"Huh?"
Kane touched his cheeks feeling wet with tears.
'I was crying? Did I have a dream?'
"Umm, I'm fine, I don't know why I'm crying though. Maybe I got a nightmare that I was transported to another world full of gay men, just so you know I'm very straight."
Laura looked at him confused, then wiped his eyes.
"As long as you're okay."
She caressed his face gently, with a warm smile.
Kane looked at her, and tears started pouring out again.
"Huh? Why am I crying?"
"Maybe you just missed someone loving you?"
Laura's face turned into a tomato when she said that.
"Fufu, maybe."
Kane stopped crying, then held her hand.
"Thank you…"
"Mm."
She leaned in closer and hugged him.
A knock came on the door and a man's voice can be heard.
"Kane, can I come in?"
Hearing no answer, he opened the door and his jaw dropped when he witnessed what was in front of him.
"… I said that as a joke! I didn't actually think you'd do it!"
"Wait Dad, it's not what it looks like!"
"That's what they all say!"
As he was about to grab Kane by the neck, saving them, was a maid. She quickly spoke out and said, "We've arrived your majesty."
The King stopped his approach, then turned around.
"Don't think I'll forget this."
He quickened his pace and walked out of the room.
'Just as we were about to get closer… ugh I hate you father.'
Kane was surprised sensing killing intent from the girl in his arms.
He broke off the embrace and stood up. Feeling wet and sticky he thought, 'I think I should take a shower. Guess it's time to check the bathroom. Oh, wait we're already here aren't we, guessed I won't be able to use it.'
Laura understood what he was thinking, then said, "Oh, if you want to use the bathroom you can. There's still some time until we can get off the carriage. I'll lead you there if you want."
Wanting to see his body, Laura's inner thoughts came out.
"It's fine, I know the way."
The disappointment was in her eyes.
Kane obviously knew she wanted to be with him, but he wanted a little space to think to himself.
He grabbed a pair of pants and a shirt in the closet, then walked out of the room.
"I'll be going to take a bath then. Bye honey."
Laura's face instantly brightened up.
"I'll be waiting," she said bashfully.
Kane walked around and soon found the bathroom. He opened the door and went in. Inside was a massive bathtub, or more accurately, an onsen. There were shower heads on the right and a waterfall in the middle pouring hot water. The onsen was completely filled with steam, nearly making it impossible to see.
"Wow, he did say this was the best bathroom in the palace, but I didn't think it was to this extent."
Kane smoothly took off his clothes and placed them in a bin. He washed his body with the showers, then stepped in the onsen.
"Sigh* Now this is what an isekai is supposed to be."
"Kyaa!"
A familiar scream echoed around him.
'Not again.'