The moon cast an glow on the deserted streets as Rowen walked home, a bag of snacks in hand. The night air was still, broken only by the distant hum of streetlights and the muffled rustle of leaves. As he turned a corner, he stumbled upon a sight that defied the quietude.
An old man lay sprawled by the side of the road, his frail form illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. Tattered clothes clung to his battered frame, and scars painted a map of hardship on his weathered skin. Rowen, compelled by a curious mix of concern and compassion, approached the enigmatic figure.
"Hey, are you alright?" Rowen asked, his voice cutting through the silence of the night. He gently shook the old man, whose eyes flickered as if struggling to wake from a deep slumber.
In that unsettling moment, the old man slowly turned, his gaze meeting Rowen's with a haunting intensity. A whisper of ancient wisdom danced in those weary eyes, carrying secrets that transcended the mundane. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy.
Then the old man tried to speak something but his voice was raspy. But before the old man can finish his sentence he introduced itself " I am Rowen".
He said "hey old man don't try to move, your body is pretty bruised up I'll call the ambulance for you".
Then he layed the old man back on street and tried to take out his phone from the pocket to call for ambulance. But before he even could do anything.
The old man held his wrist and attempted to move, speaking in an unknown language that the Rowen couldn't understand. He said, "You, the young one, you are the first to stop and try to help me." His voice was raspy and unfamiliar.Â
The old man signaled for the Rowen to sit beside him, and saying "You're the chosen one, come near me." So, Rowen moved nearer and sat down next to him.
Then the old man " Touched his forehead with his right hands first two fingers" Said something in the other language. After that he give him a strange looking locket when he touched the locket.
Rowen, caught between reality and the surreal, felt a pulse of mysterious power resonating from it. A sudden gust of wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it a cryptic message that only the chosen could decipher.
As the old man's lips parted, a raspy voice echoed, "Destiny weaves its threads in the unseen realms. You, young one, hold the key to the Dream Reality."
And remember my name is " Cedric Elderwood".
After that he moved his hand in particular manner. And Rowen's body start glowing in the gold light emitting an extraordinary energy.Â
In that moment, the fabric of reality seemed to unravel. The mundane streets transformed into a portal, and Rowen found himself drawn into a dimension where dreams and reality intertwinedâa world where the whispers of shadows spoke of a destiny waiting to unfold.
Rowen, now fully conscious after passing through the portal, expressed his frustration with the old man's cryptic words and the unexpected effects on his body.
"Aahhh ahhh, that damn old geezer. What did he do to me? And what did he say? 'You are the chosen one, you hold the key to dream reality.' And how was I able to understand what he said after he touched my forehead."
However, the sudden exposure to the portal's energy left him uneasy, and the energy from the dimensional portal proved overwhelming for his fragile body.
"That strange golden light energy wasn't sufficient for my fragile body to overcome the pressure from the portal," Rowen realized, feeling discomfort throughout his entire body.
Upon arriving in a land vastly different from Earth, He didn't know that this land is the dreamland he had fantasized about â a realm filled with supernatural powers, where strength reigned supreme.
"Why is it so hard to live a normal life? I just tried to help him, and this is what I get in return for my kindness. It's not fair," Rowen lamented, cursing his fate.
Taking a moment to collect himself, he reflected on his pastâhis life as an orphan with no family or special attachments to Earth.
"No, let's calm down first. I survived my whole life without anybody to rely on. I have no family, no special attachments to Earth," Rowen reassured himself. "Let's analyze the situation first." Surveying the unfamiliar forest around him, he felt something in his right pocket.
"This is the locket the old man gave me. No, let's first move from here and find a safe place." Wearing the locket, Rowen decided to venture in one direction, determined to navigate this unknown world.
After walking for a long time, he stopped to catch his breath, sitting down near a tree. After resting for some time, he resumed walking. This pattern repeated two or three times until he finally reached the end of the forest.
Rowen exclaimed, "Finally, I'm out." The first sight outside the forest was truly unbelievable to him.
Beyond the forest, Rowen found a stunning landscape of hills and meadows. The colorful wildflowers created a beautiful and enchanting scene, a stark difference from the dense woods he had just left. As he gazed at the breathtaking view, Rowen couldn't help but feel amazed.
In the midst of these mountains, Rowen saw a city in the middle of the mountains, its tall buildings standing out against the sky. Feeling excited and curious, he headed toward the urban landscape after his nature adventure.