I opened my eyes at the sun shining in through the window.
"Mmm…is it morning already?" I said through a sleepy, half-awake voice.
'This is strange, I don't remember my voice sounding so deep' I thought nonchalantly.
I stared up at the ceiling, too lazy to get out of bed. I decided to take as much time as I possibly can in bed, before dad comes over and wakes me up for the upcoming day of training.
'Doesn't this ceiling look oddly familiar?'
It wasn't the wooden frame I had grown accustomed to, but instead it was one smooth surface covered in white plaster. Our house never had any kind of plaster covering though. Moreover, I doubt such a material even existed in this world.
Just then, I realized that my arms no longer ached.
'Strange, I am sure they would be hurting like hell right now, considering the physical torture dad put me through yesterday. Oh, there's a spider on the ceiling…'
A cold sweat ran down my back. A spider on the ceiling? A ceiling covered in white plaster? And what is that over there, a lightbulb?
I sprung up from my bed, just to notice that it was not my bed, but a couch. I looked around, saw an old TV, a living room table with overdue bill notices, and four soda cans lying around a trash can. On me were not pajamas, but pants, a collar shirt, and a loosely hanging tie.
'No…no this can't be. All of this couldn't have been a dream. It's simply impossible. It can't. It felt way too real!'
I couldn't believe the reality that was unfolding before me. Why was I back in my old apartment? Were all of those five years, those five happy eventful years just a dream? Will I now have to accept the reality that none of this existed? That I now have to go back to my office job?
My breathing grew shallower and more frequent. I clutched my chest as bile rose up my throat, and tears began to form in my eyes. It couldn't be. This can't be happening! This isn't real! No, no no no no NO!!
***
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
I woke up, and sprung sitting upright on my bed. My shirt was drenched in a cold sweat, my heart was beating with fierce intensity, and my breathing was quick and shallow.
"Ardiel, hun, are you ok?"
My mom. Is that really her? She's really here right? She's real right?
I was confused. I was scared. I couldn't figure out what was the dream and what was reality.
"Did you have a nightmare, Ard?"
I nodded my head, she sat down onto my bed, and then I felt her warm and soft embrace. It definitely felt real. It couldn't not be real. My bed was just as I remembered it. Our house was the exact same. My arms hurt as well! I can not imagine ever having a time when I was so relieved to feel pain. This ache in my arms was the final confirmation that I indeed just had a nightmare of returning back to my past life. As I realized this, my heart rate began to slow, my breaths grew deeper and steadier, and my tense body relaxed as I slowly hugged my mother in return.
"Yes. I think I just had a bad dream mom. Thanks."
She released me, then gently eased me onto my back, and pulled the blanket over me. She ruffled my hair before delivering a gentle kiss to my forehead.
"Are you feeling better?" She said in a soft, quiet voice, but a hint of concern was also evident. Just then I noticed that my dad was still fast asleep. I just let out a yell that very well could have woken up the neighbors, but he didn't bat an eye.
Letting out a sigh I replied, "Yes mom, thank you. I'm fine now."
She offered a gentle smile as she stood up from my bed, making her way back.
"It's good to see the always so mature you acting your age from time to time. Now you seem like an actual five year-old." She teased.
"Yeah…I suppose."
That's right. No longer was I back on earth. No longer was I alone without anyone to lean on, or to ask for help. My world is here now. I have loving parents, and I live life as a carefree child. I am Ardiel Elindrel, with no ties to my old world besides my memories.
On this thought. I went back to sleep.
***
I opened my eyes at the sun shining in through the window.
"Mmm…is it morning already?"
Yup, my voice is back to normal, I am back home, and my arms hurt. I thought that dad would have awoken me by now, given how early he woke me up the day before to go shopping, so I'm guessing this couldn't have happened without my mom's intervention. She probably told him about the nightmare I had in the morning while I was still asleep. I wouldn't be surprised if she additionally rebuked him given in what state he brought me back home yesterday.
'Now that I think about it, I never really went out and explored the city on my own.'
And indeed, the only times I have ever gone out was either to train magic in the forest, or with my mom or dad to the market. Never have I gone outside alone, and interacted with the kids of my physical age.
'It is decided. Today I am taking a day off, and will go exploring.'
I did not plan to travel all the way to the city center. Just exploring the nearby streets, and maybe meeting a few people would be more than enough for now. With this thought I went to get dressed, and then made my way over to the dining area where my breakfast was already placed on top of the table. Mom was in the living room sitting in a rocking chair, reading some kind of novel.
"Did dad already leave?"
"He left about an hour ago to meet Lior at the garrison, seeing that he won't be training you today." She replied matter of factly.
"Thanks."
My mom let out a faint humorous smile. "You are welcome."
I dug into my breakfast, which was a slice of the apple pie still left over from yesterday morning, which my mom ended up eating alone given that me and my dad were out.
"Um, mom."
"Yes?"
"I was thinking of taking a day off today. I realized I never really went out by myself into the city, other than with you or dad accompanying me."
Mom didn't reply immediately, visibly contemplating what I just said.
On the walks I took with her, I frequently saw children playing around without the supervision of their parents. The elven city of Aveildar did not have any kind of criminal activity, at all. For example, a shopkeeper could leave all their products on an open stand and go back home for the night, and the next morning they will all be in their places. I suppose this is the kind of difference in cultures between elves and humans, although I have yet to see a human city myself. However, based on the stories my dad told me about the humans of this world, they were identical in terms of temperament, manners, and behavior to the people in my previous life.
"Sure, if you would like to explore the city for a while, you may. You do remember the plan of the surrounding area, correct? Will you be able to find your way back home?"
"Yes mom, I will be fine. Do not worry, I can find my way back," I reassured her. I have already taken enough walks with my parents to be able to recognize the nearby area, and not get lost.
"Alright then, have fun. Be home before dark, do you understand?"
"Yes, ok thanks mom!"
After being granted permission, I stuffed the remaining pie into my mouth, threw on a leather vest on top of my white linen tunic, put on my leather slip-on outdoor shoes and stepped outside.
***
It just hit me that I haven't explored the city by myself all these five years. I was so curious about everything that was in our house at an early age, but never thought about going out alone into the city. The strolls I did alongside my parents never really sparked the thought of exploring the city myself. I felt like I had already seen enough.
But now, I have all the freedom in the world. No longer bound to my mom's or dad's side, I could scurry in all directions I wanted to, like a puppy let off the leash.
I walked under the sakura trees that seemed to bloom all year round because for some reason it never snowed here. Ran across the marble bridges that arched over the crystal clear streams that intertwined like a web all over the entire city. What I noticed in these streams is that they actually had fish. Small, about the size of a minnow, and were either pearlescent, or gleaming silver in color.
I made my way along the dineries, the local library, visited the market and partook in window shopping.
Exploring the city by myself was, as it turned out, much more intriguing. I was able to now only see, but even feel the difference between the elven and human cultures. All buildings were pristine and tidy, and nowhere did I see a single dirty puddle, pile of filth, or a slum. Everyone, young and old, were dressed properly, and looked healthy and full of energy.
As I continued my adventure around the city, I made my way to a Celestial tree that was neighboring mine, and my attention was caught by a group of around seven elven children playing some sort of game I did not recognize. Two boys, and three girls, all looked around my age. I could tell about how old they were because elves grew up into adulthood at the same pace as humans did. The only difference was that once they reached around the age of twenty, the aging process slows multiple times over, and you can look thirty when you are actually well over a hundred.
Piquing my curiosity with their peculiar game, which seemed like a mix of hopscotch and jump-rope, I involuntarily found myself moving closer in their direction. One of the girls looked over at my, and perhaps seeing my curious face, beamed with a wide grin and waved. That caught the attention of the other boys and girls who curiously looked over in my direction.
The girl who first waved at me, turned to their direction, said something I couldn't hear, and then quickly started making her way over to me, still smiling brightly.
"Hi there, I never saw you around here before! What's your name?"
Woah, I think I can visibly see the aura of friendliness around her. From her behavior, she seemed like a bubbly girl, and was sure to be fun to have around. She had short greenish hair, green eyes, a small and neat, but snub nose, freckles, and wore a huge smile on her face. In height, she was about four inches shorter than me.
"I uh…Ardiel. Ardiel Elindrel."
"Ardiel! Nice to meet you, Ardiel! Can I call you Ardy? My name is Tariel, but you can call me Tary! You want to join us? You seemed very interested back there, he he!"
"Uh, yeah sure, I don't mind."
"Great! HEY PEOPLE, WE HAVE ONE MORE JOINING US!!!"
She grabbed my forearm and half guided, half dragged me to where the other six were standing. Two girls, slightly taller than Tariel, both with white hair down to their shoulders and blue eyes. The two looked almost identical, so it was safe to assume they were twins. They were inspecting me with curious but timid expressions on their faces.
"On the left is Lyra, and on the right is Nariel! They're sisters, twins!"
Called it.
The two offered shy smiles, and Lyra went ahead to give me a small wave.
"And these two are Galen and Faelar!"
The one on the left was Galen. He was almost a head taller than me, and bulkier. The strongman of the group I presume. His eyes were of a turquoise color, and white hair about as long as Lyra's and Nariel's tied in a loose ponytail.
On the right was Faelar who stuck out like a sore thumb. The kid was as tall as me, but much scrawnier. From the way he looked at me with a hint of caution and mistrust he also seemed like the severely introverted type. He was the only one in the group to wear glasses, and his eyes were mossy green. His silver hair was cut somewhat short, just like mine, but seemed disheveled like he just got out of bed. He isn't being bullied by these four is he?
"It is nice to meet you all, my name is Ardiel Elindrel. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
I offered a friendly but shallow bow, and waited for their response. The silence felt like an eternity, and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"How long are you going to stand like that?"
The first one to speak was Galen. His voice deeper than mine, almost as if he was ten instead of five. I straightened myself and met his eyes. Even though mentally I was already over thirty, I could not help but feel slightly intimidated by his demeanor. Although I was confident I would be able to defeat him should things spiral out of hand simply due to my superiority in magic, those fists that he demonstrated as his arms were crossed over his chest seemed menacing.
Those piercing eyes glared at me, as if not looking at, but through me. Instinctively I felt that this was some kind of test to enter one's friend group, that he was trying to see what kind of person I was on the inside. I even felt a little nervous for a second that those glaring eyes would uncover the truth of my reincarnation in this world, and then the most unexpected happened.
"Pfft…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Why are you so stiff, friend? HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Galen let out a bellow laugh, placing his hands on his hips. He walked over towards me and threw his right arm over me, while grinning.
"Nice to meet you Ardiel. I'm Galen. Where are you from? I have never seen you before."
I pointed over to my home Celestial.
"Oh, so we're neighbors. I live in this one right here," he pointed forward in front of us with his left hand. "Actually, all us here do. You look like an interesting guy! The last time I glared like that was when Fairy approached us for the first time. He immediately started apologizing, HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Come on Galen. Anyone would be afraid if you look at them like you wanted to murder them. And stop calling me Fairy!" Faelar rebutted.
"What? It's true though, and was definitely hilarious." Galen responded back.
"Anyways Ardiel, you seem fun. Pleasure to me you!"
"Me too."
"Same here."
"Nice to meet you."
Everyone else from the group began welcoming me. Galen lifted his right hand off of my back, and stretched it out to affirm our friendship in a handshake.
I finally let out the breath I realized I was holding in this whole time. Even as a five year-old, Galen surely was intimidating. I looked over at him, who was grinning from ear to ear, and accepted his handshake.
"Yes, same here. I am looking forward to it!" I said while smiling.
After so many years of solitude in my old world, and five years of not leaving the house without my parents in this world, making new friends was like a breath of fresh air. In this wholesome moment, I was genuinely happy.