"How do I start a story?"
That's usually the hardest part, especially since readers can get bored if there's too much monologue or info-dumping.
"This is usually the moment when the protagonist explains how they ended up in a fantasy world and their miserable life back on Earth."
Our protagonist, is still struggling to introduce himself.
He's spent the entire day trying to write about his autobiography, but he hasn't even managed to write a single line.
Just so you know, he didn't die in some tragic way like the protagonist in other novels.
He was a wealthy and successful salaryman, with no tragic backstory.
One day, after getting drunk at a party, he walked into a dark alley, took a wrong turn, and entered a dimensional rift.
Other people end up on the wrong road if they take a wrong turn, but he ended up in the wrong world instead.
"I haven't even introduced myself yet."
He's still hesitating, trying to figure out how to start.
The blank page before him seems to mock his indecision.
"Usually, the protagonist introduces themselves in a monologue. Sometimes, someone else does it, or it's revealed through the system's status screen. Hmm, or maybe I should go for a grand introduction like in a duel?"
His name is Oz. It's as simple as that—just introduce yourself, and the story can start right away.
Yet here he is, still stuck on the introduction, feeling as if he's lost in a maze of his own making.
"Maybe I'll continue later. My train is here."
In the distance, a plume of gray smoke trailed behind the tracks, curling through the crisp morning air.
The rhythmic chugging of the steam train grew louder as it approached the station, accompanied by the sharp, piercing whistle that signaled its arrival.
The screeching of wheels against the rails was an auditory assault as the engineer pulled the brake lever with practiced precision.
The train's massive, iron-clad wheels ground against the metal tracks, producing a sound that resonated through the station.
"Kid, don't stand too close to the tracks!"
A security officer in a navy-blue uniform, with a cap and brass buttons gleaming in the sunlight, tried to warn Oz.
Despite the officer's authoritative tone, Oz was standing well behind the safety line.
To anyone who didn't know about him, Oz's youthful appearance would make them think he was only 14 or 15 years old.
But in reality, he was a 41-year-old salaryman.
His childlike appearance was due to a spell cast by his master to reverse his age.
Even though it involved magic, the process wasn't instantaneous nor painless.
It wasn't like the fairy-tale transformations in children's movies.
The magic was a gradual and agonizing process, with old body parts being replaced one by one with new ones, akin to losing baby teeth but on a much larger scale.
If losing a baby tooth is painful, imagine the agony of your entire body undergoing a similar transformation.
— Uh, I'm standing far enough back, you know.
Oz grumbled to himself, his eyes narrowed as he watched the security officer.
He recalled that he had just learned a new spell.
A wide grin spread across Oz's face—an expression of happiness.
Oz's definition of happiness was broad, and this time, it meant he had an idea for a prank on the officer.
*Ahem*
Oz cleared his throat. He try to not drawing the attention before reciting his new spell.
"Rapio Subtilis!"
It was a spell designed to discreetly steal valuable items like wallets, watches, or even something from a sealed container
An invisible force shot from Oz's hand and zoomed toward the security officer.
"Strike!"
It felt like a fishing line catching a fish.
Oz swiftly moved his hand to reel in the item, his heart racing with anticipation.
Usually, the spell would target something the victim considered most valuable.
But this time, Oz was stunned by what he had obtained.
"…"
In his hand was the black trousers the officer had been wearing.
He glanced back at the officer, who was now walking confidently in nothing but white boxer shorts adorned with pink flamingos.
Without missing a beat, Oz hurled the trousers as far as he could.
It flews through the air and landed on top of the train, waving like a flag..
"Excuse me then."
With reflexes honed for such situations, Oz sprinted toward the train, hauling his large suitcase behind him.
A ticket in his hand indicated that he was in carriage 2, seated at 13-A.
The ticket was made of a thick, shimmering parchment that felt oddly warm to the touch, with intricate, swirling designs framing the text.
The train doors closed with a soft, almost imperceptible hiss, and the train soon began to move.
The gentle hum of the steam engine vibrated through the carriage.
"Phew, luckily I haven't been caught."
Oz quickly made his way to his seat, the worn but comfortable red velvet cushions feeling inviting after the long day he'd had.
He placed his suitcase in the overhead cabin. The cabin doors slid shut with a soft click, sealing away his belongings safely.
Through the window, Oz caught a glimpse of the security officer from earlier, now in a state of panic.
The man was frantically pointing at his black trousers, which were snagged on the top of the train, fluttering helplessly as the train gained speed.
There was nothing the security officer could do now—the train had already departed, its speed making pursuit impossible.
"Ah, now I have some inspiration for my autobiography."
Oz mused to himself, his earlier writer's block seeming to melt away.
He pulled out the paper he had been struggling with. The words began to flow, albeit slowly.
In the past 30 minutes, he had only written a few lines.
[Attention, passengers. The train will soon enter the Starry Night World. Please fasten your seatbelts for your safety.]
The voice from the overhead speakers was smooth and soothing, but what made it truly unique was the way it came from a speaker shaped like an owl.
The owl's eyes glowed softly as it spoke, its wings gently fluttering as though it were alive, lending an almost mystical air to the announcement.
This was Oz's first time visiting the Starry Night World, or simply put, the world of wizards.
Though it was said to exist within the same world as the human world, the two were separated by a dimension, almost like a veil that only some people could see through.
Just think as if those worlds have different frequencies, like electromagnetic signals.
Various frequencies could coexist in the same space without interfering with one another.
And just like tuning a radio, only wizards possessed the ability to shift between these frequencies.
[The train is beginning the dimensional shift.]
As the announcement echoed through the carriage, the train shuddered slightly.
The daytime landscape outside the window wavered and rippled like a mirage before transforming entirely.
What had been a bright afternoon was now an endless night, bathed in the light of a millions stars.
The night sky here was unlike anything Oz had ever seen in the human world.
It was alive with a sea of stars, each one shining brighter and more vivid than he could have ever imagined.
Nebulae swirled in vibrant colors, and distant galaxies spiraled gracefully in the heavens.
The Milky Way stretched across the sky like a river of light.
In the world Oz came from, he had never seen even a single star, the sky overcast with the glow of city lights.
But here, there was no light pollution—just the raw, unfiltered beauty of the cosmos, a sight that took his breath away.
There was only one word that came to his mind to describe the stunning celestial display.
"Otherworldly Majestic!"
"…"
There were two words that came to his mind to describe the stunning celestial display.
The sky is indeed that beautiful, but if we turn our gaze downward, the view is vastly different, almost unsettling.
In a world that knows no daylight, the flora here has adapted in eerie ways.
The trees stand tall and menacing, with gnarled branches stretching like skeletal fingers towards the sky.
Almost all of the trees have leaves that are pitch black, not because of decay, but as a means of survival—they absorb the faint light of the night and the ever-present cosmic radiation that bathes the landscape.
Yes, this world is steeped in cosmic radiation, a constant, invisible force that permeates everything.
The frequency of falling asteroids is so high that one can rarely walk 100 meters without encountering a meteor crater.
The creatures that inhabit this land are no less extraordinary—and terrifying.
Imagine two animals, any two, and there's a strong chance you'll find a creature that possesses the characteristics of both, grotesquely melded together.
"A crocodile and a duck?"
Just moments ago, several crocodiles with duck-like wings were seen soaring through the sky, their feathery wings flapping with surprising grace as they pursued this very train.
It's not uncommon here; these hybrid beasts are drawn almost to anything, and it seems they were particularly interested in something atop the train.
"Ah... It looks like they're attracted to the scent of the trousers up there."
A commotion erupted on the roof of the train as these winged crocodiles descended.
Several staff were frantically firing off spells, their wands glowing with bursts of light as they tried to fend off the creatures.
The air crackled with magic, and the sky above lit up with a myriad of colors as the spells clashed with the crocoduck.
They seemed to be in a hurry, though, as the train was fast approaching its destination.
The staff worked quickly to repel the creatures, ensuring the passengers remained safe as they neared their arrival.
But this begs the question: if the Stary Night World is such a dangerous place, teeming with wild beasts, cosmic radiation, and even frequent asteroid bombardments, how do wizards manage to survive here?
The answer lies in the 'walled city,' or perhaps more aptly referred to as a 'fortress city.'
From the window, a massive fortress came into view, towering an impressive 1200 meters high, its dark silhouette cutting through the starry sky.
The walls were made of stone, but not ordinary stone—this was stone imbued with powerful magic, reinforced to withstand the harshest of conditions.
Each side of the fortress stretched 10 kilometers long, forming a near-impenetrable barrier against the dangers outside.
If you were to calculate it, the total area of the fortress would be 100 square kilometers per floor.
But it's not just the size that's impressive—this fortress has 12 floors, each one an expansive distinc diorama.
This place is called 'Stellarkeep,' and as its name suggests, it's designed to withstand even a falling star.
It's one of the oldest cities in the wizarding world, a relic of ancient times with a history stretching back over 1500 years.
Stellarkeep holds many secrets and mysteries, some so old that even the oldest of wizards have forgotten them.
[The train will soon arrive at Stellarkeep Station. Please be careful and mind your belongings!]
As the train pulled into the station, lights began to flicker on, illuminating the platform in a warm, welcoming glow.
The station itself was a marvel, its architecture reminiscent of the Victorian era, with intricate ironwork and grand arches that made one feel as though they had stepped back in time.
As the train came to a gentle stop, the cabin doors swung open on their own, and all the passengers' luggage floated gracefully down, guided by an unseen force.
There was no need for any effort—the magic took care of everything. However, there was always a catch.
One of the passengers had brought an absurd amount of luggage, and when it floated down from the cabin, it all came crashing down in a heap, burying the unfortunate owner underneath.
"One person's tragedy is another person's joy."
For many children born on Earth in the 1990s, the ultimate dream was to attend a school of magic.
They would fantasize about flying on broomsticks, navigating labyrinths, performing transfiguration, and engaging in all sorts of magical activities.
"Finally, my life at the magic academy begins with…"
"Trousers! Catch those Trousers!'
Before Oz could finish his word, he was interrupted by an absurd and comical sight.
More than five security officers were running frantically through the station, their faces contorted with a mixture of frustration and disbelief as they chased after a pair of trousers.
These were no ordinary trousers.
They were sprinting with remarkable agility, dodging every spell that the officers cast, weaving through the legs of other passengers and leaping over obstacles with ease.
In the end, the trousers made their escape, leaping down onto the train tracks and disappearing into the dark forest beyond the station.
As Oz came face-to-face with the trousers for a brief moment, it almost seemed as though they were saluting him, as if to say thank you for some unknown reason.
Though Oz couldn't be sure—after all, can trousers even have a face?
"What the fuck was that?"
Oz muttered, still stunned by what he had just witnessed.
Since that day, many eyewitnesses have claimed to have seen the mysterious running trousers.
Countless attempts have been made to capture them, but all have ended in failure.
Over time, the trousers became one of Stellarkeep's most famous legends, adding yet another layer of mystery to this already enigmatic place.