Hikaru Aizawa walked slowly along the busy streets of Tokyo, his hands hidden in the pockets of his long coat. His long, tousled brown hair always covered his face. Each step he took was mechanical, distracted, as if his body were on that street while his mind wandered elsewhere. The sky above him was dark and overcast, but the neon lights of the advertising signs glowed vividly, reflecting in the puddles created by the recent rain. The noise of traffic and conversations filled the air, but Hikaru was immersed in an inner silence. He had just finished another long day as a therapist specializing in lucid dreams, a profession that saw him guiding his patients through the labyrinths of their minds. But that job, once fascinating, had lost its charm; it had become monotonous, repetitive, with no real change in his own life.
He turned a corner without thinking too much, searching for a less crowded path to get home. It was then that he noticed a narrow, dark alley, hidden between the tall buildings. It almost seemed to call to him. Hikaru hesitated, his feet planted on the ground, but an inexplicable curiosity pushed him forward. He ventured into the alley, his footsteps echoing against the brick walls. At the end of the alley, he saw an old, faded sign: "Library of Ancient Secrets." The sign swayed slightly, as if an invisible wind was brushing against it.
Intrigued, Hikaru approached and pushed the wooden door, which creaked open with a sinister groan. The air inside was thick with the smells of old paper and dust. The library was small, but it seemed to extend infinitely thanks to the tall shelves full of books, some so old that their covers were almost completely faded. He walked slowly, cautiously, between the narrow aisles of books, his right hand sliding along the spines, feeling the rough and worn covers beneath his fingers.
Suddenly, his gaze was captured by a book that seemed to glow slightly among the others, an almost magnetic pull. "The Eldorian Grimoire." The title was engraved in faded, worn golden letters. Hikaru tilted his head and reached out to take the book. As soon as his fingers touched the leather cover, a shiver ran down his spine, as if an electric shock had passed through him.
"What the hell..." he murmured. He slowly opened the book, flipping through the yellowed, thick pages. They were filled with strange symbols and words in a language he didn't know. His eyes skimmed over the text, as if drawn by an invisible force. Without even realizing it, he began to murmur some of the strange words.
"Ra... kalu... n'varos..."
The world around him exploded in a blinding white light. An intense buzzing filled his ears, and the ground beneath him vanished. Hikaru felt his body floating, as if being sucked into a vortex. Everything became indistinct, like a dream.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a soft carpet of grass. He felt the cool grass beneath his hands, and the pungent smell of damp earth filled the air. Hikaru slowly got up, his body still numb. Looking around, he saw a majestic forest stretching as far as the eye could see. The trees were tall, their leaves glowing in green, blue, and purple hues that seemed to sway together like a living painting.
"Where... where am I?" he whispered, his voice trembling. He looked up at the sky, which was painted with unnatural colors, like a perpetual sunset. The air was crisp and different, full of energy.
The sudden noise of rapid footsteps made him start. He turned sharply and saw a dirty, ragged man emerging from the foliage. The man had a fierce expression and held a rusty knife in his hand. Every step he took was heavy, his shoulders hunched, and his gaze fixed on Hikaru like a predator that had spotted its prey.
"Give me everything you've got!" shouted the bandit with a hoarse voice, advancing toward him with a determined stride.
Hikaru instinctively took a step back, almost stumbling, his breath becoming labored. "Wait, I... I have nothing!" he stammered, raising his hands in front of him as if to defend himself.
The bandit paused for a moment, observing him with suspicious eyes. Then he nodded, and two other equally disheveled men emerged from the bushes, surrounding Hikaru. His heart pounded furiously in his chest, and a paralyzing fear enveloped him. He felt his legs shaking as he tried to think of a way to escape. But there was no way out.
As one of the bandits raised his knife, ready to strike, Hikaru instinctively crouched, raising an arm in front of him to protect himself. A strong, desperate thought of survival filled his mind. He felt his desire for protection expand, becoming something tangible. And then it happened.
A flash appeared before him, followed by a sudden dull impact. Hikaru opened his eyes, stunned, and saw a wooden shield appear out of nowhere. It was old and crude, like those used by warriors in ancient times. The bandit's knife bounced off it with a metallic sound. The shield vibrated slightly, as if it were real, but it dissolved a moment later, leaving both Hikaru and the bandit bewildered.
"What the hell was that?" shouted the bandit, pulling back his knife with a look of surprise and anger.
Hikaru looked at his trembling hands, his breathing ragged. He had no idea what had just happened, but there was no time to think. The bandits prepared for another attack, their faces twisted with frustration.
Before they could approach again, a female figure slipped out of the shadows of the trees with quick and fluid movements. Her steps were light, almost imperceptible. With a decisive gesture of her hand, she closed her eyes for a second, concentrating. A faint blue glow illuminated her figure, and in an instant, a sword appeared in her right hand, forming out of thin air. The blade glistened in the twilight, emitting a thin silver mist.
Liora, a young woman with long blonde hair waving in the wind, stepped forward, positioning herself between Hikaru and the bandits. Her gaze was determined, her muscles tensed, ready for action. "Stay away from him," she said firmly, confidently wielding the sword in front of her.
The bandits hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. "And who the hell are you?" shouted one of them, but his voice betrayed a note of uncertainty.
Liora didn't respond. She moved forward with a fluid step, the sword whistling through the air as she raised it. With a swift and precise movement, she struck the first bandit, disarming him in a single blow, sending the knife flying through the air and finally embedding it in a tree. The bandit cried out in pain and pulled his hand back, while the other two retreated in fear. Liora continued her assault with grace and precision, each strike an elegant dance that drove them away without killing them, forcing them to retreat into the dense forest.
When the last bandit was forced to flee, Liora lowered her sword and made it vanish in a flash of silvery light. She turned to Hikaru, who was still trembling on the ground, and approached him with a concerned look.
"You're safe now," Liora said, her voice warm and reassuring despite the intensity of the situation. "My name is Liora. So, you've finally arrived, Dreamsmith."
Hikaru looked at her, still in disbelief. "Dream... what? Thank you... really. But... where am I? And what is happening?"
Liora offered him a hand to help him up. "This is Eldoria, a world very different from yours. It is a place of magic and dangers. You've finally arrived here, and it's clear that the 'The Eldorian Grimoire' you found has worked after all."
Hikaru stood up, trying to regain control of his emotions. "The Grimoire? But what does all this mean? I need to get back home immediately!"
"I'm afraid that's impossible for now. You've been chosen; come, follow me."
Liora guided him through the forest, and the landscape around them began to change, revealing more lush vegetation and vibrant-colored animals. "Eldoria is a world with its own laws and rules, and the Grimoire is an ancient source of powerful magic. We don't know anything about you yet, but you have an important role to play here."
As they walked, Liora briefly explained that Eldoria was governed by magical laws and spells and that Hikaru had just unwittingly discovered the wonders and dangers of this world. They soon arrived at a clearing where a small wooden and stone building stood, its architecture elegant and harmonious, completely different from anything Hikaru had seen in Tokyo.
"This is my home," Liora explained. "It's a safe refuge, and I will help you understand this world better and your role here."
As they approached the entrance, Liora turned to Hikaru, her face serious. "But you need to know there is something very dangerous threatening Eldoria. There is a dark sect called the Order of the Void. They want to exploit the power of dreams and imagination to open a portal to an alternate dimension and awaken an ancient being, the Awakened, who will grant them unimaginable power."
Hikaru felt a shiver run down his spine. "And what can I do in all this?"
Liora looked at him with a determined gaze. "We don't know for sure yet. But the fact that you showed a unique ability might be the key we've been searching for to stop the Order of the Void. We need to explore your potential and understand how it can be used to protect Eldoria."
"Unique ability?!" Hikaru asked, astonished, furrowing his brow and scratching his tousled hair.
The door of the house creaked open, and Liora gestured for Hikaru to enter with a smile on her face. "Welcome to Eldoria, Hikaru Aizawa. Your journey has just begun, and there are many things I need to explain to you. I am Liora, and from today, I will be your assistant!"