Rawa Vols stumbled as he hit the ground, his body still reeling from the mysterious descent. It felt as though he had been falling for an eternity, plummeting through endless skies before finally crashing down into the soft earth below. Gasping for breath, he lay still for a moment, his heart racing like a wild drumbeat in his chest.
"Finally," he muttered to himself, "I've reached the ground."
He pulled himself up slowly, dusting off his cloak and looking around. The landscape had transformed again, as it always did in this strange place. Gone was the Greenery view he had seen moments before. Now, he stood in the midst of an open grass field that stretched out in all directions, dotted with tall, solitary trees. A soft wind stirred the tall grass, making it sway like waves on an emerald ocean.
Rawa's senses were heightened. He could feel the strange magic of this world pulsating in the air, an energy he had yet to understand fully. His journey through this realm had been disorienting, filled with ever-changing vistas and cryptic visions, each one more perplexing than the last.
As he scanned the horizon, something caught his eye. The sky above seemed to ripple as if reality itself was bending. His eyes widened as he saw a figure descending from the heavens. It was as if the very clouds had parted to reveal this person, glowing faintly in the sunlight. The figure came closer, and Rawa's breath hitched. He felt an inexplicable fear take root in his chest, a deep-seated instinct warning him of the stranger's approach.
Whoever this was, they were not an ordinary traveler.
The figure touched down lightly, not far from where Rawa stood. Their feet barely disturbed the grass as they landed, and a faint shimmer of energy surrounded them like a protective aura. Rawa could see that the person was tall, draped in robes of flowing silver and gold, their presence radiating an ancient, unknowable power.
"Hello," the figure said, their voice smooth and warm, yet carrying an authority that sent a chill down Rawa's spine.
Rawa hesitated for a moment, his thoughts racing. But he knew he couldn't appear weak in front of this stranger. Swallowing his fear, he nodded and returned the greeting. "Hello."
The stranger's eyes were intense, like twin stars glowing faintly in the daylight. They regarded Rawa for a moment before speaking again, their tone calm but full of purpose.
"I am Raksh," the stranger said, a smile tugging at the corner of their lips. "The protector of this world. It is my duty to safeguard the balance, to ensure that the realms of magic and mortal life remain in harmony."
Rawa blinked, unsure how to respond. Protector of the world? Was this person some kind of deity? His mind raced with questions, but he kept his expression steady.
Raksh continued, their voice more solemn now. "You are not from here, Rawa Vols. I can sense the energy of your home realm clinging to you, though faint. Your arrival here is no accident. The forces of fate have drawn you into this place for a reason."
Rawa's heart skipped a beat at those words. "You… you know who I am?"
Raksh nodded, their gaze unwavering. "Yes, I know much about you. And though you do not yet realize it, you have a role to play in what is to come. This world, like all others, faces a great danger. A dark power is stirring, and it threatens to unravel the balance I have sworn to protect."
A silence fell between them, broken only by the whispering wind.
Rawa's mind swirled with confusion and uncertainty. He had always been a wanderer, moving from place to place, never staying anywhere for long. But this world, this strange, ever-shifting land, felt different. There was something here—something ancient and powerful—that called to him in a way he couldn't explain.
"What do you want from me?" Rawa asked cautiously.
Raksh smiled again, this time more gently. "For now, I ask only that you walk with me. There are things you must learn, truths about this world and your place in it. Together, we will uncover the path that lies ahead."
With that, Raksh gestured toward the horizon, where the grassland stretched endlessly. "Come, Rawa Vols. Let us begin our journey. Time is short, and the darkness grows ever closer."
Despite his lingering fear, something deep within Rawa stirred—an unspoken resolve. He nodded, stepping forward to follow the mysterious protector. The air seemed to hum with magic as they began their walk, the ground beneath them shifting subtly as if the world itself was aware of their movements.
And so, Rawa Vols, the wayward traveler, found himself walking beside Raksh, protector of the world. Unbeknownst to him, this was the first step of a journey that would not only determine his fate but the fate of entire realms.