As the young man opened his eyes, he found himself lying on soft, dew-covered grass. The world around him was vibrant and alive—trees towering above him with leaves that shimmered in the sunlight like emeralds, casting playful shadows on the ground. The air was cool and fresh, carrying the sweet fragrance of wildflowers blooming in every color imaginable. The place was filled with an eerie but inviting mystique, as if magic itself hung in the air.
"So... I'm really here," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "This is the world of Fairy Tail." Excitement surged through him. For as long as he could remember, he had dreamed of this—of magic, of adventure, of living in a world where the impossible was just a spell away.
He rose slowly to his feet, taking in the breathtaking scenery around him. Every blade of grass seemed to hum with life, and the sky above was a deep, endless blue. There was no doubt about it—this world was different. It was brimming with the kind of raw magic he had only read about. His heart raced with anticipation, but also a flicker of fear. What would he find in a place like this?
Without any clear direction, he began to walk. The ground beneath his feet was soft, and with each step, the faint sound of his footsteps echoed through the forest. The path was lined with glowing flowers that pulsed softly with light, as though guiding him. After what felt like hours, he stumbled upon a village, nestled deep within the heart of the forest.
But something was wrong. The village was old—ancient, even—and utterly deserted. The stone walls of the houses were covered in creeping vines, and their wooden roofs had long since crumbled. The streets were eerily silent, with no signs of life anywhere. It was as if the village had been frozen in time, abandoned by its inhabitants centuries ago.
The young man hesitated. "Why do I feel like I've seen this place before?" he thought, a sense of déjà vu washing over him. He stepped carefully through the village, his eyes scanning the empty buildings, each one a relic of a forgotten past. As he passed a dilapidated well in the center of the square, something caught his eye—a house, still mostly intact, stood at the far end of the village.
"Maybe I could stay here for a few days," he muttered to himself. He approached the house, its door hanging loosely on its hinges. With a gentle push, the door creaked open, revealing the dim interior. Dust hung in the air, illuminated by the rays of sunlight streaming in through the cracks in the walls. Despite the age and wear, the furniture inside was still usable—a table, a chair, and a bed, all covered in a fine layer of dust, but otherwise untouched.
The young man smiled to himself. "It's not much, but it'll do." He turned and glanced out the door. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. "I'll need firewood before it gets dark."
He left the house and headed towards the forest at the edge of the village. As he ventured deeper into the woods, the trees seemed to close in around him, their branches twisting and bending as if whispering secrets. The air grew cooler, and the soft sounds of the forest—chirping insects, rustling leaves—seemed to grow louder in the silence. After gathering a large pile of wood, he made his way back to the village just as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon.
Inside the house, he lit a fire in the hearth, and the flames crackled and danced, casting flickering shadows that wavered across the rough stone walls. The room was filled with a comforting warmth, a stark contrast to the chill that lingered outside. He settled on the edge of the old, creaky bed, entranced by the glow of the fire as it illuminated the dusty corners of the room.
"What should I do next?" he wondered aloud, his voice echoing softly in the stillness. "I need to find other people... figure out where I am... and what year it is." His heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety at the thought of the unknown world around him.
Then, a sudden thought struck him: he had a system. "System, are you there?"
Ding! "Yes, Host."
"I'd like to know your functions."
Ding! "Host cannot access the system yet; you must reach a higher level."
A wave of frustration washed over him. "What does that even mean? How do I level up?" he thought.
He leaned back, resting his head against the weathered wooden wall, contemplating his situation. The comforting warmth of the fire began to lull him into a deep sleep, as his mind swirled with thoughts of the unknown adventures that lay ahead. Images of vibrant towns and mysterious creatures danced through his dreams, whispering promises of discovery and danger.
As sleep claimed him, the last flicker of the fire mirrored the spark of determination in his heart. He knew that whatever awaited him in this strange new world, he would face it head-on.
The next morning, sunlight poured through the cracks in the roof, waking him. He stretched and stood, feeling more refreshed than he had in days. With renewed determination, he packed his things and set off once again, leaving the forgotten village behind.
He had not traveled far when the sound of a deafening roar tore through the sky. He stopped in his tracks, his heart pounding in his chest. Slowly, he looked up—and froze. High above, a massive dragon flew, its scales gleaming white in the morning sun, its wings slicing through the air with terrifying grace. The dragon's roar echoed through the sky again, shaking the very earth beneath his feet.
The young man stood, paralyzed with fear and awe. He had never seen anything so magnificent and terrifying in his life. The dragon circled above him, its glowing eyes locked onto him. Then, with a powerful sweep of its wings, it descended rapidly, landing with a thunderous crash that shook the ground. The dragon was enormous, towering over him, its brilliant white scales reflecting the sunlight like polished stone.
Before he could move, a deep, feminine voice rumbled from the dragon's maw, filled with both curiosity and power. "Human... what brings you to such a desolate place?"
The young man's breath caught in his throat. He had no idea dragons could talk. He had no idea what to say. "I... I woke up here," he stammered, his voice shaking. "I don't know who I am, or where I came from."
The dragon studied him closely, its eyes narrowing. "You are lost, then." Her voice softened slightly, but it still carried an air of authority. "And yet... I sense something within you. Power. Untapped potential. You are not just any ordinary human, are you?"
He blinked in surprise. "Potential? Me?" He looked down at his hands, confused. He didn't feel powerful.
The dragon's expression shifted to one of amusement. "Yes... you may not know it yet, but you have within you the capacity for great magic. I can feel it."
The young man swallowed hard. "I don't even know how to use magic."
The dragon chuckled, a deep rumble that reverberated through the ground. "That can be changed. I could teach you... if you are willing."
His heart skipped a beat. "You want to teach me? Why would you do that?"
The dragon's eyes gleamed. "Because I have always wanted a son. And I see in you something that no other creature in this world has. You have potential beyond measure."
The young man stared at her, his mind racing. "You... you want to adopt me?" He could hardly believe what he was hearing.
"Yes," the dragon said simply. "You would be my child, and in return, I would teach you everything I know about magic."
He hesitated, unsure of what to say. But then he realized—this was an opportunity. A chance to learn magic. A chance to find out who he really was. "I... I accept."
The dragon smiled, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "Good. Then climb onto my back. We have much to do."
With a mixture of excitement and fear, the young man climbed onto the dragon's back. The moment he was securely seated, the dragon spread her wings and launched into the sky. The ground fell away beneath them, and the world stretched out in every direction. He clung to the dragon's scales as they soared through the clouds, the wind rushing past him, exhilaration coursing through his veins.
They flew for what seemed like hours, over mountains and valleys, rivers and forests. Eventually, they reached a hidden valley, nestled deep within a range of towering peaks. The dragon descended, landing gracefully at the mouth of a massive cave.
As he dismounted, the young man gazed in awe at the cavern before him. It was enormous, its walls shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow. The air inside was cool and filled with a sense of ancient magic.
"Welcome to your new home," the dragon said, her voice echoing through the cave.
The young man turned to her, his eyes wide. "What's your name?"
The dragon smiled. "I am Selene, the Dragon of the Moon." As she spoke, her body began to glow with a soft, golden light. The glow intensified until it enveloped her completely, and when it faded, she was no longer a dragon. Instead, she stood before him as a tall, graceful woman, her silver hair flowing down her back, her pale skin glowing softly in the dim light of the cave. She wore a gown that shimmered like starlight, and her eyes sparkled with ancient wisdom.
Before he could react, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the shadows. "Selene, who is this you have brought?"
A figure emerged from the darkness—a man with golden hair and eyes that blazed like the sun. His clothing shimmered with celestial light, and his presence filled the cave with warmth and power.
"This is the human I found," Selene said, her voice filled with pride. "He possesses immense magical potential."
The man—Chronos—stepped forward, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied the young man. "Let me see for myself," he said, his voice as deep as the earth itself. He gazed into the young man's eyes, and after a long moment, his expression softened with surprise. "Incredible. His potential is unlike anything I've ever seen.
Selene smiled triumphantly. "I told you."
The young man swallowed, feeling the weight of both their gazes upon him. "And... who are you?"
"I am Chronos, the Dragon of the Sun," the man replied, his voice echoing through the cavern like a celestial choir.
The young man took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. He was standing between the Dragons of the Sun and Moon—two of the most powerful beings in this world. And somehow, they had chosen him.
"Well," he said with a faint smile, "I guess I'm in good hands."