Nirmal stood at the entrance of the ruin, taking in his first true sight of the world outside. His eyes met an endless desert, stretching as far as he could see in all directions. The air was dry, and the heat radiating from the sand was intense, but what struck him the most was the sky above.
Two suns.
They hovered in the sky like fiery orbs, casting an unnatural, golden glow over the landscape. It was a reminder, as clear as any, that he was no longer on Earth. This was a different world altogether—a world that held secrets he couldn't yet comprehend.
As he began his journey, walking into the endless desert, Nirmal quickly realized that this body—the one he had awakened in—did not require food or water to survive. Days passed, and though his throat should have been parched, and his stomach should have ached with hunger, he felt nothing of the sort. This body was beyond the limits of human frailty.
But the desert was unrelenting. The heat was constant, and the harsh winds carried sand that stung his skin as he moved forward. Despite the inhospitable environment, Nirmal pressed on, walking for what felt like an eternity. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything that had happened since he awoke in the ruin.
Flashback - One Month into the Desert
One day, while walking under the harsh, twin suns, Nirmal had paused to take stock of his situation. He was in an ancient body, stored in a ruin for who knows how long. If someone had hidden this body away for such a long time, surely, there were people—or beings—who knew about it. That thought chilled him.
"If this body was kept hidden, there's a reason," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
It didn't take long for him to realize that until he understood more about this world and his place in it, he would need to be cautious. Blending in would be essential if he wanted to gather information without drawing too much attention.
And so, he made the decision to change his appearance. Focusing his energy inward, he tapped into the power that he felt coursing through this vessel of his. It responded immediately, and his body began to shift, his appearance morphing to something new. His hair, once silvery-white, became short and bluish-white, while his eyes took on a deep, molten gold. His frame became more compact, still muscular but less imposing than the form he had awakened with.
"I don't know who or what I am yet," he said to himself, "but I'll find out in time. Until then, I'll stay hidden."
Back to Present - Two Months Later
After what felt like an endless march through the desert, Nirmal finally saw something different in the distance. A city.
It was surrounded by tall walls, with towers that reached toward the two suns. From where he stood, he could see smoke rising from chimneys, and the sound of distant chatter and movement filled the air as he drew closer. After two months of isolation in the desert, the sight of civilization filled him with cautious hope.
Entering the city, Nirmal kept his new, nondescript appearance and blended in with the crowds. The city was bustling, full of life. He could see all sorts of beings moving through the streets—humans, demi-humans, elves, and even a few monsters. The monsters, he noted, were intelligent, moving alongside other races in harmony. It was a strange sight to behold, considering what he had assumed about such creatures.
For a week, Nirmal wandered the city, quietly observing and gathering information. The world he had been thrust into was far more complex than he had first imagined. The information he managed to gather from the locals painted a picture of a world teeming with life, danger, and potential.
There were multiple realms—separate planes of existence. He learned of the Spiritual Realm, where powerful spirits resided, and the Demon Realm and Angel Realm, where demons and angels originated. These beings, though rarely seen in the mortal realm, could be summoned through ancient rituals. Though their presence was limited, their influence was undeniable.
He also learned that the world was home to a vast variety of races. There were demi-humans, hybrids between humans and beasts, living alongside elves, dwarfs, and vampires. The monsters, which intrigued Nirmal the most, came in two distinct types—those without intelligence, wild and mindless, and those who possessed self-awareness and lived peacefully with the other races.
The mindless monsters were hunted regularly by the other races for resources, but the intelligent ones had formed alliances with certain groups of demi-humans and even humans.
"Demons and angels," Nirmal muttered as he sat at a quiet corner in the city square, thinking about the rare entities he had heard whispers of. They resided in their own realms, but on occasion, they could be summoned to this world. Demons, with their chaotic power, and angels, with their divine might—each side represented a force that was rarely seen but greatly respected.
The city itself was a melting pot of these races, all coexisting in a delicate balance. However, as peaceful as it seemed on the surface, Nirmal could sense the undercurrents of tension. The various races didn't always get along, and the monster-hunting operations kept the more mindless creatures at bay, though not without casualties.
During his stay in the city, Nirmal kept his head low, gathering bits of information as discreetly as possible. He was careful not to draw attention to himself, all while trying to piece together the mystery of his existence in this strange and dangerous world.
One night, after spending the day in the bustling market square, Nirmal sat in a small, rented room in the back of a quiet inn, reflecting on what he had learned.
"This world is far more dangerous than I thought," he murmured, staring out the window at the twin suns sinking below the horizon.
He had come to realize that the power that coursed through his body—the power that had been sealed away for so long—might make him a target. If anyone knew what kind of being he truly was, they might come after him, either out of fear or for their own gain.
"I need to be careful," Nirmal thought, glancing at his reflection in the window, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the twilight. "I'm not just a human anymore… but what am I?"
The questions still lingered in his mind, unanswered. But one thing was clear—this world held secrets about his existence, secrets he would uncover in time.
For now, he would remain hidden, blending in with the crowd as best he could.
But he knew it wouldn't last forever.
End of Chapter 2