Lucas slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to make a sound. Step by step, he left his room, moving softly down the hallway. He reached the door, and with a gentle pull, he opened it.
The world outside greeted him, and his eyes went wide.
What he saw left him in awe.
Even though he'd been here for some time now, this world still amazed him. He'd felt this way when he first arrived—like he was seeing something from a dream. And even now, no matter how much he saw of it, he couldn't help but marvel at its beauty.
The world around him felt alive.
A winding path stretched ahead, surrounded by clusters of flowers. They bloomed in colors so bright they almost seemed to glow. Tall trees bordered the path, their branches moving gently in the breeze. The air was cool, carrying a hint of earth and flowers.
This place… it was even more beautiful than the other places he'd walked through.
Lucas's heart filled with quiet wonder.
'Dr. Sebastian told me to get some rest,' he thought, 'but just walking outside for a bit doesn't really sound that bad, right?'
He took a small step forward, his gaze lingering on the world around him. He still felt tired; he knew his body wasn't fully healed. But the beauty around him felt like it was calling him forward, and it was hard to resist.
'Just a short walk,' he told himself, 'then I'll go back and rest.'
He took another step, following the path before him. His steps were soft and slow, each one a quiet invitation to take in more of the scene around him. As he walked, he felt the same awe he'd felt the first time he arrived in this world.
The air was so fresh. The flowers around him were so vibrant, alive with color. This place was peaceful in a way that he couldn't put into words.
'Was my own world ever this beautiful?' he wondered. 'Before all the buildings and machines?'
He continued down the path, taking his time. He looked around slowly, noticing each detail. The colors, the soft sounds of nature, the leaves rustling gently above him—each small thing felt magical in its own way.
Lost in his thoughts, Lucas barely noticed how far he'd walked. When he glanced back, he realized he could hardly see the spot where he'd started.
'Should I go back?' he thought.
Just then, a strange noise caught his attention. It came from somewhere off to his right, deep in the forest. He stopped, listening closely. It didn't sound like a monster—more like the splash of water, as if someone were tossing water into the air.
Curious, Lucas turned toward the sound.
'What is that?' he wondered. 'That's not a sound of a monster… right?'
The splashing sound continued, steady and rhythmic. Each splash was clear and strong, as if water were being thrown with force. It made him curious, but he felt a hint of caution as well.
'But wait,' he thought, 'do monsters even exist in a place like this?'
He let out a small sigh. 'I'll just take a quick look from a distance.'
With that, he turned to the right and stepped carefully off the main path, moving deeper into the forest. The flowers around him grew more vibrant, scattered across the ground like bursts of color. As he walked, the sound of splashing grew louder.
He moved slowly, his steps cautious, making sure he stayed hidden.
At last, he reached a large tree. Hiding behind it, he peeked around and spotted a figure—a boy, around his own age.
'That's strange… I thought I heard water splashing,' he thought. 'Why is there a boy here instead?'
The boy was breathing heavily, like he'd been working hard at something. Lucas watched as the boy raised his hand, pointing it at a tall tree in front of him.
'Huh? What's he doing?' Lucas wondered.
He stayed quiet, watching from a distance, not wanting to get too close. The boy murmured something, but Lucas couldn't hear his words. He held his breath, curious but cautious.
Suddenly, water started to form in the palm of the young boy's hand and blast a hole at the tall tree Infront of him. Everyone could tell—it was magic.
Lucas's eyes went wide—not from fear, but from awe. He was seeing magic for the first time, and instead of feeling shock, he felt a surge of excitement.
"What the… f*ck?" He said outloud, not believing what he just saw.