I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't even scream. Panic gripped me as I tried to push myself up, but it was useless—I was plummeting into a dark abyss, helpless and terrified.
Wake up, Nerina! Wake up! Your parents and friends will worry about you!
My thoughts screamed at me, urging me to break free from the suffocating darkness.
"Hah! Hah... Hah."
With a gasp, I bolted upright, my chest heaving, desperately gulping down air. Cold sweat clung to my skin; my heart raced uncontrollably.
"How did I end up here?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I took in my surroundings.
I was lying on a bed in a room I didn't recognize. The walls were adorned with unfamiliar paintings, and the furniture was ornate—far more sophisticated than anything I had ever seen. I noticed that the clothes I was wearing felt different, larger than my usual attire. A sense of unease settled over me as I tried to process where I was and how I had come to be there.
To my side, a small table held a cup, a water jug, my notes, and my laptop. My throat was parched, so I quickly grabbed the jug and drank deeply, feeling slightly more grounded with each gulp. After a moment of rest, I carefully stood from the bed, only to find my legs wobbling beneath me; I nearly collapsed.
"I need to get out of this house," I murmured, my voice shaky as I steadied myself. I scanned the room for any sign of the person who might have brought me here, but the house was eerily silent, and no one appeared to be around.
With no time to waste, I hurriedly packed my belongings and made my way to the door. However, when I stepped outside, shock froze me in place.
Before me stretched a vast plantation, filled with an array of fruit and vegetables. The rows of crops extended endlessly, vibrant and lush, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The sight was breathtaking yet deeply unsettling.
Where am I? How did I end up in the middle of this sprawling paradise?
I sank down onto the doorstep, my heart racing as I opened my laptop. I needed to ascertain my location, but when I tried to connect to the internet, despair washed over me—there was no connection. Worse yet, my laptop's battery was hovering at 5%, draining with every passing second.
Frantically, I searched for a solution, my mind racing. Just as I was about to give up hope, a voice suddenly broke the silence, freezing me in place.
"I'm glad you're okay. How are you feeling, lady?" The voice was soft yet strong.
I looked up, startled, my breath catching in my throat. A figure stood before me, his face partially obscured by the shadows cast by the setting sun. As he stepped closer, the light illuminated more of his features—a man likely in his late twenties, exuding a quiet confidence.
"I—I'm fine," I stammered, my voice wavering. "But w-what place is this?"
He smiled gently, though something unreadable lingered in his gaze. "You're on the plantation. Quite a sight, isn't it?" He gestured to the vast fields behind him. "You fainted, and I found you right at my doorstep. I brought you inside to rest."
His words did little to quell the confusion swirling in my mind. "But... how did I end up here? Where exactly is 'here'?"
He regarded me carefully before responding. "You're in Aethorador."
The name sent my mind spinning. Aethorador? I fumbled through my memory, searching for any trace of its existence, but nothing connected. Panic began to creep in as I felt my thoughts spiraling into chaos.
There's no Aethorador on any world map. Where am I? Did I really die? How am I alive then? What about my parents...? I was about to graduate…
Overwhelmed, I hung my head, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over.
Sensing my distress, the man slowly sat beside me. Without a word, he gently patted my head, his touch surprisingly calming. That simple act of kindness broke the dam inside me, and I finally let the tears fall.
I cried silently, absorbing the mix of fear, confusion, and sorrow that flooded me. The man remained by my side, offering the quiet comfort of his presence without uttering a word. In that moment, as the world felt unbearably uncertain, his silent support became the only anchor I had in the midst of the storm.