Remilia opened her eyes and found herself lying on the ground, facing the sky. Above her stretched a dark expanse devoid of stars, but in a split second, parts of the sky flickered, revealing glimpses of stars before disappearing again. This phenomenon repeated sporadically, with stars appearing and vanishing in different parts of the sky, sometimes lingering longer than others.
As she got up, Remilia realized she was surrounded by a strange scenery. A boulder seemed to teleport back and forth, its color shifting between reddish and bluish hues, and sometimes vanishing altogether for a split second before reappearing in a different location. This strange behavior wasn't limited to the boulder; lumps of crystals, unfamiliar plants, and exotic flowers exhibited similar erratic movements, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
The ground beneath Remilia's feet flickered incessantly, revealing glimpses of its true barren nature in one moment before transforming into a pool of boiling blood, only to vanish and be replaced by landscape filled with strange grass-shaped plants and crystal-like rocks. At times, multiple layers of ground appeared simultaneously, overlapping and clipping through each other, creating a disorienting sight. And then, there were moments when the ground disappeared entirely, leaving nothing but darkness beneath her. The ever-changing landscape, the flickering skies, this unknown place is something Remilia couldn't comprehend. But there's something more important that she needs to think about.
"Where is... everyone?"
Remilia's voice trembled as she forged ahead, following her instincts without heed to her surroundings.
'Please...'
Anxiety and fear gripped her mind, each step feeling heavier than the last, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. With each stride, her body seemed to sink deeper, burdened by an unseen weight.
"I need to find every-!!"
But her resolve was interrupted as she stumbled and crashed to the ground.
"Ugh... My body..."
As she struggled to rise, an oppressive force seemed to crush her, pressing her down until she could only manage to kneel, every movement she made is a battle against unseen forces.
"I..."
Her strength waning, Remilia finds herself getting harder to breathe in the desolate expanse. Consciousness slipped away, her eyelids fighting to close as her body trembled uncontrollably. Amidst the searing pain within, she felt cold sweat drenching her skin, a cruel juxtaposition of sensations. Even so, she persisted in trying to keep herself from collapsing, determined to maintain her consciousness amidst the overwhelming agony. As Remilia struggled to maintain consciousness, a boy with black hair, around five years old, emerged from the darkness and ran towards her. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as he drew closer.
"Lia!"
"Niel!"
Confused about how he ended up there, Remilia felt a pang of frustration upon realizing that he was following her. She also had a nagging feeling that she had forgotten something important, but she decided to let it be for the moment.
"What are you doing here?"
Niel paused to catch his breath after catching up with her. Remilia already knew why Niel was there, and she anticipated what he would say next.
"Your father already told us not to go-"
"I know! You don't need to tell me every single time."
"But..."
Remilia turned away and ventured into the forest, paying no heed to Niel. She navigated carefully, scanning her surroundings in search of potential prey.
"Why are you following me?"
"It's dangerous out here."
Remilia anticipated that Niel would return to the village and inform her father again. However, to her surprise, he followed her into the forest this time.
"I have my dagger with me. So there's nothing to worry about."
She proudly showed him the dagger nestled in its sheath hanging from her waist. It was a birthday gift from her father from two weeks ago, and since then, she carried it with her wherever she went. However Niel didn't impressed at all, he just looking at her with worries.
Realizing Niel didn't react as she expected, Remilia turned away and continued searching for prey. Occasionally, she glanced back and noticed Niel silently following her while cautiously scanned their surroundings.
A faint smile appeared on her face. Remilia felt delighted to be able to go hunting with Niel. Ever since she received her dagger, she had wanted to hunt with him, but instead of hunting with her, he always tried to prevent her from going. However, things were different now, and she didn't care why he was suddenly following her. She was just glad to have him with her.
"Lia. We are too far inside the forest."
"Shh. Be quiet."
"..."
Remilia spotted a Volipe, an animal with grey fur and a round body, about the height of an adult human's knees. Its face was also round with a slightly elongated nose, and it was currently busy eating berries from a bush.
Remilia walked slowly, trying not to alert the Volipe, and hid behind a tree. Niel followed her from behind and concealed himself in a nearby bush. Remilia pulled her dagger from its sheath and prepared to attack. Currently, the Volipe was four meters away from her. She slowly approached it while it was busy eating. As she got closer, suddenly there was a thud noise coming from the bush the Volipe was eating at, startling it and causing it to blindly run towards Remilia. With reflexes, Remilia jammed her dagger into the Volipe's neck as it charged towards her. The creature tried to break free, flailing around wildly, but Remilia held onto it tightly, refusing to let go. Despite the struggle, she maintained her grip until the Volipe eventually began to weaken and stopped moving altogether.
"That's startled me!"
Sitting on the ground, Remilia took a moment to catch her breath and calm her racing heart after the sudden rush of adrenaline. She closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythm of her breathing, letting the tension slowly drain away from her body.
"Are you okay, Lia?!"
Niel rushed towards her, his face filled with visible concern, while Remilia, with an excited expression, greeted him with a big smile.
"Look at this! I got my first pray!"
Knowing that Niel was there when she caught her first prey made her genuinely happy.
"Hey! Let's go back and show this to everyone!"
"But how we bring this back with us? This one is really big."
The Volipe that Remilia killed was actually larger than its usual size.
"Don't worry! I will drain it's blood first to make it lighter."
"Is that how it works?"
"Dunno! But my father always drained their blood."
"Okay... Do you know how to do it?"
"Leave it to me!"
As Remilia about to drain its blood, something comes out from behind.
"Lia."
As the tiger-like monster approached, its towering stature loomed over Remilia and Niel. Its dark red fur swayed majestically with each step, and the muscles on its forelimbs were clearly defined. Somehow, it didn't immediately pounce towards them. Instead, it walked slowly, its gaze fixed intently on Remilia and Niel. Intimidated by its presence, Remilia couldn't move her body and just froze on the spot. She was overwhelmed by something she had never felt before. As she struggled with the feeling of helplessness, Remilia suddenly felt something grip her hand and pull her away. It was Niel, already in front of her, trying to protect her. She could see his body trembling with fear as he shielded her from the monster.
The looming presence of the approaching monster sent Remilia's heart racing with fear, and as it drew nearer, she could see just how massive it truly was. However, to her surprise, the monster simply walked past them, paying them no attention, and took the dead Volipe into its mouth. Afterward, it calmly walked into the deep forest without so much as a glance back at them. After the monster disappeared from view, their legs lost all their strength, causing them to collapse to the ground.
"Are you okay, Lia?"
Niel looked at her, noticing that she was still trembling.
"Let's go back to the village."
"Y-yes."
When Remilia attempted to get up, she found it difficult to balance herself. Before she could fall, Niel caught her. Without a word, he placed her on his back and began to carry her. After a few steps, however, he stopped abruptly.
"I forgot, the way to the village."
"I will tell you the direction."
As Remilia led the way to the village, Niel carried her without any complaint and showing no signs of exhaustion. They moved smoothly through the forest until Niel abruptly stopped in his tracks upon spotting a monster ahead. Before them stood a wolf-like creature with silver fur, its eyes gleaming red and sharp fangs protruding from its mouth. Known as a silver wolf, these creatures were notorious for hunting in packs and possessing bodies as tough as steel, making them among the most dangerous monsters to encounter. Encountering one in this area was exceptionally rare, given that they typically inhabited the depths of the forest and never leave their group.
Niel stood perfectly still, hoping that the silver wolf would pass by without noticing their presence, careful not to make any sudden movements or noises that might draw its attention. Remilia, clinging tightly to Niel's back, felt a surge of panic as the silver wolf's gaze fell upon them. Without hesitation, Niel broke into a sprint, carrying Remilia with him. As they ran, Remilia shut her eyes tightly, praying that they would escape the monster's notice. However, her sense of weightlessness abruptly interrupted her thoughts, and she realized with dread that they were falling from a cliff.
"Lia!"
Remilia remembers vividly how Niel had held her tightly as they fell from the cliff just before she lost consciousness.
***
Remilia opened her eyes and found herself lying on the ground, facing the earth. As she rose, a dull ache pulsed through her head, but it quickly dissipated with a shake. Glancing around, she realized the scenery had shifted; no longer were there teleporting or clipping objects, and the stars twinkled in the sky as they should.
The boulder she had seen earlier no longer disappears and reappears. Now, she can clearly discern its fragrant reddish-brown color against the backdrop. The ground is carpeted with a pale green grass, slightly transparent. Colorful crystals emerge from the earth, casting vibrant hues that illuminate the surroundings. Exotic flowers, unseen before, dot the landscape with their varied colors, while small flickering lights dance around them.
"What is this place?"
Unlike before, she no longer feels anything abnormal about her body. Instead, she senses a lightness within herself, and her eyesight has become remarkably clearer.
'I lost my sword.'
As she reaches for her sword at her waist, she realizes it's missing, along with its sheath. The sword that she use is a legendary one, once wielded by the hero who defeated the demon lord a thousand years ago. Presented to her by the king upon her graduation from the academy, it symbolizes her role as the new hero. But she couldn't care more about it; right now, she is more worried about her friends.
Remilia starts walking cautiously, attempting to sense any presence around her. However, she finds herself unable to detect anything; instead, it feels as though she's submerged in a sea of mana, surrounded by pure magical energy. With her ability to feel presences stripped away, she moves forward as if navigating through a dense mist.
With the ability to walk and see normally restored, Remilia begins to feel as though everything that happened before was just a bad dream, now fading into a faint memory. Though she can't comprehend what transpired, she's certain it wasn't an illusion or a hallucination.
Remilia realizes that she's in an entirely unfamiliar world as she explores in search of her friends. Everything around her is unlike anything she's ever seen before. As Remilia ascends into the sky to gain a better vantage point, she beholds a vast and unfamiliar landscape spread out beneath her. In the distance, she spots creatures unlike any she's encountered before, their forms strange and fantastical. Some appear to be gracefully floating and dancing through the air.
"I cannot find them."
Perched high above the unfamiliar terrain, Remilia scans the surroundings in search of her friends, but they remain elusive. The strangeness of this place only adds to her growing sense of unease, leaving her with an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty about their whereabouts and well-being. Despite her efforts, the vast and mysterious landscape offers no clues, leaving Remilia to grapple with her worry and apprehension as she continues her search.
"Argh!!"
As she soared through the sky, Remilia's senses were abruptly assaulted by an overwhelming force that seemed to crush her body, the overwhelming sensation causes her to lose control, and she collapses to the ground. With lightning reflexes, she managed to regain control just in time, guiding her descent to a safe landing. Despite the shock of the sudden impact, she quickly composed herself, her heart racing as she scanned the surroundings for any sign of danger.
"W-what- Urgh!!"
Once more, Remilia feels her body crushed with even greater force this time. Blood spills from her mouth, nose, eyes, and ears as she struggles to comprehend her dire situation. Before she can fully grasp what's happening, darkness envelops her consciousness, and she begins to lose awareness of her surroundings.
***
Tristan awakens to find himself in the heart of a dense forest, where sunlight struggles to pierce through the thick foliage of towering trees. Surrounding him are unfamiliar flora and fauna, each bearing a resemblance to those he knows, yet displaying unique characteristics that mark them as distinctly different.
'What happened? Where's everyone? And where is this?'
Examining his tattered robes and clothes, Tristan recalls the moment before he lost consciousness, realizing that he was attacked by a monster when he unleashed his magic. Feeling no pain, he deduces that he has been healed, but his friends are nowhere to be found. It's unlikely they would have left him alone while unconscious, leading him to believe that something must have happened to them during his state of unconsciousness.
Tristan felt the rush of wind against his skin as he summoned his wind magic, propelling himself upward into the sky. He weaved effortlessly through the intricate patterns of leaves, the lush canopy of the forest passing beneath him in a blur of green.
Emerging from the forest's embrace, Tristan's gaze swept across the vast expanse of the sky, his senses alive with the sights and sounds of the world around him. And then, he beheld it – a sight so extraordinary that it seemed to defy his common sense.
In the distance, rising above the sea of trees, stood a colossal tree of such grandeur that it seemed to touch the very heavens themselves. Its towering trunk stretched skyward, its branches reaching out in all directions, adorned with leaves that glimmered with a radiant golden hue. Even from this distance, Tristan could feel the palpable energy emanating from the tree, a mystical aura that seemed to permeate the air around him.
For a moment, Tristan was transfixed by the sheer magnificence of the sight before him. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined such a spectacle – a tree of such immense size and beauty, nestled amidst the verdant embrace of the forest below. As he hovered in the air, suspended between earth and sky, Tristan couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and awe wash over him.
And yet, even as he marveled at the sight before him, Tristan knew that he could not linger here for long. His friends were out there somewhere, and he could not rest until he had found them.
"Wait. Maybe they're over there. For Remilia and Selia, that place is pretty easy to spot after all. If I am able to meet either one of them, then finding the other will be much easier."
Tristan acknowledges that he might be making excuses to venture towards the tree, but he also considers the small chance of finding his friends there. Driven by curiosity, he resolves to approach the tree. Before setting off, he conjures a thick dark cloud using his magic and shapes it into an arrow pointing towards the enormous tree. He hopes one of his friends will notice it before it dissipates.
Tristan surveys his surroundings from the sky once more, scouring for any clue about his friends for the last time. Finding nothing, he utilizes his wind magic to propel himself towards the enormous tree. Unlike Remilia and Selia, Tristan lacks the ability to fly at will. While they can fly using their innate abilities, Tristan relies solely on his mastery of wind magic for flight.
After soaring through the sky for more than half an hour, Tristan felt a warm breeze enveloping his body as he drew nearer to the magnificent tree. Though he couldn't help but notice the comforting touch of the breeze, his focus remained fixed on his destination. With determination driving him forward, he pressed on toward the tree, each beat of his wings propelling him closer.
As he approached, the true scale of the tree became apparent, dwarfing everything in its vicinity with its grandeur. Its massive trunk rose majestically toward the heavens, its branches spreading out in a sprawling canopy that seemed to stretch on for eternity. The leaves, aglow with a radiant golden light, danced in the gentle breeze, casting shimmering patterns of light and shadow upon the forest floor below. Tristan's heart swelled with awe and wonder as he beheld the tree in all its splendor. Never before had he seen anything so magnificent, so utterly breathtaking.
As he floated beneath the tree's canopy, Tristan couldn't shake the feeling that now wasn't the ideal moment to satisfy his curiosity. Choosing one of the smallest branches, he alighted gracefully, perching himself with a view of the expansive horizon before him. It dawned on him then, the sheer expanse of his surroundings—a vast sea of trees stretching endlessly in every direction, with only the distant silhouette of mountain ranges breaking the monotony of the horizon.
'What is this place?'
Tristan, who had traversed nearly every corner of the world alongside his friends, found himself in awe of the vastness of the forest before him. The sheer scale of the landscape prompted him to question his whereabouts. Lost in contemplation, he cast his gaze once more upon the towering tree in the distance.
'There is no way we missed the tree this big. And I never heard of this tree, even before Hakaga's destruction.'
It's also unlikely he never heard about a tree this majestic. There's also a fact about this seems like endless of forest, there's no way nobody knows about this forest existences. The only location he knows with dense forests is the elven island, but even its vastness doesn't compare to the expanse he's currently traversing.
'Looks like they're not here.'
Tristan concluded that his friends were probably also teleported somewhere far from him, just like how he ended up in this unknown place. He didn't know what happened to them after he lost consciousness, but at least he was certain that something did indeed happen. However, he couldn't shake off his worry for them.
He was aware of their strength and believed they could handle any situation on their own. Yet, with him stranded in this unfamiliar place, he couldn't dismiss the possibility of them also finding themselves in perilous, uncharted territories.
"..."
Tristan reclined on the branch, his head resting on both of his hands as he gazed up at the tree towering above him. No matter how long he stared, its majestic presence never failed to captivate him.
'What should I do?'
He knows his friends are not around here, and he really wants to find them as soon as possible. But he feels like if he goes now, he will lose the opportunity to examine this tree.
"Alright!"
He raises his body and sits on the tree branch. He decides to stay here for a couple of days and inspect this tree.
'I believe in them... They will be okay...'
He convinces himself that everything will be alright, and he doesn't need to worry about his friends. With that resolve, he starts to study the tree.
'I wonder how's Niel is doing right now?'
***
"Damn it! Where did that kid go?!"
A man in rough clothing runs through the forest, his face contorted with anger as he looks around. Despite only being in the forest for about ten minutes, he's deeply irritated that a single kid has led him on this chase.
"If I find her, I'll make sure she can't walk anymore!"
With bloodlust in his eyes, he continues searching like a madman. The longer he's here, the more he feels like burning the whole forest down just to catch the kid. Unable to contain himself any longer, he spots a silhouette below a tree in the distance. Excitedly, he widens his smile, thinking he's found his prey. He slowly approaches.
But as he gets closer, he realizes it's not the girl he was chasing. Instead, he's stunned by her beauty. Unlike the raggedly dressed, scrawny girl he expected, this one has beautiful silver hair flowing down to her waist and captivating golden eyes. She wears a finely embroidered white robe, though it appears slightly dirty.
As she notices him, she gives him a bright smile and run towards him, causing him to flush slightly.
'Who are this girl? Is she lost?'
"∆∆∆∆∆ ∆∆. ∆∆∆ ∆∆∆ ∆∆∆∆ ∆∆ ∆∆ ∆∆∆∆∆ ∆∆ ∆∆∆ ∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆?"
She starts talking to him, but he cannot understand her.
'Is she from another country? From her appearance, she looks like a noble. Could her group have been attacked or something?'
It's not uncommon for nobles to be attacked while traveling, often due to power struggles or other troubles. He's heard such stories many times from his companions. There's a possibility she's in a similar situation, but he's unsure of what to do. He's never encountered this kind of situation before.
He wonders if it's alright to bring her with him. He doesn't know how his friends will react to him bringing someone who might be a noble. He doesn't want to bring trouble upon himself. However, there's also a chance that his leader knows how to handle such situations.
As he ponders what to do, he realizes that the girl is looking at him with a confused expression. Looking at her, he senses that she probably has never encountered a bad person before. A rough-looking man like him usually causes people to either look away or avoid him entirely upon seeing him.
"You. Where are you coming from?"
The girl looks surprised upon hearing him. He wonders if it's because of his rough voice or because she doesn't understand the language he's speaking, considering she herself is speaking in a language he doesn't know. However, given their location far from the border, she should have expected him to speak this country's language.
'I will just bring her with me. If she ended up as a trouble, we can just kill her and leave her body here. I might get something if she turns out to be valuable.'
He decided to drag her along with him, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forcefully.
"Whatever, just go with-!"
When he tried to pull her, she didn't budge from her spot. Despite her small frame, he was surprised by her strength. However, on his second attempt, she moved along with him.
As he dragged her, suddenly a kid jumped towards him from the bushes. The kid grabbed his hand, which was holding the girl's wrist, and bit down hard.
"Aaargh!!"
He released the girl and tried to push away and kick the kid biting his hand. But the kid clung tightly, refusing to let go.
"You little-!!"
With his strength, he raised his hand with the kid still biting him and slammed the kid to the ground as hard as he could. But before the kid hit the ground, the girl caught her.
When the kid realized someone had caught her, she opened her eyes. But upon seeing the girl with silver hair, she began to panic. She let go of the man's arm and tried to push the girl away, but her efforts were futile against the girl's strength.
"Damn kid! I will rip your hands off!!"
With his hand now free, he attempted to grab the kid, but the girl grabbed his wrist.
"Wh-what?!"
He tried to pull his hand away, but her grip was stronger than he expected, and he couldn't budge her hand an inch. Desperate, he attempted to punch her face with his free hand, but before his fist reached her, she pushed him first. In
that moment, he realized he shouldn't have messed with the girl. He never expected her to have such strength, to the point where he feels as if he had been rammed by a tree trunk.
"Urgh!"
After being pushed several meters away, he collided with a tree and lost consciousness.