The sun's rays filtered softly through the leaves of the large tree under which Adam sat, his back pressed against its sturdy trunk.
A cool breeze rustled the grass, offering a fleeting respite from the midday warmth. A short distance away, Ricky, Adam's father, sat cross-legged, enjoying his meal in quiet satisfaction.
But Adam was anything but calm.
His thoughts swirled like a storm, brimming with excitement and curiosity.
The realization he had stumbled upon earlier—his magic was tied to the English language, not just his voice—was groundbreaking. Ideas raced through his mind, each more fantastical than the last.
What else can I do? he thought, his heart pounding.
Images from his favorite anime surfaced, particularly one where the main character could see the future and anticipate an enemy's every move.
A mischievous grin spread across Adam's face. Why not give it a try?
Without thinking further, Adam clapped his hands together with a sharp sound that echoed through the quiet field.
Startled, Ricky glanced up from his meal, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone tinged with concern.
Adam blinked, momentarily flustered. He quickly flashed a reassuring smile. "Uh, yeah… just a fly," he said, waving his hand dismissively.
Ricky tilted his head, his skeptical expression lingering for a moment before he shrugged and returned to his meal.
Adam let out a quiet sigh of relief, his thoughts returning to his experiment. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Excitement bubbled in his chest, but so did apprehension.
What if it goes wrong?
The memory of his earlier collapse flashed in his mind—the drained mana, the helplessness. A part of him hesitated. But the thrill of discovery drowned out his doubts.
"I have to know," he whispered to himself. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and spoke the words with steady determination:
"Future Sight."
The moment the words left his lips, the world around him shifted.
His vision blurred, and a deep darkness enveloped him, swallowing the familiar sights of the field and the tree. The air grew heavy, pressing against him like an invisible weight.
Then, abruptly, the darkness shattered.
Adam found himself standing in the middle of a village street—his village.
But it wasn't the same as he had left it. The sun was gone, replaced by the cold glow of the moon hanging in a starless sky.
Shadows stretched unnaturally long across the cobblestone paths, flickering with the dim light of lanterns swaying in the wind.
His breath caught in his throat as he looked around.
Nearby, he saw his mother, Rachel, her face pale with worry. She held his hand tightly, her grip almost painful.
Beside her stood his siblings, Yami and Eric, their expressions equally grim. Sophia and her brother George were there too, their normally cheerful faces now marked with fear.
At the head of the group was Ricky, his father. His shoulders were tense, his gaze fixed ahead with an intensity that Adam had never seen before.
His father's voice rang out, firm and commanding, cutting through the eerie silence.
"We need to get to the village center," Ricky said, urgency lacing his tone. "The bunker is the safest place."
Adam's confusion deepened. Bunker? What's going on?
He tried to speak, to ask a question, but the words wouldn't come. His body felt disconnected, as if he were a ghost merely observing the scene.
He noticed his mother's hand clutching his tightly, her knuckles white.
On his other side, he realized he was holding Sophia's hand. Her green eyes darted around nervously, her breaths coming in shallow gasps.
The group moved as one, their steps hurried and uneven. The air was thick with tension, every shadow seeming to loom with unseen threats.
And then it happened.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by a sickening thud.
Adam froze, his heart dropping into his stomach as his mother let out a strangled cry. Her hand slipped from his grasp as she stumbled forward, collapsing onto the cold ground.
"Mom!" Adam shouted, his voice breaking with panic.
His gaze snapped downward, and his blood ran cold. An arrow was embedded deep into her back, its shaft glistening with dark crimson under the pale moonlight.
Rachel's breathing was shallow, her body trembling as the pain overtook her.
The world seemed to slow as Adam's mind raced, horror gripping him. He couldn't move, couldn't think.
"Rachel!" Ricky's anguished voice shattered the stillness.
Adam's father dropped to his knees beside his wife, his hands trembling as he tried to assess her wound.
Yami and Sophia knelt beside Rachel as well, their faces pale with fear. Tears streamed down Sophia's cheeks as she whispered Rachel's name over and over, her voice trembling.
Eric stood frozen, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. The shock in his eyes mirrored Adam's own.
Then, something shifted in Eric's expression. The fear was replaced by rage, burning fiercely as he turned toward the direction from which the arrow had come.
Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, his tall frame moving with reckless determination.
"Eric, no!" Ricky called out, his voice filled with desperation.
But Eric didn't stop. His focus was locked on a figure that had emerged from the shadows.
The man was tall, his height imposing at nearly six feet. His movements were unnaturally fast, a blur as he stepped into the dim light of the night.
His clothing was an unsettling mix of colors, a patchwork of dark fabrics that gave him a ghostly appearance.
In his hand, he held a gleaming sword, the blade catching the faint light ominously.
Adam's breath hitched as he stared at the figure. A cold dread seeped into his chest, gripping him tightly.
This… this is real danger, he thought, his mind racing.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Adam felt true fear.
The man's gaze flicked toward Eric, and a twisted smile spread across his face. He raised his sword, the motion fluid and deliberate.
Adam wanted to move, to scream, to do anything to stop what was about to happen. But he couldn't. His body remained frozen, his heart pounding wildly as the scene unfolded before him.
His chest heaved as he struggled to process what he had just seen. His hands trembled, and his heart raced.
And with that, the chapter came to a close, leaving Adam grappling with the weight of what he is witnessing.
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End of Chapter Twelve