Ethan panted, his eyes wide as if trying to grasp the reality that had just changed. The storm still raged outside, the wind howling with a rumbling sound that seemed to call his name. The sword in his hand trembled again, and this time, its vibration was stronger, as if some force was pushing him to do something—something far greater than merely surviving the storm. The sword, the one he had found so mysteriously in the midst of the rainstorm, now seemed to serve as a bridge between two worlds.
"This... this can't be," Ethan muttered softly, but the wind splitting the night seemed to offer an unspoken answer.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him shook, and in an instant, the space around him spun. All the objects in his workshop—workbenches, mechanical tools he used daily—became blurry, as if being sucked into an invisible vortex. Before Ethan could understand what was happening, his body was pulled into complete darkness. It was as if he were sinking into a black hole; everything was dark, empty, and there was nothing to hold onto except the sword still gripped tightly in his hand.
The next moment, he felt as if his body were floating. The sensation was indescribable, as if gravity no longer applied, and he was drifting in empty space. However, the emptiness didn't last long. When his eyes opened again, he felt the air was different—fresh, dense, and filled with a scent he'd never known before.
Ethan crashed to the ground, his body hitting the damp earth. It felt as if he had been forced out of the reality he once knew, as if stepping out of a long dream. As he tried to rise, dizziness still overwhelmed him. His right hand, still holding the sword, now felt connected to this world—a world completely alien to Ethan.
As he stood up, his astonishment only grew. Before him lay a scene that he could never have imagined—a city completely different from anything he had known. A world beyond his comprehension. Towering buildings, but not made of steel or concrete. These structures were formed from massive stones and gleaming crystals emitting a soft light. In the air, flying vehicles resembling air carriages sped through the sky at incredible speeds, propelled by swirling magic.
But what caught Ethan's attention the most was the sky. It wasn't just filled with clouds; it was also scattered with stars that seemed to move, creating patterns that shifted with unnatural speed. There were two suns in the dim sky—one large and warm, the other small, emitting a soft light that sparkled like moonbeams.
Ethan took a few steps back, his eyes never leaving the stunning scene. "This can't be... where am I? This... isn't Earth," he thought, his confusion deepening.
As his gaze scanned the surroundings, he noticed several people walking through the city. They wore unique clothing—long robes adorned with symbols and ornaments that seemed to hold deep significance. They didn't appear to be ordinary humans. Each person seemed to possess something extraordinary, as if they were born with greater powers.
A woman in a bright blue robe approached him. She had a beautiful face with eyes that sparkled like stars. "You've finally arrived," she said in a calm yet firm voice, as though she had been waiting for Ethan's arrival for a long time.
Ethan was taken aback, unsure of what to say. "Wh... who are you?" he stammered, trying to catch his breath.
"I am the guardian of this place," the woman said, raising her hand to the sky. "And this world is Elyndra. You, Ethan, are one of the five chosen to prevent the rise of Zerathis."
The woman's words made Ethan's world spin once again. "Zerathis? Who is that? I... I don't understand," Ethan's voice trembled, confused by what he had just heard.
The woman smiled knowingly. "You will understand everything, but time is short. Every second you waste makes the situation worse. We must go now."
Ethan stood frozen, the sword in his hand feeling heavier, as if it was tying him to this world. Before he could ask anything else, the woman touched his shoulder, and suddenly, he felt himself being lifted into the air, floating effortlessly.
"Where... where are we going?" Ethan asked, his eyes wide as he felt his body soar without control.
"We're going to meet the others," the woman answered briefly. "Those like you. Those chosen by the gods to stop the darkness."
Ethan looked ahead, his mind a whirlwind. "Them... like me? Why me? I'm just a workshop worker, not a hero."
But the woman simply smiled again, and this time, her smile held more hope than before. "You will understand, Ethan. Every battle requires courage. And courage comes in forms we never expect."
As they continued flying higher, speeding through this great city at incredible speeds, Ethan felt his anxiety grow. What would happen to him in this strange world? He tried to calm himself, but every passing second felt like an endless journey toward a fate he never asked for.
The city they entered grew distant, until they finally landed at a towering spire that stood higher than any building Ethan had ever seen. The tower appeared to be a sacred place, decorated with ancient carvings and glowing stones that radiated magical energy.
The woman looked at Ethan, her gaze serious. "We've arrived. Prepare yourself to meet them. Those who will be your companions in this fight."
Ethan didn't know what to feel. Everything was happening so fast and unexpectedly. But there was something awakening inside him—a sense that, somehow, this was the path he was meant to walk.
Once more, he looked at the sword in his hand, and for the first time, he felt a deep connection to it, as if it were a part of him that had been lost long ago.
"Who am I now?" he whispered quietly, and without realizing it, he stepped forward into the open door of the tower ahead.