Tobi shuffled the papers on his desk with hands that trembled from exhaustion.
His tie hung loose around his neck, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the lines on his face seemed deeper than ever under the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights.
A small clock on his desk mockingly announced it was 2:43 a.m., but he ignored it. Deadlines didn't care about time, and Tobi didn't have the luxury of sleep.
"Just one more report," he muttered, though the stack before him suggested otherwise.
This wasn't the first time he'd pushed himself to the brink.
For as long as he could remember, Tobi's life had revolved around work. Long hours, sleepless nights, and coffee so strong it tasted burnt had become his closest companions.
He had long stopped asking himself why he kept doing this. Bills needed paying, and quitting wasn't an option.
But tonight, even his determination faltered. His eyelids grew heavy, his pen slipping from his fingers as his head dipped forward.
He told himself he'd rest for just a moment, just a quick break before diving back into the endless sea of paperwork.
Tobi never woke up in that office again.
The first thing Tobi noticed was the smell — wood, spiced meat, and a faint sweetness that he couldn't place.
It was so unlike the sterile, coffee-stained air of his office that it jolted him awake.
His eyes snapped open, and he was greeted by the sight of a dimly lit bar. The room was warm and rustic, with wooden beams stretching across the ceiling and lanterns casting a flickering amber glow.
People sat at tables around him, laughing, drinking, and speaking in a language he didn't recognize.
"What…?" Tobi's voice was hoarse and unfamiliar to his own ears.
He looked down at his hands, and his heart skipped a beat. These weren't his hands. They were larger, rougher, with faint scars tracing the knuckles.
His suit was gone, replaced by a simple dark tunic and sturdy pants tucked into worn leather boots. A cup of sake sat on the table before him, its clear liquid reflecting the flickering lantern light.
Tobi stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor.
Heads turned to him, a few patrons giving him curious looks before returning to their drinks. His heart raced as he stumbled toward the door, pushing it open with more force than he intended.
The outside world hit him like a splash of cold water. A bustling street stretched before him, lined with stalls selling everything from grilled meats to gleaming trinkets.
Lanterns hung overhead, casting colorful light that danced along the cobblestone road.
The people were unlike anyone he had seen before. Men and women in leather armor strolled confidently, swords strapped to their sides.
A towering figure with horns protruding from his head bargained at a fruit stand, his voice a deep rumble.
Nearby, a child with pointed ears chased a glowing orb that floated just out of reach, giggling as it bobbed through the air.
Above it all, the sky was a vibrant canvas of purples and oranges, as if the sun had paused its descent to admire the view.
In the distance, mountains loomed, their peaks wreathed in mist, while to the east, a shimmering blue ocean stretched beyond the horizon.
"This… isn't Earth," Tobi whispered, the words catching in his throat.
His mind raced with questions, but no answers came. The weight of it all pressed down on him, threatening to crush him.
He staggered to the side of the road, leaning against a stone wall as he tried to steady his breathing.
"Hey, you okay there?"
Tobi turned toward the voice, his eyes meeting those of a young woman. She wore a cloak that was frayed at the edges, and a dagger hung at her hip.
Her dark eyes studied him with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Uh… yeah, I'm fine," Tobi said quickly, his voice betraying his unease.
"You look like you've just seen a ghost," she said, offering a small smile. "First time in the city?"
"Something like that."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Welcome to Fallowmere." She gave him a nod before disappearing into the crowd.
Fallowmere? The name meant nothing to him, but it only confirmed what he already knew: he was far from the world he once knew.
He pushed off the wall and began walking aimlessly, trying to piece together the fragments of his thoughts. His reflection in a shop window stopped him dead in his tracks.
The man staring back at him was young — late teens or early twenties, at most. His dark hair fell messily around a chiseled face, his green eyes sharp and piercing.
He looked nothing like the weary, middle-aged man he had been.
"Who… am I?" Tobi murmured, his reflection offering no answers.
As the hours passed, Tobi's initial panic gave way to cautious curiosity. He wandered the streets, observing the people and their strange customs.
He learned that the city was alive with energy, its people bound together by an unspoken understanding of survival and opportunity.
Posters plastered to walls caught his attention:
"Adventurers Wanted! Monster Extermination South of the City!"
"Seeking Apprentices: Enchanters Guild Offering Training in Exchange for Service!"
"The Iron Wolf Guild Recruiting Skilled Fighters!"
The word guild stood out to him. It seemed to be a central part of life here, but what kind of guild? What were they recruiting for?
He continued walking, the images and words from the posters flashing through his mind.
He passed another large building, its doors adorned with a glowing insignia of a sword and shield crossed in front of a mountain.
A banner hanging above the doors read: "Join the Shieldbearers Guild — Forge Your Path!"
Tobi hesitated, the growing sense of displacement overwhelming him once more. His gut told him to keep walking, to figure out how he got here and why.
But another part of him — something that hadn't stirred in years — wanted to belong. The idea of doing something instead of being swept along by life felt strangely appealing.