Unknown World
A gloomy forest of towering trees, their tangled branches forming a canopy of darkness.
It was silent, suffocating, and oppressive—yet a man was present there.
An average-looking man of ordinary height stood, spacing out. He seemed out of place—too relaxed, unfazed by the eerie atmosphere.
In truth, he was disconnected, or rather disinterested, his gaze fixed on flashes of words manifesting before him.
These words were bold, archaic and ominous.
"Behold, Earthlings! Your planet is no more—its Energy Core has merged with US.
As balance dictates, you are granted a chance to live here, with the same privileges as all inhabitants.
Whether you thrive, serve, or perish is up to you.
May WE be with you!"
For many, this would be an earth-shattering revelation—ripped from home, cast into the unknown, stripped of control over their own fate.
Coincidentally, I am one of those Earthlings.
One moment, I was asleep in my bed. The next, I opened my eyes to this.
The shock had passed. Now, only calm remained.
To start without an introduction is uncharacteristic, so here's a glimpse into my seemingly ordinary life.
Born into a middle-class family, I had all the basic privileges that came with it—education, college, a stable job.
I was never particularly striking—dull, black-haired, black-eyed. Social enough, with a few good friends. Even tried dating once—it didn't work out.
Life was… ordinary.
Yet, there was always this nagging thought—Is this all there is?
A quiet yearning for something beyond the mundane. Beyond society's confines.
One question echoed in my mind:
What would it be like to live by a different set of rules? Different set of principles & morals?
If I were powerful enough, why should I abide by laws meant to restrain?
On Earth, such defiance brings punishment and exclusion. But what if those rules didn't exist in the first place?
I never opposed the rules of Earth—they were necessary for society to function.
But this… this is not Earth.
An unknown world. Unknown people. Unknown morals.
And limitless possibilities.
I exhaled slowly, leaning against a tree, my eyes drifting upward. The sky, barely visible through the dense canopy.
I did nothing.
I knew I should move—every second could be crucial for survival.
But I didn't.
Most would call it foolish—a waste of precious time.
So what?
Just for a moment, let me pause.
This might be one of the most profound moments of my existence.
The next step I take could be my last, no matter how careful I am.
So why not indulge?
Who knows when I'll have this luxury again?
My thoughts drifted as I gazed at the sliver of sky peeking through the trees.
Blue.
Beautiful.