Rhodes' head felt dizzy, and a dull ache spread through his arms and thighs, as if he had been hit by a runaway cart.
He still remembered being attacked by wild beasts, yet strangely, he hadn't been eaten. At least, not yet.
Slowly, Rhodes opened his eyes, expecting to see an unfamiliar ceiling—but instead, he was greeted by the bright glare of the sun. His eyes instinctively narrowed, and he reflexively tried to lift his hand to shield them.
Swish
A soft sound echoed as someone carefully closed the curtains, easing the strain on his eyes.
"Judging by the time, he should be waking up soon."
Rhodes heard an elderly woman's voice speaking nearby, but he didn't understand a word of it. It didn't sound like English or any other familiar language either.
Tilting his head slightly, he spotted an old woman with pink hair and a distinctive red cloak standing by the window. She was likely the one who had spoken just now.
"How do you feel?"
A warm, kind voice came from the other side of the room. Turning his gaze, Rhodes saw an old man wearing a distinctive jester-like hat, seated cross-legged in a chair beside the bed.
Of course, Rhodes didn't understand him either.
His throat felt dry as he struggled to speak. "Where… where is this?"
The two elderly figures exchanged glances, clear confusion on their faces. They didn't understand a word he had said.
Rhodes frowned, thinking for a moment before trying again. "Where am I? Who are you? Uh… is this even working?"
But as he watched their expressions grow even more bewildered, a sinking feeling settled in his chest.
'I tried English… nothing. Cantonses? Still nothing. Even my broken attempts at other languages—no response. Just what language are they speaking? And more importantly, how the hell am I supposed to communicate?'
Before he could panic further, the old man in the jester hat suddenly hopped off his chair with surprising agility. It was only then that Rhodes realized something—this man had been standing on the chair the whole time.
A stray thought surfaced in his mind.
Isn't it rude to think about someone's height? He mentally scolded himself, before noticing something else—despite his elderly appearance, the short man moved with remarkable ease, not at all like someone his age.
"It looks like there's a language barrier. That's a bit troublesome," the old man muttered, scratching his head.
"A language I've never heard before," the pink-haired woman mused before turning toward him. "Where exactly did you pick this child up?"
"The forest," the old man replied. "I told you already, didn't I?"
Just then, a knock came at the wooden door. A young woman, probably around seventeen or eighteen, stepped inside.
"Master, it's about time to leave. If we don't head out now, we might miss the regular meeting."
"Ah, I almost forgot." The old man—who Rhodes was starting to suspect was someone important—glanced at the pink-haired woman. "Porlyusica, could I trouble you to look after him for now?"
"I refuse." Porlyusica didn't even hesitate. "I despise humans, Makarov. Besides, it's noisy here."
Yet despite her blunt words, she was already moving toward Rhodes, helping him sit up. Without a word, she poured a glass of water and handed it to him.
"Thank you," Rhodes said instinctively.
Porlyusica may not have understood the words, but she could guess his meaning. Still, she didn't respond, simply turning on her heel and walking toward the door.
"His injuries are no longer serious. I'm leaving," she announced.
"Ah, thank you." Makarov sighed, clearly familiar with his old friend's temperament. There was no point trying to convince her otherwise.
Rhodes took a sip of water, soothing his parched throat, then watched in confusion as the pink-haired woman exited the room.
Meanwhile, Makarov and the young woman had begun talking again, though their conversation was still in the unfamiliar language. From the occasional glances they threw in his direction, Rhodes had the distinct feeling that they were discussing him.
Just then, a sharp pain flared in his left leg, making him wince. He shifted slightly and noticed that his left arm and waist were wrapped in bandages. Raising a hand to his forehead, he realized that it, too, was carefully bandaged.
The injuries across his body pulled his memories into focus.
That's right… the attack…
Something about all this felt strange.
Before everything went dark, Rhodes clearly remembered waking up that morning, refusing to get out of bed because he and his roommate had stayed up way too late gaming.
One by one, Rhodes' roommates disappeared. First, one went out to grab some food and never returned. Then the second followed, only to vanish without a trace as well.
Left with no choice—and an increasingly loud stomach—Rhodes finally dragged his last remaining roommate along to go search for them.
They decided to split up. One would check the new cafeteria, the other the old one.
Rhodes took the latter route. Unfortunately, his journey was cut short when, distracted by his phone, he tripped going up the steps and face-planted spectacularly.
By the time he scrambled back to his feet, the familiar surroundings of his university were gone.
In their place was an endless, towering forest.
What do you do when you suddenly find yourself in a completely unfamiliar place?
Don't panic. First, check your phone's GPS to determine your location. If necessary, make an emergency call…
Except Rhodes' phone was nowhere to be found.
When he fell, it must have gone flying.
A creeping unease settled in his chest. Something wasn't right.
Is this one of those weird, unexplainable phenomena?
There was once a documentary on Magical Archives about cases of people mysteriously vanishing, only to reappear miles away with no recollection of how they got there.
Rhodes had always dismissed those stories as nonsense. But now? He wasn't so sure.
Worst-case scenario: he hadn't just ended up in another city—he was in an entirely different world.
A horrifying thought struck him.
What if the other two vanished for the same reason?
Regardless, standing around wouldn't solve anything. He needed to find people and ask for help.
Taking a deep breath, Rhodes forced himself to focus. After scanning his surroundings, he noticed a faint path to the west—flattened grass, as if something had passed through recently.
Following that logic, he started walking.
That turned out to be a terrible mistake.
Only a few minutes in, he stumbled upon something he really, really wished he hadn't.
A massive beast—easily the size of an elephant—lay resting in the clearing ahead. Its spotted fur was unlike anything he had ever seen, a strange mix between a bear's bulky frame and the distinct snout and hooves of a wild boar.
Rhodes barely had time to react before the creature stirred.
It opened one eye. Then the other.
Then it stood.
The earth trembled beneath its weight, the sheer pressure of its presence sending a shiver down Rhodes' spine.
Panic surged in his chest, but instinct took over. Grabbing the nearest sturdy branch, he held it up in what he hoped was a threatening manner.
The beast was not impressed.
With a deep, guttural growl, it lunged.
The moment it struck, Rhodes' makeshift weapon snapped like a twig.
A powerful impact sent him flying, pain exploding in his ribs as the world spun violently out of control.
As his vision darkened, the last thing he heard was the chaotic symphony of the wild—the screeches of birds, the distant howls of wolves, the rhythmic croaks of frogs, and the deep, bone-rattling roar of something far more terrifying.
Rhodes woke with a start.
His head throbbed. His limbs ached. But he was alive.
Did someone… save me?
Just as he was piecing things together, a gentle voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Hi there!"
Blinking, Rhodes looked up to see the girl who had entered earlier.
She wore a deep red dress, the color complementing her long, silvery-white hair that cascaded elegantly down her back. The bangs framing her forehead were gathered into a small, tied-up tuft on top of her head, giving her a slightly playful appearance.
Her delicate features held warmth, her kind smile radiating an undeniable sense of reassurance.
No matter where she went, this girl would undoubtedly attract attention—both for her beauty and for the warm, gentle aura she carried.
Rhodes couldn't understand what she was saying, but judging by the way she waved, she was probably greeting him, right?
"Hello," Rhodes greeted her hesitantly.
His uncertainty didn't seem to bother her. Instead, she responded with a bright smile, one that slightly eased the nervousness building inside him.
Just as Makarov had suspected, the girl gave him a look that practically said, I knew it.
"Unfortunately, I have no idea what you're saying," she admitted with a small sigh. "You must be feeling pretty lost and confused right now, huh?"
She paused for a moment, then smiled apologetically.
"Not that you'd understand that either... Anyway, the Master had to step out for a while, so he asked me to look after you in the meantime."
She attempted to communicate with gestures, but it wasn't very effective.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"Oh, right! I haven't introduced myself yet!"
She pointed at herself, speaking slowly and clearly.
"I—Mirajane."
Rhodes hesitated for a moment before mimicking her pronunciation.
"Mira…Jane?"
Mirajane's smile grew even brighter. "That's right! Mi-ra-jane."
Her cheerful demeanor was oddly infectious, and Rhodes found himself repeating the name after her, his pronunciation improving each time.
"Mirajane," he finally said properly.
"Good!" she nodded encouragingly. Then, she pointed to herself again. "I, Mirajane."
Next, she pointed at him.
"And you?"
Rhodes immediately understood what she meant. He pointed at himself and answered, "Rhodes."
"Lord?" Mirajane repeated, tilting her head slightly.
"Rhodes," he corrected himself, mimicking the way she had adjusted his pronunciation earlier.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.
With a warm smile, Mirajane extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Rhodes!"
Rhodes hesitated for a moment before gently clasping her fingertips. "Nice… to… meet… you… Mirajane."
He had tried to repeat the phrase exactly, but he stumbled over the words, failing to grasp their full meaning.
Then—grrrr…
Rhodes' stomach let out a loud and very inappropriate growl.
He stiffened, awkwardly holding his stomach, unsure of what to say.
Mirajane giggled knowingly. "Ah, I understand that language just fine! Wait here for a moment."
She motioned for him to stay put, then turned and left the room.
Rhodes watched her go before reaching for the cup of water on the bedside table. Taking a small sip, he began sorting through the memories of what had happened to him.
First, there was the sudden appearance of the massive forest, then the encounter with that strange beast, and finally, the people he met upon waking up. The language barrier made it difficult to understand them, but one thing was certain—this was not the world he knew.
Not even close.
Rhodes wanted answers. How long had he been unconscious? What happened while he was out? Where exactly was he? And, most importantly, was there a way to get back home?
But without even the most basic means of communication, he had no way to ask these questions.
Frustrating.
Sighing, he pulled back the blanket covering him. His left leg still ached, but he could move it—meaning the injury wasn't too severe.
"It's best if you don't move around too much. Even though you probably don't understand me."
Mirajane had returned, balancing a tray in her hands. She placed it gently on the bedside table and made a small gesture, signaling for him to eat.
On the tray sat a glass of warm milk and two neatly prepared sandwiches.
The triangular slices of bread were cut cleanly, with layers of crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and thinly sliced ham stacked between them. The vibrant colors made the meal look incredibly appetizing.
Rhodes hesitantly picked up one of the sandwiches, then glanced at Mirajane, silently asking for confirmation.
She smiled and nodded encouragingly.
That was all the permission his growling stomach needed.
Taking a bite, he was met with the soft, slightly sweet taste of the bread, followed by the smooth, savory flavor of the ham.
The tomatoes were a little too tangy for his liking, and the sauce was unexpectedly sweet, making the taste somewhat unusual. But the fresh crunch of the lettuce balanced it out, adding a refreshing contrast.
As he swallowed the first bite, a simple yet profound realization settled in.
I'm alive.
After that, there was no time for appreciation. He devoured the sandwich, barely chewing, stuffing bite after bite into his mouth like a starving beast.
By the time he finished the first sandwich, his hunger had eased significantly.
He reached for the glass of milk, feeling its warmth through the glass. It was obvious—it had been intentionally heated.
She must be someone who's really good at taking care of others.
Rhodes cast a grateful look at Mirajane.
She simply smiled, watching quietly as he ate.