As I was getting up, I suddenly felt the air around me heavy. I opened my eyes only to find myself in a completely different place. A completely different world, even. Everything surrounding me looked from a different continent. It has even suddenly become daytime, after I was lost in thoughts next to the river I was just laying down next.
Snapping out of my daze, I saw myself standing before a big town, in a completely different place. There were big, beautiful and green mountains with snow on the tip surrounding the town, which wasn't only surrounded by mountains but by a medium sized wall that goes all around it, I am guessing it is used for defense. It reminded me of European architecture.
I muttered merely above a whisper "Where am I…"
I was in utter shock, the peaceful place I was just resting at, peacefully, vanished without a trace. I thought I might be hallucinating, until I tried blinking over and over to see if I'd revert back to the place I was just at, I even tried to bite my tongue, but nothing worked. It looked like reality.
"Wait... What if this is some kind of... fantasy world? If it is, maybe I can use magic or some kind of powers, right? But no, no. What if this is just a different part of my world? What if I'm just dreaming or hallucinating? Still.. I feel the atmosphere is different around here."
It didn't seem fake at all, I tried to do many reality checks but to no avail. I thought I should at least try talking to someone in the town itself, as I was left with no other option. The town gates were open for anyone to leave or enter, and it seemed pretty lively at the time.
Even then, I was still terrified. I was never good with unknown places, now that I am in somewhere completely out of my mind, a different world, my heart was trembling. I was scared that I might be placed in a bad situation as soon as I took my first steps towards the lively town.
After some minutes, I calmed myself down, even for a small bit. I took a deep breath and proceeded to take my first steps on the cobblestone street. After all, staying in the same place won't do me any good.
I saw houses closely packed next to each other, making me wonder even further where I am at. They looked abandoned but at the same time very well-kept and clean. The houses had weird, even unique designed windows, ones I have not seen before.
As I was walking I noticed the people who were dressed in a way I've never seen before. There were ones who were wearing suits, but also some wearing long robes. I was standing out like a sore thumb in a place that looked more than just foreign. I've yet to know where I am. I was still distraught knowing I am in a completely different and unknown world, but seeing the lively town, the happy smiles and laughter on the people's faces, it made me calm down and relax as well.
I kept walking and noticed the distinctive features of these people, but surprisingly nobody came up to me, even while I was standing out with my different clothes. I still must talk to one of them to learn even the slightest of information.
I was so taken by the surroundings, and a lot of time passed, I completely forgot my main focus was to speak to one of the townspeople. Much time passed as I walked around the town, I realized I didn't know where I was heading at all from this point. "I'm lost." I said with a nervous face.
But then, all of a sudden, as I was walking, I felt someone tap me on my back. It was a gentle, tender and soft tap, but more than enough of a tap to make me jump.
I was very terrified. I was so focused on the buildings and the people around me, I could never have expected someone themself to come up to me. I've yet to make any interactions with anyone, I haven't even prepared myself for that time.
I turned my head, just to see a woman, who looks roughly my age. While she was short, she had dazzling pink-reddish hair; and big, round colored eyes. She was wearing a long black and white skirt, which looked like a school uniform.
"H-hello, sir..." she said with a stuttering voice, and a low tone.
It took me a few seconds to say something back, I was very surprised for many reasons. I thought to myself; How can I understand what she's saying? What does she need from me?
"Sir..?"
"Oh.. Yeah, I apologize. Do you need something…?" I said while hiding my shaky hands behind my back, feeling like my heart is gonna come out of my chest.
"Well... I just happened to hear you say very clearly that you were lost.. I thought I'd come by and help!" She said, with a big smile on her face.
She looks like a pretty genuine and trustworthy person, so I doubt she was lying. I need to learn more, even the slightest bit of information, so I can't waste this chance.
"I am feeling quite well, but I am lost.. I'm just a.. lost… traveller!" I said with a wide, nervous grin.
"Oh.. I see. Let me help you out, I can at least guide you around the place!"
I was still petrified and scared, still by then I had no way of refusing her. "I'll be right behind you.."
She started walking ahead, with me behind, following her. It felt weird to me, because I do not usually go on walks like this with women all the time. Not to mention this whole world.. It was more than just a mystery for me, it's completely unknown.
"Where are you from?" She suddenly asked me while both of us were walking. "Why do you wanna know.." I was sure telling her I'm from a different world would frighten her, or take her by surprise.
"Well, it's just the way you look, and the clothes you wear! It's nothing like what I've seen before. Perhaps you're an easterner?"
After a brief moment of silence, thinking of what I should say.. "I'm from a very far place…" the girl seemed pretty confused, but somewhat interested as well. "Well, alright. I won't concern myself any more.." I just looked at her in silence, with a look on my face that made it obvious I was scared, and nervous from head to toe.
"Oh, yeah!" All of a sudden, she asked me "You do have money on you right? After all, you need to rent yourself a place for the night.. It gets pretty dangerous once the sun goes down." I, with almost nothing on me, gulped. She looked at me, just to see me sweating like nothing before.
.....
Letting out a sigh, she told me "I will lend you enough to rent a place, but in return I need you to do something for me–" Suddenly, a loud sound erupted close to where we were, cutting off the girl as she was talking. An alarm had been activated for everyone to hear around the town. "Oh, no.." The girl said with a surprised look on her face, and an open mouth.
"W-what's going on?! What is this sound?" I asked her.
"No time to explain!" She hurried to grab me by the hand, and started running towards the place the sound had been coming from. "What–?!" Taking me completely off guard, as my face turned red.
She took a deep breath as we were running and said, in a low tone barely being heard, "Activate."
All of a sudden, in just a blink of an eye I saw myself, and her, next to me standing in front of what looked like to be causing the commotion. It was a big beast, resembling a grizzly bear, but looking far scarier, and more importantly, bigger. I was stunned, I couldn't even get a move. Me, who already had been terrified the whole time, I was on the verge of passing out.
The girl shouted, "Get a grip! This is not the time to be spacing out!" She looked confident in me, I looked at her as I fell to the ground, showing just how much of a coward I was. It seemed like she had thought I could use something to use against the beast, but I was utterly helpless.
The beast, on the other hand, roaring, making the whole place shake, saw me on the ground, unable to do anything at all. I accepted my fate to pass here, in this unknown world. He raised his hand to swing at me, but then.. As the beast was about to finish me off, the girl came, almost instantly. It seemed like she used that ability of hers again.
To protect me, she had pushed me out of danger's way into a piece of one of the collapsed buildings. The girl was knocked unconscious, barely getting out of the beast's swing.
I screamed, 'NO!!!' at the top of my lungs. My head throbbed, blood dripping from where it hit the rubble. The old wounds from my father burned again. The beast roared, destroying everything around it. The girl… she laid unconscious, covered in blood.
She got hurt, because of me. Because of my own weakness and helplessness.
No. Not this time. I'll kill him. I'll kill him even if it means doing it with my bare fists.
I felt anger. I felt pure hatred and annoyance towards the beast. Looking at the unconscious girl in the distance, I got up from the ground while facing unbearable pain. I looked towards the beast with madness in my eyes, I was about to give in everything and fight with bare hands, even if it meant my own death, I was willing for it.
To make up for the girl. I stood towards the beast, noticing the vast difference in size between us, it made me hesitate. Yet I still threw myself right towards him.
But, as soon as I started running quickly towards the beast, yelling at him as loud as I could. He noticed me again after he'd been destroying the surrounding area "YOU BASTARD–", I screamed at him.
He roared back to me and instantly threw his fist directly towards my face, and I stupidly pushed my own trembling small fist in comparison back to his giant fist as I was screaming.
I thought I was dead. As our fists, almost coming into contact, my heart beat loudly. All of a sudden, just as our fists were about to close in on each other—
The air shifted. Along with it came a powerful, and confident male voice from the sky. "That's enough." Only a mere moment after hearing that, a flash of silver fell from the sky, cleanly severing the beast's arm, which was right about to clash with me.
My eyes widened, I didn't know what happened. I was staring at the beast, roaring in agony, after he'd just lost his arm so quickly. I was going to try and take a look at who had just done this, but as soon as I had turned around.. I found myself collapsing to the ground out of exhaustion, barely seeing the person who'd just blasted the beast's arm.
Hearing, before fainting completely "Forgive me." he said, almost guilty seeing the destruction and blood spilled everywhere.