Chapter 1: A New Dawn in an Unfamiliar Land

Pain.

It wasn't the sharp, fleeting kind, but a deep, throbbing ache that spread through every inch of his body. The sensation of rough grass brushing against his skin pulled him back to consciousness. A crisp breeze carried the scent of pine and something faintly sweet, unlike anything he had smelled before.

Raine forced his eyes open, greeted by an endless sky painted in hues of lavender and gold. The last thing he remembered was walking home after pulling another late-night shift at the convenience store. Then—a blinding light, a strange, weightless sensation—and now this.

His fingers dug into the earth, cold and damp beneath him. He pushed himself up, wincing at the soreness in his limbs. Surrounding him was a vast, unspoiled wilderness. Towering trees stretched high above, their leaves a deep emerald green, but something about them felt... off. Their trunks pulsed faintly, as if filled with veins of glowing energy.

"Where the hell am I?" he muttered.

The moment he spoke, the air shimmered. A translucent screen flickered into existence before his eyes, floating in mid-air like something out of a game.

Welcome, Traveler. You have entered the realm of Astralis. Your fate is unwritten.

Raine blinked. "No way... am I in a game? Or is this some kind of dream?"

Before he could process, a rustling sound came from the foliage nearby. Instinctively, he reached for a weapon—but found nothing. Of course. He had no sword, no armor. Just the worn-out hoodie and jeans he had on before everything went blank.

Then, from the shadows of the trees, emerged a figure.

A girl.

She was unlike anyone he had ever seen before—long, silvery hair cascaded down her back, catching the dying sunlight like woven moonlight. Pointed ears peeked from beneath the strands, marking her unmistakably as an elf. Her violet eyes locked onto him, wary yet unreadable.

Raine raised his hands. "Hey, I—"

She lunged.

Faster than he could react, a blade was pressed against his throat. It wasn't crude or rusted, but an elegant weapon, its edge gleaming with an almost ethereal glow.

"Who are you?" her voice was soft, yet carried a weight of authority.

"I... I don't know," Raine admitted, keeping his hands up. "I just woke up here. I have no idea how I got here."

Her grip on the sword didn't waver. "A convenient excuse. How do I know you're not one of them?"

"One of who?"

She studied him for a long moment before stepping back, the blade lowering—though not disappearing. "If you truly don't know... then you must be lost."

"You could say that." Raine exhaled, rubbing his neck. "Look, I don't want trouble. I just need to figure out where I am and—"

"Astralis," she answered. "A land of magic and war. And right now, you're standing in dangerous territory."

Raine glanced around at the quiet forest, suddenly feeling very exposed. "Great. Just my luck."

The elf hesitated, as if debating something. Then, with a sigh, she sheathed her sword. "You won't last a day alone. Come with me."

"Wait, just like that? You trust me now?"

"No." Her lips twitched slightly. "But I am willing to see if you're useful."

Raine let out a half-laugh. "Gee, thanks."

She turned, already walking ahead. "Keep up, human."

With no better options, Raine followed. As they walked, he couldn't help but notice how gracefully she moved, her footsteps barely making a sound against the forest floor.

"So, do I get a name? Or am I just supposed to call you 'elf girl'?"

She paused, then glanced over her shoulder. "Sylara."

"Alright, Sylara. Any chance you know a way for me to get back home?"

A flicker of something crossed her face. "No one who comes to Astralis ever leaves."

Raine's stomach sank. "Fantastic."

They continued in silence until the trees thinned, revealing a clearing bathed in the soft glow of bioluminescent flowers. A small, makeshift camp rested beneath the canopy—a fire pit, a few scattered belongings. It wasn't much, but it was clear she had been here for a while.

"You live here?" he asked.

"For now." Sylara tossed him a small piece of dried meat. "Eat."

Raine caught it, hesitating before taking a cautious bite. It was tougher than anything he was used to, but the taste was oddly rich, like smoked venison. He sat by the fire, letting the warmth seep into his bones.

"Why are you out here alone?" he asked. "Shouldn't elves live in... I don't know, giant tree cities or something?"

Sylara's gaze darkened. "Not all of us have a place to return to."

He caught the edge in her voice and decided not to push further.

For now.

Instead, he leaned back, staring at the unfamiliar constellations above. Somehow, in the span of mere hours, his entire world had changed. He had no idea how or why he was here, but one thing was clear—this was no ordinary dream.

A new world, a mysterious companion, and a past she clearly wasn't ready to share.

Raine had the sinking feeling that his journey was only just beginning.

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows against the trees. As sleep threatened to pull him under, he noticed Sylara's posture stiffen. Her hand hovered near her sword, her eyes scanning the darkness beyond the camp.

"What is it?" Raine whispered.

Sylara didn't respond immediately, but when she did, her voice was low. "We're being watched."

A rustling sound echoed from the treeline, barely audible but enough to set Raine's nerves on edge.

Then, without warning, something moved in the darkness.

A low growl rumbled through the air. Raine's muscles tensed as glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows. He counted three, no—four sets of eyes, circling the camp like predators toying with their prey.

"What... what are those?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Nightstalkers." Sylara's voice was tight. "They hunt anything foolish enough to travel alone at night."

"Great. And let me guess, they're not friendly?"

A beast lunged.

Sylara moved first, her sword flashing in the firelight as she slashed at the creature, forcing it back. Another lunged toward Raine, and instinct took over—he dived to the side, barely avoiding the snapping jaws. His heart pounded. He had no weapon, no powers, nothing.

"Stay behind me!" Sylara commanded, slicing through the air with precision.

Raine scrambled to his feet, watching in awe as she fought. Her movements were fluid, precise—like a trained warrior. But there were too many. The creatures were relentless, snapping at her from every angle.

His eyes darted around the camp. Think. Think!

Then he saw it—a fallen branch, thick and sturdy. Not much, but better than nothing. He grabbed it, gripping it tightly like a makeshift club. One of the beasts lunged again, and this time, he swung.

The wood connected with a sickening crack. The creature yelped, stumbling back.

Raine barely had time to process the fact that he'd actually hit something before Sylara called out, "We need to run!"

No arguments there.

Without hesitation, they bolted into the woods, the howls of the nightstalkers echoing behind them.