Kaelon wakes up, groaning softly as his mind struggles to shake off his alcohol-induced sleep.
His head pounded, a dull ache pulsing behind his eyes, and the first thing he noticed was an unfamiliar warmth in the room.
A soft breeze drifted through the room, carrying with it the faint scent of flowers and something... fresh. Birds chirping so happily outside the balcony.
(Birds? In the city?)
Groggily, Kaelon blinked against the golden light filtering through the curtains far too grand for his apartment.
He pushed himself upright, his hand sinking into the softest sheets he'd ever felt. His vision blurry, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
His body was enveloped in soft, luxurious sheets, the kind he had never slept on before in his life.
He stretched his legs under the covers, and his feet did not even hit the edge of his bed. Confusion settled over him as he realized this wasn't his small apartment.
His heart began to race, and the throbbing in his head intensified. He quickly sat up, rubbing his temples to ease the headache. Kaelon then blinked a few more times, his vision was finally cleared enough for him to take in his surroundings.
"What the...?" Kaelon muttered.
He was sitting in a massive, king-sized bed, adorned with silk sheets and plush pillows. The room around him was spacious—far larger than his tiny apartment—and filled with expensive furniture, the likes of which he had only seen in movies.
Intricate tapestries hung from the walls, strange symbols and creatures he couldn't quite place.
The floor was a polished marble, gleaming in the sunlight, and a grand chandelier hung from the high ceiling, casting soft reflections around the room.
Kaelon then immediately threw the covers off from him, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His bare feet touched the cold marble. He stumbled to his feet, his mind racing to make sense of where he was.
He looked down at himself—his clothes were the same as last night, the worn-out jeans and the white shirt he had been wearing at the bar.
"I... I was home. I went home. I swear I really went home... Didn't I ...?" Kaelon muttered to himself, his voice shaky.
Before he could fully process the strange situation, the door to the room swung open with a soft creak sound.
Kaelon turns around, his body tensing a little, ready to defend himself. A tall, older man with silver hair stepped into the room, dressed in a formal black suit.
His skin was tanned, and his eyes were a piercing blue. Kaelon was curious yet confused when he noticed the sight of a white, bushy tail swaying behind the man as he walked.
The man bowed slightly before speaking. "Good morning, Master Kaelon. I trust you've slept well?"
Kaelon blinked in shock, staring at the man who had just addressed him as "Master."
"W-What did you just call me?" Kaelon stammered, his voice cracking with confusion.
The man straightened, his expression calm and respectful. "Master Kaelon. I am Edric Morwyn, your personal butler. I am here to serve you and assist you while you are staying in the world of Thalindor."
"Wait... Thalindor? " Kaleon's voice wavered a little. "What? What is Thalindor? What the hell is that? And what the hell is going on? " Kaelon said, his voice rising as he looked at the man in front of him.
His eyes darted around the room again, trying to find some sense of normalcy. He looked down at his own body, patting himself to make sure he was real. "This—this has to be a dream. I must still be drunk."
Edric's expression didn't falter. He stepped forward, though his movements were slow and measured, as if not to alarm Kaelon. "I assure you, Master Kaelon, this is no dream. You have entered the world of Thalindor through the key you possess."
Kaelon's heart skipped a beat as Edric mentioned the key. He instinctively reached into his pocket, and there it was—the key that the old man had given him last night in the bar, resting cold and heavy in his palm.
"This... this can't be real," Kaelon muttered, clutching the key tightly. "I—I was at the bar and some... some old man gave this key to me. And then I went home..."
Edric nodded. "Indeed. But in your drunken state, you unknowingly used the key to open a portal to Thalindor. You now stand in a realm unlike your own, a realm of magic, dragons, and kingdoms ruled by power."
Kaelon's head spun as Edric spoke. Magic? Dragons? Kingdoms? None of this made sense.
It was the stuff of fantasy books and fairy tales, not reality. He stumbled toward a nearby mirror, needing to see something familiar.
As he stood in front of the mirror, his reflection stared back at him—the same tired, unshaven face, the same messy hair, the same worn clothes. He was still Kaelon, but everything around him was different.
Edric stepped closer, his voice gentle but firm. "The key you hold is no ordinary artifact. It is a mythical item, a relic of great power and influence in the world of Thalindor. Many seek it, for it is said to grant its bearer access to unimaginable power."
Kaelon turned to face Edric, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Power? What kind of power?"
"The key links two worlds—your world and ours," Edric explained. "It grants its owner the ability to traverse between them. But more importantly, it is a symbol of authority in Thalindor. Those who hold the key are seen as chosen by fate, destined for greatness. However, such power also comes with great responsibility."
Kaelon swallowed hard, his mind racing. He glanced down at the key in his hand, feeling its weight once again. "So, what? I'm supposed to be some kind of... chosen one?"
Edric's lips curled into a slight smile. "Perhaps. But that remains to be seen. The key chooses its bearer, but it is up to you to prove yourself worthy of its power. There are many in Thalindor who would kill to possess it. You must be cautious, Master Kaelon."
Kaelon's heart pounded in his chest as Edric's words sank in. This wasn't just some strange dream—he was truly in another world, and this key he held was more than just an old trinket.
But how could he be expected to navigate this place? He wasn't a hero, he wasn't special. He was just a man struggling to make ends meet, barely scraping by in a world that had no use for him.
"This... this is crazy," Kaelon muttered, shaking his head. "I don't know anything about magic or... or kingdoms. I'm not some warrior or leader. I'm just... me."
Edric's expression softened. "Everyone begins somewhere, Master Kaelon. You may not feel ready, but fate rarely waits for those who hesitate. You have been brought here for a reason. The key chose you, and with time, you will come to understand its purpose."
Kaelon ran a hand through his hair, his mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. He still wasn't sure if he believed any of this—if he was really standing in a world called Thalindor, if this butler with a tail was real, if he truly held a key that could unlock untold power.
But as he looked around the room, as he felt the cold marble beneath his feet and the weight of the key in his hand, he couldn't deny that something extraordinary had happened.
Edric took a step back, giving Kaelon space to process everything. "For now, I suggest you take some time to rest and to adjust to your new surroundings. There is much for you to learn, and I will be here to guide you every step of the way."
Kaelon nodded absently, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. "Yeah... I think I need some time."
Edric gave a small bow. "As you wish, Master Kaelon. If you need anything, simply call me. I will be nearby."
With that, Edric turned and left the room, leaving Kaelon alone with his thoughts. He sank back onto the edge of the bed, the key still clutched tightly in his hand.
His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. This couldn't be real. It couldn't.
And yet... here he was.
Kaelon stared down at the key, the intricate designs etched into its surface catching the light.
He didn't know what lay ahead, or if he was truly meant to wield this power. But one thing was certain—his life would never be the same again.
As the reality of his situation began to sink in, Kaelon took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him.
What was he supposed to do now? Would he try to find a way back to his old life? Or would he embrace this new world, this new power, and see where it led him?