Daniel stepped out of the convenience store. The door closed behind him with a soft click. He carried a small bag with a drink and a sandwich.
The street was quiet. The sun had started to set.
He walked down the sidewalk. His steps were steady. He reached the crosswalk and stopped. The robot lights were still green for the cars.
Daniel waited.
He looked around. Everything felt normal.
The light turned red for the cars. The signal for walking lit up.
Daniel took a step forward.
Then, it happened.
A car sped toward the intersection. It ignored the red light. It was too fast. Daniel saw the headlights, but it was already too late.
The car hit him hard.
He felt his body lift from the ground. He flew through the air, then hit the pavement and rolled.
Pain spread through his body. He could not move.
The driver stopped for a moment. Then, panic took over. The car sped away, leaving Daniel behind.
Daniel stared at the darkening sky.
His breath grew weak. His sight blurred.
He thought, "So this is how it ends."
---
Daniel found himself, floating in darkness.
He felt as if he had no body at all.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
He could not tell if time was passing. It could have been seconds. It could have been years.
Then, a voice spoke.
It was calm. And clear.
"Daniel."
He tried to answer, but no words came out.
"You died," the voice said. "It was not meant to happen."
Daniel wanted to ask what this voice meant.
The voice continued, as if it could hear his thoughts.
"The driver ran the red light. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Daniel listened.
"Sometimes, these mistakes happen," the voice said. "But it was not your fault."
Daniel wondered what came next. Was this it? Just floating forever?
"No," the voice said. "This is not the end for you."
The darkness shifted. A faint light appeared far away.
"I will send you to a new world," the voice said. "A world of magic."
Daniel was not sure if he had heard that right.
"You may find it strange at first," the voice said. "That world is far behind in many ways."
Daniel felt a pull toward the light.
"I will give you something to help you," the voice said. "A system. It will guide you. It will let you shape your new life."
The light grew stronger. It felt warm, but not harsh.
"This system is called Mono," the voice said. "It will help you learn. It will help you build."
Daniel's thoughts swirled. Was this some kind of dream?
"You will not forget your old life," the voice said. "You will keep your memories. You will have the chance to use them."
Daniel felt his body again. His arms. His legs. His breath.
The voice grew softer as the light grew bright.
"Live well," it said. "Make this life your own."
Then, everything turned white.
Daniel felt himself falling.
---
He opened his eyes.
A wooden ceiling greeted him. Rough beams held up the roof. Sunlight came through a small window.
The air smelled of smoke.
Daniel sat up slowly. He was lying on a bed made of straws. A rough wool blanket covered him.
His head throbbed, but not from pain. It was from everything that had just happened.
He looked down at his hands. They were his hands—same as before.
Then, a soft chime sounded in his mind.
[Welcome, Daniel.]
The voice was gentle.
[I am Mono. Your system assistant.]
Daniel looked around the small room. There was no one else here.
The voice spoke again.
[You have been reborn in the world of Farlight. My role is to guide you and provide support.]
Daniel frowned. He thought about the voice he heard before—the one that promised him this system.
"What can you do?" Daniel asked aloud.
[I can help you understand this world. I can also help you create and improve tools, structures, and other things you remember from your old world.]
Daniel's heart began to race.
"Can I make things from my world?" he asked.
[Yes. With time, resources, and knowledge, you can recreate what you remember.]
Daniel let out a breath.
He looked out the window.
Outside, he saw a small village. Wooden homes. Dirt roads. People carrying baskets and tools.
There were no signs of technology.
Just like the voice said—this was a world still in the past.
"I see,"Daniel" muttered.
If this was his life now, he would face it.
And if he could really build things here, then this world would not stay in the past for long.