The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Kannazuki Sora, a high school student, was on his way home. While walking, he noticed a strange particle.
"What is that thing?" ...Out of curiosity, he followed it until it disappeared into an alley.
"It disappeared? What was that thing? ... Well, guess it's time to go home," Sora muttered as he turned to leave.
When Sora stepped out of the alley, he immediately sensed something was off. Around him were people, some clearly demi-humans, along with old-fashioned houses and horse-drawn carriages.
What—what is this place? Am I hallucinating?" Sora rubbed his eyes, but quickly realized he wasn't imagining things.
He then explored the area to better understand his situation. While walking, an unknown enchanted voice talked on his mind like telepathy.
"Come and follow..."
"Eh?!" Sora heard a voice and quickly looked around, but saw no one nearby.
"There's no one here..."
"Come and follow..." the voice spoke on his mind again.
Sora saw the strange particle again. "It's that strange particle... Is it telling me to follow?" Sora muttered to himself.
The particle guided him to a distant grassland, far from the village. It began to glow intensely—then, in a flash of light, a goddess appeared before him.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Elyria, a goddess," she said, her voice calm and otherworldly.
"I'm Kannazuki Sora. Are you the one who brought me to this strange world?" he asked, still trying to make sense of it all.
"Accidentally, yes. You followed the particle and it accidentally brought you in this world."
"So, I guess it was my own actions that brought me here... But what now? I don't know anything about this world," Sora muttered, uncertain about his next steps.
"Don't worry, Sora. I've already given you my blessing. It's up to you now," the goddess said as her body began to glow. Slowly, she transformed back into the glowing particle—and then vanished.
"It's up to me now, huh..." Sora muttered. Then he noticed something in his pocket. When he reached in and pulled it out, it was gold coins.
"Gold coins? Did the goddess give me these?" Sora paused for a moment, then decided to head back to the village.
Sora spotted a food stall nearby and made his way toward it.
"Excuse me. I'd like three of these, and one of that too," Sora said as he purchased some food.
"Excuse me again... is there anywhere around here I could stay for the night?" Sora asked the food stall owner.
"There's an inn just over there. You'll recognize it—it has a sign out front," the food stall owner said, gesturing toward it.
"Thanks," Sora said as he thanked the food stall owner and made his way to the inn.
Sora stepped into the cozy, wooden inn. The smell of baked bread and warm stew filled the air. At the front counter stood a middle-aged woman, wiping a mug with a clean cloth.
"Excuse me," Sora said as he approached. "I'd like to stay here, but... I'm not really sure how things work."
The woman looked up and gave him a friendly smile. "First time in an inn, huh? Don't worry, dear. A standard room is five silver coins per night. That includes dinner and breakfast."
"Five silver..." Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold coins he had found earlier. "I only have gold coins. Will that work?"
The woman raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Gold? That'll do just fine. One gold coin equals ten silver, so I'll give you five silver coins back."
She took one of the gold coins, placed it in a small wooden box behind the counter, and handed Sora five silver coins.
"Here's your key. Room two, up the stairs and to the left. Dinner's served in the common room at sundown. If you need a bath, let me know."
"Thank you," Sora said, bowing slightly.
"Rest well, young boy," she said kindly as he headed toward the stairs, still wrapping his mind around this strange new world.
"I'm exhausted... First I end up in a strange world, then I meet a goddess who says she accidentally brought me here... No use thinking about it now. Time to sleep. Tomorrow... I'll figure out where to go from here." With that, Sora closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.