Ryan stumbled back from the forest clearing, every muscle in his body screaming from the fall and the frantic sprint that had barely kept him ahead of the blue-furred predator. He leaned against the twisted trunk of a massive tree, panting, trying to force his ragged breaths to calm. The world around him was silent now, the shadows swallowing the undergrowth, broken only by the occasional rustle of glowing leaves. But in his chest, his heart pounded like a war drum.
He looked down at the artifact clenched in his hand. The metal fragment had followed him into this world, glowing faintly, almost imperceptibly, but enough that Ryan could see the pulse of light flicker like a heartbeat. It hummed softly, vibrating through his fingertips, a subtle reminder that he was not alone—not entirely.
"What… what are you?" he whispered to the artifact, his voice raw from screaming and fear. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. One moment, he was in Buckeye, Arizona, welding scraps in a dusty shop, and the next, he had been hurled through time, space, and reality itself into a forest that defied every law he had ever known.
The artifact seemed to respond. The pulsing grew stronger, a gentle rhythm that seemed almost communicative. He felt a warmth seep through his palm, and for the first time, a sensation of… guidance. As if the fragment was not merely an object but a living link to something far larger than himself.
Ryan's mind whirled with questions, but no answers came. He had always been practical, grounded in the world of metal and fire, but now, logic was useless. The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, trees arching impossibly toward the sky, their branches weaving into tangled patterns that created shifting shadows on the ground. In the distance, a faint blue light glimmered, like a river of stars threading through the forest.
Tentatively, he took a step forward, then another, the artifact clutched tightly in one hand. The ground was soft, moss-covered, and slightly luminous, as if the forest itself was breathing. Ryan noticed movement in the corner of his eye—a shimmer, almost imperceptible—but when he turned his head, nothing was there. A sense of being watched crept over him, a prickling unease that made every nerve in his body tense.
He tried to calm himself. Okay. Think. You survived the fall. You outran that… thing. You can survive this too.
But the forest offered no comfort. Every sound—rustling leaves, distant screeches, the snap of a branch underfoot—sent his heart into overdrive. He realized that the danger here was constant. Survival would not be simple.
Hours seemed to pass, though he had no concept of time. Hunger gnawed at him, but there were no signs of edible plants he recognized. The artifact pulsed brighter, almost guiding him, urging him to keep moving. Reluctantly, he followed, trusting the faint pull of light more than his own instincts.
Eventually, he came to a clearing. The sight that greeted him stole his breath. Rising from the ground was a structure unlike anything on Earth. Towering spires of stone intertwined with living trees, glowing faintly with internal energy, stretched toward the sky. Bridges carved from crystal connected the towers, and streams of liquid light flowed through the air, defying gravity.
Ryan's jaw dropped. "What… is this place?" he murmured.
Before he could take another step, the artifact thrummed violently, and a new sound joined the rhythm: a soft, melodic voice, almost imperceptible, whispering through the air. It spoke words he did not understand, yet the tone carried meaning, a sense of welcome, or perhaps warning.
Ryan hesitated. Part of him wanted to run, to flee back into the forest, but another part—a deeper, instinctual part—compelled him forward. His father had always told him, courage isn't the absence of fear; it's moving forward despite it. He drew in a shaky breath and approached the structure, every sense on high alert.
As he drew closer, he realized he was not alone. Figures began to emerge from the glowing bridges and spires—humans, or something like humans, but not entirely. Their eyes gleamed faintly with an inner light, and their movements were precise, deliberate, almost predatory. They watched him with curiosity, and Ryan felt a shiver run down his spine.
A tall figure stepped forward, cloaked in deep green and brown fabrics that seemed to shift and shimmer with the light of the forest. A hood shadowed their face, but the glow of their eyes revealed intelligence and experience.
"You are far from home," the figure said, voice calm but carrying authority. "And yet, you carry something extraordinary."
Ryan's hand instinctively went to the artifact. "This… this brought me here. I don't understand—what is this place? Who are you?"
The figure chuckled softly, a sound like wind through trees. "Names are less important than understanding. You are in a realm between worlds, a place shaped by aura and will. The fragment you carry is not mere metal—it is a key, a beacon, and a seed. You have been chosen, whether by fate, chance, or the will of the world, to walk a path few ever see."
Ryan's mind spun. "Chosen? Me? I'm… I'm just a guy from Arizona. I weld for a living. I'm not… special."
The figure shook their head. "Strength is not measured by where you come from, but by what you endure and the choices you make. That fragment recognizes potential. It recognizes courage and… something deeper, something primal."
Ryan frowned, confusion and fear swirling in equal measure. "Primal? Look, I just want to survive. I barely survived the forest out there."
The figure's gaze softened. "Then surviving is where you must begin. But survival alone is not enough. You must learn. You must grow. The forest tests you because it prepares you. The fragment calls to you because it sees what you can become. You may be weak now—but even the weakest seed can grow into a tree that shakes the mountains."
Ryan's gaze fell to the artifact in his hand. Its glow seemed to pulse with approval—or perhaps anticipation. A part of him wanted to argue, to deny the figure's words, but another part—the part that had felt the pull of the portal, the strange call of the forest, the raw instinct of survival—acknowledged the truth. I have to do this. I have no choice.
The figure extended a hand. "Come. Learn what you must. The forest is only the beginning. Beyond it lies danger, yes, but also opportunity. You will meet allies, enemies, beasts, and warriors. And if you endure, the fragment will show you the path to power, to mastery, and perhaps… to purpose."
Ryan swallowed hard. He nodded, the weight of his decision settling on his shoulders. With a final glance at the glowing forest behind him, he stepped forward, trusting the artifact's pull, the figure's guidance, and the faint spark of something within himself that had always whispered, you are meant for more.
And so began Ryan's journey in a world that was no longer his own, a realm where every step held danger, wonder, and the promise of transformation. The forest behind him faded into shadows as the first lessons of survival, strength, and aura unfolded before him.