The first thing Emilia Kato felt is cold, damp earth beneath her palms, the second is the overwhelming silence. Her eyelids fluttered open. Towering, colossal mushrooms dominate the landscape, their caps glowing with vibrant blue and violet light. The glow drips down like liquid starlight, giving the forest an enchanted, mystical atmosphere.
The forest floor is lush and alive with thick grass, vibrant foliage, and glowing flowers scattered among the undergrowth. A narrow, winding stream flows gently next to her hand, reflecting the shimmering lights above, adding to the serene yet magical mood. Fireflies or whatever is that, float lazily through the air, leaving trails of soft golden light.
Tall, shadowy trees rise on either side, their dark silhouettes contrasting sharply against the luminous mushrooms, it's definitely not the pale orange of Sapporo's sunrise, but something alien and unsettling.
Emilia sat up with a groan, clutching her pounding head. Her body ached as if she'd been tossed around like a rag doll. "What… the hell?" she muttered, her voice hoarse. "Where… am I?"
Her memories are jumbled, fragments of sound and color. The bright stage lights of the 23rd Japan National Gourmet Grand Prix flashed in her mind, the most prestigious cooking competition in the country. She had been standing there, victorious, holding the golden trophy as cameras flashed and crowds roared. Afterward, she had boarded an afternoon flight back to Sapporo, exhausted but happy, clutching her knife roll, her most prized possession.
She had closed her eyes, thinking only of returning to La Brume, the Michelin-starred restaurant where she worked. Ready for the night's customers to pouring in and celebrating her winning in the morning. But, then, she didn't know where she is now.
Emilia scrambled to her feet, swaying slightly. She's no longer in an airport or a plane. She's in a forest unlike any she had ever seen. The trees are massive, their roots so large she could stand beneath their arches. Strange glowing fungi clung to the trunks, casting ghostly blue light. The air is damp and thick with the scents of moss, earth, and something metallic—blood, maybe.
Her heart began to pound faster. "This isn't Japan. This isn't anywhere I know."
She turned in a slow circle, scanning her surroundings. There are no paths, no signs of human presence. Just endless trees and the whisper of leaves. "Okay, Emilia. Think," she whispered to herself, forcing a shaky breath. "You're lost. You need to… figure out where you are. Find people. Find… anyone."
That is when she noticed something lying beside her: her knife roll. The leather case is scuffed but intact, as if it had been placed carefully rather than dropped. Emilia snatched it up, relief flooding through her. "At least I have this," she murmured, hugging it to her chest. "My knives… my tools. My lifeline."
As her fingers brushed the smooth handle of her favorite chef's knife, a faint warmth pulsed through her skin, like a heartbeat. Emilia froze, staring at her hand. The sensation faded instantly. "…Weird. Probably just nerves," she muttered, though unease prickled at the back of her neck.
The forest is quiet, too quiet, even after Emilia had been walking for what felt like hours. Her legs ached, and her throat is dry, but she pressed on, trying to ignore the crawling unease in her chest. Emilia had grown up in Hokkaido, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and the lush green of summer forests. She knew what forests are supposed to sound like: the cheerful song of birds, the steady hum of cicadas, the soft rustle of squirrels darting through branches.
But here, she didn't hear anything, there's no chirping birds song, no cicadas or crickets, not even a wind. Only the sound of her own ragged breathing and the occasional crunch of twigs beneath her boots. The silence isn't peaceful, it's oppressive, almost physical, like a thick fog pressing against her skin. It felt heavy. Watching.
Emilia shivered and hugged her knife roll closer to her chest. "This isn't right. Something's wrong here." As she pushed through a cluster of glowing blue mushrooms, a sudden wave of dizziness struck her. She stumbled, clutching her head, and then, Information flooded her mind.
The mushroom before her isn't just a strange glowing plant anymore. Its name appeared in her eyes, like a status screen in the RPG game she used to play when she wasn't busy as a chef.
[Mooncap Fungus—Edible. Boosts vitality when brewed into a soup]
Emilia gasped and staggered back. She glanced at the small stream nearby, at a tiny insect skimming across the water.
[Starfire Gnat—Harmless. Lays eggs in glowing fungi]
"This… this is impossible," she whispered, her voice trembling.
But her thirst was overwhelming, and the words burned in her mind, urging her forward. Emilia didn't hesitate any longer. She knelt, scooped the water into her hands, and took a deep, greedy gulp.
The taste is unlike anything she'd ever experienced, crisp, clean, and cool, with a faint sweetness that spread across her tongue like the first sip of perfectly chilled mineral water. It slid down her throat, and a soothing warmth radiated through her body, washing away her fatigue and calming the ache in her muscles.
She gasped and sat back, wiping her mouth, wide-eyed with wonder. "It's… amazing," she breathed.
For the first time since waking in this strange, terrifying world, Emilia felt a spark of hope. If even the water here could heal her, maybe she had a chance to survive in whatever place is this.
But deep inside, Emilia felt a strange certainty settle over her chest, heavy yet strangely reassuring. Whatever force had brought her into this alien, glowing world hadn't left her helpless. It had given her a gift, one that could very well be the key to surviving this silent, oppressive forest that seemed to watch her every move.
Then, a low, guttural growl rolled through the stillness, deep and primal, vibrating in her bones. Emilia froze, every muscle locking tight. Her breath caught, lodged in her throat. Slowly, ever so slowly, she turned her head toward the sound.
Between the massive, glowing trunks of the fungi-trees, something moved. At first, it was only a shifting shadow, vague and shapeless. Then, two pairs of glowing yellow eyes blinked open in the darkness.
Her stomach dropped. "No… oh no."
The creature stepped forward, its outline coming into view. It was shaped like a wolf, but too large, with shoulders nearly as high as Emilia's chest. Its limbs were unnaturally long and sinewy, each step unnerving and jerky, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. Jagged horns jutted from its skull, curving back like a demon's crown, and its matted fur is streaked with black and crimson.
A foul stench of wet earth and decay hit Emilia's nose, making her gag. The growl deepened, vibrating through the humid air. The thing lowered its head, lips curling back to reveal rows of jagged, glistening teeth. Glowing spores drifted lazily around them, casting the scene in an almost dreamlike glow, a nightmare masquerading as beauty.
Emilia's heart thundered. Her mind screamed at her to run, but her body refused to obey, frozen by pure terror. "What… what IS that thing?!"