Ren blinked against the rising sun, its pale light filtering through the silver leaves like someone had shaken a jar of dust over the forest. He rubbed his eyes and muttered, "Okay… either I'm dead, hallucinating, or someone forgot to tell me how Renaissance fairs work in Japan."
The orb hovered nearby, cheerful as ever.
"System reminder: You are alive. Objective: Survive. Side note: Unusual aura detected."
Ren squinted. "Aura? You mean like the glowing handprints people leave in anime?" He lifted his palm and… sure enough, a faint silver mark shimmered briefly before fading.
"Congratulations," the orb chirped, "you have been marked as the Silent One."
Ren froze. "…Silent what now?"
"Silent One — title recognized by divine entities. Details classified."
Ren's stomach twisted. "Great. So… I die by vending machine, wake up in a forest, and now I'm famous? This world really hates me."
He stumbled forward, brushing past glowing ferns that seemed to hum faintly under his touch. Every step felt uncanny, like the ground itself was aware he didn't belong.
Then he heard it — faint, like an echo bouncing through the forest: whispers.
"…Hello?"
Nothing. Just the rustling silver leaves.
"Fantastic. Probably ghosts. Or voodoo spirits. Or—hey, maybe I'm hallucinating from caffeine withdrawal again!"
Ren trudged toward a clearing and stopped abruptly. A small village emerged in the distance, smoke curling from chimneys. Wooden houses lined a dirt path, and people moved with a rhythm that felt both familiar and alien.
Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, a man in a long cloak appeared seemingly out of nowhere, sitting cross-legged on a low stone wall. He had a book open, a calm, knowing smile, and eyes that made Ren feel both scrutinized and strangely at ease.
Ren blinked. "…Uh… hi?"
The man closed his book. "Greetings, traveler. You bear the mark."
Ren stared at his palm. "Yeah, thanks for the heads-up, Mr. Cloak. Any advice on how to not get eaten by a baby dragon next?"
The man chuckled, soft and deliberate. "Patience. Observation. And perhaps… discretion."
Ren tilted his head. "Discretion? You mean like a ninja?"
"Not exactly," the man said, closing his book fully now. "The Silent One must walk carefully. Even the smallest step can awaken forces beyond comprehension."
Ren's stomach dropped. "…Small step… like stepping on a squirrel? Or tripping over my own feet?"
The man's lips twitched in what might have been amusement. "Perhaps both."
Before Ren could process, the orb piped up:
"Warning: Unknown entities in proximity. Probability of divine attention — high."
"High?! That's… bad, right?" Ren asked.
The man shrugged. "Depends on your definition. Some call it opportunity. Others… tragedy."
Ren groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course. I finally get a free village, and it's basically a god magnet."
The man stood, brushing dust from his cloak. "Come. There is much to see. The world is fractured, but clarity lies in the margins."
Ren hesitated. "…Margins?"
He decided the phrase didn't matter. He had survived dragons and mushrooms. Walking with a mysterious cloaked stranger couldn't possibly be worse. Could it?
As he followed the man down the winding dirt path toward the village, a faint hum ran through the air, like the world itself was holding its breath. And somewhere deep inside, Ren realized — maybe, just maybe, he wasn't entirely alone in this absurd mess.
But he also realized he probably had no idea what "Silent One" really meant.
Ren hesitated at the edge of the market square. The villagers were bustling around, shouting prices, showing off wares that glimmered like liquid metal or floated midair. Ren shuffled forward, trying not to draw attention—but of course, that plan lasted about two seconds.
A fruit vendor spotted him and called out. "Boy! Are you new? First time in Lumeris, yes?"
Ren froze. "…Uh… yeah. First time. Ever. Also… I'm hungry."
The vendor laughed. "Good answer. Hungry is the proper introduction. Come, take a roll. No payment needed."
Ren blinked. "Wait… really? You're just giving me food?"
"Newcomers eat first," she said with a wink, "lest the gods notice your hunger and take offense."
Ren's eyes widened. "…Wait, the gods—"
Before he could finish, the orb buzzed frantically. Warning: Divine attention detected. Local deity proximity — 12 meters.
"12 meters?!" Ren squeaked, looking around. "Why do these warnings always make me feel like I'm about to die?"
The vendor merely chuckled. "Ignore it. The boy is fine… for now."
Ren reluctantly took a roll, chewing cautiously. It was warm, fragrant, and oddly satisfying. He glanced around, noticing more peculiarities: a blacksmith hammering glowing letters into a sword, a baker tossing dough that shimmered midair before landing perfectly in the oven, and a child with silver hair casually levitating a basket of apples.
He swallowed nervously. "…Okay… definitely not Japan."
A sudden clatter drew his attention. A cart had tipped over, spilling a dozen glowing bottles across the cobblestones. Villagers scrambled to collect them, and Ren instinctively stepped forward to help—immediately tripping over a basket of floating onions and landing flat on his face.
"Perfect," he muttered through a mouthful of dust. "Way to make a first impression, Sato."
A small crowd laughed, though not unkindly. One boy, about Ren's age, grinned mischievously. "You're clumsy, huh? Bet you'd fall off a dragon if one flew by."
Ren sat up, glaring. "I… I survive dragons, thank you very much. And vending machines. And—okay, fine. Maybe I fall sometimes."
The boy laughed and backed away, disappearing into an alley. Ren wiped his hands on his pants, muttering, "Great. Everyone's judging me already. I'm barely level one!"
Then, without warning, a subtle tremor ran through the square. Windows rattled, and the air thickened with an almost imperceptible hum. Ren froze.
The orb blinked furiously. Warning: Minor divine test imminent. Probability of threat — moderate.
Ren swallowed hard. "Minor divine test? Like… a pop quiz? Because I already failed life today."
A silver light coalesced above the fountain. It formed into a faint, humanoid silhouette. Its voice was soft, almost musical: "The Silent One… are you worthy?"
Ren's knees nearly buckled. "…I… I think I tripped over a basket? Does that count?"
The orb's voice was calm, almost resigned. Observation: Non-lethal test. Outcome dependent on response.
Ren took a deep breath, trying to act confident. "Okay… uh… here goes nothing." He raised his hands in an awkward shrug. "I'm Ren. I survive things. Usually by accident. So… yes? Definitely worthy… maybe?"
The light shimmered, paused, then dissipated. A small ripple ran through the fountain as if nodding in approval.
Ren sagged with relief. "Okay, good. Still alive. Check. Skill unlocked: Survive embarrassment."
The vendor approached, smiling knowingly. "He's fine. Just… remember, new one, the gods enjoy humor as much as they enjoy obedience. A misstep can be forgiven if you make them laugh."
Ren blinked. "…I can do humor. I'm basically a professional."
As he processed this, movement in a nearby alley caught his eye. A girl stood there, leaning casually against a wall. Silver hair, piercing blue eyes, and an expression that seemed far too knowing for someone appearing out of nowhere. She smirked, as if she already knew all of Ren's thoughts.
Ren swallowed. "…Uh… hi?"
She tilted her head. "You're the Silent One, aren't you?"
Ren froze. "…I… I think that's what the glowing mark said? Why do you know that?"
The orb floated beside him, silent this time.
The girl grinned. "Names aren't important yet. But your arrival… woke something."
Ren rubbed the back of his neck. "…Woke something? Great. First dragons, then divine tests, now… cosmic entities. Can I just have a sandwich instead?"
The girl laughed lightly. "Nope. Come on. You'll need guidance. And luck."
Ren groaned. "…Fantastic. I'm officially part of this world's chaos. And I have a tour guide who looks like she eats trouble for breakfast."
And somewhere, high above the village, a pair of golden eyes observed the scene, calm, patient… and amused.
To be continued…
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