The storm passed. I step out, making sure not to trudge through muddy soil as I find a stable path in the forest. With some time to collect myself, I've learned a few things about my situation. First, my mind feels clearer, my memories can be recalled with precision and my thoughts seem to move more quickly. My body has a lightning-shaped scar across my right side. I've heard of such things before. Was that great heat I felt when I woke up the sensation of being struck by lightning? I also have a green gemstone embedded in my chest, right in the center. I remember seeing something similar, in the basket that was nearby when I woke up. I should ask about it when I find others. If I find others.
My breathing grows heavier as I continue onwards. My stomach is empty and my tongue clicks dryly. My body demands attention, but I don't know anything about plants or survival. I know that you can boil water to drink it, but I don't know how to make a fire. I find a small clearing, sitting against a tree. It's a bright, sunny day. The sky is clear; it's hard to believe such a storm occurred hours earlier. I massage my legs, preparing to continue my trek.
Before I stand, I hear a rustling in the tall grass. I instinctively jump, hiding behind the trunk to observe the grass. Whatever is lurking within seems to be very active, not making any movements to stop. I grab a small rock from the ground, tossing it in the general direction of the thing. I hear a yelp. A human?
"Hey! Can you hear me?" I call out to them. The grass rustles in response to my voice, and a person emerges. Just their head pokes through the tall stalks of grass. He has tanned, rippling skin, like it had been tattooed all over. Before he turns to me, I notice his ears are clipped near the top, as if he had been cut on his right ear. His eyes are wide as he takes in my state.
"You can speak my language? State your name, human!" He strides out of the tall grass. He is much taller than I am, with a thin body and a crude bow.
"I.. I am.." I try to utter my name, but I hear a ringing in my mind, as if interfering with my thought process. The person narrows his eyes, grabbing my shirt's collar.
"Are you mocking me, human?" He raises his upper lip, as if disgusted at my failure to speak. I decide to go by another name.
"I go by Wren. Sorry. I couldn't speak my name to you somehow."
"Wren?" His brows furrow in surprise. "Winds. I am Ren. Ren Altous." We stare awkwardly at each other.
I extend my hand to him. He doesn't reciprocate. "What are you doing out here, Wren? Humans aren't usually this deep into the forest."
"You aren't a human?" I question. He is unusually tall, but he didn't seem like anything other than a human to me.
"You don't know what I am?" Ren laughs. He lifts his shirt, yet another green crystal in his chest. He looks to me expectantly, as if I am supposed to understand what this gesture means. I lift my own shirt, revealing my crystal. Ren winces at my scar, then focuses on the crystal. He simply sighs and drops his own shirt. "You don't know how to use Status Magic."
"Magic? Such a thing exists?"
"Of course it does, Wren." He stares at my crystal. "You are 19, yet you don't know how to use magic?"
"I'm not 19."
"Please. You can't hide your Status from me. I can clearly see you are a 19 year old human." I raise my eyebrow. This body wasn't mine from the start, I can tell. It seems like I took over its function after my death.
"Can you tell me anything else about myself? I'm not sure who or what I am." I ask. It's not necessarily untrue. If I can learn more about my circumstances, I'd be able to play the part of the person whose body this belongs to.
"My Status rank isn't that high. I can only tell as much as I can see from the outside. You seem to have a high affinity for Anima."
"What is Anima?"
"It is a type of magic. Can't you feel it within you?"
"The only thing I feel right now is hunger, thirst, and pain."
"Oh. Wren, I think you should come with me." I nod. Stumbling as I walk.
"So, what are you if not human, Ren?" I ask.
"I'm an elf. I'm surprised you couldn't tell, considering you speak our language."
"Well... my memories seem to fail me." I laugh, nervous. I thought I was speaking normally. Actually, the more I focus on my words, the more I realize the sound doesn't seem to match what I am speaking.
"I live in a small village, far from any human towns. Elves are naturally distrusting of humans, in case you couldn't tell."
"Will my being there cause any problems for you?"
"A few, but I'll keep you on the outskirts while I handle the explanation."
"Thank you, Ren." I smile to myself.