The wolf crashed through the air like a thrown boulder.
Kyūsei threw himself sideways on pure instinct.
Claws tore through the ground where his chest had been a heartbeat earlier, dirt exploding across his face. He rolled downhill, hit a tree root, and nearly blacked out from the impact.
The beast turned immediately.
Too fast.
Too large.
Too real.
Its blue eyes glowed brighter in the shade of the forest, and thin lines of light pulsed beneath its fur like veins filled with fire.
Kyūsei scrambled backward on hands and heels.
"No, no, no—"
The wolf lunged again.
A streak of silver flashed between them.
Steel rang.
The wolf's head spun sideways, body tumbling through bushes before crashing into a tree hard enough to crack the trunk.
Kyūsei stared.
A young man stood in front of him with a sword resting on one shoulder.
Tall.
Athletic.
Dark hair tied loosely behind his neck.
Travel cloak fluttering in the breeze.
He looked over one shoulder with an annoyed expression.
"You planning to fight it with tears?"
Kyūsei's mouth opened.
No sound came out.
The wolf roared and leapt back to its feet.
The stranger sighed.
"Stay down."
He stepped forward once.
Wind gathered around the blade.
Then he vanished.
A sharp whistle split the air.
The wolf froze mid-charge.
A red line appeared across its neck.
Its head slid from its body.
The corpse collapsed.
Silence returned to the forest.
Kyūsei's heart hammered against his ribs.
The stranger flicked blood from his sword and sheathed it casually.
Then he crouched beside the monster's remains, reached into its chest, and pulled out a small glowing blue crystal.
He tossed it once in his palm.
"Pathetic quality."
Kyūsei finally found his voice.
"What… what was that?"
The stranger glanced at him.
"A wolf."
"I mean that."
He pointed at the crystal.
The man blinked.
"Mana crystal."
Kyūsei pointed shakily at the sword.
"And that?"
"A sword."
"No, the disappearing thing!"
"Oh." The man grinned. "Moving fast."
Kyūsei stared at him in disbelief.
The stranger laughed.
"Relax. You've got the face of a man whose soul got lost on the way here."
Kyūsei's stomach dropped.
"What?"
The stranger leaned closer, studying him.
Then his playful smile faded for just a second.
"…Huh."
Something unreadable crossed his face.
He straightened immediately.
"Well, whatever. Name?"
Kyūsei hesitated.
"Kyūsei."
The stranger froze.
Only for an instant.
Then he smiled wider than before.
"Kyūsei, huh? Funny name."
"What's yours?"
"Kazuto."
He offered a hand.
Kyūsei stared at it.
No one had offered him help so casually before.
Slowly, he took it.
Kazuto hauled him upright with ridiculous ease.
"You're weak."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
He tossed the blue crystal into a pouch at his belt.
"What are you doing alone in this forest? You got robbed? Lost? Cursed? Brain damaged?"
Kyūsei considered his options.
Could he say I died in another world and a god dropped me here?
Probably not.
"I… woke up here."
Kazuto nodded thoughtfully.
"Brain damaged it is."
"I'm serious."
"Sure."
Kazuto started walking.
"Well? Come on."
"Where?"
"You want to stay here and become wolf food?"
Kyūsei quickly followed.
The forest was massive beyond imagination. Trees wider than houses rose like pillars into a green canopy. Strange birds with glowing feathers watched from branches. Mushrooms the size of stools clustered beside roots.
Everything felt unreal.
Kyūsei kept glancing at Kazuto.
The stranger moved confidently, one hand resting near his sword, eyes scanning every direction without seeming tense.
He looked young—maybe twenty—but carried himself like someone used to danger.
After several minutes, Kyūsei asked quietly,
"Why did you help me?"
Kazuto shrugged.
"I was passing through."
"That's all?"
"No."
He glanced sideways.
"You looked pathetic."
Kyūsei frowned.
"That's rude."
"It's honest."
They walked in silence.
Then Kazuto spoke again, lighter this time.
"You really don't know anything, do you?"
"About what?"
"This place. Mana. Monsters. Roads. Common sense."
Kyūsei looked down.
"…No."
Kazuto scratched the back of his neck.
"Great. I found a newborn adult."
After another hour, the trees thinned.
Then Kyūsei saw it.
He stopped walking.
Far beyond the forest rose walls of white stone taller than skyscrapers. Towers pierced the sky, each crowned with glowing blue crystals that shone even in daylight. Bridges linked rooftops. Airships drifted overhead like floating ships with crystal engines.
The entire city shimmered.
"What… is that?"
Kazuto smirked proudly.
"Valthorin."
Kyūsei whispered the name.
"The City of Mana."
Roads grew busier as they approached. Merchants guided wagons pulled by horned beasts. Travelers in armor entered through giant gates. Robed mages floated quills around themselves while reading books mid-step.
No one looked surprised by any of it.
Kyūsei nearly tripped three times staring.
At the gate stood guards in silver armor marked with crystal insignias.
One guard raised a hand.
"Purpose of entry?"
Kazuto held up a black metal card.
"Returning adventurer."
The guard nodded, then looked at Kyūsei.
"And him?"
Kazuto didn't pause.
"My idiot cousin."
Kyūsei snapped his head around.
"What?"
The guard glanced between them.
"You look nothing alike."
Kazuto sighed dramatically.
"We're aware."
The second guard snorted.
"Go on."
They entered.
The city swallowed Kyūsei whole.
Streets paved in polished stone stretched between towering buildings carved with runes. Crystal lamps hung above every corner, glowing pale blue despite the sun. Markets overflowed with spices, fruits, weapons, monster hides, books, charms, and things Kyūsei couldn't name.
Voices mixed into a thousand-layered storm.
Laughter.
Bargaining.
Music.
Arguments.
Life.
Kyūsei slowed to a stop.
He had never seen so many people smiling.
Children ran through alleys chasing a floating toy bird made of light.
A blacksmith hammered a blade while sparks turned briefly into butterflies.
An old woman sold pastries that steamed rainbow-colored mist.
Kyūsei felt something strange in his chest.
Envy.
Wonder.
Grief.
All at once.
Kazuto noticed.
"Overwhelmed?"
"…Maybe."
"You'll get used to it."
Kyūsei looked around again.
"People really live like this?"
Kazuto's expression softened slightly.
"Some do."
They turned into a quieter street.
"First rule," Kazuto said.
"What?"
"Don't trust smiling merchants."
"Okay…"
"Second rule: never insult a mage."
"Why?"
"They're sensitive."
"Third rule?"
Kazuto grinned.
"If someone says 'cheap healing potion,' run."
Kyūsei almost laughed.
Almost.
They stopped before a building with a polished sign showing a bed and crystal lamp.
THE CRYSTAL REST INN
Kazuto pushed the door open.
Warm air and the smell of cooked meat hit them instantly.
Inside, travelers ate at long tables while a woman behind the counter shouted at a drunk man trying to sing.
Kazuto tossed a few coins onto the desk.
"One room. Two beds."
The innkeeper eyed Kyūsei.
"Your brother looks half-dead."
"Runs in the family," Kazuto replied.
They climbed to a modest room upstairs.
Two beds.
One window.
One wash basin.
To Kyūsei, it looked luxurious.
Kazuto dropped his pack.
"You can bathe first."
Kyūsei blinked.
"…There's hot water?"
Kazuto stared.
"Did you grow up in a cave?"
Close enough.
After washing, Kyūsei sat on the bed wearing borrowed clothes while Kazuto leaned against the window eating bread.
"So," Kazuto said. "Truth."
Kyūsei stiffened.
"You're hiding something."
"I…"
Kazuto tossed him half the loaf.
"Relax. I don't care if you're a runaway noble, failed thief, cursed prince, or idiot farmer."
Kyūsei caught the bread.
"I'm none of those."
"Then what are you?"
Kyūsei looked at his hands.
A dead boy.
A nobody.
Someone who had been given another chance for reasons he didn't understand.
"I don't know yet," he said honestly.
Kazuto studied him for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Fair enough."
He stood.
"Sleep early. Tomorrow we register you."
"Register?"
"At the Adventurer Guild."
Kyūsei swallowed.
"Why?"
Kazuto grinned like trouble itself.
"Because if you're going to survive in this world…"
He pointed toward the glowing city beyond the window.
"…you'll need to become stronger than it."
That night, Kyūsei lay awake staring at the ceiling.
Outside, Valthorin glowed blue against the darkness.
For the first time in his life, tomorrow felt bigger than fear.
Across the room, Kazuto spoke softly, almost too quiet to hear.
"You're alive this time."
Kyūsei sat up.
"What?"
But Kazuto was already pretending to snore.