A sudden surge of wind violently blew the trees, shaking them left to right as a black silhouette emerged from a shadowy void that was formed in the middle of the Forest. A woman dressed in rags wanders casually through the forest. She swiped her long matted silver hair to one side as she sensed something from the distance.

"This sense, this energy…" The female mutters as she locates a small crater.

Jumping down to investigate, she landed on her tiptoe almost as if she's weightless. She could feel the energy radiating over her body as she walked through the wreck, the feeling of immense power emitting from this very ground certainly reminded her of her master. Though a hint of envy could be evidenced from her joyful expression.

"This power is as strong as my master." She giggles. "What do you think Yan?

A sound of a running fluid was heard as a pool of black mist formed from the ground and slowly a figure was starting to take shape and a man covered in a dark fluid could be seen.

The fluid ran down his body like a running river and when most of his fluid are dried, he was revealed to be wearing a grey ragged robe with an empty holster and a rapier scabbard. He wore a wooden mask that was shaped like a skull. He approached his mistress and nodded to answer her question.

"It feels similar." His tattered voice said, "It tastes dangerous."

"Something like this must not go unnoticed." She smiled viciously. "Find the source, evaluate it, and report back to me. Then I'll decide what to do next."

"As you wish, my Mistress."

The female soon was dissolved into a mist. The robed man stared at the crater with dispassion taking in the scenery around him. This feeling was comparable to his mistress's master but something about it seems different but yet familiar to the robed man. A spark of memory suddenly sparkled through his mind but he couldn't make out what it was. Disappointed, his body rapidly started to liquify back into the black fluid and with haste, he began his hunt for the source of the mysterious energy.

****

Melody rode out of Ruhal without much trouble, though the smell of piss and smoke constantly agitates her. But all of those was blanked by the thought of yesterday, especially what she'd witnessed

The things Melody had faced in life all had been a blessing and a curse, both as a hunter and an Adventurer, but what she'd just experienced yesterday was unlike the things she saw before. Seeing that boy floating like that in the air with those magic rings protecting him was certainly a sight to be seen as magic like those are one of a kind, possibly ancient, but yet it's still a young boy, there's no way he has the power to perform that kind of magic.

Unless the magic was from someone else, someone that wanted that boy alive. Her scepticism kept growing as the local folks hardly recognised him as she brought him to the village, but fortunately, Mr and Mrs Blanc decided to take him in for the time being.

Maybe she should check on them just to see how they're handling the situation, maybe she'll get the time to satisfy her curiosity while she's there as well.

****

Kenji's eyes open once more to see his surroundings haven't changed, confirming that this is not a dream. For some time Kenji sat there silently, trying to wrap his head around his current situation.

"Ok...Ok…" he mutters calmly. "So I'm not dreaming?"

Kenji took his time to look around the room once again. Nothing has changed from the last time he was up.

'Just what's going on', his mind asked with no clear answer in sight. Kenji then turns his head toward the small desk next to his bed. He could see his equipment from his lighter, cigarette box and his wallet, but his phone was missing. Kenji could only hope that the people who were trying to see who he was, not trying to steal it from him, but the thought of yesterday still confused him.

The lady in blue and the wolf lady.

The question of why they brought him here was starting to dominate Kenji's mind, but all it did was bring more stress for the young man. Kenji just can't bring himself to think anymore, almost as if God was trying to play a mischievous game with him.

Kenji took out a cigarette from the box and took the lighter from the table and attempted to relieve his mind from the stress.

The Japanese kanji and voices suddenly surrounded him like swarms of flies. Kenji shut his eyes as he exhaled a large amount of smoke from his breath, thinking about how his life got him to this.

'Just what is my life now?'

Suddenly the symbols disappeared. Kenji took deep breaths in and out as he knows the growing stress will make it worse and better yet his body feels a lot better than the last time he's up.

After a puff of smoke, Kenji took a huge sigh of relief but unknown to him someone was waiting.

"You know that thing could kill you, Kenji." Kenji flinched at the mention of his name and turned his head towards the voice. It was the same white-haired woman in the blue dress.

"You again? How the hell did you get in here?" Kenji asked, shaken by the lady's sudden appearance.

"I never left the room, I-." she stuttered in her last sentence, "Actually, I just came in. Can't remember where I went through."

Kenji gritted his teeth and stared at the woman with hints of anger and annoyance. Quickly his vision was filled with the words from his mind and was flickering around the woman like flies.

Kenji immediately took another deep breath, "Has anyone told you that you're a very confusing person to talk to?"

"This is my first time talking to someone in a very long time," she answered.

"I don't know if you're joking. But am not amused, ok?"

He removes the blanket from his lap and hastily picks up his equipment on the table. "Anyways, thank you for your hospitality and I'll be taking my leave now."

"Wait!" The woman shouted as Kenji lay his hand upon the door handle. "I remember a few more things when I was gone."

Kenji turns back to face the woman with confusion.

"Yeah?" He answered. "What is it then?"

The woman sighs, "You'll see…"

Kenji closed the door with relief, hoping that he'll never have to see her face ever again. He started to walk down the wooden corridor, it's a bit bland due to the lack of colour but there was some beautiful furniture that made up for it. Kenji then turns to a window near the room, he gazes towards the outside to see multiple sheeps roaming around the fields, eating the grass.

'The countryside? How did I get here?' Kenji questions himself.

Kenji kept walking but remained cautious of his new surroundings. He then heard a voice from the end of the corridor and slowly he crept towards the voices.

Kenji could hear it coming from a large room right ahead, it was a living room, all decorated with plants, furniture, and animal skins. Everything looks ancient, there was not a single sight of electronic devices or artificial lighting, almost as if this home was made in the 19th century.

Meanwhile, at the table of the room, Melody was having a small laugh with Mr Blanc as he recalled his daily life with both his daughter and his wife. Currently, Mrs Blanc is away in Ruhal to gather supplies for the farm

Melody has known Adam for quite some time. When Melody first met him was when he was no older than four years old. Adam and his wife, Angela are farmers.

They've been working on the same farm for almost ten years now, Melody must have assumed that the couple must have the most relaxing life. She has to admit that she feels a bit jealous.

Melody took a few seconds to let her thoughts flow before she caught her eyes in a device in Adam's hand.

She stares at the device, half confused and curious about what it could be. Even if she'd seen a few new gears and tools being invented throughout her life, she had never stopped being so nosy.

"Hey, Adam. What is that you got there?"

The farmer locked his eyes on the square device. Though he thought it was first a mirror, it wasn't until it started to glow and display a picture of a white flower where Adam was astounded by such a device.

Adam raised the device and slowly observed it once again. "It belongs to the young man you brought. To be honest, I have no idea what this could be."

"May I see it?" the hunter asked.

"Sure thing."

Melody receives the device and carefully scans the device from top to bottom. 'A mirror?' Melody thought as she looked at her reflection on the black screen.

Observing on the sides she found three buttons on both sides of the device. She found one to be a switch to open the device, but was left confused about what the other two buttons do.

She then read a small text on the bottom of the screen,

'Swipe up to Unlock'

It was written in Anglo, Melody's native language.

Melody raised her eyebrows in awe. "This is from Albion?" she mutters

Suddenly a small creek was heard from the floor as a person stepped into the room. Her Hunter instinct suddenly kicks in and hastily she reaches for her knife. But upon seeing who it was, she widens her eyes in surprise, It was the eastern boy.

Seeing the confused folks, Kenji stared back at them with a confused expression. He faces a middle-aged man and alongside him was a young woman with two pointy ears who was seemingly fidgeting with his phone. Right at that moment, Kenji tried his best to form a word but the man quickly beat him to it.

"Morning, young man. I see you're finally awake. How do you feel?"

"I'm alright thank you," Kenji replied but his attention was turned towards his phone which was being held by a woman. "Em… Sorry, but could I have my phone back please."

"Your what?"

"The thing you're holding there."

The woman looks down at her hand to see the device. "Oh, this? Sorry," The woman gave Kenji his phone. "I was just curious about this... thing. What even is it?"

Kenji squinted his eyes at the woman's question.

"It's a phone, It's for calling people."

The man and women looked at each other with surprise before the man faced Kenji with a nod. "Wow, that's interesting, young man. Shows how the world has changed."

"Yeah," Kenji answered the man, but deep in his mind, Kenji was utterly confused, not only where he is but how this man doesn't know what a phone is?

"Sorry, Mr...?"

"Adam," The man answered. "Adam Blanc"

"Right, And you?"

"Melody," The woman answered. "Melody Westwood, what about you? Do you have a name, boy?"

"I'm Kenji Gordon." Kenji answers. "Sorry, but I'm very confused about where I am. Could one of you tell me, because the lady in the room keeps telling me she doesn't know?"

Adam and Melody looked at each other with confusion, "A lady? Do you mean Angela? My Wife?"

"Is she the White hair lady with a blue and black dress?" Kenji asked only to receive a confused stare from the two.

The man looked puzzled, "Sorry son, but I'm as confused as you are. But I could tell you that you're in Eastin"

Kenji raised his eyebrows, "Eastin? Never heard of this place before."

"Where are you from, boy," Melody asked as she circles around Kenji, observing his every move. "Are you lost? Are you a Mage?"

Kenji shook his head in denial on the last question, chuckling. "No, why is that even a question? Do I look like Harry Potter? "

The woman squinted her eyes in confusion, not knowing what the boy was ranting about.

"Harry who?"

Again, Kenji was taken aback by the woman. Have these people been living under a rock or is he dreaming? Something is wrong with these people and Kenji doesn't like it, not one bit.

"Sorry, it's just… I eh... never seen a woman with such a long… Ears before."

Melody squinted her eyes as she took offence. "I beg your pardon? Have you seen an elf before?"

Kenji's mind went blank for a second. He was quite sure if he heard the woman correctly.

"An elf?" Kenji chuckles, "No of course not, there's no such thing."

Melody's blood started to boil with the words coming out of the young man's mouth.

"No such thing you say? What about the 'thing' that is standing in front of you? Does that exist?" Melody spat at the boy with venom.

Kenji was dumbfounded by the woman's unexpected offence but couldn't help but cringe at the reason why.

'This woman is an elf? No way.' Kenji thought.

"You are an elf?"

Melody huffed, "What do these look like to you?" she held out her two long ears. Her hair started to float motionlessly as a mist of green aura was seen leaking from her body.

"You want me to see what happens when you mess with an elf?" She ignited her two bright green flames from both hands in rage. "I'm going to enjoy burning you to a crisp, kid."

"Melody, Calm down. I don't want my house to be destroyed." Adam grabbed the elf by the shoulder. "He's just a confused kid, don't kill him."

Melody sighs reluctantly, "Humans, I swear. They are all the same."

Baffled by the unnatural experience he just witnessed, Kenji was left both amazed and terrified. Slowly, the flashing symbols in his eyes returned as the pressure started to intensify and panic started to rush through Kenji's mind. His eyes started to twitch with every word that shines in his face.

'This can't be real… This can't be real…'

Seeing the boy in distress, Melody steps towards him to investigate the situation. But Kenji aggressively shoves the elven hunter to the ground,

"Get away from me!" He shouted.

Melody slowly got back on her feet and slowly took a step back, "Look, I'm sorry. I overreacted.."

Slowly creeping backwards, the Asian man tripped over his foot, quickly losing his balance and subsequently knocked a brown pot on top of the shelf of the fireplace, which instantly shattered on impact.

Adam could only watch in terror as the pot shattered into a hundred pieces. The pot contains one of the rarest flowers in the country and it was the first gift that he gave to his wife. The farmer almost dropped to his knees, his eyes were swollen with sadness as he saw a pebble drop.

Kenji hastily recovered and stepped back toward a door and exited. The lights blinded his face as the ray of the sun shone into his eyes, it took a few seconds before he regained his vision.

Kenji was astonished by his surroundings, it was like nothing he'd seen before. Farmland of various animals was seen but most of them looked to be creatures of a fantasy world.

"No… what the hell?"

Kenji runs mindlessly around the farm, not knowing what kind of messed up world he has awoken to. Everywhere he looked, he could see animals with two heads and a gigantic Ox that looked as if it was a monster from a movie.

"What is this place?!" Kenji loudly mutters.

"Oi!" A voice exclaimed. Kenji turned back to see the elven woman staring down at him for the entrance of the house. She looked at him with murderous intent. His mind reminded him of her vivacious intent of burning him alive with her witchcraft.

Kenji started to panic every time he thought of death, quickly his adrenaline rushed into his veins and he dashed towards a bridge and entered a forest, not wanting to look back.

'Where am I?!' Kenji repeated as he pushed the bushes away from his face. Even worse, the symbols constantly bombarded his vision and voices started to echo through his mind.

Kenji soon took cover behind a tree, crouch on the floor and held his head.

"Stop it!" He urges the voices and letters from his mind, but he's begging and shouting only worsen the situation.

"You are seriously one of the biggest cowards I've ever seen, Kenji Gordon." A voice spoken

Kenji's head turned towards the voice, it was the white-haired woman from the room. "You?! How are you here?" Kenji demanded.

Kenji suddenly launches himself at the woman, grabbing her by her collar. "You know who I am from the start! How do you know me?! Where the hell am I?!"

The woman frowns in disappointment at Kenji before turning into dust. Kenji was stunned, hastily jerking his head all over the place to locate the woman.

Kenji felt his left hand go numb to which then his hand slapped himself with the force of a brick. He swore he could see his life flashes on the impact.

Kenji stared at his hand with terror, "How are you doing this?!" he wimps.

"You should know how to treat a lady with respect." An echoing voice echoed through his mind.

"Oh Kenji, such a confused little boy. It's quite entertaining to see." she giggles

"Who are you?!" Kenji screamed, demanding answers. "How are you in my head?"

Suddenly numerous symbols bombarded Kenji's vision, the mass flashes and deafening voices were unbearable and caused a massive pain in Kenji's head.

Kenji was on the ground, curling up into a ball. He had his hands held on his head, begging for the words and voices to stop. The woman rematerialised close to him and crouched alongside Kenji with her hand placed on his head. She faced him with a joyful smile.

"So much strength in such a fragile mind. Almost makes me wonder how you are still sane."

"What?!" Kenji exclaimed. "You think I'm crazy?! You're making me insane. The Symbols in my face, The voices in my head are killing me!"

The rustling in the bushes was heard and to Kenji's fear came the Elven woman with her knife in her hands, cutting down all the vegetation in her way.

Without any thought, Kenji panicked and ran as fast as he could into the forest.

"Hey boy! Stop running!"

Melody gritted her teeth in annoyance, running after the boy. Almost like chasing a mouse, the boy keeps getting faster and more unpredictable as he ventures deeper into the forest. Melody knows the forest well, she could foresee the boy getting himself killed by a hoard of wolves if he continues to go deeper into the forest.

If Adam never offered the 90 rubble for the boy's safe return then she probably would leave him to run as far away as he wanted. But with her debt due this month, she had no choice but to take the offer.

With the boy about to get away, the Elven hunter leaps high into the trees, jumping through the branches of the tree, using the momentum to speed up to Kenji.

Panting heavily, Kenji was beginning to lose his steam as he felt his sweat running down his face and back. He felt a stitch forming in his stomach but knows he must keep on going as Kenji could predict his fate when the woman ever caught him. All the running through the dense forest is like trying to navigate through a moving labyrinth, almost like this will never end.

Kenji glanced back over his shoulders for a split second only to confirm his safety. Twisting his head in all directions, hastily glancing over possible positions that the woman could be.

Seeing the emptiness of his surroundings, he sighed in relief. Kenji dropped to his knees and slowly recovered his breath.

"Found ya." A cold voice spoke, sending chills down Kenji's spine.

A figure dropped from the trees which reveal to be the elven hunter, Melody Westwood.

Seeing the Elven woman standing no closer than a few inches away, Kenji only froze in fear as he stared into her two blue eyes.

Kenji quickly crawled away from the woman only to find himself pinned to a tree. Kenji was at a dead-end with nowhere to go. All of the exits were blocked by the lone woman who menacingly stared down at him.

Melody immediately took off her bow from her back and threw it on the floor following with her hunting tools and knife.

She was now fully unarmed and defenceless.

Melody slowly approaches the boy with caution as the boy latches on the tree, not wanting to let go.

"Look I don't want any trouble, ok," she reassures.

"So why chase me? Do you want to kill me? Want to burn me alive?" he spat

"If I did, I would've done it earlier, boy." Melody calmly but coldly replied. "You're lucky Mr Blanc offered me a decent amount to get you back safe and sound after breaking his flower. You should be grateful."

"Grateful? Why? It's just a flower."

Melody sighed in annoyance from the boy's impudence, "Do you have any idea what you just did back there?"

Kenji shook his head, confused about what the elven hunter was implying.

"The flower on that pot was a rare Azmantous flower that could only bloom in a field radiated with ancient mana. You know what that means boy?"

"No. Of course, I don't!"

Melody grabbed Kenji's collar and yanked him towards her.

"It means that he waited years for it to bloom as it did. Just to win the heart of his wife. That's how much it means to him. You're lucky that he had mercy and sent me to bring you back." Melody spat with venom

"How am I lucky?!" Kenji snaps, furiously shouting at the top of his voice in anger. "She also said I was lucky, how?!"

"Who?" Melody squinted her eyes

"I don't know" Kenji panted.

The bright blue symbols flicker over Kenji's face like flies. His growing stress was starting to take over as questions were overflowing his brain. Kenji then saw something in the corner of his eyes and a small giggle was heard almost a loud as a whisper. Kenji took a glance to briefly see the white-haired woman stalking him from the distance.

"Hey!" Melody shouted, noticing the boy small distraction. "Are you going to answer or what?"

"I'm just confused… This place… The people…. is nothing like where I'm from."

"Where are you from boy?" Melody asked

"Washy."

Melody chuckles in amusement, "What the hell is Washy."

"Or you could call it Washington..." Kenji sigh

Melody wipes the tears off her face as the humour faded away and she grabbed him by the shoulder, "I don't know if you some sort of jester but you just made my day. Kenji Gordon wasn't it?"

"Yes, I assume your name was Melody Westwood, right?"

"Mr Gordon, Welcome to the continent of Aleville, and welcome to the Kingdom of Feliver"

A small pat on the back was felt by Kenji before the Elven hunter jolted her head back and collide it onto his forehead, Kenji witness a white flash of light before his vision turn to darkness.

Melody gently rubs her head as the pain surges over the forehead, hitting that boy is almost as bad as smashing her face onto a brick

She looked down toward his unconscious body, smiling at her newfound satisfaction,

"That is what happen when you messed with an elf"

She picked up all of her equipment and with hast, she picked up the boy and headed back to the village.