The Galos Forest stretched dark and wild, its twisted trees clawing at a sky heavy with storm clouds. Arhaan, cheek still throbbing from a hit, glared at the man in a white shirt, black pants, and dark sunglasses.
"Arhaan… my name is Arhaan," he said, voice sharp. Before the man could answer, Arhaan snapped, "Now tell me who you are and why did you kidnap me? I was already late for my lecture!"
The man tilted his head, his long black hair catching the dim light. "College? Kidnap? Wait, do you think I kidnapped you?" He fought a laugh, his sunglasses glinting.
"Yeah, what else? How am I lying in this jungle?" Arhaan rambled, "Let me tell you, my parents aren't in Germany, they're from a third-world country, so you won't get good ransom, and as a college—" He went on, words spilling like he was unbothered by the strangeness.
What a strange kid, the man thought, staring at Arhaan's animated face. He thinks I nabbed him, yet he's not scared. It's like he's enjoying this.
"What, why are you staring? Jealous of my charm?" Arhaan grinned, then flinched as the man raised a fist. "Wait, I was joking, joking! Phew, adults these days have no humor."
The man sighed, rubbing his temple. "Forget it. What's Germany? This is Galos Forest, between Krosovia and Umbral Nation on the Elysia continent."
"WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN THAT?" Arhaan screamed, his voice echoing through the trees. Shock twisted his face, a sick feeling churning in his gut. "Wait… could it be…?"
The man's gaze turned cold, his playful smirk gone. The air grew heavy, like sharp needles pricking Arhaan's skin. "I see. That's interesting. You." His voice cut like a blade. "What's an otherworlder doing outside the Holy Empire?"
Arhaan's instincts screamed—lie, and he wouldn't see dawn. Gulping, he spilled everything: the screech, the blinding flash in his dorm, his total confusion about this world.
The man listened, eyes closed, his face unreadable. A purple sparrow on his shoulder chirped softly, its white-flame eyes locked on Arhaan, wings twitching as if sensing danger. The forest seemed to hold its breath, leaves rustling faintly. The man opened his eyes, a faint smirk returning. "Well, first things first. My name is Faust, and…" He petted the sparrow.
"Welcome to Elysia, your new hell. Oh, by the way, meet Eliana. She's my partner in our adventures." "Tweet!" Eliana chirped, tilting her head proudly. "Also, if you thought I kidnapped you, why weren't you scared? I though kids whimpered just at the thought of getting kidnapped"
Arhaan's mind reeled, the word "Elysia" hammering his thoughts. "I always dreamt about being kidnapped and questioned by a goth mommy," he mumbled, half-dazed. "Who knew an old fart would be the… hey, throw away the stick! Why you always gotta use violence?"
Faust's eye twitched, gripping a branch tighter. "Also…" Arhaan's voice dropped, eyes hollow. "I thought maybe I'd finally escape my exhausting, pointless life if I was abruptly killed."
Faust froze, staring into those empty eyes. He means it, he thought, his years of reading people confirming Arhaan's death wish was no bluff. The sparrow's chirp softened, almost pitying."We can't do anything. You gotta use this opportu—" Faust began, voice firm.
"No," Arhaan cut in, flat and final. "Send me back. I have no interest in this bullshit." Faust's jaw dropped, speechless for the first time in ages.