The ruins had been buried under earth and vines for longer than anyone could remember. What had once been a proud city was now little more than crumbled stone and broken pillars, swallowed by the jungle. Deep beneath the rubble, in the center of what was once a grand plaza, a massive pit yawned open, untouched by sunlight.
Inside the pit, shadows moved.
They weren't alive. They had no eyes, no voices, no thoughts. Just dark, empty shapes that walked in slow circles, bound to this place for thousands of years. Their forms were like people, but hollow, as if they had forgotten how to be anything else.
Then, one of them stopped.
It shook violently and grabbed at its chest. Something inside it pulsed—a faint red light, like a dying ember suddenly flickering to life. The shadow fell to its knees, convulsing. The light grew stronger. Veins of crimson spread from its core, wrapping through the blackness like roots through soil.
A ribcage formed. Then lungs. A beating heart. Bones snapped into place. Muscle stretched over the skeleton. Skin followed, pale and covered in sweat.
A man collapsed onto the cold stone floor, naked and gasping.
He curled into a ball, shaking. A sob broke from his throat. He clutched his chest with both hands, feeling the steady rhythm of a heartbeat.
"I'm free..." he whispered. "I'm... finally free."
He lay there, trembling, then slowly sat up. His eyes darted around the dark chamber, breathing heavy, trying to make sense of it all.
"Who... am I?"
He closed his eyes, trying to remember something—anything. Faces, names, voices—nothing came. Just a feeling: pain, loss, rage, and a desire so strong it burned in his blood.
No memories came, but a name echoed in his mind.
"Kael Azarin," he said out loud. The name felt right.
He stood up, unsteady at first. Around him, the other shadows continued their slow march. They didn't look at him. They couldn't. They were just walking around aimlessly.
Kael looked at them with pity.
"You've waited too long," he said. "Let me be your end."
He raised his hand. A warm light glowed in his palm, growing brighter until it lit the entire chamber. The shadows began to vanish, one after another, turning to ash. Kael watched silently until the last one faded.
Then he looked up.
With a motion of his hand, fire erupted above him. It carved through stone and soil like a blade, rising through the layers of the earth until it broke the surface. Kael leapt through the blazing tunnel, landing in the heart of a thick jungle.
The air was warm. The sky was blue.
Birds fled from the blast. Trees shook.
Him standing tall, breathing deeply.
He stood alone in the clearing, the smoke from his fire spell still curling upward into the sky. The jungle was quiet now, as if nature itself held its breath.
He looked down at himself—bare skin, lean muscle, covered in dirt and dried sweat. He frowned, then raised a hand and spoke a few words in a forgotten tongue. The sound of the ancient spell rang with a strange weight, each syllable shaped like a memory. A faint ripple passed through the air, and a soft red light formed in front of him.
A hole in space shimmered open—a dimensional inventory.
Without thinking, Kael reached inside. His fingers closed around fabric. He pulled out a shirt and pants, rough but well-made. The moment his hand touched the shirt, something stabbed through his mind.
A memory—not full, but sharp.
A faceless woman. Her voice warm, gentle.
"Don't let yourself freeze. Here, take this."
Kael froze, staring at the shirt in his hands. His breath hitched.
He tried to remember her face, her name, anything—but all that came was a cold ache in his chest. She was important. That much he knew. His eyes filled with tears. He let them fall. He didn't wipe them away.
After a long moment, he dressed. The shirt clung to him like a second skin. The pants were worn but comfortable. He tightened the belt, pulled in a slow breath, and looked around.
Something moved at the edge of his vision.
Kael turned—and saw a man.
Dressed in simple leather armor, with a short sword hanging from his hip, the man stood half-hidden in the brush, mouth wide open in shock. His eyes were locked on Kael as if he were looking at a nightmare.
Kael stepped forward and dropped lightly to the ground below the ridge. The movement was calm, unthreatening.
"Where am I?" Kael asked.
The man stumbled back, terrified. "Mo-mo-monster... Ex-explosion... Do-do-don't kill me..."
Kael frowned. The words didn't make sense. It was a language he didn't know—or no longer remembered.
He touched his own temple and whispered another spell in the ancient tongue. The magic sank into him, wrapping around his mind like warm cloth. The world shifted.
Suddenly, the man's words came into focus.
"Please don't hurt me!" he shouted. "I—I didn't mean to watch, I swear!"
Kael raised his hands slowly. "I'm not going to harm you," he said carefully. "I only want to know where I am. Is there a city nearby?"
The man blinked in confusion, still shaking. "You… you talk normal now…"
"I understand you now," Kael said. "Please. Just tell me where I can find the nearest city."
The man swallowed hard. "You're… you're south of Blackstone Ridge. Closest town is Eldhollow, maybe two days' walk. If you don't get eaten first…"
Kael tilted his head. "Eldhollow," he repeated. The name meant nothing to him.
But it was a place. A start.
"Thank you," Kael said.
The man took a step back. "Are you… really human?"
Kael didn't answer right away.
"I think so," he said softly. "But I'm not sure what that means anymore."
Kael turned away from the frightened man and crouched low. Then, with a surge of power, he launched himself into the air. The jungle blurred below as he soared high above the trees. Leaves rustled violently in his wake.
The man he left behind dropped to the ground, staring up with wide eyes and trembling hands. "Th-That's… that's no man..." he whispered.
Kael arced through the sky like a falling star, landing lightly on a thick branch before launching again. Each jump carried him dozens of meters, faster than any beast could chase. The wind rushed against his face, carrying the scents of the jungle—damp leaves, pollen, the faint trace of smoke.
Then, in the distance, he saw it.
A town.
Tucked between the trees and the edge of a river, surrounded by wooden palisades and watchtowers. Smoke rose from chimneys. Voices and movement stirred within. It had to be Eldhollow.
He adjusted his direction and landed just outside the main gate.
Kael stepped forward, letting his feet touch the dirt road with quiet reverence. The town looked new to his eyes, built in a style he didn't recognize. But there was something comforting about it. The sound of hammers, the smell of wood, the distant chatter—it felt strange, yet familiar, like a forgotten dream.
Then another scent caught his attention.
Roasted meat.
It drifted through the air like a hook pulling him forward. His stomach growled. He followed the smell, weaving through villagers who eyed him with curiosity and whispered as he passed.
The source of the scent was a small food stall under a cloth canopy. A woman stood behind it, tending skewers of sizzling meat over an open flame. Grease popped and crackled. Kael's mouth watered, and a thin trail of drool slid from the corner of his mouth before he caught it with the back of his hand.
He stepped closer. "How much for two?"
The woman smiled. "Four copper coins."
Kael nodded. He opened his hand and summoned his dimensional inventory with a quiet word. The air shimmered, and he reached in, pulling out a single gold coin.
"Is this enough?" he asked.
The woman stared at the coin like it was a holy relic. "Enough?" she gasped. "Sir, that's… that's more than enough! You could buy every skewer I've made today—and I still couldn't break change for that!"
Kael looked at the meat, then back at her. "I only want two. Keep the rest."
Her eyes widened. "Truly? You—you're serious?"
Kael nodded. "Yes. Just two."
Hands trembling, she passed him two skewers wrapped in thick paper. "Thank you, sir. Thank you."
Kael took one bite. The flavor exploded across his tongue—salty, tender, dripping with fat. His eyes closed briefly.
This world might be different, but food still tasted like heaven.
Kael sat at the edge of the square, chewing slowly on the last of his second skewer, when he noticed someone approaching.
A young woman, no older than her early twenties, strode toward him with a confident step. Her light brown hair was tied back in a short braid, and her green eyes sparkled with curiosity. She wore practical travel clothes, patched but well-maintained, and a dagger hung at her hip.
"You just gave away a gold coin," she said, crossing her arms. "Either you're the richest man in town, or you're new here."
Kael tilted his head slightly. "You are correct. I'm new."
The woman smiled. "Thought so. Most people would haggle over four copper, but you just handed over a month's wages like it was nothing."
Kael didn't respond, only watched her with interest.
She leaned forward slightly. "How about a deal? I'll be your guide. Just a single gold coin for the best tour in all of Eldhollow."
Without a word, Kael reached into his inventory and pulled out another gold coin. He held it out to her.
Her eyes widened. "Wait—you're actually—?"
He placed the coin in her hand. "You offered. I accepted."
She stood frozen for a moment, staring at the coin. Then her posture shifted completely. She stood straighter, eyes sharp and voice smooth.
"A pleasure to serve," she said with a practiced bow. "My name is Lyra Vellin, freelance scout and part-time guide. I'll make sure you don't get lost in our little corner of the world."
Kael gave a slight nod. "I seek the Adventurers' Guild."
"Ah, good choice." She turned and gestured for him to follow. "We've got a branch here, not a big one, but it's active. Come on."
They walked through the streets of Eldhollow, the townspeople parting before them with mixed glances—some curious, some wary. Lyra chatted as they walked, pointing out a few local shops and landmarks.
Soon, they reached a two-story wooden building with a faded but recognizable sign above the door: two crossed swords over a shield. The Adventurers' Guild.
Inside, the main hall was lively. Tables lined the walls where adventurers rested, talked, or scanned mission boards. A large counter stood near the back where a receptionist in a deep green uniform greeted newcomers.
Kael stepped forward.
"Welcome," the receptionist said. "Are you here to pick up a task, register as a new adventurer, or are you an existing one looking for work?"
Kael reached into his inventory. With a soft shimmer, he pulled out an emblem—a black metallic insignia shaped like a fang set within a sunburst. Its edges pulsed faintly with red light.
"I'm already an adventurer," he said. "I've come in search of knowledge."
The receptionist leaned forward to get a better look. Her brow furrowed.
"I've never seen this emblem before," she said slowly. "Are you… joking with me?"
Kael stared at her, face calm. "No."
Others nearby had started to glance over.
Lyra, standing just behind him, frowned. "That emblem… it doesn't match any rank. Not even Heroic."
The receptionist hesitated, then gestured to the back. "Please wait here. I'll get the Guildmaster."
Kael gave a single nod.
As she hurried off, the room began to quiet slightly. Adventurers turned to look at the strange man who had no shoes and now claimed to be a guild member with a badge no one recognized.
Kael stood still, patient, his gaze calm—but his mind was already watching everything.