"Speaking"
'Thoughts'
My parents used to tell me the outside world held hidden secrets waiting to be discovered. They always shared stories about magical creatures and fantasy worlds—I never really understood why. But now I think I do.
Today, they told me to go hiking up north. They said something was waiting for me there.
"Going for that hike?" my mom asked.
"Yeah, I need to get some fresh air. Plus, you and Dad told me to," I replied.
She laughed softly. "Alright, but be careful out there." Her tone shifted—serious, almost worried—which made me a little nervous.
"Will do! See you later!" I gave my mom a kiss on the cheek. It's childish, I know, but she's always been there for me.
Little did I know, a long adventure was waiting—one that I was meant to dominate.
I'd been hiking since morning, and somehow, it was already getting dark. I hadn't even noticed.
Still, I kept moving forward.
"Hold on… why is it getting hot? There's a chilly wind…"
Suddenly, the wind started heating up. It picked up speed, whipping through the trees. Leaves swirled around like a mini tornado, forcing me to stop and shield my face from the dust.
"Seriously, what is going on here!?" I yelled.
The whirlwind of leaves closed in, completely obscuring my vision.
Ugh, I could barely breathe.
Then, just as quickly as it started, the wind died down. I lowered my arms—and froze.
I wasn't on the trail anymore.
I was standing in a vast open field.
"Huh…?"
My brain couldn't process what was happening. No trees. No buildings. Just endless flowers swaying in the wind.
What is this!?
"A field!? But how!?"
I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Still just the same vast expanse.
This field is huge…
I decided to walk—anything to escape the emptiness. After what felt like hours, I finally spotted a cliff in the distance and ran toward it.
That's when I saw it.
A huge city sprawled out before me, people coming and going at the gates.
As I got closer, I noticed the people were wearing outfits that looked straight out of a fantasy anime. Two men in armor stood by the gates—definitely guards.
But all I could think about was how massive this city was.
"This is amazing… Is there a festival going on?" I mumbled to myself, wandering through the market stalls. I didn't realize people were glancing at me until it was too late.
Lost in unfamiliar streets, I stopped—no clue where I was.
That's when I heard voices and turned toward them.
Elves!
They were speaking—but I couldn't understand a word.
I don't have a clue what they're saying, but maybe I can try? Worth a shot, I guess…
"Uh—I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're saying."
The elf girl gave me a confused look, then glanced at her friend. They started talking to each other.
??? POV
"What is she saying? I've never heard that language before."
"Same… That's definitely new."
We looked at her again. She stared at us like she'd never seen elves before.
"Has she never seen our kind?"
"Maybe not. But those clothes—I've never seen anything like them either."
"Should we ask her something?"
"Have you forgotten? We can't even understand each other."
Back to Eli's POV
My brain hurt just trying to guess what they were saying.
"Excuse me—I don't know what's happening or where I am, but is there any way we can communicate?"
They just stared.
Wow. I'm so stupid. They don't understand a word I'm saying.
I slapped my hand to my face—probably louder than I meant. Embarrassing.
I watched them whisper to each other again. One held up her hand, palm out, like she wanted me to wait. I guess someone's coming…?
And then—bam—a woman suddenly teleported in front of us.
My heart nearly exploded.
What the heck?! That scared me!
She started speaking to the elves… then all three turned to me. I froze under their gaze.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
The woman's eyes widened in shock.
She said something, then—**to my shock—**she spoke in my language.
"It seems you don't understand our tongue," she said thoughtfully, touching her chin.
"Y-Yes! You're the only person I can understand—how?"
"I've studied many languages over the years," she replied with a proud smile. "All those sleepless nights finally paid off."
She studied languages without sleeping?! That's wild.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
She introduced herself as Mrs. Oden, and after a brief conversation, she tapped my forehead lightly.
Magic.
From that moment on, I could understand everyone around me.
Thanks to Mrs. Oden, I finally knew what people were saying. The two elf girls—who had been trying to help me—showed me where I could stay. They also told me about something called the Adventurers Guild.
We hung out for a while. It was actually fun… but eventually, they had to go. It bummed me out. Still, I hope to run into them again someday.
I smiled at the thought as I made my way toward the guild.
That's when it hit me.
I was still in a completely different world—no idea where I was.
And my parents…
They must be so worried right now.