Ray sat still at the edge of a foreign river. The boy's clothes clung to his body soaked, ragged, and cold, just like the world that had just welcomed him.
The river flowed slowly, creating a gentle murmur that contrasted with the chaos he had just relived in his memories. His eyes were empty, staring at the strange trees across the river. The twin skies still hung above him, but this time he wasn't in awe he was too tired to be. All that remained was sorrow and confusion.
"This isn't my dream…" Ray thought to himself. "This... isn't my life. But now, it is my reality."
The air he breathed felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on his chest. He looked at his hands small, scarred hands. Old scars. Scars that seemed to carry years of pain. This body wasn't his. But the pain… that now belonged to him too.
"Why did this body... suffer so much at such a young age?" he whispered softly.
A sense of loss began creeping in from every direction not just because he had left Earth, but because he now inherited the wounds of this child. Wounds deeper than words could express. And more than that… a sadness he couldn't explain wrapped itself around his heart. Not only his own grief from Earth but a sorrow that came from within this very body.
The former owner of this body… a boy around twelve years old… had watched his parents being attacked in their home. A sudden assault swift and brutal. Ray didn't know whether they had survived… or died that night.
That uncertainty was what hurt the most. Not knowing if hope still existed… or if it had already ended for good.
But one thing was clear Ray couldn't just sit still.
"I have to know…" he whispered, clenching the wet soil beneath him. "I have to go back and find out."
Yet that voice returned his mother's soft voice the last thing he heard that night.
"Ray… run…! Don't look back…!"
It was still clear. Still alive in his mind. Full of pain… but also love. A love deep enough to sacrifice everything for his safety.
Silent tears streamed down his face. He wanted to return. He wanted to find them. But that message… the words spoken in those final seconds still held him back.
Ray knew if he acted recklessly, it could all be for nothing.
"I'll go back… but not now."
"I must survive first. Strengthen myself. If I die here… then hope will truly be lost."
His heart still ached. But resolve began to form slowly, yet surely.
In this new world… he would seek power. So that one day, he could return and find the answer: Were they… still alive?
After sitting silently by the riverside for what felt like hours, Ray finally began to calm down. His breathing became more steady. His heartbeat was still heavy, but no longer filled with panic. He looked up once more at the foreign sky above him. The two suns still hung there silent, as if bearing witness to the new resolve forming within him.
"I can't stay still," he murmured. "I have to find them… I have to know who attacked us that night…"
The fear hadn't vanished. The wounds were still fresh, and the memories of that night haunted every breath he took. But beneath it all, something had begun to burn.
Purpose. Not just to survive but to seek the truth. To find his parents, or at the very least… discover what became of them. And to uncover who attacked his family, who destroyed their home, who stole the childhood of the boy whose body he now lived in.
"I'll remember all of this…" he said softly. "I must survive first. Strengthen myself. If I die here… then hope will truly be lost."
The river continued to flow. But now, Ray was no longer drifting with its current. He had chosen his direction. And though the path was still dark, his first step had already begun.
After clearing his mind, Ray began walking along the riverside. His steps were slow, cautious. He didn't know where he was headed, but he knew one thing he couldn't stay in one place for too long.
The morning sun cast a soft light through the strange canopy above. The air was still cold, but it slowly began to warm as sunlight crept across the earth.
Not long after, his eyes caught sight of something low shrubs with small, dark red fruits. They looked like berries, but Ray wasn't sure. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer to examine them. The fruits were shiny, and small ants were swarming over them.
"Are these safe to eat...?" he muttered.
He picked one, sniffed it, then tasted a tiny bit on the tip of his tongue bitter, but it didn't make his body react. Carefully, he ate a few more. At the very least, it was enough to quiet the emptiness in his stomach since the night before.
His journey continued. He walked in no particular direction but followed the flow of the river for one thing he knew for sure: people always lived near water. Occasionally, he stopped to observe his surroundings or to sit and rest.
Ray didn't know where this path would take him. But for now, a slightly full stomach and moving feet were enough.
The sky started turning orange. The warmth of the sun began to fade, replaced by long shadows stretching across the forest floor. Ray walked faster, but his heart grew heavier. He knew... night was coming.
And night meant danger.
From the memories of this body, he knew the forest wasn't safe after dark. There were creatures ones he couldn't even name. Their fangs were sharp. Their sounds haunting. And their steps... nearly silent.
"If I stay out here, I'll die..." he thought bitterly.
Despair began to creep in. He was tired. Hungry again. And now... afraid.
He was no longer the adult human from Earth. This body belonged to a child around twelve, wounded and far from strong.
Yet that fear couldn't overcome one thing: his will to survive.
Ray hugged himself tightly, eyes scanning around, searching for shelter anything to shield him from the encroaching night.
Just as hopelessness began to swallow him whole, he collapsed beside the root of a giant tree, shivering as the evening wind pierced through his clothes.
But then
A rustling sound.
From deeper within the forest came slow footsteps, brushing past wet leaves and shrubs.
Ray immediately stood up.
His heart pounded, and his body froze.
His eyes locked on the direction of the sound, ready to run if what appeared was a beast or one of those nameless terrors embedded in this body's memories.
But it wasn't a monster.
It was... a human.
A grown man, probably in his thirties, emerged from behind the shadows of the trees.
He wore rugged clothes like a hunter. His hair was a bit messy, and sweat glistened on his face. A bow hung over his shoulder, and a long knife was strapped at his waist.
Ray didn't know if he should feel relieved... or even more afraid.
But one thing was certain
For the first time since waking up in this world, Ray was no longer alone.
The man stopped. His eyes widened, clearly shocked to find a child alone in the wild forest.
"...Huh?! A kid? Out here?"
He approached, but cautiously, keeping a safe distance. His gaze was sharp not suspicious, but alert. Maybe he thought this was a trap.
With a hoarse voice, the man asked,
"Hey, who are you? What are you doing alone in a forest like this?"
Ray swallowed hard. His voice barely came out, but he knew... he had to answer.
Before he could say anything, the man continued with concern in his tone,
"Do you know where you are? This isn't a playground, kid. This is the inner part of Tortora Forest! There are dangerous beasts roaming at night!"
Ray could only nod slowly. His voice finally broke quiet and trembling,
"...I... got lost."
The man furrowed his brows, eyes scanning Ray's thin frame and old wounds.
"You live in a nearby village?"
Ray shook his head. He looked down, trying to hold back the storm of emotions rising again.
"...I don't know... When I woke up... I was alone by the riverbank."
His eyes glistened as he answered softly.
The man narrowed his eyes. His expression, once filled with sympathy, turned cautious. His right hand subtly moved toward the weapon on his back.
"Riverbank? Alone?" he muttered, loud enough to be heard.
He stepped back slightly. His eyes sharpened.
"...Do you know the name of the tool people use to farm rice?"
Ray slowly looked up, confused, but answered truthfully,
"...Hoe? Sometimes... a plow?"
The hunter continued to stare sharply.
"In winter, what do villagers usually do?"
Ray paused for a moment, then replied quietly,
"...Dry wood... store food... fix leaking rooftops."
The man didn't respond right away. He just watched, observing every move whether Ray trembled from fear... or something else.
A few seconds of silence passed.
Finally, the man sighed. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and his hand moved away from the weapon.
"Alright... those are human answers. Sorry, kid. In forests like these... we can't easily trust anyone especially creatures that can disguise themselves as children."
He took a slow step toward Ray, his tone and expression now much gentler.
"My name is Dallen. I'm a hunter from Puta Village. Are you alone? Are you hurt?"
Ray nodded slightly. His body still trembled, but a bit of warmth returned in Dallen's voice.
Dallen looked at Ray for a moment, then asked again,
"Then, can I ask... where are you from?"
Ray stayed quiet for a while. He knew he couldn't tell the truth. So, he looked down and replied softly,
"I... don't remember. When I woke up, my head hurt and everything felt blank..."
Dallen frowned.
"Amnesia?" he muttered, uncertain. "Did you fall from a cliff or something...?"
He sounded confused, but his voice remained kind.
Ray kept his head down, pretending not to know how to answer.
Dallen sighed deeply, then asked,
"Then, where are you planning to go?"
Ray turned his head and pointed toward the river the opposite direction of Dallen's arrival.
"That way," he said briefly.
Dallen was startled. His eyes widened.
"That way? That's deeper into Tortora Forest!"
Ray froze.
"Deeper... into the forest?"
Dallen nodded quickly.
"Yes! And the deeper you go, the more dangerous it gets. Even hunters rarely venture too far in."
Ray paled. He didn't know which direction was safe. This world was truly foreign. His body still shook, and now fear weighed heavier on his chest.
Seeing Ray's expression, Dallen softened. He stepped closer and gently patted his shoulder.
"It's alright. You don't know the area yet, so it's understandable. But trust me heading that way is not the right choice."
After that brief conversation, Uncle Dallen nodded slowly and said,
"Come on, let's get out of here. Night is almost upon us."
Ray followed Dallen's steps without saying much.
His legs felt heavy, but his heart was a little calmer.
Though this world was still unfamiliar, at least now... he wasn't alone.
Before long, they arrived at a simple resting spot beneath a rocky cliff. There was a small tent made of animal hide and a campfire that had nearly gone out.
Dallen swiftly reignited the fire, then pulled something from the leather bag tied to his waist.
"I just went hunting this morning," he said, unwrapping a wide leaf that covered several chunks of meat. "You're hungry, right?"
Ray nodded slightly. He swallowed hard as the savory aroma of the roasted meat reached his nose, now warming again over the fire.
"This is forest bear meat. A bit tough, but filling," Dallen added with a faint smile.
Ray received the meat with both hands. It was warm. Heavy.
And when he bit into it... it tasted incredible.
After days filled with fear and running, that meal felt like a blessing.
Dallen sat across from him, quietly watching.
After Ray finished eating, a moment of silence fell.
Only the crackling of the fire and the soft rustling of the wind through the trees filled the air.
Dallen looked at the boy with hesitation, then spoke up.
"You really don't remember... your real name? Or... your parents?"
Ray only lowered his head. His eyes were empty, and no answer came from his lips.
In his heart, he wanted to respond wanted to scream, to tell everything but his mind was still too tangled. He wasn't ready.
Seeing this, Dallen exhaled softly.
"Alright," he murmured. "It's okay if not yet."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he raised his hand into the air and from it, an old book floated out, appearing as if summoned from thin air.
Ray flinched.
His eyes widened as he watched the book hover in midair.