Far away from any city or town, deep inside a massive jungle where birds chirped all day and wild animals ruled the night, there lived two friends—Zaid and Noah. Their lives were nothing like normal people. They had no phones, no internet, no busy roads or buildings. Just trees, rivers, and silence.
These two had lost everything in a huge war. A deadly fight had broken out between their country and a neighboring one, and the destruction left behind was unforgivable. That war had taken away their families, their homes, and any chance at a normal life. With nowhere else to go and no one left to turn to, they escaped into the jungle together, hoping to survive and find peace.
Zaid and Noah weren't powerful warriors or genius survivors. They were just two broken boys trying their best. Every day, they cut trees for firewood, grew vegetables, and fished in the river. Life was tough, but at least they had each other. Still, deep down, both felt empty. They missed their past. The happiness, the laughter, the world they had lost. Now, their days were quiet. Too quiet.
One cloudy morning, Noah woke up early. "I'm going to get some firewood," he said with a tired smile.
Zaid nodded, rubbing his eyes. "Alright, be careful," he replied. It was a normal morning—just like every other day. But something about Noah's voice felt... off.
Zaid went on with the usual stuff. He cooked some rice, filled up their water containers from the nearby stream, and cleaned their small wooden hut. But as the sun climbed higher, Zaid realized Noah was taking too long.
"It's been hours…" he mumbled, his heart starting to race.
He stood at the edge of the jungle path, eyes scanning the thick trees. "Noah!" he shouted, voice echoing through the woods. No answer.
Panic slowly started creeping in. "Noah! Where are you, man?! Stop playing around!" Still nothing. Not a sound.
Zaid grabbed his sword, something he kept more for wild animals than for fighting, and rushed into the jungle. His heart pounded. Branches scratched his skin. The sun now felt harsh, and the silence was scary.
Suddenly, a strange glow caught his eye through the trees. He stopped, breathing heavily. "What... is that?" he whispered.
There, deep in the jungle, stood a giant glowing tree. It wasn't normal. The bark was blue like sapphire, and the leaves shimmered like starlight. It looked ancient, magical... alive.
Zaid stepped closer, completely drawn to it.
He reached out his hand slowly. "This… this doesn't feel right…"
The moment his fingers touched the glowing bark—BOOM!—a blast of white light surrounded him. His body felt like it was floating, his ears rang, and everything around him vanished.
"What the hell is happening?!" he shouted as the world went blank.
---
Zaid opened his eyes. He was lying on soft grass, surrounded by endless fields. Golden wheat waved in the breeze, and birds flew peacefully overhead.
He sat up, confused and dizzy. "Where… where am I?"
Everything was different. The air felt clean. The sky had a strange purple tint, and the sun was way too bright. He started walking, unsure where to go.
After walking for hours, he felt weak and hungry. He found a nearby forest and tried to catch something—anything to eat. A small rabbit. Some berries. It wasn't much, but enough to survive the night. He built a small fire, curled up beside it, and stared at the sky.
"I need to find Noah… whatever this place is, I have to find him."
---
The next morning, with sore legs and a tired face, Zaid kept moving. He didn't know where the road led. But soon, he saw something that made him stop in shock.
A city.
Not just any city—it was huge, full of towers, markets, and people. Zaid's eyes widened. "I thought I was in the middle of a jungle… now this?!"
He entered the city with an empty stomach and weak steps. No one paid attention to him—he looked like just another beggar.
Just when things felt hopeless, an older man noticed him sitting near a food stall.
"Boy, you look half-dead. Come here," the man said kindly.
Zaid hesitated, but his hunger won. The man gave him bread, some soup, and water.
"My name's Fredrick Grayson. You're not from around here, are you?"
Zaid nodded slowly. "I… I don't even know where I am…"
Fredrick gave him a place to sleep for a few days. He was around 55, a lonely man who had lost his family years ago in an accident. Zaid told him a bit about what had happened—about Noah, the war, and the glowing tree.
Fredrick didn't know anything about such a tree, but he did understand one thing—Zaid wasn't from this world.
"You're in a different world now, kid," Fredrick said. "A world full of magic."
Zaid's eyes widened. "Magic?!"
Fredrick nodded. "People here can control elements. Some can fly. Others can heal. There are mages, warriors, even monsters."
Zaid felt like he was dreaming.
Since Zaid had no idea how to survive in this world, Fredrick started training him with a sword. "If you can't use magic yet, you need to protect yourself at least."
Every day, Zaid practiced sword swings, balance, and basic footwork. It was hard, but he didn't give up. He wanted to get stronger—for himself, and for Noah.
After some weeks, he said goodbye to Fredrick and continued his journey. He still didn't have magic, but he had hope.
He traveled from village to village, always searching, asking people if they had seen someone like Noah. He fought wild animals, learned how to survive, and slowly became stronger.
Then one evening, as the sun was setting and painting the sky red, Zaid saw something floating high in the sky.
A city. But not just any city—this one was floating in mid-air like a giant island in the clouds.
People called it Aethoreos.
Zaid stared up at it in awe. "Maybe… this is where my answers are."
And just like that, his real adventure began.