Chapter 2 – Rebirth
Before the beginning, there was nothing. No beasts, no sky, no stars. Then Gaia, the will of the planet, shaped the surface into what became the World and its mirror, the Reverse Side. From the Root—Akasha—flowed all existence, the source of every truth and possibility. In that first age, the gods themselves walked the earth in human form, mingling freely with mortals.
Later magi of the modern era would call it the True Age of Gods and Humans, a time both wondrous and perilous.
Now, one hundred years had passed since the birth of the world.
In the stillness of a forest clearing, a figure lay on the grass. At first glance, one might mistake the youth for a girl, for the beauty was unnatural. Long silver-white hair spilled across pale shoulders. Crimson eyes, faintly glowing, hid beneath closed lids. The skin was smooth, the frame lithe yet strong—a beauty that transcended gender.
The boy stirred. His eyes flew open, and with a sharp cry he bolted upright.
"Damn you, Truck-kun!"
His voice echoed through the trees. Breathing hard, he blinked rapidly, then looked around in disbelief. "Wait… how am I still alive? Where am I?"
Lowering his gaze, he froze. The body before him was not his own. Pale skin, long hair, and an almost divine appearance replaced the ordinary frame he remembered.
"…This isn't me," he whispered. A nervous laugh escaped him. "Did I… did I just get isekai'd? Like in those novels I used to read?"
Nearby, a shimmer of water caught his eye. He stumbled toward it and knelt by a pond, peering into the reflection.
The face that looked back was breathtaking—crimson eyes sharp as jewels, white hair that gleamed even in shadow, features so fine they seemed carved by gods. Ashton's mouth went dry.
"…Damn," he muttered, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "I'm beautiful. Too beautiful. That's… unsettling." He struck an awkward pose, then immediately flushed, turning away. "Nope. Not doing that again."
After drinking from the pond, Ashton gathered himself and began walking west, hoping to find signs of life. Hours passed before relief finally washed over him—smoke in the distance, rising from a village.
"There's people…" he sighed, shoulders relaxing. He approached carefully, but stopped short at the sight of guards by the gate. They wore only simple cloth around their waists, crude spears tipped with sharpened stone clutched in hand. Primitive, yet vigilant.
Ashton raised a hand nervously. "Hello! Sorry, but… do you know where I am?"
The guards stiffened. One barked, "Stop! This is human territory. Gods are not allowed here!"
Ashton's heart jumped. "W–wait, I'm not a god!"
"Don't lie!" another guard snapped, his eyes narrowing. "That beauty… only gods bear such a form."
Ashton scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I swear, I'm human. Just… weird-looking, I guess."
The guards exchanged wary glances. Finally, one stammered, "…You're… human?"
"Yes," Ashton said quickly, nodding. "Definitely human."
The guard studied him for a moment longer, then exhaled. "…Very well. If you seek shelter, you may enter. But know this—your presence here will not go unnoticed."
"Thank you," Ashton said, bowing his head. He hesitated mid-step, then asked, "Could you… tell me more about this world? I'm not from around here."
The guard frowned, but finally relented. "Listen carefully. To the west lies human territory, where you now stand. To the east dwell the demigods and demihumans. To the north is the realm of the gods themselves. And to the south…" His voice lowered. "…the lands of monsters and phantasmal beasts."
Ashton nodded slowly, absorbing every word. "I see… thank you."
As he walked into the village, his thoughts raced. The lore, the gods, the monsters—it was all too familiar.
"…Don't tell me," he muttered under his breath, a small, uneasy laugh escaping him. "Did I actually get isekai'd into the Fate universe? Just my luck…"
He exhaled, forcing a smile. "This is going to be a pain in the ass."