"Uuugh…" A groan escaped from the youth's lips as his head throbbed. His body feel drifted in motion with a steady rhythm, as though carried along by unseen current. Each jolt, each rise and fall, sent fresh waves of nausea spinning through his skull.
The warmth of someone's back pressed against him. Though it's comforting, it only made him more nauseous.
The world spun relentlessly waking him up from his slumber.
Slowly, his lashes fluttered. Light stabbed into his vision. For a moment, everything blurred until he see a tall trees loomed overhead. Their branches woven so thickly that sunlight barely pierced through, leaving the forest floor in a heavy gloom.
The air was damp, clinging to his skin, filled with earthy moss scent and wet soil. Shadows stretched between the trunks, swaying gently as the wind rustled the canopy.
He blinked again confused, he feel his body moving. Until he realized that he is being carried. Not just being carried, he was carried by a girl.
A faint blushes crept across his face.
"Eh… y-you… awake?" the girl whispered, her voice uncertain as she noticed his stirring. After checking that he really awake, she then gently lowered him from her back.
The young man wobbled, struggling to steady his footing. Not far ahead, a big muscular man turned with a half-growl, half-relieved exclamation.
"Great, finally you're awake. You don't know how much trouble you've caused Lyra—she had to carry you the whole day!"
The young man only hung his head, silent and embarrassed, guilt weighing in his chest. He didn't know who these people were, or why that woman had carried him in the first place.
He then slowly glanced at them, albeit weak and dizzy, with a hoarse voice he asked, "ummm… sorry, but who are you?"
One of the four people, the one with white hair, approached him and introduced himself.
"I am Darrian, the party leader. That is Berron, the tank. This is Serena, the priest. And Lyra—the one who carried you—she is the mage." Darrian flatly introduced himself and his party members. They only gave him slight nods acknowledging him.
"I…am Ar-arleen," he answered stammering as if he not sure about his own name.
The four strangers fell silent, waiting for Arleen to speak again. Giving more information about himself. But Arleen only stayed quiet, saying nothing.
"We'll be reaching lunchtime soon, how about we take a rest here first?" Darrian finally said, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
The others agreed without complaint, setting down their supplies and finding the clearing they can use. After they settled Serena began to preparing their lunch. Berron leaned his weapon against a tree, while Lyra sat quietly. Arleen trying following suit awkwardly shifting his body into sitting position.
Darrian who just before standing now walked over to Arleen and lowered himself to sit.
"So, Mr. Arleen…" Darrian's voice was calm but carried weight, like a blade sheathed but ready. "What were you doing alone in this forest?"
Arleen's eyes trembled, cold sweat starting to slide down from his back. His chest tightened as if every word was caught in his throat.
' How am I supposed to answer that?'
He didn't know how to answer. Desperately trying to mask his panic, he stammered,
"I… I don't know."
How could he? He had just woken in strange forest with unfamiliar outfit in unfamiliar body. He thought panickly.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Ask Darrian once more. His eyes narrowed. While his party members glancing at them nearby.
My chest tightened as Darrian, the party leader, threw his question at me. I couldn't answer. I didn't know what to say. Even if I lied, what lie could I tell?
I knew nothing about this world. I hadn't even had the chance to play the game before I was thrown into it.
So I tried to stay honest—without revealing too much about where I truly came from.
As dizziness crept hammering my head, I forced the words out.
"I… I don't remember. I… I just woke up in this forest, and not long after, I was chased by some green monster."
Darrian's eyes narrowed with suspicion, his gaze heavy on me as he pressed further.
'He didn't believe what i'd say... What do I do know.'
"Then, do you know where you are, Mr. Arleen?"
I frantically shook my head, forgetting that slight movement can make my dizziness worsen.
With every question Darrian threw at me my head throbbed harder. The pressure in his voice, the way his sharp eyes lingered on me—it was suffocating. My chest felt tight, and the world kept tilting.
Whenever dizziness wash over me i remember that cursed trait plagued this body of mine.
"This is the Gloomreach Forest," Darrian explained, his tone steady but watchful. "It's a place rarely visited by people—especially not by ordinary villagers. We are a hero party, sent here on a subjugation mission."
I nodded quickly, grateful for the information, though I don't know what his intentions giving this information. All I cared about was that he wasn't pressing me for more answers—for now.
"Yesterday, we saved you from an orc attack. You've been unconscious ever since," Darrian explained.
Gratitude welled up inside me. I am not death. I am alive. I didn't know what would have become of me if not for them.
I bowed my head slightly, hoping to show just how thankful I truly was.
"Thank you… truly, for saving me." I forced a small smile to match my words, a fragile attempt to show my sincerity.
When I looked up, however, they were only staring back at me, their expressions unreadable. The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable, pressing down on me.
With awkwardly smile and laugh, I turned my face away, searching for an escape, and muttered beneath my breath—calling forth the status window.
I stared at the status window, carefully reading through it.
One name in particular caught my attention—Serendipity. Its description read:
[Serendipity]
Blessing of Exceptional Luck
- Fortune's Favor
- Opportune Timing
- Lucky Break
- Subtle Luck Guidance
- Enhanced rare find probability
My eyes lingered on the glowing words. Serendipity… Blessing of Exceptional Luck.
I let out an excited sigh. Could this be the reason I was still alive? The reason of why I was saved and rescued and not be squashed and becoming human pancake.
Reading the explanation once more, I felt a rush of gratitude and excitement for what lay ahead in my future. Optimism filled my chest—I could become rich and live a carefree life in this game world.
Or so i thought...