After descending the stairs, I was greeted by a vast grass plain, bordered by towering mountains, with a tranquil lake shimmering at its center. The sight was both serene and surreal.
I glanced around, unsettled by the silence. “Where am I?” I murmured, reaching out with my power to sense any hostile presence nearby. Almost immediately, I picked up on something.
“There are multiple presences,” I noted, narrowing my focus. As I refined my senses, more details emerged. “Based on their body structures… they seem to be human.”
Without hesitation, I sprinted toward the sources of these presences, cloaking myself with invisibility and masking my aura. Soon, a town emerged from the horizon—small, but lively, with smoke rising from chimneys and voices carrying in the breeze.
“What the hell?” I whispered as I approached. The presences I felt were undoubtedly human, but my mind churned with questions. Why were ordinary humans here in this strange place?
Careful to maintain my invisibility, I stepped into the town. The streets were busy, lined with wooden houses and cobblestone paths. Villagers moved about, some carrying baskets of goods, others tending to stalls or chatting in groups. To anyone else, it would appear to be a normal settlement—but to me, it felt off.
“Who are these people?” I muttered under my breath, weaving through the crowd undetected.
I studied them closely. Their clothes were simple yet well-kept, reminiscent of medieval attire. A farmer hauled a bundle of hay, his face etched with years of labor, while a woman tended to a small garden near her home. Children laughed and chased each other through the narrow alleys. On the surface, everything seemed normal. Too normal.
“Why are they here?” I whispered, my unease growing. I extended my senses again, probing deeper. That’s when I felt it—a faint but undeniable trace of mana coursing through them. It wasn’t strong, barely perceptible, but enough to set them apart from ordinary humans.
I moved deeper into the town, maintaining my invisibility as I explored. My path took me past a market square bustling with activity. Merchants called out their wares, villagers haggled over prices, and the air was filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and spiced meats. Yet, the faint traces of mana lingered everywhere, woven into the life force of these people.
A question gnawed at the back of my mind. Are they trapped here, like me? Or is this something else entirely?
My attention was drawn to a group gathered near a central fountain. Among them was a tall man with an aura that stood out from the rest. His posture was commanding, his gaze sharp and observant. The mana radiating from him was stronger than the others, more controlled.
“This one is different,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes. I decided to observe him further, watching for any clues that might explain the mystery of this place and its inhabitants.
As the monstrous roar shattered the air, I instinctively stepped forward, my eyes narrowing on the chaos unfolding before me. Villagers screamed; their faces contorted with terror as they scrambled to flee the advancing horde. The defenders fought bravely, their movements precise, their attacks fierce—but it wasn’t enough. The monsters were overwhelming them.
I remained frozen, hidden in the shadows, my cloak of invisibility intact. I could end this. I knew I could. With a flick of my wrist, I could annihilate the beasts and bring this nightmare to a swift conclusion. But my thoughts clawed at me, refusing to let me act.
What if the enemy I seek is among them?
My gaze flicked to the villagers, their fear palpable as they clutched their loved ones or sought cover. They looked human—ordinary people just trying to survive—but I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at my mind. The faint traces of mana I’d sensed earlier lingered in the air, barely perceptible but undeniable. What if these people aren’t as innocent as they seem?
A surge of doubt washed over me. If I reveal myself to save them now, what happens if they’re connected to the greater threat? What if they’re pawns, or worse... accomplices? My stomach churned at the thought. I had seen it before—faces that seemed kind and genuine, only to mask the true intentions of those who would destroy everything I fought to protect.
Another roar jolted me from my thoughts. My eyes snapped to a child, no older than five, sprawled in the street, his tiny hands clutching the dirt as tears streamed down his face. His mother screamed, reaching for him as the massive, horned beast barreled toward them, its claws raised to strike.
My chest tightened, and my legs felt as though they were frozen to the ground. Do I act? The question echoed in my mind, heavier with every second that passed.
And then, a memory surged forth, unbidden—a fragment of a simpler time.
“Haruki,” my grandmother’s voice was gentle, warm, as she handed me a cup of tea. We were sitting on the wooden porch of her home, overlooking the endless fields of golden wheat swaying in the breeze. She looked at me with a soft smile, her wrinkled hands resting on her lap. “What is your dream?”
I didn’t hesitate. I was so young, so sure of myself back then. “I want to help people! I want to be a hero!”
The tall man and his comrades lunged at the monster, desperately trying to save the child, but their strikes barely scratched the beast’s hide. One of the defenders was swatted aside like a ragdoll, crashing into a wall and slumping to the ground.
“Damn it,” I hissed under my breath, my fists clenched. Every instinct screamed at me to intervene, but the voice in the back of my mind held me back. If you act now, you reveal yourself. If you save them, you may be sparing the very people who will turn against you.
But then, the child’s cry cut through the noise, raw and filled with terror. My hesitation shattered.
No. Even if they are connected to my enemy, even if they betray me later... I can’t let this happen.
I released the spell that cloaked me, stepping into the fray just as the beast’s claw descended toward the child. In an instant, I was there, my hand catching the monster’s massive claw mid-swing. The force rippled through the ground, but I didn’t budge.
The villagers froze, their eyes wide with shock. The tall man looked at me, his expression a mix of awe and suspicion.
“Who—?” he began, but I cut him off with a cold glare.
“Fall back.” My voice carried the weight of a command, leaving no room for argument.
The monster roared, thrashing wildly, but I didn’t falter. Gathering my energy, I unleashed a devastating blast, tearing through its chest and reducing it to nothing. The smaller creatures hesitated, but I gave them no chance to recover. With a sweep of my hand, I annihilated them all.
As the dust settled, the town fell eerily silent. Villagers and defenders alike stared at me, their faces a mixture of gratitude, fear, and suspicion. I could feel the tall man’s gaze boring into me, questioning, calculating.
What if they are the enemy? The thought returned, heavier now. I had saved them, but at what cost? Had I just exposed myself to the very forces I needed to destroy?
The tall man stepped forward; his sword lowered but his stance guarded. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice steady despite the uncertainty in his eyes.
I didn’t answer immediately, my mind wrestling with the implications of my actions. Finally, I met his gaze, my expression unreadable.
“Just a traveller,” I said, my voice cold.