The cold rushing wind passed by, invigorating Mat's senses. He was lying flat on his back on the deck over the open area, staring blankly at the thousands of stars lighting up the night sky. They were a mix of red, green, and blue, like jewels fixed onto a black canvas.

He could hear the motor hum of the boat's engine below, but it was largely overshadowed by Laro's loud snores- almost as if he was trying to compete with the boat itself to see who was the loudest one here.

It's been a wild couple of weeks. It felt like yesterday when he first got shoved into this fantasy world- having no idea of what to do. He was so lost back then. But after meeting his giant wolf Amigo and Nian, Ruan, Youmu, and all the others, it felt as if he was pretty lucky to get to where he is now.

If by chance he didn't end up meeting up with them, only God knows where he would've ended up. Maybe he'd still be lost in the forest, all hungry and messed up. If it weren't for them, and especially, if it weren't for his soulmancy magic that he coincidentally got as soon as he arrived in the world of Suna, he'd have been the meal to the magical beasts in the woods.

Mat called for his sprite. This was his first-ever companion when he arrived here, and it's been pretty helpful every step of the way. Even if it didn't talk much. Mat didn't even know if it was alive even.

"Character sheet."

[Character Sheet]

Information

Name: Mateo Arsenio

Class: Soulmancer

Race: Human

Rank: Iron

Mana: Eclipse

Stats

Strength: F+

Endurance: F

Agility: E-

Sense: F+

Spirit: E

Magic

Materialize I, Absorb II

Mat stared at the floating texts in front of him. He's gotten pretty strong since he first came here. His body feels lighter and stronger- more robust. He could also feel his muscles starting to develop, with bits of energy swirling around him. He didn't know if that energy was mana flowing through his body, but it sure felt refreshing.

His body was growing, slow- but steady. Sure, he was still skinny and thin, but as long as he didn't stagnate in growth, he was well on his way to achieving the full potential of his physique.

It was like this fantasy world provided him with things he only wished he could have gotten on Earth. Magic really is something different.

It even made Mat question if he ever wanted to go back at all. His original goal before was to arrive in a city and find some clues and hints and whatnot on how to go back to Earth. He's also met Bob and Tyler, people who might have the same circumstance as him- they could help him with his situation. It wasn't a hundred-percent, sure-chance that they were Earthlings like him, but the possibility was there. He knew he had to talk to them sooner rather than later, but Mat's mind constantly doubled back on himself.

If he ever found out a way to go back home, would he take it? Would he be able to let go of this new world? After lots of thoughts, and after lots of doubling back, Mat found his answer.

It was a resounding no.

He didn't want to go back- back to his past life that is. This new world provided him the things he could only dream of back on Earth. Mat only wished all of this wasn't a dream.

A single light then lit up from the corner of Mat's vision- a burning lantern.

He turned to the lantern, seeing Flo with a bunch of papers sprawled on the ground. She had a pen in her hand, scribbling something on the papers like she was studying for a math test in the middle of the night.

"What's that?" Mat whispered, though it came more like silent shouts than anything.

Flo ignored him at first. But after a delayed pause accompanied by the night crickets cricketing and the hum of the engine below, she finally took out words from her mouth.

"Studying." She said. The flickering orange of the lantern gleamed against her white hair. The whites of her hair were in constant contrast with her black tattoos, but even with the yin and yang difference, they fitted her like a frame to a painting.

"For what?" Mat knew he was being pretty obnoxious, constantly asking questions back and forth, but curiosity always got the better of him. It was like he was a kid again, but given that Mat's barely an adult, he could make the argument that he still really was a kid.

"To become an adventurer." Flo still kept her eyes focused on her papers, but it was enough to Mat for her to answer his questions.

"You're not an adventurer?"

Flo paused. "Not yet."

"So you're just like me then?"

Flo didn't answer, the only sound between the two was the scribbling of pen to paper. The silence wasn't awkward, but more like two strangers just making small talk like people on the streets. They just so happened to stay awake at the time. There was nothing personal going on.

"Alright, happy studying." Mat said as he closed his eyelids and shut his brain off.

. . .

A loud honk of a horn shook Mat wide awake.

One honk. A second honk. A third honk. Along with the annoying honkings, he could hear the sound of crowds- like people in a marketplace bustling all around. He could hear talking, shouting, ringing of bells, and the occasional- yup- honking of a horn.

"What's going on?" Through blurry vision, Mat surveyed the surroundings. It was still night, though the lights dotting from everywhere made everything apparent.

Giant wires looped back and forth in the night sky like electrical wires, buzzing with glowing blue electricity. Mat didn't know if electrical wires were supposed to glow blue in this world, but he was in no way to judge. As Mat's vision cleared, he traced the wires back to where they came, seeing tall buildings made up of metals and steel and all things alloy all around.

He was inside a city.

"Welcome to Garafeit." Kun said, swinging an arm around Mat. "And good morning. Hope you slept well."