The warmth feeling of the sunlight strikes my skin.

The sound of the leaves in the trees that is being harassed by the air reached my ears.

Finally, I slowly opened my eyes and witnessed a beautiful forest before me. The forest was all green and I was under this huge tree.

“Wait. Why am I outside?” I muttered while scanning the whole scenery.

If my memory is not betraying me, I remember that I sleep beside the bed in the floor so why the heck am I here in some suspicious forest?

[Is this a dream? No dreams are vague. This is so realistic.]

[Did Kasumi secretly throw me out of my house?

Of course not! Why would she?]

As thoughts began conquering my mind, my eyes scanned my whole body, I immediately noticed the clothes that I'm wearing is the same clothes that I wear. A gray jacket embroidered with white and a black shirt inside, brown pants and the black casual shoes.

But there is only one thing different here. [These clothes were not too huge!]

Additionally, both of my hand and feet barely made it out, [ No, the clothes didn’t shrink… Or is it my body that became smaller?]

There is also some red string that is been obstructing my sight. I tried to remove it with my hand but yet it really surprises when I notice that it is part of my hair.

I look around and spotted a puddle of water nearby, so I tried to look in my reflection in there.

I’m right my hair color became red; my eyes are now cyan colored; not to mention I look lot younger in 18 or 17 or maybe even 16 years old.

[Things are getting scarier here. I’m at place I don’t even recognize and ridiculously I got mutated for some reason.]

But I know in my mind that I'm still that good-for-nothing 25 years old man, despite my body being different from what I recalled.

I save my thoughts for later when I heard the bush near me move.

Immediately or almost instantly, my body move on its own and quickly hide in the nearby tree, opposite direction from where the bush is.

[What the? For a moment there, it was like I knew exactly what to do I didn’t even think about it.]

To know that this small body is a lot more agile than my original, it gave me another round of chills.

After I automatically hide in the nearby tree, I silently watch the bush from there.

Not a minute pass a porcupine-like creature pops up but it’s not really the same of the normal porcupine. It has bright red eyes as well as quills that is clearly showing a warning to its venom—or just my imagination. It also has a very foul smell that can be smelled even in a couple of meters away.

[Again! It feels like I knew exactly that its quills contain venoms. How?!] I hold my head with both of my hands when I realized I felt that bizarre feeling again.

The porcupine paused for a moment after coming out of the bush. It’s like sniffing for something, and then suddenly it goes straight to the tree where I was hiding followed by a howl or maybe a strong sound that is coming from a bird caught its attention.

The porcupine instantly panicked upon hearing the loud noise. It is like trembling in fear—no it is actually trembling in fear.

I turned my gaze to where the loud noise is coming and there appeared a ferocious huge winged tiger. But not unlike the normal owl it has violet lines emitting from all around its body just like the porcupine.

The winged tiger I’m saying is not actually a tiger with wings it looks like a huge violet Great Horned Owl. Its violet colors are shining. And again, it gave me another surprise, just to see a nocturnal animal hunts the forest even in broad daylight.

Just before the porcupine made its glorious escape the claws of its predator have already impaled to its armor-less head.

Cold sweat run down on my face, I’ve never seen the owl fly and yet it appears before the porcupine in no time.

The porcupine’s body move as if the soul is refusing to leave its body but the owl tighten its grip that made the crimson liquid flows out from the porcupine’s eyes. After ten or more seconds the movements of the porcupine that is fighting for its life halted.

Just by watching a wild predator killed its prey sends out a cold that runs down in my spine.

The owl looks up at the sky and then its red eyes began shining green. Afterwards the body of the owl did the same too, it produces a greenish light.

The owl opened its wings and in just a blink of an eye the owl made a great distance from where it was before carrying the lifeless porcupine on its claws.

[What is that? Is that some kind of a magic? Or sorcery? Super powers?]

[No wait, wait, I somehow know that, that was a body enhancing magic]

Mixture of fear, surprise, and excitement are all in my body right now. Are those animals really using magic? I'm not even sure if the word animal is the right thing to call them. I've been seeing strange things since I woke up in my sleep, surprise after surprise but this thought really bothers me—

[I haven't seen a single human here.]

It's been a while since the owl has left but to be sure I checked my surroundings countless times before slowly and quietly cut my way out. I folded the ends of the jacket for my hands to stick out and did the same thing on the pants too so that I can move easily. I figured out that thinking too much about that strange feeling when I know exactly those bizarre things around me is pointless, I decided to ignore it for now and use it to find my way out of this forest.

I just walk and walk and sometimes run but—

“This forest is ridiculously huge!” I shouted hoping someone will hear but in the end nothing responded.

[I don't even know the way out or if there's a way out, but as they say how will know if you don't try?]

After wandering for almost an hour I reached the point of the forest where the grass path is obstructed. The land without a single grass on it is clearly telling that it is a road.

I look left and right, wait, and wait again for almost 15 minutes but no single vehicles or humans showed up. After a while, I decided to follow the path or rather the road. The wind is blowing to where I'm heading and the leaves in the trees dance as response.

Not too long has passed before I've spotted some familiar view.

“Is that...a Stronghold? Fortress, Or perhaps a Castle?” I silently muttered to myself.

A huge wall towering 12 meters or higher stands out in the middle of horizon like a sore thumb. I call tell that it is well-made just by looking at it. Its structure mainly consists of huge white bricks and it features a walkway along on its top but I also notice the absence of the guard who’s supposedly on it, it also has a stone skirt on its base. It is possible that time had made it look old. It has a gate that is also can be considered as huge and at the foot of the wall there was a small post and a flag with odd designs beside. The whole area can be easily called a middle-age castle or at least a European type fortification.

I slowly decrease my distance from the huge wall.

At last I've found what I've been looking for, there are two people in a green army-like attire. They are both standing near the post, the one is equipped with sword on his—no her waist while the one standing near her has a spear on his back. Those two maybe the standing guard there and if they are, they're doing their jobs well because they've spotted me even before I completely slip through the gate.

“Hey! Kid! Stop right there!”

The brusque voice of the male guard nearly startled me. The wall mimics his manly voice, he walks from the guard post towards to the direction where I was standing doing my best not to produce any unwanted tremble. I look straight to his eyes with my serious face. I think he was at least around at my original age and the female guard too or maybe they are both in early and mid-twenties.

“Never seen you around here before. You're new here?”

“Uh...Yes” I replied hesitantly.

It was until this moment when I realize that despite my drastic appearance change my voice doesn't abandon me. It is the same voice that I have but I can also feel that my usual low-pitched voice became younger too, some what I feel a little relieve. The lady guard who's doing her best to catch up to her partner finally arrive at the scene.

“'re you an adventurer?” the voice of the female guard is the one that I expected to be the voice of a female.

Did I just mishear her? Or did she really say—

“...Adventurer?”

Upon hearing the low-pitched voice, the two of them gave me a surprise expression before looking at each other with their eyes both shot opened. The male guard shook his head before he glances at me again and continue with.

“I see. So, you're a beginner! Can you tell me where were you came from? And why are you in that cursed forest?”

“Hey kid! If you’re just a novice you should know you that it is very dangerous to wander in a forest full of monsters”

The male guard barrage me with his question followed by the lectures of the female guard. First, I responded the question of the male guard.

“Uh. Yes, perhaps I'm a beginner...I came from a place far far away from here... And as for the reason why I was in that forest...well I don't know too. Well, all I remembered is that I wake up minutes ago in there.”

So, the forest where I woke up is known to them as cursed forest and the owl as well as the porcupine was really a monster.

[Is this some kind of a video game? Or did I...]

Because of the serious change of events and countless strange things being fed up on my head all at the same time, my brain started to neglect the thought that I am still on the place I call Earth. I hung my head while the female guard beside me continue to lecture me. Then when I've gathered enough will, I look at both of them and try to reverse the situation.

“Uhm. Is it okay if I ask a question?”

“Sure”

“Of course, ya' can”

They both agreed to my question with curious face.

“How can I become an Adventurer?”

“Oh!” they both said in unison.

“...”

“Listen kid, enter this gate then head northwest you don't have to worry about getting lost just follow the road and if you see the huge building with amazing linings outside then that is it, the adventurers guild.”

“Yes. He's right the clerks there will explain you the further information. By the way, I'm sorry for late introductions my name is Christina and this old man here is Ichiro we're both part of the Imperial Army and we're stationed here in Aldebaran.”

[Good. For now, I forced them into thinking that I am some kind of a beginner.]

The male guard instructed me the way to the Guild of Adventurers while his arm raised and finger pointing beyond the huge gate. Female guard support his guide and then introduce me with the man beside her. Her hands move in strange way while speaking, I choose not to be bother by it.

So, this huge fortress name is Aldebaran, the female guard is Christina and the male guard is Ichiro. It makes sense now why they are dressed that way but its 20th century now! It is not possible that Imperial Army still exist, I mean there are already policemen and normal army so why are they still carrying such vintage weapons.

[Maybe what I keep thinking since earlier is true. Or else the timeline is entirely different.]

“Who exactly are you calling old man?!” Ichiro madly said to the woman.

“Hahaha. I'm just sayin' the truth.”

After the bottomless thoughts in my mind I decided to ignore them for now and reply to them normally. The two guards that is arguing in front of me stopped and dumbfounded when I cast my name.

“Ryuji...”

A moment of silence pass, after a while Christina gave me a suspicious look with her left hand resting on her chin.

“Hey Ichiro, is it possible that this kid is the missing summoned hero?”

“What? I know that time to time useless words comes out of your mouth but. Can you stop your delusions already?! How can a boy so young become a hero—no OUR hero?!”

[Huh?!]

“Open your eyes Dumbchiro! He wears uncommon attire and he doesn't know most of the things here!”

“...How can you be so sure? There are total of seven huge strongholds in the human realm it is possible some of them developed different styles in clothing. And did you personally meet a hero to know that every one of them doesn’t know a thing when they are summoned here?! Of course, you didn't so please just shut your mouth up”

As they continue their argument, I only stood there silently watching them from a distance. It is not that I'm enjoying the fuss but I have a feeling that if I interfere to them nothing good will happen. But eventually, I tried to at least get their attention by speaking in my usual low-pitched voice.

“Hero...”

“Oh. Please don't pay attention to this girl kid, she may just be having a hangover from last night. Here, I’ll open the barricade so you can pass.”

Ichiro was the one who noticed that I was still there so he apologizes before opening the roadblock that is placed near the huge gate. He clearly said that I can pass so I do as he say. Even though I made a quite distance from the two guards I still can hear them arguing, it made me lose a sigh.

The Gate tunnel was unbelievably long it made me question myself—Just how thick is this wall? —as the light in end slowly getting near, the cold breeze crush in my face. The different sounds of people chatting slowly getting louder and louder. Finally, when I made it out of the tunnel my body was filled with an utter amazement in just split seconds. Before my eyes houses that is built with the same thing of the wall—white bricks. Their roofs are placed in different styles and colors, not a single power line is presented but each house have lamps hanging in the ceiling. The road was built in some middle-age style. Countless people of all shapes and sizes rambling in the streets. In only took less than a minute before I notice something, among the crowd there are people with long pointed ears, small or even half the size of a human, animal features and many more that yet again sends another shiver to my spine. I endure it in order to resist trembling.

[So, what’s in my mind is true, I'm now experiencing that fantasy stories that I once read and adored. I am… I am now transported in a fantasy world!]

“Am I really...in a fantasy world?” these words came out of my mouth in form of whisper.

I began gazing everywhere to buildings and decorations and at every race before me, it made me realize something. No one is dressed in a 20th century style but perhaps even their clothes are middle-aged. I look at my clothes, then look at them, and look again at mine.

[This world is not as modern as earth. They are still in Middle age]

“I will attract too much attention if I wander around the town with these... Right! There must be some stall here that is selling cloaks.”

The stalls were established right at the roadsides have too many merchandises that'll surely supply everyone's needs, so I think it is possible that at least one of them is selling garments.

From left to right I scan every stall, from here a human wearing an apron is selling roasted meats to there a dwarf is forging a metal with different weapons hanging in his stall. I avoid to make an eye contact to anyone and slowly cut my way to the countless crowds and sometimes carriages. I notice a stall that exactly has what I've been looking for. The vendor is a girl that wears a body fit overall with braided brown hair she's in my age 16 or 15 years? I stop in the front of her stall; she immediately noticed my figure who's standing there. She was surprise at first but then she gave me a smile and said.

“Hi! How may I help you?”

Her lively tone reminds me of a certain someone back on earth. Someone that I will never forget no matter what.

I slowly raised my head to look at her face who's gazing at me. I replied to her with a smile and followed by— “How much for the cloak?”

Well my question is how much even though I don't have a money in me.

“Are you an adventurer? If so, may I see your rank? I can give you a discount.”

“Ah, sorry I'm not an adventurer...not yet”

“Is that so? Oh, I remember! Please wait there for a moment.”

She smashed her right fist to her left palm the moment she remembered something. I do as she instructed; I wait for her in the front of her merchandises gazing only in the door where she left. A minute or so has passed before she comes out again in the same door but this time, she is holding some kind of a folded garment.

“Here it is.” she stretched both of her hand that is holding the garment to me the sunlight revealed her white skin.

I receive the garment and hold before spreading it in my front. When it is done spreading a cloak that exactly fits my size appeared. I placed it on my back and it engulfed my body covering most of the uncommon clothes.

“You can have it for free! Well, my late big brother used to wear that.”

“Free? Are you sure?”

She nodded her head before replying “Hm! You said that you're just about to register as an adventurer, right? Consider it as my good luck charm!”

“I see. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure! What is it?”

“Is your name...Kasumi?”

[I'm just guessing that maybe she got transported too and got her appearance changed too.]

“Kasumi...Hmm, never heard of that name before. My name is Lily! And you are?”

I looked down and muttered “Of course you're not...” Not even a single day has passed but I already missed her.

Lily tilted her head in confusion upon seeing my reaction.

“Ryuji...I am Ryuji, you can call me anything you want.”

“Is that so? Well, if that’s the case I will call you Yuji...—She cast a smile and continued with— “Now then, Yuji be sure to come back here when you're an adventurer I have a quest for you!”

My eyes were shot opened when I hear her words. Words that nearly send me crying. Not only she has the same voice as Kasumi but she calls me the same way Kasumi did. But I know she's not her so I calmed myself and forced a smile then reply with

“Sure. I will...Thanks for the cloak Lily”

“Don't sweat on small things!”

I began my light stride towards northwest to where the adventurer’s guild is located with my new companion—a dark brown colored cloak with a good luck charm—