While crossing the street, engrossed in his phone, Neo was struck by a car.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar forest.
Towering trees stretched endlessly, their leaves rustling overhead. The sharp scent of earth and grass filled the air, and Neo lay sprawled on his back, staring upward.
He tried to close his eyes, but sunlight filtered through the canopy, forcing them open.
"Where in the world is this…?" he muttered.
Strange bird calls echoed around him—or perhaps they weren't birds, but some eerie, unknown creatures.
Standing, Neo checked himself over. No injuries. His clothes were intact, not a single tear. He'd been hit by a car, so why was he here? Where was here? Heaven? Hell? Or something else entirely?
"No way this is one of those isekai things, right?"
A wry laugh escaped him.
"Come on, this isn't an anime."
Neo scanned his surroundings. First, he needed to escape this forest. Spotting a narrow path resembling a game trail, he started walking.
"This forest is stunning," he said to himself.
The vibrant green halted him in his tracks. Sunlight streamed through the leaves, weaving a delicate veil that scattered glimmers across the ground. The moss underfoot was soft, releasing a damp, earthy aroma with each step. The distant murmur of a river blended into the silence, as if the forest itself were alive, breathing.
As Neo stood captivated, a faint rustle came from the bushes behind him.
Turning, he saw an elf step gracefully from the shadows, her pointed ears and translucent skin unmistakable.
She appeared about seventeen, with golden blonde hair catching the sunlight. Her large, emerald eyes sparkled like a forest lake, and her delicate features held an innocent charm. A green tunic hugged her slender frame, and the bow in her hand made her look like a figure from a storybook.
"Who are you?" she asked.
Her voice was light, almost musical, and Neo understood her perfectly, despite the unfamiliar language. His mind somehow translated it effortlessly.
"Name's Neo. Just call me Neo."
"Neo… Where do you come from?"
"Japan."
"Ja… pan?"
She tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her green eyes.
"I've never heard of it. Are you… perhaps a reincarnator?"
"Reincarnated…"
Neo nodded vaguely.
"Now that you mention it, maybe."
"How did you end up in this forest?"
Her grip on the bow remained firm. Neo hesitated, the memory of the crash flooding back.
"Got hit by a car," he said.
Saying it brought the moment back vividly. It had been so sudden, there was no time to feel fear.
"A car? What's that?"
"Uh, a car's like… a carriage, but without horses. Runs on mechanical power. Really fast."
Neo gestured as he explained, and her eyes lit up with interest.
"Mechanical power?" she repeated carefully, as if testing the words. The concept of machines seemed somewhat familiar to her.
"Like a golem, you mean? I've seen humans and dwarves craft those. So, this 'car'—is it powered by magic?"
"Golem? No, cars aren't magic. They're made of iron and other materials, driven by something called an engine. …What's a golem like, anyway?"
"I can show you in the village. We have a book with golem illustrations. Come along, reincarnator."
"Whoa, just follow you out of nowhere? …Guess there's no other choice, though. No options. Gotta start by gathering info in a town or something."
She moved lightly down the trail, glancing back occasionally to ensure Neo followed.
"What's your name?" Neo asked. "You look about my age—can I talk casually? Also, how are we even understanding each other right now?"
"So many questions," she said, laughing softly before answering.
"I'm Lyssia. In human years, I'm about seventeen. Feel free to speak casually. As for understanding each other, that's my translation spell. It's quite rare, so you should be grateful."
"Got it. Magic, huh…" Neo nodded reluctantly.
"Guess I really got transported to another world," he muttered. "Damn. Unless this is a dream or something."
"A dream, you say?" Lyssia glanced back with a grin.
"Sorry, but this is real. Feel that forest smell? Dreams aren't this vivid. Can't prove it, but I'm certain."
"What kind of logic is that? That's backward."
"Sometimes you need to flip your perspective."
Before Neo realized, the village came into view, smoke curling from chimneys.
"Are there many reincarnators like me in this world?" he asked.
"Hardly any," Lyssia replied instantly. "You're the first I've met. Legends mention them appearing now and then, but… you're rare."
"What's this world like?"
"Like what?"
"Like, how advanced is the technology?"
"Technology?" Lyssia paused, thinking.
"This world relies heavily on magic, so technology's tied to it. There are things like golems, blending magic with simple mechanics, but… nothing like your 'car.' The village has blacksmiths and workshops, but they mostly craft swords, farm tools, or magical artifacts. Human cities might be more advanced."
"So magic's like this world's electricity, powering everything," Neo said.
"Elek… what?"
"Oh, sorry, never mind. Point is, I'll figure it out in a city. We're heading to a human city, right?"
"A human city?"
Lyssia shook her head.
"No, this is an elf village. But a human trade route's nearby, so you can reach a city from there. Merchants with magical goods pass through, so it's a good spot for information."
At the village entrance, stone-paved paths wound between houses nestled among trees. Vines climbed their roofs, and warm light spilled from windows.
"How many people can use magic?" Neo asked. "Is it something anyone can do? Could I?"
Lyssia considered. "Most elves can—innate, like me. But for humans, it's incredibly rare. Maybe one in a hundred thousand. As a reincarnator, you'd need to test it. I'm curious myself."
Along the path, elven children played with floating orbs of light, showing how magic wove into daily life.
"Hey,"
Neo said,
"Can you check if I can use magic?"