Jin was walking slowly through the streets of Natlan at night.
His hands were tucked into his pockets, his steps steady—neither hurried nor hesitant… as if he moved outside the rhythm of this world, not within it.
That morning, he had felt something.
A strange presence… an energy that passed by him for a fleeting moment, then vanished as though it had never existed.
He didn't chase it.
He wasn't the type to run after mysteries… nor someone who sought out fights without reason.
He let it pass.
As he always did.
---
Natlan was alive that night.
Hanging lanterns swayed gently in the warm air, casting golden light that flowed over the stone streets. Thin trails of smoke rose from food stalls, carrying the scent of grilled meat and sharp spices. Vendors' voices blended with children's laughter, and the hum of life streamed through the alleys like an unending river.
Jin's eyes paused for a moment.
This scene…
felt strangely familiar.
It reminded him of festivals he had once seen—fireworks, stalls, noise, life.
A world… he no longer belonged to.
He closed his eyes for a second.
Then opened them.
The feeling was gone.
Not far away, the sounds of battle echoed from the arena. Names were being shouted among the crowd—
Kachina… Mualani…
Some said the fight was over. Others said Kachina had won.
Jin didn't stop.
Didn't look.
He kept walking as if it had nothing to do with him.---
Moments later, he stopped in front of a stall.
Hanging cuts of meat swayed slightly, rich in color, their texture suggesting quality. His gaze settled on a specific piece.
He raised his hand slowly.
The bracelet on his wrist opened silently, emitting a faint glow before a gold ingot formed in his palm.
He studied it for a brief moment.
Then stepped forward.
He stood before the vendor.
A heavyset man, his mustache carefully curled, a large cleaver resting firmly in his hand. Despite that, the place was remarkably clean… as if violence had been deliberately kept out of this scene.
Jin pointed at the piece of meat.
"How much is this?"
The vendor gave him a quick look and replied:
"One hundred Mora."
Silence.
"Mora"… a meaningless word.
Jin placed the gold ingot in front of him without hesitation.
"I don't know your currency… but will this be enough?"
The vendor took it.
turned it in his hands, weighed it, lightly scratched its surface with the cleaver—then stopped.
His eyes widened slightly.
He looked back at Jin.
"Clearly, you're not from Natlan."
He paused, then added:
"Take the meat… and I'll give you the change."
But Jin had already extended his hand.
He took the piece, wrapped it, and placed it in a simple bag.
The smell… was heavy.
Unpleasant.
But it didn't matter to him.
"Keep the rest."
He said it calmly, without looking.
Then turned and walked away
The vendor stared at him for a few seconds, stunned.
As for Jin, he merged once again into the flow of the street.
Some eyes followed him—admiration, curiosity, astonishment.
He didn't notice.
Or perhaps…
he chose not to
As he walked, his eyes caught a fleeting scene—
A woman laughing.
A small child running around her.
A hand holding another hand.
Warmth.
He stopped.
Just for a second.
Something… stirred within him.
A memory tried to surface.
A faint pressure in his chest.
An unexplainable tightness.
He closed his eyes.
Slowly.
Then…
suppressed it.
"Not now."
He whispered it internally.And when he opened his eyes, nothing remained.
He gradually moved away from the noise of the city.
The sounds faded. The lights dimmed. The air grew colder.
Until he reached a quiet place, isolated from the chaos.
He sat down.
Gathered some wood, lit a small fire. He shaped simple skewers and fixed the meat over them.
The fire began to whisper.
Drops of fat fell, flaring briefly before vanishing. The scent this time… was different.
Warmer. More tolerable.
Then
A sound.
A roar.
Distant at first… then rapidly approaching.
He didn't move.
Didn't turn.
But he knew.
That presence…
was familiar.
But the sound—
was new.
A red motorcycle appeared, tearing through the silence like a blazing spark. Black lines stretched across its metallic body, and the engine's roar carried a power that didn't belong to this place.
It stopped near him.
The noise settled.
Jin raised his gaze slightly.
"Mavika… what do you want?"
She removed her helmet.
It dissolved into particles of light and vanished into the air.
She stepped down lightly, her movements confident, her eyes gleaming like living fire. Her orange hair swayed with the breeze, and the patterns on her outfit flickered as if they held a small sun within them.
She sat on a nearby rock.
Watched him.
Then smiled.
"What's with that face?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"You didn't even look at my ride… don't you like it?"
He finally lifted his eyes.
Looked at the motorcycle.
A quick evaluation.
Cold.
Then said:
"Just a motorcycle."
Her smile froze for a moment.
"Just…?"
She let out a light laugh, but the surprise was obvious.
"You call Raidrí that like it's something ordinary?--
He looked at her.
With his usual calm.
"In my world… this is normal."
A brief pause.
"There are many of them.
Then he added:
"And cars too."
She went still.
For a moment.
Just a moment.
But it was enough.
Curiosity ignited in her eyes
This world he came from…
was not simple.
Not primitive.
But…
something else entirely.
She looked at him again.
This time…
he didn't just see a stranger.
But a gateway.