Lucian tried twisting his body midair, desperation flowing in his mind. He used **Float**, the fragile thread of magic that could slow his fall. The world seemed to slow, branches grazing his skin as he fell, the ground rushing closer.
The impact hit like a hammer, with a loud "THUNK" but the magic softened the blow, bones aching but not shattering.
He layer there, gasping, magic completely drained—nothing left in his body, but pain and ragged breaths.
"Damn it..." he cursed, voice weak. "That's... all I got."
He forced himself up, he looked around the forest which seemed to be endless
Lucian wiped blood from his mouth, his eyes fierce despite exhaustion.
"Fuck yeah! I did it." He said fist bumping the air raggedly from tiredness
A sharp sting in Lucian's chest twisted suddenly into a burning wave of pain that spread through his body. His began to blur fade as the backlash of over using his magic slammed into him like a truck.
"Shit…," he gasped stumbling, trying to keep himself upright.
But his legs gave out beneath him. The world tilted, and felt like it was spinning uncontrollably. Before he could hold on any longer, darkness swallowed him whole.
Lucian collapsed onto the forest floor, unconscious.
Hours passed.
Lucian's eyes fluttered open to the soft crackle of a campfire and the pale glow of moonlight glowing through the trees. His head throbbed, every breath feeling heavy.
He turned slowly and saw her—sitting almost gracefully by the fire on a log , calm and alert. Her silver hair was short and messy, that framed her face. Two wolf-like ears twitched on top of her head, which blended seamlessly with her lean, athletic frame. Her light blue eyes watched him intently
She had A long sheaved sword that looked like a nagakiba, resting across her lap.
Lucian croaked, voice barely more than a rasp. "Who... are you?"
She lifted a brow, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "You're lucky I found you before the forest did. Could've been worse."
Her presence was both fierce but calm, Lucian couldn't tell if she was friend or danger.
The woman didn't say a word. She stood up smoothly, walking over to a pot over the campfire, she carried a wooden bowl steaming with a thick stew.
Without expression, she held it out to Lucian.
"Eat," she said flatly, handing the bowl toward him.
Lucian stared at her, then at the bowl. His hunger won over his hesitation. He took it with shaky hands and brought it to his lips.
The warmth and flavor hit him as he gulped it down like a starving animal.
She watched silently, her blue eyes steady and unreadable as the fire crackled in the air.
The fire sparked and crackled between them as Lucian finished the last of the stew. The woman's gaze locked onto the campfire then to Lucian. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice low and steady.
"So, now that you're up… what's your name?"
Lucian wiped his mouth, He hesitated before finally speaking.
"Lucian," he finally said, voice rough but clear.
She nodded.
"Lucian huh," she repeated softly, almost to herself. "Not a bad name."
The silence was loud, only the crackling fire and distant sounds of the forest could be heard adding to the awkward tension.
"So Where are you from, Lucian?" she asked curiously
He swallowed hard, then spoke. "Far away. Doesn't matter now."
Lucian's eyes met hers across the campfire's glow.
"And yours?" he asked quietly.
She glanced at him, her expression unreadable for a moment before she answered, voice calm.
"Fenrine."
The name hung in the air like secret, odd and mysterious—just like her.
Lucian's brow furrowed, confusion tightening his voice. "Uhhhh… so how did you find me?"
Fenrine's gaze didn't waver as she replied, her tone flat but steady. "Heard a loud crumbling coming from the mountain when I was out here. Figured something was wrong. When I got here, you were passed out on the forest floor."
She shifted slightly
"Lucky for you, I'm not one to ignore a loud disturbance."
Lucian's voice was shaky with confusion, searching as he asked, "So… where exactly am I?"
Fenrine's eyes glanced toward the dark trees surrounding them. "You're outside Lalucia, in the wilds."
He blinked, the name unfamiliar and heavy on his tongue. "Lalucia?"
fenrine eyes narrowed on to him. "So… why were you in the mountain? I noticed a huge hole at the top when I found you."
"No idea" Lucien says blankly
her gaze drifted upward, She muttered under her breath, almost to herself, "really?…Maybe the Veil did something weird again."
"The… what?" Lucian asked, his curiosity piqued.
Fenrine's eyes snapped back to him, sharp and unreadable. "Forget it. It's Not really important."
But the way her fingers tightened around the nagakiba told a different story, Fenrine only gave a small shrug and leaned back, eyes scanning the dark treeline.
"Rest while you can," she said finally.
Lucian let out a tired breath, the weight of the night pressing down on him. "Right, right… okay, I'll sleep."
As his eyes grew heavy, his mind raced in quiet confusion .
"What the hell is going on? So I'm really not on Earth. There's a wolf human hybrid sitting across from me. What am I, in some anime?"
He shook his head slightly, trying to push the thoughts away.
"Forget it, Lucian. This is reality now." He said to himself
he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep, the campfire's glow providing some comfort.
The first light of dawn shined through the trees. Lucian's eyes fluttered open, the ache in his head duller but still there.
He sat up slowly, the wooden bowl now empty beside him. The fire from last night had burned low to glowing embers in the pit.
Fenrine was already awake, sitting nearby with her nagakiba resting against a tree.
Lucian rubbed his head, the weight of yesterday's confusion pressing on him.
"Morning," she said finally, voice calm and steady.
He forced a weak smile. "Morning."
The morning air was cool, carrying the gentle noise of flowing water through the thick trees in a nearby river. Fenrine's sharp eyes jolted the toward the sound and then back to Lucian.
"There's a river nearby. You should bathe."
Lucian glanced down at himself, dirt and grime caked his skin, sweat and dirt clinging like a second layer to him. He'd been trapped in that dark cave without a single chance to clean up.
He swallowed, finally taking the hint. "Yeah… you're right."
Without a word, Fenrine reached into her satchel and pulled out a heavy cloak. The fabric old and worn, the dark color faded in places but still sturdy enough to keep out the chill in the air.
"I don't have any spare clothes," she said flatly, tossing the cloak toward him. "This'll have to do."
Lucian caught the cloak, feeling its weight in his hands. He looked down he was wearing nothing but his pants, stained with dirt.
Fenrine's gaze met his, she glared at him. "….Don't make it weird."
A small dry laugh came out him as he threw the cloak over his shoulders. The fabric smelled faintly of perfume and dirt.
"Thanks," he muttered, still feeling exposed but grateful for the small shield the cloak offered.
Fenrine turned toward the distant sound of the river. Lucian followed, the cloak hanging heavy on him .
The forest felt like it was growing as they moved, sunlight filtering through trees leaf in making patches of shadows along the floor. The sound of river grew louder.
Lucian's steps were slow, muscles stiff from the yesterday's exhaustion.
Fenrine walked ahead without looking back, her ears twitching at every subtle noise—the snap of a twig, the rustle of leaves.
When they reached the riverbank, the water shined under the morning sun, clear and cold. Fenrine crouched by the edge, dipping her fingers into the flowing river
"Go ahead," she said, voice somewhat softer now. "Wash off the dirt. You'll feel a lot better."
Fenrine moved away, giving Lucian some privacy. Without a word, she disappeared silently into the trees, leaving him alone by the riverbank.
Left alone by the riverbank, he knelt beside the clear water in the river and stared down at his reflection.
His hair caught his attention first — it was long, messy, and uneven, almost like an overgrown wolf cut, wild around the edges and framing his face with strands of hair. It was nothing like the short, neat style he remembered before appearing in the world.
But it was his eyes that truly shocked him was his warm brown irises now stared back ,almost a glowing purple.
"What the fuck?" he muttered, voice barely louder than the river.
The reflection shimmered with the current, but his strange eyes made him feel like an alien, making him wonder just how much this world had changed him.
Lucian undressed and got into the river, splashing water over his face and arms. The cold water was somewhat comforting. Slowly, he washed away the layers of dirt and grime that clung stubbornly to his body and hair, the water around him turning murky.
His muscles, stiff and aching from exhaustion, he began to loosen as the coldness woke his body up washing away more than just his body's filth.
He leaned back slightly in the water, the cool breeze brushing over damp skin and hair. The forest around him was alive with quiet sounds, the rustle of leaves from the trees, distant birds chirping.
Lucian closed his eyes and tried to relax a bit, knowing it wouldn't last long, but grateful for the brief peace it gave him.
Lucian stood slowly, water dripping from his body and hair. Walking over to the river bank where he left his clothes, He pulled his pants back up, the fabric clinging damp and rough against his legs.
He wrapped Fenrine's heavy cloak around his shoulders again, the weight settling over him like a big shield—rough and worn.
As he turned and looked walked toward the trees, Fenrine came out quietly from the shadows. She didn't speak, just waited.
Lucian met her gaze, "Ready?" she asked, voice low.
He nodded, swallowing the last of his hesitation. "Yeah. Let's go."
Together, they walked into the forest, the river's noise fading behind them as the unknown forest stretched out far ahead.
Lucian tried brake the silence as they walked, his tone filled with curiosity. "Uhh, so… where are we heading? I'm kind of just following you like a dog here."
Fenrine glanced over her shoulder, her eyes locking onto his with something unreadable. "My estate."
"Your estate?" Lucian repeated, his eyebrow raised.
She kept walking, her voice firm. "Well, my family's estate."
Lucian's mind raced, piecing together the new information. "What is she, some kind of noble?" The idea felt strange, almost out of place in this unfamiliar world, the answers would have to wait. For now, he just had to follow.
The endless forest finally stemmed to end. They made it to a a wide dirt road, worn and smooth. Along it, sturdy wooden carriages rolled by, their wheels kicking up dust. The clatter of hooves echoed softly behind them.
In the distance, the kingdom of Lalucia rose like a huge fortress against the sky. Massive stone walls, weathered but strong, encircled the city lined by fluttering banners bearing intricate crests.
The distant sound of bells made the place feel almost ancient, alive, and full of secrets.
Fenrine slowed as they reached the road, her gaze sharpened "This is the way into Lalucia," she said quietly. "My family's estate is in the noble district."
They stepped onto the dusty road, the weight of the kingdom looming ahead with every step they took. The steady rhythm of hooves and the distant murmur of voices grew louder, weaving into the hum of life that came spilling from Lalucia's gates.
Fenrine kept her pace steady, her eyes scanning the edges of the road. Lucian fell into step beside her, the cloak wrapped tightly around him.
As they got closer, the towering stone walls of Lalucia became more imposing, Guards in silver armor patrolled the area, their faces stern and alert.
The city's gates were wide, revealing a beautiful bustling city beyond, Many merchants calling out their items, townsfolk going through crowded streets, and banners plastered high above narrow alleys. The scent of baked bread, fresh herbs, and distant smoke filled the air,
Fenrine glanced over at him. "Stay close. We're not in the clear yet."
Lucian nodded, steeling himself as they stepped forward toward the gates
They reached the towering gates of Lalucia, massive iron-bound doors set into thick stone walls. As they approached, two guards stepped forward, their polished silver armor shining from the sun light .
"Halt," one called out, voice firm but not unkind. "State your business."
Fenrine lifted her chin, her tone steady and commanding. "I am Fenrine Valcairn, of House Valcairn."
"And what about the young man?" They ask firmly
"He's my friend and guest" she said looking them in the eye sternly
The guards exchanged quick, respectful glances at the name. House Valcairn was one of the most influential noble families in Lalucia—known for their wealth, power, and deep roots in the kingdom's history.
The second guard nodded slightly. "House Valcairn. Very well. You may enter."
With a heavy rumble, the gates began to part, revealing the vibrant city within. Fenrine glanced at Lucian, this was only the beginning.