Nei slowly opened his eyes.
A soft breeze rustled the grass, and a strange blue light filtered through the leaves above. He blinked, confused. The last thing he remembered was being dragged by the flood—now, he was lying on soft moss in a place that felt otherworldly. Ethereal vines hung from trees that towered into the clouds, and the sky above shimmered with hues of gold and violet. It looked... divine. As if the heavens themselves had bent down to touch the land.
Beside him sat the creature he had tried to save—a small fox-like beast with pale fur and piercing, intelligent eyes. It didn't run. It simply watched him, as if it had been waiting.
Suddenly, the earth beneath him trembled.
A deep, thudding noise echoed through the forest. Birds scattered. The fox leapt to its feet, ears up, growling low. Nei turned and saw it—a massive, terrifying figure emerging from between the trees. A towering beast, like a mammoth made of stone and storm clouds, with glowing symbols carved into its hide. Spiritual energy radiated from it like waves in the air.
Nei froze.
But the fox didn't. It tugged at his clothes with its teeth, guiding him toward a giant tree. Without thinking, Nei scooped the creature into his arms and climbed. His body ached, but he didn't stop.
From the branches, he watched as the mythical beast approached... and then paused. It turned its massive head toward Nei. For a moment, they locked eyes—human and beast—and then, strangely, it turned away, disappearing into the jungle mist without a sound.
Nei held the fox tightly, still breathing heavily. "What is this place..." he whispered.
After a while, he climbed down. He needed water. Food. Answers.
He wandered through the forest until he heard the sound of rushing water. A river.
When he reached it, he was awestruck once again. Mythical beasts—creatures of legend—gathered by the riverbank. Graceful deer with antlers made of crystal. A lion with wings. Even small phoenix chicks played by the water's edge under their mother's watchful gaze. It was as if he had stumbled into a forgotten realm of divine life.
Careful not to disturb them, Nei slipped to a quieter part of the river. He cupped his hands and drank.
But the moment the water touched his throat, his vision blurred.
He dropped to the ground, gasping. His body began to glow faintly. Something was happening.
Dark, inky liquid oozed from his skin. His muscles tightened. His bones ached, reshaped by some invisible force. He felt his wounds close, his energy surge. Spiritual power flowed into him—but it was chaotic, almost painful.
Then everything went black.
---
When Nei woke again, he was inside a cave, bathed in the soft glow of light filtering through crystal walls. A warmth surrounded him. He looked down.
The fox was curled beside him, sleeping, its small body pressed against his side.
He wasn't sure what had just happened... but something inside him had changed.
His journey had truly begun.