The forest seemed quieter after the battle, but Rihan's heart was still thundering in his chest. His hands trembled faintly, tiny sparks of fire flickering between his fingers before fading into the night.
He stared at them, unable to breathe properly.
What just happened to me?
He had been a weakling all his life, never once standing up in a fight, and yet… fire had answered his call. It hadn't felt like casting a spell from a game—it had felt raw, instinctive, as if something deep inside him had awakened.
Elira's sharp voice broke his thoughts. "Keep moving."
She walked ahead gracefully, bow at the ready, her green cloak trailing lightly behind her. Even after the fight, she moved as though nothing had happened, as though fighting monsters was as normal as breathing.
Rihan followed, stumbling through the roots and mud. "H-hey… about what just happened back there—"
Elira didn't look back. "We'll speak when we're safe. Wolves rarely travel alone. The scent of blood will draw others."
Rihan's stomach dropped. He shut his mouth and kept moving.
---
Hours passed in tense silence. The forest opened slightly, and faint torchlight flickered ahead.
Rihan blinked in relief. "Is that…?"
"Yes," Elira said, her tone softening slightly. "The Sylvaris Outpost. A small settlement of my people."
As they stepped closer, Rihan's breath caught.
Tall wooden walls stood around a cluster of houses built from pale timber, their rooftops curved elegantly like leaves. Lanterns glowed with gentle mana light, casting the village in a calm radiance. Guards with long spears stood at the gate, their pointed ears sharp, their eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
"Elves…" Rihan whispered under his breath. He had seen them only in stories, in games and anime. But here they were—real, living, breathing. Their graceful movements, their watchful gazes, their silent communication—it was surreal.
The guards immediately raised their spears when they saw Rihan. "Princess Elira, you've returned!" one exclaimed, then narrowed his eyes at Rihan. "But… who is this human? He reeks of foreign mana."
Rihan froze, feeling their suspicion like daggers.
Elira stepped forward calmly. "Stand down. He is under my protection."
The guards exchanged uneasy looks. One of them bowed slightly. "…As you command, Princess."
Elira led Rihan inside. He followed closely, aware of the wary stares he was drawing from the elves they passed. Mothers pulled their children aside. Hunters whispered in low voices. To them, he was a stranger, an intruder.
Rihan lowered his gaze. Just like back home… out of place everywhere.
Elira finally stopped at a small wooden lodge near the center of the outpost. She gestured inside. "You may rest here for now. But answer me honestly."
She turned, her emerald eyes sharp and unwavering. "What are you, Rihan?"
The question struck deep. Rihan hesitated. He could lie. He could say he was just a lost human. But…
The glowing screen appeared again before his eyes, as if mocking him.
[Title: Outlander.]
He clenched his fists. "…I don't know. I was… in another world. And then I woke up here."
Elira's expression didn't change, but her eyes flickered with something—curiosity, maybe even fear. "Another world…" she repeated softly. "So the prophecy was true."
Rihan blinked. "Prophecy?"
Elira stepped closer. "Long ago, our seers spoke of a 'Wanderer'—a soul from beyond our stars, marked by powers forgotten even by the gods. They said such a being would appear when the Abyss stirred again."
Her gaze locked on him, searching his face. "You are that Wanderer, aren't you?"
Rihan's throat tightened. Me? A prophesied hero? That's ridiculous… I'm nothing.
"I… I don't think I am," he whispered.
Elira studied him for a long moment, then finally looked away. "Perhaps not yet. But fate rarely asks what we think."
---
Later that night, Rihan lay on the wooden bed of the lodge. The System hovered above him, glowing faintly in the dark.
[Quest Complete: Reach Sylvaris Outpost.]
[Reward: +1 Level.]
He sat up as his stats flickered.
> Level Up!
HP: 120/120
MP: 60/60
Strength: 6
Agility: 5
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 9
Rihan exhaled slowly. He really was growing stronger… but was this really him, or just the "System" controlling his life?
Before he could think more, a knock came at the door.
Elira entered, carrying a lantern. "You should know," she said quietly, "that the world outside this outpost is not forgiving. Human kingdoms are corrupt, demons rise from the Abyss, and even the gods themselves meddle in mortal affairs."
Rihan's skin prickled. "Gods…?"
Elira nodded. "And if what you saw in the temple is true… one of the Abyssal Lords is stirring. That means this world is on the edge of war."
Her gaze pierced him again. "You came here for a reason, Rihan. Whether you accept it or not, you cannot turn back."
Rihan gripped the sheets tightly. He wanted to scream that she was wrong, that he didn't belong here. But deep inside, he knew—there was no going home.
The System pulsed, sealing his fate.
[New Quest: Choose Your Path.]
[Options:
1. Train under Elira and learn to fight.
2. Refuse and attempt survival alone.]
Rihan's chest tightened. Alone? In this world? He shuddered. No… he couldn't.
He looked up at Elira, who stood tall and unwavering, her silhouette glowing under the lantern light.
"…Please," he whispered. "Teach me."
For the first time, Elira smiled faintly. "Then at dawn, we begin."
Outside, the forest howled with distant monsters, and the moon shone pale and cold.
And so, Rihan's true journey began—not as a lost boy, but as a wanderer chosen by fate.