Minutes of heavy silence hung over the grass before a sudden current of consciousness jolted through his body. He opened his eyes slowly, staring into the void, and muttered in a hoarse voice:
"Damn it.. it seems that 'flying without a manual' was the worst executive decision I've made in my new life."
He tentatively felt his face, expecting to find gaping holes in his gums, but the shock made him bolt upright:
"What?! This is impossible! I remember with absolute certainty that my teeth were scattered like seeds in this field before I blacked out.. and now, here they are: complete, perfectly aligned, and pearly white!"
His eyes gleamed with a touch of delicious vanity. He stood up, dusting off his clothes with a smug flair:
"In any case, it's clear that the laws of physics don't apply to the likes of me. I am, without a doubt, the protagonist of this story! The evidence is as clear as day: I took a suicidal leap into the air and didn't die.. in fact, I grew a new set of teeth. Fate simply refuses to let me go!"
He resumed his trek across the vast fields, his mind weaving a thousand scenarios about why he was here. He soon encountered a patch of thick, tall grass, swaying like the waves of a green sea. He stepped in cautiously, whispering a self-justifying excuse:
"Of course, if you're wondering why I don't just jump over these thickets again, let's be honest: I've proven to myself that I possess rocket-propulsion power, but I simply.. don't feel like kissing another tree this morning. A stroll has its own particular charm, after all."
When he emerged from the other side, the horizon opened up like a stunning masterpiece: velvet hills, towering trees, and fields stretching until they embraced the skyline. Nearby, he saw farmers toiling in the earth. As soon as they spotted him, they stopped and began waving enthusiastically. Our hero waved back with an awkward spontaneity, while questions gnawed at his brain: "Who are these people? And who am I to them?" Faint, distant voices—like whispers on the wind—seemed to call out his name, only to vanish before he could pinpoint the source.
He continued along the dirt path until the rhythmic thud of hooves broke the silence. A magnificent carriage appeared in the distance, pulled by a massive brown horse with rippling muscles, tossing its head with pride at every step. The carriage came to a perfectly smooth halt right in front of him, and its door swung open with royal fluidity.
Then.. she stepped out.
Our hero froze in his tracks; he felt the breath being stolen from his lungs. She was a woman whose beauty defied logic—a beauty so disorienting it made him forget where he was and why he had come. She stood with a soft firmness, as if the earth itself were sanctifying the ground beneath her feet.
Her body was a masterpiece of grace and precise curves, balancing delicacy with strength. Her oval face tapered into a sharp "V" chin, giving her features an aristocratic edge that was both piercing and enchanting. And her eyes.. they were twin pools of warm amber, radiating a sharp, intelligent spark that spoke of a woman not easily defeated.
Her hair was a different story: a waterfall of pure gold cascading in silken waves down to her lower back, dancing with the breeze like threads of light. Small, shimmering clips adorned the sides of her head, adding a touch of tenderness to her regal aura.
As for her red dress, it was a modern "Qipao" that clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating her slender waist and full bust with pride. The crimson fabric was embroidered with intricate gold patterns that sparkled like embers under the sun. It featured daring side slits that revealed exceptionally long legs, smooth as if carved from polished marble. Her shimmering gold heels added to her stature, making her look like a queen who had just stepped down from her throne.
Yet, despite all this magic, her gaze was as sharp as a dagger and terrifyingly serious. Our hero realized instantly that she didn't just know him—she was on the verge of erupting in a volcano of rage. She fell silent for a moment, scrutinizing him, before her words lashed out like whips:
"Espen! Where have you been all this time?!"
Her voice was a cocktail of anxiety and sharpness. She continued, approaching him with angry strides:
"I almost lost my mind searching for you in every corner! You really are irresponsible, unstable, and you think of nothing but yourself and satisfying your foolish whims! Get in the carriage this instant and don't say a word.. I'm warning you, Espen, my patience has run out!"
Our hero stood dazed, looking at the angry blonde girl, then at the carriage, then at his old world which began to fade behind the noise of her breathing. He realized that the "fantasy life" he had wished for.. had just begun, and it was much more violent than he had imagined.
Our hero—who was beginning to grasp that his new identity in this world carried the name "Espen"—succumbed to reality and boarded the carriage in total silence, trying to pull his scattered thoughts together. She sat directly across from him, her body radiating tension. Soon, her tongue unleashed a barrage of words that left him no room to even catch his breath:
"Espen, you truly are the embodiment of negligence! This indifference of yours will be the death of you one day! You don't care about anyone, you don't care about yourself, and worst of all, you don't care about our marriage—even though the ceremony is just around the corner! You're just a reckless child in a grown man's body. I don't understand this coldness, or how you fail to realize you're about to be wed to a princess from a noble, ancient kingdom! You arrogant, foolish, narcissistic idiot.. you crave isolation and flee from people for no logical reason. Every time I try to build bridges or show you kindness, you meet me with your pathetic provocations! You know what? I'm going to be quiet. Talking to you is a waste of time!"
Espen watched her with a mixture of wonder and bitter irony, while his mind buzzed with questions:
(Haha! All this screaming and lecturing, and then you tell ME to be quiet? Just an existential question: who is this "Espen" who got me into this mess? And who are you, you fierce beauty? Damn it! Am I destined to enter a gilded cage on my very first day in a fantasy world? Is this fate, or a carefully laid trap?)
Espen broke the silence with a cautious question, driven by a killing curiosity:
"I beg your pardon.. but may I ask you a question?"
Suddenly, in a startlingly dramatic shift, her angry features transformed into a soft, smiling face, as if she were a master actress switching masks in a second. She said in a sweet tone that nonetheless dripped with sarcasm:
"By all means, my dear.. what is your new, foolish question that holds no value in the grand scheme of life?"
Espen swallowed hard and thought carefully:
(Wow, split personality? A sweet face and a tone that still drips poison. I'm afraid if I tell her the truth—that I'm not their "Espen"—they'll think I'm an evil priest who hijacked his body and execute me in the town square. I'll ask something small and hope I don't regret it.)
Espen said hesitatingly:
"Actually.. who are you?"
The smile vanished instantly. Sparks of fury and resentment ignited in her eyes, and she let out a scream that nearly shattered the carriage windows:
"Oh, what a cursed day! Has your audacity reached the point of forgetting me, Espen?! After everything I've endured putting up with your stupidity, you come now to deny knowing me? I cannot believe you dare do this to me! How could you forget 'Lili,' your future wife?! I am the daughter of 'Elian' from the great Radiantis—the Realm of Light! Shame on you.. a true shame! You know what? I will take this matter to your father, Lord 'Atterman,' so he can put an end to this recklessness!"
Espen tried to defend himself quickly, attempting to calm the storm:
"Please, please.. just calm down for a moment. I don't understand what's happening, and I don't remember a single thing. It seems my impact with the ground—or maybe something else—has given me total amnesia."
Lili raised her eyebrows in mocking surprise and said sharply:
"Hah! Amnesia? Is this a new trick to dodge your responsibilities? Do you want me to explain every boring detail of our lives all over again? Am I going to have to deal with you while you're 'void' of memories, too?"
Before Espen could find a suitable reply, the carriage slowed to a complete stop. They had reached the kingdom's walls. Lili stepped out, huffing with rage, followed by Espen's stunned gaze as he climbed out behind her.
He froze in place. Before his eyes stretched a vast kingdom crowned by towering citadels that brushed the clouds, surrounded by legendary forests the likes of which he had only seen in his wildest dreams. There was no longer any room for doubt.. our hero had become part of a world drenched in magic and wonder. The world of "capitalism" was now nothing but a distant nightmare.