Jeylin could distinctly remember playing a difficult strategy game. Turn-based too, adding to the deep thinking he put in so that he could win. Of course, he didn’t just play to win, it was fun facing challenges and adapting towards the hardships.

Playing this game, he got his ass handed to him multiple times. Despite that, there was something else. He would have given up at some point by now, but this game was an exception. It had an interesting story, a plot so complex and simple at the same time that it left a specific flavor in his mouth. Jeylin only half-knew what he meant by that.

When he wasn’t playing video games or watching anime in his freetime, he would instead read and write so it wasn’t surprising that he would enjoy something that provided both. Unlike most other otakus who, from what he’s heard on the internet, have nothing better to do than to spend their entire life slowly growing to hate what they once loved. Temperance is a virtue for a reason.

Not to say he was an exception to sin and virtue. After all, he was prideful, lazy and unempathetic. Even if he wasn’t the type to actively seek to hurt people, he also wouldn’t go out of his way to solve every problem that doesn’t affect him.

He lived, what not most would call a normal life, but he lived the life he chose for himself. For one, he’s already finished highschool despite being 15… with the duality of being unaware of most trends and social events that occur in recent times until at least a year later. He was detached from everyone else, always alone.

With that said, he didn’t really feel that much pride over finishing school early. To him, that just means he has more time. Nothing less, nothing more. But more importantly, it meant he had the time to write, read, watch and do whatever he wanted!

But that was enough recounting. ‘Wow, no gaps in memory?’ He wondered. God knows that he has terrible memory. ‘You could tell me your name and I would forget in minutes.’

By now, he was fully awake and ready to figure out his next steps. That was, of course, the plan before he realized how little information he has on his current situation. ‘Another trip down memory lane it is.’ He resigned in his head.

He woke up in another world in what seems to be his younger self. Of course, he hadn’t confirmed the ‘other world’ part just yet. But the ‘in another body’ part likely backs up his point pretty well. Especially with the elf girl.

Speaking of, he wondered; why was she lost… in a forest? Aren’t elves supposed to be good at nature stuff or something? Is that stereotyping? Probably, whatever, he won’t judge. He can ask about it later.

Then there were those three wolves. ‘Wait, this is the wrong order.’ Right, you’re supposed to remember things in order. Oh well, not like he could turn back time.

Honestly, he handled the situation much better than he thought he would. Jeylin was convinced he would’ve stayed and died or tripped and died. But his thoughts from that moment seemed to have disappeared, his mind only functioning at bare minimum when he finally decided on what he would do.

If his other world theory was correct, he should probably compile what happened during his somehow-survived battle against three wolves. Again, he didn’t have the best memory, but recalling his most obvious mistakes would do at least for now. He could try to learn how to refine his movements through memory– like in anime– another time.

‘Hm… I probably need a weapon.’ He thought. Sticks and stones would do, right? ‘Wait, I probably can’t chuck a stone hard enough to do any actual damage. Poking someone’s eye out with a stick would fare better.’

As he was drifting through his cloud of thoughts, the elf girl yawned awake. He was staring into space as the girl looked at him with shyness, curiosity and confusion.

He wasn’t prepared for when the girl yelled in his ears. “HEY! Are you being taken over!?”

“What?” He met her eyes again, the slightest bit of bloodlust swirling in his own twin orbs. She squeaked and went on to hastily explain something about creatures that can take over people. He was only half-listening though, trying to reign in the molten anger from dealing with bullshit so early in the morning.

Eventually, he was able to calm down. He sighed, “Okay, it’s fine. Now, where do we go?”

Her shoulders were rounded again as she was slumped forward, as if trying to make herself smaller. Weakly, she shrugged. He blinked, unsurprised. Folding his arms over his head, he began to stretch.

It was strange, the feeling of being in a younger body again. But he would manage.

“Off we go.” And with that, he turned on his heel and walked. He could hear the elf girl make a sound of surprise before hastily catching up to him. “Um…” She muttered.

“...How do you know where… to go?” She asked, “...Aren’t you afraid that you might go the wrong way…?” He hummed before responding.

“Well, it’s not that I’m not afraid of going the wrong way. But we’re lost–” He continued, smiling. “That means every path has an equal amount of chance of going horribly wrong!” He made a play on being cheerful at the end, smiling widely at her.

Whether it was optimism or dark humor, he didn’t know. But it was funny either way!

The elf girl held a horrified face as she looked at him dumbfounded. It seems the elf girl was still trying to process his words. Ignoring her, he continued to talk. “Anyway, what’s your name? Can’t keep calling you elf girl in my head.”

"Erm… it's…" She trailed off. Noticeably, she had a blush on her face. Her eyes shifted side to side as she looked anywhere but him. He wondered if it was a race thing, did he say something weird?

Meanwhile, the girl had tried to process what he just said. It was a mix of being socially stunted and being embarrassed that caused this reaction. She thought, ‘H-heh?! In our culture… that’s like asking someone out on a date!’ That’s when she realized that she was talking to a human, who likely didn’t know about elven culture.

"Kettlelinna B-Benchflower..." She forced out, still hesitant. Jeylin ignored the stutter and assumed she was just weird, like him.

"That's a nice name." Jeylin commented. He didn't even need to look at her to know she was blushing. ‘How predictable.’ He thought, both smug and annoyed at the same time.

Fast forward several minutes, Jeylin became less tense despite the unfamiliar surroundings. Every crunch of snow beneath his feet made a beat in his mind, forming a rhythm. A tempo that is easy to fall into. And easy tempos tend to make him sleepy.

That said, it wouldn’t do him well to let his guard down in the forest. He had to constantly remind himself to be mindful of his wound.

“Wake up! Children!” A commanding voice called out.

Instantly, groans filled the room. Kids in sleeping wear woke up to the morning air. Some fell out of their beds from sheer surprise, much to the amusement of said voice. It was time to start their daily activities.

Though slow, they filtered out the room as the woman watched them leave.

“Okay professor…” One girl mumbled sleepily as she passed by. The others however, made no effort to do as she had. They were too sleepy to do so, even the girl was barely able to greet their professor. She would almost be concerned if this was not a daily occurrence. No matter, they will fully wake up after breakfast.

It was currently 5:30 AM.

5:37 AM actually. She wasn’t as strict as the other teachers in their school. Afterall, improper behavior will always be corrected here. There would be no need to be so cruel in the morning. With that in mind, the woman turned to follow after the last student left the room. Closing the door behind her.

The sound of muttered chatter could be heard in the cafeteria. Children ate food, chewed properly, swallowed, before resuming their conversation. Each child sat with their own group of friends. Those that are separated by sitting on different tables mostly ignore the ones not in their group, talking across the table to their own friends instead.

But that wasn’t the most notable happenings that could be seen. There was a certain aura to the group of children that the professor handled compared to other students. A feeling of both loneliness and detachment. Those same children seemed to ignore the rest of the student body and vice versa.

The woman sighed, it was supposed to be different. Here in Zhanhart Academy… Yet they still remain divided, after all.