Stepping out into the city streets, even during the night pedestrian traffic doesn't cease, nor do the roads. With my shift over, I pass the towel to another coworker as I make my way to the subway, despite tomorrow being my one day off, I've no energy to spend the night in leisure.

In this bustling city, where development is everywhere, parking space is essentially a luxury. While our small bar may be popular, it doesn't have any of the sort.

As the train arrives, I take seat between a sleeping business man and an openly flirty couple. Resting my hand just above my brow before rubbing my tired eyes, on the verge of yawning, an elderly woman with a trolley steps in as I immediately rise to offer my seat.

As she takes my offer without batting an eye, nor raise a gesture or words, I swap from one crowded carriage to the next and soon find a sport a quarter way in. Resting against the back of the seat, I yawn and attempt to catch some z's before my stop.

However, the carriage soon shakes with the motion of traffic. Numerous people swiftly pass through the carriage resulting in loud commotion. Trying to figure out the issue, other people begin following along in fright.

Before I knew it, a rugged man donned in a dirty beige coat appears as I immediately notice the firmly grasped in his hand. With his back situated towards me, it'd seem he doesn't realise I'm here. Tucked away into the corner of the train, it may seem dangerous, however, it appears I'm in a blind spot. If possible, I could tread tread lightly towards the back carriage and he'd be none the wiser.

With the carriage pilling up, it doesn't seem like there's enough space for them to move into. There doesn't seem to be anyone willing to confront the armed man.

As I slowly rise from my seat, there eyes turn to me as I could practically tell they looking to me as their savior. However, in my defense, I'm in no shape to-

With my position given away, the man turns with a gust of wind and swings his knife with the intent to kill as I immediately duck; the knife just mere inches from carving its way into my skull. It's one thing to threaten someone with a knife to hand over your belongings, but swinging to kill? That's an entirely different ball game, I didn't think he was that much of a lunatic.

Stunned from the sudden shock of hitting a hard surface, I dive into him with a shoulder tackle; grasping the man's torso, I lift him just slightly above the ground to force him down. Batting the knife away with the swing of my arm, I attempt to hold him down no matter how much times he squirms. Taking hold of both his arms, I call for the others to assist with a shout. However, despite now being against an unarmed man, no one steps in.

In fact, in the midst of my struggle, the crowd has dispersed as the train's still in motion. With a laugh, the man appears to be enjoying himself as he's able to gain the upper hand. His strength increases to overwhelm mine; lifting his body up, he knocks his head into mine with great force. Using it as his window of opportunity in my daze, he kicks me off and quickly rises with ragged breaths. Retrieving the knife which was knocked away, my anxiety quickly escalates. Scurrying backwards, his eyes glimmer upon his wicked sneer. Launching himself against me, I try to kick him back to gain some ground, however, at no point did he waver.

Taking it as his opportunity, he grabs my leg and runs his knife against my knee before pushing it and himself into my torso. Overcome with extreme pain, he tries to sink his knife into my chest as I grasp against his hands midway; attempting to reverse it. With my eyes watering, my entire body begins heating up as I take a deep breath and use the last ounce of my strength in order to survive. However, with the use of his body weight, he pushes the knife slowly closer as I soon feel a sharp sting. Trembling in fear, thousands of thoughts race through my mind as the knife plunges mere inches away from my heart. Blood gushes out from both the wound and my mouth, almost choking on it, I could only grit my teeth as the knife continues to sink further until it reached its base.

"This... can't be happening... I can't die..."

And soon. The cold slowly creeps its way in as one, two more strikes sink in. About to go for his third, something prevents him as he disappears from sight, only to be replaced by two men as they look down on me. Unable to recognise them, their mouths move but not a word leaves.

As the lights begin to fade, a single thought crosses my mind.

I shouldn't have tried to be a hero.

.....

...

Waking up with an uproar, I quickly pat against and around my chest. However, there doesn't appear to be any wounds, nor stains of blood.

"...What..?"

Thinking I may have just slept on the train as usual, several slits on my shirt tell me otherwise. Too real to be a dream, yet too terrifying that I wish for it to be a nightmare.

Glancing at my surroundings, I'm in a clearing in some sort of forest.

"..."

Not being much of a person to randomly decide to hike or ride solo and explore the Himalayas, something about the place doesn't seem right. Not to mention, none of the trains destinations even come remotely close to this.

"Where... Where am I?"

Slowly rising to my feet, I stumble a few like a new born deer. I guess I may have been out for quite awhile. Checking my pocket for my cell, it seems to have vanished, like I never had it in the first place.

"Strange... I'm sure it had it during my break. Else... No, that doesn't matter..."

In any case, I should find a way back. Having my mobile would've been a blessing but something tells me there wouldn't be any signals out here.

"If it's this bright, then the night must've passed and into the next day."

I'd rather enjoy my day off at home rather than the thickets of nature.

Taking a single step, a bush off towards the side begins to rustle. My body tenses up as I focus entirely on it, wondering what might be lurking out here in the wilderness; a boar, squirrel?

In the midst of my thoughts, a pink, spherical jelly like blob hops out, followed by a larger animal that resembles a wolf. Opening its gaping jaws, it devours the jelly blob as it explodes in a cloud of light, ephemeral dust. As though it vanished completely, I'm left solely staring at the wolf as it fixates its gaze on me.

"..."

Unable to utter a sound, I break into a cold sweat as I slowly step backwards. Gaining a bit of distance, it too follows as I'm certain it's not going to let me escape that easily. Why am I suddenly faced with these predicaments? Did someone curse me because I offered them the wrong drink?

With it soon breaking into a sprint, it closes the distance dramatically as I miraculously dodge it by a thread. Breaking away from it, I flee with all my might towards the forest, however, before I could enter, I'm knocked down as I quickly flip over to guard myself. Bringing my arms up, it sinks its teeth into my hand as I'm left pounding away at its skull with my other. Enduring the pain, the wolf like creature appears even heavier than the man I encountered.

Am I going to die without knowing what the hell's going on!?

As though its draining whatever strength I have left, everything appears to be flashing red.

"Agrh!! Let go you mutt!"

Wondering if the flashing red means I'm about to lose my life, the wolf suddenly howls as it explodes into light, ephemeral dust.

A girl stands before me with a sword by her side as she returns it to her scabbard by her hip. Offering her hand to me with a question about my condition. As though time itself has stopped, I couldn't help but stare at her in awe.

"I-I'm okay... I think..."

Accepting her offer, she pulls me up with ease. With the pain now being non existent, I look to my other hand as I notice it's entirely missing from the wrist up.

"A...a...ahh....Aa-"

As though my body were about to collapse, my insides begin to constrict as I grasp against it and cry out.

"H-Hey, it's okay, it's okay! Here let me see it."

Placing her hand upon my shoulder, her other reaches for my wrist.

"Mm, it's okay. It's just a status effect. It should return within the next hour or so. But, hmm, let me see if I..."

Sounding awfully confident about her answer, as much as I want my hand back, I can't share her optimism.

"B-But hands... t-they don't-"

"Oh yes, I do have some bandages left over. One sec, hold still..."

Taking bandages from her pouch, she wraps it around my wrist as it emits a faint, green glow before disappearing.

"There, that should cut the timer by 50%, nothing to worry about."

"U-Umm..."

Looking to her in disbelief, she seems so sure of herself. As amazing as human body goes, we don't have the ability to regrow limbs. Bandages may help to stop the bleeding but-...

Wait a second, there's no blood... What the hell?

"Oh it's okay, you don't have to pay me or offer a trade. You did help me after all, that unusual laoka has been making a ruckus around here.

"Ehh, I'm sorry, what? Laoka?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I mean they're not usually from here. Their habitats further north, near the mountains of Helmsburg."

"..."

Left in ever dire straits, the girl wears a dress beneath her breastplate as she's also equipped with gauntlets and pattered boots perfect for travelling. Not to mention she has an able sword by her side that made quick work of the "Laoka". With soft chiffon hair and clear golden eyes, she doesn't look like anyone I've seen before.

"...Who are you?"

"Oh, that's right. I haven't told you my name yet, have I?"

Taking a step back, she places her hand upon her chest and introduces herself.

"My name's Rosebelle, an Adventuring Hero Candidate."

"Ehh... Rosebelle? Hmm, well I'm-"

By nature, you remember your name from the top of your head, however, no words follow along as I draw a blank.

"I-I'm... w-who..? What... am I?"

"You don't remember your name? ...Come to think of it, your clothes... Are you perhaps a Hero Candidate too? ...Although, I heard there hasn't been any since the Demon Lords defeat."

"Yeah, ehh, sorry, I really have no idea what that entitles, or what's going on. When I came to, I was lying against the ground, trying to piece my memories together."

"A-Ahh... Then that means... Wow, that's embarrassing..."

As red tints her cheeks, she adjusts her gaze towards the side.

"Then everything I said beforehand sounds pretty bogus, huh?"

"Y-Yeah... Laoka's, Hero Candidates, this so called Demon Lord, they don't ring any bells."

"Mm... It's not surprising, it's just how this world is. There hasn't been any Hero Candidates for years, so... I guess you must've done something pretty grand, huh?"

Grinning ear to ear, she leans forward.

"Well first off, you said you don't remember your name, that just means you need a new one in order to rebirth."

"Rebirth? Like being reborn as a different person?"

Thousands of questions run through my mind as I attempt to make sense of it all.

"Yup, though you'd still be yourself. The rebirth system applies to hero candidates like yourself who've woken up in our world. It's just like a soft reboot for those who've lost their name."

"I see..."

Trying to remember my lost name, I'm sure I went by fine with the one I was given.

"You're normally given stats according to the deeds you've fulfilled previously, but I'm sure right now, yours are all marked with question marks until the rebirth has run its course."

"...A...ki...ra?"

As a word slips out, it seems to resemble a name as I repeat it once more.

"Akira..."

Repeating after me, she falls into a brief daze before smiling.

"So you're Akira, welcome to Elden! We're an arrow shot away from a city called Aisengard, it's coincidentally where I rebirthed too. Though, I was in the open field just outside the city walls."

A soft yellow glow emits from my body as I feel slightly rejuvenated, the beat of my heart sets to normal levels, no, it's not that, I feel fitter than I was before.

"Oh, mhm, that's it. Now that you've rebirthed, you should check your stats. It's probably the most exciting part!"

Getting into the thrill of things, it seems she's more excited than I am. Maybe it's because I still don't understand the significance of it all yet.

"Check my stats... Ehh, how I do do that?"

"Hmm? Oh, that's right... Hmm... How does it go again?"

Thinking deeply on the matter, she places her fingers against her chin. I guess if she were a wise elderly man, she'd be stroking her grey beard for wisdom.

"He explained it like... Asking yourself a question, for instance; What's my current status? Your mind will comply and bring up a list for you. It's a really complex thing, but further along it becomes second nature."

"Ehh, just think, that's all? ...All right, if you say so."

Doing exactly as I'm told, I ask myself for the status list, and soon enough, a transparent window appears in view. It's not a solid object and it doesn't seem like I'm able to physically touch it. I could only "select", to read further in depth as to what each of the perimeters do. Seven digits spin from 1-9 each before each of them as I'm reminded of an old RPG.

"Oo, yes, that's it. Do take in mind that everyone else in the vicinity can also see. It's pretty secretive information, but ehh... Say, can I get a better view?"

Asking for permission, it's not like I understand the significance of it all as I nod.

"Sure... I don't really know what's going on exactly. But I take it that it's kinda important."

"Oo, thanks, it's super important."

Phasing through the window, she steps towards my side and rests one arm against my shoulder, peering with intense interest.

"It'll determine your entire being after all. And It's also quite an honor to observe other people's list, so of course I'll show you mine after."

"That's only fair..."