The young man plummeted through an endless void, weightless and bound by an icy grip. The chill tightened around his limbs as a distant metallic clunk echoed, carried by a roaring wind.

A sharp pain stabbed through his head, as though something vital was being taken. Gradually, his descent slowed, the air around him shifting as if invisible hands were guiding his fall.

Thud.

His back struck the hard ground, the impact jarring but not painful. Blinking, he opened his eyes, only for his mind to blank at the sight above him—a vast, unfamiliar ceiling that seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance.

He sat up and looked around, confusion flickering in his gaze. Towering shelves crammed with books surrounded him, their endless rows vanishing into the horizon.

“Where… am I?”

He looked down and saw a robe adorned with intricate patterns and symbols. Beneath it, he wore a simple long-sleeved shirt, pants, and leather shoes.

He lifted his head, his gaze catching words forming in midair, materializing from nothing. Strangely, he understood them with ease.

"Countdown to destruction: 10... 9..."

"What?"

"8... 7... 6..."

"Hey! Wait a minute!"

But before he could protest further, the countdown hit zero. He looked down in alarm as the floor beneath him disappeared, and his body plunged into nothingness without warning.

"Damn it!"

His vision blurred as he felt the force of the fall. He saw the books around him dissolve into streaks of bluish light, rushing toward his head. The scent of old parchment filled his nose, sharp and distinct.

A ringing echoed in his ears as his descent continued. A surge of pain blurred his vision as the world faded into a deep green hue. That was the last thing he remembered before his consciousness slipped away.

A cold, damp sensation against his back pulled him back to awareness. His body twitched as he felt the hard ground beneath him, but the details of his surroundings remained a hazy blur. Faint rustling sounds drifted to his ears—the soft stirring of leaves moving with the breeze.

He inhaled deeply, letting the rich, earthy scent seep into his senses. It was unfamiliar, yet strangely comforting. Gradually, each sound and scent fell into place, grounding him in this new and strange environment.

“Why do I have to fall twice?” he muttered, irritation flickering in his tone.

He wanted to complain more, but the persistent ringing in his ears refused to relent. Opening his eyes, his vision adjusted to the sight of lush greenery surrounding him.

A faint clicking sound rang in his head, rhythmic and persistent, as if a puzzle was slowly assembling itself.

“Forest?” he murmured, the word forming instinctively in his mind.

"Hey, hey, we should be careful," a voice whispered nearby.

The young man immediately sat up, his gaze snapping toward the sound. He spotted three children not far off, a teenage boy and two younger ones—a girl and a boy, both looking around seven years old.

"Where is this place?" he asked, directing his question toward them.

Instead of answering, the children backed away cautiously. The tallest, the teenage boy, kept a firm grip on the younger two’s hands, his wary eyes never leaving him.

"Wait—"

Before he could finish, the boy pulled the other two along and bolted, their hurried footsteps fading into the distance.

"..."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The robe," he muttered, noticing its absence for the first time.

His thoughts were interrupted by a faint tug in his mind, pulling his attention upward. An ethereal book floated in midair, its translucent pages flipping open as if moved by an unseen hand.

On the first page, an elegant letter shaped like a rune glowed faintly before words began forming beneath it. The shimmering letters shifted into a soft golden hue, then faded entirely as the book vanished without a trace.

“Eldric Liora?” he repeated aloud, tilting his head as if testing the sound. “Is that my name?”

A sudden, sharp pain lanced through his skull, forcing him to clutch his head. A weight—heavy and oppressive—poured into his mind, threatening to overwhelm him. Despite the searing pressure, he gritted his teeth and willed himself to stay conscious.

It took several minutes for the sensation to subside.He drew in a breath, but it came uneven, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady himself. 

His fingers trembled slightly as he raked them through his hair, trying to gather his scattered thoughts.

"It's in here."

Eldric turned toward the source of the voice, the sound of footsteps growing louder. A group of middle-aged men emerged from between the trees, each wielding a weapon.

"That's him!" the older boy from earlier exclaimed, pointing straight at Eldric.

Before he could react, the men surrounded him, their weapons raised and ready.

"Wow, can you give me a break?" Eldric thought, frustration flickering across his face. He raised his hands slowly, signaling surrender.

"Who are you?" demanded a stocky man with blonde hair and a thick mustache. His cold eyes scrutinized every inch of Eldric, as if searching for a hidden threat.

Eldric hesitated, his brows knitting together as his gaze darted between the men. His lips parted slightly, but no words came, his posture rigid and uncertain.

"I'm Eldric Liora," he said. "That's all I know."

"How did you get in here?" the man pressed.

Eldric tensed as he felt the chilling touch of steel against the side of his neck.

Eldric shook his head “I don’t know," he said, his voice steady despite the tension. "I can’t remember.”

Another man, slightly older with graying hair, stepped forward, his expression grim.

"Village head," he said, addressing the man with the mustache, "he's suspicious. We’d better detain him."

"Take him," the village head ordered.

The cold steel was removed from Eldric's neck, but before he could feel relief, strong hands seized him from both sides. The men dragged him forward, their grip firm and unyielding.

"Can you at least let me walk on my own?" Eldric thought, biting back the urge to voice his frustration aloud.

Forced into a brisk pace, Eldric stumbled slightly as the men flanked him. He squinted as they neared the forest’s edge, the rays of sunlight piercing through the canopy and hitting his eyes. 

As they approached the vicinity of the village, onlookers began to gather, their sharp gazes and furrowed brows making the air feel heavier. He caught snippets of their murmurs, but their words were too faint to discern.

The men led him away from the populated area of the village, stopping at what appeared to be a cave entrance. Without a word, they ushered him inside. The dim light quickly gave way to darkness, and he was shoved into an empty, narrow cell.

“Guard him,” the man referred to as the village head ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

The head gave Eldric a sharp, lingering look before turning and leaving without another word.

Inside the cell, there was nothing but a pile of hay in one corner, barely enough to sit or sleep on. Eldric sighed, leaning back against the cold, damp wall. He closed his eyes, frustration bubbling inside him.

“The hell,” he thought, irritation clawing at him.

Synchronization starting.

Eldric flinched, his eyes snapping open. The voice was clear, emotionless, and resounding inside his head. His gaze darted around the cell, his pulse quickening. He was alone.

Just then…