Ren took a deep breath and stepped off the train. The grass beneath his feet was soft, almost alive, brushing against his shoes, and the forest stretched endlessly around him. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, shifting in patterns across the ground. He lifted his hand, letting the warm light pass across his palm as if testing it. His chest tightened with a mixture of fear and wonder, and every small sound, the rustle of leaves, the distant call of birds, felt amplified in the stillness.
The first steps were slow, hesitant. Each one carried the weight of uncertainty, and every movement seemed magnified in the quiet. He looked back. The train, a constant in his life, was already half-swallowed by the trees. The farther he walked, the more distant it became, until it vanished entirely behind a curtain of green.
Ren swallowed hard. His stomach twisted with unease. Then, he froze. Somewhere ahead, the faint rush of water reached his ears, clear and persistent. Curiosity and caution warred within him, pulling him forward. Step by careful step, he followed the sound. Each movement made his chest ache less and his fear lessen slightly. The river grew louder, closer, until finally it ran right beside him, sparkling in the sunlight.
"Well…here goes nothing," he whispered. He pushed through the overgrown leaves, brushing them aside, shielding his eyes from the sun's glare. The water gurgled and tumbled below him, alive in its rhythm. He lifted his hands to block the light and peered downward.
"Oh…my God," he breathed. The river stretched for miles, as blue as the sky itself, crashing against rocks with a sound both fierce and calming. The forest shimmered in strange, shifting light, the air thick with scents he couldn't name. Words failed him. He could only stare, letting the scene sink into his chest, steadying the rapid beat of his heart.
For the first time, fear slipped away. It melted with the wind, leaving a strange, exhilarating calm. Ren sank to his knees, the cool earth grounding him, the river whispering possibilities. Every step into this unknown world suddenly felt worth it. His chest rose and fell, awe settling over him like a second skin.
He carefully made his way down to the water's edge, kneeling and cupping his hands. The liquid was cold, sweet, invigorating. He drank deeply, the sensation filling more than just his body, his mind, too, seemed to expand. He scooped again and again until he leaned back on the smooth rocks, sighing in relief.
He could not resist stepping fully into the river. The water lapped against his skin, washing away the tension he hadn't realized he'd carried. For a moment, he forgot he was lost, that everything he had known was gone. He laughed softly, the sound bouncing off the cliffs. I can do this. I can be anything here. I can…be free.
Just as he let himself fully embrace the feeling, something brushed against his foot. He looked down. The river teemed with fish, but their scales glimmered with a faint, electric shimmer. One darted toward him. Instinctively, he reached out, and pain shot through his hand.
"Ouch!" he shouted, stumbling back. The fish vanished into the water. Confusion mingled with awe. It's alive…in ways I don't understand.
Ren shook his hand and glanced up at the sky, laughing again. The feeling swelled inside him, the sense that nothing here could hold him back. That for the first time in his life, he could choose. He could live without constraint. "I can do it," he whispered. "I can be free."
Then, chaos. Leaves rustled violently, snapping in sudden motion. Ren turned, heart hammering, and froze. A shadow lunged at him, humanoid but black as night, its form almost melting into the air itself. Instinctively, he raised his hands, stepping back, unable to think.
Before it could strike again, a sharp whistle split the air. The creature screamed, stumbling back. Ren's eyes widened. An arrow, perfectly fletched, was buried in its chest.
"You! What is your name?" a calm, commanding voice called out.
Ren spun around, breath catching. A girl stood there, bow in hand, stance steady and poised. Her hair glinted in the sunlight, her eyes sharp, scanning the forest as if nothing could surprise her. Leaves rustled softly where the arrow had struck.
"A-a girl!?" Ren stammered, heart racing.
She lowered her bow slightly, a small, almost amused smile touching her lips. Her gaze met his, unwavering and patient. "Didn't you hear me? What's your name?"