This work of fiction contains elements of fantasy, adventure, and suspense. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Readers are advised that the content may include scenes of violence, peril, and supernatural elements. The author does not endorse or encourage any actions depicted in the story, and any similarities to real-life situations are unintentional.

This story is intended for entertainment purposes only. Reader discretion is advised, especially for those sensitive to themes of danger, psychological challenges, and speculative elements.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

Thank you for understanding and enjoying the imaginative journey within these pages.

Chapter 1

Torn into an unknown forest, Mirac lay in the cold mud, opening his eyes to a soft purple light filtering through the green canopy above. As he pushed himself off the ground, he noticed his pale fingers and took a moment to survey his surroundings.

A peculiar object caught his attention— a book?

Mirac momentarily disregarded it, shifting his gaze back to the mysterious forest. Faint voices reached his ears, seemingly belonging to individuals around his age. While scanning the surroundings, he stumbled upon the book once more, its pages appearing almost torn into shreds. It seemed as though Mirac had clung to it upon waking. Despite the absence of a visible sun, the environment was adequately illuminated, the sky adorned with a peculiar purple hue. Intrigued, he opened the book and discovered small notes.

"Amnesia... Need to write a note. Stay here in the forest. There are people outside trying to kill you. Your name is Mirac Ciel. Awaken the amulet," he read aloud. Turning the page, he encountered a drawing of the forest with different areas marked. As his fingers grazed the paper, a strange familiarity washed over him, as if he had been in those locations before. "A note to myself," he sighed, collapsing onto the ground and covering his eyes.

Mirac spotted a person stumbling in the area, appearing to be a girl with long silver hair who carried an air of otherworldliness. Despite her unusual appearance, she wore clothes typical of a teenager. The girl sprinted through the forest, clearly distressed, huffing and breathing heavily with flushed red cheeks. Reacting swiftly, Mirac pulled her into the bushes, covering her mouth. Startled, she instinctively drew a small knife from her pocket, nearly slicing his throat and embedding the blade into the tree behind him. Mirac, on the verge of shrieking, implored her to remain quiet. As he overpowered her, pinning her to the ground, their eyes met, and he noticed her strikingly blue eyes. Mirac gestured for silence, but confusion crept over him.

"What the—"

A rough, intimidating voice interrupted. The large figure pulled arrows from the tree, surveying the area with cold eyes. The girl pushed Mirac off, grabbing him as they both scrambled away.

"He can see us! Quickly, run!" she hissed, and they fled in an unknown direction. Mirac felt the pain in his limbs intensify, an unnervingly realistic sensation for a dream. They dodged arrows, navigating the forest filled with traps. Mirac spotted a path with a distinctive blue tree in the middle, its signs triggering a sense of familiarity. Pointing at the trapped path, he urgently led the girl behind the tree, manipulating a vine as the pursuing men approached.

"Follow me! Don't touch the trees! It might sound crazy, but I read it in a book... What's your name, by the way?" Mirac asked as he pulled the girl with him behind the tree. Maneuvering a vine, they remained hidden as the men cautiously avoided entering the area.

"Don't," warned the rough voice, cautioning his men against advancing.

"He knew?"

A chuckle echoed as Mirac and the girl concealed themselves behind the tree. The man evidently suspected a trap, and, true to expectation, the trees transformed into flesh-eating monsters when the men threw an arrow onto them.

Everyone, except those with a blue mark, vanished. The origins of the carefully carved blue marks remained a mystery, hidden yet visible to Mirac. The girl could hear the frantic pounding of Mirac's heart, and both of them were visibly shaken, sweat beading on their foreheads as they narrowly escaped danger. Despite the close call, Mirac managed a smile. He turned slightly to the tree, witnessing the transformation of the pursuing people into flesh-eating monsters.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The girl, wide-eyed, pointed a small knife at Mirac's throat, but he swiftly disarmed her, turning the tables. Once again, she found herself beneath him, observing his brown, almost red eyes that held an otherworldly allure. Despite the tense situation, the girl rarely resisted, offering a subtle smile and surprising him with a swift kick between the legs.

"You whore— I should've let you get killed..."

Undeterred, the girl sat against the blue-marked tree, a picture of satisfaction. She observed Mirac closely.

"Thank you... but why are you helping someone in a competition for the throne?" she inquired, her curiosity evident.

"What throne? I grasp the concept of the competition, but my memories are nonexistent... you have to help me," Mirac pleaded, seeking answers and understanding in the midst of their uncertain circumstances.

The girl sighed, gesturing toward the rusty and old book that Mirac clung to so dearly. Despite its worn appearance, Mirac held onto it as if it held immense value. The girl raised her eyebrows, observing the situation, and a smile played on her lips as she pointed at the book.

"You said you knew it from a book... Are you dumb? Why would you reveal that secret openly? Do you want others to kill you to snatch it away? I have a knife with me, for your information. I could've overthrown you at any moment," she said, smiling and even chuckling.

"I'm stronger than you, both in combat and in height. Even though you might be a secret agent assassin, you have wounds on your limbs, making it pretty hard for you to do so. I won. Two times, square and fair. I know you want the book," he declared, smirking. There was enough distance between them as they faced each other. The girl pulled out what looked like a pin and pierced it against the tree behind her.

"What are you—"

She smiled as she watched the tree crumble and die, resembling a plant left unwatered for years. Turning back to Mirac with a knowing smile, silence fell between them as they both stared at the book with hungry eyes. Overcoming a shared sense of excitement, they grinned at each other. The girl stood up, revealing more needles and weapons she had hidden. Mirac gulped.

"I was looking for someone like you... Don't panic. I had my eyes on you for a long time now. You're the guy who roamed freely around, drawing every piece of detail you saw. Thought you might be here," she admitted.

Though he hadn't planned the situation, unaware of potential danger, Mirac forced a composed demeanor. He smiled, showing her the book and tightly gripping the small knife he had taken from her. She was dangerous, emitting a scent akin to poison ivy or a skin-burning toxin. Her eyes had an almost reptilian quality, capable of biting his head off.

She let the weapons drop to the ground, revealing every part of her clothes and bags. With a smile, she discarded even her bulletproof vest, which nearly made a hole in the ground upon landing. Her exterior appeared innocent and frail, but as she shed her clothes, Mirac could discern the underlying muscular strength.

"There... I give them to you," she declared. "You wanted it, right? In exchange for that book. There's no way you would've saved me if you didn't," she added, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Mirac sighed.

"No. What I want is the truth. You knew me, right?" he pressed. She nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders.

"I know only those who stay here for a long time," she replied. Mirac gulped.

"What is this place?" he inquired, taking a step closer.

"Okay, you got me. I wanted to team up with you. I need someone with brains. You've got it and have been in this forest longer than me," she admitted, laying bare her intention to form an alliance based on their respective strengths and experiences in the mysterious forest.

Mirac sighed, beads of sweat forming as he maintained a forced calm composure with a smile. At least, she didn't seem intent on having his head on a platter.

Mirac and the girl, whose name was Ai, sat across from each other in a secure location, maintaining enough distance to prevent any sudden overthrow attempts. Mirac meticulously recorded every detail in the blank pages of the book, using the attached pen. Each piece of information sounded like a passage from a fantasy book.

"I can only provide information on this area. My team and I are staying in a cave near the dunes. We sought your cooperation. We want to survive, and everyone here has seen your face at least once. You never seemed to talk nor attack anyone. You even rejected the companionship of Ross Ryder," Ai explained.

"Ross?"

"The guy who got eaten by the Cyndi Flowers. The flesh-eating macabres," she clarified, looking bored as she absentmindedly played with a stick. Her demeanor remained calm and composed, a stark contrast to her initial appearance. She smiled.

Ai pouted. "Will you trust me if I take off my remaining clothes as well? You can check for further weapons."

"You want to see my dick too?" Mirac asked, hiding his flushed expression and smirking.

"Shall we? It's been a while since I've done it," she teased. Mirac ignored her taunts, focusing on his book again.

"Boring nerd. Usually, every guy would've fallen on their feet by now. You're different," she remarked.

"You surely tried this a hundred times before, killing the guys who rejected you. I'm not dumb. Maybe a little bit. But we are in the middle of something that involves life and death. I'm a nerd, a proud one at that," he retorted, his ears flashing hot. Disappointed, he looked between his legs and refocused on his writing.

"I think I heard something!" she whispered to him, swiftly taking the vest from the ground, along with her weapons. Mirac observed as she grabbed his own knife, which he still hadn't given back. All that could be heard were trees and rustling wind, sometimes accompanied by animal sounds.

"I don't know them, but they must be halflings. Or a monster," she whispered, locking eyes with him. Mirac raised his eyebrows.

"I can't hear shit. Must be an animal. Still, let's change our location for now," he suggested.

"So you agree on the cooperation?" Ai asked. Mirac sighed. Without glancing back, he made his way out of the spot, walking carefully. Ai followed behind with a bored expression, cutting all the traps that could potentially lead them into danger.

That's when it happened. A spear, seemingly out of nowhere, pierced through Mirac's chest. Ai widened her eyes.