Well, everything started somewhat fine for Ned. Not that he was thrilled about being transported to a different world while taking a nap on his break. The shock of the experience hit him hard. His usual routine—working, trying to get through the mundane day—had been interrupted in the most bizarre way.

He didn’t know for sure if he had actually died and this was the afterlife or if he had been pulled into some alternate dimension for reasons beyond his understanding. It all seemed like one of those stories he’d read online—about people being mysteriously transported to magical realms. But now he was living it. There was nothing to do but accept it, right?

It happened all too suddenly. One minute, he was dozing off in the break room, and the next... he woke up on something uncomfortably rough. He blinked, trying to shake off the disorienting fog in his head. He wasn’t on a soft office chair anymore. No. Instead, he was lying on a bundled haystack. He immediately sat up, his hand brushing against the coarse straw.

"Wait... what?"

The ceiling was high above him. Instead of the buzzing fluorescent lights he was used to, a set of white candles illuminated the space, casting a warm, flickering glow across the room. He rubbed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The barn-like structure around him was crude, with thick wooden beams overhead. The walls were uneven, and the floor was scattered with straw and dust. How did he end up here?

A warm gust of air drifted in through a crack in the walls, and the musty scent of hay filled his nose. His mouth went dry, and he instinctively stood up, his feet landing on the hard, uneven ground. His body ached, and his mind felt clouded. He didn't know what was happening, but he had the sinking feeling that he wasn’t in his world anymore.

The barn doors creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. Ned squinted as the bright sunlight outside flooded the room, casting sharp shadows on the ground. Standing at the threshold was a strange figure. A giant tortoise? No, it was something different, floating in mid-air, its soft green shell glowing gently. It hovered beside him, its round eyes watching him closely. The tortoise’s voice echoed in his mind as he stared back in confusion.

“Ah, you're awake. Good. No time for dawdling.”

Ned blinked again, trying to make sense of what was happening. Was this some sort of dream or hallucination? “What... who are you?”

The tortoise gave a slight chuckle. “I’m Aurelios, your spirit familiar. You’ll get used to me. I’m quite patient, after all.”

"Spirit familiar?" Ned repeated, still trying to grasp the situation. His brain felt sluggish as he tried to piece things together.

Aurelios didn't give him a chance to dwell on the question. “Listen closely. We need to move. They're looking for you.”

Before Ned could respond, the sound of footsteps from outside the barn interrupted them. His heart raced. He wasn’t sure what was happening or who was looking for him, but it didn’t sound good. He instinctively took a step back.

In the doorway, a woman appeared—a striking figure with long black hair that fell like silk around her shoulders. Her eyes were a sharp, brilliant blue, filled with both urgency and concern. There was a graceful strength in the way she carried herself, yet her expression held a hint of something softer, something vulnerable.

"Kira?" Ned muttered, his voice unsure, as the name seemed to slip out naturally.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The woman paused, eyes narrowing slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. She didn’t seem entirely sure who he was either, but something about the name resonated with her.

“Ned...?” she asked, stepping into the barn with a mix of hesitation and determination. “We don’t have time. They won’t find us here, but we need to leave, now.”

“Leave? Who? What’s going on?” Ned’s voice wavered slightly. His mind was spinning. He didn’t know what was happening, but the urgency in her voice tugged at him. He felt a sense of familiarity in her presence, though he couldn’t explain why.

The woman didn’t wait for him to ask any more questions. She rushed forward, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the barn doors.

“I’ll explain later, but trust me—there’s no time. You’ll get your answers soon,” she said urgently, looking over her shoulder.

Ned hesitated. There were so many questions. But something about her—her commanding yet protective tone—made him follow. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the way she looked at him, like she was expecting him to know what to do next. Maybe it was because, deep down, he knew he didn’t have a choice.

The outside world hit him like a wave. Bright, green fields stretched before him, the sun shining down on an expansive landscape. The air was fresh, and the scent of wildflowers filled his lungs. It was... beautiful. Peaceful, even. But in his gut, a rising anxiety gnawed at him.

Kira pulled him forward, her grip surprisingly strong. "Stay close," she said, her voice filled with urgency. "We need to go."

Ned found himself unable to argue. It was almost as if he had no other choice. And perhaps, in that moment, he didn’t.

They made their way through a narrow dirt path, the sound of their footsteps the only noise besides the wind rustling the leaves. As they walked, Kira glanced at him, her brow furrowed. There was something off about his demeanor. She didn’t know what it was, but something about the way he moved seemed different, almost distant.

She shook it off. It could just be the stress of everything that had happened, the sudden turn of events. They didn’t have time to think about it now.

A sudden thought struck her, and her pace quickened. She didn’t want to think about it, but the nagging feeling persisted. Could it be...? No. She dismissed the idea. It was impossible.

As they walked, Ned tried to make sense of what was happening. His memories felt jumbled, like fragments of a dream. He couldn’t remember much of his life before arriving here. His mind flickered with hazy images—scenes of a life that didn’t seem to belong to him. Faces and places he couldn’t name, feelings he couldn’t place.

He stumbled slightly, his head pounding. A sharp pain shot through his skull, and suddenly, images flashed before his eyes—vivid, real. He saw a battle. A man with dark, ragged clothes and an intense gaze, standing against a woman with brilliant blue eyes. The woman was familiar, but Ned couldn’t quite place her. She was a warrior—strong, powerful. But she was struggling against the man, someone with a power she couldn’t overcome. There was something she wasn’t seeing, something she couldn’t understand in the fight.

He groaned, clutching his head, the memory slipping away as quickly as it had come. The images faded, leaving him dizzy and breathless.

Kira noticed him falter and quickly turned to steady him. “Are you alright?” she asked, her concern evident.

Ned nodded, trying to shake the lingering headache. “Yeah... I think so.”

But something about that moment—the memory of the battle, the man, the overwhelming sense of struggle—lingered in the back of his mind, like an echo he couldn’t quite escape.

Kira’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t understand what was happening, but she was beginning to worry. Something wasn’t right. The way Ned was acting, the way he seemed to be losing track of his thoughts—something was off. But she couldn’t figure out why.

As they continued down the path, a faint sound reached them from behind—the sound of footsteps, soft but deliberate. Kira immediately stiffened, her instincts kicking in. She could feel the tension in the air.

“Someone’s following us,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ned glanced over his shoulder. A figure emerged from the shadows—tall, with a strong build. His eyes were narrowed, his expression twisted into a sneer. It was the same man from the battle—Darian.

“Did you think you could escape that easily?” Darian’s voice was filled with disdain, his words laced with venom.

Kira’s posture shifted. “Get ready. We’re not running anymore.”

The air seemed to crackle as the two stared each other down. Darian was ready to fight. But so was Kira. And this time, she wouldn’t let him escape so easily.