Karmak District was quite a trek, according to the map. The quest paper mentioned that the dog was last seen there, supposedly playing with a cat. It had a distinct appearance, having lost a leg as a pup, which made me think it wouldn’t be too hard to spot and bring back to the Guild.

As I made my way there, I had to pass the execution site. The elf from before still hung from the gallows, swinging lifelessly. Passersby gathered around, their expressions filled with disdain—not because of the execution itself, but because the victim was an elf, as if his mere existence was a disease.

"He died easily," a woman remarked, her voice almost disappointed.

"Yeah, I wish I'd seen it," her friend added with a casual shrug. "Missed it ‘cause I was tucking my kids into bed."

"Rot in hell, you piece of trash," a man spat, his eyes burning with a deep-seated hatred.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to look away. "Glad I don’t have pointy ears like my biology teacher," I muttered under my breath.

Up ahead, I spotted a group of students about my age, wearing uniforms that were oddly familiar—like the ones from my old school, though somehow more refined. The boys wore white shirts, ties, dark blue blazers, and black trousers. The girls wore similar outfits, but with skirts and knee-high socks. The sight made me feel even more out of place, standing there in my travel-worn clothes, clearly not one of them.

“Ugh,” one of the students groaned, dragging his feet. “I didn’t do my math homework.”

“Wait, we had homework?” his friend blurted out, eyes wide with panic.

“Yeah, dude! Didn’t you know?”

“Nah, crap! That’s the fifth time I’m showing up empty-handed. The teacher’s gonna kill me.”

I let out a grunt. "This world has math too? End me."

As if on cue, the universe decided to challenge me further. I checked the map, making sure I was headed in the right direction. When I looked up, my breath caught in my throat. A creature—no, a person—was walking straight toward me. She looked mostly human but had two horns protruding from her head, her crimson eyes glinting as they caught the light. Her skin was a shade of red that almost seemed pink, and two wings rested on her back, shifting slightly with each step. She wore the same school uniform as the other students.

I froze in place, the map slipping from my hand. For a solid ten seconds, I couldn’t move, my body paralyzed by fear. Then, as if I didn’t even exist, the girl brushed past me without a second glance. Everyone around acted like she was the most ordinary thing in the world.

“What…?” I muttered, confusion washing over me.

"Oi!" came a sharp voice from behind, snapping me out of my daze.

“Huh?” I turned slowly to find the horned girl glaring at me, her eyes narrowing.

"What’re you staring at?"

"Me?" I asked, pointing at myself dumbly.

"Yeah, you. Never seen a Noxivera before or what?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I kept my face neutral. "No, actually. Never seen one."

She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You’re taking me for a fool now?”

"I’m from a different country," I said quickly, keeping my tone even. "We don’t have Noxi—Noxiveras there. Sorry."

She studied me for a moment, her gaze piercing. Then, with a dismissive huff, she turned back around. "Whatever," she muttered, walking away.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. This world was getting stranger by the minute, and I was in way over my head. I had to find a way out of here, somehow. The memory of that eyeball in the sky haunted me, the one that had appeared before everything went dark. Maybe if I could learn more about that thing, I’d have a clue on how to get back home.

And where else to gather knowledge in a world like this but a school? Redwood Academy. Maybe attending wasn't such a ridiculous idea after all.

Shaking off the thought for now, I continued on my path toward the district, reminding myself of the task at hand. There was still a legless dog waiting for me to find it.

"Noxi… Noxivera?" I whispered to myself, taking the map off the ground. "What a mess. What. A. Mess."

══════✦══════

Karmak District was unlike the place I’d come from. The narrow streets buzzed with life, lined with food vendors on nearly every corner. The scent of spices, grilled meats, and fresh bread intermingled in the air, creating a unique blend that somehow managed to be both strange and enticing. The absence of carriages made sense here; the streets were too tight, their cobblestones uneven and not designed for wheeled traffic.

The buildings seemed like they’d weathered countless storms, their surfaces cracked and faded. Nature had claimed a victory in this part of the city—moss and greenery covered almost every wall, creeping up from the ground to drape over window sills and rooftops. Vines twisted around wooden beams, and patches of grass grew stubbornly in the gaps between the cobblestones. It was as if this district was a small village where people would go for a holiday or something.

I stopped in front of a tavern, its wooden tables set outside where patrons were already indulging in their breakfast and morning drinks. Taking a breath, I pushed open the creaky double doors and stepped inside.

The interior of the tavern felt worn and tired, its wooden beams darkened from age and years of smoke. The floors were scuffed, with patches of mismatched planks filling in where the old ones had given way.

“Welcome,” a waitress greeted me, glancing up from wiping down the counter. “We’re full right now. Only got seating outside.”

“Hey,” I said, stepping closer. “I’m looking for a dog. A dog with only three legs. Its name is Borado. Have you seen it around?”

She paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Yeah. We took that mut in, she was bleeding from her head.”

“Bleeding?”

“Yeah, she was attacked. We don’t know by whom, though. We tried to take care of her but… she died.”

“Oh… shame. Okay. Thanks for letting me know.” I replied with a dull voice.

“I’m sorry for your loss, kid.” She said, “I’m sure she was a good girl.”

“She wasn’t my dog.” I explained. “Anyways, thanks again.”

“By the way, how old are you? Shouldn’t you be in school or something?”

Her question caught me off guard. “I… am on my way there,” I lied smoothly. “Just thought I’d ask about the dog before I headed over.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly sceptical. “And your uniform?”

“It’s wet,” I answered, trying to sound nonchalant. “Forgot to bring it inside last night, so it got soaked in the rain.”

“Oh, I see,” she said, nodding slowly. “Well, was there anything else?”

“No. Thank you, ma’am. Have a nice day.”

“You too, hun.”

I stepped back outside, a mix of relief and irritation swirling in my chest. This world’s obsession with enforcing school attendance was a problem I didn’t need. If my plan wasn’t to escape this place as soon as possible, maybe I’d consider playing by their rules. But for now, I had bigger issues to deal with than fitting in.

“She was attacked, huh.” I muttered. “By whom, I wonder.”