A cold breeze brushed against his skin, a strange contrast to the warmth of the damp earth beneath him. His body felt both heavy and numb, as if it had just emerged from a long sleep. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
Above him, the thick branches of a colossal tree stretched toward the sky, allowing only a few rays of moonlight to filter through the dense foliage. The night was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. He took a deep breath. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of damp wood and moss.
His mind was clouded. He tried to recall his name—his past—but nothing came. Only fragments, scattered thoughts that slipped through his fingers like grains of sand. What was he doing here? Why did he feel like a stranger in his own body?
He slowly sat up and noticed a small leather bag beside him. It seemed deliberately placed there, waiting for him. Hesitant, he reached for it and untied the string. Inside, he found a small dagger, a piece of stale bread, a flask of water, and—a glass vial filled with a mysterious shimmering liquid.
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And then, a letter.
His fingers trembled slightly as he unfolded the parchment. The handwriting was elegant but unfamiliar.
"To you, who have awakened in this place, know that fate has chosen you for a path filled with trials. The choice is yours. Walk blindly, or seek the truth. The past and the future intertwine, and only those who dare to understand will find their way. Drink, or turn away—the game has already begun."
His heart pounded. He read the letter again, hoping to find some hidden meaning. A game? What did it mean? Was this some kind of joke, or was there something deeper behind these words?
His gaze shifted back to the vial. The liquid inside shimmered under the pale moonlight, as if beckoning him.
A choice.
He clenched his fists. His instincts told him that whatever lay ahead, this moment would change everything.
And so, under the vast sky filled with stars, he remained still, contemplating his first decision in a game he didn’t remember entering.