Chapter - 2: Elara

It’s been a day since I arrived in this strange, unknown world. I’ve managed to eat some food that I gathered from the tree above me. When I first collided with the boy, I thought it was a coconut tree, but I was wrong. It turns out this tree isn’t just any ordinary tree—it’s a food tree.

Now, you might be wondering what a “food tree” is. Well, instead of typical fruits like apples or berries, the fruits here contain ready-to-eat meals. The fruit I picked had hot, steaming rice inside, perfectly paired with a flavorful curry. It was delicious, unlike anything I’ve ever tasted.

The rice was soft and fragrant, and the curry had a rich, savory flavor with just the right amount of spice. For someone who hadn’t eaten in what felt like ages, it was the perfect meal.

As I sat beneath the towering tree, I couldn’t help but marvel at my surroundings. This world, whatever it is, defies the logic of the one I left behind. The trees here are massive, unlike anything on Earth.

The one I’m resting under must be at least 600 feet tall, with thick branches that stretch far above me, creating a canopy that blocks out much of the sky.

The air is crisp and clean, with the faint smell of earth and greenery, and everything seems larger, and more vibrant. Even the ground beneath me feels different, soft, and lush, almost as if the soil itself is more alive.

I have no idea where I am, or even what this world is called, but one thing is certain: this is an isekai, like the ones from the stories and anime I used to watch.

I don’t have a system or status screen like the typical reincarnator, and honestly, I’m glad. Sure, systems can be useful, but they also mean someone or something is always monitoring you, guiding your every step. I prefer freedom, the ability to carve my own path without invisible strings pulling me.

Night has fallen now, and I need to get some rest. I haven’t regained any memories from the boy whose body I now inhabit, and until that happens, I’m going to have to rely on my instincts. Maybe the memories will come with time, revealing more about this world and the life I’ve inherited.

For now, I’ve made a bed of sorts. I climbed the massive tree earlier and found a large leaf that was connected to two thick branches, almost like a natural hammock.

You might be wondering how someone could sleep on a leaf, but these aren’t ordinary leaves. Just like the trees themselves, the leaves here are enormous, thick, and sturdy. They can easily hold hundreds of pounds, and they feel soft enough to rest on without any discomfort. I’d estimate the leaf could carry 200 to 300 pounds without even straining.

Lying here, high up in the tree, I feel oddly secure. The stars above twinkle through the gaps in the canopy, and a cool breeze rustles the leaves.

I can hear distant sounds—maybe animals or other creatures moving through the forest—but nothing feels threatening. It’s peaceful, though in the back of my mind, I can’t shake the thought that I’m in an unfamiliar world with unknown dangers lurking.

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

Tomorrow, I’ll explore further. Maybe I’ll find out more about where I am, who I’ve become, and about this world. But for now, I close my eyes and let the strange comfort of this place wash over me, as I drift off to sleep.

Just like that Day 1 in a new world came to an end.

In a quiet, sunlit park, a young girl around 10 years old slid down the playground slide, her soft giggles blending with the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. As she reached the bottom, she lingered, sitting on the edge of the slide, her gaze fixed on a boy about her age. He was carefully building a sandcastle, his focus intense as he shaped the towers.

“Levi,” she called out softly, her voice carrying a hint of nervousness. “Can I ask you something?”

Levi looked up from his castle, his brown eyes meeting hers with a curious warmth. “Of course, Elara. You can ask me anything.”

Elara hesitated for a moment, her heart beating a little faster. She twirled a strand of her dark hair between her fingers before finally speaking. “The thing is… Will you promise to marry me when we grow up?”

For a second, Levi seemed surprised, but then a gentle smile spread across his face, softening his features. “Is that all? I thought you were going to ask something harder.” He laughed lightly, then met her gaze again, more serious now. “Of course I’ll marry you, Elara. There’s no one else I’d rather be with. I’ll always be by your side.”

Elara’s cheeks flushed a light pink, her heart fluttering at his words.

“Really?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

Without waiting for an answer, she rushed toward him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. “I love you, Levi,” she whispered against his ear, her words sincere and full of promise.

Levi’s arms wrapped around her as they fell softly onto the sand, laughing together as the world around them seemed to fade.

After the memory of that warm day in the park faded, I felt myself drifting again, suspended between sleep and wakefulness. Slowly, the soft light of morning filtered through the canopy of the enormous tree where I’d made my makeshift bed. The sounds of this new world—the rustling leaves, distant creatures—began to stir me awake.

My body felt heavy, almost reluctant to wake up, but something inside me pulled me out of the dream. I sat up on the thick leaf, rubbing my eyes, still caught between the fading remnants of the dream and the reality of this strange world.

Elara.

Her name echoed in my mind, stirring something deep within me. She was the girl in my dream—the girl who had asked me to marry her when we were children. And that boy… that boy was me. Levi. I could almost feel the warmth of her hug, hear her voice as she laughed, telling me she loved me.

The realization hit me like a wave. Elara wasn’t just a figure from my past. She was my lover, the one I left behind when I died. The memories were fragmented, scattered across my mind, but I remembered her clearly. Her long black hair, her shy smile, the way her eyes sparkled with warmth every time she looked at me.

I felt my chest tighten as the emotions washed over me. Guilt. Love. How could I have forgotten her? The life we shared, the promises we made—everything felt so distant now, yet still so painfully close.

I’d promised her that I would always be by her side. But now, I was in another world, far away from her, and she was probably mourning, thinking I was gone forever. My heart ached at the thought of her sitting alone, wondering why fate had been so cruel.

“Elara…” I whispered to the empty space around me. But she wasn’t here. And I wasn’t there. We were separated by worlds—by life and death.

Maybe… just maybe… one day I’d find a way back to her, or at least, keep my promise in this world, to live for the both of us.

With that thought lingering, I climbed down from the massive tree slowly and started to get ready to eat food for breakfast.