Chapter 2
Hello New World
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Her head was throbbing, feeling lightheaded as she leaned against a tree, gripping her black backpack as she blankly stared at the sky.
Never in her wildest dream would she think she would dive into the sky without some kind of parachute. Only fools would do so yet, here she was, miraculously survived.
She didn’t know how in the world it happened as she just stopped mid-air before she could hit the ground but, she was glad to be alive, however, she didn’t know how to react after all of that.
Alena was a quite realistic girl who grew up in a pretty much normal environment with enough drama in her life.
Despite the bad apples around her, Alena thought of herself as someone who isn’t a bad person, nor a saint, but overall, she thinks of herself as a neutral.
And of course, as someone who lived in a peaceful world, she has a hobby of reading novels, watching anime or movies in her free time.
So this situation wasn’t that hard to accept despite how unbelievable it is.
She was in another world.
There was no mistaking it, because, after all that, it was suddenly daylight, and especially what she is currently seeing in the sky above.
Alena could see a broken moon. Despite it being faint she could tell it was fragmented.
In a more sense, the left half of the moon was still the same as she last remembered, but a large portion of the right side had shattered, and the pieces floated about as though held in place by the moon’s own gravitational force.
The sight was quite absurd but nonetheless, she accepted it. After all, no mere human capability could do that to some random citizen unless there were aliens that decided to prank her.
Rubbing the back of her head, Alena turned her head towards the large, tall trees that loomed over her. Her rational mind was ticking as she tried to come up with what to do next.
As much as she wanted to make sense of what’s happening, her sense of danger was ringing after hearing a faint roar or howl in her ears.
Whether there were wild animals or monsters, she needed to find civilization or a safe shelter before night came.
Now that she thought of it. I think I saw a town nearby. Alena wasn’t sure if she had seen a town since she was too busy fearing for her life in the sky.
Maybe she should climb a tree to get a higher ground but... Looking at those trees, Alena didn’t need to be some sort of psychic to know it's too risky as they are too high for her to climb and she would rather not risk a limb in a dangerous zone, far from any help.
Taking a deep breath, she pursed her lips as the wind brushed against her and a thought came to her mind making her eyes slightly brightened.
Now that I think of it, the wind was blowing in the direction of the town? It was kind of childish and a risky thought but who was she to complain at baby steps? Besides, she can’t climb or have some kind of map to follow.
And as they say, follow the wind.
But first. Opening the backpack, she looked through her things, careful not to scratch the cover of her journal as she opened one of the interior pockets.
Grabbing the two items inside, Alena faintly smiled. It was a black hand-size survival knife and a black electric shock flashlight.
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The flashlight was something her uncle, who was a soldier, gifted to her on her fifteenth birthday. As for the survival knife, her father may or may not have noticed some of his missing tools.
Closing the backpack and wearing it to her back, she put the flashlight on the side of her black thigh bag on her right leg, it firmly held it but was easy to open for her to grab.
Folding the sleeve of her hoodie in her right arm, Alena briefly looked at the empty brown leather knife strap wrapped around her wrist before attaching the sheathed knife to it.
Who would have ever thought her rush preparation would greatly benefit her this much? Even if some of her memorable things were left behind, thank goodness she chose to take those at the last minute.
Refolding her sleeve back, she straightened her back and took a deep breath.
This is it. Alena’s expression hardened as she took a step forward. The first step she will make into the unknown, and into an uncertain future.
While rising from nothing, Alena thinks of this as a new opportunity. A new beginning for her to start without anyone holding her back.
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Under the heated gaze of the sun that hovered forward west, Alena calculated the time as afternoon.
She didn’t know how long she had been walking but from how the sun went from the middle to the west, she guessed she had been walking for an hour or two.
Sitting on a flat rock, she drank some of the water in the blue hydro flask, sighing in satisfaction as she felt it soothe her dry throat.
She has been climbing this mountain in order to get a clearer look around and see if there’s any civilization or river near her location. Since it’s going to be nighttime later on, she might as well find a good spot to prepare a shelter.
Alena closed her flask, putting it back in her backpack as she stretched her limbs, feeling her muscles pop up before noticing something hovering in the air at the corner of her eye. Tense, she turned her head and warily looked at it.
What she saw made her eyes widen in alarm. Is there a fire nearby? In front of her, there were black and gray ashes that flew by.
Lifting her head, she looked towards the direction of where the ashes came from, which was the direction of where she was heading, behind the mountain, there was a cloud of dark smoke.
Was something burning there?
Grabbing the backpack and putting it on, Alena headed towards there, careful not to trip over the large roots as she hastened her steps.
After being in this world for a few hours, using every sense to make her way without encountering the owner of those howls, fearing what she may encounter. She was getting a bit desperate to find civilization or a human face.
If this had been her world, she would have been fine living in the wild but, this was a whole new world where monsters may exist, and worse is that they could be stronger than what she expected.
The acrid smell hit against her nostril as she reached the top ground of the mountain. After making her way through the trees, branches, and bushes, what greeted her was a scene that looked like it came out from a live movie.
There were human figures fighting atop of the wall, sparks flew as they exchanged blow for blow. Creating a rhythm of metal hitting against metal.
If it wasn’t for those houses burning in the background, Alena would have thought they were sparring from how swiftly they moved around each other.
BOOM! Wincing, her ears ring as she squints her eyes as an explosion boom in the center of the town, causing a brief earthquake followed by the intensity of the fight raging on those walls. Making it quite clear to her that they are fighting to the death.
A war? Alena wondered if she should even be here.
Burning town or not, this isn’t something she should be involved in.
I would die. Her mind warned her as the cold truth burned within her mind.
Sweat slid down on her face as her heart beat faster.
She is not a soldier, nor a superhuman with some kind of unnatural ability to save others. She was just a girl that fell into this new world without such things as cheats.
I’m sorry. Alena clenched her fist as she took a deep breath, taking one last glance at the burning town before turning around with the intent to go back.
Heartless or not, she isn’t going to risk herself by involving herself in a war she doesn’t even know.
Despite the guilt chewing her stomach, she continued to walk until a raspy voice spoke from above, alarming her to a halt.
“Well well well,” Looking up, there is a man that stood on the thick branch of one of the trees, the top of his face was hidden beneath the shade of the tree.
Only showing his lower jaw that smirked down at her, his dark brown bandana that is tied around his neck. Dark brown vest with pockets, underneath it, is a loose blue cotton shirt, black wool trousers, and boots.
His appearance somewhat reminded her of a western cowboy which she would have complicated him if it wasn’t for the fact she may be in danger.
Backing away, she cautiously looked at him, making the man chuckle. With his hands in his pockets, he jumped.
With her eyes slightly widening, the man was unharmed as he landed straight into his feet. Making one thing clear. Dangerous.
This guy is no joke.
“Look who finally came.”