When Dominic awoke, the first thing he noticed was the warmth of the sun on his face. It was a comforting sensation, far removed from the cold, foreboding atmosphere of the forest. Slowly, he opened his eyes, squinting against the bright light. He was lying on a bed of straw in a small, sunlit room. The walls were made of rough-hewn stone, and the ceiling was supported by thick wooden beams. There was a single window, through which the sounds of a bustling city drifted in.

Dominic sat up, his body aching as if he had run a marathon. His mind raced, trying to piece together the events that had led him here. The forest, the creature, the voice... it all seemed like a fever dream. But the unfamiliar surroundings told him otherwise. He wasn't in his apartment anymore. He wasn't even in his own world.

He stood up slowly, testing his legs, and moved to the window. The sight that greeted him was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. He was in a city unlike any he had ever seen—a sprawling metropolis of towering stone buildings, winding streets, and marketplaces teeming with life. The people moved about with purpose, clad in clothing that looked like it had been pulled straight from the pages of a history book. But there was something else, too—something that set this city apart from any he had known.

Magic.

It was everywhere. He could see it in the shimmering auras that surrounded certain individuals, in the floating orbs of light that illuminated the darker alleys, and in the subtle currents that seemed to flow through the very air. This was a world where magic was real, where it was a part of everyday life.

As Dominic took it all in, the door to his room creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. It was a young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, with fiery red hair that cascaded over her shoulders in wild curls. She wore simple yet practical clothing—a tunic and trousers that allowed for ease of movement—and her eyes were a sharp, piercing green.

"You're awake," she said, her voice a mix of relief and curiosity. "We were beginning to worry."

Dominic blinked, trying to focus on her words. "Who... who are you? Where am I?"

The woman smiled, a small, reassuring gesture. "My name is Selene. You're in the city of Tiberios, in the heart of the Kingdom of Andaria. We found you unconscious at the edge of the city gates. You were in pretty bad shape, so we brought you here to recover."

"Tiberios... Andaria..." Dominic repeated, the names foreign and strange on his tongue. "I don't understand. How did I get here?"

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Selene's expression turned serious, and she moved closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That's something we were hoping you could tell us. But it seems you're as much in the dark as we are."

Before Dominic could respond, another figure entered the room—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a commanding presence. He had short-cropped brown hair and a well-trimmed beard, and his blue eyes were sharp and calculating. He was dressed in what appeared to be armor, but it was unlike any armor Dominic had ever seen—sleek, lightweight, and intricately designed with runes that glowed faintly.

"This is Marcus," Selene introduced the man. "He's the captain of the city guard and the one who brought you here."

Marcus nodded in acknowledgment but wasted no time with pleasantries. "You were found near the old ruins, just outside the city. That's a dangerous place, even for the most seasoned adventurers. What were you doing there?"

"I... I don't know," Dominic stammered, his mind still reeling from the shock of his situation. "One moment I was at home, and the next... I was in a forest. Then there was this light, and I ended up here."

Marcus and Selene exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. Finally, Marcus spoke. "There have been rumors—whispers of strange occurrences, of people appearing out of nowhere with no memory of how they arrived. But those are just stories... until now."

Dominic felt a surge of anxiety. "What does that mean? Am I stuck here? How do I get back?"

Selene's gaze softened, and she shook her head. "We don't know. But what we do know is that if you're going to survive in this world, you'll need help. Tiberios is a city of opportunities, but it's also full of dangers—both seen and unseen."

Marcus crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "And if those ruins are connected to your arrival, then there's more at play here than we understand. You may be the key to something much larger."

Dominic felt the weight of their words, the enormity of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. He was no longer an observer of fantastical worlds—he was a participant, thrust into a reality where magic and monsters were real, where his every action could mean the difference between life and death.

"I don't know what's happening," Dominic said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "But if I'm here, then I need to learn how to survive. And maybe, just maybe, find a way back home."

Selene smiled again, this time with a hint of admiration. "Then you're in the right place. We'll help you, Dominic. We'll teach you how to navigate this world, how to fight, and how to use whatever power brought you here."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "But understand this: your presence here is no accident. Something brought you to Andaria, and whatever it is, it's not done with you yet. Prepare yourself, Dominic Harrow. This is only the beginning."

As Dominic looked at the two figures before him—his first allies in this strange new world—he felt a glimmer of hope. He was a stranger in a foreign land, but he was not alone. With Selene and Marcus by his side, he would face whatever challenges this world had in store for him.

And he would do whatever it took to find his way back home.