Cyrus jolted awake, disoriented, and surrounded by the unfamiliar confines of the cave. It took a few seconds for the memories of what had transpired to flood his consciousness. He hastily scrambled to his feet, his eyes scanning his surroundings before finally gazing at himself. With relief, he observed that he appeared unharmed.

Maybe it was all a dream, but how did I get here? If everything that happened was real… Then everything changed.

Cyrus's eyes darted around the cave, taking in the familiar sight of his camping bag and the beckoning exit. He approached his bag, his hands deftly undoing the clasps. He meticulously checked the contents, ensuring that everything remained in decent condition.

Satisfied with his inspection, Cyrus reached inside the bag, his fingers closing around the familiar shape of his camera.

Click.

I might as well document everything.

As Cyrus approached the cave exit, a faint glow of light spilled into the darkness, casting a hazy illumination on the world beyond. His steps were deliberate, accompanied by the steady rhythm of his pounding heart. Only when near the exit when he could see the outside world, and everything was…

Disappointing.

It looks just like the forest I just left!

Where were the floating islands and crystalline forests? The magical kingdoms and creatures? The only notable difference was the thick veil of fog that hung heavy in the air, hanging onto everything in sight.

With trembling hands, he scrolled through the images, his heart pounding in anticipation. And there they were—every picture he had taken, faithfully preserved within the camera's memory. The ethereal fog, swirling and mysterious, still lingered in the photographs. With its mysterious tunnel, the cave stood unchanged, captured in exquisite detail. The evidence before his eyes contradicted the despair within him, reaffirming that everything that happened before he lost consciousness had occurred.

Maybe I shouldn't look for instant gratification.

With that thought, he took a second view of the surrounding area.

Nothing was unusual except a dirt path leading away from the cave. And on the dirt path caused Cyrus' heart to lurch.

There was a body lying on the floor.

Great. Just great.

Cyrus took a deep breath, steadying himself as he approached the lifeless figure. He carefully surveyed his surroundings with deliberate and cautious steps. Each slow movement brought him closer, allowing him to glean more information about the body lying before him.

A human?

To his surprise, a human was lying face-down in the dirt. The man's attire caught Cyrus' attention—a finely tailored black overcoat adorned with meticulous details. The intricate embroidery of a thundercloud adorned the cuffs and back of the coat, showcasing the craftsmanship that went into its creation. Leather padding could also be seen on the shoulders, wrists, and calves, adding a touch of style.

Protection?

Reluctantly, Cyrus held back before gritting his teeth and carefully turned the lifeless body over, his breath catching at the sight before him. The man's face, with his pale wax-like skin, was marred by numerous cracks, like a shattered mannequin—a full of gray hair on his head, a stark contrast to the youthfulness of his visage. But the man's eyes sent shivers down Cyrus' spine—cloudy and devoid of life as if a swirling white fog had taken residence within them.

As Cyrus examined the man's attire, he noticed the intricate details that adorned the black overcoat. The thundercloud embroidery extended beyond the cuffs and also trimmed the lapel. His eyes trailed to the dress shirt beneath, where additional leather padding was visible. This outfit brought a weird thought to his head.

Are you trying to look stylish while fighting? It's not like the people trying to kill you would care. But at least you're human.

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A quick thought appeared in Cyrus' head.

Sigh, I might as well search through your pockets.

Cyrus rifled through the overcoat's pockets only to find a silver medallion and compass.

Its design depicted a fire torch held up by a hand. It lacked any further intricacies or details, leaving Cyrus to wonder about its significance. The brass compass spun nonstop and showed no cardinal directions that Cyrus was used to.

I'll hold onto them for now.

While he did feel somewhat bad about going through a corpse's belongings, Cyrus thought it more prudent to have something useful later on.

Retaking a look at the body, he noticed something amiss. A distinct skid mark marred the otherwise muddy path, leading directly from the direction of the cave he had emerged from to the body.

Someone dragged this body to this spot.

…

It's been three days since Cyrus stepped into this new world, and he's taken residence at the cave he woke up. He decided it was a good idea to do a sanity check and confirm that he was actually in a different world. By now, he's confident that he's not home anymore.

The first thing he did was check his phone to make calls and messages. No response.

Next, he retrieved the compass he had carried in his backpack, comparing it to the one he had obtained from the deceased individual. Both compasses kept spinning without a reason why.

Seeking assurance, Cyrus patiently awaited the arrival of a search and rescue team. He recalled the attempts made by his friends and family to reach out to him before his departure, but no signs of their presence or any rescue efforts emerged.

Finally, he looked and checked out the surroundings of the cave itself. The cave was nestled at the foot of the hillside of Wuriupranili's Peak before he had that insane encounter with the fog, but this hill was much smaller.

Also, over the days, Cyrus has found some disturbing revelations.

First, he noticed that it never grew dark. Despite the constant haze in the sky, it remained bright like a hidden sun or led lights. The perpetual illumination gave an uncanny feeling.

Second was the unsettling silence. The absence of chirping birds and buzzing insects left him in an eerie stillness.

Additionally, he felt a heavy presence, as if an invisible weight draped over him. It impeded his movements, making each step feel slightly more strenuous.

Lastly was the perpetual, all-encompassing fog. It blanketed everything in sight, obstructing Cyrus’ view.

Still, there was a positive. Ever since Cyrus' arrival, he felt a profound sense of rejuvenation, as if his body was invigorated with every breath he took. The sensation of constant refreshment permeated his being in an unexplainable way.

With no landmarks, the only choice I have is the dirt path. I have to find civilization or life before I run out of food.

Cyrus pulled out his phone and camera, knowing he should fully charge them before heading out. So, he took out a universal hand crank charger for them.

I'm so glad I brought this.

He also pulled a multi-tool pocket knife from the pack and put it into his pants for convenience if he ever needed it.

I'm off... To begin again.

Cyrus's heart trembled with anticipation, and a genuine smile spread.

...

Hmm. Maybe I should have given that guy a proper burial.

Cyrus calmly walked through the brush, keeping a constant direction. The surroundings remained unchanged, a continual brightness enveloping the landscape while the ethereal white fog persisted, clinging to everything in its path.

It felt like Cyrus' was being squeezed by the fog, causing him to breathe heavily.

To his dismay, the fog would intermittently swell and engulf the surroundings, obscuring Cyrus' vision to mere inches before him. And when it finally dissipated, he found himself disoriented, for the once familiar landscape had undergone a bewildering transformation. The plants and trees seemed to have shifted positions as if rearranged by unseen hands!

Cyrus resisted the urge to dwell on the inexplicable nature of these occurrences, aware that attempting to unravel their mysteries would only lead to madness. Instead, his mind returned to those magical images implanted by the green glowing object and used those as his goal forward.

Click.

Of course, he took pictures along the way.

I'll eventually hit something, or something will hit me?

Cyrus couldn't break out into a cold sweat with that thought.

Fortunately, the fog seemed to tire of its game and slightly cleared up, allowing Cyrus to behold a sight that sparked a glimmer of hope. A small hamlet lay in the distance, nestled amidst the open plains surrounded by the encroaching forest.

Positioned at a slightly elevated vantage point, Cyrus peered through his binoculars and surveyed the scene before him. Six houses stood in a semi-circle around a serene pond, the remnants of a once small community. However, a sense of eerie stillness hung in the air, and the absence of any signs of life left Cyrus with a sinking feeling. The brightness was giving off an uncanny feel to it.

It should be empty. Right?

Click.

Ah, sweet memories.

Instead of venturing directly into the open field towards the abandoned hamlet, Cyrus exercised caution. He opted to take a more concealed path, weaving through the trees that gave him a measure of cover. He trod his steps silently until he found a suitable spot to leave his pack temporarily.

Spotting a tree with distinctive features, Cyrus carefully placed his pack next to it. Then, to further aid his memory, he made a slight marking on another nearby tree, etching a distinct notch with his trusty knife and aligning it with the location of his pack.

Great. If something happened, the pack wouldn't slow me down, and I could keep my stuff safe. Now I'm ready.

...

At the forest's edge, Cyrus took a long look at the hamlet.

Silence.

If there are people, I need to put on my friendliest face. The language might be a challenge, but I'll try to communicate directions to a larger town. I just want to leave this hellish place. And if there's no one here, maybe I'll find a map.

As he walked closer to the houses, Cyrus' face became serious.

From what I see, the windows had no coverings or glass. I'll jump out and run if something wrong happens.

At least, that was his plan until he heard the crying.