The Shattered Star

"R…"

"…en"

'Who is it?'

"Ren!"

A voice pierced through the fog, sharp and insistent.

Ren stirred with a groan, his head pounding as consciousness clawed its way back. The world around him was far from silent—a rushing river gurgled nearby, its sound mingling with the rustling leaves and distant calls of unfamiliar birds. The air smelled damp and earthy, tinged with the faint metallic scent of wet stone.

He pushed himself up, his fingers digging into soft, damp dirt. Shadows from the dense canopy above shifted with the breeze, casting fragmented patterns across the forest floor. The light was dim but alive, filtering through the trees.

'Where… am I?'

His breath caught as he glanced at his hands—still human, pale, and unmarred. Relief flooded him for a moment, but a chill of unease quickly followed. Something felt wrong, unfamiliar.

Raising his hand to wipe sweat from his brow, his fingers brushed against something alien. He froze. Slowly, he reached up and felt it again: long, pointed ears.

His pulse quickened. Turning his head slightly, his eyes fell on a sleek tail that swayed behind him, covered in interlocking scales that glinted faintly in the filtered light. The smooth, flexible appendage twitched as though alive, responding to his movements.

"What the…?" His voice was shaky, almost swallowed by the ambient noise of the forest.

Scrambling to his feet, Ren stumbled toward the riverbank, desperate for clarity. The water was calm, reflecting the trees and sky above with a deceptive stillness. Leaning over, he saw his reflection.

His face was there—but not entirely his own. His features were sharper, more angular. The pointed ears framed his disheveled black hair, and his dark eyes glinted with an otherworldly sheen. His tail moved slightly in the corner of his vision, a constant reminder of its presence.

"No… This isn't real," he muttered, his voice trembling. He splashed water on his face, desperate to wake up, to escape this nightmare. But when he looked again, his reflection remained the same.

His knees buckled, and he sank to the ground, gripping his hair with both hands as memories flooded back—the collapsing school, the deafening quake, and Haruto's desperate face.

'Haruto… you saved me.'

His chest tightened as the image of Haruto's last moments replayed. Guilt stabbed through him like a blade.

"Why am I alive?" he whispered, his voice barely audible above the rushing river. "Why me… and not you?"

A bird's startled cry broke his thoughts. Ren looked up, scanning the treetops. The forest felt alive, but not comforting—its vibrancy carried an edge of unfamiliar danger. His gaze returned to his hands, now trembling.

'This… this isn't Earth. Or at least, not the Earth I know.'

Before he could dwell further, a rustling in the underbrush caught his attention. He turned sharply, his heart pounding. The sound grew louder, accompanied by the crunch of leaves underfoot.

The low growl deepened, vibrating through the ground beneath Ren's feet. Emerging from the shadows, the wolf stepped into view. Its wiry, muscular frame moved with a predatory grace. The fur covering its body alternated between stark black and white, shimmering unnaturally, each strand resembling sharpened blades that glinted dangerously in the dim light.

Its crimson eyes locked onto him, their glow malevolent and unnerving. The creature's lips curled back, revealing jagged fangs dripping with saliva. Each drop sizzled as it hit the mossy ground, leaving scorched patches in its wake.

Ren's heart pounded in his chest as the wolf began to circle him, its steps slow and deliberate. Every movement screamed predatory precision, as though it was savoring the moment before the kill.

Grabbing a thick branch from the ground, Ren held it in front of him like a makeshift shield, his knuckles white as he gripped it tightly.

Without warning, the wolf lunged—a blur of black and white.

Ren barely dodged, throwing himself to the ground as the creature's claws slashed through the air inches from his face. The sound of its fur slicing through the wind was unnervingly sharp, like the hiss of a blade being drawn from its sheath.

Pain erupted in his arm as the edge of the wolf's fur grazed him. Blood spattered onto the ground, the wound deep and searing. It wasn't just a cut—it burned, as though the wolf's fur carried a toxin.

"Damn it!" Ren gasped, clutching his bleeding arm. The wolf turned to face him, pacing back and forth with calculated menace, its crimson eyes never leaving its prey.

'It's playing with me,' he realized, dread settling in his gut.

The wolf lunged again, its claws raking against the ground as it charged. Ren swung the branch with all his strength, the wood cracking against the wolf's shoulder. The creature staggered slightly but recovered almost instantly, shaking itself off with a snarl.

The movement sent several of its razor-like fur strands flying toward Ren. He ducked just in time, but one strand grazed his cheek, leaving a stinging, shallow cut.

'Even its fur is a weapon…'

The wolf snarled, its growls rumbling deep and guttural, vibrating through Ren's bones. It leapt again, and this time, Ren barely rolled out of the way. He scrambled backward, his hand brushing against something hard—a jagged rock, half-buried in the dirt.

The wolf turned, its movements fluid and relentless. Blood dripped from its claws, the faint metallic scent mixing with the earthiness of the forest.

Ren's hands trembled as he gripped the rock. He was cornered, and the wolf knew it. Its lips curled into what almost resembled a mocking grin, revealing those impossibly sharp fangs.

'It's too fast. Too strong. I can't…'

The wolf lunged again, jaws snapping inches from Ren's face. Desperation took over as he drove the jagged rock into the wolf's hind leg.

The creature yelped, the sound high-pitched and grating, its momentum faltering. For the first time, it bled—thick, dark blood oozed from the wound, staining its fur.

But the wolf wasn't done. Its head whipped around, jaws snapping at Ren as its claws tore through the ground in fury.

Ren used the brief moment to crawl backward, his eyes darting to a cluster of exposed roots nearby. They twisted together like a cage, forming a potential trap.

'If I can just…'

The wolf lunged again, its claws extended. Ren feinted left, then rolled to the right, baiting the creature toward the roots. The wolf snarled, falling for the ploy.

As it leapt toward him, Ren dove forward, grabbing another rock. The wolf's claws caught in the roots, tangling it momentarily.

Seizing the opportunity, Ren scrambled onto its back, gripping the rock tightly. With a guttural shout, he drove the jagged stone into the base of its neck, twisting it with all his strength.

The wolf thrashed violently, its razor-like fur cutting into Ren's arms and legs. Blood sprayed across the clearing as the creature howled in pain. Its body convulsed, muscles twitching uncontrollably as it tried to shake him off.

The pain was excruciating. Ren's hands burned from the contact with its toxic fur, and every movement sent fresh agony through his body.

But he didn't stop.

"Haruto… you didn't save me for this!" Ren growled through clenched teeth. "I won't die here. I won't waste this chance!"

With one final push, he drove the rock deeper into the wolf's neck.

The wolf's final howl echoed in the clearing before its body collapsed, convulsing once before going still. Ren staggered back, gasping for air, his limbs heavy with exhaustion. His blood dripped onto the forest floor, pooling in vivid red against the moss.

But the wolf wasn't done.

Its body twitched, and its fur bristled once more. Before Ren could react, dozens of razor-sharp strands shot out, embedding themselves into his legs and arms like needles.

The pain was instant and overwhelming, like molten fire coursing through his veins. His muscles seized, and he fell to the ground, his limbs refusing to obey him. Every breath felt like a battle, his vision swimming as darkness threatened to pull him under.

A low, guttural snarl broke the tense silence.

From the shadows, a goblin emerged. Its grotesque form was hunched, its green skin slick with grime. Beady black eyes gleamed with malice as it grinned, revealing jagged, yellow teeth. In its clawed hand, it clutched a crude, bloodstained dagger.

The goblin approached slowly, savoring the sight of its prey. Ren's vision blurred further, and his limbs remained paralyzed.

'No… not like this. Not after everything.'

The dagger rose—

And stopped mid-air.

The goblin's eyes widened, its expression twisting from malice to terror as it clawed at its throat. It choked on invisible air, its body convulsing violently.

A boy stepped into the clearing, his dark brown hair messy but deliberate. His light armor bore scratches and dirt from battle, and a longsword hung at his side. His piercing green eyes glinted with a cold resolve as he extended a hand, mana swirling faintly around his fingers.

With a flick of his wrist, the goblin's struggles ceased, its lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

Are you alright?" the boy asked, his voice steady but firm.

Ren tried to respond, but exhaustion overwhelmed him. Darkness claimed him once more.

***

When Ren woke, the soft crackle of a campfire greeted him. He lay on a rough, medieval-like futon, his wounds neatly bandaged with strips of coarse fabric. His body ached, but the deep gashes he remembered were now faint scars, barely visible in the dim firelight.

The boy who had saved him sat nearby, tending to a pot suspended over the fire. The faint aroma of herbs filled the air, blending with the earthy scent of the forest. The boy's light armor, scratched and weathered, reflected the firelight faintly, and his sword lay within arm's reach.

"You're awake," the boy said, glancing at him briefly. His green eyes, sharp and watchful, caught the firelight as he stirred the pot with deliberate movements.

Ren winced as he tried to sit up, his body protesting with every movement. "Don't move too much," the boy added, his tone matter-of-fact. "You're lucky to be alive."

Ren stared at him for a moment, taking in the boy's calm demeanor. His short, dark brown hair was slightly tousled, and though he looked no older than seventeen, his composed manner hinted at experience far beyond his years.

"You… saved me," Ren said finally.

The boy nodded. "I did."

"Thank you," Ren managed, though his gaze dropped to the ground as unease set in. "But… I don't understand. My wounds… they shouldn't have healed this much. How…?"

The boy turned his head slightly, his green eyes glinting with the firelight. Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out a small vial filled with a faintly glowing, golden liquid. "This," he said, holding it up. "It's a rank 3 restorative tincture, refined from qi and mana by an alchemist. Pretty standard if you can afford it, though it's usually reserved for guilds or the military."

Ren blinked, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the shimmering liquid. "Qi and… mana?" he echoed, the words foreign and unsettling.

Bell nodded, sliding the vial back into his pouch. "Yeah. It accelerates healing and restores vitality. Without it, you'd have bled out before I even reached you."

Ren's chest tightened as the realization hit him. "Qi… mana… alchemy…" he murmured, the words feeling alien on his tongue. His eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings—the medieval campfire, Bell's armor, the distant glow of fireflies weaving through the dense forest. Nothing made sense.

"This isn't my world," Ren said quietly, his voice trembling as the weight of the statement sank in. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His mind raced with fragments of his old life—the collapse of the school, Haruto's face, the overwhelming darkness—and now this.

Bell frowned slightly, his gaze flickering with curiosity. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as they roved over Ren. "You're not like the other elves I've seen," he said suddenly. "And the tail… Are you some kind of elf and demon hybrid?"

Ren stiffened, his mind scrambling for an answer. His tail twitched involuntarily, drawing Bell's gaze briefly before it returned to meet Ren's.

"Y-yeah!" Ren stammered, forcing a weak smile. His thoughts spiraled. 'Hybrid? I guess it's better than saying I'm something completely different… He'll never believe the truth.'

Bell tilted his head, still scrutinizing Ren's appearance. "Strange. Hybrids aren't exactly common, and you don't look like you're from around here."

Ren's stomach sank as Bell's curiosity deepened. "What are you doing in the middle of the forest? You've got no gear, no supplies… You're either incredibly stupid or incredibly unlucky."

Ren hesitated, searching for a logical excuse. "I… I don't remember," he said finally, his voice faltering slightly. "I must have lost everything. The next thing I knew, I woke up here. My memories are… blurry."

Bell studied him for a long moment, his green eyes unrelenting. Then he leaned back against the tree, his expression softening slightly. "Amnesia, huh? Convenient."

Ren forced a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah… convenient."

Bell shrugged, turning back to the fire. "Well, whatever the case, you're alive now. But you'll need more than luck if you plan to survive out here."

After a moment of silence, Ren's gaze wandered to a strange, vibrant fruit hanging from a low branch nearby. Its surface was smooth, and its color shifted subtly, like the iridescent scales of a fish. Curiosity sparked despite his confusion, and he reached out to grab it.

"Don't touch that," Bell said sharply, swatting his hand away.

Ren recoiled, startled. "What? It's just a fruit!"

Bell chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a Deathblossom. One bite of that, and you'll be dead before you can even regret it."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Who names these things?"

Bell smirked. "Nature doesn't care about names, but the name fits. I'm surprised you don't even know that… even when you live on Earth."

Ren froze, the casual mention hitting him harder than expected. "Wait… Earth? This is Earth?"

Bell tilted his head, puzzled. "Of course it is. What else would it be?"

Ren's mind raced. 'It doesn't make sense. This… this isn't the Earth I know… everything is different.'

Bell, noticing his silence, leaned back against the tree trunk. "You've really lost it, huh? You might want to figure things out before you go wandering into Baldour City. They don't take kindly to the clueless."

"Baldour City?" Ren asked, latching onto the unfamiliar name.

Bell nodded. "It's the nearest city from here. If you want answers—or just a roof over your head—you'll need to start there."

Ren stared into the fire, the embers glowing like tiny stars in the darkness. 'Baldour City… I need to go there. If I'm going to survive—and find out why I'm still alive—I can't stay here.'

Bell stretched, yawning slightly. "We'll head out at dawn. Get some rest while you can."

Ren lay back on the futon, his thoughts heavy with unanswered questions. As exhaustion began to claim him, one thought lingered above the rest: 'Haruto… I promise I won't waste the second chance you gave me.'

After seeing Ren drift into a restless sleep, Bell sat by the dying embers of the campfire, his gaze lingering on the boy. He tilted his head, his brows furrowed in thought. "An elf? No… not quite."

His eyes traveled lower, catching sight of the sleek, scaled tail that swayed slightly even in sleep. The faint firelight danced across its hexagonal patterns, giving it an almost metallic sheen.

"A hybrid?" Bell whispered, his tone both curious and wary. "But of what?"

He shook his head, leaning back against a tree. The forest around them fell silent, with only the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. With a sigh, Bell tossed another log onto the fire and stretched out, his armor clinking softly.

"Whatever he is… I'll figure it out later."

And with that, Bell let his weariness take over, falling into a light sleep under the canopy of stars.