Catalyst of Enigma

"How many would you like, sir?" the vendor inquired, his hands deftly arranging the glistening fruits on the stall.

Aizer hesitated for a moment, scanning the vibrant colours of the apples. "Um, give me six," he finally replied, nodding toward the vendor.

"OK, here you go, sir. That will be 11 copper coins, please," the vendor said, handing over the apples with a practised smile.

"Here you go," Aizer replied, placing the coins into the vendor's outstretched palm.

As he turned to leave, the bustling ambience of the crowded market engulfed him—the lively chatter of merchants, the aroma of freshly baked bread, and the distant laughter of children playing. With his apples in hand, Aizer pondered his next decision.

"What should I choose" he mused, contemplating the weighty question that lingered in his mind.

'Do I want to form a soul core or a spirit body?' He absentmindedly plucked one of the shiny apples from the bag, ready to take a bite.

*Thud!*

Just as he raised the apple to his lips, a small figure collided with him, sending the fruit tumbling from his grasp and rolling across the cobblestone street.

"Jamie!" a voice rang out sternly from behind him, breaking through the cacophony of the market.

A woman rushed forward, urgency painted across her features, grabbing the boy by the arm.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to run off before you listen?" she scolded, her voice sharp yet tinged with concern.

"I'm sorry, Mom," the boy mumbled, his gaze downcast, guilt evident in his young eyes.

"Huh!?" the woman exclaimed, taken aback.

"I said I'm sorry!"

The boy's voice grew bolder, rebelliousness flickering in his demeanour for a brief moment.

"You little brat," the woman seethed, twisting his ear gently yet firmly, "when did you get brave enough to raise your voice at me?"

"Ow, ow! Mom, I'm sorry! I won't do it again!" he pleaded, squirming under her grasp, his voice now laced with genuine remorse.

"Hmph! We'll see how sorry you are when we get home." With that, the woman turned to Aizer, a slight bow of her head softening her harsh demeanour. "I apologize on my son's behalf."

Aizer, watching this scene, bent down to retrieve his fallen apple, brushing off the dirt as he extended it toward her. "Here," he said kindly, offering the fruit.

The woman glanced at the apple, surprise flickering across her face before she accepted it, her expression softening momentarily. "Thank you," she replied, her tone more appreciative now.

"It's alright, really. Don't worry about it," Aizer reassured her, a small smile gracing his lips as he turned and continued on his way.

Meandering through the lively market, Aizer savoured the sweet crunch of his newly acquired apples, their juice refreshing against his tongue.

The morning sun warmed his back as he walked, thoughts swirling in his mind as the colourful fabrics hung at the nearby stalls.

Today, an unexpected situation had occurred to him.

This morning he had gained the original body's memories.

Normally, this would excite Aizer, but after going through them, he was left with a problem with what to choose.

Soul core or spirit body.

Even with his newfound knowledge, uncertainty gnawed at him. Should he pursue a soul core to enhance his physical prowess, or should he opt for a spirit body to gain greater mastery over his abilities?

He bit into the apple, contemplating his choices, the crisp texture invigorating. Rummaging through his bag, he pulled out a book, its worn leather cover intricately embossed with the title:

"Ascertain the Mysteries Behind Your Ability."

"What a fancy name…" he muttered to himself, flipping through the pages with a hint of scepticism.

'This better be worth it,' he sighed, recalling the steep price he'd paid—over 300 gold coins. He tucked the book back into his capacious bag, grateful for its abundant space that accommodated his assortment of purchases.

*Crunch* The satisfying sound echoed as he bit into the apple once more. "Mmm, man, these apples are really sweet. I'll definitely need to come back for more later," he thought, a smile creeping onto his face.

As he strolled about, the market seemed alive with possibility. After exploring for a while, Aizer selected a few more items, his arms now laden with bags and pleasant finds.

Standing across the street, he waited patiently as carriages rattled by, the sound of hooves clattering against the cobblestones resonating in the air. He lifted his foot, ready to cross the road, but then something abrupt and bewildering occurred.

A strange distortion rippled through the fabric of space itself, and suddenly, a blinding white light erupted, illuminating the surroundings and leaving Aizer momentarily disoriented.

....

As clarity returned, Aizer blinked against the aftereffects of the brightness, his gaze sweeping over the scene around him with a mix of wonder and concern.

"Where am I?" he wondered aloud, standing precariously on a thick branch that hovered just above the forest floor.

As he surveyed his surroundings, as he came to a certain realisation He noticed that all he could see were colossal trees that soared into the sky, their massive trunks stretching upward like ancient pillars of green.

Vines, thick and sinewy, dangled from the branches above, some gracefully swaying in the gentle breeze, while others seemed to cling tightly to their arboreal hosts.

The overwhelming presence of these towering giants made Aizer feel as insignificant as a tiny ant, dwarfed by the sheer scale of the verdant world around him. The Sunlight struggled to pierce through the dense canopy of massive leaves, seemingly unable to cast its light upon the shadowy undergrowth.

The muted light created a surreal atmosphere, transforming the forest into an eerie realm that looked both treacherous and foreboding. Adding the sense of being part of an ancient and desolate world.

*crunch* taking another bit of the succulent apple he had pulled out of his bag, Aizer surveyed his surroundings taking deep breaths.

"Hmm, OK, so I've been teleported to a different location."

'I've not been transmigrated again because I still have my spatial bag on me.' Aizer thought this as he observed his body; not noticing anything different, he sighed in relief.

*crunch* I don't know how to feel about this really...

'I was just getting some stuff from the market because I didn't want to wait to go to the school before I unlocked my ability... and now I'm here...'

Wait! Was I the only one who got sent here?

Aizer thought this as he quickly turned around.

He didn't see anyone else around him. All he saw were the abundant towering colossal tree surrounding him, seemingly having no end.

'Hmm, I guess I'm the only one here.'

'Sigh, what horrible luck! I'm completely stuck in the middle of nowhere.'

Aizer grumbled as he sat down on the tree branch mumbling words of frustration ever so often.

Time soon passed as aizer continued to sit on the tree branch.

He had stopped eating the apple he had bought from before. After he finished his last apple a sudden realisation hit.

Now that he was stuck in the middle of nowhere, he realised that 1 he had no way to get food, 2 he had no idea how he was going to get back now that he was stuck in a giant forest.

What made it worse was the fact that he couldn't see or tell what time of day it was because of the dark the forest was.

Realising this annoying reality made Aizers Heart sink.

And what made it sink even more was the fact that he only had 3 apples left.

He had given one of the 6 apples on a whim to a woman, whose child had bumped into him. He had then eaten the other two himself.

Azier started inwardly complaining.

'Dam it! Just why did I have to give that woman my apple?'

'Had I saved it, I would have at least 4 on me right now.. *sigh* oh well it's not like I could known this would happen..'

Aizer sighed as he scratched his head.

'Well since I have nothing else to do, I might as well read that book I bought from the shop.'

'Who knows, if I follow the steps in here, I just might be able to Awaken my ability. If I succeed In unlocking them then I just might be able to find a way out of here.'

Aizer mused as he stared off into the distance, a small bit of hope emerging in his mind.