Re:of life

I-I… I-I—I want-want back, I want… Want… Want… Need to get back… I want to… Let me get back, I want to get back… Come on… Where the fuck! is it!

"Not there." "Not here." "Here? No." "Wait? No, that's not it." "Come on!!!" "Where! Where! Where!"

Dumb shit! Fuck! The fuck did I do! Why the fuck! Why! Did I lose it! Why did I lose it! Peace of fucking shit! I fucking hate you!!! fate! I lived such a great life! I lived a life I had dreamed of for my whole got damn life! And now—NOW you just rip it away from me! "Just get me back to the life I could live without my old regrets, the life I had completed my desires for, the one where I lived happily!" "I fucking hate you!!! Hate-hate-hate-hate you!!! Who or what ever did this, if it was fate or a god or whatever it was, the hell? You ripped it away from me! Why the fuck did you rip it away. What have I done to deserve that!!!"

"Give it back! Give my life back! Give that one life back!"

Where… Where…. Where… Where… WHERE…. WHERE!!!

"Dha!-dha!-dha!-dha!-dha!-dha…!"

Laughter echoes from under a tree, followed by small, chattering voices. I glance over—small trolls? Or are they… something else? What are they? They're so small… Are they dangerous?

The one farthest to the front points a stubby finger at me, shouting something incomprehensible. "Ukjsa!!!" The little troll's scream signals the others, who immediately begin arguing with each other, yelling and shoving like a chaotic swarm. Some even start hitting each other, swinging wildly and fighting amongst themselves.

But then… they stop. Their focus sharpens, and before long, they charge at me, a small rumble forming beneath their mismatched, stomping steps.

"Ahhh!!!" "Kjuuuu!!!" "Dughaaaa!!!" "Kjuuuuaaaa!!!!"

Their screams are harsh and sharp, almost like they're cursing at me. But why? What did I do?!

For a moment, my mind flickers back to the kingdom—the gate, the wall I need to find—but their screeching tears me back to the present. I stand there, frozen, watching them approach. They're small… so small. What could they even do?

Then I spot one—a troll hefting a tiny, rusted sword. It trips over its own feet and crashes to the ground, the blade plunging harmlessly into the dirt.

Frozen.

That's what I am. I can't move. But I realize it too late—these things might actually be dangerous. Some are carrying knives; others bare jagged, sharp teeth.

Move. I need to move. They're slow, but there are too many of them! If I stay here, I'll let them overwhelm me, tear me apart. I can't let that happen! Please… legs, listen to me!

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I regain control. I take a step backward, then another, and soon I'm running. But as I look around, my heart sinks.

There's not just one small army anymore.

The swarm is growing, spreading like a flood. They're everywhere. Surrounding me, cutting off every path.

My thoughts spiral and my body trembles in fear…

A spell—should I cast one? But no, that would take too long. What should I do? What can I do?!

Am I… Am I going to die again!?

"—!"'

"Kill these Nusks before moving on! They're yours, Ronan!"

A powerful voice cuts through the air as a knife whistles past, piercing the skull of a small troll just before it could reach me. The troll's body crumples lifelessly to the ground, but the others pay it no mind, rushing forward in a chaotic frenzy.

A man suddenly appears in front of me. His stance is calm yet commanding, exuding confidence. He moves like someone who knows these trolls pose no real threat to him. Before I can take a closer look, he vanishes into the fray, tearing through the trolls one by one with precise throws of his daggers. His movements are sharp and fluid, each slash of his blades cutting cleanly through their small, writhing forms.

"Your turn, Althea!" The same authoritative voice calls out, now directing a new name.

The brownish-red-haired man—Ronan, I assume—glances up with an expression of mild annoyance, as if disappointed the fight is nearing its end. Despite that, a faint smile lingers on his face as he tilts his head back to look skyward.

A fiery glow illuminates the forest. A brilliant red flame swells in the air, growing larger by the second. Above us, a figure emerges, holding a staff. The fire bursts forth, consuming the trolls in its blazing heat. They scream and writhe, but before the flames even touch their skin, they turn to ash, their remains scattering into the wind.

As the fire dissipates, the mana fueling it dissolves harmlessly into the air, leaving the forest untouched by the inferno. The caster, a slender and strikingly beautiful young woman, floats gracefully midair. Her dark, violet-tinted hair swirls around her as if moved by the very magic she wields. She grips her staff tightly, her expression calm and composed, as if casting such a powerful spell were nothing more than routine.

"Hey!" Ronan shouts, breaking the brief silence. "You told me they were mine to kill! Sure, Althea looked hot as always, but still—you promised! Come on!"

A new figure steps forward from the trees. This must be the one who's been issuing commands. His presence is commanding but not overly harsh. He walks with confidence, a slight smirk playing on his lips as Ronan continues to complain.

Who are these people? Why did they save me? And where the hell did they come from?

Wait—I'm alive. That realization crashes over me like a wave. They saved me, and here I am, standing like an idiot, too caught up in their battle to even acknowledge it.

"I know, I know. I told you that because if I'd mentioned Althea was going to help, you'd just argue about it, saying you could handle it yourself. And I believe you could," the man explained, his tone serious and firm yet balanced by a calm smile. "But with Althea's help, it was faster and more efficient. You'll need your energy for the next fight."

The newcomer's presence radiates authority. Judging by the way he speaks and the way the others respond to him, it's obvious—this must be their leader.

"I get it, I get it…" Ronan murmurs, sighing before turning his attention to me. "So, anyway, what are you doing out here? You don't seem like the kind of guy who can defend himself too well. Correct me if I'm wrong."

Yeah… No. Come on, Kaito, speak!

I shake my head, trying to gather my words before they tumble out. "Oh… Uh, yeah. Well, I'm not quite sure how I got here… Mind if I ask where I am?" Ugh, that sounded dumb. Not knowing how I got here? Sure, it's true, but still… it sounds ridiculous.

"Huh? You don't know how you got here? That's gotta be a joke! Haha, good one," Ronan chuckles, brushing it off with a playful grin. "But no worries, I'll tell you where you are—Hey, Orin! What was this place called again?"

This guy… First, he thinks I'm joking about not knowing how I got here, and a moment later, he doesn't even know where he is himself.

Orin, the man walking up to us, sighs before answering, "We're near Jorhavn village. It's not far from this forest. We're here on a guild quest to take down a monster. You can tag along, and afterward, we'll show you the way to the village. It's nothing too strong, so you can just hang back and watch if you'd prefer."

It would definitely be safer to follow them. I mean, what if I end up alone with those trolls again? I'd probably be done for.

"I see, so Jorhavn? I've never heard of that village before. Anyway, if you don't mind, I'd be glad to follow you. I wouldn't really want to be attacked again." Nor be able to survive…

Asking about other things can wait for later, so finding out where Luminara is will have to wait.

"Yeah, don't worry, we'd be glad to have you. Anyway, what's your name?" Ronan takes over the conversation as Orin falls silent, almost as if he knew Ronan would pick up the speaking.

"My name is Kaito Nakamura," I answer politely, bowing my head slightly. "And you, sir? What's your name?"

"So polite… hahaha, where are you from? A noble household? I didn't even think about that suit of yours—it looks fancy. Anyway, my name is Ronan. This guy here is Orin, our leader. The one casting that fire spell was Althea. We've got two others, but I believe they can introduce themselves." His casual tone makes it clear that I might've been a bit too polite. I've only been introducing myself this way for the past few weeks, so I guess I let my tongue slip without thinking.

"Yeah, sorry, I let my words slip without thinking. Anyway, so Ronan, where are these other two you were talking about?" I ask, trying to keep my tone steady.

"They should be waiting by the monster we came here for. We don't know what kind of creature it is yet, but it's just a low-ranked job with decent pay. It shouldn't be too far from here… I'm guessing Althea already headed over there, but they won't start attacking until Orin shows up," Ronan explains. His tone is cocky yet lighthearted, as if the whole thing is nothing more than a stroll in the park.

"Yeah… Let's go. This way." Orin brushes off Ronan's commentary and strides deeper into the forest. His posture is straight, his movements deliberate, exuding an air of pride and composure. A blade hangs at his left waist, his hand resting confidently on its hilt as his quiet yet purposeful steps carry him into the shadowy depths of the forest.