//3rd Pov
Standing deep within the jungles of the fallen empire of Shurima, an ancient, advanced star-shaped fortress stands tall above a dense, vicious rainforest.
Whump-whump
Warm air lifted the raptor feathers as it descended.
Screeek!
His keen eyes scanned the city below it had flown over a hundred times.
Swishh!
The fog opened.
Slab roads split through the city as moss and wild plants sprouted through every crack. Teens in vibrant uniforms roam the roads, some carrying scrolls, artifacts, others sparring or practicing under the purple light of water orbs connected by twisted root-poles.
Flap-Flap
The raptor flapped its wings, rising past tangled rooftops and moving arch bridges as the living quarters stayed behind.
The speed decreased passing up the last bridge. Here, voices died down, blending with the raising ribbon-smoke from braziers.
Ahead, a meticulous, green, spacious garden waited.
The raptor reached the garden and circled the center, flying around the magnificent statue of the grand ancestral Yun Ne'Zuk, reigning with a serene expression.
At the lawn,
some meditated cross-legged. Some whispered beside ponds. Others simply laid on the field in thought, staring up at the legendary figure.
.
//1st Pov
The ground shook, the air trembled.
ZAP!
For a moment more than a second, everything moved fast as I crossed a bizarre plane.
I could see energy, feel intentions, hear emotions, the world opening in different shapes and colors I can't name.
My brain couldn't process it.
The next instant everything changed again. I came back—no—I really did cross whatever that was to reach reality again.
My senses were still dull.
The first thing I noticed was the smoke covering my vision and the ground trembling. Then the smell of pulverized rocks and the wet sound of debris falling.
'What's happening,'
Coff!
'Did it work?'
I coughed, covering my mouth to stop the smoke from reaching my lungs. Eyes scanning for information.
'Where did it sent me?'
To my feet I noticed large debris, probably pieces of a larger figure, a statue. I turned, confirming my suspicion.
I walked to get out of the smoke,
But when my boots smashed the grass, voices reached my ears.
"...would do such a THING!"
"THE ANCESTRAL STATUE!"
"IT NEARLY KILLED ME!"
My eyes pierced the smoke and saw robed figures surrounding the chaos. They used some type of protective talismans as it floated to form an energy shield around them. They were furious.
Then the dots connect,
I used recall, a teleportation spell, into a statue. It broke and people were mad, searching for me.
'Did they say it was their ancestral? Shit, I'm fucked.'
'No, wait, maybe I can explain what happened, say it was an accident. After all, we are all reasonable beings.'
A voice:
"Whoever did this, I'm actually impressed. Stupidity indeed can reach great lengths."
"Yes. The Yuns had killed for less."
'...'
I zoomed away.
Dashing the opposite direction of the voices, I cut through the smoke, jumped some debris on the grass and jumped when I noticed a stairway. Then, the smoke opened.
And the world seemed to slow as I witness:
A magical-sophisticated society.
Strange houses made of frozen rock waves. Brick-floors. Lightpoles that resembled magical wands with a swirling body. Towers, arenas, huge installations with colorful explosions, and lots and lots of moving parts.
My feet finally landed, knees and ankles squinting slightly as it absorbed the impact.
I continued sprinting.
'I need to hide somewhere!'
My head turned left and right in search of a back alley.
There was none.
"What do you think, master?"
"It's great. You're progressing smoothly, soon—"
A teen and a bald elderly moved beside, they turned their head towards me as I passed. Others did the same.
"...who's that master? And why is he covered in white dust?"
"Hm... A newcomer perhaps. The dust, perhaps, is from the explosion just now."
I sensed the elder gaze.
"What a weird attire. His araktis also seems strange."
Bling!
I pushed the door of a store open,
'Thafuk 'is a araktis? Anyways there's no place to hide outside, so I must...'
I froze. The store was filled with people in refined silk and decorated in detailed jewels. They reached for bottles at the stands, one rested his elbows on the emerald glass counter. The place was full.
They all paused their conversations and turned their heads towards me.
"Fuck." I muttered before I smacked the door shut and left, searching for another place.
More running, my lungs burned, I couldn't rest properly the whole day.
The rune 'Second wind' helped restore my body's health, but my mind still felt tired.
'I can't think of anything that would explain the way I look without looking suspicious.'
Then, my gaze passed through a tall, thick tree, then onto the movement of the street above; Three teens with their arms raised, trembling against an unstable, floating sphere of water.
My eyes sharpened.
I tilted my torso sideways, stepping the tree-trunk to propel me higher. [Flashed] upwards and grabbed the upper level floor. After rolling and standing up I jumped at the sphere.
SPLASH!
Water flew to all sides. They covered their faces but still were soaked by the water.
"Ahh!"
"...you fool! What have you done!"
One boy shouted.
"You messed with our assignment!"
"We were so close..."
After a brief apology, I walked away. They were mad, but they also didn't press further. As they seemed in a hurry to get that spell right.
My steps left a trail of water, but my body was already steaming it as my internal temperature rose to warm me up.
'Fire bending is so useful.'
I roamed until dawn when I reached a magnificent, wide circle stairway leading down.
My hands tightened around the handrail,
The stairs below creaked like a ship as it moved, connecting between the different levels of the city.
Night was close,
Yet I stood there and stared at the huge spiral stair.
"So cool," I commented in a tired voice.
There were small groups walking onto them. All in silk clothes.
I observed myself; a tactical gear, gloves, backpack, blades crossed at my back...
"I really need to change."
Murmur
Murmur
At distance levels, I could hear a commotion rising. Probably because of me, and the statue I left in pieces.
My head throbbed sharp around my temples.
"Just give me a break. I'm too tired for this."
My advantage is that they didn't see who did it, but words about a weird guy in white dust probably reached the authorities already.
'I need to find new clothes fast. And I need to find a place to sleep,'
There's no one to vouch for me and lots who's after, but before I can think of any plan I need a rest. Or I might just die today.
"Why do bad things happen to good people..."
...
The sky was dark.
After stealing—finding new clothes, I reached a luxurious balcony and entered an empty room.
Thud.
I dropped my gear on the floor, not wasting time.
I couldn't even see properly because my eyes were blurry, so I just succumbed to exhaustion and dropped dead on the mattress.
The soft material engulfed my body.
The feeling was heavenly.
Moments before I passed out I noticed a feminine, faint sweet smell.
.
//3rd Pov
The next morning, in the same room. Before the first ray of light.
Wind blew easily against the long white hair and silk transparent robe of a seductive, curvy figure.
"This,"
Her beautiful brown skin caught traces of light at her hips. Her arms crossed, displeased.
"...how absurd." Her thin eyebrows tensed.
"Someone was causing a scene, and now a fool dared lay in my bed?"
Her fingers tapped her fire-gust tattoo.
The atmosphere around her grew dangerous.