Soft morning light slowly filled the room.
Aarav's eyes opened.
For a moment, he didn't move.
His body felt heavy. His mind even heavier.
Like he had just come back from somewhere far away… and left something unfinished there.
The wooden ceiling above him came into focus.
Unfamiliar.
"…Where…?"
His voice was quiet, dry.
He turned his head slightly.
The room was small, but clean. Wooden walls, neatly arranged. A window nearby let in warm sunlight, making dust particles glow faintly in the air.
A shelf stood against the wall.
Small glass bottles.
Dried herbs.
The air smelled faintly bitter.
Medicinal.
Aarav frowned slightly.
*This isn't my room.*
That thought came first.
The second followed immediately—
The ruined city.
The monster.
The voice.
"You shouldn't be here yet."
For a brief second, his chest tightened.
Then—
He tried to sit up.
"Ah—!"
Pain shot through his ribs.
Sharp.
Real.
Aarav immediately grabbed his side and leaned back.
"…Okay… that still hurts."
So it wasn't just a dream.
Or at least—
Not completely.
"You shouldn't move too much."
A calm voice broke through his thoughts.
Aarav turned his head.
A girl stood beside a wooden table.
Around his age.
Long dark hair rested over her shoulders. Her expression was calm, but her eyes carried a quiet seriousness.
In her hands, she held a small bowl filled with something that smelled… questionable.
"You woke up earlier," she said. "But you fainted again."
Aarav blinked once.
Twice.
Trying to process.
"…Where am I?"
"My house."
She placed the bowl beside the bed.
Aarav stared at her.
"That explains… almost nothing."
The girl crossed her arms slightly.
"My name is Meera."
A small pause.
"And you are?"
"…Aarav."
She repeated it slowly.
"Aa-rav."
Like she was making sure she got it right.
Then she asked—
"Which kingdom are you from?"
Aarav frowned.
"…Kingdom?"
Meera blinked once.
"Yes. Kingdom."
Aarav rubbed his forehead.
"…Yeah, okay. That confirms it."
Meera tilted her head slightly.
"Confirms what?"
Aarav exhaled slowly.
"This is going to sound stupid."
She didn't interrupt.
Didn't react.
Just waited.
"…I think I came from another world."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Meera stared at him.
No blinking.
No reaction.
Just… staring.
A few seconds passed.
Then she spoke.
Calm.
Flat.
"You hit your head, didn't you?"
Aarav sighed.
"Yeah… I expected that."
Honestly—fair.
He wouldn't believe it either.
Before he could say anything else—
The door opened.
An older woman entered, carrying a basket filled with herbs.
The moment she saw Aarav awake, her expression softened.
"Oh! You're awake!"
Meera turned slightly.
"Mother, he just woke up."
The woman placed the basket down and walked closer, her steps quick but gentle.
"That's good. When Meera brought you here, we were worried."
Aarav blinked.
"…She brought me here?"
He looked at Meera.
She nodded simply.
"I found you unconscious near the forest."
Aarav paused.
Forest?
His last memory was—
Darkness.
Falling.
That voice.
"You shouldn't be here yet."
"…Right," he muttered under his breath.
The woman smiled warmly.
"My name is Lila. I'm Meera's mother."
There was something comforting about her voice.
Natural.
Kind.
Aarav nodded slightly.
"…Nice to meet you."
Before the moment could settle—
Another voice came from outside.
"Meera! Is the boy awake?"
Heavy footsteps followed.
A tall man stepped inside.
He looked like someone used to physical work—broad shoulders, steady posture, sharp but calm eyes.
His gaze immediately landed on Aarav.
"So you're finally awake."
Meera spoke.
"Father, this is Aarav."
The man gave a small nod.
"I'm Daren."
He studied Aarav for a moment.
Not aggressively.
Just… carefully.
Then he spoke again—
"Well, whoever you are—you're safe here."
Simple.
Direct.
No suspicion.
No interrogation.
Just… acceptance.
Aarav didn't respond immediately.
That kind of trust—
Felt strange.
Daren gestured toward the window.
"This is a small village. Western side of the fields."
Aarav slowly turned his head.
Outside—
He saw it.
Small wooden houses.
Open farmland stretching into the distance.
People walking, talking, working.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Alive.
Nothing like—
The ruined world.
For a brief moment, the two images overlapped in his mind.
Broken buildings.
Collapsed roads.
Dust and silence.
Then—
This.
Warm sunlight.
Movement.
Life.
Aarav exhaled slowly.
"…So it's real."
Meera looked at him.
"What is?"
Aarav didn't answer immediately.
His eyes stayed on the outside world.
Then—
Quietly—
"…I'm really in another world."
He said it like a joke.
But it didn't feel like one.
And somewhere deep inside—
A small, uncomfortable thought remained.
*Then what was that other place?*
For a second—
He almost tried to think about it again.
The city.
The voice.
That feeling.
But then—
Meera picked up the bowl and held it toward him.
"You should drink this."
Aarav looked at it.
Suspicious.
"…Is it supposed to look like that?"
Meera didn't react.
"It will help your body recover."
Aarav stared at the bowl.
Then at her.
Then back at the bowl.
"…If I die, I'm blaming you."
"For what?" she asked calmly.
"For trusting you."
"…You're already injured."
"Details."
Meera sighed softly.
But there was a faint hint of amusement in her eyes.
Aarav carefully took the bowl.
The smell hit him immediately.
"…Yeah, this is definitely medicine."
He took a small sip.
Instant regret.
"—Why does it taste like punishment?!"
Meera remained completely serious.
"It's good for you."
Aarav stared at her.
"You say that like it justifies everything."
She didn't respond.
Which somehow made it worse.
For the first time since waking up—
Aarav felt something shift.
Not confusion.
Not fear.
Something lighter.
Small.
But real.
And without realizing it—
The ruined world in his mind…
Faded slightly into the background.
Not gone.
Just… quieter.
---
End of Chapter 5
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