Scene change.
Athena walked along the winding path. Sunlight filtered through her blonde hair. In the distance, she could see the outlines of mountains and forests, the shimmering river snaking through the land. It was beautiful.
The path began to slope upward, twisting through dense woods with towering trees. Sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Athena heard the gentle sound of flowing water nearby. She followed the sound, pushing through the bushes until she reached a small clearing.
There, a river flowed, its water crystal clear, reflecting the sky like a mirror. Athena approached cautiously, kneeling by the edge. She reached out her hand, fingers brushing the water's surface. It was cold—so cold it made her gasp.
She cupped the water in her hands and drank to quench her thirst. The river water refreshed her. Then, she cupped it again and splashed it over her face, washing away sweat. The gentle gurgle of water filled the quiet air.
But as she opened her eyes after rinsing, something caught her attention—a small cream-colored object floating on the surface, drifting towards the riverbank.
"Huh?"
Athena blinked in confusion before realization struck. "Whoa!" She stumbled back as she saw it was the body of a drowning fairy.
Quickly, she crawled forward and lifted the green-haired fairy out of the water.
"Hey... you still alive?" Athena shook the fairy's naked body roughly. "Hey!" she shook her again.
"Ugh..." The fairy groaned, stretching out her arms. Athena stared with hope, eyes wide.
Finally, the fairy woke, coughing, looking around in confusion before meeting Athena's gaze. Athena sighed in relief.
"Where am I? Did you... save me?" the fairy asked. Athena nodded.
The fairy glanced around, her green eyes wide with confused. Her hair was soaked, and she seemed to struggle to recall what had happened. Athena watched as realization slowly dawned on her face — memories of almost drowning returned quickly.
"I... I remember now," the fairy whispered, voice trembling.
"I was drinking from the river when I slipped and fell. The current was too strong; I couldn't swim... I thought I was going to die." She looked at Athena, a mix of gratitude and awe in her expression. "You saved me. Thank you."
Athena nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She was glad she could help, even if by accident.
The fairy sat up slowly, rubbing her head. For the first time, Athena noticed the fairy was completely naked.
Athena looked her over from head to toe. "Um... fairy, why are you... naked?" Athena asked. The fairy's cheeks flushed.
"Oh! D-don't be confused, we fairies have tiny bodies, so... w-we don't wear clothes, especially since we don't need them! Hehe," the fairy said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"I see..." Athena said, trying to reassure her. She stood up while still holding the fairy in her palm.
"I'm Mary. Nice to meet you," the fairy said with a smile.
"I'm Athena Rei," she replied. "Nice to meet you too."
Mary looked at Athena with curiosity, her green eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Athena Rei, huh? That's a nice name. You're not from around here, are you?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I could tell by the way you speak. And the fact you're wearing... unusual clothes." She waved her tiny hand at Athena's seifuku uniform.
"So, what brings you to this little corner of the world? Looking for adventure? Love? Or maybe just a place to hide?"
Athena frowned slightly, unsure how to answer. Honestly, she didn't even know why she was here. It all still felt like a dream.
"I... I'm not really sure," she admitted, staring at Mary. "I woke up here and I don't know how I got here or why. I don't even know where 'here' exactly is."
Mary's eyes widened, and she sat up straighter in Athena's palm.
"You don't know where you are? Damn girl! You're in the Land of Astrea!" she exclaimed, as if that meant something to Athena.
"And you're in the kingdom of Leyndell. Well, nearby it anyway." She looked around, pointing with her tiny finger.
"That way is the capital city, Leyndell City. And way over there far on the horizon..." She pointed the opposite way.
"There's the Abyss. Where all the monsters and evil demons live." Athena's eyes widened at the mention of monsters and demons; a chill ran down her spine.
She had never faced anything like that before, at least not in her old life. The thought of facing such things now was both thrilling and terrifying.
"Monsters and demons?" she repeated, voice barely a whisper. "What do they want?"
"Well, they want to bring back the age of darkness, leave no life left, and spread corruption across the world," Mary explained.
Athena was shocked, her eyes widening even more. Mary seemed to enjoy teasing her.
"And yeah, never ever deal with the Abyss, because you'll never come back—except only your name will remain. Just thinking about it will slowly drive you insane, and eventually... you'll end up like them, bloodthirsty monsters and mindless demons..." Mary said in a chilling tone.
Athena shivered at the words, swallowing hard and pursing her lips.
"Pftt... you believe that?? Hahaha! I'm just overdo it!" Mary laughed.
A frown appeared on Athena's forehead; she frowned and pouted.
"But still, the Abyss is not something to ignore or underestimate, because this land has suffered greatly because of it," Mary said, her tone turning serious.
"The Abyss brings nothing but misery and destruction to our world." Her voice was tinged with sadness.
"For centuries, demons and monsters have emerged from that cursed place, terrorizing our land, killing our people, and spreading their vile corruption."
Athena shivered despite the warm sun. "I've seen it myself. The things they do... the way they transform living beings into terrifying abominations..." Mary shook her head as if trying to erase the memory.
"That's why the Adventure Guild was formed. To fight the darkness, to protect the innocent."
Athena listened carefully, discomfort growing in her chest. She had never imagined the world could be so full of danger and horror.
'So this is like a kind of fantasy story, huh?' Athena thought on herself.
"What can I do to help?" she asked, surprising herself with the question.
"I mean, I don't know much about fighting or magic or anything, but... I can't just stand by and watch people suffer."
Mary looked at her, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Well, you can always join the Adventure Guild," she suggested, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"They're always looking for new members, and with... your unique perspective, you might be exactly what they need."
"Well... I don't know if I can," Athena said nervously. Mary watched her for a moment before speaking.
"It's up to you... but since you saved me, I owe you," Mary said.
"I see that have lack of knowledge about the Land of Astrea, where you are now. How about I be your personal guide?" Mary offered with a smile.
"H-huh? Personal guide?" Athena repeated, considering the idea. It wasn't a bad one—Mary could be very helpful, and this was her chance to get to know this world better. "W-would you?"
Mary nodded, her green eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Of course! I'd love to show you around and teach you about our world," she said.
"And don't worry about the Abyss or the Adventure Guild for now. You can take your time to adjust and learn. No need to rush."
She jumped from Athena's palm onto her shoulder, her tiny feet tickling Athena's skin. "So, where do you want to go first? The capital sounds nice, not too far from here."
She pointed with her finger toward the distant view of the Kingdom of Leyndell's castle.
Athena nodded, grateful for Mary's help.
"Lead the way," she said, smiling at the fairy. "And thank you, Mary."
Mary waved her hand dismissively. "Don't mention it! You saved my life. The least I can do is show you around."
As they walked, Mary pointed out various plants and animals, explaining their traits and habits.
"That's a berry bush," she said, indicating a cluster of glowing purple berries.
"The fruit is very poisonous, but the leaves can be used to make potions that enhance magical abilities."
Athena was fascinated by all the new information, her mind racing with possibilities.
"I can't wait to learn more," she said, grinning at Mary.
Mary laughed, her voice like the tinkling of bells.
"Oh, you'll learn plenty, my friend. The Land of Astrea is a marvelous place... and a dangerous one. But with me as your guide, you'll be fine."
As they continued their journey, Athena couldn't hide her excitement. Though dangers lurked in this world, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be—for now, at least.