Life Beyond End

In this world, there are five Main Regions. The first one is the Plains, where my village is. Nothing too exciting, just your usual rolling grasslands and farmland. Second, there's Elvia, the realm of the elves—those tall, graceful creatures who make everything look easy. Third is Ardoqu, a mixed region where beast-humans and elves live together. You'd think that would cause problems, but apparently, they're chill with each other. Then there's Skyef, the region of the sky, home to some kind of cloud-dwelling people. And finally, Harbinia, the region of dwarves. You know the type—short, stocky, and tough as hell.

And now, here I was, stuck in a forest, about to trek to some mysterious city Jane had mentioned. It's not like I've never heard of cities before, but in this forest? That seemed weird. My mind was racing. Where is this city? What's it like? Is it some hidden gem, or is it just some town in disguise?

Questions. So many questions. The more I thought about it, the more popped into my head. The whole thing felt off—like it was too good to be true. But then again, I was in a forest where everything seemed a little off. Guess I'll find out soon enough.

That night, Jane and I set up camp in the barn. Haybales for a bed. Can't complain. It felt like luxury compared to the hard, uneven ground I'd been sleeping on for weeks. Honestly, I wasn't sure I could've gone another night on that kind of surface without losing my sanity. Haybales might've been uncomfortable, but they were better than nothing.

The morning came fast. We packed up quickly and started the journey. My thoughts were still tangled in the idea of the city. Was it really where Jane said it was? Was it as big as she made it sound? Or was she just talking up a place to get me moving? I guess I'd find out. There wasn't really much else to do but follow her.

"Uhm, Flynn?" Jane called out, pulling me out of my head.

I glanced over at her. She had that curious look in her eyes, the kind you get when you know someone's about to ask something that might hit too close to home. "Yeah?"

She hesitated, just for a second. "Why were you wandering in the forest anyway?"

Shit.

That question. I'd known it was coming. She'd have to ask eventually, right? But should I really tell her? I didn't exactly want to dig up all that pain, but at the same time, I felt like I owed her some kind of explanation. After all, she had helped me just as much as I'd helped her. She deserved to know. But the problem was, how do you explain losing your parents, your whole life falling apart, without sounding like you're just complaining?

I let out a long sigh. "I'll tell you, but we're gonna have to sit for a while. It's a long story."

She gave me this cute little nod, her tail wagging like she was excited to hear it. Damn it. Too cute.

Wait! No! Stop!

I'm a 43-year-old man, not some child.

But... there she was, so innocent, so trusting. And for a second, I was torn. I shouldn't let myself get distracted. I should stay focused on what was ahead of us. But damn it, I feel like a kid too.

I took a deep breath and started telling her everything. About my parents, the village, the attack that changed everything. It took a while—two hours, maybe. But it was the kind of story you don't just rush through. It wasn't just about the facts; it was about the weight of what had happened. About the people I'd lost. The pain that was still fresh in my chest, even though it felt like a lifetime ago.

When I was done, I looked over at Jane. She was quiet, her expression soft but full of concern. Her ears were down, her tail still. She didn't say anything for a while, but I could see the worry written all over her face.

"That's horrible..." she muttered. Her voice was soft, but it was sincere. It was clear she cared. She wasn't just saying it out of politeness. She was genuinely upset by what I'd told her.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice a little rough. "But I'm sure they're safe. My mother and Andrea are strong. They'll be fine." At least, that's what I told myself.

But Jane's silence said a lot. She didn't say anything else about it, but I knew she was worried. And honestly, I was too. I didn't want to drag her into my mess. She didn't need to be a part of it. But she was already in it, whether I liked it or not.

I watched as Jane looked down at the ground, her ears still drooping. Her tail didn't even twitch. She was deep in thought, clearly troubled by everything I'd said.

"Look," I said, trying to lighten the mood a little. "You don't have to worry about me."

She glanced up at me, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "S-Someone from my family can help!" She said suddenly, her eyes brightening just a bit.

Someone?

Now, this got my attention. This could be big.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice a little more urgent. This sounded like a real lead.

Jane leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She's a friend of my mother. She can find anyone. By using her owl familiar!"

An owl familiar?

I blinked a few times, trying to process what she was saying. A magical owl that could find people? Now that sounded like something straight out of a storybook. But at the same time, Jane didn't strike me as the type to just make stuff up. She wasn't acting like she was telling some fairy tale.

I let out a sigh of relief, the tension that had been building up in my chest slowly starting to ease. This could actually work. I might finally be able to track down my parents. After all this time, maybe there was a chance I'd find them.

I couldn't help it. I stood up and pulled Jane into a hug. It was the first time I'd done anything like that since I'd come here, and the weight of it hit me like a freight train. It felt like a moment of calm after the storm, and I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt that. I didn't know what I'd do without her.

"Thank you..." I muttered into her hair.

She patted my head, almost like I was the one who needed comforting. "Flynn..." Her voice was soft, almost like she was trying to reassure me. "You saved me, so now we're even, right?"

I pulled back from the hug, looking down at her. Even? I felt a grin tug at my lips, despite everything. Is that how this works?

Hah, I guess we both have our reasons for needing someone.

But as I looked at her, her big eyes full of trust, it hit me. She's just a kid. She shouldn't be carrying this kind of weight.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. The words wouldn't come. But inside, I was thankful. More than she'd ever know.

And it was already getting dark.

"Jane, let's set up camp here," I said, glancing at the horizon. The sun was dipping lower and lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. "The sun's already setting."

"Yeah!" Jane's face lit up with a smile. She seemed genuinely happy. That kind of happiness—so simple, so pure—was almost contagious.

Camping... when was the last time I did something like this?

Before everything went to hell in my past life, camping had been a rare escape. A chance to breathe. But those were distant memories, from a life that felt like it belonged to someone else. Now, in this world, camping wasn't a luxury. It was survival. But somehow, it still had its charm. Maybe it was the company.

We got to work setting up camp. The tent wasn't fancy—just something Jane had patched together from scraps—but it did the job. After that, we sat around the small fire we'd built and shared a meal of grilled fish. The warmth of the fire, the crackling of the flames, and the quiet sounds of the forest were... comforting.

"The night's warmer than usual," I murmured, mostly to myself.

Jane nodded, her tail swishing lightly as she poked at the fire with a stick. "It is, huh?"

I leaned back, staring up at the night sky. The stars were so bright here, untouched by city lights or pollution. They felt closer somehow, like if I reached out, I could grab one. Warm night, good food, decent company... this might actually be the best night I've had since I got here.

But then, as always, my thoughts drifted to the darker parts of my mind. Eternal Subversion. The name carried weight, pulling me back to the grim reality of this world. It wasn't just some random phrase—it was a dangerous, powerful force I barely understood. I need to figure out how to control it, or it's going to control me.

I glanced over at Jane. Maybe I could ask her parents for help. If they had a private training room or something, that'd be perfect. If they even accept me into their home.

Those thoughts lingered as I drifted to sleep, the fire crackling softly beside us.

By morning, we were back on the move. This time, we were heading deeper into the forest. The trees here weren't like the ones we'd passed before. Their leaves shimmered a faint blue, catching the light in a way that made the whole place feel magical. The animals, the plants—even the air—felt different. Like we'd crossed some invisible line into a whole new world.

"Whoa," I muttered under my breath, unable to hide my amazement. "It's all... blue."

"Yeah!" Jane exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. "We're almost there!"

Almost there? I wasn't sure what "there" even meant, but her enthusiasm was hard to ignore. I followed her, stepping carefully over thick roots and soft moss. The forest seemed alive, like it was watching us. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, we arrived.

But... there was nothing.

Just more trees. Tall, ancient, and unmoving. The kind of trees that had probably been here for centuries, untouched by time. I frowned, glancing around. No roads, no buildings—just endless forest.

"Uh... Jane?" I said, scratching the back of my head. "Where's the city?"

She turned to me with a grin, her ears twitching slightly. "Hehehe, you'll see!"

I raised an eyebrow. Okaaay... that's not suspicious at all. But for some reason, I trusted her. She hadn't led me astray so far, so why start now?

"Alright, lead the way," I said, crossing my arms.

Jane crouched down, grabbing a stick from the ground. With quick, deliberate movements, she began drawing a large circle in the dirt. I watched her work, the lines and patterns she carved becoming more intricate with every stroke. The circle was big—big enough for both of us to fit inside.

"Jane, what are you—" Before I could finish my sentence, the circle started to glow. A soft blue light emerged from the dirt, pulsing gently like a heartbeat.

My eyes widened. "Wait, is this—?"

Before I could even process what was happening, the light intensified, enveloping us completely. The world around me disappeared in an instant. There was no forest, no trees—just a bright, endless void of blue.

And then...

We landed.

The light faded, and my vision cleared. What I saw took my breath away.

"Just how big is this city!?"