As the door to his room closed with a soft click, Zen let out a long sigh. The cool air of the magically air-conditioned room greeted him, bringing slight relief after a day full of activity. He removed his school shoes,
His room far exceeded expectations. A king-sized bed with thin silk curtains, an antique oak wardrobe with golden leaf carvings, and a small balcony overlooking the city below. The night sky was filled with unfamiliar stars forming unrecognizable constellations.
With a tired motion, Zen collapsed onto the bed. The cool satin sheets touched his skin, while the plush pillows seemed to swallow his exhausted body.
*Plink.*
A small sound from his pants pocket. Zen frowned, then dug his hand into the pocket,
He pulled out his smartphone. The screen lit up at his touch, displaying a simple wallpaper.
An Instagram notification vibrated on the screen.
"Huh? Mom Ya?"
The name 'Arina' appeared with a familiar profile icon—a middle-aged woman with a warm face and a typical Malaysian smile. Arina wasn't his biological mother, just his adoptive one. Zen opened the app with trembling fingers.
Arina: [Hey, where are you? Why haven't you come home yet?]
Zen checked the time in the corner of the screen: 9:00 PM.
"Seems this world's time flows the same as Earth's," he muttered, calculating. If it was night here too, then time was running parallel.
Zen: [I got taken to another world. Don't know how to get back.]
Three dots appeared, indicating a reply was being typed.
Arina: [Another world again! You're not causing trouble there, are you? You're not killing people on a whim, right?]
Zen: [No. Just killed three people who deserved it.]
The reply came faster than expected.
Arina: [Oh, my boy... Why do you always end up in situations like this? Don't kill so recklessly! Remember your promise to me.]
Zen: [I know. I'm going to sleep now.]
Arina: [Be careful there. Come back soon. Drink plenty of water.]
He placed the phone on the bedside table. Small crystals embedded in the table's surface reflected the gradually dimming screen light.
Then, Zen's eyes closed, lulled by the luxurious bed far more comfortable than the metal frame in his room back on Earth.
—
The next morning,
Zen was already standing near the entrance, leaning casually against one of the leaf-carved pillars. He was still wearing his black hoodie and school pants, his backpack looking heavy on his shoulder.
*Click... click... click...*
The sound of approaching footsteps. Yumi emerged from behind the crystal elevator, her face still fresh from her morning shower. She was now wearing her new outfit—a blue linen tunic with a simple leather vest and brown trousers—giving her the look of a young adventurer.
"Good morning," Zen greeted with a nod.
"Morning," Yumi replied, adjusting the strap of her askew school bag. Her eyes scanned Zen from head to toe. "You... are still wearing your school uniform?"
Zen shrugged. "It's comfortable. Besides, the hoodie covers most of it."
Yumi sighed, then swept her gaze around the grand lobby. "So... what's the plan for today?"
Zen crossed his arms. "You wanted to reunite with the others from Earth, right? So we need to find our group. According to last night's info, they headed to the capital."
"But we don't even know the way there!" Yumi protested, her brows furrowing.
A faint smile appeared on Zen's face. "I already asked about that this morning."
"What? When?" Yumi gasped, her eyes widening. "Don't tell me you left your room last night while I was sleeping?"
"Five in the morning," he clarified, pointing toward a corner of the lobby. "She told me."
In the corner he indicated, a woman in a hotel uniform stood neatly. Sensing their gaze, she turned and smiled warmly.
The two of them approached the receptionist, who immediately greeted them with a polite nod. The small lounge area beside the lobby felt more intimate, with plush leather sofas and a dark wood coffee table.
"My name is Lili," the woman introduced herself in a melodic voice. Her silver bob-cut hair shimmered, while her slightly pointed ears hinted at elf ancestry. "I'm the head concierge of this hotel."
"I'm Yumi," she replied with a slight bow. "This is Zen."
Lili nodded understandingly. "Zen already told me about your search. You're currently in Zevon City, while the capital, Kryx, is about a hundred kilometers east."
Her slender fingers hovered over a magical map that suddenly appeared on the table, projecting a three-dimensional layout of the surrounding area. "There are several routes you could take," she continued, pointing to a winding path on the map. "But if your friends are looking to train their combat skills, they likely took the Veyro Forest Road."
The magical map projected by Lili shimmered between them, casting a bluish glow that reflected on their faces. Yumi pulled out the system map she had received upon arriving in this world. Though advanced, it only showed geographical outlines without place names or specific details.
"This map doesn't have any names," Yumi complained, comparing the two maps. "Not like yours, Lili."
"Unfortunately, I can't see your system map," Lili said with a small smile. "I've heard only you or those with systems can view them."
Lili's smile widened slightly. "Our magical maps are connected to the city's information network. That's why they're more detailed."
Zen narrowed his eyes, focusing on the forest area of the map. "I'm guessing there are monsters in this forest?"
Lili nodded, her finger hovering over the darkened forest area. "You're correct. Veyro Forest is inhabited by several monsters, though most aren't too strong. Goblins, forest wolves, and some smaller creatures."
Zen crossed his arms, his expression serious. "Then we'll take this route."
Lili sighed, her eyes showing a hint of concern. "Actually, there's a safer option." Her finger moved to a brighter path. "Here's a train station that can take you directly to the capital. It's faster and much safer."
Yumi raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "A train? This world has trains?"
Lili chuckled softly. "Of course. Though we have magic, technology has also developed here. These trains are powered by magic crystals, so the ride is very smooth."
Zen and Yumi exchanged glances. Yumi nodded, showing her agreement.
"Alright," Zen said. "We'll take the train."
Lili smiled in relief. "The station isn't far from here. You can walk east for about ten minutes." She gave them detailed directions, complete with easy-to-spot landmarks.
After thanking her, Zen and Yumi left the hotel lobby.
As they walked, Yumi looked at Zen curiously. "Why did you choose the train? I thought you'd prefer the challenge of taking the forest road."
Zen shrugged. "If there's a train, why walk? It'd just waste time, especially if we have to fight unnecessary monsters."
Yumi gave a small smile.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the train station. The building was magnificent, blending classical architecture with magical technology. Towering marble pillars stood tall, while magical crystal screens displayed departure schedules.