Chapter 15: A Glimpse Beyond the Trees

The northern forest greeted Nagomi with a gentle rustling of leaves and the soft calls of distant birds. A sliver of morning light broke through the canopy above, painting the forest floor with golden stripes. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of moss and wet bark. It was the kind of place that invited exploration, and Nagomi couldn’t help but smile as he stretched his limbs.

His pack hung comfortably on his shoulder, and with each step over uneven roots and scattered stones, he could feel his body slowly adapting to the journey. Muscles ached here and there—not unpleasantly, but as a reminder that this world demanded more than magic alone.

“It’s not enough to learn spells,” he muttered with a soft grin, brushing aside a low-hanging branch. “If I can’t outrun a wild beast or climb a ledge, I’ll end up stuck—or worse.”

Earlier that morning, he had stumbled while crossing a shallow ravine, his boots slipping on the moss-covered stones. It had taken more effort than he expected to pull himself back up without relying on any magical shortcuts. That stumble had stayed with him—not as a failure, but as a quiet lesson.

He passed through a sun-dappled clearing where a family of fox-like creatures with leaf-shaped tails played in the underbrush. They scattered when they noticed him, but one lingered for a moment, tilting its head with curious eyes before darting away.

This world has so many surprises, he thought. Even the wildlife feels like it belongs in a painting.

Further along the path, Nagomi found the remains of a small campsite—ashes cold, a few sticks scattered, and a wooden cup half-buried under dirt. Someone had been here recently. Perhaps another adventurer, or maybe a traveler who had sought solitude under the trees. He knelt, brushing the dirt away from the cup’s carving. A simple swirl pattern. Nothing magical. Just... human.

The forest grew denser as the hours passed. Vines curled from above, and the path twisted like a living puzzle. Birds with feathers like stained glass flitted between branches, and strange mushrooms pulsed faintly with inner light.

Eventually, he reached a quiet glade, where a shallow pond mirrored the sky above. The surface shimmered, undisturbed—until a ripple broke it. From beneath the water, a smooth, pale stone emerged, floating upward slowly, then hovering above the surface as if held by invisible threads.

Nagomi blinked. “Another magic item?” he whispered, stepping closer.

The stone spun lazily in the air, then suddenly darted upward. Reflexively, he reached out—but instead of catching it, he felt a strange tug in his chest. Not painful. Just... connected.

It rose higher before fading into particles of light, vanishing without a sound.

For a long moment, he stood still, feeling the breeze on his face, unsure if what he saw was real or some trick of the forest. But something inside him felt lighter—like he had passed an invisible test.

As the day drew on, he found a fallen log and sat down, pulling out a dried fruit from his bag and chewing thoughtfully. His legs ached again, but now he welcomed it. The magic here wasn’t just in the spells or glowing stones—it was in the movement, the discovery, the freedom to explore a world without needing to be a hero.

He lay back, watching the leaves flutter high above.

If someone from my old world could see me now... they’d probably think I was crazy for not chasing glory or treasure or beautiful girls with long ears.

But this wasn’t about glory. It was about living—about finding moments that made the heart beat a little faster, not because of danger, but because of wonder.

"I will enjoy every moment and experience in this world that I have always dreamed of being a part of"

As evening approached, he packed up and moved on. The forest would eventually open into a valley, according to his map, and he was eager to see what lay beyond the trees. Perhaps ruins swallowed by moss, or a forgotten village. Maybe nothing at all.

But that was the charm of this life.

Every step was a chance to uncover something beautiful. And for now, that was more than enough.