A New Dawn In A Strange New World

Light swallowed everything.

I opened my eyes to find myself seated on a floor of shimmering radiance. The sky above wasn’t blue, it was endless, painted with constellations and shifting murals of gold and violet.

And standing before me… was her.

A woman with a halo glowing brilliant gold. Her presence was warm, but blinding, like standing too close to the sun. She smiled, gentle and serene.

I squinted, raising my arm to shield my eyes.
“What the heck…? Where am I? Who the heck are you and why are you so shiny!?”

The goddess tilted her head, as if deciding which question to answer first. Finally, her voice rang like a bell.
“Minato. Welcome. My name is Caelestis. I am the goddess of this world. You… well, you died back on Earth. And so, I brought you here with an offer.”

Her words knocked the breath out of me.
“...Died? Wait, seriously? Then why me? Out of all the people in the world, why drag me here?”

Caelestis chuckled softly, her smile never fading.
“There’s no single grand reason. You simply interest me, Minato. That spirit of yours the part of you that chose to sacrifice yourself for your classmates. It shone so brightly, I thought… why not bring you to my world and see how you’d flourish?”

Her words sent a ripple through me, but suspicion clung on.
“That’s… uh… interesting. But what’s in it for me?”

The goddess laughed outright this time, her voice echoing like chimes across the vast sky.
“What isn’t in it for you? A new world to explore. Magic. Races you’ve never dreamed of. Doesn’t that get your blood pumping?”

My heart lurched at the very thought. Exploration. Magic. Unknown lands. For the first time in so long, I felt something stir in my chest. I clutched my shirt over my racing heartbeat.

Caelestis stepped closer, her light softening.
“Of course, to live in my world, you’ll need more than the fragile body you left behind. So I have prepared one for you a body born from your soul itself, capable of holding magic.”

I blinked. “Magic…? You mean, like actual spells? Fireballs and lightning and all that stuff?”

Caelestis laughed, covering her mouth like a playful noblewoman.
“Exactly that, and more. You’ll find magic is as natural as breathing in my world. And with this body, you’ll be able to wield it as though you were born there.”

She lifted her hand, and behind me, a door appeared, tall and gleaming with celestial runes.

“Don’t worry I won’t send you unprepared. While I can’t speak to you directly in that world, I’ll always be watching. All I ask… is that you live as yourself.”

I turned towards it, each step sending a thrill of excitement through me.

“Do your best, Great Explorer,” Caelestis called after me.

I glanced back. She was waving with that same radiant smile. And behind her I saw them, mom and dad. Their figures stood, smiling and waving too as I said goodbye to my old life and hello to my new one.

I clenched my fists, resolve burning in me as I shouted:

“ONWARD TO THE NEW WORLD!”

The next moment, I woke at the base of a tree.
Warm sunlight spilled through swaying branches, the cries of birds ringing above. A soft, wet sensation tickled my hand. I looked down to find… a deer licking me.

“Uh, what the”

Before I could even process it, a sudden shout rang out.
“Haha! Another one down! Nicely done, Lygus, your spear skills never disappoint!”

The deer beside me stiffened. My head snapped up just in time to see two men approach, one with a spear across his back, the other with a bow slung over his shoulder.

The bigger one, with rough brown hair and a scarred jaw, eyed me with curiosity.
“Hold on. Who’s the kid?”

The leaner one, tall with long grey hair tied back, stepped forward, hand extended.
“My name’s Preyas. This is my brother, Lygus. We hunt for our village. Haven’t seen you on our rounds before where’d you come from? Wait… are you a refugee?”

His eyes lingered on me, taking in my tattered clothes and my wild hair a messy tangle of curls that fell into a mullet, black as night except for the faint ring of purple at the crown where the sun struck.

I raised my hands nervously.
“First off I’m not a kid, okay? Well… yeah, I’m smaller, but still! Ahem… anyway, I’m from… the far east. I’m on a journey to explore the world and learn all sorts of things. My home… it’s long gone.”

I hope they buy that. If not, I’m toast.

Lygus crossed his arms, studying me.
“If you’re in no rush, why not stay in our village for a while? At least until you’re ready to move on.”

I blinked. “You’d… really take me in just like that?”

Preyas laughed. “Of course. Our village welcomes everyone, refugees, travelers, anyone. No need to worry.”

And so, with nowhere else to go, I followed them.

The road wasn’t harsh, but every rustle of bushes made me jump. Preyas and Lygus laughed each time, teasing me as they casually dispatched any wildlife that strayed too close.

Eventually, we reached the cliffside overlooking the village.

It wasn’t grand or imposing. But fields stretched green, children played in the dirt roads, and smoke curled lazily from chimneys. A warmth radiated from the place that tugged at me.

I rushed ahead, grinning like a fool. I’m really… I’M REALLY IN ANOTHER WORLD!

At the village gate, an old woman greeted us.

“Welcome back, you two. A fine hunt, I see. And who’s this?” She eyed me suspiciously. “You didn’t kidnap the poor boy, did you?”

“Granny! No, no we didn’t!” Preyas flailed. “We just thought we’d give him a place to stay. He… doesn’t exactly have a home.”

The old woman’s expression softened instantly.
“Well then, young man, what’s your name?”

I straightened up, trying to sound confident.
“I’m Minato. Minato… Caelestis. Thank you for having me.”

That day, I was introduced to everyone.

Draven, the bulky old blacksmith who scolded Lygus and Preyas for wasting his arrows.
“You two wasted half my stock again! Lucky you brought back a decent haul!”

Lucas and Amy, a couple who worked the fields together, welcoming me with warm smiles.

And Ragnar a towering wolf demi-human with scars across his arms. His golden eyes locked on me as he crossed his massive arms.
“Hmph. Who’s the newcomer?”

“Perfect timing,” Granny said brightly. “Minato, this is Ragnar. He keeps the peace around here. A refugee too, much like yourself.”

Ragnar snorted, scratching his furred chest.
“Granny praises me too much.”

I gulped, extending a shaky hand. He studied me, then chuckled.
“You’re a good kid. I like you.” He clapped my back hard enough to nearly send me flying, then walked off carrying a stack of supplies.

By nightfall, the villagers held a feast in my honor. The square glowed with lantern light, laughter and music filling the air. Humans, demi-humans, beastfolk, everyone mingled together.

I’d never seen anything like it.

Later, lying in the guest room Granny had offered, I stared out the window at the sky. Two moons hung above, glowing silver.

“…I’m really in another world, huh? It all feels unreal. Just hours ago, I was still in school… then I died, met a goddess… and now here I am.”

I clenched my fists.

“This time, I’ll fulfill my dream. I’ll figure out magic. I’ll write my journey down. Someday, people will read about my adventures.”

As if in answer, a soft glow lit my chest.

“Huh?”

With a flash, a book materialized in my hands. Its cover gleamed with astral murals, inscribed with symbols I didn’t recognize.

“What the heck is this…?”

I tried to open it. The cover wouldn’t budge. I tried again. Nothing. Again. Still sealed tight.

From downstairs, Granny’s voice called.
“Minato? Everything alright?”

I yelped, slamming the book down. “A-all good, Granny! And… um, thank you again. Good night!”

Her laughter floated back.
“It’s no problem, sweetheart. I’m happy you’re here. Sleep well.”

That night was my first in this new world.

Little did I know… just six months later, I’d be standing at the bakery counter when the shout came.

“EVERYONE, ARM YOURSELVES! A DIRE WOLF PACK IS APPROACHING!”