Chapter 1:
Reinh awoke from a dream that felt too real, a dream of rain and farewells that always haunted him. His body felt tired, as if he had truly run through a storm. His heart was still pounding, and when he opened his eyes, he didn't immediately recognize his surroundings. The scent of damp earth and unfamiliar trees filled his nostrils, replacing the smell of dust and his apartment's air conditioning.
He lay on grassy ground, in the middle of a dense, unfamiliar forest. Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves created dancing patterns of light and shadow around him. For a moment, Reinh thought he had died in his sleep. The cold sensation of the earth on his skin was too real, the chirping of birds and the rustling of wind through the trees too vivid. This isn't a dream, he thought. Or at least, not an ordinary dream.
With difficulty, Reinh got up and sat. His head throbbed, and he felt a little dizzy. He tried to recall what had happened before he ended up here. The last thing he remembered was playing Tale's of Aurora, the fantasy MMORPG that had been his main escape for the past three years. He was trying to reach level 91 with his favorite character, Luminere, a wizard with extraordinary magical power. Suddenly, an irresistible drowsiness overcame him, and he fell asleep in front of his computer.
"Am I thrown into another world?" Reinh mumbled, remembering terms from the anime he often watched. He shook his head, trying to clear the confusion. This couldn't be. This must be a very realistic dream.
To prove it, Reinh tried to access the familiar game menu. He tried to move his hand to open his inventory, visualize his HP and MP bars in his field of vision, and even tried to open the world map. But nothing happened. No user interface appeared, no status bar floated before him, no mini-map helped him navigate. Panic began to creep in. His world, the system he had mastered so well, simply vanished. How could this be? Deep frustration and fear gripped him. This world was real, without a game interface.
"Damn it," Reinh cursed. If this wasn't a dream, then where was he? And how could he get back home?
In his confusion, Reinh remembered the skills Luminere had mastered in the game. He tried to recall the movements and incantations he usually used to cast Fire Ball. With a little concentration, he felt a strange sensation within him, as if energy was flowing through his veins. He extended his hand and imagined a blazing fireball.
"Fire Ball!" Reinh exclaimed.
Instantly, sparks of fire appeared from his palm. Small, not as big as he imagined, but real. Reinh stared at the fire in amazement, then quickly extinguished it with his other hand. His heart pounded. This was no longer a game. This was real.
Reinh tried again, this time with another skill. He remembered Ice Block, the ice shield he usually used to protect himself from enemy attacks. This time, it took more effort. He had to concentrate harder, imagining water molecules freezing and forming an ice wall in front of him. Finally, with great difficulty, a thin block of ice appeared in front of him, then shattered into pieces a few seconds later.
Reinh gasped for breath. Using magic in this world turned out to be much more exhausting than in the game. He could no longer rely on unlimited mana or short skill cooldowns. Every skill he used significantly drained his physical energy.
Gasping, Reinh decided to explore the surrounding forest. He didn't know where he was, but he was sure he had to find other people. Maybe someone could explain what was happening.
After walking for several hours, Reinh finally found a path. It led him to a small village located at the edge of the forest, named Argantara Village. The village seemed bustling with activity. People walked in the streets, merchants hawked their wares, and children played in the field. It was a familiar sight, yet there was something strange.
Reinh approached a woman selling fruits in the market. The woman had long red hair and bright green eyes. She seemed friendly and busy serving customers.
"Excuse me, Miss," Reinh greeted. "May I ask where I am?"
The woman turned and smiled. "Welcome to Argantara Village, newcomer. Are you lost?"
"Argantara Village?" Reinh frowned. He had never heard that name before. "I'm sorry, I don't know where this is. Is there a big city nearby?"
"The nearest big city is Sekandaya Port," the woman replied. "It's about a two-day journey from here."
Sekandaya Port. The name sounded familiar to Reinh. It was the starting city in Tale's of Aurora. But it couldn't be. This must just be a coincidence.
"Thank you," Reinh said. "By the way, my name is Reinh."
"I'm Maya," the woman replied.
Reinh continued his journey, trying to find other clues. He passed a man repairing a cart, a small child playing with his dog, and a middle-aged man sitting in front of an inn drinking beer. Everyone seemed normal, living their lives as usual. But Reinh couldn't shake the strange feeling lingering in his heart.
As Reinh reached the village gate, he saw a familiar-looking man. The man was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. He wore leather clothing and carried a sword at his hip. Reinh felt like he had seen him somewhere, but he couldn't remember clearly.
The man walked past Reinh without looking back. Reinh tried to call out to him, "Chris? 'Eternal Dawn' Guild?" He even mentioned their guild name in the game, hoping for a flicker of recognition. But his voice caught in his throat, and the man was too fast, too far, showing no reaction whatsoever.
"No way," Reinh whispered, despair tightening its grip. "That's... that's like Chris's avatar in the game."
Chris was one of the players who often interacted with Reinh in Tale's of Aurora. He was a strong and skilled swordsman, and he had always been one of Reinh's most trusted allies in battle. But Chris couldn't possibly be here. This must just be a painful coincidence.
Reinh decided to go to Sekandaya Port. He hoped to find answers there. Maybe someone could explain what was happening. Maybe there were others who remembered the game.
Two days later, Reinh arrived at Sekandaya Port. The city was much larger and busier than Argantara Village. There were many people bustling in the streets, and many tall buildings towering above them. Reinh felt overwhelmed by all these new sights and sounds.
As Reinh walked through the streets, he saw many familiar faces. He saw the avatars of players he used to interact with in Tale's of Aurora. Some were merchants, some were adventurers, and some were craftsmen. But no one recognized him. They all lived their lives as townspeople, without the slightest memory of the game or their player identities.
Reinh tried to approach some of them, tried to talk about Tale's of Aurora, tried to remind them of the adventures they had shared. But they all stared at him in confusion, as if he were speaking a foreign language. Some even thought he was crazy.
Reinh felt increasingly alienated and alone. He was the only one who remembered his original world and all the storylines in Tale's of Aurora. He was the only one who knew that this world was supposed to be a game. He was The Last Awakener.
That night, Reinh sat alone in the cheap inn he had rented. He stared at the dirty, dusty ceiling, trying to comprehend everything that had happened. He had been thrown into a world that should have been familiar but felt so different. The people he once knew were now strangers. And he was the only one who remembered the truth.
Reinh felt like he was going crazy. He wanted to scream, cry, and destroy everything. But he knew it wouldn't change anything. He had to learn to adapt to this new world, figure out how he could survive, and perhaps, one day, find a way to return home.
But for now, he could only sit in the darkness, lamenting the loss of his old world and wondering what awaited him in the future.