Chapter 2: A World Unseen

Aiko woke to an odd, wet sensation on her face. Something warm and rough was brushing against her cheek. Groaning softly, she forced her eyes open and found herself staring into the wide, sparkling eyes of a creature unlike anything she’d ever seen. It resembled a dog, but its fur shimmered with an iridescent glow, and its nose was heart-shaped.

“W-What are you?” Aiko stammered, scrambling to push herself up despite the dizziness threatening to overtake her. The creature tilted its head as if considering her question, wagged its stubby tail, and then trotted away, its luminous fur leaving faint trails of light in its wake.

She blinked, sitting up fully now, and her breath caught in her throat. Around her stretched a forest unlike any she’d known. The trees spiraled upward with glowing vines wrapped around their trunks, their leaves pulsating in gentle hues of blue and green. The air sparkled with tiny, floating motes of light, and flowers bloomed in impossible colors.

“This… this isn’t Earth,” she whispered, her heart racing. Her eyes darted around, taking in the vibrant, alien landscape.

A sudden movement caught her attention. She looked down just in time to see a small, rat-like creature scurry past her feet. Only, it wasn’t quite a rat—it had an elephant-like trunk and ears that flapped as it moved.

A nervous laugh escaped her. “Okay, this has to be a dream. Right? Just a really, really weird dream…”

The thought was cut off by a sound that sent a chill down her spine—a deafening roar that echoed through the forest like thunder. She spun around, her pulse quickening. From the shadows, a massive beast emerged, its golden mane glowing faintly under the ethereal light of the forest. It was a lion-like creature, but its fangs were long, curved, and razor-sharp.

“Oh no,” Aiko whispered, her body frozen in fear.

The creature snarled and charged, each of its thunderous steps vibrating through the ground. Aiko’s instincts finally kicked in. “Oh no, no, no, no!” she screamed, spinning on her heel and running as fast as she could.

Her surroundings blurred as she sprinted, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She leaped over a fallen log and ducked under a low-hanging branch, but her foot caught on an exposed root, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Pain shot through her ankle, but she had no time to react. The beast was on her. It lunged, one massive paw swiping down.

Aiko screamed as its claws raked across her arm, hot pain blooming immediately. Blood trickled down her sleeve as she clutched her injury, her vision swimming.

“Help…” she murmured, though her voice barely rose above a whisper.

Just as the beast lunged again, a figure appeared out of nowhere, moving with incredible speed. “Hold on!” a firm, commanding voice called out.

Aiko’s blurry gaze caught sight of a young man. His golden-brown eyes gleamed with focus, and his hands glowed with an otherworldly light. With a swift motion, he raised his hand, and a surge of energy shot forth, forming a barrier between Aiko and the beast.

The lion roared in frustration, clawing at the barrier, but the man stood his ground. “Stay down,” he ordered, glancing back at Aiko.

Her vision darkened as exhaustion and pain overcame her, but she clung to the image of him—the determined look in his eyes and the strange, glowing power in his hands.

The last thing she heard before succumbing to unconsciousness was his calm, steady voice. “You’re safe now.”

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