The cold water struck like a hammer.
Ethan gasped as his body plunged into the pond, his limbs thrashing against the unexpected chill. Just seconds ago, he had been walking through the familiar park near his apartment on Earth — scrolling through his phone, minding his own business. The world around him had shifted, reality had distorted, and in a blink, he had found himself falling.
The pond was the first thing that caught him.
He kicked upward, breaking the surface with a desperate gasp for air. As droplets rolled down his face, he blinked, expecting to see the city skyline, the buzzing streetlights — anything familiar. Instead, towering trees stretched high into the sky, their emerald canopies blotting out most of the sunlight. Birds called out strange melodies he'd never heard before, and the air smelled cleaner than anything he was used to.
"What... the hell?" Ethan whispered to himself.
He stumbled out of the pond, his soaked sneakers squishing against the soft forest floor. The landscape around him felt surreal — untouched wilderness, like something out of a fantasy novel or nature documentary. Except, as far as he knew, he hadn't left his city.
His phone was miraculously intact. No signal, of course — just a flashing "No Service" icon. Great. He tapped at it a few times, as if that would magically reconnect him.
Nope.
He scanned his surroundings, hoping to spot some road or signs of civilization. Nothing. Just trees stretching in every direction.
"Okay… this is fine. I've officially lost my mind."
With no other option, Ethan picked a random direction and started walking. Hours seemed to pass as he wandered, exhaustion setting in. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and his clothes stuck uncomfortably to his damp skin.
Then, like a miracle, he saw it — tucked between thick trees stood a small wooden cottage. Smoke lightly drifted from its chimney, but there were no signs of anyone around. The place looked... abandoned? Or maybe prepared?
Cautiously, he approached the door and found it unlocked.
Inside, the cottage was surprisingly well-maintained. A single bed sat in one corner, with a small wooden table stocked with dried fruits, bread, and a jug of water. A simple stone hearth radiated faint warmth, and a neatly folded set of clothing lay atop a wooden chest — like someone had prepared it for him.
"This is too weird..." Ethan muttered, but hunger and exhaustion overruled caution. He ate sparingly, drank the clean water, and eyed the clothes. They were unlike anything he owned — a black steampunk-style medieval tailcoat with white outlines, paired with sturdy dark pants, leather boots, and a hooded cloak that felt thick and warm to the touch.
He hesitated only a moment before changing into the outfit. They fit him perfectly, almost disturbingly so. As strange as it felt, the clothing seemed designed for survival. Durable, light, and protective — far better than his soaked hoodie and jeans.
He walked around the cottage, eventually finding a locked wooden door on one side. A small plaque above the handle had strange runes he couldn't decipher. But when he reached for the handle, something unexpected happened.
The door clicked open.
Inside was a small private library, filled with old books and scrolls stacked in messy piles. Dust floated lazily in the air. But one book stood out on a pedestal in the center of the room. It pulsed faintly with a soft blue glow — almost like it was alive.
On its cover were engraved symbols and words he couldn't read.
Curiosity overwhelmed him. He stepped closer, pulling out his phone to snap a photo. As the phone's screen hovered over the book's glowing cover, something strange happened. A ripple of light surged from the book, engulfing the phone for a split second.
The phone vibrated violently in his hand.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATION — The Arkanom Online]
Initializing Interface...
Primary Function: Translation - Language comprehension unlocked.
Astrean Tomes Collected: 1/20
Ethan stared wide-eyed as the words displayed on his screen in perfect English, though the text on the book itself remained foreign.
He blinked. Was this real? Or some elaborate hallucination?
Experimentally, he picked up the glowing book. As he did, a strange warmth spread from his fingertips into his body — like information was seeping into his brain. He didn't feel different physically, but when he looked again at the runes on the wall, he could suddenly understand them.
"Welcome, Seeker of the Arkanom."
His heart pounded. This wasn't just random. Someone—or something—had prepared all of this for him.
"Where am I?" Ethan whispered aloud.
The glowing screen offered no further explanation, and the system's other functions appeared locked, grayed out on his phone. He noticed one progress bar marked Tome Collection: 1/20.
He was meant to find more of these books.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky outside, Ethan sat down at the small wooden desk, head spinning with questions. He was lost, alone, and completely clueless about this world. No GPS, no contact with home, no guidebook.
The only thing he knew for certain — this was not Earth.
He didn't know how he got here. Or why. But someone had left this cottage… these clothes… and this system as if they had been waiting for him.
And he intended to find out why.