He had imagined it countless times—
An elven village hidden deep within a sacred forest.
But standing before it now…
Reality far exceeded anything he had ever pictured.
As they drew closer, the massive tree revealed its true form.
What he had seen from afar had only been a fraction of it.
Up close… it felt less like a tree—
And more like a world of its own.
As the last sunlight dipped below the horizon, it began to glow.
Soft lights flickered into existence one after another, scattered across its enormous trunk and sprawling branches—like stars blooming in the night. Homes carved seamlessly into the wood glowed warmly, their windows shining gently against the deepening dusk.
Bridges of woven wood and living vines stretched between branches, forming pathways that wound around the tree in intricate layers. Figures moved along them—graceful silhouettes illuminated by the soft light, their presence quiet yet unmistakably alive.
Near the base, the roots rose like natural walls, twisting and overlapping to form archways and sheltered spaces. A few elves stood guard there, their posture relaxed yet ready.
Higher above, the village expanded.
Platforms nestled between thick branches held clusters of homes, some wrapped around the trunk, others suspended delicately among the canopy. Lantern-like orbs—some floating, others resting on branches—cast a gentle glow that danced with the movement of the leaves.
The entire tree breathed with a quiet rhythm.
The rustling of leaves sounded almost like whispers, blending with the faint murmur of voices and the occasional soft laughter drifting through the air.
It was peaceful.
Yet… alive.
His gaze lingered upward, tracing the towering structure until it disappeared into the darkness above—its highest reaches hidden beyond sight, as if touching the heavens themselves.
The guards greeted them as they passed through the entrance and into the heart of the village.
At the center, which appeared to be a plaza, gathered several elves—waiting, as if expecting their arrival. Behind them stood a statue.
A man.
Carved from smooth, pale stone, the figure stood tall with a calm yet resolute presence. One hand rested over his chest, while the other extended forward—as if standing firm against something unseen.
His expression was composed… steady, unyielding.
The craftsmanship itself was immaculate, untouched by time, as though the years themselves had chosen to preserve it.
His gaze lingered on the statue, as faint light drifted around its base, gathering now and then like quiet witnesses.
"Welcome to our village." Aerilyn's voice snapped him out of bewilderment.
"Ahhh… ohhh…" were the only words he could manage to let out.
Aerilyn let out a soft sigh, though there was a faint amusement in her eyes.
"At this point, your jaw might really end up on the ground."
She turned completely to face him.
"Were you really the reason why the spirits were restless?" She tilted her head.
"How would I know? You're the one who assumed I was." He protested playfully.
Even though he knew, it still felt… unfair.
All he wanted was a second chance—to atone for the regrets he had on his failed life.
But the world itself seemed to be rejecting him. Deemed him dangerous—someone who doesn't belong.
He couldn't control his emotions as a bitter expression replaced the calm on his face.
"Maybe something happened in the forest, and I came at the wrong time." He added.
That's right… There's that possibility too.
We might not be the reason after all.
He nodded to himself.
"You have a point, that's why an investigation team was sent out in the first place." She agreed.
"See, I told you."
His face brightened, but not for long.
"But still, that doesn't mean you're out of the question." She stated.
He pouted again, like a little boy who got robbed of his candy.
Meanwhile, a handsome-looking elf approached them.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your lovely moment, but may I?" His gentle voice halted the rhythm of their banter.
Aerilyn stepped aside to give way.
He stretched out his arms, offering him a handshake.
"I'm Eziel, the chief of this village."
That caught him by surprise as he didn't have a name in this world.
The last time he checked his information, Eye of Providence presented him as Unknown.
Is he asking for my name?
Of course, that's a given.
But what should I do?
Panic overtook him as he couldn't think of any name, more so, he shouldn't keep the chief hanging.
Think, Chris, think.
Under pressure, he introduced himself with the first name that came to mind.
"Jade… You can call me Jade."
Sorry, little brother, let me borrow your name for the time being.
He accepted the handshake as he introduced himself.
"Well, Jade, let me first apologize for our aggressive welcome. I hope you didn't feel offended."
Eziel lowered his head in an apologetic gesture, which flustered him even more.
"No, no, no, please raise your head, I should be the one apologizing for causing a disturbance."
He hurriedly tried to stop him, but failed.
After a moment, Eziel raised his head.
"Normally, it's part of our tradition to hold a feast for your arrival, but the current situation forced us to be cautious as guardians of this forest."
"I see… It was your village tradition to welcome visitors with a feast."
What a nice tradition they have.
"You don't have to do that, though. I'm just grateful I was even invited to stop by."
That's right…
I don't even mind if I was brought in as a prisoner.
To step foot in this magical village full of elves is a dream come true.
Once again, he was lost in his own thoughts—daydreaming.
He didn't even bother to hide his expression.
A slap on the shoulder from Aerilyn pulled him back to reality.
"You pervert."
She murmured, almost like a ventriloquist. Her eyes told him to pull himself together.
Eziel chuckled at the sight of the two.
"Ahh… let me correct that. It's not just any visitors—visitors from another world." He explained.
"It's been more than 300 years since we had one, so your arrival was something special." He added.
300 years?
Wait… could he be that guy?
I see… he made it out alive, that's good to know.
"Are there any other routes otherworlders could have taken? Maybe others didn't pass through here?" He asked, hoping for more survivors.
Eziel pondered for a while before he answered.
"The wilderness is vast, so we can't say for sure, but…"
He paused for a moment.
"According to our records, there were only two otherworlders that we know of—the first emperor of the Solaria Empire, and the other one was the owner of that statue."
He gestured to the statue at the center of the plaza, then continued.
"And both of them passed through this village."
He gazed at the statue as his mind fell into deep thought.
Then that means… only the three of us made it.
He gripped the pendant hanging around his neck as he thought of Elias and other reincarnators who might have perished alone in that place.
His expression didn't go unnoticed as Eziel spoke again.
"But there might be others, whose names were never recorded in history."
Yeah… he's right, we can't say for sure.
"I understand… It's just unfortunate that not everyone who came made it out of that place alive."
"I'm sorry to hear that. We didn't know." Eziel's voice became solemn.
"I didn't know either. I just figured that might be the case when I found Elias's remains. But aside from that, I haven't found any on my way here." He clarified.
"Maybe he's the only one who didn't make it out."
That might be the case.
Considering he had Blaze with him, he could've made it out if he hadn't lingered for too long.
He forced a smile.
"I see." Eziel tapped his shoulder, a silent attempt to sympathize.
"I know you may have some questions you might want to ask, but you must be tired from the long journey. For now, follow Aerilyn; she will lead you to your room so you can unpack. I see you have some luggage with you."
He turned to Aerilyn and instructed her.
"Bring him to the village hall after he unpacks. Dinner should be ready by now."
She nodded and gestured for him to follow.
He bowed to Eziel as they moved towards the guest house, where he'll be staying for the time being.