NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: A Rebirth and a Meeting
"Wow… so pretty~,"
As Utsumi stared into the deep night sky, she felt comfort, as she was tracing the countless stars in the night sky. As she traced the constellation 'Pegasus', her thoughts fell onto other mythical creatures that she had always admired in legends.
"I wish I could meet Elves, Fox-kins, Angels, Witches, and of course, Dragons!"
Though on earth, beings such as themselves only existed in Legend and weren't actually real. Therefore, Utsumi always kept her admiration for mythical creatures to herself to blend into normal society. As a 22-year-old college graduate, she got a normal job at a corporate office in Tokyo, but it was nights like this she loved to unwind and watch the night sky from her balcony.
"Well, I guess I should probably head to bed now."
Utsumi stood up from lying on her back and began to walk towards the sliding glass window that separated her balcony from the rest of her apartment. However, as she opened the window, a sudden pain ran through her brain, causing her to grab her head with both hands. An intense ringing sound continued to echo between her ears.
"What… is… this sound…"
While Utsumi desperately tried to rid herself of the intense ringing echoing through her ears, a faint voice could be heard throughout the intense ringing.
"Human of earth, return to your motherland."
'Reborn? What the hell is happening to me?' Before Utsumi was even given a chance to think about what the voice had said, the ringing in her brain became even more intense and Utsumi fell over onto her apartment floor with a thud. This time the voice could be heard even more clearly through the painful ringing cycle.
"Human of earth, return to your motherland."
'So, I wasn't imagining it the first time? What is my Motherland? Why is this voice telling me to return to it?.'
However, after confiding in her thoughts the ringing sensation intensified once more and Utsumi was now beginning to forcefully shut her eyes, blood began to well up in her mouth, but the pain had overtaken her body to where she no longer felt the ability to move.
'Am I really going to die like this? If there is a God, I hope they will Reincarnate me in a world with Mythical Creatures, especially a… Dragon'
The moment the last word left Utsumi's thoughts; her eyes closed, and the ringing vanished.
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'Where am I?'
As Utsumi traveled endlessly through an empty black space, the only thing she saw was darkness. That same darkness seemed to call to her; to attempt to get her to move from the path she walking on, but at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel of darkness there was a speck of light that continued to grow and grow the long she walked through the tunnel of darkness.
'I wonder what that is? Should I even keep walking towards it?'
Utsumi was quick to question her own path herself, but for some reason, she continued to walk toward that tiny dot of light despite the endless calls from the deeper depths of the darkness she heard as she walked.
As Utsumi walked and walked, she was surprised to see that she never grew tired. While she was unable to look at her current appearance, it would seem that whatever body she now kept was in spectacular shape and could possibly win an award in some type of athletic competition.
Her skin also appeared to be much clearer and smoother when she looked down at her hands and legs. She also noticed that over her shoulder, long golden hair draped down at a staggering length compared to her old dull and somewhat short black hair that inhabited her old body.
Her clothing seemed to remain the same as well. The same white nightgown that she had worn the night of her death remained perfectly intact and clung to her body as she walked through the seemingly endless black void.
'So, did I die and gain a new body? Possibly the light at the end of this place is a new world for me to live in! I really hope there will be dragons!'
Suddenly determined by the slight hope that she may enter the world of her most adored Mythical Creature, she began a massive sprint through the darkness toward the bright light.
Simultaneously, as she did this the voices in the darkness got louder and called to her to stray her off her path, they might have been successful if Utsumi was the prototypical 22-year-old officer worker, but she was now driven by something even stronger.
"I want to see Dragons!"
Utsumi shouted as she dispelled all the voices from her head and the light began to get bigger and bigger until it eventually enveloped her in a bright light that blinded her and all of her senses.
However, when Utsumi opened her eyes, she was inside a lush forest with countless vines, trees, and grass. The loud chirping of birds nestled in the massively tall trees overwhelmed her senses and for some reason, she could understand them.
"Is that a Human?"
"No way! I never thought they would exist here again?!"
"Quiet down. There is no way humans could exist in this world! She must be some type of beastkin or a vampire."
'Are they talking about me? Why can I understand their chirping? What is going on?'
Utsumi quickly looked around the forest and saw a stream in the distance. 'Wait, why can I see from this distance? Isn't that stream like twenty meters away?'
"Eh, I'm thirsty though so I don't want to think too much about it"
Utsumi decided to go toward the stream, but before she could even take a step, she was already there and the cool running water from the stream enveloped her senses.
'What the hell was that?! I didn't even move yet and I'm suddenly already here? Is this some kind of Lucid Dream?'
When Utsumi crouched down to drink from the stream, she finally caught sight of her appearance. Long and lush golden hair that fell all the way down to her knees and golden eyes that looked like they could peer through the soul, accompanied by the face of an exquisite beauty.
"Is this really my face? I would have been a model in past life with this kind of beauty."
'Past life? So, did that voice really take me to another world? If so… that means that maybe… just maybe… I can meet a dragon for real?!'
Utsumi quickly dug into the drinking water, but as she drank, there was not a refreshing sensation that she was used to when she had drunk water. The taste was there, but it felt like it had no meaning at all.
"Is water not a necessity of life in this world? How odd."
Scientists had always stood on the idea that water was needed for survival for any living being, but Utsumi was beginning to wonder if that statement was actually true.
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Before she could begin to dwell on that matter, she decided to wander around the forest to look around, but suddenly she stopped as her eyes fell in awe at was she was seeing. A beautiful violet-haired girl with clear white skin and violet eyes. She was dressed in an exquisite violet-shaded ball gown which perfectly matched her hair and eyes. On her back, there were small purple wings illuminated by a soft glow and violet horns on her head.
'Could that be… a Dragon!'
Utsumi moved before she could even think, once again suddenly appearing before the Dragon girl with a delightful smile.
"Hi, Miss Dragon!"
The violet-haired girl's face suddenly showed a sense of fear and terror as she looked at Utsumi. Her voice came out faltered as she suddenly kneeled before Utsumi.
"Esteemed one, I sincerely apologize!"
'What is she talking about? Esteemed one? Also, why is she bowing to me, a normal human? Isn't she a dragon? She could kill me easily.'
"Eh, Miss Dragon? Why are you kneeling?"
The violet-haired girl finally raised her head and looked up at Utsumi from her lowly position with a slightly less fearful look but still showed no interest in moving from her position.
"I am giving the bare minimum of respect that you deserve. Esteemed one."
'Why is she so scared of me? Is it because of my beauty? Or do I have a scary look on my face? I just wanted to be friends…'
Utsumi crouched down and grabbed both of the Dragon's hands and slowly pulled her until they were both looking eye level to each other. 'Despite this strange Dragon's actions, she is very pretty, and her height is about the same as mine.'
"Miss Dragon, how can be friends if you're just going to kneel on the ground?"
The Dragon's face showed a quick flash of shock before a slight smile curled her lips.
"Friends? With someone like me?"
"Why wouldn't I want to be friends with a cool dragon like you? I've always wanted to meet a dragon, and I finally got to! Waa~ I'm so happy!"
It was then a faint blush appeared on the Dragon's face as she stared at the golden-haired Utsumi's smile.
"Friends… right. Well, if the esteemed one wishes it, then I would be honored."
'While I'm happy she agreed to be friends with me, why does she keep calling me esteemed one? I'm pretty sure I'm just a normal human, of course, I'm far more pretty, but in terms of power a Dragon is at the top, right?'
"Um Miss Dragon, why do you keep calling me Esteemed one? I'm just a normal human."
In an instant, the expression of the Dragon's face shifted. The previous fear and weariness that Utsumi saw in her was replaced by question and confusion.
"Excuse me, but how old are you Esteemed one?"
"22 years old,"
In an instant, the Dragon's expression changed again to a more understanding look and quickly nodded her head with a wide smile.
"Well then, I suppose your ancestors didn't educate you on the history of Humans. I will help you, Esteemed one."
'History? Is she speaking about the history of humans in this world? But the humans in this world are surely different from those in my old world.'
Before Utsumi could ask a question, the Dragon quickly spoke.
"Esteemed one, in this world, Humans only existed in legends and history. They ruled the ancient world with absolute power and were known as… Destroyers."