Chapter 4 : Transmigration!?
Nafees felt his consciousness flicker, like a flame fighting against the wind. His body went limp, and the overwhelming darkness consumed him .
Glub... glurg... blrrgh...
Suddenly he felt like he was drowning in that darkness.
-splash, thrash, churn
He splashed violently, limbs thrashing against the pull of the abyss.
The black water wasn't liquid—it was despair. It seeped into his lungs, into his thoughts, until there was nothing left but the crushing silence.
He wasn't sinking into the sea.
He was sinking into oblivion.
Meanwhile, deep within the Fold of Shadows, Tharot — Monarch of Death and Time — writhed in turmoil.
"Tearing open a crack to the Eighth Continent isn't child's play," he growled, voice echoing through the void like fractured bells.
Ancient runes burned into the air as he raised his arms, chanting a mantra older than creation. Each syllable twisted the realm around him.
Beneath, Nafees began to descend—slowly, steadily—into the abyss between realities.
"You must awaken what sleeps within you..." Tharot's tone trembled, not with fear—but urgency. "If you don't—"
His eyes flared, time momentarily freezing around him.
"...they'll claim the Absolute Throne..."
***
Nafees opened his eyes.
He was lying on the edge of a quiet lake, cold and soaked. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. Then pain hit him—sharp and deep, like his whole body was being torn apart.
He coughed.
Cough… cough...
...Ghk—!
Blood burst from his mouth, dripping down his chin. He groaned, wiped it away, and slowly stood up, shivering.
'Did I transmigrate? He mentioned another continent sealed off from the world I knew... and that people here possess supernatural abilities. Is this where I've ended up?'
'Then is this an isekai or reincarnation?!.. Anyway i need to get some clothes .'
His clothes were wet, and the wind chilled his skin. He looked around, searching for shelter or something to keep him warm.
Even in this strange place, he felt oddly calm....maybe because of that mysterious being's power....
Then he saw it.
Across the lake, high on the cliffs, stood a giant castle. Tall towers reached into the sky, flags waving gently in the wind. The sunlight made the stone walls shine, and birds flew above the rooftops.
It looked like something from a dream—huge, quiet, and too perfect to be real.
"You must be a traveler. Why are you here, soaked and wet?"
At the sudden voice from behind, Nafees instinctively tensed up.
"Who are you?"
"Uhm... I didn't mean to scare you. I usually collect water from this lake."
It was a young Boy around the age of 14 with bucket full of water standing Infront of Nafees.
"Are you perhaps lost ? Your clothes looks....unusual"
Nafees glanced down. His modern shirt and jeans were completely out of place in this world.
"Yeah. I'm from… a faraway place."
The boy's eyes sparkled. "That's so cool! I've heard people from the West dress like that."
He smiled warmly. "My name's Ciel. Nice to meet you."
Nafees nodded,
"I'm Nafees. Nice to meet you too."
Ciel had short blonde hair, warm brown eyes, and a sincere charm about him—disarming and genuine.
"I work at an inn in the city. You look like you need a change of clothes and a warm place to rest. Come with me, mister."
Nafees blinked, surprised by the kindness.
"Thank you… really."
Together, they walked away from the lake and toward the city beyond.
***
*Windmere- a small city located in the Velmoura kingdom *
The city was split in two—an inner city for nobles and an outer city for commoners. Ciel led him through the outer layer.
"Wow!!"
That was all Nafees could think.
The city was alive with a strange, surreal energy—like something plucked from the final stages of the steam age.
Elegant buildings of iron and stone towered above cobbled streets. Steam chimneys puffed in the distance. A grand fountain marked the city's heart.
Even though it was the commoner layer. There was beautiful houses and clear road.
Nafees gawked, unable to hide his awe. Ciel glanced at him curiously.
He's probably from some noble house who never stepped outside, the boy thought. That would explain his cluelessness.
"Mister, we're here."
They stood in front of a humble inn nestled at the edge of the commoner's district—not too fancy, not too shabby.
Inside, the morning air was quiet. There were no guests yet. Nafees was guided to a room, handed a towel, and directed to a small but clean bathing space.
He took a long, hot shower. The warmth seeped into his bones. The tension slipped away.
When he emerged, Ciel handed him simple but dry clothes.
Had breakfast and Ciel told him about this city .
Nafees barely made it to the bed before sleep claimed him.
***
Knock. Knock.
*Midnight*
Nafees's eyes snapped open.
The knocking came again...louder, faster, desperate.
He pushed off the blanket and opened the door.
Ciel stumbled in, breathless, drenched in sweat. His eyes....wide and wild....scanned the room like prey expecting a predator.
Behind him, the hallway had erupted into chaos. Doors slammed. Footsteps thundered. Voices shouted in confusion and fear. Someone screamed.
"What's going on?" Nafees asked, alarmed.
The boy's voice trembled.
"It's the Daemon Cult… they're here."
Nafees frowned, confused.
Daemon? Now what is this?
To be continued