CH-1: Where am I?

As I woke up from my sleep, my first instinct was to reach for my smartphone and check for notifications about the release of new chapters of my favorite web novel. Instead, I felt a bone-breaking pain radiating through my arms and body, so intense that it left me breathless.

"Uhm!" A soft groan escaped my lips, startling me with its high-pitched sound, more like a woman's or a child's voice. Panic and confusion surged through me as I tried to comprehend the unfamiliar voice that had emerged from my own throat.

At first, I thought I must have done something incredibly stupid while drunk last night to end up in this mess. But that comforting thought quickly vanished as the harsh reality set in.

When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a wooden ceiling, riddled with cracks, looking like it could come crashing down at any moment. It was an unsettling sight, making me wonder, 'Why would someone bring me to this broken house?'

As I turned my head, my initial confusion gave way to a more profound realization. The ceiling, despite its dilapidated state, was the sturdiest part of the place. The walls were severely cracked, and the entire structure was tiny and decrepit. I even noticed a little kid sleeping on the floor on a thin blanket. A single window, devoid of any safety bars, hung precariously by one hinge.

'Did someone from the slums pick me up and bring me to their house? Did I wander so far from the bar that I ended up sleeping near the slums?'

These questions swirled in my mind, but before I could delve deeper, a severe headache struck me, accompanied by a burst of unfamiliar memories. These memories were unnervingly vivid and clear.

I saw myself being born, the sensation of crying as I inhaled for the first time. I felt my mother's warm embrace as she wrapped me in smooth fabric, tasted her milk, and heard her first words to me, "Your name is August D. Dante, you are the son of August D...." Her voice cut off as I drifted to sleep.

When I woke again, darkness surrounded me. I cried from hunger and fell asleep repeatedly, not knowing how much time had passed. Then, light pierced the darkness as I opened my eyes.

The memories sped up: people fed and clothed me as I grew, walking and talking. The whole village seemed to share the responsibility of raising me. At two, I was housed with another kid, older than me, named Kosuke. We played and lived together. We were orphans with no real parents. When kids tried to bully us, Kosuke protected me and complained to their parents, who promptly disciplined them.

Eventually, the memories ended with me contracting a fever. An aunt took me to the doctor, who diagnosed me with a disease for which he had no medicine. He gave her some herbs to suppress my fever but warned that my survival depended on the disease not worsening.

Unfortunately, it did. The memory faded as I went to sleep.

~Fuhhh!~ I exhaled, coming out of the stupor, and my first thought was, 'Hell yeah, baby! Finally, I got rid of my boring life. I hope this is the world I think it is. Based on the name I got, it probably is... Wow! What can I do? I can become stronger and go on the adventure of a lifetime. Who cares about danger? I've already lived a life; if I keep hiding from pain and death just to survive, past me would never forgive my present self.'

"Alright, first things first, let's sort out the important details from Dante's memory," I thought, trying to organize my thoughts.

I was jolted out of my reverie by the sound of my new name being called.

"Dante, you're awake! How's your fever? Wait here, I'll get Aunt Agatha," said a boy, who then dashed out of the room before I could respond.

I realized I needed to act like a child for now, gradually appearing more mature over time.

The boy who ran out was Akatsu Kosuke, my best friend and two years older than me. Growing up, I called Kosuke "big brother" because he always defended me against bullies and played with me.

Despite our hardships, the villagers were kind-hearted people. They made sure we orphans were fed, with everyone sharing the responsibility to look after us.

Our island was quite small, with the only connection to the outside world being ships that arrived every six months for news and supplies.

Our village survived through livestock rearing, some farming, and fishing. The fish we caught were primarily traded for various goods from the merchant ships.

I sifted through Dante's memories to figure out how he acted and talked, integrating the information quickly. Meanwhile, a poem came to mind:

In dawn's gentle light, I rise anew,

In a world I've known, where dreams come true.

Each step is an adventure, every sight a surprise,

In this new world of wonder, I open my eyes.

A few minutes later, Kosuke returned with Aunt Agatha. As soon as she entered, she checked my temperature with the back of her hand, her expression shifting from surprise to happiness.

"Dante, thank God! Your fever's gone. How do you feel now?" she asked, hugging me.

Prepared by my memories, I smiled and said in a strained voice, "Yeah, I'm good, Aunt. But my body still hurts."

Realizing her mistake, she released me. "Don't worry, dear, I'll take you to the doctor now. Come here."

She picked me up with ease and carried me out of the hut. Warm sunlight hit my face, causing me to squint. The sounds of birds, waves, and village life filled the air. The smell of nature made me take a deep breath, savoring its freshness. The wind was cool, the temperature perfect, typical of island life.

Once my eyes adjusted, I noticed the heights of the villagers—some were as short as normal people, around 5.5 feet, while others towered at 10 feet. Despite the height differences, they worked together seamlessly, creating a picturesque scene in my mind.

As Agatha walked toward the doctor's office, I saw children playing, small shops on the sides, a blacksmith, a pelting or leather shop, and a butcher. The village center offered a view of a small harbor less than half a kilometer away, with boats and canoes tied up, likely used for fishing. The houses were made of wood, some with cattle—gigantic, nearly 8-foot-tall cows, some with two heads, like from the Fallout universe.

We stopped in front of what seemed to be the doctor's clinic. Agatha knocked, holding me with one arm. An old man answered, his face wrinkled, hair gray, and glasses perched on his nose.

His eyes scanned us briefly before he smiled. "Oh! Hello Agatha, and how are you doing, little Dante? And I see your brother has tagged along."

"Doctor, I'm here for Dante. His fever's gone, but I want to be sure," Agatha explained.

The old man nodded. "Alright, come in, and I'll check on little Dante."

He opened the door wider, and Agatha carried me inside with Kosuke following. She placed me on a bed and sat beside me, while Kosuke stood nearby. The doctor entered with a stethoscope around his neck, placing a thermometer under my armpit and using the stethoscope to listen to my breathing.

"Agatha, you were right. He doesn't have a fever anymore. His temperature is normal, and his breathing is clear… It's a miracle. Just a few days ago he was... Well, let's not dwell on that. Tell me, Dante, do you feel anything wrong with your body?"

"Um, my body hurts when I move," I said in my childish voice.

"That's just the aftereffects of the fever. I'll give your aunt some herbs to help you recover. Agatha, make sure he eats plenty of meat and vegetables for nutrients."

...…

Back at the hut, Agatha gave me medicine and food, telling me to rest for the day. My body was exhausted, so I quickly fell asleep.

When I awoke, it was evening. The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the cracks in the hut's walls, casting long shadows on the floor. I could hear the distant sounds of villagers wrapping up their day's work, the rhythmic pounding of a blacksmith's hammer, the chatter of women gathering water, and the playful shouts of children.

My body still ached, but the pain was more manageable now. I slowly sat up, taking in my surroundings once more. The hut was sparse, with only a few rudimentary pieces of furniture and the blanket on which the other child slept. Kosuke was nowhere to be seen, and Aunt Agatha must have stepped out for a moment.

I decided to test my legs, swinging them over the edge of the bed and placing my feet on the cool, dirt floor. The effort was considerable, but I managed to stand, albeit shakily. I took a few tentative steps, exploring the small space.

The hut was a single room, with a small hearth in one corner and a wooden table with a couple of stools. A few shelves lined the walls, holding basic necessities and some dried herbs. The air was thick with the scent of earth and wood, mixed with a faint trace of herbs from the earlier concoction.

I made my way to the window, peering out through the small opening. The view outside was of a narrow alleyway between huts, leading to a larger clearing where villagers seemed to gather. The sight of them moving about their lives, so different yet so similar to my old world, filled me with a strange sense of both familiarity and alienation.

As I stood there, the door creaked open, and Kosuke entered, carrying a small bundle. He noticed me immediately, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Dante! You're up!" he exclaimed, rushing over to me. "You shouldn't be standing yet. Come, sit down."

He guided me back to the bed, his touch gentle but firm. "I brought you some food," he said, unwrapping the bundle.

....

A/N: Comment and review guys! If you have any questions, type them in comments and I will answer them.

Also read the Auxiliary chapter for pictures of the characters.