Chapter 2. A Strange Man In A Strange World

Nordic woke up gasping and coughing every now and then. His whole body felt extremely light as someone seemed to be pushing up against the edge of the surface.

For a few seconds, Nordic lay holding his stomach while taking a breath. His chest was so tight. As if a lot of water accumulated in his body.

'What happened?' thought the Nordic looking at the towering pine tree trunks.

Nordic tried to remember what had just happened to him. But nothing. He only remembers three siren women trying to harm him, then there were flashes of light repeatedly.

This all feels like a dream.

"You are one of the lucky ones." Someone's voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Nordic turned to the source of the sound, and frowned at the figure of a strange man. Long straight blonde hair, white skin—almost albino in fact, tall thin body, and slightly pointed ears on top.

This strange man seemed to be cleaning something somehow. Then when he realized that there was no response from the other person, he stopped and looked at Nordic.

"Why is your face surprised?" asked the man.

"You..." Nordic refrained from saying: really, you strange human with pointy ears. He quickly shook his head and blinked rapidly. "No, I just... didn't expect."

But unfortunately the man still offended. "I just saved you," he said with a look of disapproval.

Of course Nordic didn't expect that the man would still be offended. But Nordic, who didn't want any trouble with others, just laughed awkwardly.

"Yes, yes, I know. Thank you very much. I... am very grateful that you came," replied Nordic, trying to break up the tense atmosphere.

The man took a deep breath, then continued cleaning something—Nordik couldn't see the object in his hand because his body was facing away.

Slowly Nordic changed position to sit without stopping to pay attention to the intense. Nordic realized that this man's clothes were shabby and exactly like those of a 1940s man. The man was wearing a white long shirt over a dark blue overshirt.

On the long sleeves, the inside of the shirt is a bit fluffy. The brown trousers are very tight with a belt that has two woven cloth pockets the size of two adult fists hanging down.

It looks really old. Is there anyone in 2028 wearing old year clothes?

"What do you mean lucky?" Nordic ventured to ask. He was very curious about what happened after he met the three sirens. "I don't remember anything before going ashore."

"Hm? You don't remember?" The man looked back at Nordic. This time we're done cleaning things up... wait, a wooden stick with three diamonds on the end inside something like a light bulb? "You met three sirens, and they were really after you. Before I came, your whole body was already stiff as if it had been enchanted by their songs."

Huh?

Nordic was shocked to hear the explanation of the man in front of him. He paused for a few seconds to process his memories. But still nothing can be remembered.

"I don't remember at all," complained the Nordic while averting his eyes and letting out a rough breath.

"Well... the river Dead Cursed Rill is dangerous for all beings."

The man's words caught the attention of the Nordics. He turned his head again and looked questioningly through her eyes.

"Dead Cursed Rill River? How dangerous?" asked Nordic.

The man immediately shook his chin, pointing at the river in front of the Nordics. "The river you drowned in just now. It's called a bottomless river because no one has yet been able to reach the bottom. There are too many sirens living in that river who would use their chant magic to attract prey."

"Song magic?" muttered Nordic before moving his gaze to the river beside him. "Does chant magic really exist?"

"Hey, why are you asking as if you are a stranger here?" The man laughed jokingly.

Nordic didn't answer. His face still showed amazement while looking at the river Dead Cursed Rill. Only then, Nordic realized that he was in the middle of a forest of pine trees whose leaves were so thick. Only a little sunlight seeps in through the gaps in the leaves.

Actually this river looks calm. Not harmful. But after hearing this foreign man's explanation, Nordic suddenly felt doubts.

"Wait... you," The man paused before stepping closer to the Nordic, "why do I feel something's wrong...."

The man's words trailed off after approaching the Nordic. Without preamble and permission, the man cups Nordic's face and pays close attention to detail.

"What are you doing?" Nordic asked with a mouth like a fish.

No answer. The man before Nordic kept moving his Nordic face from side to side, as if looking for something. Before finally the man's hand movement stopped when he saw something on the Nordic neck.

"Wait, this..."

"What?" Nordic spoke softly.

Again, the man paused and watched for a few moments. His expression was so serious that his eyes narrowed. Until then the man immediately changed to look surprised.

"Jeez. You... have this mark on your neck?"

Nordic confused. "What sign?"

Instead of answering Nordic's question, the man immediately let go of his hand with a still shocked expression.

"You are the descendant of the Supreme child!" said the man very enthusiastically.

What? What's the Big Boy?!

Then, suddenly the man reached out to Nordic. "Introduce. My name is.. Eglar," he said. "I—I mean, I and all of us, have been waiting for your arrival, Descendant of the Great Son."

Nordic didn't immediately accept the helping hand of the man in front of him. He was confused. What does this mean? Why did this man suddenly claim to know him, even though he didn't even know him at all?

"High Son's Descendant?" Nordic asked, confused.

Eglar nodded firmly. His blue eyes seemed to glow in the reflection of the sun.

"You must come with me. I will take you to the Soul Home."

Eh? Soul Home?

Before Nordic could ask, Eglar had pulled his hand to invite—forced to stand. The Nordics couldn't resist because Eglar's strength was as strong as that of a stocky knight.

"What is Soul Home?!"