Saen Miyazawa was an ordinary-looking guy: short dark hair, brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin. He had just turned nineteen, but he didn’t feel any joy about it. Now, he stood on the roof of a skyscraper, his heart racing as if trying to escape from his chest.

  His entire life, he had been undervalued. Despite his outstanding abilities, no one noticed him. He graduated high school at sixteen with top honors, maintaining a straight-A average. During his school years, he attended karate and dance csses, strengthening both his body and spirit. Then, he completed university in just three years. Yet, he found no job willing to hire him. It was as if the world didn't see his accomplishments, didn't recognize his efforts.

  His parents...They had always been cold towards him. Their love, if it existed, was given to his brother. In the end, they simply kicked him out. Now, his belongings were packed in a small bag beside him on the roof. This was the end. Everything he’d done turned out to be useless. Where was the meaning of his life? What was his purpose?

  Slowly, Saen approached the edge. The wind tousled his hair, creeping cold fingers under his clothes. Below, far below, the lights of the city glittered in the night. He shuddered. His heart pounded even harder.

  "No one will mourn for me..." he whispered with a faint smile. "I don’t even have any friends... What am I! Just a drop in the ocean, which means nothing..."

  Tears began to stream down his cheeks. Pain tightened his chest, and he closed his eyes.

  One step forward.

  A void beneath his feet.

  A fall.

  The air whistled in his ears as his body plummeted like a stone. Cold. Fear. Inevitability. Everything blurred into one. And then…

  Darkness.

  ***

  It seemed like it was the end. But…

  Saen opened his eyes. His head was buzzing and his heart still raced. He sat up abruptly, realizing he was not lying on asphalt, but on soft earth covered in grass. Around him, there were no city streets, no towering buildings, and no hint of civilization. Instead, he found himself surrounded by a dense forest bathed in soft light.

  He gripped his own hands, trying to feel something real. His breath was heavy. He raised his hand and spped himself hard on the cheek. A sharp crack echoed in the air. Pain. Real, alive.

  "Oh God, what happened?" he gasped, looking around.

  The forest was incredibly pristine. The air was fresh and filled with the scent of grass and damp earth. There were no cars, no smoke, no city noise. Everything around him looked so surreal, as if it were a fairy tale.

  Getting to his feet, he began to explore his surroundings. Towering trees reached for the sky, their dense foliage allowing soft rays of sunlight to filter through. Saen took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.

  "Where am I? Is this a dream? Or did I die and end up... somewhere?"

  He noticed moss on the trees and, relying on his knowledge, deduced that north was that way. So he needed to head in that direction. After taking a few steps, he heard the gentle sound of water spshing. Pushing through the bushes, he emerged at a small ke.

  The water was crystal clear, like a mirror, reflecting everything around it. Saen bent down to look into it... and froze.

  His reflection was unfamiliar.

  Staring back at him from the water was a young man with snow-white hair, sparkling in the sunlight. His eyes were now blue, like the clear sky. His skin was fair, and his facial features had become more refined.

  He shuddered and quickly ran his hands over his face, trying to comprehend. No, this wasn't an illusion. This was really him. Yet somehow, his body had changed.

  "W-what the…?" he muttered, tugging at a strand of white hair. "Damn! Why do I look like this?!"

  He examined his body and gasped. He had become slimmer; his waist was noticeably narrower, even his muscles felt different. It was as if he had shed a few kilograms, even though he never considered himself overweight.

  "God…" he said, starting to pace back and forth nervously. "What happened to my waist?! Why is it so thin?!"

  He panicked, clutching his head. First, he falls off a roof. Then he finds himself in a forest. And now, he looks completely different?!

  "This... is just madness..." he exhaled, kneeling down and staring at his reflection again.

  Whatever was happening, he needed answers.

  And maybe, just maybe, his new life was only just beginning.

  Saen walked through the forest, listening to every sound, when he suddenly heard the rhythmic pounding of hooves. He froze, his heart skipped a beat, then raced wildly. The young man quickly ducked behind a massive tree trunk, cautiously peeking around it.

  Before him y a narrow but well-trodden road winding through the thick brush. A cart pulled by a pair of sturdy horses was progressing along it. However, what made Saen tense his fingers around the tree bark was the absence of people in the cart.

  Two tall elves, dressed in elegant green garments that seemed plucked from a 19th-century fashion magazine, leisurely led the horses. Their long, pointed ears peeked through their silvery hair, and their movements were smooth and graceful, as if the very forest was adjusting to their steps.

  Saen held his breath. He didn’t dare step out of his hiding pce and merely watched the strangers intently. Inside the cart were various goods piled high — wooden boxes, bags of unknown contents, and even several rolled-up rugs. "Merchants?" he thought to himself.

  When the cart finally disappeared around the bend, Saen let out a quiet breath, feeling the tension leave his shoulders. He watched the elves retreat for a moment longer, then stepped back onto the trail, debating whether or not to follow them...

  Saen cautiously moved forward, stepping on the soft forest moss to avoid making any noise. The cart had already turned the corner, but he couldn’t just let it go. Something about those elves disturbed him. Their clothing, their demeanor... They seemed like aristocrats or, at the very least, high-css traders. But what exactly were they trading? Saen was determined to find out.

  The path led him to a small clearing where the cart had stopped. The elves leisurely jumped down from the seat, chatting amongst themselves. Saen hid behind some thick bushes, straining to listen to their conversation.

  "Teirin delivered the shipment on time," one of the elves said as he unloaded the boxes. "He always keeps his word."

  "Of course," replied the second elf, pulling a scroll from beneath his cloak. "We pay him well. Plus, his goods are first-rate. The prince is satisfied."

  Saen squinted. "Goods?" He gnced at the cart again but noticed nothing unusual besides the typical boxes and bags.

  "What do you think," the first elf continued, "were there enough people this time? Or should we order more?"

  Saen felt a chill run down his spine. People? They were talking about humans as if they were goods?

  "Don’t worry," the second elf replied in an indifferent tone. "There are always plenty of humans. Even if the shipment gets deyed, we’ll find more. Unlike us, they reproduce quickly and cost pennies. The main thing is not to have problems with the locals."

  Saen clenched his fists. In his world, human life was valued above all, and here... Here they were just goods, expendable materials.

  "But of course, the real value lies in the rare specimens," the first elf added thoughtfully. "Finding a beautiful person with a unique trait—now that’s a win. They’re worth thousands of gold."

  "Teirin recently sold a girl to Count Lorens," the second elf chuckled. "They say she was extraordinarily beautiful. Pale skin, dark hair, a gaze like a wild beast. She fetched eight thousand."

  "Wow. That’s quite a fortune!" the first elf excimed. "Well, it’s no wonder. You can hire common workers and servants for next to nothing, but those... those will be hard to come by."

  Saen pressed himself into the bushes as his heart raced. So, in this world, humans weren't the only sentient beings, but they were considered commodities. Labor, live goods, luxury... Just the thought made him nauseous.

  The cart began to move again, and the elves led it further down the road. Saen stayed hidden in the shade of the trees, his trembling fingers clenched. He understood the most important thing: in this world, his kind held no particur value. If he wanted to survive, he would have to be much more careful.

  But at that moment, he carelessly stepped back, and a dry twig snapped underfoot.

  "Who’s there?!" one of the elves spun around, his eyes fshing with a dangerous glint.

  The second elf silently reached for a dagger at his belt.

  Saen froze, feeling icy sweat run down his back. They had spotted him.

  "Did you see that?" the first elf whispered, peering into the woods.

  "Yeah... something white flickered between the trees," the second elf squinted slightly, then his lips curled into a smile. "It's a human..."

  Saen jerked back abruptly, but it was too te — they had already noticed him. One of the elves sprang towards him with the agility of a predator. Saen tried to dart sideways, but a foreign hand tightly grasped his shoulder.

  "Gotcha!" the elf smirked.

  But Saen wasn’t about to give up. He swiftly turned and elbowed his opponent in the stomach with all his strength. The elf doubled over with a grunt, clutching his injury, and without wasting a moment, Saen delivered a punch to his face. The elf staggered back and fell to his knees.

  "Ah, you..." he hissed, but Saen was already gone, running away without a gnce back.

  The second elf watched him go but didn’t pursue. Instead, he stepped over to help his companion stand.

  "Are you okay?" he asked, smirking.

  "That damn savage..." the first elf groaned, rubbing his belly.

  "You know, I’ve never seen a human resist like that. Usually, they’re submissive, scared… But this one... he was like a beast."

  The elves exchanged gnces, realizing they had just let slip not just any human, but perhaps a very valuable specimen.

  Saen ran through the forest for a long time until he finally felt that the danger had passed. He panted heavily, scanning his surroundings. Ahead, beyond the trees, he spotted the rooftops of buildings.

  He paused, observing the vilge. It wasn't just humans — he noticed dwarves, werewolves with human features, and even a couple of elves who looked different from the ones who had tried to capture him. They were all going about their business, chatting, trading.

  Saen couldn't just walk in there, as his human appearance might raise too many questions. Looking around, he spotted an old cloak on one of the abandoned carts. Moving closer, he grabbed it, threw it over himself, and pulled up the hood to hide his face.

  Now he was ready. Cautiously moving between the trees, Saen began to explore the vilge, hoping to learn more about the world he had entered.

  Saen carefully entered the vilge, trying not to attract attention. He felt his heart still racing after the encounter with the elves. Now he had to be even more cautious.

  The market, sprawled out in the center of the settlement, was filled with various beings. Dwarves argued with merchants, loudly shouting prices, werewolves with human features carried bags of goods, and elves strolled around with an air of importance, occasionally stopping at stalls. On one of the squares, a strange figure dressed in vibrant fabrics performed — perhaps a wandering storyteller or a magician.

  But Saen couldn’t just watch the passersby. He needed to understand how life was organized here. What role did humans py? Could they move around freely, or did they not belong here?

  Near one of the stalls, he noticed a group of beings resembling local farmers. They were animatedly discussing something. Listening closely, Saen caught part of the conversation:

  "I'm telling you, Argon brought new ones again. Even children among them!" one of the elves said quietly while examining the market wares.

  "So what?" the second replied indifferently, crossing his arms. "It's profitable. They get snatched up quickly. And one of them was... just a gem! White hair, a predator's gaze. But I hear he was sold before reaching the market."

  Saen tensed. White hair? Predator's gaze? Were they talking about him? Or someone simir?

  He held his breath, trying not to betray himself. His fingers clenched into fists under the cloak. These elves were discussing someone with white hair... potentially him. But how? They couldn’t have learned about his escape so quickly... or could they?

  "I wonder where they found him?" one of the elves continued thoughtfully. "Such specimens don’t just wander the roads."

  "Teirin said he stumbled upon him by chance. Imagine, this human was free, without chains or markings... As if he appeared out of nowhere."

  "Hmm... Strange. If he was free, why didn’t he run away?"

  "Maybe he didn’t understand what was happening. Humans tend to be foolish. But if he’s really that good-looking, the price will be high. The key is to catch him again."

  Saen felt heat wash over him. They were convinced he was either already caught or would be soon. It meant that if he didn’t want to become someone’s property, he had to act cautiously.

  He stepped away from the market square, trying to keep to the shadows. Now his main task was to find out where to go next. He couldn't just hide forever. Somewhere in this world, there had to be people who weren't sves. Maybe even those who fought against this order.

  But while he was thinking, a voice suddenly called from behind:

  "Hey, you!"

  Saen turned sharply. A slender dwarf stood before him in a leather vest. His small eyes narrowed as his arms crossed over his chest.

  "You look suspicious," he growled. "Who are you?"

  Saen quickly realized that if he stuttered or showed anxiety, he'd be immediately suspected. He squared his shoulders and replied calmly:

  "I'm a traveler. A dwarf, if it comes to that."

  The dwarf squinted at him, examining him from head to toe suspiciously.

  "A dwarf? Come on, you’re too tall for a dwarf."

  "My family is... on the taller side," Saen shrugged, trying not to reveal himself.

  "And why are you wearing a cloak, if you don't mind?" The dwarf crossed his arms, clearly unwilling to let go of the conversation so easily.

  "Leather illness," Saen quickly bowed his head as if embarrassed. "I don’t want to infect anyone. Very unpleasant, you know."

  He cleared his throat dryly, trying to give his words more weight.

  The dwarf immediately cringed and even took a step back.

  "Yuck, that's disgusting... Even if you were an elf, I wouldn’t care! Just keep away from me."

  Grumbling something under his breath, the dwarf turned and hastily left, clearly not wishing to continue the conversation.

  Saen breathed a sigh of relief. He got lucky this time. But how long would that st? He needed to quickly find out more about this vilge and where to go next.

  Saen continued down the street, trying not to attract attention. Soon his gaze caught on a rge wooden board nailed to the wall of one of the buildings. Its entire surface was covered with various notices – someone was offering to buy rare pelts, someone else was looking for a bcksmith, and in one corner, there was even an announcement for a missing sve.

  But what interested Saen the most was the section with job offers.

  "Looking for a strong borer for a farm. Meals and lodging provided."

  "Assistant needed in the bcksmith’s shop. Pay based on performance."

  "Herb collector. Payment in silver. Only those knowledgeable about herbs!"

  Saen thoughtfully rubbed his chin. He understood perfectly that he couldn’t survive for long on berries and mushrooms in the forest. Money was important here, so he needed to find a way to earn some.

  But staying in this vilge was dangerous. If the elves he encountered were indeed connected to the sve trade, they could easily have acquaintances here. And rumors about a human hiding under a cloak could spread quickly.

  "Better to go to another town or vilge," he decided. Somewhere he wouldn't be recognized and where he could calmly explore this world.

  Now, all that was left was to decide where to go next...

  Saen was walking through the vilge, trying not to attract attention when he suddenly tripped over a protruding stone. He lost his bance and with a quiet hiss, fell forward, barely managing to catch himself with his hands. For a moment, the hood of his cloak slipped, exposing his face.

  Time seemed to slow down. He quickly got back to his feet, hurriedly pulling his hood back over his head, and gnced around sharply. It seemed no one had noticed… except for one.

  A small elven child stood a short distance away, his eyes wide and mouth agape in surprise.

  "Mom! Dad!" he squealed, pointing at Saen.

  Fear pricked at his chest. His heart raced. "Damn!" fshed through his mind. Without waiting for the adults to turn, Saen bolted away, weaving between passersby.

  As he dashed through the bustling market, he realized he was drawing too much attention. His loud running would only lead to more suspicion. Taking a deep breath, he abruptly slowed his pace, straightened his back, and now moved with purpose and confidence, as if he were merely taking a stroll.

  Something on one of the stalls caught his eye. An old wooden table was piled high with various scraps: rusty knives, worn-out books, and some figurines... But Saen’s gaze stopped on one item – a white theatrical mask. It was old, with some small cracks, but there was something captivating in its simplicity. He recalled seeing simir masks in theaters as a child.

  "Do you like it?" a raspy voice asked.

  Saen turned to look at the merchant — a tall man with goat horns. He smirked, noticing where the young man was staring.

  "If you like it that much, take it. For free. I’ve been trying to sell it for pennies for years, and no one wants to look at it."

  Saen eyed him cautiously.

  "Why for free?"

  The merchant shrugged.

  "Things that no one wants lose their value."

  After hesitating a bit, Saen finally took the mask.

  "Thank you," he said briefly.

  But at that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the familiar figure. That same elven child was now standing nearby, but not alone. Next to him was an adult elf, clearly his father, who was holding his hand and scanning the crowd intently.

  Saen tightened his grip.

  "Thanks again," he said to the merchant and quickly made his way toward the exit of the vilge. The priority now was to leave before it was too te.

  Finally, Saen stepped beyond the vilge limits, feeling the tension slowly release. He stopped, took out the white mask, and put it on. Now his face was completely hidden. He turned his head from side to side, checking how the mask fit. Its simplicity made his expression enigmatic and void. This was even better — now his features didn’t betray any emotions.

  "Now I don’t have to worry about someone recognizing me by my face," Saen thought with relief.

  Continuing on his way, he walked along a well-trodden path leading away from the vilge. The dense forest stretched around him, the air was fresh, filling his lungs with a pleasant coolness. Soon, Saen noticed bushes brimming with ripe raspberries ahead.

  He looked around, making sure there was no one nearby who might consider these berries their property. But the bushes grew wildly, with no hint of a gardener’s care — they were wild.

  Getting closer, Saen reached out and began to eat the berries straight off the branches. The sweet taste somewhat alleviated his unpleasant thoughts about what had happened in the vilge. At least he had this moment of joy in this strange world.

  Но внезапно его чувство расслабленности исчезло.

  Глухой стук копыт и скрип колес насторожили его. Саен замер и осторожно выглянул из-за кустов.

  По дороге, недалеко, проезжала телега. Внутри нее была большая клетка... полная людей.

  Грязные, изможденные, они сидели на полу, устремив вперед пустые взгляды. Некоторые выглядели сломленными, другие тихо всхлипывали, но большинство просто молчали, словно смирившись со своей участью.

  Саен почувствовал, как у него внутри все напряглось.

  Он наблюдал за ними всего несколько секунд, но этого было достаточно. Внезапный ужас охватил его, и инстинкты закричали, что пора бежать.

  Развернувшись, он бросился прочь, как можно дальше от дороги и этой ужасной сцены. Сердце его колотилось в груди.

  ?Я мог бы быть там...? — промелькнула в его голове ужасающая мысль.

  Он не знал, куда ведет эта дорога. Но одно было ясно: этот мир жесток, и если он хочет выжить, ему придется стать сильнее.