《Out of The World》 Prologue ¡°You have only one job, but you can¡¯t even do it!¡± As the burly man''s hand clenched the doctor''s collar, a tense silence hung in the air. Fortunately, a nurse stopped his hand before it landed on the doctor''s face. The doctor, Claude, stood stoically, hiding the turmoil of his heart. So, that was how his life was unveiled, he thought. Claude was a doctor, sent by the government to run a clinic in an isolated village. At first, the clinic didn¡¯t even have electricity, reception, and even access to water. Life was miserable. To even have water, he had to travel an hour to the nearest river and carry back the water with his hands in an arduous trek. The people who lived in the mesh always constantly fighting over generator sets and gas. There was never a peaceful night. Having enough, Claude volunteered to solve the crisis. Claude immersed himself in the intricate web of local politics and personal sacrifices. Through sheer determination, Claude finally managed to solve the water and electricity crisis, giving the clinic and the village plentiful water and electricity to use. However, after everything Claude had done for this clinic, how did they repay him? With a punch in his face? ¡°You think you are so great that you dare to raise your hand at me?¡± Claude taunted the man, the newly appointed head clinic. ¡°What did you say?!¡± Ignoring the man''s blabbering mouth, Claude started my motorcycle and got out of the Clinic. Crossing the mountains and forests, memories flashed before his eyes - the weary faces of villagers finally able to access clean water, the jubilant cheers when electricity hummed to life for the first time in the clinic, and the countless sleepless nights spent tirelessly working to overcome the seemingly impossible task. Yet despite everything, the bitter taste left Claude¡¯s mouth. He was kicked out of the house by my parents, he was abandoned by my friends, out of greed and envy, and he was estranged by the village and Clinic. Claude felt that there was no place for him again in this world. ¡°If only¡­ W-Wait, huh!?¡± Suddenly, Claude¡¯s motorcycle stumbled upon a rock. Due to his hurting left hand, Claude couldn''t balance the steer. The slippery mountain track caught him off guard. Before long, he found himself hurtling towards the edge of a cliff. "Am I... going to die?" In that fleeting moment of clarity, Claude wasn''t scared. In fact, he had been waiting for this all along. With a wistful smile, Claude embraced the silly but last idea in his mind. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Really, what a shitty world to live in. Perhaps in the afterlife, I could finally find a place that accepted me?¡± BUK!! ¡ª + ¡ª In the tranquil field of flowers, a young apothecary found herself amidst a bounty of medicinal plants, her heart brimming with excitement. She said, ¡°W-Whoa, incredible! Chief is right! There are so many rare plants beyond The Ice Walls. Even a mandragora! I should bring back some to cultivate at home.¡± While busying herself collecting samples and ingredients, the young apothecary didn¡¯t realize a strange cloud forming above the flower field. A deafening thunderclap pierced the air, causing her to startle. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw a motorcycle hurtling towards her. Quick with her reflexes, the girl bolted out of the trajectory. ¡°What the hell is that!? A-A Magicycle?¡± the girl gasped. However, her attention swiftly shifted to a wounded man lying not far from the fallen vehicle. Without hesitation, she rushed to his side, calling out, "Hey, are you okay?" The lack of response made the young apothecary to check his vitals. ¡°He¡¯s still alive,¡± "He''s still alive," she breathed a sigh of relief, though the sight of his bleeding worried her. Using her jacket, she staunchly pressed against his wound, stopping the bleeding. ¡°A black hair, chocolate skin¡­ and absence of magic circuitry. Wait, could he be a drifter from Kingdom of Lies? This is bad, if I treated him, he¡¯s going to hurt a lot of other people.¡± But then the girl shook her head. ¡°No, worry about the consequences later when there¡¯s life to save, that¡¯s what the Chief told me!¡± With determination, she carefully assessed his injuries and then did her best to stabilize him. As she worked, the man''s eyelids fluttered open, revealing a glimpse of weary eyes that had seen many things. "You''re going to be okay, just hang on. ¡± the apothecary reassured him. Finally, with the worst of the man''s injuries tended to, the young apothecary hoisted him onto her shoulders. ¡°U-ugh, he¡¯s so heavy! I¡­I-I might be crazy now, but to hell with it!¡± the girl shouted, ignoring the strain as she began the journey back to the village. As they trudged through the dense foliage, the young apothecary wondered. What the fate had with her, waving her thread of destiny with this man? Could it be a mere coincidence? Or perhaps¡­? No matter. She had sworn an oath to help anyone who came to her. Never again did she let anyone die in front of her eyes. And so, The Apothecary pressed on. Little did she realize that this fateful encounter would set into motion events that would challenge her beliefs and reshape the world she knew. Writer''s Note: 1. Magicycle: a motorcycle equivalent in a parallel universe where the heroine lives. 2. Kingdom of Lies: the dark territory outside the Ice Walls, where the enemy of mankind resides. 3. Ice Walls: the wall that was erected by Heroes of the past to protect mankind''s territory from the enemy beyond the world''s boundary. 4. Magic circuitry: a strange vessel in mankind that generates mana, giving them the ability to use magic. Thank you for reading my new short story. It is a story of love between two worlds, inspired by this month''s honeyfeed challenge. I''m still a young writer, lacking experience, so your inputs are truly appreciated. If you enjoyed the story please give it a like and share it with your friends! ?(?? ? ? )? Like Butterfly, beautiful but never lasting (1) A flicker of light woke Claude. Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself adrift on a serene lake, the gentle touch of the water guiding him to the shore. As he sat up, he was greeted by the sight of a luminous tree, its radiant branches piercing the sky with an ethereal glow. Suddenly, one of the branches broke off and gently descended into Claude''s hand. It emanated a warm, bright light and carried a sweet whisper. "You''re no longer a slave to destiny. Live the way you feel." The branch pulsated and quickly became a light that penetrated Claude''s hand. The pain choked Claude''s neck, as he lost his voice to even scream. Eventually, his consciousness faded. However, before he closed his eyes, he saw a key formed on his right hand, clumped together with his blood vessels, forming an eerie red tattoo. And then, blackout. "... You brought a Drifter from Kingdom of Lies here? Are you mad, Chloe?!" "... B-But Chief, He''s an Anima that looked like a human, l-like, like the gods of the past. There must be a meaning for this!" "God? Oh dear, you read the Abyss Tome too much. You see, it is a monster, a drifter from humanity. In other words, dear Chloe, it is an Anima, boon of humanity!" Claude woke up inside a wooden cabin. He found himself neatly bandaged all over his body. However, his gaze quickly caught the tattoo on his right hand, as it gleamed and whispered. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Embrace your freedom. Your journey is just beginning." Confused and weak, Claude tried to sit up, but his strength had yet to return. The door to the cabin creaked open, and two figures entered. One was an elderly man with a stern expression, wearing robes adorned with symbols that glowed faintly. The other was a younger woman with a gentle gaze. However, Claude noticed something strange about the two. Their ears were long, and their dazzling silver hair waved beautifully. The woman smiled, revealing sharp fangs that startled him. Claude gasped as he realized there was no way these two were humans! They were likely vampires! When the two approached Claude, the man panicked. What were those monsters going to do with him? Eat him? Suck his blood? Or perhaps, experimented with him? No, no, he didn''t want that. Claude didn''t want to go through a miserable life again! Responding to Claude''s will, the red tattoo on his hand gleamed brightly. Claude screamed in pain, as the light tore apart his flesh. But then, from his flesh, a revolver quickly formed into his right hand. "W-What is this...?" Claude murmured in confusion. But then he was startled when the young vampire suddenly talked to him. "D-Don''t be scared, w-we''re here to help you." Claude pointed the gun at the girl, his voice trembling, "H-help? N-no way! Who are you guys? What am I doing here? What are you going to do with me?!" The young woman raised her hands, showing Claude that she had nothing in her hands. "Please, calm down. We mean no harm. We brought you here from outside The Walls and treated your wounds." Treated him? Claude looked at his bandaged body before slowly lowering the gun. He grasped his head, trying to calm the turmoils on his head. Was this a dream? Or was he hallucinating? His memories flashed before him, recalling the mangas he liked to read to pass the time. A gun had suddenly formed in his hand, like magic. The pain in his right hand felt as real as an operation without anesthesia. The calming smell of lavender in the room, the bright shine of the sun¡ªthose were all too real to be a dream. And the appearance of vampires¡ªalmost as if he was in another world. Wait, no way. The doctor''s eyes then widened as he came to a conclusion. "Did I get isekai''d?" Like Butterfly, beautiful but never lasting (2) Night fell, and the lantern cast a warm glow, accompanying the young girl in her study. Chloe looked troubled as she sipped her herbal tea, trying to calm her wandering thoughts about the Drifter. "Couldn''t sleep, Chloe?" an old voice startled the girl. Chloe turned to see the Village Chief, her father, bringing in sweet buns. He sat across from her and began munching on the buns with gusto. "Dad, you''re going to get diabetes, eating snacks this late," Chloe scolded her father, the Village Chief. "Sweetness is happiness. Why should I abstain from happiness at my age?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood. Chloe chuckled. "Don''t blame me if your blood glucose shoots up." The Village Chief smiled softly, realizing that Chloe had eased up a bit. Offering the buns, he asked his daughter, "Still thinking about the Drifter?" Chloe took a bun and nodded. She remembered the event not long ago. After saying something weird, the Drifter passed out in bed, leaving many questions the Chloe''s mind. Keeping quiet for a while, the girl finally asked her father, "Dad, after thinking it over, you''re right. I shouldn''t have brought that Drifter home. Even if it looks human, a monster is still a monster. That weird power he has... I''m afraid he might hurt someone." The Village Chief sighed. "Chloe, dear, you know Drifters are echoes of someone''s emotion, exposed to miasma from beyond the Ice Walls. The stronger that emotion, the more powerful the Drifter it forms." Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Yes, I know," Chloe replied, grasping her teacup, "But Dad, have you considered what kind of emotion could have formed that man? From the look in his eyes, I sensed deep anguish and trauma. Could he be a Drifter formed from boundless despair?" "And so, why do you bring that up?" Chloe''s heart ached at the thought. "It pained me, knowing that someone had to go through the darkest despair in his life. But now... that man had ceased to exist. Only his despair remained, waiting for the time when it loses control of itself. .. It left me conflicted. Should we... turn it to the Police?" The Village Chief sighed deeply, the weight of his daughter''s words settling heavily on him. "Your kindness knows no bounds, even towards a monster. That quality of yours reminds me so much of your mother. But you must understand the difference between empathy and sympathy. The fact remains, that thing is a monster. Our decision should be clear." Her father paused, considering the options. "But treating a Drifter could turn the Police against you. They might label you a traitor or a spy from the Kingdom of Lies." Chloe brushed her hair frustrated, "Thought so. Aaahh... why did I do something so foolish?" The Village Chief gently patted his daughter''s head. "Rice has become porridge; it''s useless to dwell on the past. What we should do now is find out more about him and understand his origin and the extent of his power." Chloe''s brow furrowed. "But how?" The Village Chief leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. "Perhaps there¡¯s a clue about the Drifter in the Abyss Tome. If we could somehow stabilize its condition, no one would realize that man is a monster." Chloe nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "I¡¯ll start looking into the texts right now." "Hey, hey, stop. You carried that man from the mountain, you must be exhausted. There''s always tomorrow. For now, rest, okay? Don''t worry, we''ll figure this out together, Chloe." Chloe nodded, finishing her tea. Despite the lingering worry, she felt a bit more at ease. Her father was right, exhaustion clouded her judgment too much. Perhaps a good night''s rest could ease her mind. When her father was asleep, Chloe checked up on the Drifter last time. After her father went to bed, Chloe decided to check on the Drifter one last time. Quietly, she opened the door, making sure not to startle him. But she heard the breeze from the window. She quickly barged into the room, only to find an empty bed and an open window. "Oh no, this is bad! He ran away!" Chloe gasped. Like Butterfly, beautiful but never lasting (3) Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Like Butterfly, beautiful but never lasting (End) For Chloe, life was just like a butterfly¡ªbeautiful and ephemeral, yet fragile and fleeting. Whenever she tried to touch it, the beauty transformed into a lukewarm bath of blood, slowly dissipating into the abyss. Her claws were never meant to touch beauty; her hands existed only to bring doom and disaster. She was a natural-born killer, cold and efficient as an assassin. Many had fallen at her will¡ªthe powerful, the meek, everyone. Just like night curtains falling upon the sunset, her existence eclipsed the lives of many. However, today, those very same hands had finally managed to save a life. Serving potato stew on the table, Chloe sat across from the frightened Drifter. He stared at the bowl in front of him, hands trembling slightly. The room was silent, save for the crackling of the fire in the hearth. ¡°Eat,¡± Chloe said softly, ¡°A good nutrition builds up your strength.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ trying to poison me?¡± The Drifter asked. Chloe was surprised. This was the first time she met someone who accused kindness of being cruelty. She squinted her eyes, imagining how harsh his previous life must have been for him to not recognize kindness. Perhaps coldness was the only language he understood, Chloe thought. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid,¡± Chloe sighed, then gazed coldly at the man, ¡°If I wanted to kill you, I could do it easily.¡± The Drifter looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and confusion. ¡°Why¡­why are you doing this?¡± he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Why did you save me?¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Chloe sighed, leaning back in her chair. Why was it again? A pity? Or a conscience? No¡­ It was more egoistical than that. ¡°Because I believe everyone deserves a second chance. I¡¯m trying to make up for the things I¡¯ve done. Helping you is a part of that.¡± Chloe took a worn-out knife from her thigh, brandishing it in front of the Drifter. It was rough at its edges, with stains that would never fade. It was clear the knife had its days long past, but it was very dear to Chloe. ¡°You see, before coming to this village, I was a soldier. I was sent to the most dangerous battlefield to secure perimeter, carried out mass destruction, or assassinate key targets. My missions were always successful¡­ until my last,¡± Chloe stopped a bit, relishing the past. ¡°But those days are behind me. Right now, I¡¯m trying to build a new life, a better one. And maybe, just maybe, I can finally help others along the way. That is why I help you.¡± She continued while sheating her knife. The Drifter listened attentively, his expression complex. Chloe¡¯s eyes softened slightly, and she gently said, ¡°The only thing I could boast about myself is my cooking. You should eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± The Drifter hesitated for a moment, then took a tentative sip of the stew. His eyes widened slightly as the warm, savory flavors washed over his tongue. He took another spoonful, more eagerly this time. Chloe watched him eat, a small smile forming on her lips. "See? Not poisoned," she said with a hint of amusement. The Drifter only nodded, but it was enough to make Chloe¡¯s heart warm. She then took her portions and ate together with The Drifter. As they continued their meal, the silence between them grew comfortable. The Drifter seemed to relax more with each bite, the tension slowly leaving his body. Chloe watched him with a relieve. not only for the drifter well being, but also for herself. In her heart she thought, maybe, just maybe, she could find her redemption by helping this lost soul. And in the process, perhaps she could finally find a way to heal her own. ¡°¡­ Claude.¡± Chloe raised her eyebrows, ¡°Eh? What did you say?¡± The Drifter looked up to Chloe and said again, ¡°My name is Claude. Thank you¡­ for helping me, uh, umm..¡± Chloe smiled lightly, ¡°¡­ Chloe Abigail. You¡¯re welcome, Claude.¡± Shackled Hands (1) A life that could bring good to others. For days, that sentence had preoccupied Claude¡¯s mind. It was a naive ideal if not coming from Chloe. After being told so many lies, Claude could tell someone was being dishonest at a glance. However, he couldn¡¯t feel any dishonesty from Chloe at all. Was it possible for someone to be that altruistic? A soldier¡­ No, a person who took lives now wanted to be good to other people. That was unlikely. Claude couldn¡¯t believe people could change their ways of life. ¡°Claude, your hand is idle,¡± Chloe scolded the Drifter, ¡°Are you still feeling down?¡± she asked. Claude, who was tasked to put the chemical reagent, quickly got to his work. He replied, ¡°N-No, not at all. I feel fine. It¡¯s just¡­¡± The man looked at the massive collection of plants, crystals, and reagents on the shelves. After the previous night, feeling indebted, Claude asked Chloe if there was anything he could do to help. Chloe was delighted to have Claude helping her at her store. ¡°You have a quite collection here. I¡¯m at lost.¡± Chloe smiled lightly. ¡°It¡¯s my hobby to collect these while I was on missions. There are plants from all across the continent, crystals from the deepest caves, and even innards of some legendary monsters. I could even say my arcadium rivals those from the big cities. Perhaps even The Bunga Lentera¡¯s!¡± Claude wasn¡¯t surprised anymore. Looking at how magical the collection was, it dawned on him that he truly was inside a fantasy world. Though he was curious, Claude took a rainbow crystal and asked, ¡°What does this thing do?¡± Chloe looked elated. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re interested too? This one here, you see, is Cyara Tears. It¡¯s rumored to be a fossilized god¡¯s tear, from when one was about to dissipate. Don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not, but Cyara Tears is a potent immunomodulator,¡± the girl took a bright yellow flower from the shelves, ¡°Pulverize it to dust and add this flower, The Sun Widow, and you could regenerate some tissue with ease. But be careful, the abuse of this substance could create cancerous tissue instead.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Even a lost limb?¡± ¡°Well, if it¡¯s a simple tissue like fingers, yes. But the nerves strangely can¡¯t be regenerated with Cyara Tears, leading to useless and immovable limbs. So, we usually use it for deep cuts on tissue or a broken limb.¡± Huh, that was surprisingly complex and modern. Claude crossed his arms and wondered if the medicine in this world worked better than his. As they continued their work, Claude couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the intricate knowledge Chloe possessed. She moved through her collection with practiced ease, explaining the uses and origins of various items. Despite his initial skepticism, Claude found himself captivated by her expertise and the sincerity in her voice. Perhaps, she really was trying to help other people. ¡°Chloe, are you a doctor?¡± Claude asked. Chloe paused, a wistful smile crossing her face. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. An elf like me could never attend a College. I was just fortunate that on my last mission, a kind doctor rescued and tended to me. That''s when she taught me all about this. Over time, it kinda became a passion of mine.¡± Claude nodded, ¡°So, it¡¯s like you¡¯re in a bridge between two worlds¡ªthe one of destruction and one of healing. The past wouldn¡¯t let you go and you couldn¡¯t be in the future you wanted, because the world didn¡¯t let you.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°¡­ That¡¯s an interesting way to describe it. But yes, I¡¯m not a doctor, I can¡¯t officially treat patients. I¡¯m not a certified pharmacist, so I can¡¯t make drugs. I¡¯m not a nurse, so I can¡¯t nurse someone back to health. I am, at best, what you¡¯d call a medicine woman.¡± But the girl confidently said, ¡°Well, this is the only skill I have to help other people. Better to do the best, rather than let the odds shackle you, right?¡± Claude couldn¡¯t help but admire her resilience. Despite facing discrimination and having a past that shackled her, Chloe didn¡¯t stop. She truly wanted to change her life for the better. Claude, on the other hand, wondered if he could be like Chloe. He was a doctor¡ªa very good one, actually. But now, he was afraid to help people. Remembering the crude and awful treatment he received in his world stunted his desire to help others. Compared to Chloe, who tried to atone for her sins, Claude felt he might be the evil one. He didn''t want to be a doctor anymore, even though he had the means to be one.