Anime Fantasy: Mage's Path

"Where am I?" A youth stood in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dense foliage and towering, ancient trees. The forest was thick with greenery, the canopy above almost entirely blocking out the sky. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered beams, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and fresh vegetation, and the sounds of distant wildlife could be faintly heard.

His eyes darted frantically from left to right, trying to understand the situation he was in. Vines and creepers twisted around the massive trunks of the trees, and moss covered every available surface, giving the forest an almost primeval feel.

"I swear, I just opened my computer. What the hell is going on?" His voice tinged with fear and bewilderment, he scanned the environment. The familiar walls of his bedroom were gone, replaced by this seemingly endless expanse of green plants and vegetation. The eerie silence sent a chill down his spine, deepening his sense of panic.

Leaves and grass softly swayed in a gentle breeze, and rays of warm sunlight seeped through the small gaps in the trees' canopy.

He jerked his head downward, noticing the unfamiliar sensation enveloping his skin. He lifted his hand and saw that he was wearing a jet-black robe that reached down to his ankles.

The robe was adorned with intricate silver patterns along the hem and sleeves, giving it a sense of elusiveness and authority. The fabric was luxurious, soft to the touch yet durable, and it moved gracefully with every step he took. Underneath the robe, he wore a tunic of deep midnight blue, adding an extra layer of richness to his appearance.

There was a small satchel over his shoulder, its strap crossing diagonally over his chest and resting comfortably against his side. The satchel's weight indicated that there was something heavy inside. The worn, supple leather of the bag hinted at years of use, and the brass buckle gleamed faintly in the sunlight, adding a touch of rustic charm to his otherwise practical ensemble.

"Am I dreaming as a cosplayer?" he wondered aloud, trying to make sense of his new attire.

"Argh! Goddamn useless ass party! A fucking useless water dispenser, a one-time-use nuclear bomb, and a mentally-sick meatshield!!"

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a loud voice erupted from behind him, screaming various profanities, making him quickly turn around.

There, he saw a young man of average height and build, with shaggy brown hair that casually fell over his forehead. He wore a tunic with a v-neck and long sleeves, cinched at the waist with a brown belt. Over his tunic, he sported a navy blue cape that added a touch of heroism to his look. His dark brown pants and sturdy black boots completed the practical ensemble, ready for the rigors of adventuring.

The young man was flailing around on the ground, seething with rage as he continued to swear.

'Who is this guy? And why does he look like he's lost his mind?' the youth thought, his curiosity piqued despite the situation.

Inside dreams, there were often random things like this—right?

After a few seconds, the young man stopped moving and abruptly opened his eyes. His striking green eyes made contact with the youth's red pupils, and they both fell into silence.

"Who the hell are you?"

The first to break the silence was the young man on the ground, who was slowly standing up, dusting off any excess dirt from his clothes.

The youth was hesitant to answer. 'Why should I give my name so casually to a random stranger in the forest? But then again, he doesn't seem harmful... for now.'

His mouth opened slightly a few times before he finally said, crossing his arms, "Merlin, and you are?"

"Kazuma Satou. Anyways, are you a god? You're a new face, so I'm not sure."

"Why would you think that?"

"Well, I died, didn't I? I always see a goddess whenever I do, so I kind of just assumed..." Kazuma's words drifted into silence, his eyes darting up and down Merlin's face and apparel. After a moment of thinking, he seemed to realize something.

"Woah, I'm guessing you aren't." Kazuma's eyes widened, and he clapped his hands together in realization. "Do you know where we are?"

"Wait—wait—wait! You just said something about gods and goddesses, and that you died. But that doesn't explain why I'm here. I didn't die, though." Merlin placed his hand in a placating gesture as he tried to understand what was going on. The only person who could make sense of it all was the man in front of him.

Merlin pinched the corners of his eyes, deeply contemplating what had happened before he appeared in this forest. All he did was wake up from his bed feeling good as new. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and he didn't feel anything strange in his body. He was a completely healthy man with no hereditary diseases that he knew of.

He went straight to his beloved computer to play some video games to grind for a little bit. That's what he had been doing for the past month, and he even felt a little bad about himself.

Once he opened the computer and saw the screen on his monitor shine, that was it. No dying, not even something hurting him in the process. He was just immediately teleported into this random forest with a completely weird stranger.

"Well, the only way I know to get isekai'd is by dying. That's what happened to me and this other idiot who calls himself a hero." Kazuma gave Merlin a simple shrug, clearly just as confused about the situation.

This information left Merlin in a stupor. He had no reason to be happy about being transported to another world. He had a loving family that didn't give him any childhood trauma. He had finally found a job that he liked.

'How unlucky could I be?' Merlin thought bitterly, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

He wondered if there was some karmic system that decided to finally pay its debts after seeing how many war crimes he had committed in video games.

"Merlin, right?" Kazuma spoke up, his tone suddenly businesslike. "Since you're a transmigrator like me, I'll let you tag along with me for now."

Merlin felt a surge of relief. "Thank god, I thought I'd be finding my own way—"

"But," Kazuma interrupted, a sly grin spreading across his face, "you'll have to find a way to pay me back once we're settled."

Merlin's eye twitched. 'This guy...' He could clearly see the opportunistic gleam in Kazuma's eyes. 'Asshole.' Despite his annoyance, Merlin nodded. "Fair enough," he said evenly. "I appreciate the help."

In this dense forest where anything could happen, he didn't want to take any chances. From a simple glance at Kazuma's attire, Merlin presumed he was some sort of adventurer. The small dagger on his hip, hanging from his leather belt, solidified that idea.

"Great," Kazuma said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get moving then."

The two young men began to walk forward into the depths of the forest. Neither had a clue what was to come or where they were headed, but staying any longer would waste more of their precious daylight.

As they walked, the gentle rustling of the forest floor accompanied each step, their feet pressing into the soft, damp grass. The faint crunch of twigs and leaves underfoot blended harmoniously with the whisper of the wind through the trees. The rhythm of their footsteps created a soothing, almost melodic cadence, though the tension of their situation lingered in the air.

Merlin found himself studying Kazuma's back as they walked. 'So this guy is from Japan and claims he's been reincarnated... or transmigrated? And he dies frequently? What kind of world did he come from?' His curiosity gnawed at him.

Kazuma glanced back over his shoulder. "I didn't get to ask earlier," he began, his hands resting casually behind his head, "but where are you from anyway? Your name doesn't sound Japanese, but you're speaking it fluently."

"Oh, I'm from Carmarthen," Merlin replied.

Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Carmarthen? Never heard of it. Is that somewhere in Europe?"

"Yes, it's a town in Wales," Merlin explained. "Though, now that you mention it... I don't actually speak Japanese. Or at least, I didn't before." He paused, realizing the absurdity of his words. "It feels natural now."

Kazuma chuckled. "Join the club. Language barriers don't seem to be a thing when you hop worlds. Convenient, isn't it?"

Merlin nodded thoughtfully. 'Another magical phenomenon to add to the list...'

"So, Merlin," Kazuma continued, "what did you do back in your world?"

"I was a college student, studying physics," Merlin said. "I was aiming for top honors."

"Ah, a smart guy then," Kazuma said with a smirk. "I was just your average high school student before I kicked the bucket."

Merlin eyed him curiously. "You mentioned dying earlier... How exactly did that happen?"

Kazuma's face darkened slightly. "Let's just say I tried to save someone from an oncoming tractor and... things didn't go as planned."

"A tractor?" Merlin echoed, trying not to laugh. "That's... unusual."

"You don't know the half of it," Kazuma muttered. He shook his head. "Anyway, I ended up in a fantasy world with a party of lunatics. A useless goddess, an explosion maniac, and a masochistic crusader. They were more trouble than they were worth."

Merlin suppressed a smile. "Sounds... eventful."

"That's one way to put it," Kazuma grumbled.

As they continued, Merlin's hand instinctively grasped the strap of the satchel he carried. The satchel was a tad heavy. Curious, he opened it, flicking open its brass lock with a faint clicking sound. Inside, he saw the spine of a large book. It appeared worn and old from age, the pages already oxidized and brown. He pulled the book out as they walked.

"What's that?" Kazuma asked, glancing at the book.

"Looks like a tome on magic," Merlin replied, reading the title. "'Mana Theory and Basic Tier Spells.'"

Kazuma whistled. "Lucky find. Magic can be pretty handy."

Merlin glanced at him. "Do you use magic?"

Kazuma shrugged. "I've learned a few spells here and there. Steal, Freeze, Create Water... mostly utility stuff."

"Steal?" Merlin raised an eyebrow.

Kazuma grinned mischievously. "Comes in handy more often than you'd think."

Merlin decided not to press further. He placed the book back into his satchel. 'If magic exists here, then I need to learn it as soon as possible,' he thought. 'It might be my only means of defending myself.'

They walked in companionable silence for a while, the forest gradually thinning. After what felt like half an hour, the endless trees gave way to open sky. The bright light of day was now visibly clear above them.

Merlin stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening at the sight before him. In the distance, sprawling across the horizon, was a magnificent city encircled by towering castle walls. The walls were constructed of pale stone, gleaming softly in the sunlight. Turrets and battlements lined the fortifications, giving the city an imposing yet regal appearance.

Beyond the walls, he could make out the tips of grand structures—towers with spires reaching toward the heavens, banners fluttering in the breeze. The city bustled with movement even from afar.

On the plains leading to the city gates, a network of dirt roads crisscrossed the landscape. Wooden carriages laden with goods trundled along the roads, the merchants urging their horses forward. Some carriages carried vibrant fabrics that billowed in the wind, others were stacked high with barrels and crates. Peasants and travelers walked alongside them, their figures tiny against the vast expanse.

The wheels of the carriages creaked under their loads, and the distant murmur of the bustling crowd reached them like a far-off whisper. Flags bearing unfamiliar emblems fluttered atop poles, their colors vivid against the clear blue sky.

Merlin couldn't help himself from taking in the view. "It's... incredible," he murmured.

Kazuma came to stand beside him, following his gaze. "Not a bad sight," he admitted. "Reminds me a bit of Axel Town, but bigger."

"This is straight out of a fantasy novel," Merlin said, awe evident in his voice. "I've never seen anything like it."