Chapter 1: The Anomaly
"Awaken, lost child."
A gentle yet artificial voice spoke, its tone both soothing and unnatural.
My thoughts struggled to rise from the depths, sluggish and disoriented. I fought to maintain consciousness, but confusion clung to me like a thick fog. My limbs felt like lead, my breath shallow.
Yet, I persisted.
I resisted the welcoming embrace of sleep, clawing my way back to awareness.
Blurred figures loomed over me, their faces unreadable, their gazes distant—yet somehow… affectionate? That was something I'd have to figure out later.
I wanted to tell them to back off, to leave me alone, but my lips barely parted. A weak, gargling cry escaped instead.
A woman, dressed in a simple gown, lifted me gently into her arms. Her warmth seeped into me as she cradled me against her chest, humming softly. The rhythm lulled me into a restless slumber—one filled with fragmented dreams of a life long past.
I woke in an old cot, nestled within an even older room. The surroundings bore the unmistakable charm of a medieval setting—stone walls, wooden beams, candlelit sconces flickering in the dimness.
By this point, I had started to accept the truth: I had reincarnated.
The people in this world only confirmed it further.
A glance around the room revealed a strange mix of figures—men and women dressed in an array of warrior attire. In one corner, a Shaolin monk stood, beads wrapped around his neck, his red and yellow robes exposing one muscular arm. His head was cleanly shaven, his posture composed.
Across from him, swordsmen of varying kinds were scattered throughout the room. Some bore the shining plate armor of European knights, their tabards displaying unfamiliar sigils. Others resembled samurai, their katanas resting at their sides.
And then, there were the women. The fairest among them wore everything from flowing kimonos to studded leather jackets, exuding both elegance and lethality.
"At least they all seem human," I thought, still groggy.
The creaking of a door drew my attention.
A tall man stepped inside, his presence commanding the attention of the entire room.
His pale blonde hair gleamed under the dim candlelight, framing a face that was impossibly smooth and flawless. His startling blue eyes held an icy sharpness—intense, calculating, utterly unreadable.
He was gorgeous.
More than that, he exuded a level of refinement that made the rest of the room feel almost unpolished. His flowing silk robe, embroidered with intricate golden patterns, draped elegantly over his form. Though the style reminded me of Murim warriors, he wore it with an effortless grace that made him seem almost… otherworldly.
But what caught everyone's attention wasn't his beauty.
It was the sharp taper of his ears.
An elf.
"A fantasy world," I mused, a mix of excitement and dread settling in my chest. "That either means this life is going to be enjoyable or filled with unlimited suffering. Probably a good mix of both."
In my past life, I was thirty-two. The last thing I remembered… well, that didn't matter now. I was in the body of a newborn.
"At least I won't have a horrific body like last time… probably.
I have all ten fingers at least."
I shoved those thoughts aside, focusing on the elf instead.
The room had fallen completely silent as he stepped forward, his gaze locked onto me.
He was tall—easily over six feet—which might not have been too shocking in my past life. But here? The tallest human in the room barely reached 5'7".
"Okay… that's actually intimidating."
He moved with slow, deliberate steps, his expression unreadable.
A cold, inhuman look settled on me.
And my eyes met his
"Creepy," I thought. "Why is he staring at me like I'm food?"
Without hesitation, he reached down, wrapping his long, slender arms around me. He lifted me effortlessly from the cot, his movements smooth and precise, as if he had done this countless times before.
Then, he spoke.
His voice was cool and commanding, carrying an air of absolute superiority.
"As per the agreement, I am here to assess this child's attributes and potential."
Murmurs rippled through the room, but no one dared interrupt.
"Unfortunately, due to a gathering of cultists in the northern reaches, my presence was required elsewhere," he continued. "I arrived as soon as I was able."
A gruff voice spoke up. "Do you mean the cultists of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult?"
The elf barely spared the speaker a glance.
"Yes. And as I was saying—before I was rudely interrupted—" his tone turned sharper, more biting, "—I am here to examine the abilities of this child."
The silence in the room grew heavier.
He shifted his piercing gaze across the gathered warriors before speaking again.
"Due to a lack of stationed guards in this region, it was deemed unsafe for my men to accompany me. That is why I am here in person. I am a representative of the Continental Peace Keepers Alliance."
Tension rippled through the room at those words.
After a brief pause—just long enough to glare at a few impudent humans—the elf's gaze returned to me.
His next words sent a shiver through the room.
"This particular human child is an anomaly."