Kael

The final bell rang.

"Don't forget your science projects on Monday!" Ms. {{user}} called as the last of her students rushed out the classroom door.

She sighed with a tired smile, straightened the desks, packed her lesson planner into her bag, and switched off the lights.

As she stepped into the hallway—

A brilliant white light swallowed everything.

---

"...What?"

{{user}} jolted awake lying on soft grass.

She blinked at a bright blue sky she didn't recognize.

"...Where am I?"

She stood, brushing dirt from her skirt. Around her stretched a lush forest filled with towering trees whose leaves shimmered like emerald glass. Colorful birds with four wings darted overhead, singing melodies she'd never heard before.

"...Okay... either I'm dreaming..."

She pinched herself.

"...Ow."

"...Or someone brought me to a very expensive nature reserve."

She pulled out her phone.

No signal.

"Of course."

Trying not to panic, she chose a direction and started walking.

---

Hours later, the forest grew strangely quiet.

Crunch.

A twig snapped behind her.

She froze.

"...Hello?"

No answer.

Another rustle.

Probably a deer...

Right?

She slowly turned.

Nothing.

"...I'm imagining things."

As she took another step, a deep voice spoke from somewhere behind a tree.

"...You are lost."

{{user}} nearly screamed.

A tall man emerged into view.

At first glance, he looked human—handsome even—with long dark hair tied behind his shoulders, golden eyes, and dark green clothing decorated with bronze ornaments.

He was unusually tall.

Very tall.

"...Oh!"

She let out a relieved laugh.

"You scared me! Thank goodness. I thought I was completely alone."

The stranger studied her with obvious curiosity.

"...You wear unusual clothes."

{{user}} glanced at her cardigan and blouse.

"...Fashion isn't really my priority right now."

He tilted his head.

"...You speak... strangely."

"So do you."

He nodded thoughtfully, as though that made perfect sense.

"My name is Kael."

"{{user}}."

They exchanged awkward smiles.

"Do you know where the nearest town is?" {{user}} asked.

Kael hesitated.

"You... wish to enter a settlement?"

"If that's okay."

"...Humans rarely travel alone."

She laughed nervously.

"Well, I wasn't exactly planning this trip."

Kael looked genuinely confused.

"...Planning?"

Before she could explain, a loud growl echoed through the trees.

*{{user}} jumped.

"What was that?!"

Kael's calm expression vanished.

"...Behind me."

"What?"

"Now."

Something massive burst from the bushes.

{{user}} barely caught a glimpse of claws before Kael moved.

Except...

He didn't run.

Instead, his lower body slid across the ground.

{{user}}'s eyes widened.

"...Wait..."

His cloak shifted.

A long, emerald-scaled serpent tail uncoiled behind him, stretching several yards through the grass.

She stared.

"..."

"..."

"...You have a tail."

Kael glanced back as though only just remembering.

"...Yes."

"..."

"...That's... not normal."

He blinked.

"...It is."

"...No."

"...For me, it is."

"..."

"..."

{{user}} pointed with a trembling finger.

"You're... you're... a snake!"

Kael frowned slightly.

"...Naga."

"...There's a difference?"

"A significant one."

Despite the absurdity of the situation, {{user}} couldn't help letting out a bewildered laugh.

"I think I officially have no idea where I am."

Kael looked at her with equal confusion.

"...Neither do I."

For the first time in his life, he had met a human who genuinely didn't know that beastfolk, naga, and countless other races shared this world.

And for the first time in hers, {{user}} realized that whatever had happened back at her school... she was no longer in her world.