Scorching heat and stifling humidity pressed in on him from all sides. He could hardly breath. it was as though his lungs had collapsed like an empty balloon.

He staggered over but kept walking. He didn't know what he was doing, but he needed to get out of this place. There was a reason as to why he was running away but he doesn't remember it anymore.

Or maybe he never had a reason in the first place maybe it was just his subconscious telling him to run away, to hide, to go as far as possible from this dammed place.

Why did have to be like this, this wasn't how it was supposed to go, his first day, this isn't what he wanted, it was supposed to be a new start why did he end up like this, a clean slatewhy did he feel as if his heart was about to burst, a hero in another worldwhy did the fear consume his mind death not leaving a single sane thought in him, he hated it, he hated it, he wanted to go home already he just arrived he was done he learned his lesson, he would try his best to be a better son, he will make sure not to disappoint his parents anymore, so please! just please! let this god forsaken! otherworldly journey end before it begins!

It was odd, very odd, he was supposed to be happy, and he was, for a few minutes at least, his dreams finally came to reality, his hopes and wishes were bound to be fulfilled, finally he was going to get what he wanted most, a second chance, all his mistakes, all his sins, all his ugly sides would be wiped out and forgotten, a clean reset, it was his chance at redemption, his chance at being great like he always thought he would, just like it would be expected from being his son.

Being transported to another world, the thought must have crossed thousands of times, being able to start over to be a hero loved by the masses, how great would it behe would often fantasise about it as he was holed up in his room, in the hope of drowning the emptiness gnawing at his heart.

So by all means when he was rubbing his eyes in hopes of waking up, as he was standing in his tracksuit holding his groceries in the middle of an unfamiliar scenery, it would dawn on him a truth so inconceivable that it would shake his whole world view.

The sound of people talking, conversing and joking around along with their footsteps reverberating around the street, such sounds were weird? to say the least, while it might appear normal on any other time of the day, it would've been perfectly fine, if it wasn't for the fact that he could swear that it was the middle of the night just a moment ago.

Hearing those sounds didn't seem enough to convince his mind of the strangeness of the situation, so he decided to use his eyes to assess it more clearly, and as he did, a blinding light assaulted his eyes making him wince and close them as tightly as he could. when he opened them again, it was stupid of him to do so, did he seriously think that the sun would just turn down it's intensity for him? How conceived how prideful, no he was just dumb, that was it wasn't it? That's all it always amounted to, that childish behavior of acting first then thinking lat- enoughhe thoughtnow is not the time.

Finally, hedid the sensible thing and covered his eyes until he got used to the light and could even see.

Once he opened his eyes fully, he blinked rapidly to adjust himself to his new environment, taking note of his surroundings. they seemed completely different to any other place he'd ever been to before and with every passing second he was becoming convinced that this wasn't real.

Was this a dream? no, he confirmed by pinching himself. no, ouch it wasn't a dream he didn't need to pinch himself that strongly nor was he hallucinating or maybe he did, as he was in drowning in deep thought on where he might be, a muffled sound brought him out of the maze known as his mind.

The voice came from a little girl, she was calling out to her parents? a girl with green hair smiled up to her father showing off her fangs, they looked so sharp and pointed it was scary well as scary as an ankle biter could be oh wait bad idea sharp teeth are bad with that title as he kept examining the heart warming exchange he noticed something even weirder, they had tails,cosplay? both the little girl and the father, being completely flabbergasted he decided to look around at the other noises around him, and they weren't any different.

Tails and fangs, furr and scales cover their skins, beast like men and women of all sizes and shapes surrounded him from all sides, of course they payed him no mind, they had jobs, things to do, chores to take care off, they weren't going to worry about a boy getting lost in thought in the middle of the street.

A large wolf man walked right beside him, slightly bumping into his shoulder, as he muttered a complaint with a hushed yet a harsh voice, shit that scared the hell out of me that sounded more like a howl than anything else.

He was in a trance, weird infrastructure reminiscent of Europe in the medieval times, the sudden shift between night and day, and now this...it's almost as if...could it truly be? maybe? just maybe?

He felt the blood pumping from his heart, not out of fear, but out of excitement, as he felt the soft furr brushing against his arm he became sure of what has just occurred.oh

Transported to another, he wanted to jump from the sheer delight, so he did just that, jumping up and down like an overly enthusiastic child about his Christmas gift.

"Yes! yes! yes! hahaha! finally! transported to another world! my heroic journey is about to start! i can't believe it!"

He didn't realize he'd said that aloud, shit upon looking around him he noticed some of the people huddling together and looking at him,shit shit shit while muttering some words stop!that he couldn't make out.

Looking back he saw everyone was staring at him as if he was insane, hushed whispers and glares thrown his way, he was just excited! he just wanted to shrink away under their stares, i hate this..the looks they gave him...suspicion and disgust, the same ones he was given in his old world.

Why, why did he do that, why did this have to be the way he was welcomed to this new world, why is he so fucking good at ruining things, couldn't he just be normal for once!? Is it too much to ask!? Stop! stop! looking at him like that stop it! Just stopstopstopstopstopstopstopstop-

He couldn't bare it, his breath hitched, the only sound he could hear was his blood flowing behind his ears, all muffled murmurs didn't help him, he just wanted to leave, turning around, he walked away from the group of people, his first interaction in another world and it already made him uncomfortable. he could already feel the anxiety building within him as the sounds of his steps reverberated inside his skull, he quickened his pace, trying to lose the unwanted attention of everyone he'd encountered.Why was he so painfully awkward!

His footsteps echoing throughout the streets as he continued to walk in a random direction hoping, praying, for it to lead anywhere else where he could just be alone, he needed to be alone now.

He sighed heavily as he sat down on a bench, leaning forward as he rested his head in his hands, his palms covering his face as he took a deep breath trying to regain himself after that anxiety attack.

breath in, then out, in, and out, it's something very simple, even someone like you can do it, so stop panicking already.

Right, right, he had nothing to fear, no reason to be nervous, no one knew him here, he couldn't disappoint people who never had any expectations for him in the first place. Right?

The heat seemed to rise up as the sun reached its peak, he noticed a couple of merchants arguing, one of them wearing a green hat, seemingly like on the verge of tears, he thought about helping him, but someone already called a guard on them,

He shook his head and snorted at the sight.

At least I'm not the only one huh

As he got up to leave he spotted a dark alleyway, it was uncanny, it felt somewhat familiar, almost as if he'd been there before, as he walked closer and closer, a thought stopped him dead in his tracks.

Run he heard his subconscious whisper to him as it tugged at him desperately, fucking run away begging him to stay back and leave the danger alone, please go away and perhaps if he did, everything would be fine.

He shook his head firmly, he wouldn't listen to his voice in this instance, he needed answers. he stepped towards the alleyway cautiously, a feeling of dread washed over him.

He gulped audibly and took another step forward.

He couldn't his legs were shaking, his lungs burning as he tried to hold his breath, he was panicking now, he knew he was, he knew he was going to die! his heart raced uncontrollably, his head was buzzing, his brain was short circuiting from the anxiety consuming him! Why why why why why why WHY WHY is it happening again!

He turned around and immediately started running away, sprinting across the busy streets and ignoring everything that was happening around him, he didn't know why but he just knew to run! he ran so hard his legs felt numb by the end, only stopping after he was several blocks away.

He laid in the dirt, heaving for air, trying to calm his racing heartbeat and get rid of the intense feeling that filled his chest. "i really hate this..." he mumbled to himself.

He's here sprinting at super sonic speed, his mind in chaos and panic. he's here! he continued to run.

He didn't stop once; he kept on repeating that phrase over and over as his heart pumped so quickly it felt like it would explode at any moment.

He had never felt like this ever since he was a child, he wasn't supposed to be nervous, it was unbecoming of him, he wasn't supposed to panic, he had to be strong, he had to be flawless, perfect, just a golem that obediently followed orders, any sign of emotion was unsightly on him, he wasn't human, so he shouldn't pretend to be one, he was just a monster, one that should've been put dow-

But still the burning feeling in his heart told him otherwise, his thoughts echoed through his mind and his mind screamed in defiance at him. he wanted to stop but he couldn't, he had no choice but continue running and running and running until the very end.

He stopped, he was panting heavily, with his devine blessing deactivatedwhy had he done that?he was unable to catch his breath, he felt sick to his stomach, his head pounded and his ears rang painfully, but for a first in a long time he felt truly alive.

There he found him, laying with his back down in a dirt road leading to the slums, he found him, he had no idea who he was, he finally found him, a young man dressed in extravagant clothing, an arm over his face hiding his eyes, a man with black spiky hair, maybe a citizen from Gusteko? Vollachia? Noof royal descent even? Not from here! he wanted to take a closer to his face, so he approached the sleeping man and knelt down next to him, reaching out his hand hesitantly and softly to touch him.

"wai-"

His hand was slapped away, it burned, not from the pain, how slothful, the shock of the contact sent chills down his spine he almost stumbled over and fell, but thankfully his Devine protection wouldn't let him, so he just stood there stunned at the scene unfolding before his eyes, his hand stinging with pain, his lips quivering.

He hadn't been expecting that...

What surprised him more was the man that got up in front of him, he gave him a look of suspicion, then followed by shock, recognition?

He realized it was me didn't he? The saint sword, is he scared thinking I'd kill him for what he'd done? Did he think of me a monster? Well, how fitting, of course he'd think so, of course, no stop now is not the time for slothful indulgence he must quell this man's fear, a monster he may be, but he would not hurt anyone, ah what a lovely lie that is maybe he can pretend to believe that, maybe, just mayb-

A choked sound brought the saint sword out of his trance.

"Wha-no this...how? why? it doesn't make any sen- oh." The dark haired boy started with a choked muttering and continued his unconscionable murmurs with quiet whispers, clearly not meant for anyone other than himself to hear

Not that he'd have a say in it,Strange man?The saint heard his muttering but couldn't make anything of it, the way the man's eyes widened in recognition after meeting his own...it was odd, strange, it felt so right yet so wrong,He remembered me?Huh? What was that thought, why would the man remember him? He'd never met him once? Right? Can he be so sure of that? Of course he can, he's the sword saint, a monster amongst men, unfeeling and undeserving of feeling.

Then why

why do I feel as though my chest is being crushed.

Why does this man feel so familiar to me, why am I so happy to have met him finally, finally? Was I expecting him? For what reason have I run to here? Have I lost my mind? No monsters aren't granted such a mercy, why must I be so uknightly, why must I conduct myself in such a shameful manner, and why does this man look so utterly miserable-

What? Why had this man looked at him in such a way? This made no sense, act, do something, talk!

"I-I my dearest apologies sir, it was unbecoming of me to touch you without prior warning, but, I must ask, do yo-...no, have we ever met before?"

The raven haired man gazed at him with an unreadable expression, then one of amusement followed after, running a hand through his spiky dark hair the raven seemed to compose himself, but almost as if unwilling to answer his question, with the raven's gaze moving from the man next to him, to the scenery past him, the mountains beyond seemingly lost in thought and hellbent on staying silent, this all made the sword saint curse himself inwards.

Why, why have you asked that, do you have a knack on forcing your feelings on people, how prideful, of course the man didn't meet him before, and now he made this encounter a most unpleasant one, how unsightly can he b-

"We never met before."

Wind blue faintly to Reinhardt's face, making his red hair flutter slightly, blue eyes widened, and his heart dropped.