Zaydan groaned as consciousness slowly returned to him. His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy, as if he had been submerged in water. He stirred slightly, feeling the cool touch of the floor beneath him.
Muffled voices reached his ears. As his vision adjusted, he blinked in shock.
Before him, Rehan stood at the center of a dazzling display—fire flickered at his fingertips, water swirled around his feet, gusts of wind circled his body, and small chunks of earth levitated near his shoulders. It was as if the very elements had gathered to serve him.
Zaydan's eyes widened further when he noticed Rehan's appearance. His usual casual attire was gone, replaced by a sleek black tunic embroidered with silver patterns. A belt strapped around his waist held a sword, its hilt gleaming under the soft glow of magic. The entire image screamed knight straight out of a fantasy novel.
"What the hell…" Zaydan muttered, pushing himself up.
At the sound of his voice, both Rehan and Azaad turned toward him.
"Ah, sleeping beauty is finally awake," Rehan smirked, dismissing the elemental display with a flick of his wrist. The fire extinguished, the water dissipated, the wind calmed, and the floating stones dropped with soft thuds.
Zaydan rubbed his temples. "What—what is going on?!" He gestured at Rehan's attire. "And why do you look like a budget knight from a medieval RPG?"
Rehan laughed. "Man, you really missed a lot. Let me fill you in."
Azaad stepped forward, stroking his long, silvery beard. "Perhaps I should explain first," he said, his deep voice commanding attention.
Zaydan turned to the old man—no, the god—and swallowed hard. His mind was still struggling to process the reality before him, but he knew one thing for sure. Nothing was normal anymore.
Azaad raised his golden staff, and suddenly, the air around them changed. Symbols of fire, water, earth, wind, and other unknown forces materialized, hovering mid-air like ancient runes.
"The world I come from," Azaad began, "is one of magic and might. But at its core, everything is governed by the elements. Fire, Water, Earth, and Air are the fundamental forces, but there are rarer ones—Lightning, Ice, Darkness, and Light. Those who can wield these elements hold immense power."
He gestured, and the symbols pulsed with energy. "However, elemental magic is not simply about choosing an ability—it is tied to one's occupation."
Zaydan frowned. "Occupation?"
Azaad nodded. "Every person in my world follows a path—a profession that defines their skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Some are warriors, who focus on physical combat but wield elemental enhancements to strengthen their attacks. Some are mages, who dedicate their lives to mastering powerful spells. Others are assassins, priests, summoners, blacksmiths—each with abilities that align with their role in society."
He glanced at Rehan. "Your friend, for example, has chosen the path of the Magical Knight—a warrior who wields both the blade and the elements. While he cannot harness the more advanced elements like Lightning or Darkness, he has been granted control over the four basic ones—Fire, Water, Earth, and Air."
Zaydan blinked as he turned to Rehan. "Wait, so you're like one of those elemental swordsmen from anime?"
Rehan grinned, tapping the hilt of his sword. "Pretty much. Magic and swordsmanship—best of both worlds."
Zaydan exhaled. "And what about me?"
Azaad stroked his beard. "That is for you to decide. Your potential is not yet determined. You may choose a path now, or wait until you understand your own strengths."
Zaydan frowned, unsure. This was too much. Too sudden. He needed time.
Rehan crossed his arms. "That brings us to the deal."
Zaydan groaned. "I swear, if you sold my soul—"
Rehan raised a hand. "Relax. It's actually a good deal. Here's the breakdown."
He walked over and placed a hand on Zaydan's shoulder. "Azaad here is basically a god of creation. That means he can grant us any power or skill we want. In return, we have to help modernize his world using Earth's technology, ideas, and advancements."
Zaydan frowned. "Wait. You're saying we introduce our world's tech into his world? Like… bringing phones and the internet to a medieval fantasy kingdom?"
"Not just phones," Rehan grinned. "Think bigger. Medicine, agriculture, transportation, commerce! We could revolutionize an entire civilization!"
Zaydan exhaled slowly. It sounded insane—but also strangely… tempting.
Azaad nodded. "My world is rich in magic but poor in knowledge. While I am a god, I cannot interfere beyond my limits. If my people do not gain wisdom, they will remain stagnant. That is why I seek your help—to bring the wonders of your world to mine."
Zaydan leaned back, deep in thought. The opportunity was enormous. The risks? Probably even bigger.
"But why us?" he asked. "Surely, there are better candidates."
Azaad chuckled. "Perhaps. But destiny works in mysterious ways. And besides, you were the one who showed kindness to a helpless old man. That kindness has set you on this path."
Rehan smirked. "And since we're getting powers out of this, I'd say it's a fair trade."
Zaydan narrowed his eyes. "And what powers did you pick, exactly?"
Rehan smirked and stretched out his arm. A gust of wind ruffled his hair, a small flame flickered at his fingertips, droplets of water danced around his wrist, and the ground beneath his feet shifted ever so slightly.
"I chose to be a Magical Knight—a warrior who can wield the four basic elements alongside swordsmanship." He grinned. "Best choice ever."
Zaydan sighed. "Of course, you'd pick something flashy."
Rehan laughed. "Hey, we both know I was born to be a protagonist."
Zaydan rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. Then, he turned to Azaad. "And what about me? What if I don't want to pick now?"
Azaad stroked his beard. "Then you may wait. But I advise you not to hesitate for too long. The road ahead will not be without danger."
Zaydan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He had so many questions, so many doubts. But one thing was certain—his life had just changed forever.
And whether he was ready or not, the adventure was already set in motion.