The forest was eerily silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Aric stood amidst the towering trees, his grey eyes scanning the shadowy surroundings with growing frustration.
He had been wandering aimlessly for hours—or so it felt—since leaving Arkwright Manor earlier that day. The path he initially followed had dissolved into nothingness, swallowed by the dense undergrowth and twisting roots that seemed determined to keep him trapped.
[You're hopeless!] Ivy's voice chimed in, dripping with exasperation as her holographic form flickered on the screen.
[How do you even manage to get lost? It's not like this place is some labyrinthine maze!]
"Easy." Aric shot back, his tone with sarcasm "I took a wrong turn. Happens to everyone."
[Not everyone ends up stumbling into enchanted forests at midnight, genius. You're lucky there aren't any monsters lurking around here… yet. Maybe it's behind you, ooooo, boo!]
Aric rolled his eyes, "Look, I'm not exactly thrilled about being stuck out here either, okay? But I needed space to think—to experiment without prying eyes watching my every move. It's not like I could stay and start shooting out generators like it was candy. My wife, well Vayne's wife hates me."
[And now you're paying the price for your little rebellion.] Ivy retorted smugly.
[Honestly, did you really expect me to let you wander off unsupervised after everything we've discussed?]
"I didn't ask for supervision!" Aric muttered under his breath, running a hand through his disheveled black hair. His gaze drifted upward, taking in the canopy of stars peeking through gaps in the foliage above.
Despite his irritation, part of him couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of this world—even if it came with its share of dangers.
As Aric trudged deeper into the woods, his senses were overwhelmed by the sheer otherworldliness of the environment. Towering oaks stretched toward the heavens, their bark shimmering faintly with bioluminescent moss that cast an ethereal glow across the forest floor.
Vines coiled around branches like serpents, pulsating softly with veins of golden light that hinted at latent magical energy. Flowers bloomed sporadically along the ground, their petals glowing faintly in hues of blue, purple, and silver—a stark contrast to the muted greens and browns of the surrounding vegetation.
The air itself carried a strange charge, tingling against his skin as though alive with static electricity. Every breath he took filled his lungs with a crisp, earthy scent laced with traces of ozone—a reminder that magic saturated this land far more deeply than anything he'd experienced before.
I do wonder what kind of air ratio this planet has. I'm assuming I'm on a planet considering I'm in another world.
At first, Aric had wandered off the main path seeking solitude—a quiet corner where he could test his theories undisturbed. Specifically, he wanted to find a location suitable for powering one of his inventions: a compact generator designed to harness natural forces like wind or water.
After all, Creation Magic allowed him to manifest objects from imagination alone—but sustaining such creations required external energy sources. Without access to modern infrastructure, improvisation became key.
He soon discovered that the forest teemed with consistent gusts of wind weaving between the trees, creating pockets of turbulence perfect for experimentation. Yet instead of relief, Aric found himself increasingly uneasy. The deeper he ventured, the darker the shadows grew—and the louder the whispers in his mind became.
With no time to waste, Aric decided to press forward despite his unease. Focusing intently, he called upon his Creation Magic once more, imagining a sleek device capable of converting kinetic energy from the wind into usable power.
The process was painstaking; each detail—every gear, circuit, and filament—had to be visualized with absolute clarity before manifesting physically.
As the generator materialized before him, its metallic surface gleaming faintly in the dim light, Aric felt a wave of exhaustion crash over him. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
Creating something functional wasn't just about raw imagination alone. It demanded precision, concentration, and a profound understanding of reality.
Incorporating elements of physics (like torque and rotational velocity) alongside fantastical concepts (such as channeling ambient mana into mechanical processes) Aric pushed the boundaries of what Creation Magic could achieve.
However, the effort left him mentally drained, his thoughts foggy and disjointed.
[I warned you this would happen.] Ivy said, her tone softer now
[Magic isn't free, darling. Even EX-tier potential has limits.]
"Yeah, yeah." Aric replied dismissively, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Tell me something I don't already know."
Before Ivy could respond, a sudden movement caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a flicker of orange light approaching steadily through the trees. Turning fully, he saw a figure emerge from the darkness—a torch held aloft illuminating only their face while casting long, distorted shadows across the ground.
"Who are you?" the figure asked gruffly, their deep voice reverberating through the stillness of the night.
"And what are you doing out here?"
Aric blinked, momentarily stunned by the sight before him. The man—if indeed he was human—towered over him despite Aric's impressive height of six-foot-one. Broad shoulders rippled beneath worn leather armour, and muscular arms flexed as he adjusted his grip on the torch.
Shadows danced across his rugged features, accentuating sharp cheekbones and piercing green eyes that glinted dangerously in the firelight.
This man was over 7 foot! WHAT THE HELL!?
"I… uh…" Aric stammered, struggling to compose himself. "I'm just… exploring?"
The stranger raised an eyebrow skeptically, clearly unconvinced.
"Exploring? In the middle of the night? Alone? With no supplies?"
"Well, when you put it like that…" Aric muttered lamely, scratching the back of his neck nervously. Clearing his throat, he straightened slightly, forcing confidence into his tone.
"Fine. You caught me. I'm working on… something important. Something that might change the world."
The stranger snorted derisively.
"Big talk for someone who looks like they got lost looking for mushrooms."
"I didn't get los-" Aric snapped defensively before pausing mid-sentence, realization dawning slowly.
"Wait… hold on. Are you… a dwarf?"
The man smirked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Observant, aren't you? Yes, I'm a dwarf. Name's Thorin Stonefist and judging by your reaction, you must be another clueless outsider."
Aric gaped, utterly dumbfounded. All those fantasy books he'd devoured throughout his life suddenly felt like lies.
Dwarves weren't supposed to look like this! Not tall, imposing, and downright intimidating! Where were the stout, bearded miners and builders obsessed with gold and ale? I demand a refund!
Beside him, Ivy burst into hysterical laughter, her holographic form morphing instantly into a Joker-like caricature complete with exaggerated makeup and a wide, toothy grin.
[Fuck me sideways!] she cackled, clutching her sides theatrically.
[This is priceless! Did you honestly think dwarves would fit your clichés? Face it—you're woefully unprepared for this world.]
Shut up, Ivy! Aric growled in his head.
To Thorin, he added sheepishly, "Sorry. Guess I had some… misconceptions."
Thorin chuckled darkly, shaking his head.
"Misconceptions are dangerous things, lad. Especially out here." He gestured toward the generator with his torch.
I was just here to get some plants speciality for my girlfriend. I didn't expect a human here. No less building something I have never seen before.
"Now tell me again—what exactly are you building?"
Aric hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Thorin's demeanor—his directness, his curiosity—felt trustworthy.
"My name is Vayne Arkwright." he said finally, meeting the dwarf's piercing green eyes.
Thorin's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of judgment passing over his face before it smoothed into neutrality.
"Ah" was all he said, though the weight behind the single syllable spoke volumes.
Clearly, he heard the rumours. Aric thought
Ignoring the unspoken implication, Aric pressed on.
"I'm working on… well, it's called a generator. It's a device designed to harness energy from nature—wind, water, sunlight—and convert it into something usable. Electricity. With electricity, there is so much things one could do."
A generator? Electricity? What does this boy know more than me?
When Thorin raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, Aric sighed and decided to elaborate.
"Look, I know this probably sounds crazy to you. But think about it: imagine being able to power tools without relying solely on magic or brute strength. Or storing food for weeks without spoilage. Imagine lighting your home with steady, reliable illumination instead of fire hazards like torches or oil lamps."
He reached into the back pocket of his pants, pulling out the folded blueprint he'd kept tucked away. Unfolding it carefully, he held it up so Thorin could see.
"Here." he explained, pointing to various sections.
"This is what I call a refrigerator—it keeps food cold using electricity. This is an electric stove; no need for wood or coal fires. Heated floors, ceiling fans, even air conditioning…"
Ivy tilted her head,
[Really?] she drawled, crossing her arms.
[You're pitching air conditioning to a dwarf? That's bold and silly.]
Aric ignored her, focusing instead on Thorin's reaction. To his surprise, the dwarf didn't laugh or dismiss him outright. Instead, Thorin crouched down abruptly, setting the torch aside as he studied the blueprints more closely.
This is very interesting. Cold air comes out of this? That sounds magical! Thorin thought to himself.
The force of his movement sent vibrations through the ground, making Aric jump slightly.
[Oh great.] Ivy chimed in mockingly.
[Now we've got a literal mountain sitting next to us. Don't piss him off, darling—he looks like the type who could bench-press a tree.]
Aric clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to snap at her. Internally, he agreed.
Pissing off someone like Thorin Stonefist seemed like a terrible idea—one best avoided at all costs. As I would say, never fuck around and find out.
As Thorin examined the blueprints, Aric couldn't help but notice the sheer size of the man—or rather, dwarf.
Yep. Mhm. Never fucking around this guy. I ain't trying to find out. Aric thought grimly, suppressing a shiver.
This guy could crush me like a bug if he wanted to!
Thorin traced a finger along one of the diagrams, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"So." he said slowly, glancing up at Aric.
"You're saying you can take wind, water, sunlight—all these forces of nature—and turn them into… this 'electricity' stuff?"
"That's right!" Aric confirmed, nodding eagerly.
"It's not just theoretical, either. Back where I come from—"
He caught himself mid-sentence, realizing he was about to slip up. Quickly, he amended with a lie,
"Back when I studied engineering, I learned how to design systems like this. Now I'm trying to adapt those ideas here, combining science with magic to make it work."
Thorin grunted noncommittally, leaning back slightly.
Well it is revolutionary I'll give him that.
"And what do you plan to do with it once it's built? Sell it to nobles? Merchants?"
Aric hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Yes. But first, I need to prove it works. House Arkwright is… struggling financially. If I can create something valuable enough, it might help stabilize things."
So you're the scum of Arkwright and you're trying to redeem yourself now? How odd. It's not like I believe him, sounds delusional even but this ideas are so...fascinating.
Well in any case, I'll simply watch him and get his ideas for whatever price he puts. The ideas this human has, far outweighs the shit he has done. Well not like that's any better.
Thorin thought to himself for a long time.
Well I suppose the long term benefits far outweighs any petty emotions I have for this man.
Thorin's gaze sharpened, studying Aric intently. After a moment, he nodded slowly.
"Interesting. You're not what I expected, given the stories I've heard."
By the time dawn broke, Aric and Thorin were walking side by side along the forest path leading back toward Arkwright Manor. The tension between them had eased after hours of conversation, during which Aric managed to convince Thorin of the feasibility—and potential profitability—of his inventions.
Aric also talked about his knowledge on Earth disguise as some other place Vayne visited.
"You're different from what the rumours say." Thorin remarked casually, breaking the comfortable silence.
"They paint you as some reckless idiot who gambled away his family's fortune. Yet here you are, tinkering with devices most people wouldn't even dream of and knowledge that even I didn't know."
Aric chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah, well, rumours tend to exaggerate. Besides, I've… changed recently."
People don't change overnight. Well after the whole night talking to him, it is quite hard to believe this is just Vayne speaking. Thorin thought to himself after hearing Aric.
[Don't forget to mention the whole reincarnation thing] Ivy teased sarcastically.
[Oh wait, you can't. You would sound stupid and crazy]
"Shut up, Ivy" Aric muttered under his breath, earning a curious glance from Thorin.
"What was that?" Thorin asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Nothing..." Aric replied quickly, waving a hand dismissively. "Just… you know...thinking."
Thorin shrugged, apparently unconvinced but willing to let it slide. They continued walking in companionable silence until Aric finally worked up the courage to ask a favour.
"There's something I need from you." he began hesitantly. When Thorin looked at him expectantly, he continued
"If you happen to meet my wife—Seraphina—and she accuses me of stealing designs from you… just say yes. Please."
Thorin stopped dead in his tracks, turning to face Aric fully.
"What?" he demanded, his tone sharp.
"Why would I lie for you? Especially after everything you—or whoever you used to be—have done?"
"It's complicated." Aric admitted, running a hand through his hair.
"But trust me, it's important. She won't believe me if I say I came up with these ideas myself. Not after everything Vayne put her through."
Thorin crossed his arms, his expression skeptical.
"And why should I risk my reputation for someone like you?"
"Because I'm not him." Aric shot back, his voice firm despite the exhaustion weighing him down.
"I may look like Vayne, but I'm not the same person. I could tell you later on but I need you to trust me with at least these ideas. They could change the world. Isn't that worth a little faith?"
For a long moment, Thorin stared at him, weighing his words. Finally, he sighed heavily, shaking his head.
"Fine. I'll play along—for now. But don't make me regret it."
Aric smiled faintly, relief washing over him. "Thank you."
By the time they reached the gates of Arkwright Manor, the sun had fully risen, bathing the estate in golden light. Thorin paused briefly, taking in the sprawling grounds with a whistle of appreciation.
"Not bad." he commented dryly. "Guess I can see why she fights so hard to keep a place like this."