Green. That was the first color his eyes registered when he opened them. His body lay sprawled across a bed of grass, accompanied by several butterflies perched on his fingers, his hair, and the tips of his shoes.
The young man stirred slightly, prompting the butterflies to flutter away, startled by the movement. He blinked, adjusting to the sunlight that pierced into his retinas. Once his vision cleared, he looked around, scanning his surroundings.
The grass beneath him looked lush and vibrant, exuding a gentle fragrance that was oddly comforting. Towering trees of all shapes and sizes surrounded him—much taller and broader than any tree he had ever seen. The rustling of leaves created a symphony of nature, occasionally joined by the melodic chirping of birds in the distance.
A perfect place for an afternoon nap.
The young man sighed and turned his head to the side, noticing a horse munching on fallen fruit not far from where he lay. Wait, no, not quite. That wasn't a horse.
It resembled one, but there was a single spiral-shaped horn protruding from its forehead. Like something out of a fantasy story. What was it called again? A unicorn?
His eyes widened in shock. He quickly sat up and shook his head several times.
"Come on, Sky... this has to be a dream."
He looked again, hoping the creature was nothing more than a half-conscious illusion. But it was still there, calmly eating the fruit.
Panic began to creep into his face. Just as he started to rise, a girl lunged at him from above, slamming him back down into the grass.
She pinned his wrists with surprising strength, her knees pressing into his stomach. A sharp blade hovered inches from his neck—ready to slice if he dared to move.
"You're forbidden from crossing the border, human. How dare you set foot on elven soil."