The first sign of truly delectable food in this world! Maybe this isn’t such a trash isekai after all.

  I focus my Qi on my nose and follow the tantalizing aroma, practically bursting through the jungle undergrowth.

  A small, unassuming hut nestled amongst the trees comes into view, a peculiar metallic vehicle parked beside it.

  Wisps of white smoke curl lazily from its chimney. This could be interesting. Maybe I’ll finally get some decent food.

  I dash to the door and rap sharply.

  “Hello?” I call out.

  A sudden cacophony of clattering ladles and clanging knives erupts from within.

  “Er...hello? Is anyone…about?” A rather stout man cautiously opens the door a crack, peering up at me with wide, slightly panicked eyes.

  “Now, hold on. Who are you, then? And… how’d you manage that?” The man’s voice trembles slightly as he clutches a knife tightly, his gaze fixed on the obvious trail I’ve blazed through the jungle.

  “I’m Val. I walked…” I glance back at my route, a mangled path of traps marking my passage.

  Oh, wow… I was so focused on the smell I didn’t even register those…traps? Snares?

  “Sorry… about those…” I mumble awkwardly.

  “Right… What’s… the purpose of this, then?” The man asks, still visibly shaken.

  “I got a little lost in this jungle, and I caught the scent of your amazing cooking…” I inhale deeply. “Though… it’s starting to smell a tad…burnt now.”

  “Ahh!” The stout man slams the door shut and scurries back inside.

  After a flurry of frantic noises from within—including what sounds suspiciously like a pot hitting the floor—the man reappears, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

  “Lost, are we?” He studies me with a mixture of confusion and suspicion, his eyes widening as he takes in my appearance.

  “Yeah… hopelessly lost… perhaps you could spare a bite?” I peer past him into the hut. The aroma is still divine, even with the slightly burnt undertones. I have to taste it.

  The stout man lowers his knife slightly. “Just… stay put for a moment,” he says softly, before promptly slamming the door in my face again.

  Patiently waiting outside, I gaze up at the sky. The sun hangs high overhead. It’s probably around noon.

  A rather ominous thundercloud seems to be brewing closer to the beach where I’d started. Hopefully, it won't rain before I get some of this amazing smelling… whatever it is.

  The salty-sweet air from the hut now carries the enticing aroma of perfectly balanced spices.

  The door creaks open again. “Come in… Looks like the heavens are about to open,” the stout man says, glancing nervously at the darkening sky outside.

  I step into the tiny, sparsely furnished hut. It’s incredibly simple, practically bare. The door closes behind me with a soft thud.

  The stout man bustles past. “Here, sit. Make yourself… as comfortable as you can,” he says, gesturing to a small table with two chairs.

  On the table, the pot. The magnificent pot. A tantalizing blend of spices, meat, and vegetables, laced with a hint of something utterly unique, wafts from within.

  Some scents are familiar—cinnamon, cloves, cardamom—others decidedly not.

  It resembles a curry or beef bourguignon, but with ingredients that look nothing like Earth’s. Giant purple tubers and bright green, segmented vegetables bob in the rich, dark sauce.

  I carefully lower myself into a chair. The man, still looking a tad nervous, sets out plates and utensils. We sit facing each other. He scoops a generous portion of the stew onto my plate.

  This body doesn’t need food, but my non-existent stomach practically begs for this.

  “Thank you!” I blurt, unable to contain myself, and eagerly plunge my fork into the plate, spearing a chunk of meat coated in the rich sauce.

  The moment the first bite hits my tongue, a wave of nostalgia washes over me.

  It tastes remarkably like home, like Earth. The taste, the smell, the texture—it’s an explosion of familiar sensations, all harmonizing beautifully as I chew and swallow.

  It’s even hot! I can actually feel the warmth in my mouth.

  Apparently, that’s the one part of me that retains some sense of temperature.

  After I devour the first few bites, the chubby man finally relaxes, a smile spreading across his face. “Goodness me, you look like you’ve missed a few meals!”

  “Ah… sorry…” I sheepishly stop shoveling food into my mouth and glance up at him.

  He looks quite young, really. Human, mostly, but there’s something subtly… off about him.

  “There’s plenty more where that came from. Don’t be shy,” the man says, generously ladling another portion of the stew onto my already overflowing plate.

  “I’m Bailey. And where might your travels have taken you from?”

  “A faraway place,” I say, popping another spoonful into my mouth. “Somewhere you’ve probably never heard of.” Probably.

  Bailey pours himself a glass of something greenish and suspiciously viscous. It looks like pond scum mixed with limeade.

  “Care for a sip? It’s…an acquired taste.” He eyes the glass with a mixture of fondness and apprehension. “And tell me, how did you manage to get all the way out here?”

  “I’m good, thanks.” I eye the slimy liquid with extreme suspicion. “I just walked. Wandered the world, you know?”

  Bailey takes a hesitant sip of his concoction, wincing slightly. “Folks don’t usually just…stroll into the wilds. Especially not this part.”

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  “I got lost and kept walking,” I say, gazing out the window at the now rapidly darkening sky. That thundercloud from earlier looks like it’s decided to park itself right over us.

  Bailey follows my gaze. “I don’t get many visitors, let alone ones who wander right to my doorstep.”

  “I am…” I swallow a large, delicious mouthful of food. “Sorry about the traps, by the way.”

  Bailey eyes me closely. “You…seem alright. Considering…” He trails off, taking another gulp of his drink.

  “Good… good you’re well. Those… things outside… they’re meant to… well.” Bailey takes a larger swig of his drink, his face turning a slightly greener shade than usual.

  “Ha.” He lets out a nervous chuckle.

  Crack…BOOM!

  A sudden clap of thunder punctuates the awkward silence, making the hut shake slightly.

  Getting struck by lightning… that might do the trick…

  Bailey gestures toward the torrential downpour outside. “This…this is the Elemental Wilds. You can get all sorts out here. Rain, sun, thunder, fire…maybe even earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes. All within…well, a day, easy.”

  “That’s…intense,” I say, following Bailey’s finger to the window. “Sounds like a fun place for a picnic. Are there others living around here?”

  “Only the Luthraks usually settle in the Wilds. But…even they tend to steer clear of this part. Too unpredictable, even for them.”

  Bailey glances me over. “You…you’re sure you’re alright? Nothing…nothing feels…off?”

  “I couldn’t be better. This food is amazing.” I realize I’ve already devoured the entire pot. Bailey keeps refilling my plate as I eat, and a warm energy spreads through me.

  Did I just eat everything and not leave any for him? Where are my manners…

  Suddenly, a realization strikes me. I stare Bailey straight in the eye before dramatically collapsing onto the floor, going completely limp. I keep my eyes closed and my body still.

  Bailey lets out a shaky breath. “Now…really. Who are you?” He approaches cautiously and attempts to roll me over, struggling slightly with the dead weight.

  He checks my pulse and breathing. He stumbles back, eyes wide.

  “That’s…that’s not right. Ionacoca doesn’t kill. It just…knocks you out. There’s no way…” He quickly drips a couple of droplets of extremely bitter liquid into my mouth.

  Ugh. Tastes like swamp water mixed with orange juice and despair.

  While keeping my eyes shut, my Qi enhanced senses put the entire hut under surveillance.

  After a few brisk slaps to my face, he recoils. He rummages through my bag, then opens the box containing the notebook.

  After going through all the contents, he drops to his knees. “Those…that is his notebook. And…his card. How…? Why…?”

  He begins pleading, "No...no...wake up, please. I gotta know...where's Master Keyser? Where is he?"

  When he attempts some rather pathetic CPR, and comes in for the mouth-to-mouth, I shoot my eyes open!

  “Who is Dr. Keyser to you?” I ask, pushing him off me.

  “Ahhhhhhh!” He screams, executing a clumsy roll, and scrambling to his feet all at once.

  He snatches the gun he’d taken from my bag and points it at my head, hand shaking. “What…what in the name of all that’s holy…are you?!”

  That’ll teach him a lesson not to try and poison someone with such delicious food.

  “Calm down,” I say, pushing myself up from the floor and plopping back into my seat.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, and you certainly can’t hurt me. Whatever you put in that food clearly doesn’t work on me. So, let’s all take a breath and chat.”

  Bailey takes a shuddering breath before slowly rising and sinking back into his own seat, the gun still wavering in my general direction.

  I begin explaining what happened, carefully omitting the details of the afterlife and the visions I saw. I tell him how I woke up in Dr. Keyser’s lab and watched him turn to dust right before my eyes.

  Bailey’s eyes widen, and tears begin to stream down his cheeks. He lowers the gun, slumping in his seat like a punctured balloon. “So…that’s it then. Master Keyser’s…gone.”

  He explains that he’s here to find Dr. Keyser. He’d learned the doctor was living in this area and had been searching high and low for what feels like an eternity.

  All he ever wanted was to work for Dr. Keyser. He’d looked up to him since he was a child. Dr. Keyser was the one who saved his mother when no one else would.

  Maybe he’ll have some idea what the messy scribbles on Dr. Keyser’s notebooks are. So I hand Bailey the notebook for him to read.

  He pores over the pages, his brow furrowed in concentration. By the time he finishes, the rain has stopped, and the setting sun paints the sky in vibrant hues.

  “So… you’re VAL! Well, I’ll be!” His eyes snap back to me, beaming with an almost unsettling mix of excitement and hope. “You’re… you’re his last work, then!”

  “You can read his notes! What else does it say?!” I grab his arms with both hands, my excitement mirroring his own.

  “Oof!” he yelps, his smile faltering slightly.

  “Sorry…” I quickly let go, wincing. Whoops. Maybe a little too enthusiastic.

  Bailey rubs his arm gingerly, giving me a slightly wary look. "Right. Well...that part...about you...yeah, that made sense. The rest...went right past me. 'Specially the last bit – no clue what those pictures are about."

  Burying my face in my palms, I groan. “Ugh. Why did you have such awful handwriting, Doctor? You are definitely a real doctor! These letters are like a chicken scratching on parchment.”

  Bailey’s brow furrows with worry. “But… you need to be careful. Keep yourself covered up. What Master Keyser did… well, it isn’t exactly… allowed.”

  He explains that everything to do with creating artificial life and artificially prolonging life is forbidden by the Anunnaki, god-like beings worshipped by humans.

  Apparently, they have some pretty strict rules about playing God, which, considering they’re actual gods, is probably fair enough.

  Wait… Anunnaki? The Sumerian gods? They exist in this world?!

  Well, he was hiding in a cave under the sea… I suspected he was probably doing extremely illegal things. Especially after knowing what he did to those sea serpents.

  He adds that I don’t look like anything else on this planet. Nothing has scales like mine, and nothing has golden eyes—which, he admits, was one of the reasons he was so suspicious.

  Also, nothing should have made it to his door alive; all the traps were laced with poison.

  He was especially surprised that the poisoned food hadn’t affected me.

  "I put enough Ionacoca in that stew to knock a Terraphanotos flat for a week with just one bite!" Bailey shakes his head in disbelief.

  Which, you know, explains the whole screaming and gun-pointing incident. "But it all makes sense now...knowing you're one of Dr. Keyser's...creations. That explains why the poison didn't faze you."

  Bailey makes more food, and this time he joins me at the table. I tell him that, being newly created, I have absolutely no knowledge of this world. It’s all brand new to me.

  So, as evening falls, Bailey pulls out a device that projects a 3D image of the globe. It has continents and oceans, much like Earth.

  The map also shows many places with dangerous-looking creatures and possibly warning signs. The name of this world is Elythra.

  Bailey points to a large, swirling mass of blue in the middle of a continent, with a massive warning sign.

  “This is the Elemental Wilds. Like I said, no one in their right mind lives here. Too much… weather. I’m actually just packing up to leave myself,” he explains, shuddering slightly.

  Zooming into the many large and small yellow dots scattered across the map. “Are these all cities?”

  “Aye, lots of cities ’round here are mines too. Closest one? That’d be Petralis.” He points to a small yellow dot to our east. He pauses, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Now, about those two gold bars in your bag… they aren’t gold. Not exactly.”

  I pull the two bars from my bag and place them on the table.

  “Those are Adamantine,” Bailey says, his voice low. “Dug straight from the ground of Elythra, then covered in gold.”

  “They used to give ’em to the Anunnaki. In exchange, the Anunnaki would give folks… well, knowledge. Truth. The Luthraks use ’em for magic before, but they can’t dig up much of it anymore.”

  Bailey looks grimly at the bars. “That’s about what a big mine pulls up in two years.”

  I’m rich! I’m loaded! I can practically see the piles of gold coins shimmering in my future.

  Bailey’s expression turns serious as he sees my grin. “You shouldn’t go showing those to just anyone,” he warns, his eyes darting nervously around the hut.

  “They're worth… more than you can possibly imagine.”

  Rumble… Rumble… Rumble… Rumble…