Yokai
dream eater
I S E K A I (異世界)
transl. “other-world”
Isekai is an “accidental travel” genre that revolves around
a normal individual from Earth being transported to, reborn
in, or otherwise trapped in a parallel universe or fantasy
world.
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They were just two strangers reaching for the same book when their fingers brushed and the world fell out from underneath them. When they reopened their eyes they were greeted by, not the grimy ceiling of the public library or even the white tiles of the hospital, but the swaying green of a forest canopy.
From somewhere above them, a strange voice with an unplaceable accent mutters in a low, confused tone: “...I think I messed up that spell.”
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Muse ♢ was born the heir to the Palavian dynasty: a great, prosperous kingdom known for maintaining nearly a millennium of peace and well-respected by their numerous allies. Growing up, Muse ♢ had little else to worry about other than solving minor disputes and avoiding social faux pas. Or, at least, that was what they were led to believe. A burgeoning darkness has taken root in the lands to the South; whispers of a dark and powerful sorcerer have reached the King’s ear. When their neighbouring kingdoms fall to ruin and a plague spreads across the land, it is the duty of the royal family to protect their people. Unfortunately, they may have left it too late.
Awoken in the middle of the night by the blood-curdling screams of their loved ones, murdered in their own beds, Muse ♢ narrowly manages to escape certain death. Muse ♧, their faithful guardian and mage of the Palavian court, barely evades capture as they escort the last Palavian from the castle, escaping out the servant’s entrance cloaked in illusion and trickery. From there, the two ride for many days on end until they finally reach the boundary of Palavia’s great nation. It is here, hunkered down in the charred ruins of an old farmhouse, that they create a valiant plan. Or, more plainly, a suicide mission. Together the two will travel into the heart of the sorcerer’s lair and vanquish the evil that has stolen their families, their home, and their lives.
In the original story, Muse ♢ and ♧ succeed in their mission… but only barely. Along their journey, the two rekindle old alliances with ancient Kingdoms, and even make surprising new ones, as they grow strong enough to face their enemies. But, in the end, they would not have succeeded if it weren’t for Muse ♧ making the ultimate sacrifice. In this alternate universe, however, a thread begins to fray. Muse ♧ accidentally summons two strangers in a spell gone awry, bringing forth two normal humans into a mystical land of dynasties, grand wars, dragons, and magic. It sounds fantastical but reality can be a cruel mistress. After all, bedtime stories told to young children tend to gloss over the gory details that come with their fairytales.
Somewhere in the summoning process, Muse ♤ is imbued with an ancient, divine magic that marks them as the chosen saviour of this world. When, in reality, all they want to do is survive and find a way back home. In comparison, Muse ♡ has no such abilities other than a hazy recollection of the storybook they had read obsessively as a young child: the Eternal Kingdom. And, from what they do recall of the book, they remember most clearly the heart-break they felt when Muse ♧ fell. This time they hope things will be different and that Muse ♧ can be saved.
With one gifted with divine magic and one gifted with foreknowledge of the story to come; will they manage to survive this fairytale? Will they ever return home? … Will they want to?
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