The streets of modern Bangkok were alive with the hum of traffic, the chatter of pedestrians, and the vibrant chaos of city life. Tawan had always loved the energy of the city, the way it never seemed to sleep, always pulsing with possibility. But today, everything felt off. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but something in the air felt different, almost... surreal.
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He adjusted the strap of his worn-out backpack as he hurried along the sidewalk, weaving through the crowd. His job at a small cafe didn’t pay much, but it was enough to get by. Tawan wasn’t picky about the little things—he was used to living simply. What mattered was his love for photography and his desire to capture fleeting moments of beauty in a world that moved too quickly.
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The city around him buzzed as usual, but his mind wandered. He had been dreaming a lot lately—dreams of places he couldn’t recognize, faces he couldn’t forget. He shook his head, trying to focus on the present. Maybe it was just stress. Life had been a bit overwhelming lately, but that was nothing new. There was always work to do, always something to take care of.
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But as he passed a large, ornate building, something strange happened. The world around him seemed to blur, the colors of the city melting into each other, like the edges of a painting being soaked by rain. His surroundings distorted, and a wave of dizziness overtook him. He stumbled, reaching out to steady himself, but the ground beneath him began to sway, like a ship in rough waters. Tawan’s heart raced, panic seizing him as everything went dark.
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He couldn’t breathe. His body was weightless, as if being pulled in every direction at once. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ground himself, but nothing worked. The sensation was unbearable. He opened his eyes just in time to see the blur of the city turn into a flash of light before everything vanished completely.
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When he finally regained consciousness, he found himself on the ground, surrounded by soft grass. The air felt different here—thicker, almost suffocating. The sounds of the bustling city were gone. All he could hear was the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
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Tawan’s eyes fluttered open. He slowly sat up, blinking against the bright sunlight, his head still spinning. The dizzying feeling hadn’t faded completely. He glanced around, trying to make sense of where he was. The world before him seemed like something out of a historical novel—old stone buildings and sprawling gardens. This wasn’t Bangkok.
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No. This couldn’t be real.
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In front of him stood an enormous mansion, its grand entrance flanked by tall columns and a large iron gate. The mansion looked centuries old, its architecture reminiscent of an era long past. The walls were made of fine stone, ivy creeping up the sides like nature was claiming it back. The gardens were immaculate, perfectly manicured bushes lining the path leading to the entrance. The air smelled like fresh flowers and earth—so clean and pure it was almost overwhelming.
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“What... where am I?” Tawan muttered, struggling to make sense of the scene before him.
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He stood up quickly, his knees trembling as he tried to steady himself. His fingers touched the grass beneath him, feeling the texture of the soft blades. His backpack was still with him, but everything else felt off. The world had changed in an instant, and he didn’t know why or how.
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As he took a few steps forward, trying to collect his thoughts, he noticed a man standing at the entrance of the mansion. The man was tall, his posture commanding, dressed in an impeccable suit that screamed wealth. He stood there, unmoving, with a calm yet curious expression on his face. There was an undeniable confidence about him—his eyes cold, dark, and assessing, like he could see straight through Tawan.
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Tawan’s heart skipped a beat. Was this some kind of elaborate prank? But the man didn’t look like he was here to joke around. There was something intensely serious about the way he looked at Tawan—almost like he was observing an intruder, not a lost traveler.
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The man’s voice broke the silence. “Well, well,” he said, his tone smooth and measured, with a hint of amusement. “It seems we have an unexpected visitor.”
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Tawan blinked, confused. “I—I’m sorry, I don’t know how I got here.” His voice came out shakier than he intended, but he couldn’t help it. There was something about this man that made him feel small, out of place. “I was in Bangkok, and then... I don’t know what happened.”
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The man raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving Tawan. “Bangkok?” He seemed to weigh the words carefully before continuing, “You’re no longer in Bangkok, my friend. This is the estate of Natee, and I don’t believe we’ve met.”
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Tawan stared at him, unsure of what to make of his words. Natee? Was this some sort of joke?
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But there was no humor in the man’s eyes. He stood there like a king surveying his kingdom, as if the world around him existed solely for his command. Natee’s gaze dropped to Tawan’s backpack, and then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he spoke again. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
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Tawan swallowed hard, feeling like his world was turning upside down. This wasn’t possible. He wasn’t... here. He wasn’t in this place—this time.
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“I... I don’t know where here is,” he said softly, his voice trembling. “I need to get back.”
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The man studied him for a long moment, his face unreadable. Then, with a dismissive flick of his hand, he turned. “If you’re not here by invitation, I suppose you’ll have to leave. My family doesn’t take kindly to... unexpected guests.”
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Tawan took a step back, unsure of what to do. He didn’t belong here—he knew that much. But how could he leave? How could he even understand what was happening? The man—Natee, he called himself—was already turning his back to him, his footsteps echoing on the stone path.
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Just as Tawan was about to turn and leave, Natee paused and glanced over his shoulder. “On second thought,” he said coldly, “bring him
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inside. We’ll see what we’re dealing with.”
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