The first sensation was the dull ache behind Vladimir's eyes, a persistent throb that resonated with the blank canvas of his mind. He blinked, the unfamiliar ceiling swimming into focus above him. Hard, yet not painful, the bed beneath him felt alien, cool in some spots, oddly warm in others. Dried leaves rustled faintly when he shifted, confirming the strange texture. Panic, cold and sharp, began to prickle at the edges of his consciousness. Where was he? Who was he?

A muscular, tanned man appeared in the doorway, radiating an almost unsettling confidence. "Oh great! You're up!" he declared, a pleasant smile on his lips. Vladimir could only stare, a dizzying blend of confusion and reluctant awe. The man, Noah, beckoned him outside, and the sight that greeted Vladimir stole his breath. An island, small and intimate, perched atop the world, surrounded by a scatter of other emerald gems in a vast blue expanse. It was beautiful, impossible, and utterly disorienting. "It's amazing, huh?" Noah asked, oblivious to Vladimir's internal turmoil. Vladimir could only manage a choked, "Ugh… What?" The world had turned upside down, and he had no map to navigate it.