A New World.

Chapter 6: A New World

Reinhart awoke the next morning to the sound of birds chirping, the light of dawn filtering through the cracks in the dilapidated house. He blinked, slowly sitting up on the small cot he had found the night before. His body still felt different—small, fragile, yet filled with energy. As the remnants of sleep left him, memories of the bear attack, his reincarnation, and the discovery of the small pendant flooded back. He glanced around the room, still unsure of where he was, but something about this place tugged at his mind.

Stepping out of the house into the soft morning light, Reinhart inhaled the fresh air, the scent of salt and sea blending with the earthy smell of the forest. The trees swayed gently in the wind, and far in the distance, he caught a glimpse of the ocean. Whale Island, he thought absentmindedly, though the name seemed unfamiliar and foreign. But that sense of déjà vu persisted. Had he heard of this place before?

The small pendant he had found the previous day was still in his pocket, and as he fingered it absentmindedly, a sense of purpose began to solidify within him. He had two years—two years to grow stronger, to figure out where he was, and prepare for whatever was coming next. The system's presence was still there, but it had remained silent since his reincarnation. That, too, worried him. What was its role now?

Before he could dwell too long on these thoughts, the sound of footsteps broke through his concentration. Reinhart turned, tensing instinctively, and saw a boy around his age running through the woods with a fishing rod in hand. His eyes widened in surprise as the boy came closer, smiling broadly, carefree and full of life.

"Hey!" the boy called out, waving as he approached. "I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new?"

Reinhart hesitated, studying the boy. He had wild black hair, greenish eyes full of curiosity, and an infectious smile. He seemed familiar, but Reinhart couldn't place where he had seen him before. Still, the boy didn't seem dangerous. Reinhart forced a smile and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. I, um, just arrived yesterday," Reinhart replied, trying to sound casual.

The boy beamed. "That's awesome! I'm Gon. What's your name?"

Reinhart opened his mouth to respond, but something stopped him. Should he use his old name, or embrace the new identity he had woken up with? After a brief moment of hesitation, he decided to stick with the familiar. "I'm Reinhart."

Gon tilted his head, looking slightly confused but still smiling. "Nice to meet you, Reinhart! Do you live here on Whale Island now?"

Whale Island. There was that name again. Reinhart's mind raced. Whale Island... why does that sound so familiar? And this boy—Gon. He looked so much like... No, it couldn't be.

Reinhart swallowed, trying to keep his composure. "Yeah, I guess so. I, um, don't really remember how I got here. Everything's still kind of blurry."

Gon's face softened with concern. "That's okay! Whale Island's a great place. You'll love it here. Do you want to come fishing with me? There's a river nearby, and I've been practicing catching some big ones!"

Reinhart hesitated. He had a lot to figure out, and the pieces were slowly falling into place, but the idea of spending time with Gon was hard to refuse. Besides, maybe sticking close to him could give him the answers he needed. He nodded, and Gon's grin widened.

"Awesome! Come on, follow me!" Gon said excitedly, sprinting off into the trees.

Reinhart followed, his mind racing. If this really was Whale Island, and if this boy really was Gon... could he have reincarnated into the world of Hunter x Hunter? The thought seemed absurd, but the more he thought about it, the more everything fit. The fishing, the island, the boy's face... it all lined up. He had somehow reincarnated into a world that was supposed to be fictional.

As they made their way to the river, Gon chatted excitedly, talking about his latest catches and the creatures he'd seen. Reinhart listened, only half paying attention. His mind was consumed with the implications of his realization. If this was really the world of Hunter x Hunter, then that meant there were Hunters, Nen, and dangers far beyond anything he had faced before.

But it also meant that Gon—this cheerful, energetic boy—was destined to become one of the greatest Hunters in the world. And in two years, he would set out on his journey to take the Hunter Exam. Reinhart felt a surge of determination. He had two years to prepare, to get strong enough to survive in this world and possibly travel with Gon when the time came. But how?

They arrived at the river, and Gon immediately began showing Reinhart how to fish, his enthusiasm infectious. Reinhart watched him closely, not just for fishing tips, but for any signs of the future Hunter he would become. For now, Gon was just a boy—innocent, full of wonder. But Reinhart knew that this would change. He would witness incredible feats, face unimaginable danger, and unlock the power of Nen.

Suddenly, Gon turned to him, breaking Reinhart out of his thoughts. "Do you know how to fish?" Gon asked, holding out the rod.

Reinhart blinked, shaking his head. "Not really," he admitted, taking the rod gingerly. "I'm not sure I'm any good at this."

Gon laughed. "That's okay! I'll teach you. It's all about patience and feeling the fish. You'll get the hang of it in no time."

As they fished together, Reinhart found himself relaxing, letting go of some of the tension that had gripped him since his reincarnation. Gon's positivity and kindness were a welcome distraction from the weight of his new reality. For a moment, it almost felt like they were just two ordinary boys enjoying a simple day by the river.

But Reinhart knew better. This was only the beginning. He had a long way to go if he was going to survive in this world, and even further if he hoped to one day stand beside Gon as an equal.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the water, Reinhart turned to Gon, his mind made up.

"Hey, Gon," Reinhart said, his voice steady. "I think I'm going to stick around here for a while. Maybe we could hang out more... and train together?"

Gon's eyes lit up. "Really? That sounds great! We can have all sorts of adventures together!" he said, practically bouncing with excitement. "I'll introduce you to my Aunt Mito too. She's the best, and she'll be happy to have another friend around."

Reinhart smiled, feeling a spark of hope. He didn't know how this would all play out, but for now, he had a goal—train, grow stronger, and prepare for the day when Gon would set out to become a Hunter. Two years wasn't a lot of time, but it was enough to get started.

And with Gon by his side, maybe—just maybe—Reinhart could carve out a place for himself in this strange new world.

As they walked back toward the village, Reinhart glanced at the horizon. The journey ahead would be long and full of challenges, but he was ready. The price of freedom had brought him here, and now, it was time to fight for his future.