Lifting up the burdens off his shoulders, the light eased his senses. Thus accompanying him to a better end, till everything darkens and disappears along with him. Or so would he have thought if his clothes did not move at the breeze of wind, if his nose did not perk up to such a bitter scent, if his limbs were not freely able to move-- if, simply told, his corpse was thrown at the dogs. Nonetheless, here he was. Alive, in a place he was not familiar with. Somewhere away from the city. ‘Is it-- the afterlife?’, it was his fight thought when his spirit grasped the situation. The answer quickly turned negative as noises began to appear. Steps to be more precise, people speaking a foreign language yet familiar, likely a sort of dialect.
Yet, despite all of his senses, one was heavily diminished. His sight was badly damaged, every color faded, every perspective seemed to be darker than it should be. A sigh escaped his mouth as his mood lifted up. Manyvat Adruo survived, he went through hell and came back with significant harms. But he was alive.
‘That is all I need to start anew,’ will he try again? It is likely. However, questions remained, for example, his last memory and his current appearance. Everything seemed blurry, including his memories, aside from his sensations, one word came to mind: heat.
That is right, someone or a group attempted to burn him to death likely. As his mind kept running the possible scenarios, the merchant lied down on the ground and his pupils focused upon the sky.
‘Why can I not remember… why would they… I mean… I have not done anything wrong, did I..? Perhaps some errors there and here. But not enough to be-- executed, right?’
Trying to remember what happened, he tried to visualize his sensations in a different-- and such, he thought of snow nearby a fire. That snow melted and then faded away.
‘Is that what happened?’
Does that mean he died, burning on the sakes? If that is case, where is he? Until his body lifts off the ground, and his legs explore these lands. It will remain unanswered. However, taking each thing in its own time is a more efficient option. His shape was cladded into a black robe from head to toes, revealing an iron cuirass. A tricorn was put down on his head, just below it was a smooth white mask, likely in iron as well.
Nothing in his brain could tell him where and how did he get to wear these clothes. None of these fitted his personality, neither did it goes well with his taste. Anyhow, holding on this mask with his left hand, he tried to remove-- but he was unable to. Another issue was risen, how will he eat if he cannot remove this mask? Same as for drinking. Trying again, but this time with the lower half of the mask-- only the lower half turned up.
‘Mmmm. How strange. I suppose I cannot do anything about it… still, that will make my work much more difficult. How troublesome.’
Since he was unable to do so, he tried to lift up his sleeves-- but he was unable as well. Collecting his thoughts, Adruo was still unsure whether that was reality or not. What kind of entity would force you to live with these clothes and never be able to take them off? Perhaps, even a curse. Or simply his own mind-- who knew, perhaps he was simply dreaming and all he needed was to go along with it.
Now that most aspects of his current self have been assessed, his head turned left and right. And his eyes widened. Even more questions followed his shadow as he began walking around, trying to examine the place he was in-- a city. Little by little, his sight seemed to be returning, allowing him to have a more proper view on it. An outskirt city? That is what he thought when he saw the buildings, but something felt odd. There was something wrong. For example-- those gates.
At this exact moment, a hand set on his shoulder. Worries run along his spine, sweat began to cover his body-- but, of course, none of this could be noticed. Slowly turning back, his eyes focused on the stranger.
“My, that is one strange outfit. But I suppose you are not the strangest out there… in any case, I suppose you just arrived there, didn’t ya?”
It was a man, likely in his late forties. Of a white composure, brown hair, dark eyes, heavy wrinkles around his smile, and finally a rather wide shape. Likely, that man is a warrior, a friendly one considering that humongous grin. Who was he? And where were they? Nonetheless, he preferred to wait rather than ask questions. Wait and see-- answers may come by themselves without needing him to personally involve himself.
“Ahaaah, and you’re a silent one. Oh well, in any case, welcome to this new world! You’re currently in Scribel City! Where can be found the Adventurer’s Guild, many otherworlders go there once they came in.”
When he heard those words, a sigh escaped his mouth. An Adventurer’s Guild? Honestly, he did not like it. Nonetheless, usually, lot of information went through them as they were more popular than mercenary bands in his previous world-- or so it was thought. Manyvat frowned upon those thoughts, coming from another world? That sounds like pure legends. If people such as these existed, they would be purged. Be it as it may-- before getting more confused.
“Let’s have a drink somewhere and speak. My name is Manyvat Adruo.”
Looking a bit surprised, the warrior smiled and stretched out his arm, hoping for a friendly handshake. In any case, since one introduced himself, the other shall do the same while leading him to the-- Adventurer’s Tavern. Where else should he go, after all? There was not any other place he could go to.
“Mine is Paul, just Paul. We’re gonna go to the tavern, aye? I will be able to explain things more thoroughly to you.”
“I do hope that you will do that. I need information right now… and I thank you in advance for that.
In fact, while they were on the way to the tavern, that is what he did-- later on, he explained the relationships between the City-State of Scribel and the Adventurer’s Guild, some significant places around the city. But not much more than that. As time flew on, the merchant began to relax and the tone of his voice became much more friendly and joyful. This swift change made his guide rather perplexed, but he just shrugged over it and thought of it as an otherworlder’s eccentricity.
Eventually, it became a reason for Paul to pester his newfound comrade with questions that delve into his personal life a bit too much for comfort.
- Your name’s quite odd, does it have any particular meaning?
- How did you even get into this world? Lot of people seemed to give out pretty eccentric replies… though, all were somehow interesting I guess.
- Right, did you have a family or anything along those lines? Why would you come here and leave them behind if you do have one? Isn’t that pretty selfish…?
- Although… what’s up with these clothes? Isn't it... too warm?
However, the merchant still remained unwilling to speak about his issues and tried avoiding the bothersome topics or get around it. For example--
“When going to a hot place such as desert or so, it is unwise to go naked. If you are heavily clothed, sweat will be more profusely produced. But this same sweat will be able to cool down your body and thus permits you to hold out a longer time in a hot climate! So, may as well feel hot all of the time.”
While he could not confirm about whether what he was declaring was lies or not, he only needed to divert the topic to something else. Not minding much his reply, Paul just clicked on his tongue and decided to be done with it as it seemed that the merchant was unwilling to share. It was clear. The otherworlder wanted him to leave considering his reply, and how he kept avoiding speaking.
“Since it seems like that you still need time, I suppose I should let you the time to think everything through, I must be a bother by distracting you-- let’s just talk again once your thoughts are collected, I am always curious about what otherworlders, they always bring intriguing stories with them… Anyway--”
Understanding how this encounter may end up if he leaves it this way. Manyvat decided to interrupt him, shook his hand and-- express his deepest thanks and apologies as the same time. While trying to keep a certain sort of link with him.
“Dear friend, I just want you to know one thing. I am grateful for you to have guided me. Once I am feeling better, I will be sure to pay you a treat and a drink. Or if you prefer, I owe you a favour, if you need anything that can be within my capabilities, just… come to the… Adventurer’s Tavern I suppose? That can be our discussion and drinking spot.”
“Oh… arg, I hate it. Whatever. I guess I can apologize for being too curious as well, you just came here and I kept asking questions about you.”
“That’s fine, that’s fine, let’s just meet up when everything’s fine, okay?”
Following this, no words were exchanged. Only gestures, handshakes and nods. As well as smiles. A sort of relief took over the merchant’s mind who then wondered what kind of benefits could he draw from this relationship? Considering that he seems to be a warrior, perhaps information about the surrounding beasts? Nonetheless, now that he got this matter dealt with. The merchant leaned against the Guild’s war and needed time to compute before going into the guild to register himself as an adventurer.
--first, the situation seemed to be real. Surprisingly enough, it would make sense if he did come to another world. Yet it is still unbelievable. How can he not doubt the current situation? He may as well be teleported to the other side of the planet! That would already more credible than being in another world! Although, he remembered what his eyes perceived-- those gates. Something was amiss about them. Somehow-- it did not feel like magic, it was similar yet different.
To try it out, the merchant tried to cast some spells-- but everything felt so unstable that it barely worked. The foundations themselves of his spells felt wrong-- even though in his previous world, it worked just fine. With this, he came to the conclusion that magic itself was different in this world.
Also, while the common language is slightly different. For some reasons, he had no problems speaking it. It seemed that he even spoke with a native’s accent. How did he do that? He barely recognised his own voice when they spoke to each other. Actually, why did he even perfectly understand him? Aside from that-- there were many questions, but all of these could be answered with time.
Except one-- why? Why is he here? How did he come through those gates? No matter how hard he thought about it, he could not remember anything but the scent of smoke. And since his mind seemed unwilling to share what he went through-- he will not think about it, he will discard that thought and try to discover much more the place he is in and, perhaps, realise his dream while he is at it. But for that, he needed information that he could get from the Guild as it seems that they are used to receive people from other worlds-- or so the common belief claims.
‘I still do not believe it.’
Assuming that coming to another world is really possible, it means that there should be a knot, a link or anything between his world and this one, right? But if there was one, he would know it. For sure, before appearing here-- he sought secrets, any esoteric clue that could lead him to a new source of benefits. Be it through an intermediary or not-- nonetheless.
‘...I could not know it as well… after all-- I lost everything, right? It must not have been something that happened overnight, someone must have been planning in the long-term… thus that would explain why I would not know of it.’
Let’s stop thinking about it. That is better, it is not as if he can change anything to the outcome after all. Unless he could go back in time and travel between worlds, nonetheless, it is impossible. Entering into the Guild, he looked around and saw the reception. That was time to register, wasn’t it? He walked to the receptionist, cleared his throat and spoke on a joyful tone.
“I would like to register, although, only if it’s free!”
That is how he became an adventurer, still, only if it's free-- jokes aside, no matter what happened on the registration day, he became an adventurer. Somehow.
