《Guide For Time-Traveler》 Chapter: 1 Chapter 1: Page: 1 The day my whole life changed started out just like any other. My name is Fred Arthur, and I''m a quiet guy who keeps to himself. I work at a big insurance company, where my job is to make copies and file records. I''m good at it, but it''s not exactly exciting. The only enjoyment I have is the love of reading books and the solitude and reflection of my own thoughts. Most people would think I should really go out more, enjoy the scenery, and take a break to take a vacation. But they can''t be more wrong; I think the best thing after books is reclining sofas and a cup of coffee to sooth my coffee addiction in a warm, cozy home. But as people have said, "Life is full of unexpected things, so expect the unexpected." Well, maybe I made that up¡ªI don¡¯t know¡ªbut you still get my point. Well, today I will learn that life gave me the biggest slap in the face. It was another normal day in the office except for an overtime with my boss Maxwel, whom we call Max, who had pleaded with me. Max was a nice guy, and I didn''t want to get on his bad side. Plus, I could use the extra money, and I was the best at my job while the rest of my colleagues were lazy and took too much time on a single claim, sometimes taking more than three times the estimated time. So I agreed, even though it meant canceling my plans for the evening. He revealed to me that he had completely forgotten about his daughter''s school concert that night. Despite his forgetfulness, he loved his daughter dearly and spared no expense when it came to her happiness, even going so far as to buy her multiple dresses, makeup, and even a second car after she didn''t like the color of the first one. Which was insane. But I do understand; his wife had died while they had her, and he was trying to be the best father he could be by giving her everything, which I don¡¯t think is the best, but who am I to judge? After I agreed, partly due to the promise of an extra $20 on top of my regular pay from him pleading with me for hours, he had rushed out the door to attend his daughter''s school concert, I was left alone in the empty office, surrounded by scattered papers on his desk. Looking out the window, I noticed the sun had set, leaving the office in darkness, I could see Max going to the parking lot, as his car is the only one left. I turned back and little did I know, this was just the beginning of a chaotic day. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Chapter: 1.1 Chapter 1: Page: 2 "Ouch, damn, my neck and back are killing me again." I muttered to myself even though there was no one around. Hours of filing paperwork and staring at a computer screen always leaves my back hunched over. But finally, I finished the last of the day''s work and could already taste the freedom of my cozy bed. Exhausted, I lacked the energy I had this morning, and I hated wearing this tight white corporate suit with black pants and, of course, the choking necktie. My boss Max insists we wear it for "professionalism," even though nobody comes except for corporate heads on inspection days. I swear Max is trying to kill us with suffocation and heat exhaustion. It''s a new heat record in Washington, and if it weren''t for the AC, I''d be swimming in my sweat. Lucky for me, it''s dark outside, and the scorching heat has subdued, replaced by a cool breeze. "Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud." I heard a sound and turned to look outside the window. The rain had started, and the streetlights illuminated the park. The company is located in a suburban office park, adjacent to a large road with several other office buildings. I checked my watch; it was already past 10 p.m. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Oh, sh*t! I better get going; the last metro bus comes at 10:25 p.m." My car is currently in the garage being repaired, so my only option was the bus. I quickly organized the papers and put them in the drawers, grabbed my brown woolen coat and leather gloves, which I always carry, and my leather briefcase. I love the fashion of the 1950s and 1960s. Rushing towards the door, I pushed it open, ran down the stairs, and out the front door. "Splash, splash, splash." The rain was falling harder and harder, creating small puddles on the ground. I could feel the wet rain landing on my hair, clothes, and skin. As cars sped by, I ran parallel to the road on the sidewalk, finally arriving at the bus stop. A streetlight and a large glass cover provided shelter from the rain. Sitting on the bench, I caught my breath and checked the time. It was 10:20, and the bus would arrive in a few minutes. But then, a chilling sensation crept up my legs and engulfed my entire body. My mind went blank as I gasped for air, feeling as if I was suffocating underwater. Darkness enveloped me, and I couldn''t move or scream. I thought it was the end, but then, I saw nothing. ZAM. Chapter: 1.2 Chapter 1: Page: 3 The first sounds I heard were a creaking and a thumping, and they seemed to be coming from all around me. I tried to open my eyes, but my heavy eyelids refused to budge. I wondered if the city had suffered a power outage, but then I realized that I could feel a rough, woody texture beneath me, and I could smell fresh air. As I struggled to open my eyes, I felt the rhythmic acceleration of the vehicle beneath me, and my body rose and fell with the bumps in the road. It was disorienting, and the other sounds I heard only added to my confusion. There was a strange whooshing sound, followed by the neighing of a horse. Then a man''s voice broke through my foggy mind. "Come on, boy! We need to get to Ironspire if we want to sell these goods on time!" Ironspire? Goods? I had no idea what he was talking about. I started to panic. Had I been kidnapped? Why would anyone want me? I was just a nobody. I forced my eyes open and gasped at the magical scene before me. We were traveling through a beautiful forest, and I was lying on a wooden floor surrounded by crates of fruit and vegetables, some of which I didn''t even recognize. I realized that I must be part of a caravan, but I still didn''t know why or how I had ended up there. I tried to stand, but the movement of the cart made it impossible. I crawled on all fours, trying not to fall and get a head injury. As I crawled, I could see the surroundings more clearly. It was indeed a forest, and some man was driving the cart with an unusual and outlandish costume. "HEY, where am I?" I called out, trying to get the attention of the driver. He looked back at me, surprised. "Ah, good to see you''re awake, laddie," the farmer said in a friendly voice. "I saw ye lyin'' down in the forest, and I couldn''t let meself forgive if I had let a young lad get eaten by those monsters." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Monsters? I muttered, wondering if he meant wolves. Why was I lying in the middle of the forest? None of this made sense. I put my hand to my head, trying to remember what had happened before this comical and absurd event. Oh yeah, I was waiting for my bus, then everything went black. But why was I here? Nothing made sense. The farmer looked at me as if I was weird. "I don''t know what ye think, laddie, but ye needn''t pay me a single copper. Get yourself a nice inn when we get to Ironspire," said the farmer in his gentle accent. "What is Ironspire, and who are you?" I asked. "Well, laddie, my name''s Baldwin. I''m a farmer in a village not far away. And even though it seems ye''re daft, since every youngling around these parts knows Ironspire, I''ll explain. Ironspire is a city we''re headin'' to. It was once the greatest city controlled by Commoners, which provided many coals, minerals, and gold. The city was rich until those bastards got their hands on it. Now it''s a rotten shell of its former glory." "Oh, HAHAH, nice prank. Let''s stop it for real. Where am I?" I asked again. "I told ye already, lad. We''re in the forest close to Ironspire, about to arrive in a few minutes. And what is this prank ye speak of?" "Nothing," I said, feeling confused and frustrated. Everything was weird, and I could only respond and not ask any more questions, even though I wanted to. No one would prank me this much and leave me stranded in the forest. The only other ridiculous answer would be that I was in a different world. As much as I didn''t want to speculate, the weird fruits, strange forest that wasn''t native to the west coast, and the man with an accent that I didn''t recognize wearing clothes that looked like they were from the middle ages made me wonder. Maybe I was just going crazy, or I might be in a coma. I was trying to think of more answers to my current predicament other than being in another world when the farmer interrupted my thoughts. "Hey, lad, what''s your name? I didn''t get a chance to get your name," Baldwin asked. "Uhh, it''s Freed, Fred Arthur," I stammered nervously. "Well, Fred, that''s a funny name. Anyhow, it seems we''ll be in Ironspire very soon," the farmer said cheerfully. As he spoke, the trees and forest gave way to a long grassland and a beautiful paved road. In the distance, I could see a huge gate and multiple carriages entering and leaving the city.