《World Passers》 Prologue: The Departure of a Generation A world that follows the same laws of nature as ours exists. But there seems to be something more to it¡ªsomething mysterious, unknown, and powerful. That ¡°something¡± has just happened, and at exactly 5:00 PM, people aged 15-24 have vanished all around the world. The total population of that world is 3,123,498,908, and the number of people in the age range 15-24 is 68,234,201. What is happening to these people is unknown. These 68,234,201 individuals will experience something brought by the unknown. They will live another life in another world, with their current selves. Each world is created from a person¡¯s subconscious, resulting in 68,234,201 unique worlds, all left to be explored by their creators. Every individual must explore their own world first before venturing into other worlds after death. These worlds are so vast and numerous that even as one person advances, the sense of reaching the ¡°end¡± becomes vague. The worlds are designed so that all individuals will eventually leave them simultaneously, an effect of their inherent rules.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Navigating these worlds is no simple task, especially as the goal of each person¡ªdeath¡ªremains unknown to them. Each world contains its own story, and the individual must complete it before transitioning to the next, achieved only by their death. Furthermore, as others pass through these worlds, they leave behind marks, actions, and changes that persist. As the 68,234,201 people move between worlds, they experience profound personal growth. They encounter diverse landscapes, forge unique relationships, and face emotional challenges so vivid they cannot doubt their reality. The worlds, dynamic and alive, shift as a result of the actions taken by each visitor. The ultimate goal¡ªdeath¡ªis not one of despair, but a necessary transition. Death within a world allows a person to progress to the next, carrying with them the wisdom of their previous experiences. Some will choose to delve deeply into their own world¡¯s story, while others may rush to explore new realms. The path each person takes is their own. And though these worlds seem separate, they are interconnected. The actions of one person leave lasting impressions on each world, creating shared experiences that transcend individual journeys. Chapter-1: The Vanishing A group of 17-year-olds is chatting away after class at break time sitting on their benches after having their lunch at the cafeteria. As they had read many novels, mainly fantasy, sci-fi, adventure and philosophical; they were arguing about which one was the best genre of novels. ¡°Fantasy is the best genre.¡± says Zayan excitedly, his enthusiasm clear as he had never gone beyond the fantasy genre in his reading choices. ¡°Are you an 8-year-old or what? Fanwasy is thaw bwest genre,¡± teases Rick sarcastically, making fun of Zayan¡¯s passion. Not allowing himself to be undermined, Zayan quickly retaliates, ¡°Says the one who is five foot two.¡± Unbothered by the height insult, Rick counters, ¡°So what if I am 5 foot 2? At least I am not a thin twig like you, who would fly away at the slightest gust of wind.¡± ¡°Stop it, both of you!¡± Ash and Lee called out almost at the same time. ¡°This is not an insult war. Let¡¯s just share our favorite genres and the reasons behind them. That¡¯s it.¡± Zayan takes a deep breath and starts. ¡°Okay, you guys are right. So, as I was saying, I believe that fantasy is the best genre because it takes us on incredible adventures and allows us to take a view into imaginative worlds.¡± Rick rolls his eyes but decides to play along. ¡°Well, while I don¡¯t disagree entirely, I prefer science fiction. I love how it explores futuristic concepts, scientific advancements, and potential societies of aliens living in vast space. It often makes me ponder about the possibilities and consequences of technology.¡± Ash nods in agreement with Rick. ¡°I can see where you¡¯re coming from, Rick. Science fiction definitely has its appeal. It challenges our perception of the world and pushes the boundaries of human imagination. But, I personally like the Adventure genre. It just makes me feel so free.¡± Lee starts, ¡°For me, it¡¯s all about mystery and thrillers. I love the suspense, the twists, and the complex relations between characters. When I read a mystery novel, I¡¯m constantly trying to solve the puzzle along with the protagonist. It keeps me hooked until the very end. It¡¯s the best in my opinion.¡± Zayan listens intently to everyone¡¯s thoughts and realizes that perhaps there is more to explore beyond just fantasy. ¡°You know what, you guys? Maybe it¡¯s time I branch out and explore other genres besides fantasy. It seems like each genre has its own unique appeal and can offer a different kind of reading experience. I am ready to try but if I don¡¯t like it, it will drop it instantly. So recommend me only the best ones.¡± The group smiles at Zayan¡¯s thought of trying new things and agrees that it¡¯s always exciting to expand one¡¯s reading horizons. They start discussing their favorite books from different genres and make plans to exchange recommendations, realizing that there is much more to discover and appreciate beyond just one best genre.
In another part of the world at that time. A 22-year-old person named Deon was standing at a bus park waiting for his bus to go home after his morning shift at work for a construction company. A tall person, probably 6¡¯6¡± with black hair and brown eyes with an above average-looking build. He looks like a completely normal person from the outside whose truth is hidden away. He constantly has psychotic thoughts. The thoughts of killing others around him, the thoughts of inflicting unthinkable pain and enjoying it. ¡°It started again. Calm down! Calm down, Deon. Quickly remember your good memories.¡±, Deon says to himself in his mind. As Deon stood there, trying to blend in with the crowd, his mind was a turbulent sea of dark and disturbing thoughts. It felt like two separate worlds were fighting within him - the external fa?ade of a seemingly ordinary young man, and the sinister desires that wanted to consume him completely. The bus park was bustling with people going about their daily lives, oblivious to the darkness that resided within Deon. He watched them, his eyes shifting from one person to another, imagining the unspeakable acts he could inflict upon them. His heart raced, his palms sweaty, as these thoughts started to consume him. The bus pulled up, and Deon joined the queue to enter it. After entering, he forced a smile and exchanged casual conversations with his fellow passengers. Meanwhile, his mind was an unending ocean of sadistic fantasies that sent shivers down his spine. The faces around him transformed into potential victims, their innocent expressions fueling his twisted and horrifying desires. But as much as the darkness consumed Deon¡¯s thoughts, he was aware that these ideas were not something others would understand or accept. Society would label him as a monster, locking him away and taking away the freedom that he desired. So, he fought to keep these horrifying impulses hidden, to live a life that appeared normal on the surface, while battles raged within his mind. Deon had taken a seat by the window. So, to weaken his dark thoughts, he shifted his gaze from the possible victims to the scenery that was passing outside. Suppressing his true self had become a daily routine. He envied those around him for their complete normality. In a small corner of his mind, he found peace, and his dark, psychotic thoughts started to subside. One day, he hoped to find a way to control the darkness within him, to maybe change it into something positive, or to become able to become one with his darkness without worry. But for now, Deon remained trapped in a world where his true self was hidden away by the mask of an average person. As the bus moved further away his darkness was gone and his normality returned.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
At around 4:00 PM, the school had just ended. Zayan starts to pack his bag and calls out to Rick, ¡°Pack your bag quickly tinysaurous. Don¡¯t make me wait for you again today.¡± ¡°As you say sir bamboo stem.¡±, sarcastically replies Rick as Zayan was quite tall at a height of 6 foot 2 and very thin for his height. Ash and Lee were used to the unending insult war between Zayan and Rick so they didn¡¯t care much about it. Continuing this war of small insults Zayan and Rick along with Ash and Lee get out of the school building. As they get out of the school building, they are greeted by the warm orange glow of the beautiful sun floating not too far above the horizon. Ash and Lee departed left of the school gate, Rick straight ahead and Zayan to the right. The blacktop road they were walking on was so hot from absorbing the heat the whole day that they could feel their feet warming up from walking even when they had shoes on.
Having a workplace far from home, Deon had reached home at 2:13 PM when he got onto the bus at 1:00 PM. He was tired from working and sitting on the bus for an entire hour while simultaneously suppressing his true self. Deon quickly fell into his bed and got into a chain of thought while closing his eyes, facing down, and his back drenched in sweat. ¡°Is there a place where I can be myself? Where I can embrace my true nature and no one I know will criticize? If there is, then I wish I were there. I can¡¯t be my true self in this world. What if I get discovered? I will be locked behind bars and stripped of my freedom. I can never let that happen. I will not lose this identity. The identity that others know of.¡± While in this thought he suddenly remembered a moment of happiness in his life. He remembered playing with his younger sister in their backyard, laughing and chasing each other. In that memory, he was just a 14-year-old and his sister was 5 years old. He felt at peace with all his disturbing thoughts subsiding as he remembered his own innocence. He felt at peace and fell asleep in his position.
It was nearing 5:00 PM. The sun getting ready to set, the clouds hovering with many empty spots, and everything getting a yellow tint in color. Just 2 minutes remained until it was exactly 5:00 PM. The sky that was mostly empty a few moments ago turned black and filled with dark clouds as if a rain that would cause a flood was about to happen. Not even the slightest ray of light from the sun could be seen. After a few seconds, blue spots appeared on those clouds, not the blue of the sky but a blue glow of light. This glow removed the darkness caused by the clouds and surrounded everything in a blue veil. This glow was beautiful. Many people came outside just to see this event unfold, to see the beauty of the sky. The blue spots were round and a pillar of sorts towards the ground being formed could be seen. The circular glow turned cylindrical. Some of these glows moving along with the people below them. The view of the sky at this moment was beautiful beyond anything those people had seen before. Its beauty had captured the complete attention of the people rendering them the same as statues. The streets had filled with people within a minute of the start of this event. This event was occurring worldwide at the same time. This event was illogical and didn¡¯t follow the rules of nature in the slightest. Thus, scientists worldwide began to research this event but they too were unable to turn their eyes from the sky¡¯s beauty. As the time neared 5 PM, the blue color of the sky shone brighter and brighter. At the instant the clock hit 5, the cylindrical tiny pillars of blue light extended straight below and engulfed a person each. As soon as it engulfed a person, it went back into the clouds and the blue color vanished. All of this happened within half a second not giving people much time to think about it. The dark clouds too vanished and the sky returned to normal within 5 seconds. The warm yellow glow of the Sun was seen again. No one had seen anything besides the clouds at that time as its beauty had enslaved their gazes. But now that the clouds were gone, people realized that their family members standing with them were gone. They had seen the pillars of light drop beside them but weren¡¯t able to look away from the beautiful sky. Quickly, noise and chaos filled the air as people were running here and there frantically in search of their family members screaming the names of the lost individual. Some parents looking for their children, and some looking for their siblings. As the screams and cries of all these people overlapped, only the disoriented and chaotic mixture of high-intensity sounds could be heard. It was a melody of despair. Within five minutes of the occurrence of this phenomenon, thousands of missing reports were filed to the police from all around the world. The news organizations weren¡¯t late to show the news. Almost all the television channels paused their programs and a piece of emergency news was shown: ¡°As the police missing reports keep increasing in number throughout the world, one thing that is common in all these reports has been found. All those individuals who are found to be missing are in the age range of 15-24 years of age. Most scientists who have expertise in physics and quantum physics have been called for a conference in Drusk Island where they will discuss the cause of this event and try to find a solution to this unprecedented crisis.¡± ¡°Some theories have been speculated by religious as well as scientific groups. The theories from religious groups are:¡± ¡°1. Punishment from the divine: Some religious groups have speculated that this event is the punishment from God for the sins of humanity. They say that this has been done by the divine entity to make us humans repent for our sins.¡± ¡°2. End of humanity: Some religious groups have also speculated this is the end of humanity as stated by their religious books.¡± ¡°While these theories from religious groups sound illogical. Some of the scientific speculations sound even more unlikely. So only two of the likely speculations will be said here. If you would like to read all the different speculations then please visit the site ¡®disappearance-theories.int¡¯. The scientific theories are:¡± ¡°3. Broken Space-time: This theory has stated that these disappearances were caused by the breaking of the Space-time fabric. They have speculated that the fabric of Space-time broke due to that unknown phenomenon.¡± ¡°4. Multiverse: This theory has told us that this event occurred due to the people somehow slipping into another universe. This somehow is said to be because of a special form of energy passing through our planet that was initially formed at the time of the universe¡¯s formation.¡± ¡°That is all for this news. We will be back later with more news related to this tragic event. We hope everyone can get through this event.¡± Just as these words are spoken, the female reporter can be heard breaking down into tears for a brief moment before the news ends. Chapter-2: Aftermath Zayan was in his room lying in his bed and scrolling through his smartphone looking for a science fiction novel recommended by Rick. ¡°Rick said this one was the best quick-progressing sci-fi novel he had ever read. I said I would try but its cover picture looks quite weird. It¡¯s just our planet with a spaceship floating towards it. And this title ¡®Dark Forest¡¯. What does a forest have to do with Science that it is titled Dark Forest? Well, doesn¡¯t hurt to try. It¡¯s rated 8.9 out of 10, so it must be good.¡± Zayan¡¯s mother had called him to the roof of their house to see the beautiful sky. Zayan said that he didn¡¯t want to and stayed in his room. His mother told him that the sky looked unnaturally beautiful and that there were blue spots in the clouds and no Sun but Zayan didn¡¯t believe her and stayed in his room looking for that novel. As Zayan clicked the novel to start reading it, time had just hit 5 PM. Zayan suddenly felt weird and saw a blue light engulfing him for a very small fraction of a second before falling unconscious. A huge commotion was about to start in the streets as Zayan¡¯s mother was watching the streets after the spots in the clouds vanished and the clouds themselves too vanished. She heard someone scream on the street, ¡°MY SON VANISHED!!!! HE WAS JUST HERE!!¡± As the first scream sounded, Many others in the streets looked around for their own children but only a small number were present. Seeing that their children had too vanished, Multiple screams and cries sounded. Zayan¡¯s mother who was on the roof suddenly felt a chill. She became filled with fear similar to the others that were on the street. She ran downstairs and barged into Zayan¡¯s room without a warning. As Zayan didn¡¯t lock his door, she could easily go inside. She looked here and there inside the room. It is common sense that a person will not be in place of a mattress, but she still removed the bedsheet to see if Zayan was there. Her judgment and senses were clouded. Her cry could be heard up to the street but it was in such chaos that the cry itself became distorted.
As the disappearance happened, most people were placing their gazes at the eye-capturing sky from their homes or the streets. At the instant of disappearance, Rick, Ash, and Lee were standing on their roofs having their eyes captivated by the sky. They also briefly witnessed the blue light engulfing their whole body before losing consciousness. They felt nothing as the blue light engulfed them. All they could see was a blue light, and then their consciousness was gone.
At another place, Deon had just woken up. It was a time when the sky was starting to fill with those illogical yet beautiful blue-spotted clouds. Deon went outside and looked briefly at these clouds not caring about beauty. These clouds gave his dark side some comfort and his mind started to fill with dark thoughts again. As the streets began to crowd, all the attention was focused solely on the clouds. Deon¡¯s dark thoughts began to battle with his normality. It was much harder than usual for Deon to contain his darkness. Regardless of his best efforts to remain composed and thoughtful, his darkness continued to grow and break down his sense of reason. A wave of unsettling and terrifying thoughts filled him, raising his blood pressure, and making his eyes turn redder, his vision slightly blurred. He was losing control of his body as the darkness within him continued to attack his mind. There was nothing he could do. It felt like a weight was pressing down on his head. He blocked his ears, closed his eyes, and sat down there on the street with his head down surrounded by people who looked like statues turning their heads upwards. He did this to retract his vision from the people surrounding him and not lose complete control. While his rational side was fearful of what might occur if he lost control, his darkness argued saying, ¡°You feel it too. Your intuition is telling you that nothing will happen. You know that no one here will realize if a single person is gone. Don¡¯t run from your darkness. Embrace it. This is a chance bestowed to you by the heavens. You and I are ONE.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Deon stood up as the time for the disappearance drew closer. A dark smile spread across his face. He observed his surroundings. He looked at everyone in his immediate vicinity, considering who would be the most suitable to take away. His darkness had already overcome him. He glanced around and noticed a boy who appeared weak, and small, perhaps eleven years old. He considered him the ideal victim. He moved through the motionless frozen crowd and reached just behind the boy whose body was just a little bit taller than his leg. Deon lowered his body slowly and used his right hand to shut the boy¡¯s mouth and his left hand to grab both of the boy¡¯s legs. The boy was unable to make any sound with his mouth or move his body as Deon had started to carry him to his home. As Deon was moving the boy, nobody noticed him. Everyone was just frozen in place. Deon reached just in front of his home¡¯s front door. The time hit 5 PM. The pillars of light dropped down and engulfed him. He lost his consciousness. The boy he was holding fell to the ground. Deon was nowhere to be seen. The boy got up and ran into the street where his father was. The boy went and held the leg of his father and called him. He responded and said to the boy, ¡°What happened?¡± The boy said, ¡° A man picked me up and ran towards there but vanished as he reached that door.¡± while pointing towards Deon¡¯s front door. ¡°Stop making up stories. If a person picks you up to kidnap you, will he let you go? No, never. And how can a person vanish into thin air? This real world doesn¡¯t have magic like the ones you hear in stories.¡± The father replied. ¡°But¡­. But that man did vanish. He picked me up by grabbing my legs and covered my mouth as well. I am not making stories. Believe me.¡±, the boy said. ¡°He usually doesn¡¯t make up random stories of what happened to him. Could it be the truth¡±, the father thought. The father saw that his son was scared and got ready to check if what he said was indeed the truth. He asked his son, ¡°What do you remember clearly about the person that grabbed you?¡± ¡°He was a little taller but thinner than you. His clothes smelled like sweat. He also had black hair.¡± the boy said. ¡°You showed me that door earlier. Correct!¡± the father inquired pointing towards Deon¡¯s front door. ¡°Yes¡±, the boy replied. ¡°Hmm... That¡¯s Deon¡¯s home. He is a nice kid and has quite a hard life. He can¡¯t be the one who grabbed my son. Has someone else come here.¡±, thinking this the father reached the front door of Deon with his son hiding behind him. He knocked on the door but it just opened from the slight tap. The father called for Deon but he wasn¡¯t there and didn¡¯t answer. The street they were on previously was slowly swirling into chaos and madness because of people vanishing. The father noticed a lot of noise from the streets and turned back. Most of the people who were like statues before were sitting on the street below and crying or screaming that their children were gone. Seeing this scene, the father felt a sudden chill in his heart and he held his son up in his arms and started dashing towards his own house.
The whole planet was in chaos. A huge chunk of the total population was gone. An entire generation of people vanished, gone, nowhere to be found. What is the thinking of the world as a whole? Nothing, absolutely nothing except downright confusion. The people left filed missing complaints to the police one after the other but a huge percentage of the police department was also in chaos as their family members too were missing. Even the government that was trying to maintain order was filled with disorder. The entire planet was an opera of the sorrowful music of cries and shouts. There was nothing the World Government could do. When the time in the singular time zone of that planet hit 5 PM, all those people vanished. The World Government didn¡¯t even know the proper cause of vanishing, how can it be expected from them to stop such uproar of the people? Chapter-3: The Numerous Worlds As the blue pillars of light stooped down to the ground and took the people with them, numerous worlds were formed each person forming into exactly one world. These clusters of worlds or universes were formed outside the main universe from which the people were taken. The natural laws of all universes are fundamentally different by origin but since these small universes had formed by taking and containing a part of the main universe, these worlds had the same laws of nature with additional laws that were created on their own. Each universe looked like a spherical marble. Expanding as all universes do, it was unnoticeable as the distance between the universes was so vast that in the gap at least a trillion more universes could be fit if put in a straight line. These marble-like universes were all very far away from the main universe but in comparison to these marble-like universes, its size was like that of a ball with the radius of a football field. Some of these small universes shone at the brightness of a supernova while a very small cluster was like the abyss, void of any light and only a slight glint of its border could be seen. All of these worlds were created in moments from what seemed to be nothing. But how could it be nothing at all and create something? It is something that contradicts the fact that ¡°Mass can neither be created nor be destroyed.¡± It is completely true but that is only within the bounds of the universes, not the space that is free from their laws. This space is completely free from everything. It is a space of surprises. It can do everything a person thinks it can do, but it can also do things no one thinks it can do. If a God were to exist, this space is what its playground will be like. This space is the ¡®outside¡¯ of the universes. These worlds contained wonderful phenomena, unexplained mysteries, terrifying horror, beautiful scenery, breathtaking landscapes, and unknown possibilities. These marble-like spherical universes, though paling in comparison to the size of the giant main world were still vast having a diameter of at least a trillion light years. This large diameter was the complete size of the universes while looking from the ¡®outside¡¯ but from the inside, only a small part of this size could be seen. These newly formed worlds were slowly arranging themselves in the ¡®outside¡¯ while stabilizing themselves. They were being pushed into places and formed clusters, all of the universes that were in a cluster had very similar laws of nature(genre). These genres were Science-fiction having identical laws to the original world, Fantasy containing mysterious yet wonderful phenomena, Mystery waiting to be uncovered, Horror waiting to teach fear, Adventure ready for exploration, and many more. The first of the science-fiction world as it completed forming shone with a metallic luster like that of silver with a hint of purple. As more and more of these worlds were formed, all shone like metals but in different colors. Some silvery and purple, silvery and green, golden and blue, and hundreds of thousands of other combinations. The fantasy worlds were much more colorful compared to the science fiction, they had the colors red, blue, yellow, and green. These colors were in different percentiles and different spots in each world but they were hard to differentiate through an untrained eye. Another genre of worlds was brown and gray. These were of mystery. What was within them was veiled in mystery. Another of horror that was crimson red and pitch black. Among all these crimson-red marble-like worlds, one was especially darker, redder, and seemed to contain more evil than others. Among all other worlds, there were some different ones. These being different in the sense that they were created for the sole purpose of killing the person that enters. Yes, the others were also created for this purpose but these worlds were direct. These worlds killed the one who entered. There was nothing else. The others gave a chance to live but these didn¡¯t. It was just death within entry. Maybe these were made by those who wanted to die but were also afraid of death.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Someone had just awoken. His vision was hazy for a while, so all he could see was a slight shade of dark green in front of him and some bright blue. In a very short while, the individual became aware of his surroundings. Huge trees and bushes that were the size of him surrounded everything, with a narrow dirt path. The trail of dirt appeared to have developed from people¡¯s frequent steps some footprints still looking fresh. This person was none other than the tall twig named Zayan. He was there lying on that dirt path, his back on the ground with his face towards the sky of which all was covered by tree leaves except a small portion. He jolted upwards and sat upright before quickly standing straight. His mind was filled with confusion as the thing he last remembered was a blue pillar of light engulfing him. Deeply confused, Zayan looked around him again, not knowing what to make of what had happened. Although he instinctively felt that everything happening was real, his mind refused to accept it. ¡°Where is this? Is this a dream? Doesn¡¯t feel like one.¡± he thought. He quickly attempted to conjure a plane grassland in place of the forest because he suspected this to be a lucid dream, but nothing materialized. ¡°This isn¡¯t a dream then. But this being real is also hard to believe.¡± Zayan thought. This was a weird thought process. Zayan had been a quick thinker since childhood. He also learned new things rather quickly. In other words, he was a genius. He could analyze his situation quite fast. Though he could examine his current situation, he was unable to react to it as it was an irrational one. He looked around and saw the footsteps. The footsteps were the shape of a human foot and not of sandals or shoes. Zayan began thinking, ¡°This seems to be a human foot. Who was walking here? Ummm¡­¡­ Leave it, there is no need for me to think of this. I need to know what I have to do. Should I follow these footsteps? No, that wouldn¡¯t be wise. What if there is danger? But I don¡¯t have any other choice. I will just follow it slowly with very light steps and hide in the bushes if I hear any animal or person moving. Yes, this is currently the best course of action.¡± Zayan had thought all of this within a couple of seconds. Zayan started to walk very lightly and slowly over the dirt path in order to leave as little traces as possible. He was walking near the bushes on the left side of the path. As he was walking, he examined the bushes and saw that they didn¡¯t have thorns and some of the flowers, berries, and leaves were eaten by birds and insects. He realized that the bushes weren¡¯t poisonous to those creatures but couldn¡¯t be sure whether they were the same to humans. He continued to walk in the direction of the footprints. He was aware of the dangers in a forest, so he walked without touching the bushes even though he walked near them. At one point while walking the dirt path, he saw a fruit that looked very similar to an apple. This fruit had a bite mark from a human. From the bite mark, Zayan learned that the fruit wasn¡¯t toxic. He reached over and picked one up from the tree branch that was only slightly above him. This tree was strangely tiny compared to the towering giants beside it. Probably only the size of three Zayans towered one above the other. Zayan decided to climb this tree and stay in it for a while having gotten tired from just walking till that point. He barely climbed the tree to a higher place where he couldn¡¯t be seen from below after having fallen three times already. This behavior of staying rational in such a situation was rare to find in many military members but to find it in a kid was thousands of times rarer. Zayan seemed to be such a case. But in truth, he had simply fantasized about being sent to another world too much. It was to the point that he had made a diary of what to do in which situation if he was truly sent. He was truly a fanatic of the fantasy genre. Yet to remember this detail in such a situation was also quite an accomplishment.
In a dark thin cobbled path having little illumination of yellow coming from a gas lamp in the main street, a very tall, black-haired, and brown-eyed man lay face down. The man slowly got up and looked around himself. It was almost completely dark. He saw that the yellow light was coming from the wide main street. Many men, who looked to be wearing tall hats, and formal attire, were walking with Canes though they looked young. The fire within the gas lamps was shining yellow light into the road. Horse carriages could be seen passing in front of the alley every now and then. The man was in confusion. He didn¡¯t know where he was nor how he got there. ¡°What happened? I was in the street. Everyone around me was completely frozen as if they were statues. And then my mental pain intensified. Ah... So, that¡¯s what happened.¡± This was Deon. He realized what he had done. He realized that he had lost control. He realized that he had lost to his own deeper self. All of a sudden, he realized one more thing, it was that this wasn¡¯t his original world. As soon as he realized this, he felt blissful and a sinister smile spread across his face not by the fact that he wouldn¡¯t hurt the ones he loved even if he lost control but because he had already lost control and had also located a potential victim. Chapter-4: Worlds of Fear and Wonder Rick groaned softly as he regained consciousness, feeling a hard but cold surface beneath him. His fingers brushed against sharp edges, and his nose filled with the scent of rusted metal. He blinked his eyes open but could hardly see anything¡ªhis surroundings were engulfed in darkness. ¡°Where am I?¡± he muttered, trying to sit up. His hand accidentally knocked over a pile of metallic parts, sending a loud clatter echoing through the room. The noise made his heart race, and he froze. He was hoping that the sound would go unnoticed. Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached. A door slid open with a silent hiss, and multiple hands grabbed him roughly. Before he could even understand his situation, they tied his hands and feet and dragged him into another room, the air thick with tension. ¡°Shut him up!¡± a male voice whispered sharply. Rick¡¯s mind raced but was unable to keep up with the quick series of weird events. Who were these people? And why had they tied him up? Rick had no idea. Once in the dim light of the new room, he saw them¡ªthree wary-looking people, their faces filled with fear and hope for survival. One of them knelt beside Rick and whispered, ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done? If the robots heard that noise, we¡¯d all be dead by now.¡± Rick¡¯s throat went dry. ¡°Ro¡­Robots?¡± ¡°Yes. Killing machines. Next time, you better keep quiet, or it won¡¯t just be your life on the line.¡± Rick swallowed, realizing that his scientific curiosity had been fulfilled landing him in a world far more dangerous than any fiction he¡¯d ever read. It wasn¡¯t that he hadn¡¯t read of anything more dangerous but that fact that he was in danger himself right now. The air was damp and heavy, carrying the stench of rust. Every breath Rick took tasted like metallic dust, and the silence was broken only by the faint whir of something mechanical far in the distance. Rick was frightened by these people but he wished to give an explanation for the series of events and how he got there. Just as he was going to open his mouth and explain, The same voice from before aggressively whispered again ¡°Shut him up!¡± Rick felt a rough hand clamp over his mouth making him unable to speak. A woman crouched down beside him, her face twisted with fear and anger. ¡°Do you have any idea how close you came to killing us all?¡± Despite the anger, these people managed to speak in a low voice.
Ash opened his eyes slowly, feeling the cool air against his skin. The sight before him was one that he¡¯d dreamed of a million times¡ªmajestic mountains, thick forests, and a sense of endless adventure. Yet, instead of leaping with excitement, a strange feeling of uncertainty held him back.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He sat up from the lush green grass he was on. A tree beside was giving him shade from the hot sun. He slowly scanned his surroundings, Everything was as he¡¯d imagined¡ªuntouched, and full of potential for discovery. But despite the beauty, he felt a small weight of uncertainty on his chest. ¡°Is this...real?¡± he thought to himself, moving his mouth but without making any sound. It was everything he had ever wanted, but now that it was here, he found himself hesitating. The towering mountains that had once excited him now felt intimidating. His limbs felt stiff as if his body needed time to adjust to the reality of being here. Slowly, Ash stood and took a deep breath. The smell of coolness and earth filled his senses. He glanced at the dirt path leading into the unknown. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement. ¡°This is what I¡¯ve always wanted, right?¡± he thought. He knew he couldn¡¯t stay still forever. The adventurer within him was itching to explore, but the enormity of the task ahead¡ªnavigating this world alone¡ªwas overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t going to be as easy or romantic as he had read and imagined. Taking his first steps, he reassured himself. ¡°I¡¯ll get used to it. This is what I wanted. I can¡¯t fear it myself.¡± As Ash was taking his first steps in the new world, he stumbled falling face flat on the grass he was lying in moments ago. He quickly got up and looked around feeling another round of uncertainty. This made him feel as if there could be more dangers waiting for him. This world looked like a beautiful place for exploration but in truth was a wild and untamed place.
Lee¡¯s eyes snapped open, and his breath caught in his throat. He was lying on a cold wooden floor. A faint, metallic scent hit his nose as he slowly pushed himself up. Blood. The dimly lit room was cast in shadows, and as his eyes adjusted, he realized he was next to a large, old-fashioned study desk. His heart nearly stopped when he saw a figure slumped over in the chair¡ªa man, dressed like a detective from an old movie, his head resting on the desk. Blood pooled around his head, and his hand gripping a revolver. Lee¡¯s body tensed, and he instinctively backed away, his breath shallow. ¡°What...what happened here?¡± he whispered, his voice trembling. He had read enough mystery novels to know what this looked like¡ªan unsolved crime scene. But being in the middle of it, with a dead body in front of him, was far more terrifying than any book. For a moment, he thought of running, but something deep within him urged him to stay. This was what he loved¡ªmysteries, the thrill of unraveling the unknown. Yet, the fear was real, and it gripped him hard. ¡°I need to figure this out,¡± he thought, trying to swallow his fear. But first, he had to calm down. He took one more glance at the man, his mind racing with questions. Who was he? Why was he dead? And most importantly¡ªwhere was Lee? Though Lee had thought of figuring this case out he was contemplating running out of the house every passing moment. It was only his curiosity that was making him stay. Afraid of the dead body, Lee constantly tried to avoid having it in his range of vision. The only light in the room came from a flickering bulb on the ceiling. Lee¡¯s eyes kept returning to the pool of blood on the desk, thick and clotting, its dark stain creeping across the wooden desk. The revolver gleamed dully in the man¡¯s lifeless hand, the barrel still pointed toward his head. His eyes flicked between the dead man and the door, his feet itching to run. But then his gaze settled on the revolver again, on the stillness of the room. He had always craved mysteries, and always wanted to be the one to solve them. But this...this was real. Too real. And it terrified him. Chapter-5: Memorized to Heart Zayan sat lazily atop the sturdy branch, half-reclined against the thick trunk of the tree. It had been about half an hour since he climbed up, and in that time, he had done little more than peck at the apple-like fruits growing nearby and eat them one by one. The taste was mildly sweet, but it was the sensation of calmness that washed over him as he ate that eased him the most. This world, with its towering trees and strange quietness, was still unfamiliar, but for now, this moment of peace was welcome. He had only eaten three fruits, including the one he held in his hand. He took another bite, lazily glancing at the sky through the mesh of leaves. Suddenly, a loud howl echoed through the forest, startling Zayan so much that he nearly dropped the fruit. His head snapped toward the direction of the sound, his heart racing from the unexpected noise. From about 500 meters away, the noise repeated. Zayan squinted, peering through the dense mesh of leaves. His eyes widened when he finally spotted the source of the commotion. Charging down the dirt path he had followed earlier was a white, massive, wolf-like creature, its size rivaling that of a full-grown grizzly bear. Its fur was probably as white as the clouds but now the fur was messy with dirt and blood, its eyes were wild with panic as it ran with all its strength. But it wasn¡¯t running alone. Behind it, 14 people chased the it relentlessly. Zayan¡¯s breath was caught in his throat as he observed them. They looked strong¡ªmuscular, their brownish skin shining with sweat as they sprinted after the wolf-like animal. They were slightly shorter than Zayan, all about 5¡¯9¡±, and wore nothing but animal skins as clothing. As they were sprinting towards the tree Zayan was in, Zayan could see them better¡ªEleven were men, three were women, and each of them moved with a precision that only came with years of experience. Zayan froze as these people passed just in front of the tree he was in, his instincts screaming at him to stay as still as possible. He tucked his body closer to the trunk of the tree, hoping the leaves would shield him from their view. He watched intently as the group of hunters closed in on the creature. Luckily, the wolf was focused on survival and the people focused on their kill. Four men at the front raised blow darts, their movements completely synchronized as if they were the same person. Zayan watched in awe as they fired almost simultaneously. The darts flew through the air with frightening speed, embedding themselves into the wolf¡¯s side and back. The animal let out another howl, slowing its pace, but it continued to stagger forward, determined to escape. Zayan¡¯s mind raced. ¡°Poison,¡± he thought. The darts must be tipped with something deadly. How else could they slow down a beast of that size so quickly?This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The three women, armed with spears, were next. Each carried three spears, and with great precision and strength, they hurled them toward the escaping creature. One spear hit the wolf¡¯s leg, another in its back. The third missed, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªthe creature was faltering now, each step becoming more labored. It was evident that the creature was bound to fall today. Zayan¡¯s heart pounded vigorously in his chest. His eyes darted quickly between the hunters and the wolf, wondering how much longer the beast could survive. The remaining seven men charged forward, drawing knife-like weapons as they closed the distance. The wolf was barely moving by the time they reached it, and in a brutal, coordinated effort, they slashed and stabbed, delivering the final blow. The animal finally collapsed unable to even produce a last howl. They were already about 400 meters away from Zayan when the animal collapsed. The forest fell silent once more. Zayan swallowed hard. The scene he had just witnessed left him fearful. He had always read about hunters and predators in fantasy novels, but seeing such a one-sided battle in real life was overwhelming. These people¡ªthey were dangerous. They had taken down a beast that, under normal circumstances, would have been an apex predator, with nothing more than simple weapons and coordinated attacks. And they had done it with such frightening ease. The group stood around the fallen wolf, speaking in low voices. They began retrieving their weapons from the animal¡¯s corpse, their faces expressionless, as though this was nothing more than routine for them. Zayan couldn¡¯t help but notice the scars on some of the men¡¯s arms and legs when they had passed in front of his tree¡ªevidence of past battles, no doubt. Their clothes, though simple, were worn and covered in dirt, suggesting they had spent days, if not weeks, in the wilderness. Zayan¡¯s muscles remained tense as he watched the hunters continue to butcher the wolf, taking out parts of its meat and putting them in a pouch made of animal skin. He held his breath, willing to be as still and quiet as possible. Every creak of the branch beneath him made his pulse quicken. Once the hunters had moved on and went the way that Zayan had come from, Zayan exhaled slowly, his grip on the branch loosening. He sat there for a moment, letting the tension drain from his body. But his mind was still racing. ¡°I have to get out of here,¡± he thought. These people weren¡¯t friendly. They weren¡¯t just hunters¡ªthey were warriors, used to battle and survival. And if they could take down a creature like that so easily, what chance would Zayan have if they saw him as an outsider, an intruder in their territory? He looked around the forest, suddenly aware of how vulnerable he was. This isn¡¯t a game, he reminded himself. The danger here was real, and his survival depended on his ability to stay unseen and unnoticed. With renewed determination, Zayan made his decision. He would leave the forest, and fast. Staying here was no longer an option¡ªnot with people like that around. He glanced once more in the direction the hunters had gone, then began planning his escape, every step was carefully calculated in his mind. His diary had prepared him for scenarios like this¡ªencounters with hostile locals, potential danger at every turn. Now it was time to put that knowledge to use. Zayan couldn¡¯t help but feel joy at the fact that he had memorized his diary to heart increasing his chances of survival. Chapter-6: Plans Zayan¡¯s heart rate finally slowed down and became calm. The forest also returned to its unnatural quietness, but Zayan knew that danger was still lurking. The locals were gone for now, but he couldn¡¯t afford to stay in that tree for too long. He needed to act, and every decision had to be well thought out. His mind drifted back to the survival strategies written in his diary, recalling the steps he had memorized for situations like this. He could picture the page as if it were in front of him.
If hostile locals are met in a thick forest. ESCAPE FOREST
  1. Remain hidden at all costs until the threat has passed. Do not engage.
  2. Observe the environment and map out the area mentally for any paths or obstacles.
  3. Evaluate the locals behavior¡ªdetermine their level of danger and hostility. Are they hunting? Searching for something?
  4. Always be calm.
  5. Stay near natural cover (trees, bushes) and move silently. Do not disturb the wildlife.
  6. If the locals remain in the area, wait for nightfall. Darkness is your ally.
  7. When possible, retreat in the opposite direction of the locals. Avoid confrontation.
  8. If escape routes are blocked, look for high ground to hide or escape.
  9. If spotted, run only when necessary. Remain calm, and use natural cover to lose pursuers.
  10. Trust your instincts. Do not second-guess the plan.
The point he remembered the most was the fourth one: Always be calm. Zayan inhaled and exhaled slowly, focusing on that simple directive. It had been drilled into him as this point was on almost every page of his diary. Panic would only cloud his judgment. But now, the situation demanded more than just calmness. He had to adjust his plans based on his surroundings¡ªadapt the plan to fit his situation. Zayan knew that water was his best chance at finding a way out of the forest. Rivers flowed toward lower ground, which meant following one could eventually lead him out of the dense forest. But there was an important detail he remembered from his diary¡ªrivers attract life. Civilizations tend to flourish near rivers, and where there are people, there is always potential danger. There was no guarantee that the locals near the river would be friendly. Worse, animals also moved toward the water in search of nourishment, which meant that while the river offered a path out, it also posed additional risks.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Zayan would need to be extra cautious. His plan would have to account for these new factors. He couldn¡¯t simply follow the river without considering who or what might already be there. Zayan decided that walking along the bank would pose too much danger. He would keep a safe distance¡ªfar enough to avoid being spotted by potential locals or animals, but close enough to follow its direction. He reminded himself of a technique to minimize noise while walking. This technique was to shift his weight to the balls of his feet, walking with soft, controlled steps. This technique would work on soft ground only. For the hard ground, he had to take help of the classic¡ªtiptoeing. This would help him avoid startling any animals or giving himself away to locals. Zayan decided to constantly scan the forest, keeping an eye on any movement or sounds. He had already witnessed the giant wolf-like creature being hunted down¡ªthere could be more of them, or other predators, roaming around the woods. His eyes would remain on the trees, bushes, and shadows, always ready for a sudden shift in the environment. Zayan realized that if backtracking or retreat was necessary, he would have to keep track of distinct landmarks¡ªtrees with odd shapes, rocks with unique markings¡ªanything that would help him know his position. The modified plan was now ready. Zayan picked up two of those apple-like fruits and tied them up to his sides with his t-shirt, reserved as emergency food in case he didn¡¯t find any of these edible fruits again while roaming in search of the forest¡¯s exit. It had been some time after the locals had left Zayan¡¯s range of vision. As Zayan climbed down from the tree, he took a deep breath, repeating the important point in his mind: Always be calm. Every muscle in his body was tense, but his mind was clear. He couldn¡¯t let panic affect his actions. His foot touched the ground lightly, and Zayan immediately crouched low, using the thick underbrush to conceal himself. He focused on every tiny sound he could hear and heard a faint sound of flowing water in a faraway distance in a direction towards his right. That¡¯s where he would be headed, but he wouldn¡¯t rush¡ªpatience was key. Every step had to be calculated to produce as little sound as possible. With the balls of his feet planted softly on the ground, Zayan moved like a shadow. The forest floor was littered with muddy but dead leaves and twigs covered the mud, but he carefully avoided stepping on anything that might give him away. The silence was frightening, but it allowed him to stay focused. After walking like this for what seemed to be an entire hour to Zayan, He finally saw the river, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He couldn¡¯t afford to get too close but he saw the direction toward which the river was flowing. It was towards his left. Zayan turned in that direction and continued to walk again sticking to his plan. With each step, he reminded himself: Always be calm. Chapter-7: The Steel-Plated Beast The forest was eerily quiet as Zayan made his way along the river with quiet and cautious steps. The distant sound of flowing water was a helpful guide. His eyes were constantly scanning the trees and bushes for any movement, his mind constantly repeating: Stay calm. Always stay calm. But then, just as the river curved ahead, he froze mid-step. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes landed on something up ahead, lying right in his path. A creature. It was massive¡ªthe size of an elephant. Its form was feline, but its body was unlike any normal animal. Its skin gleamed in the sparse sunlight that passed through the canopy of leaves far above as if made entirely of plated steel. Thick, overlapping plates of dark metallic sheen armored its body from head to tail, and Zayan could see its chest expanding and contracting rhythmically, signaling that it was merely sleeping. Zayan was still around 58 meters away from the creature. It seemed the creature was hidden by one of the giant trees around Zayan. Zayan¡¯s heart pounded as he stood motionless, staring at the creature in disbelief and fear realizing that the wolf-like creature was only a small creature in this new world. The thing lay there, sprawled out across the only way forward. It blocked the path Zayan was walking completely. He couldn¡¯t move. His mind screamed at him to act, but the sheer size and unnatural nature of the beast rooted him to the spot. His thoughts raced: What if it wakes up? What if it sees me? What might this thing be capable of? He tried to remember the survival strategies he¡¯d memorized over and over¡ªbut at this moment, none of it seemed to apply. The massive beast with its armor-like skin, fit into his categories of fantasy animals but its sheer presence paralyzed him. Zayan¡¯s body was trembling, his legs felt so weak that he thought he might fall. How could he have been prepared for something like this? His mind had played out countless survival scenarios¡ªfantasy worlds and mystical creatures¡ªbut the steel-plated beast in front of him was real, unlike anything he¡¯d ever imagined. ¡°Is this what they feel in those stories?¡± he thought, realizing the gap between imagination and reality. A few seconds passed, but to Zayan, it felt like minutes. He could feel his chest tightening. His heartbeat was loud in his ears. His breaths were shallow, each one quieter than the last. He felt as though the slightest of sounds would wake the sleeping giant and he would be devoured. ¡°Stay calm... stay calm... always stay calm¡±, he repeated, but the words felt empty. He couldn¡¯t stay calm with that thing in front of him. Finally, after an entire minute, he managed to calm down taking long and quiet breaths. The creature remained in deep slumber, the regular rise and fall of its breathing almost inducing peace. Zayan¡¯s eyes darted around, analyzing his surroundings. He needed to get around this thing, but there was no way to go forward without crossing just beside it. The risk was too great. Taking another deep breath, Zayan made his decision. ¡°I will just detour around it. I can¡¯t provoke it. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± He crouched low, moving slowly into the cover of trees beside the path he was taking. His eyes never left the creature as he began to circle it, each step taken with care.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Suddenly, the creature shifted slightly. Its massive steel-plated tail scraped against the ground causing some soil to be dug up. It exhaled a deep, echoing breath. Zayan¡¯s body had gone stiff and his heart was hammering so hard in his chest that he feared it might reveal his position. Zayan remained frozen in place, barely daring to breathe. His eyes remained locked on the beast. Its thick claws were each as long as his forearm and Zayan could only imagine his own outcome had he been attacked. He didn¡¯t have to imagine much as the conclusion was simple: He wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Zayan thought that the beast had woken up. ¡°It woke up. What do I do? What do I do? I need to run. I need to run¡­ ¡± Zayan wanted to run but felt as if he was glued in place. Instead of the fight or flight reaction. He had the freeze reaction. Zayan waited for the beast to wake up. It didn¡¯t. It was sleeping, peacefully, unbothered by the world. Zayan was staring at the beast with his eyes wide open. After being frozen for 60 breaths of time Zayan could finally move. Seeing that the creature was still asleep, Zayan faintly felt of safe¡ªfor now. He was about halfway around the creature at the time still keeping a wide distance. Zayan began his march again, now being even more alert than before. Zayan didn¡¯t know that this beast, despite its intimidating appearance, was an herbivore. If it had seen him, it would have ignored him entirely, sensing no threat from the lone human creeping past it. But Zayan had no way of knowing this, and so he remained cautious, treating the creature like the potential danger it looked like. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zayan reached the other side. He stopped for a moment. His body was tense, still watching the beast. It continued to sleep peacefully without being disturbed by his presence. Zayan glanced at the beast one last time before turning his focus back onto the river. He still had a long way to go, but the encounter had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. He couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down, especially when the forest contained such dangers. There was no telling what other dangers lay ahead in this strange world that had only shown him danger. With his heart still pounding vigorously, Zayan¡ªdetermined to keep following the river¡ªwalked on. The sound of the flowing water kept him on track and he moved with more caution now that he had seen the threats present. However, the forest around him seemed to shift a little. It was very subtle at first, but then he noticed it. The trees were becoming sparser. The canopy above was thinning, allowing more sunlight to filter through the branches. His steps quickened as he realized what this might mean: the forest was beginning to clear. He might finally be nearing its edge. But he was still vigilant hoping that he wouldn¡¯t meet anything else. Zayan paused momentarily to look around. The dense vegetation that was slowing him down earlier receded. They were replaced by shorter bushes and open patches of grass. The river felt like a guide, leading him out of the wild. Hope ignited in his chest. ¡°Have I finally found the exit? I can leave now, right.¡± But even as the excitement bubbled within him, Zayan remained cautious. He couldn¡¯t allow himself to be careless. There was still the unknown to consider¡ªwhat lay beyond the forest? Was the world outside safer or not? His mind thought back at the creature he had just passed. It had been sleeping peacefully, but its presence was a blunt reminder of the threats this world held. Even if he reached the edge of the forest, he knew he would need to stay alert for whatever might come at him next. Zayan took out one of the apple-like fruits he had gathered and ate it feeling hungry after having walked for so long. He glimpsed toward the thinning tree line one more time and resumed walking while silently chewing on the fruit. His heart was set on reaching the forest¡¯s edge by the time the light had taken its leave. Zayan knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before he exited the wilderness. Yet, he couldn¡¯t help but fear the new dangers that might appear after he was out of there. Zayan couldn¡¯t help but ask himself an ominous question: ¡°Is that truly the exit and if it is, Is it any safer outside ?¡± Chapter-8: Fearful Benefactors The sky, far in the distance was beginning to turn orange, the Star nearing the horizon. It wouldn¡¯t be long before the end of daylight, and Zayan knew this. He had to hurry yet he couldn¡¯t. All he could do was silently creep towards the direction with trees wide apart hoping no one would spot him¡ªespecially not those hunters and beasts. Each step was taken lightly trying to avoid making any noise. Stepping on the slightly soft soil with the balls of his foot, refraining from getting near dry leaves or twigs. Zayan¡¯s eyes were darting around looking for anything that could potentially harm him. He never stopped his chant: Stay calm, always stay calm¡­ Zayan was exhausted, very exhausted¡ªboth mentally and physically. With each step, his body wanted to fall. He could already see the outside of the forest¡ªa grassland, bright green in color with a hint of orange over it. This sight gave Zayan comfort while his whole body was aching. ¡°I am almost out,¡± Zayan thought. ¡°I can finally leave this dangerous place. Hopefully, there is less danger outside.¡± Zayan walked and walked until he finally left that unfriendly place. His feet felt the soft grass, his face felt the cool breeze. He sighed in relief finally daring to breathe normally. The dangers of the forest were already behind him. The beast-eating locals, the towering trees, and the constant sense of being observed. Still, he knew he couldn¡¯t rest¡ªnot yet when he was still near the mouth of a tiger. Zayan felt that he could now walk normally but his body was too weak. He stepped forward. ¡°I am out,¡± he thought. All he could think of was finally being out, so much so that he forgot his tiredness. He walked forward, one step at a time. But then, his fatigue caught up to him. His body fell, legs unable to balance him. He lay there, face flat on the ground unable to control his body. He was still conscious but he could feel his mind getting fuzzy. ¡°No. No. Not yet. Not yet. I still have to go forward. Forward. Can¡¯t lose consciousness.¡± He thought. His body wouldn¡¯t move no matter what he tried. He didn¡¯t want to admit it but he too was aware that his consciousness wouldn¡¯t hold much longer. Footsteps. Zayan heard some footsteps coming towards him. ¡°People! Many people!¡± He realized before completely blacking out. These people were different from the ones Zayan had seen in the forest. They didn¡¯t wear animal skins, didn¡¯t have wild eyes or bloodied weapons. They were dressed normally¡ªstrange, but familiar in comparison to the savagery Zayan had been an audience of. The group stopped a few feet away from the unconscious boy, their voices were low as they murmured to one another. ¡°How did someone like that come out of the forest?¡± one of them asked, a young adult no more than 22 years of age. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look like one of us,¡± another voice added, their suspicion evident. The strangers exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. None of them made a move to touch him, but they drew closer, staring down at Zayan¡¯s unconscious form. His clothing¡ªforeign and unlike anything they were used to¡ªseemed to fascinate them.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°His clothing¡­ it¡¯s strange,¡± one whispered, the voice edged with curiosity. ¡°Look at him. He isn¡¯t native. Where did he come from?¡± Zayan who was unconscious, remained the subject of their careful observation. They hesitated to touch him, but one leaned in, studying his strange appearance more closely. The others exchanged wary glances, unsure whether to intervene or leave him be. Zayan was moved to get a more careful view of his face. After a long pause, one of them spoke again. ¡°We need to figure out where he¡¯s from¡­ and why he came from the forest. And you, don¡¯t touch him anymore.¡± He spoke to all. The target of the second half of the sentence was the man touching Zayan who had rotated Zayan so that he was facing upwards. The group stood around Zayan, their cautious murmurs filling the quiet air. The sun dipping lower, cast a soft orange glow over the vast plain. Shadows stretched long over the grass as they continued to observe the boy, their curiosity increasing with each passing moment. One of the older men in the group stepped ahead, leaning down just slightly to get a better look at Zayan¡¯s face. He was tall, with broad shoulders, his face worn by years under the sun. His brow wrinkled as he examined the odd boy, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. ¡°This is no local,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°Look at these clothes. They¡¯re unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen. The fabric is too fine. Too clean for someone coming out of that forest. And simply of an odd design.¡± Pointing at Zayan¡¯s clothes. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±, the young man from before muttered, pointing at the fruit secured by a makeshift tie around Zayan¡¯s waist. ¡°He¡¯s carrying something¡­ but it¡¯s not from around here.¡± The woman beside him kneeled down, her eyes narrowing as she examined the fruit more closely. ¡°That¡¯s not something I have seen before,¡± she said softly. ¡°Where did he get this?¡± A younger man crouched beside Zayan, inspecting the strange fruit. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look poisonous¡­ but he¡¯s been eating them.¡± His eyes shifted to the edges of Zayan¡¯s mouth, the faint remnants of the fruit he had eaten earlier were still visible. ¡°He¡¯s survived on it.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t look dangerous.¡± The woman from before said realizing that this person was just a boy. The older man grunted. ¡°Dangerous or not, we don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing here or what he plans on doing. No one comes out of that cursed forest without a story. What if he¡¯s marked by it? Marked by that cruel curse of madness.¡± The woman hesitated for a moment before hovering her hand over Zayan¡¯s forehead as if testing the air around him for signs of any sickness or omen. ¡°But look at him. He¡¯s completely passed out from exhaustion. He needs help.¡± ¡°But should we be the ones who help him?¡± the shorter man among them asked, taking a step back. He had a bad feeling about Zayan the moment he saw him. ¡°What if he has the forest¡¯s curse? You know how anyone who comes out from there starts killing everyone.¡± The group exchanged uneasy glances at each other, the weight of the decision pressing on them. None of them moved for several moments, the air thick with doubt. Zayan¡¯s remained motionless, his chest rising and falling periodically. His face, peaceful in unconsciousness, gave no hint of the ordeal he had endured in the forest. Finally, the woman stood back up and took a step back. ¡°We can¡¯t leave him here. Whatever danger he might bring, we¡¯ll have to face it. He¡¯s just a boy. If he¡¯s dangerous, we¡¯ll know soon enough.¡± The older tall man sighed, reluctant to agree. ¡°Fine. But we take him to the village with caution. Keep an eye on him, never let your guard down. We still don¡¯t know who or what he is. The least bit of carelessness could be the end of us.¡± Among all of these people there was the short man(the one who said they didn¡¯t have to be the ones to help.) who had strongly wanted to resist the idea but knowing his decision was outnumbered, he kept shut. For some unknown reason, he seemed to hate this boy. Chapter-9: Detained in the Village The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows across the plain grassland as the group of six carefully carried Zayan toward the village. The wooden fence surrounding the village showed itself ahead of them, standing four meters tall, with thick wooden beams reinforced by iron bolts. Small windows dotting the fence, allowed for visibility both in and out. As they neared the entrance, two guards positioned at the windows spotted them. They shifted nervously, their eyes narrowing when they saw the unconscious boy being carried by the group. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± one of the soldiers muttered to the other, tilting his head toward the approaching group. ¡°Someone from the forest?¡± The second soldier frowned. ¡°Looks like it. What are they thinking to be bringing him here?¡± The group reached the large wooden entrance leading into the village. They hesitated there, knowing that entering wouldn¡¯t be as simple as knocking when they had brought someone from the forest. One of the men in the group, short and sturdy, paced back and forth, clearly irritated. ¡°I told you that we didn¡¯t have to be the ones to help him,¡± the short man snapped, his voice filled with frustration pointed at Zayan. ¡°Now look. We¡¯re going to get exiled from the village for bringing him.¡± The others, although they were quiet, exchanged glances nervously. The forest was dangerous¡ªanyone who emerged from it was immediately viewed with suspicion. They knew the risks of bringing Zayan, but leaving him behind wouldn¡¯t have been humane knowing his situation of exhaustion. One of the guards had gone to get the elder after realizing the boy being carried was from the forest. While the other one alerted the rest of the guards about it. At the entrance, a voice said ¡°Wait for the elder¡¯s decision.¡± That was all he said and silence brewed among the group carrying Zayan. Moments later, a deep voice spoke from behind the fence. The village elder had arrived, his voice calm yet marked with uncertainty. ¡°Why did you bring him here? He could be dangerous.¡± The group shifted awkwardly revealing the tall man carrying Zayan in his arms, clearly the unofficial leader of the group who stepped forward. ¡°Elder, he¡¯s just a boy. Look at him. Thin as a twig and completely exhausted. He passed out near the forest¡¯s edge. There¡¯s no way he could pose any threat to us even if he wanted to. He doesn¡¯t even have a weapon with him.¡± The elder remained silent for a moment, contemplating the situation. His face, visible through the window in the fence, was hard to read. He was clearly weighing the risks. ¡°You should¡¯ve come to me first before bringing him here. There are reasons why we avoid bringing people from the forest inside. Just 2 years ago, a man that came from the forest tried to kill everyone in this village. He even almost destroyed the east wall and entered the village. Unable to understand a single word we said, he kept attacking the fence and almost got inside. We barely managed to kill that anomaly after shooting more than 50 arrows at him. And now, you want to bring another one into the village.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The short man seized the moment, gesturing toward Zayan as if to back up the elder¡¯s concerns. ¡°Exactly! He could attack us the same way as that thing from 2 years ago. We¡¯re risking everything by even getting close to him!¡± The leader of the group turned to the elder, his voice more urgent yet filled with sympathy. ¡°But look at him. He¡¯s unconscious. If he meant harm, he wouldn¡¯t have collapsed like this. He¡¯s more in need of help than anything.¡± The elder sighed, rubbing his temple before nodding reluctantly. ¡°Fine. Bring him in. But he¡¯s to be detained until we¡¯re sure of his intentions. We can¡¯t take any chances. And next time,¡± his voice hardened, ¡°you come to me first.¡± The group nodded in agreement, relief washing over most of their faces, except for the short man, who still mumbled about how helping the boy had been a mistake. With the elder¡¯s permission, the large wooden door creaked open, and the group carried Zayan inside with them. Past midnight, Zayan regained his consciousness. His body still ached all over but he found himself able to move. He sat up quickly, feeling the hard wooden surface beneath him. As his vision cleared, he looked around and realized that he was inside a small, cramped cell. The walls, floor, and even the door was made of wood, but they were thick and solid enough to contain him with ease. His head pounded, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest. He wasn¡¯t sure where he was, but the room had an air of confinement that put him on edge. Outside his cell, two guards stood on either side of the door. When they saw Zayan move, they stiffened. One of them rushed off to fetch the elder signaling to the other who approached Zayan cautiously. ¡°Sit still!¡± the guard commanded. Zayan didn¡¯t understand the language. The words sounded foreign to him, and he just stared blankly at the guard. Seeing his confusion, the guard repeated the order, growing more impatient. ¡°Sit still!¡± Zayan blinked; his brain was still foggy from exhaustion. He tried to move again, but the guard stepped forward gesturing him to sit becoming more irritated. ¡°Sit!¡± The fourth time the guard repeated the command, Zayan finally understood. Slowly, he sat down on the wooden slab behind him, trying to make sense of what was happening. His mind was a jumble of fragmented thoughts. The last thing he remembered was being unable to move and hearing footsteps. As he sat there, his eyes scanned the room, taking in the sturdy wooden bars that made up the cell door. The realization hit him¡ªhe was being held prisoner. His body ached, but he knew enough to understand that he wasn¡¯t in immediate danger, at least not yet. Zayan contemplated asking the guard what was going on but quickly dismissed the idea. Even if he asked, he doubted he¡¯d understand the response or if the guard would understand him. And besides, the guard¡¯s serious expression told him it wouldn¡¯t be wise to start asking questions. Zayan sat quietly, his mind racing as he tried to figure out his next move. He didn¡¯t know what kind of place this village was, but he knew one thing: he needed to figure out why he was being held here before it was too late. Chapter-10: The Stranger鈥檚 Test Zayan sat quietly on the wooden slab, observing his cell out of boredom for perhaps the 5oth time. The guard observed every action of the boy. Soon, two figures entered the prison, and a voice sounded, ¡°Has he done anything noteworthy?¡±. The guard who was observing Zayan turned towards the voice and answered, ¡°None. He has done as told and has been sitting there for a while now.¡± pointing at Zayan. ¡°Then there is no need to act for now. Tell him to sleep and we shall test him tomorrow.¡± The voice ordered. Zayan was having trouble understanding the words at first due to a language barrier. Yet, his comprehension of the language kept growing as the voice and the guard kept talking. Zayan understood the fact that he was now capable of basic communication with the people here but why he could do so¡ªhe had no idea. This world was made from the subconscious of Zayan, which had developed over years of reading fantasy in which there was no language barrier for those that reached a world. This became a fact, an unbroken rule of this world and hence he could comprehend the humanoid being¡¯s language. If he were to speak to any humanoid creature, there would be understanding. The guard did as he was told by that voice earlier, making sure that Zayan understood him. The guard then went out of the prison and locked the door. That night, Zayan remembered his mother and his world. The peaceful city, his friends fooling around. He hoped that they were fine, tears forming in his eyes. ¡°Please! Just be fine. I want nothing else for you.¡± He thought unable to even scream away his thoughts due to fear of these untrusting people. The whole night ended with him hoping for the people dear to him to be fine while trying to remember the part of his diary where he wrote about ¡°prison escape if caught¡±. The sun was high in the sky when Zayan heard the lock of the prison being opened. He glanced towards the prison door, his eyes meeting the village elder¡¯s gaze through the wooden bars. Behind him stood two guards¡ªthe ones guarding the cell at night, their faces a mixture of suspicion, curiosity, and a bit of fear. The elder stepped closer, just outside the bars, studying Zayan for a long silent moment before speaking. ¡°Who are you, and why did you come from the forest?¡± Zayan remembered that this was the voice he heard at night. He straightened up, hoping his tone would reflect his sincerity. ¡°My name is Zayan. I don¡¯t know how I came here. I¡­ was somewhere else, and then suddenly, I was in that forest. I just kept walking until I couldn¡¯t go any further.¡± The elder¡¯s brow narrowed as he listened, his eyes analyzing every word spoken. ¡°You say you don¡¯t know how you came here. Do you expect us to believe that?¡± His tone was the same, but an untraceable hint of curiosity had formed. Zayan nodded, choosing his words very carefully. ¡°It sounds unbelievable, even to me. But it¡¯s the truth. I don¡¯t know what happened, but I found myself alone in a place I¡¯d never seen before.¡± The elder considered his response, his expression as unreadable as a face carved on stone. He gestured to the guards to step forward near the cell which they did while keeping their focus on Zayan to see if he pulled anything suspicious. ¡°Fine. You may speak with my guards for now, but remember that any sign of threat will be taken very seriously. This village values its safety above all else.¡± Zayan nodded twice, understanding the elder¡¯s caution. One of the guards was a man with a scar along his jawline to above his ear. In the path of the scar, no hair was present but the skin was a bit lighter. He took a step forward and looked at Zayan from up and down. ¡°You don¡¯t seem like the type of humans we¡¯re used to seeing come from the forest.¡± He said, his voice gruff but not unkind. Zayan met the guard¡¯s gaze and tried to explain himself. ¡°I¡¯m not from here. Where I come from, people live in¡­ towns, and cities, surrounded by tall buildings, not forests or villages like this one.¡± The second guard, a younger man¡ªprobably in his early 20s¡ªwith dark, curious eyes, tilted his head. ¡°Towns? Cities?¡± he repeated, the words he had only read in books but never seen. ¡°How do people survive without a forest? What do they hunt, or gather?¡± He asked. Zayan shook his head. ¡°They don¡¯t hunt much where I¡¯m from. Food is mostly grown on farms or raised in different places, and then it¡¯s all brought to the towns. There are stores¡ªplaces where you buy what you need.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The elder listened, his expression shifting to one of fascination mixed with doubt. ¡°So, you live without relying on the land itself?¡± He spoke. While talking the elder thought ¡°The place he is from seems different from this world entirely. Not even the capital was like that when I came here with my parents. He speaks of tall buildings, but even the castle was only 5 floors tall. The way he speaks suggests that the tall buildings he is speaking of are at least around 10 floors tall. This world he talks of is much more advanced in terms of technology than ours. And by the way he is speaking, I can be sure that he is telling the truth.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zayan spoke, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ very different from here.¡± He paused, watching the guards exchange glances before continuing. ¡°In my world, forests like the one I walked through are usually protected, and no one lives in them. They¡¯re not as dangerous as the one I just left either.¡± The guards leaned closer, their curiosity clearly increasing and the younger one asked. ¡°What about the people? Are they as strange as the ones we sometimes see coming from that forest?¡± Zayan paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. ¡°I don¡¯t know what type of people you speak of. But I assume that they are dangerous and violent if you are so wary of them. In the place where I come from, people are usually peaceful. They don¡¯t¡­ attack each other for no reason. There are rules and laws to keep people safe.¡± The elder¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Rules and laws,¡± he murmured, the words he had heard while still in the capital. ¡°But even with such ¡®laws¡¯, can people be trusted? What would happen if someone chose to ignore them?¡± Zayan glanced towards the ceiling, recalling times in his world when laws weren¡¯t enough to prevent harm. ¡°There are still bad people, yes. But most people try to follow the rules. There are also people called police, who keep everyone in line and help if there¡¯s trouble.¡± The guards looked at each other, both fascinated and unsettled by the strange concept the boy spoke of. The elder¡¯s expression softened slightly as if his stone-carved face was melting away, though caution still lingered in his gaze having grown from harsh experiences. After a moment, the older guard with the scar spoke again, his gruff voice quieter. ¡°It¡¯s weird¡­ people coming from the forest usually reek of chaos and violence. Yet you talk of a peaceful world.¡± He shook his head as if he couldn¡¯t accept this difference. Zayan felt the weight of their stares and he said in a slightly trembling voice ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what kind of people you¡¯ve seen, but¡­ but I don¡¯t mean any harm. I just want to understand what happened and¡ªif possible¡ªfind a way back.¡± The elder folded his arms while studying Zayan. ¡°Tell me.¡± He said slowly, ¡°What would you do if you were allowed to leave this cell?¡± Zayan was taken aback by the question he hadn¡¯t thought he would be asked. ¡°If I were released¡­ I¡¯d like to understand this place better. I¡­ don¡¯t know where ¡®here¡¯ is, and¡­ I don¡¯t know how to survive here. I need to learn how. But¡­ if there¡¯s a way to go back, I¡¯d want to find it.¡± The younger guard tilted his head and spoke in a soft yet still cautious voice. ¡°How can we trust you with freedom here, though? What would keep you from attacking us once you are out?¡± Zayan met his calm and sincere gaze. ¡°I¡¯m alone, and I don¡¯t even know what dangers this place holds. I¡¯d simply be foolish to try anything dangerous. I just want to survive, and I¡¯m hoping you¡¯ll help me learn how.¡± The elder¡¯s stone-like expression softened as he nodded acknowledging Zayan¡¯s intelligence. ¡°You seem honest. But in times of caution, kindness brings more harm than good.¡± Zayan had understood the elder¡¯s cautious approach and replied accordingly. ¡°I can¡¯t blame you. If I were in your position, I¡¯d feel the same.¡± The elder appreciated Zayan¡¯s honesty and quick understanding, ¡°You¡¯re young, but you speak with wisdom. I¡¯ll allow you to speak with the guards more freely. In time, we¡¯ll determine if you¡¯re truly safe for our people.¡± For the rest of the day, the guards took turns speaking with Zayan, asking him about his world and his experiences in the forest. Zayan described the forest in detail, telling them of the steel-plated creature he had encountered, and how he had barely managed to avoid other dangers. He also spoke of the strange people he¡¯d seen hunting the wolf-like beast in the forest, though he hesitated to share his fears about them. The younger guard asked curiously, ¡°Where you come from, do you have creatures as large as this¡­ steel-plated beast?¡± Zayan shook his head answering, ¡°No. Animals where I¡¯m from are¡­ much smaller. Nothing like the creatures here¡ªmaybe just the shape. The one I saw could have crushed me if it had wanted. Thankfully, it was asleep.¡± The two guards exchanged glances, happy at having learned new things. The elder listened silently from a distance, his gaze thoughtful as Zayan narrated his journey. The more he spoke, the more the guards began to see him as a lost boy than a potential threat. As the evening was nearing, the elder approached Zayan one last time. His face had a faint trace of warmth. ¡°I will allow you out of this cell tomorrow if you are ready to abide by our rules and stay within the village. But know this, our people do not take well to strangers. You will need to earn their trust yourself.¡± Zayan felt thankful and spoke. ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± The elder returned to his stone-carved face. ¡°Rest well, Zayan. You¡¯ll get your chance soon.¡± Chapter-11: A Sign of Discord Zayan woke to the sound of footsteps outside his cell. The morning sun filtered through the wooden door of the cell, casting shadows on the floor. His body ached from the stiff surface he had slept on¡ªsome fatigue still remaining from the forest walk¡ª and his mind whirled from the events of the past few days. He sat up attentively eyeing the guards who entered. The elder followed behind, his expression unreadable like a stone statue. The elder gestured to the guards, and the door to the cell quickly creaked open. ¡°Come.¡± The elder said, his tone firm but not unkind. Zayan stood his aching body up as ordered by the elder. As he rose to his full height, the guards exchanged glances, feeling inferior in height to this boy. Zayan was used to towering over most of his peers. But here, his 6 foot 2 frame seemed even more noticeable against the shorter physique of the people around him. ¡°You¡¯re letting me go?¡± Zayan asked, his words now complete as he had completely adjusted to the language. The elder nodded. ¡°Your imprisonment was only for the village¡¯s safety. I have made my decision. You will not stay in this cell. You will work under me.¡± Zayan blinked in surprise at the unexpected turn of events and asked, confused ¡°Work¡­ under you? Doing what?¡± The elder¡¯s gaze was steady. ¡°You are no ordinary boy. I see it in how you speak, and how you think. Your intelligence can serve this village so I have decided to have you assist me in managing its affairs.¡± Zayan knew he was in no position to refuse and hence he followed behind the elder who had already turned and began walking away, motioning for him to follow. The guards stepped right behind them; their silence heavy with unease at the elder¡¯s sudden decision. As they stepped out into the open air, Zayan immediately felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him. His height, already a unique feature, drew even more attention that he stood tall above the villagers. People paused their conversations to stare at him while some children who were playing in the streets stopped to look at this towering man. Murmurs could be heard on the streets ¡°That¡¯s the boy from the forest. I saw them take him to the cells before.¡± ¡°What could the elder be thinking, bringing him out? What if he causes harm?¡± Zayan felt uncomfortable under these untrusting words but followed the elder to a modest wooden building near the center of the village. Zayan and the elder entered while the two guards stayed at the front door. After entering, the elder first gave Zayan some new clothes and told him to bathe in the bathroom in the back. Zayan didn¡¯t speak but took the clothes and went to bathe. The bathroom was just a room containing a large pot of water and another clay jug. Zayan bathed as quickly as he could and wore those new clothes. These clothes were of a simple design, a plain white T-shirt of sorts and a matching pair of trousers tightened with a rope placed within it. Zayan, after wearing the clothes, quickly went back to where the elder was. ¡°You look great.¡± The elder said and then gestured for Zayan to sit at a sturdy wooden table covered in maps with some symbols marking water sources, dangerous animal territories, and whatever else those many symbols could mean. ¡°You will learn quickly.¡± The elder said, spreading out a map of the village atop the other maps. ¡°This is our home, and it is fragile. Food is scarce in the colder months, and our defenses are strained. Your role will be to think, to help me find solutions.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Zayan nodded to the elder as if acknowledging his new position. ¡°I will do my best to help you. But I request you to help me find my way back if it is possible.¡± The elder gestured in agreement to Zayan and continued, ¡°That will have to be put on hold for now as the village¡¯s turmoil is soon to grow and you have been the trigger.¡± By midday, the murmurs of discontentment had grown louder. The short man, who had been among those to bring Zayan to the village, stood at the center of a growing crowd near the village center. His frustration was clearly visible, his voice cutting through the chatter. ¡°Are we going to accept this?¡± his tone sharp and piercing. ¡°The elder brings a stranger into our village¡ªa boy from the cursed forest no less¡ªand expects us to welcome him with open arms?¡± The crowd around him murmured in agreement, emboldened by his words. ¡°This isn¡¯t just about the boy either.¡± The short man continued, ¡°It¡¯s about the elder¡¯s judgment. He¡¯s ignored the years of work we¡¯ve done, the loyalty we¡¯ve shown. How long have I worked to better this village? And now, I¡¯m overlooked for some kid outsider?¡± The crowd grew as more and more villagers gathered, their faces a mixture of anger and uncertainty. Among them, some nodded in agreement with the short man, while others stood back with uneasy expressions. Inside the elder¡¯s home, Zayan¡¯s focus on remembering the village¡¯s needs was broken by the sound of raised voices. He glanced at the elder, who had paused mid-sentence, his brow creasing. ¡°Stay here,¡± the elder said abruptly, rising from his seat. Zayan watched as the elder stepped outside, his old yet broad shoulders tense. Curiosity got the better of him, and he moved to the doorway, peering out at the scene unfolding in front of the elder¡¯s house. The short man stood at the center of the crowd, his voice carrying his own growing unrest but which appeared to have been a voice for the crowd. ¡°This village is ours to protect!¡± he shouted. ¡°And now the elder risks it all for a boy we know nothing about? A boy who could bring ruin upon us? A boy from that cursed forest which has caused us years of suffering.¡± The elder stepped in front of the crowd, his presence immediately commanding attention. The crowd quieted slightly, but the tension in the air was intense. ¡°I understand your concerns.¡± The elder began, his voice was calm but firm. ¡°But my decision stands. Zayan has the potential that this village needs right now. He is not a threat but an opportunity.¡± ¡°Not a threat?¡± the short man spat. ¡°You don¡¯t know that. He came from the forest¡ªthe same forest that has taken so many of our own! And now you place him in a position of trust above all who worked for this village their whole life?¡± The elder¡¯s eyes narrowed¡ªalmost into a slit¡ªhis patience running out. ¡°My decisions are for the good of the village. Zayan¡¯s perspective may offer solutions that we have not yet seen. I have interrogated him in the cell already. You may ask the guards Alaric and Miles who were present during the interrogation. This is a decision I have come to after long thought.¡± The crowd stirred, and the division among them grew more apparent. Some agreed with the elder, their trust in his wisdom solid. Others murmured their discord, their fear of the unknown outweighing their faith. The protest reached its peak as the short man rallied his supporters, their voices rising in defiance of the elder¡¯s decision. The guards stepped in between the protesters and the elder, their presence adding an edge of tension to the scene. ¡°You are disrupting the peace.¡± One of the guards said firmly, addressing the short man directly. The short man sneered but didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Peace? Is it peace to bring danger into our home? To gamble with our lives?¡± The elder raised a hand silencing the guards. He spoke as his gaze bore into the short man, his voice cold and steady. ¡°You will not sow discord in this village. I have made my decision, and it is final.¡± For a moment, it seemed as though the short man might challenge the elder directly. But the weight of the guards¡¯ presence, and his declining support, combined with the elder¡¯s unwavering authority, forced him to back down. ¡°This isn¡¯t over so soon.¡± the short man muttered under his breath, retreating into the crowd. As the crowd began to disperse, the elder turned back toward his home. His expression was exhausted. Zayan watched him approach silently. ¡°Why do you trust me?¡± he asked the elder feeling a closer relationship. The elder paused, his gaze was heavy. ¡°I do not trust you. But I do see potential in you. And sometimes, the potential is worth the risk.¡± Chapter-12: Increasing Hatred Zayan sat just across from the elder in the modest wooden house. The tension from the earlier protest lingered in the air. The elder had returned moments ago, his expression was unreadable but heavy with thought. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them.¡± The elder told Zayan. ¡°The villagers will grumble, but they are loyal to the village. Their trust is hard-earned. I believe you can gain it. Just focus on the tasks at hand for now.¡± Zayan was nervous but he nodded. ¡°What should I do first?¡± he asked. His voice much quieter than before. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t know how much of a help I can be of.¡± The elder studied him for a moment before continuing. ¡°Let¡¯s start with our most pressing issue: Food. No matter how much we gather and store during the harvest, it never lasts through the winter. Pests and spoilage are the main reason. People starve because of this. We have tried various ways to stop the pests and spoilage but there was never much progress.¡± Zayan frowned learning of the village¡¯s tragedy. He leaned forward to examine the map. After a minute of remembering information related to food storage from his previous world, he asked carefully ¡°How do you store your food now?¡± The elder gestured toward a barn that was visible through the window. ¡°We dry and salt as much as we can. Some meats are preserved with ash or herbs. But it¡¯s not enough. The pests find their way in, and some still spoil.¡± Zayan nodded slowly. It wasn¡¯t so different from what he¡¯d read about food storage of his world in the past. Zayan was hesitant but still spoke, ¡°I¡­ I think I know a way to help.¡± The elder¡¯s sharp gaze met his. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°In my world, we used sealed containers to keep air and pests out.¡± Zayan explained. ¡°For meat, we smoked it¡ªexposing it to wood smoke for days. It lasts much longer that way.¡± These were working but outdated techniques in his original world. ¡°My original world and this place are very different. So here, we can use the clay pots (He didn¡¯t speak of glass jars as he had only seen pottery in the village). They can be sealed with the help of wax. We can also make smokehouses to treat meat to smoke for a few days¡± Zayan spoke slowly changing his ideas according to his understanding of this world such that the elder would easily understand. The elder tilted his head, considering the suggestion. ¡°Sealing containers¡­ and smoking meats. Interesting. Do you believe these methods would work here?¡± Zayan hesitated. ¡°They worked in my original world so I guess they will also work here. But I¡¯d need some materials to test it. Pots, wax, and firewood.¡± The elder nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this with the administration. It is a group of 10 people in the village including me. They oversee the village¡¯s supplies and other needs. If they agree, you¡¯ll have what you need.¡± The administration meeting was tense from the moment Zayan entered the room. The short man was already seated, his arms crossed and his glare fixed on Zayan like a hawk watching prey. Though he backed away at the protest, he hadn¡¯t given up.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The elder introduced Zayan to the 7 members of the administration present and outlined his ideas. Explaining the potential benefits of airtight storage and smoking meats. He then paused and gestured for Zayan to elaborate. Zayan froze, his mouth suddenly dry. ¡°Um¡­¡± he began, his voice uncertain. ¡°Where I come from, we¡­ we sealed food in sealed jars to keep pests out. And we smoked meats to preserve them longer. It¡ªit might help he...¡± The short man scoffed loudly, interrupting Zayan. His sharp tone cut through the room. ¡°And why should we trust his ideas? He knows nothing of our ways, our land. His methods could waste our supplies?¡± ¡°That could happen. Terul is right.¡± ¡°Yes he is right.¡± ¡°But it should be ok to try.¡± Some of the members talked to each other. Zayan glanced at the elder, who gave him an encouraging nod. ¡°I¡­ I think it¡¯s worth trying.¡± Zayan said, his voice still uncertain. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work, we can stop. But if it does, it could save many lives.¡± The short man¡¯s glare deepened, and he leaned forward. ¡°Easy to say when it¡¯s not your food at risk. Do you even know what it takes to preserve food? Have you ever hunted? Gathered? Or are you just guessing?¡± Before Zayan could respond, the elder spoke firmly. ¡°Enough. A small-scale trial will not harm us in any way. If it succeeds, we¡¯ll expand. Alaric and Miles will oversee the process alongside Zayan. They will make sure he doesn¡¯t do anything harmful to us.¡± The short man muttered something under his breath but didn¡¯t challenge the elder¡¯s authority. This was the main topic of the meeting. After its end, the meeting was soon over. Over the next two week, Zayan worked under the watchful eyes of Alaric, Miles, and a small group of villagers. Alaric and Miles had begun trusting Zayan after learning about him after their long conversation with him and hence complied with his plans wholeheartedly. Though they had been on village wall guard duty after that, they briefly talked about Zayan with each other. They crafted makeshift smokehouses and sealed pots of grains with melted wax. Every step of the process was met with skepticism by the other villagers, but Zayan persevered with the help of Aaric and Miles. They were his first friends in this place and the elder was a mentor. The first signs of success came quickly. The smoked meats retained their color and aroma, and the sealed pots showed no signs of pests after several days. One afternoon, the elder visited the storage barn to inspect the progress. He examined the smoked meats and the sealed pots. His expression was one of satisfaction. ¡°This is promising.¡± He said, patting Zayan¡¯s back being unable to pat his soldier due to their difference in height. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, Zayan. These methods could save lives.¡± An administration meeting was held again and the progress was reported. The short man still wanted to refuse this method but had to bow to the results that were seen. It was decided in this meeting that Zayan will be given the authority in the storage of food for the winter. This authority-giving decision was refused by some members but it ultimately happened on the condition that some guards will be constantly observing Zayan. This news was quickly spread throughout the village and Zayan even felt a flicker of pride. However, it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of the villager¡¯s stares. Some watched him with curiosity, others with respect and thankfulness. But a few, like the short man, glared at him with open hostility. The short man stood at the edge of the storage barn. He watched as the villagers murmured among themselves about Zayan¡¯s success. His fists clenched tightly and he bit into his own lips. ¡°All these years.¡± He muttered, his voice low and bitter. ¡°All these years of working for this village, and now, I am disregarded. But that new brat, he gets praise.¡± His resentment burned like a fire in his chest. Each whisper of praise for Zayan added fuel to his anger. ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡± He whispered to himself, his glare fixed on the tall boy standing at the center of the gathered villagers. ¡°Not by a long shot.¡± Chapter 13: A Path to Strength Zayan awoke to the sound of a soft knock on his door, the gentle rhythm piercing through the weight of his exhaustion. His body ached from the previous day''s exertions¡ªteaching the villagers methods of food preservation and navigating the unrelenting challenges of this strange world. Each day felt like a new battle against unfamiliarity, a relentless fight to adapt. The door creaked open, revealing Sayk, the village elder, his calm authority etched into every line of his weathered face. Today, however, there was a sharper edge in his gaze, a sense of urgency that cut through the morning stillness. "Zayan," Sayk began, his voice as deep and steady as a mountain. "You''ve taken your first steps, but it is not enough. This village cannot shield you forever. Danger looms in every shadow here. Just last week, one of our guards narrowly escaped a predator. If you cannot defend yourself, you will not last." Zayan sat up, tension rippling through him. "What are you saying?" he asked, though he already knew the answer. "You are weak," Sayk said bluntly. "But weakness can be tempered into strength. Starting today, you will train under Aimes, the head of village security. He will teach you what it means to survive in this world." The elder¡¯s words struck Zayan with a weight he couldn¡¯t ignore. The necessity of it all was clear, even if the path ahead filled him with unease. "I¡¯ll try," he replied, though the quiver in his voice betrayed his apprehension. Sayk placed a firm hand on Zayan''s shoulder, his grip both reassuring and commanding. "This is not just for your sake. If you survive, you can bring hope to this village. Do not let us down."
The training grounds lay at the edge of the village, a clearing framed by the dark woods that hummed with unseen life. Aimes stood at its center, his tall, broad figure silhouetted against the pale morning light. His sharp eyes scanned Zayan as he approached, taking in every detail with a predator¡¯s precision. "So, you¡¯re the boy I¡¯ve been asked to train," Aimes said, his voice flat and laced with disdain. "I¡¯ve seen many weaklings in my time, but you¡­ you might just be the weakest." Zayan¡¯s cheeks burned with humiliation, but he held his tongue. Words meant nothing here. Aimes wasted no time. "Endurance, strength, survival¡ªthese are what you will learn. Fail, and it¡¯s your own grave you¡¯ll be digging. Now run."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Zayan blinked. "Run?" "Did I stutter?" Aimes snapped. Without another word, Zayan started running, the uneven ground beneath him a cruel test of his balance and endurance. The scorching sun bore down on him, sweat soaking his clothes as his lungs heaved for air. Aimes followed close behind, his voice cutting like a whip. "Faster!" he barked. "You think the beasts out there will wait for you to catch your breath? Move!" Zayan¡¯s legs screamed in protest, but he pushed forward, each step a rebellion against the exhaustion threatening to consume him. By the time Aimes finally allowed him to stop, Zayan collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. "Get up," Aimes ordered. "We¡¯re just getting started."
The day was a relentless storm of challenges. Aimes handed Zayan a wooden staff and attacked without warning, his strikes swift and brutal. Zayan barely managed to block the blows, the vibrations of each impact rattling his arms. "Pathetic," Aimes growled. "You¡¯re slow. Weak. But you¡¯ll learn, or you¡¯ll break." Zayan fell time and time again, but he always got back up. Each failure stoked a flicker of defiance within him, a quiet refusal to let the world crush him completely. By the end of the session, Zayan¡¯s body was a patchwork of bruises, his muscles trembling with fatigue. Yet, for the first time, he saw a faint glimmer of approval in Aimes'' eyes. "You¡¯re not entirely hopeless," Aimes muttered, his tone grudging. "But don¡¯t think for a second that you¡¯ve accomplished anything."
From a shadowed corner of the village, Terul watched the training with narrowed eyes. The short man¡¯s lip curled into a sneer as he muttered to himself, "The boy thinks he can belong here. Fool." Later that evening, Terul approached Aimes under the guise of concern. "You¡¯re going too easy on him," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "If he¡¯s truly from another world, he needs to be pushed beyond his limits. For the good of the village, of course." Aimes¡¯ sharp gaze cut through the pretense. "I don¡¯t need you telling me how to do my job." But Terul¡¯s words lingered, a subtle poison. Aimes resolved to push Zayan even harder, though he was careful not to break the boy entirely.
The days blurred into a punishing routine. Zayan ran until his legs gave out, sparred until his arms felt like lead, and practiced survival techniques under Aimes'' unrelenting scrutiny. Slowly, the faintest signs of progress began to show. He could run longer, strike faster, and block more effectively. One afternoon, during a sparring session, Aimes corrected his stance. "You¡¯re leaning too far back. Shift your weight forward." Zayan adjusted and managed to graze Aimes with his staff¡ªa fleeting touch, but enough to ignite a spark of pride. Aimes smirked faintly. "Don¡¯t get cocky," he said, though he allowed the boy a rare moment of satisfaction.
That evening, Zayan sat outside the elder¡¯s hut, staring at the sinking sun. Memories of his old life surged forth¡ªlaughter with friends, the warmth of family. A tear traced down his cheek as he whispered to himself, "I will survive." From the shadows, Terul watched with a dark expression, his hands clenched into fists. "Survive all you want," he muttered under his breath. "It won¡¯t get any easier." Chapter 14: Survive! Zayan woke up the next morning to a deep, bone-deep ache that consumed every muscle in his body. His bruises throbbed with every shallow breath, and his limbs felt as though they had been replaced with lead. He groaned softly, his head tilting toward the wooden beams of the hut¡¯s ceiling. The faint glow of morning sunlight seeped through the curtained window, tracing thin golden lines on the dusty floor. For a fleeting moment, he wanted nothing more than to surrender to the warmth of his blanket, to drift back into the oblivion of sleep and escape the endless torment of his days. But Sayk¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unforgiving: ¡°If you fail to adapt, you will not survive.¡± The words struck like a lash, jolting him from his reverie. Survive. That singular word carried the weight of everything. It bore down on him like an immutable law, unyielding and cruel. Survival wasn¡¯t just a goal¡ªit was a demand. The village, the elder, Aimes, and even the forest itself all seemed to whisper the same harsh truth. The world offered no reprieve for the weak. Nearly two weeks had passed since Aimes had begun his brutal regimen, tearing Zayan down to rebuild him piece by piece. The days bled together in a haze of pain and exhaustion. Dawn brought endless drills and relentless sparring. Afternoons were reserved for running¡ª10 kilometers without pause, no matter how his lungs burned or his legs threatened to collapse. By evening, his body was a canvas of fresh bruises and cuts, his spirit frayed and fragile. Each night, he crawled back to his cot, clinging to the thinnest thread of resolve. The villagers had stopped looking at him with pity or curiosity. Their gazes now held something sharper: doubt, suspicion, and the faintest glimmer of disdain. Whispers followed him wherever he went. ¡°He¡¯s too slow to improve.¡± ¡°The boy¡¯s weakness will doom us.¡± ¡°The elder claimed he was our savior, but...¡± Some voices were low, almost conspiratorial. Others were loud enough for him to hear clearly. Their words cut deeper than any blade, but he could do nothing but endure. Groaning, Zayan swung his legs off the cot. Pain shot through his knees as he stood, and for a moment, the world spun. He steadied himself with a deep breath before shuffling toward the window. Sliding the curtains aside, he peered out at the village. The clanging of hammers mingled with the distant hum of voices. Smoke coiled upward from the smithy at the village¡¯s edge, merging with the pale morning sky. There was no escape. Not from the villagers¡¯ judgment, nor from Aimes¡¯ unyielding expectations. ¡°Training,¡± he muttered bitterly. The word itself had become a curse, a relentless shadow that haunted his waking hours. He moved to the clay basin in the corner of the room and splashed cold water onto his face. The shock cleared the fog from his mind, though it did little to ease the exhaustion. Staring at his reflection in the polished metal mirror, he barely recognized himself. Dark circles framed his sunken eyes, his skin pale and stretched thin. Yet, amidst the weariness, a flicker of something new glinted in his gaze: determination. He would endure. He had to. The knock on the door came moments later, sharp and impatient. ¡°Move, boy,¡± Aimes barked, his voice like gravel. ¡°The day won¡¯t wait for your laziness. Or have you finally given up?¡± The words stung, but Zayan forced himself to reply. ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± His voice lacked conviction, but he didn¡¯t care. There was no point in arguing. When he stepped outside, Aimes was waiting. The man¡¯s presence was as imposing as ever. Though shorter than Zayan, his broad frame and unyielding demeanor made him seem like a force of nature. His expression was unreadable, his sharp eyes scanning Zayan as though weighing him against some unseen measure. ¡°Still dragging yourself out of bed,¡± Aimes muttered, his tone laced with disdain. ¡°Pathetic. If you can¡¯t even rise on time, it¡¯s a miracle you made it out of that cursed forest alive.¡± Zayan clenched his jaw but said nothing. He couldn¡¯t argue. His survival in the giant forest had been a matter of luck, not skill. The truth of it burned, but denial would only make him weaker. They ran to the edge of the village in silence, Zayan struggling to match Aimes¡¯ steady pace. The familiar training grounds gave way to the dense shadows of a smaller forest. Zayan stopped, panting heavily, and looked at Aimes with confusion. ¡°Why here? Why not¡­ the usual drills?¡± Aimes¡¯ voice was as cold as ever. ¡°To test your survival. Follow me.¡± Without another word, he disappeared into the trees. Zayan hesitated before trudging after him. The forest¡¯s canopy swallowed the sunlight, casting the world in muted greens and grays. The air was thick, humid, and heavy with the scent of damp earth. Shadows danced between the trees, their movements unsettlingly fluid. ¡°Mark the trees,¡± Aimes commanded, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. ¡°The forest is unforgiving to those who wander blindly.¡± Zayan nodded, carving rough marks into the bark of key trees as they moved deeper into the woods. The task seemed simple enough, but the further they ventured, the more disoriented he became. The forest felt alive, its presence oppressive and watchful. Branches clawed at his tunic, roots seemed to rise intentionally to trip him, and the faint rustling of unseen creatures kept his nerves on edge. Suddenly, Aimes raised a hand, stopping abruptly. Zayan¡¯s heart leapt to his throat. ¡°What is it?¡± he whispered, his voice trembling.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Aimes didn¡¯t reply immediately. His gaze swept the dense underbrush, his body tense. Finally, he muttered, ¡°The forest is speaking. Listen.¡± The words sent a chill down Zayan¡¯s spine. He strained his ears, trying to pick up on whatever Aimes had noticed. The silence pressed in around him, suffocating and absolute. Then, faintly, he heard it¡ªa soft rustle, the crack of a twig, the almost imperceptible sound of something moving just beyond his line of sight. ¡°Stay calm,¡± Aimes said, his voice low but firm. ¡°Fear clouds your senses. Focus.¡± Easier said than done, Zayan thought bitterly, but he forced himself to obey. He followed Aimes deeper into the forest, his every step measured and deliberate. The training exercises grew progressively more difficult, each one designed to push him to his limits. Aimes offered no guidance, only cold observations and cryptic advice. Finally, they stopped in a small clearing. Aimes turned to Zayan, his expression unreadable. ¡°You¡¯ll navigate your way back. Alone.¡± Panic surged through Zayan. ¡°What? You¡¯re leaving me here?¡± Aimes¡¯ gaze was unrelenting. ¡°Find your marks. Find your way. If you can¡¯t, then you¡¯ll die. The forest doesn¡¯t care.¡± Before Zayan could protest, Aimes vanished into the trees, leaving him alone. The silence pressed in once more, heavier than ever. Zayan took a deep breath, forcing his trembling hands to steady. He glanced at the marks he had left and began retracing his path. The forest seemed to shift as he moved, its layout twisting subtly to confuse him. His marks were there, but they felt wrong, as though they had been placed by someone else. Doubt gnawed at him. Was he going in circles? Was he imagining things? A sharp sound to his left froze him in place. A low, dragging scrape followed, like claws against wood. His pulse quickened as he scanned the shadows, gripping his makeshift staff tightly. The presence he had felt earlier was back, closer now. Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw it¡ªa shape moving between the trees. It was massive, its hulking form bending the shifting light around it. Too large to be a man, yet disturbingly humanoid in its movement. Its distorted outline flickered as if it were barely tethered to the world, its presence unnatural. Zayan¡¯s stomach dropped as the shape paused, its head turning toward him with an unnerving deliberation. Two faint points of light¡ªeyes¡ªglimmered like distant stars in the darkness, cold and unblinking. A chill gripped Zayan¡¯s spine. For a heartbeat, the world stood still. Neither he nor the thing moved, locked in a silent standoff. Then, with horrifying speed, the shadow exploded forward, its movements impossibly fluid and predatory. Run. The command roared through Zayan¡¯s mind, and he obeyed instinctively. He spun on his heel, adrenaline detonating in his veins as he sprinted toward a narrow break in the foliage. Branches lashed at his face, the underbrush clawing at his legs as if the forest itself sought to ensnare him. Behind him, the sound of pursuit grew louder¡ªan awful, dragging scrape punctuated by guttural snarls. ¡°Aimes!¡± Zayan¡¯s voice cracked with panic as he screamed into the void. He had no direction, no plan, only the primal need to escape. Trees blurred past him, their twisted trunks merging into a tunnel of oppressive green and shadow. His lungs burned, and his legs screamed for relief, but he pushed onward, the terror behind him driving him forward. His foot caught on an exposed root, and he tumbled forward with a sickening thud. Pain shot through his shoulder, radiating outward like fire, but he barely registered it. Scrambling to his feet, Zayan clutched his makeshift staff, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The dragging sound had stopped. The forest was deathly silent. Zayan backed himself against a tree, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the staff with trembling hands. His eyes darted frantically from shadow to shadow, each movement in the periphery sending a fresh wave of panic crashing over him. And then, as if it had never been, the points of light¡ªthose haunting eyes¡ªvanished. Zayan remained frozen, every muscle in his body taut and screaming for release. The silence stretched, oppressive and suffocating, until the faintest whispers of birdsong broke through the stillness. His knees gave out, and he slid to the forest floor, his chest heaving as the terror began to ebb. From the shadows, a familiar voice rang out, calm and unyielding. ¡°Took you long enough to listen.¡± Zayan¡¯s head snapped toward the sound. Aimes stepped into view, his figure unnervingly composed. It was as though the forest¡¯s chaos had never touched him. ¡°What was that?¡± Zayan gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper. Aimes didn¡¯t answer immediately. He gazed into the shadows where the thing had been, his expression unreadable. ¡°This forest has its tests. It reveals what you fear and forces you to confront it.¡± His eyes flicked back to Zayan, piercing and unrelenting. ¡°You survived. Barely. But remember this: fear can keep you alive, but only if you master it.¡± The words lingered in the air, heavy with meaning. Zayan¡¯s hands still trembled, but somewhere deep within, a flicker of resolve began to take root. Survive. The journey back to the village was agonizingly slow. Each step felt heavier than the last, exhaustion weighing down Zayan¡¯s every movement. His mind churned with unanswered questions and lingering dread. The thing he had seen¡ªits eyes, its form¡ªhaunted his thoughts. What was it? Why had Aimes said nothing beforehand? Had the encounter been deliberate? Aimes moved ahead with his characteristic silence, unbothered by the darkening forest. His calmness grated against Zayan¡¯s frayed nerves, but he lacked the strength to question it. By the time the village fires came into view, their faint glow against the night sky, Zayan felt as though he were held together by willpower alone. Villagers bustled about, their figures illuminated by flickering torchlight. To them, it was an ordinary evening. To Zayan, the safety of the village felt almost surreal, a fragile sanctuary against the horrors of the forest. Aimes stopped at the edge of the village and turned to Zayan. His face was impassive, but his words carried weight. ¡°Tomorrow, we train again. Rest tonight. You¡¯ll need it.¡± Zayan nodded weakly, unable to muster a response. Aimes lingered for a moment, then strode off toward his home, leaving Zayan alone with his thoughts. As Zayan made his way to Sayk¡¯s hut, he barely registered the familiar paths. His body moved on autopilot, his mind replaying the events of the day in an endless loop. The terror of the chase, the haunting silence, Aimes¡¯ cryptic words¡ªall of it gnawed at him. When Terul stepped into his path, Zayan¡¯s exhaustion nearly overwhelmed him. The man¡¯s smirk and mocking tone cut through the haze, but Zayan found he lacked the energy to argue. He muttered a quiet retort and brushed past, Terul¡¯s cold warning lingering in his mind: Survival isn¡¯t enough. Finally, Zayan collapsed onto his cot, his body too drained to do anything but sink into its rough embrace. The word echoed through his thoughts, quieter now but no less insistent. Survive.