The sound of rustling leaves stirred me from sleep. A faint glow filtered through the dense canopy above, casting soft light over the small clearing. I sat up, groggy but alert, and glanced over at the man I had dragged here last night. He was awake, leaning gingerly against the tree trunk. His brown hair was messy, and his face, which looked to be in his early twenties, showed a mix of relief and exhaustion.

  When he noticed me looking, he gave a weak smile. “Good morning. I guess I owe you my life, huh?”

  I shrugged. “I just did what anyone would’ve done.”

  “Not everyone would’ve carried a stranger on their back all the way here.” He adjusted the bandages on his leg, wincing. “Seriously, thank you.”

  I waved him off, not sure how to respond. “You feeling any better?”

  “Better enough to introduce myself.” He sat up straighter. “Name’s Borus. Borus Windward. I’m a merchant from Renxall.”

  I nodded. “Rei. Just Rei.”

  “Well, Rei,” he said, gesturing to his injured leg, “thanks to you, I’m not in a Halion’s stomach right now.”

  “Halion?”

  He grimaced. “Nasty beast. They’re a menace out here. I got caught in a trap set for one. Lucky you found me when you did.”

  Before I could respond, my stomach growled loudly, betraying my hunger. I looked away, embarrassed, but Borus chuckled. “Hungry, huh? I’d offer you something, but…” He gestured around the empty clearing.

  “I’ll find something,” I said. “Stay here and rest.”

  The forest was quiet as I wandered through it, scanning the trees for fruit. My cargo pants were already dirtied from the previous day, so I didn’t mind shoving whatever I found directly into the oversized pockets. Bright orange berries hung in clusters on one tree, while another bore spiky fruits with soft shells. I wasn’t sure how edible they were, but at this point, I didn’t care.

  By the time I returned, my pockets were bulging, and Borus was trying—and failing—to stand on his own.

  “Sit down before you hurt yourself again,” I said, dropping the fruit between us.

  He chuckled sheepishly but obeyed. We ate in silence for a while, the strange fruits tasting sweeter than they had any right to.

  “I owe you big,” Borus said suddenly, breaking the quiet. “How about this? When we get to Renxall, I’ll take you to my shop.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “No, I insist. You saved my life. Let me repay the favor.”

  I hesitated but nodded. “Alright. But we’ll need to fix your leg first.”

  I rummaged around the clearing and found two sturdy branches. Using a makeshift-knife I made using sticks, I cut the cuffs off my cargo pants, tearing the fabric into strips. Borus raised an eyebrow as I worked.

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  “Impressive,” he said when I was done, inspecting the makeshift splint.

  “Should hold until we find someone who knows what they’re doing,” I replied. “Now, let’s get moving.”

  The journey to Renxall was slow, with Borus limping along and leaning heavily on me for support.

  Renxall loomed larger as we approached the city gates. The towering stone walls were intimidating, their surfaces worn smooth by time. Guards stood at the entrance, their chainmail glinting faintly in the sunlight.

  One of them stepped forward as we approached, his eyes narrowing at me. “Who’s this?”

  “My acquaintance,” Borus said, leaning heavily on my shoulder. “He’s helping me get back home.”

  The guard grunted, eyeing me up and down, but ultimately stepped aside.

  Stepping into the city was like stepping into another world. Cobbled streets stretched out in every direction, lined with timber-framed houses. Horse-drawn carriages clattered past, their drivers shouting to clear the way. People bustled about in medieval attire—women in long dresses carrying baskets, men in tunics haggling over goods at market stalls. The air was alive with the scent of fresh bread, roasted meat, and something sweet I couldn’t quite place.

  I couldn’t help but gawk at it all. It was a far cry from the sterile streets of my old world.

  “You’re staring,” Borus teased, smirking.

  “Can you blame me?” I muttered, trying to take it all in.

  We made our way through the city, passing through neighborhoods that grew wealthier the closer we got to the center. Renxall’s centerpiece was its castle—where the local lord lived. A grand structure with spires that seemed to pierce the heavens. Surrounding it were the “inner walls,” separating the wealthiest district from the rest of the city.

  “Welcome to Renxall,” Borus said as we turned down a quieter street.

  Borus’s shop was located in the middle tier, where the houses were modest but well-kept. The sign above his shop read Windward Woodworks, and the scent of freshly sawed timber wafted from within.

  Inside, the shop was filled with beautifully crafted furniture—tables, chairs, and intricately carved wooden figurines. Borus guided me to the staircase at the back, which led to his living quarters on the second floor.

  His home was cozy, with wooden beams supporting the ceiling and a small fireplace crackling in the corner. He motioned for me to sit on one of the chairs before disappearing into another room. When he returned, he was holding a small wooden chest.

  “This,” he said, opening it to reveal a necklace with a gemstone the size of a plum, “is for you.”

  The gemstone glinted in the firelight, its deep blue surface mesmerizing.

  “Sell it,” Borus urged. “It’ll fetch you a good price.”

  I hesitated, feeling the weight of the gesture. “I can’t accept this,” I said. “You’ve already done enough by bringing me here.”

  Borus frowned but didn’t push. Instead, he offered me something else—a room to stay in, free of charge.

  “I’m a traveler,” I said, “but I don’t want to freeload. Give me a job instead.”

  Borus blinked, surprised. “A job?”

  “Yes. I want to earn my keep. Back home…” I trailed off, the memories of my aimless life gnawing at me. “Back home, I wasn’t the most independent person. I want to change that here.”

  After some back-and-forth, Borus finally relented. “Fine. I’ll make you a woodworker’s apprentice. Don’t expect an easy time of it, though.”

  As we sat by the fire later, I decided to ask something that had been bothering me. “By the way, can you explain how money works here? I, uh… haven’t really been paying attention to that.”

  Borus stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “You don’t know?”

  I shook my head, embarrassed.

  “Alright,” he said, leaning forward. “We use coins—gold, silver, and copper. Each type has three sizes: large, middle, and small. A small copper is worth 10 aureus. From there, every coin increases in value by ten times. So, a middle copper is 100 aureus, a large copper is 1,000 aureus, and so on.”

  He gave me some examples to help. “A kilogram of Baux meat—the most common meat here—costs eight small coppers. And the average woodworker's apprentice earns about two large coppers and three middle coppers a month.”

  I nodded, trying to absorb it all. The conversion system was straightforward, at least.

  By the time Borus went off to get his leg checked, I was itching to explore my abilities. Opening my player profile, I saw that I had three unspent stat points. Strength? Defense? Agility? After much deliberation, I dumped them all into Charisma. If I was going to start fresh in this world, a little charm wouldn’t hurt.

  Curious about other ways to increase my stats, I decided to test a theory. I spent the afternoon exercising until my muscles ached. By the time I was done, my Strength had risen to level 8 and my Defense to level 4.

  When Borus returned—still limping—noticed me drenched in sweat. “You look like you’ve been through a war,” he said.

  “Something like that,” I replied.

  He offered me a bath, which I gladly accepted. The bathroom was simple, with a wooden tub and a bucket for drawing water. After scrubbing myself clean, I sank into the tub, letting the warm water soothe my sore muscles.

  For the first time in years, I feel free. No exams to stress over. No parents to disappoint. Just me, in a world full of possibilities.

  By the time evening rolled around, Borus surprised me again. “Let me treat you to dinner,” he said.

  The streets were bathed in a warm glow from the fire-lit streetlamps. The city was quieter now, with most of the day’s bustle winding down. We arrived at a quaint restaurant with wooden beams and a thatched roof. Inside, the air was thick with the aroma of roasted meat and spices.

  We ordered a feast: Baux steak, Qwob ribs, and a dessert that caught my attention immediately. It was cold and creamy, topped with what looked like crushed nuts.

  The steak was smoky and tender, practically melting in my mouth. The Qwob ribs were sweet and tangy, their glaze leaving a sticky residue on my fingers. And the dessert—something that reminded me of ice cream—was the perfect way to end the meal.

  As we walked back to the shop, I couldn’t help but marvel at how far I’d come in just a few days.

  By the time we returned to Borus’s shop, I was full and content. Crawling into bed, I thought about all the things I would do tomorrow.

  For the first time, I feel like I am on the path to becoming the independent person I’d always wanted to be.

  Tomorrow, my new life would truly begin.