"Make way for shore!" bellowed one of the crew members, his voice loud enough to scare most people on deck. Two crew members sprang to action, throwing the large wooden gangplank overboard. With a massive thud, it hit the docks, creating a temporary bridge for the passengers that were eagerly waiting to disembark.

"READY!" shouted the two crewmates in unison. Passengers, eager to set foot on solid ground and explore the markets Limsa was so famous for, were already lining up. The crewmates stepped aside and motioned people through. The passengers didn't have to think twice as they quickly surged forward down the gangplank. The sound of their footsteps rushing down the plank, the clattering of their luggage, made me hesitant to follow them right away. I took a step back to wait for the rush hour to be over. I won't be the first one to drop from the plank. I am saving myself that embarrassment.

As the rush of people subsided, I quickly replayed the events since I awoke. In my past life, I would often forget stuff, but it would be a terrible start of my new adventure if I lost my stuff even before setting foot in Limsa Lominsa. Thinking back at the flashback, I couldn't see any personal belongings nor were there any in the sleeping quarters. A sudden whiff of freshly grilled fish from a fish stall on the docks grabbed my attention. Looking at Limsa I felt the anticipation of seeing this city with my own eyes. With a confident stride, I started walking to the docks, about to make my first meters in this amazing-looking location.

A fresh breeze was blowing through my new silky silver hair, as I approached the gangplank. The air was nice and cool against the warm rays of the sun, burning down from a perfectly blue sky.

A booming voice suddenly erupted from behind me, making me flinch. Quickly turning around I saw that it was Haldceig, his broad shoulders and imposing stature were unmistakable. He was holding a large and heavy bag over his shoulder, though he held it with ease. From the moment I first saw him, his smile and the twinkle in his eyes spoke of a man content with his life. That smile was still there now as he approached me.

Better remember this guy. I thought, He seems like someone you can rely on, and as for my current situation, I might just need all the help I can get.

"Aye, friend! What be keepin' ye here?" he asked, as he put down the bag next to him, confirming it weighed much more than he made it look.

"I was waiting for everyone to disembark, didn't want to fall off the plank," I replied with a chuckle.

"By the way, you didn't see me carrying anything when you pulled me out of the water, did you? I'm a bit wary that I might forget my belongings if there were any. Would not be the best for a new start." I said as my face revealed a hint of unease, not knowing anything about myself.

Haldceig's booming laugh echoed across the deck.

"Gahaha, no need to worry yerself, lass! I pulled ye out meself, aye, and ye had nothin' on ye but the clothes on yer back. So don't ye be frettin' about it!"

Haldceig's affable demeanor sank like a stone in the sea, and his reassuring smile washed from his face. "Bah, shouldn't've laughed at that, lass. Ye nearly died, lost everythin', even yer memories... and here's me makin' light of it. Forgive me, eh?" He bowed his head, his body language radiating a hint of shame as his shoulders slumped and his arms tensed.

I was taken aback by the sudden change and felt bad for him. In the end, he wasn't to blame for what happened to me; he's the reason I'm still alive. He is really beating himself up over this. It's not that big a deal to me but still, I get it. Deep inside me something stirred as I felt thankful that someone cared for me this much already. He's a good guy.

"No, please, don't apologize," I reassured him, trying to put up the softest voice I could. "I know you didn't mean anything by it." I more than understood his perspective. In my previous life, I'd often used humor to help lighten the load for people, though more often than not, it wasn't as appreciated as I would have hoped. Having to apologize afterward every time. But now, as a woman, I couldn't help but feel Haldceig wouldn't have been so quick to apologize if I was just another man. But maybe that is doing a disservice to his apology.

"Please, don't worry about it, ok? I'm thankful enough that you saved my life, what more could I possibly ask for." I offered him a genuine smile, hoping he'd sense my sincerity.

Haldceig's eyes met mine as he raised his head, slowly regaining his enormous stature, towering over me again. It seemed to have done the trick as the tension seemed to ease away as a gust of wind suddenly blow over the ships deck. Seems my smile did the trick. I thought, a hint of pride flowing through me. Time to steer this conversation to calmer waters.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"By the way," I began as a memory suddenly piqued my curiosity. "Didn't you say you would introduce me to a guy that could help me out, here in the city?"

Haldceig's face lit up. You could almost see it in his eyes, a spark lighting a fire, right there and then. He launched himself into a description of his friend going by the name of Lonwoerd. "He's the gatekeeper to the Rogue's guild," he explained, his voice not hiding a long friendship he had. The way his eyes shone and the enthusiasm in his voice spoke volumes about their bond.

Must be a really nice guy in real life then. I thought as I chuckled softly. Remembering how little this man really had to do in the game.

Even in the midst of his enthusiastic exposition, Haldceig paused, noticing my smile. One eyebrow arched quizzically. "What is it? Did I say anything weird?"

"Hahaha," I laughed softly, "No, certainly not, but you seem to be good friends with this Lonwoerd, aren't you? You speak so highly of him."

"Aye, that he is, lass. A stand-up bloke, for sure. If ye ever need anythin' or have questions, he's yer man. Knows everythin' goin' on in this town, he does."

Haldceig's eyes had a twinkle in them throughout the whole dialogue. Though I already knew the man from the game, it was just really nice to listen to Haldceig's stories, memories of times long past. Stories about adventures on the seas that they did together. Something I would never have gotten from the game.

But as much fun as it was, I still needed to know where I would find this guy. I had to keep up the charade of amnesia. It was the perfect coverup for my lack of knowledge, though a double-edged sword as well. I needed to be careful, differentiating between what people told me and what I already knew from my many hours in the game.

"I hate to interrupt your story here, Haldceig, but I think we should wrap up here soon. I see some crew mates casting impatient glances in our direction. Could you tell me where I can find this Lonwoerd?"

""Gahaha! Aye, well, I've had me fill o' talkin' for now. But if ye ever fancy a good yarn, just say the word, and I'll spin ye a tale or two." He laughed and started pointing at the docks. "To get to him, head to the end of the pier, take a right, then another right down the small stairs, and finally left at the first opening. You'll find him outside a big red door."

He turned to me, trying to see if I caught all that. "Just tell him Haldceig sent you, and he'll sort you out."

I nodded, trying to picture the route in my mind. Memories flooded back, and I recalled the exact location where I would be able to find the man. The nostalgia washed over me as a sense of disbelief gripped me. The more I see, the more I can hardly believe I am really here. I'm going to talk to an NPC soon. This feels so weird. I only ever interacted with this Lonwoerd through a screen and small dialogue popups. He doesn't have a voice, nor any real significance in the story.

"Got it," I replied, my voice not hiding my excitement,

"Good, then I'll be off," Haldceig announced, clapping me on the shoulder. ""Aye, I'll be in the city for the next fortnight. If ye need me, lass, ye can likely find me at the adventurers' guild, swappin' tales with me mates come evenin'. Take care!"

He waved and started towards the gangplank, his heavy bag bouncing against his back.

"Well," I murmured, my gaze fixed on the bustling docks, "time to find this Lonwoerd and figure out what the state of the world is. Maybe he can tell me where in the MSQ I am getting in."

---

"Excuses me," I began, my voice a bit hesitant, "are you Lonwoerd by any chance?"

The man looked down on me, which reminded me of meeting Haldceig for the first time. The man was just as rugged but with a more piratical air surrounding him. He wore black baggy pants and a blue shirt with a deep V-neck, his muscular chest partially exposed. What finished the look, however, was the eyepatch on his left eye. I caught myself staring and quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to seem rude.

Lonwoerd looked at me quizzically, not that I blame him though. Here I was, a lone and fragile Au Ra girl, half his size in length and width, no armor nor carrying a weapon of any sort. I would be confused as well.

"Aye, that's me," he replied, his eye narrowing. His voice, much like Haldceig, was surprisingly high-pitched. "What can I do for you, lass?"

"Haldceig sent me," I explained, my voice soft trying to give an air of fragility to my demeanor. "He pulled me out of the ocean, and I... well, I seem to have lost my memories. He said you would be able to help me."

At the mention of his friend's name, his guard dropped completely, a smile spreading across his face as his only remaining eye lit up. Likely recalling their shared history.

"Ah, Haldceig sent you ay," he laughed. "That man's always sendin' folks my way. Though you seem a bit different from the usual lot. Normally it's all pirates and idiots..." He trailed off for a second, a thoughtful look crossed his face. "Wait, that's the same thing around here. Usually, I would send you away but you seem rightly lost little miss." He leaned against the wall behind him, a cheerful expression on his face. "Well, if Haldceig sent ya, he must think I can help you. Tell me what's on your mind. I'm happy to help."

What do I ask this man? I wondered, my mind racing in search of questions. I already know how everything works...

Lonwoerd awaited my response patiently, his eyes fixed on me.

Maybe I should ask him about what I need to do if I want to become an adventurer. He most likely will start talking about the different jobs I can take up here in Limsa

I kept up the charade of fragility as I forced a frown. "I overheard some people talking about becoming adventurers and I don't want to depend on others to much. So could you tell me what my options are?"