Arthur had sometimes dreamed of transmigrating to a different world, beeing the hero, saving lifes and maybe find a companion for life.

He imagined it as glorious, filled with purpose and drive. Sure there would be hardships, dangerous battles, probably a lot of sceeming too, but also with joy, justice, and the rush of becoming stronger. And he honestly had hoped for love aswell. Why hide it? It wasn't as if he could have it. Ever.

He first hadn't known what to think or say, after that old man told him to go home. He didn't have a way home. His mind had gone blank. And than he peppered the old man with questions. The answers where crushing.

In summary: the humans had enjoyed peace and prosperity. The old king and queen were monsters on the battlefield, securing their rule over the entire world, and defending it against outside threats. But when peace streched across the world what should monsters do?

They retired and the crown prince took over. He was traind in ruling a peaceful empire. The world enterd in a golden age. And for 20 years arts, industry and magic blumed like never before. But while the old king was gone to a different world, the queen had been betrayed and killed, three demon generals with there armys invaded the world.

With in a year, the entire world had been conquered. Only humans, who had pledged loyalty to the generals, before the war began, and their forces were left alive, bound by an oath of absolute loyalty to the way of the demon army.

When the old king returned, his rampage was legendary. Two of the three demon lords died. One left the planet with the remaining forces. The planet was a wasteland in large parts.

He ended with the words: 'I wish you could just go home, kid, you can't do anything here. But since this is impossible, you are welcome to stay at my humble home, for as long as you want.'

This was a two days ago now, but he didn't come closer to a solution for his problems. He had started wandering around or helping the old man to tend to his little garden or clean the house.

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Mostly just to relieve the boredom.

Sometimes he just didn't do anything for a long while.

It is fascinating how much time you have, if there is nothing really to do, and you don't have books, paper, or a mobile phone.

This evening he decided. Something has to change. Even if the world is broken beyond recognition, even if there is nobody left here, he wanted to grow stronger. Strong enough to explore this world. And most of all, strong enough to return home.

'So' the old man started after a while, 'you want to learn magic, grow stronger and find a way home.'

They were sitting on the bench, were they first met. Watching the stars slowly light up overhead.

'yes' Arthur replied simply.

For a while nobody spoke.

When the of the old man spoke again, he sounded tired but also sad and melancholic.

'Kid, I don't think you understand the state of this world. Before the war, there was a system that gouverned all things related to magic and skills. You asked me who I am. And i said I don't have a name. You asked for my profession, my titles, my family, friends......do you remember what I said?'

Arthur knew. How could he not? He felt, as if he would never forget a single word of this conversation. Each of them had crushed his dreams more thoroughly the the previous once.

'you said, that you didn't have anything like that anymore'

'I did mean it like that. The system doesn't exist anymore in this world. Even if I where to step into a healthy system, it wouldn't recognize me. There probably would be an automatically generated quest to kill me instead.' he looked thoughtful in to the distance for a while.

'if you had come a few years ago, i could have brought you to a divine grade artifact to awaken you, given you resources and a blessing and nurtured you to become one of the most powerful people in this world. Now I don't know.'

They sat there in silence for a while.

In the end, neither of them spoke much this evening.

Arthur hadn't slept much that night and instead ponderd his predicament. First thing he did was a brainstorm session. 'What do I want to achieve?' he asked himself. And the answer was simple. Three goals. Grow stronger. Explore the world. Go home. Simple right?

A small chuckle turned fast into a nearly crazy laghter about the whole situation. It finally had sank in, how screwed he was. Well maybe a little madness was the only way to go forward for now. Who would even say, that it wouldn't be mad to take all what happened in, and not crack a little here and there.

The sleep afterwards had been to short, a bit restless and disturbed by dreams.