It had been a few days since I first awakened in this strange world. Life inside the hut was underwhelming, to say the least. My mind still couldn’t fully comprehend the situation. I hadn’t ventured outside the hut much, aside from occasionally peeking through the door or the window. I often felt bouts of extreme dizziness, and without a solid plan, I didn’t want to step out of the house.

"It's like I'm stuck in some medieval fever dream," I thought, staring at the wooden ceiling. "Why can't I remember how I got here? What is this place?"

At 24 years old, I wasn’t one to speak much or interact with others outside of my close circle of friends. We’d usually gather to play games, whether online or through board games. It wasn’t that I was bullied or ostracized. I simply found solace in reading books and learning history, more so than engaging in the mundane world.

Physically, I was quite tall, standing at 1.86 meters. My most striking feature was my hair—curling locks of white blonde that framed my face in a cascade of golden waves. I always kept it tied back in a ponytail. My eyes were a piercing shade of blue, like the clear summer sky over a tranquil lake. They held a depth of knowledge and experience beyond my years, hinting at a keen intellect and a contemplative nature that was always hidden behind my glasses.

"My looks are one thing," I mused, glancing at my reflection in a small, cracked mirror on the wall. "But they won't help me here. I need to focus on survival."

My facial features were finely chiseled, with a strong jawline and high cheekbones that lent an aristocratic elegance to my visage. My nose was straight and proud, complementing the symmetry of my face, while my lips were full and often curved into a gentle smile. I had a lean yet athletic build, the result of a life spent training in martial skills and horsemanship. My time was divided between reading books, playing games, and physical activities like sword practice, horseback riding, or swimming.

"Thank you, Grandpa, for all those lessons," I thought, remembering the countless hours spent under his tutelage. "He always said a man should learn how to cook, and take care of himself."

Despite my age, I had learned to take care of myself from a young age through the guidance of my grandfather. One of the most important things he taught me was that a man should learn how to cook.

"Cooking might not seem like much, but it's a skill that can save you in more ways than one," Grandpa used to say. "A man who can feed himself can survive anywhere."

I was calculative by nature and never moved without giving thought to my actions. At some point in the last few days, I decided that if I had indeed been transported into another world through some freak incident or paranormal phenomenon, I needed a solid plan to survive. Possibly, I could find a way to get back to Earth. If that wasn't possible, then I needed to be able to survive in this world.

"I need to gather information first. Learn about this place, its people, its customs," I thought, formulating a plan in my head. "But for now, I can’t even think properly without my head hurting so badly it seems like it's going to crack open."

My head throbbed constantly, making it difficult to focus on anything for more than a minute.

"This headache is unbearable," I lamented, rubbing my temples. "I can't make any solid plans if I can't even think straight."

For now, I wasn’t trying to learn the language actively because I wasn’t in the best shape, especially mentally. However, I was trying to pick up some words from my interactions with the family. Tavos was table, calor was chair, lorin was bed, platar was plate, fenestra was window, murus was wall, ignislar was fireplace, and so on.

"I need to learn this language," I reminded myself. "Communication is key to survival."

From my limited interactions, I learned that the father’s name was Emeric, and the mother’s name was Thalia. The eldest son was Lorkan, and the eldest daughter was Talia. The second son was Faelan, and the two younger siblings were Oscar and Yara.

"They seem like a simple farming and hunting family," I observed, noting their routines and activities. "At least they're not hostile. That's a relief."

The family seemed to be engaged in farming and hunting. Once I completely recovered, I planned on learning more about this world.

"First things first, recover completely," I thought, lying back down on the bed. "Then, learn the language, get outside, and start gathering information about the village and this world."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

With that thought in mind, I drifted off to sleep, my body still weak and my mind racing with plans for the future.

The next few days passed in a blur of routine and slow recovery. Thalia would bring me food and water, speaking gently to me in her language. I tried to respond as best I could, mimicking her words and gestures. Emeric would check on me periodically, his stern but kind eyes assessing my progress.

"I have to get better soon," I thought, pushing myself to sit up more often and trying to walk a few steps each day. "I can't stay dependent on them forever."

Despite the dizziness and headaches, I forced myself to engage with the family. Lorkan and Faelan were especially patient, teaching me simple words and phrases. Talia, with her quick smile and gentle demeanor, would often sit by my side, pointing at objects and repeating their names until I got them right.

"This family is my lifeline right now," I acknowledged, feeling a strange sense of gratitude. "I need to repay their kindness somehow."

One evening, as the family gathered around the fireplace for dinner, I decided to try and communicate more effectively. I pointed to myself and said, "Anthony." Then, I pointed to each of them, repeating their names as best I could.

"Emeric," I said, pointing to the father. "Thalia," I continued, pointing to the mother. "Lorkan, Talia, Faelan, Oscar, Yara," I finished, pointing to each of the children in turn.

They all smiled and nodded, clearly pleased with my progress. Thalia spoke to me, her tone encouraging, "Anthony, norath aen lorin?"

I had no idea what she was saying, but I could tell from her expression that it was something positive. I smiled and nodded, hoping that my attempt to connect with them was appreciated.

"Learning this language is going to be a challenge," I thought, watching them interact. "But it's a challenge I have to face if I want to survive here."

Days turned into weeks, and my strength slowly returned. The headaches became less frequent, and I could think more clearly. I spent more time observing the family, noting their routines and the way they interacted with each other.

"They work hard from dawn till dusk," I noted, watching Emeric and Lorkan head out to the fields each morning. "Their lives revolve around the land and the seasons."

As I regained my strength, I started helping out with small tasks around the hut. I fetched water, cleaned up, and even tried my hand at cooking under Thalia's watchful eye.

"Cooking over an open fire is a lot different than using a modern stove," I mused, adjusting the pot over the flames. "But it's a skill I need to master."

Despite the challenges, I found a strange sense of satisfaction in these simple tasks. They grounded me, gave me a sense of purpose.

"This is my life now," I thought, stirring a pot of stew. "At least for the foreseeable future."

One day, as I was practicing my language skills with Talia, I decided it was time to start asking more questions. I pointed to the village outside the window and asked, "What is this place?"

Talia looked at me, her eyes thoughtful. She pointed to herself and said, "Talia." Then, she pointed to the village and said, "Rivaris."

"Rivaris," I repeated, committing the name to memory. "Thank you, Talia."

She smiled and nodded, clearly pleased with my progress. I pointed to the surrounding countryside and asked, "What is this world called?"

Talia hesitated for a moment, then said, "Altheron."

"Altheron," I repeated, the name feeling strange on my tongue. "This world is called Altheron."

With each new word and phrase I learned, the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. I was in a village called Rivaris, in a world called Altheron.

"This is a start," I thought, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Now, I need to learn more about this world and its people."

As the days continued to pass, I spent more time outside the hut, exploring the village and interacting with the villagers. They were initially wary of me, but Thalia and Emeric's family vouched for me, and soon I was accepted as one of their own.

"These people are kind and hardworking," I observed, watching the villagers go about their daily tasks. "But there's so much I still don't understand about this world."

One evening, as I sat by the fireplace, I decided it was time to take my next steps. I had learned the basics of the language and regained my strength. Now, I needed to learn more about this world and its history.

"I need to gather information," I thought, staring into the flames. "Find out if there's any way to get back to Earth. And if not, learn how to survive here."

With that plan in mind, I approached Emeric the next morning. Using the few words and phrases I had learned, I tried to convey my desire to learn more about the world.

"Emeric," I said, pointing to myself. "Anthony. Learn. Altheron."

He looked at me, understanding dawning in his eyes. He nodded and said, "Norath, Anthony. I will teach you."

And so, my education began. Each day, Emeric and the others would teach me more about Altheron—its history, its customs, its people. I soaked up the information like a sponge, my mind eager to learn everything it could.

"This is my new reality," I thought, absorbing each lesson. "I need to adapt and survive."

As the weeks turned into months, I became more and more integrated into the life of Rivaris. I helped with the farming, learned to hunt with Emeric and Lorkan, and continued to improve my language skills.

"I might never find a way back to Earth," I realized one evening, watching the sunset over the fields. "But at least I can make a life for myself here."

With that thought in mind, I set my sights on the future. I would learn everything I could about Altheron, make a place for myself in this world, and find a way to thrive.

"This is my life now," I thought, feeling a sense of acceptance and determination. "And I will make the best of it."

As I lay in bed that night, my mind racing with plans and ideas, I knew that my journey was just beginning. There was so much to learn, so much to explore. And I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready to embrace my new life in Altheron.