The days in Rivaris passed in a steady rhythm, each one bringing new experiences and lessons. Anthony continued to adapt to his new life, finding joy and fulfillment in the simple routines and tasks. He grew closer to his adopted family, their bond strengthening with each passing day. As the summer season began, it signaled that everybody should be preparing for the harvest of their crops and the beginning of the week-long harvest festival after the harvest was concluded.

Anthony's thoughts wandered to a discussion he once had with Emeric and Tavian during one of their rare hunting expeditions. The memory of that day was vivid, filled with camaraderie and shared wisdom.

The trio had taken a break near a brook, the cool water offering a momentary respite from the heat. Emeric turned to Anthony, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "The summer festival is coming soon, Anthony. It’s the best time of the year here in Rivaris."

Anthony remembered the warmth of the sun on his face and the scent of the forest around them. He recalled how the anticipation in Emeric’s voice had been infectious, making him curious about this festival that seemed to hold so much significance for the village.

"The summer festival," Emeric continued, "brings plenty. Plenty of food, plenty of wares... but also plenty of problems."

Tavian had nodded in agreement, wiping sweat from his brow. "Aye, it's a time of plenty indeed."

Anthony had raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Problems?"

Emeric chuckled, his expression serious yet laced with a hint of amusement. "Yes, after the villagers finish the harvest of their crops, we begin the process of conducting the annual harvest festival. It's a week-long event where the entire village shares some of their crops and products made from them. It's our way of showing gratitude for the good harvest."

Anthony leaned forward, curious. "To whom do you attribute your gratitude? Do you worship a particular god?"

Emeric’s expression grew somber. "According to the legends, the gods have long since abandoned our world."

Tavian interjected, "But it’s during this time that traders arrive, bringing with them all sorts of goods. Representatives from other, more remote villages also come to buy and sell. And then, there are the tax collectors."

The mention of tax collectors seemed to sour the mood. Anthony noticed Tavian’s grimace and Emeric’s frown. He could sense the underlying tension and frustration in their voices.

"Tax collectors?" Anthony had inquired, sensing a deeper story.

Emeric sighed. "Yes, the regional lord’s retinue brings them. These tax collectors are usually family members of the local lord. They demand taxes that are way above the amount we’re supposed to pay. They almost always cause a scene to demand more from the village as a form of ‘compensation’ for some imagined offense. It’s a way for them to squeeze more out of us."

Tavian had added, "And despite this, the local lord doesn’t send soldiers to defend us against beasts. We’re left to fend for ourselves. The influx of people also brings its own set of problems."

Anthony listened intently, his mind absorbing the complexities of village life. He could see the weariness in their eyes, the frustration of dealing with such unfairness.

For this morning, Anthony decided to forego joining Emeric and Lorkan for a hunting trip. After their routine checking of the fields, he felt a pull to explore the village more deeply. The questions that had been bugging him needed answers, and he decided to seek out old man Nolan. He joined Talia on an errand to the village.

As they walked, Anthony’s thoughts drifted to his continuous practice of speaking Thelvani. He had become adept at it, thanks to his conversations with Emeric, Thalia’s family, and a few villagers he was comfortable with. Each encounter had been a step towards feeling more at home in this new world.

On that same morning, as Anthony was working in the village with Talia, he noticed a group of children playing nearby. They were laughing and chasing each other, their carefree joy infectious. Anthony smiled, watching them for a moment before returning to his work.

Talia noticed his smile and said, "The children bring a lot of life to the village, don't they?"

Anthony nodded. "They do. It's a reminder of the simple pleasures in life."

Talia paused, looking thoughtful. "You've become an important part of our village, Anthony. We're grateful for everything you do."

Anthony felt a surge of warmth at her words. "Thank you, Talia. I feel grateful to be here. Rivaris has become my home, and you all have become my family."

Anthony turned to Talia, a curious expression on his face. "After this errand, I plan to meet with old man Nolan. I have some questions that I think only he can answer."

Talia nodded, a knowing smile on her lips. "Old man Nolan is a bit eccentric sometimes, but he’s the wisest and most educated person in the village. People see him wandering around, sometimes even climbing the Muril mountain against the protests of some villagers."

Anthony chuckled. "He does seem to have a knack for doing things his own way."

Talia’s expression grew more serious. "According to the stories, old man Nolan wasn’t born in Rivaris. Like you, he was a visitor to the village some 50 odd years ago. He came here from the capital but originally from another kingdom in the continent of Rioranth. Nolan was a scholar, looking for ancient sites and ruins. His passion for knowledge was bordering on obsessiveness."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Anthony listened intently, fascinated by the story. "He must have been quite the adventurer."

Talia nodded. "He was smart, educated, and brave. He helped the village during his supposedly short stay. But he didn’t come alone. Another old man in the village, old man Balan, was his guide, companion, and ‘guard’. They’ve stayed here for over 50 years because Nolan is looking for something in the area. He hasn’t found it yet."

Anthony felt a mix of admiration and curiosity. "I’ll be careful, Talia. Old man Nolan is just... old man Nolan, nothing more, nothing less."

The morning sun was casting long shadows as Anthony and Talia continued their work. Anthony’s mind buzzed with thoughts of old man Nolan’s mysterious past and the upcoming festival. The village of Rivaris was a place of simple routines and profound histories, and he felt grateful to be a part of it all.

As they finished their errand, Anthony’s mind wandered to the conversation he would soon have with Nolan. The old scholar’s life story intrigued him, and he hoped to glean some wisdom from their interaction.

With the sun climbing higher, Anthony bid farewell to Talia and made his way towards old man Nolan’s usual haunt. His mind was a whirl of questions, anticipation, and the ever-present feeling of belonging that Rivaris had come to symbolize for him.

This village, with its simple joys and complex histories, had become his home. And today, he was determined to uncover a bit more of its secrets.

They continued their errand, chatting about various village matters and the upcoming festival. Anthony found himself increasingly comfortable in these simple yet meaningful conversations. As they neared the end of their errand, he felt a sense of belonging and purpose that had eluded him for so long.

After they finished their errand, Anthony and Talia parted ways. "Good luck with old man Nolan," Talia said with a grin.

"Thanks, Talia. See you later," Anthony replied, heading towards Nolan’s place, eager to learn more about the old scholar and perhaps gain some insights into the mysteries of Altheron.

As he approached Nolan's modest home, Anthony’s mind buzzed with anticipation. He knocked on the door, and after a brief moment, the door creaked open to reveal old man Nolan, a wiry figure with sharp, intelligent eyes that seemed to pierce through time itself.

"Ah, Anthony! Come in, come in," Nolan greeted warmly.

Anthony stepped inside, taking in the cluttered but cozy interior filled with books, scrolls, and various artifacts. "Thank you, Nolan. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all," Nolan assured him. "What brings you here today?"

Anthony took a deep breath. "I have some questions about the history of this world and perhaps some insights into the legends and stories you've gathered over the years as well as some mundane things here and there."

Nolan's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Ah, a seeker of knowledge, just like myself. Sit down, and let's talk."

Anthony settled into a chair, feeling a sense of relief. This conversation with Nolan could be the key to unlocking more understanding of the world he now called home.

Anthony began the dialogue with a hesitant confession. "Nolan, I have to be honest with you. I lost my memory after I woke up here in Rivaris. I can no longer remember much about my past. I was hoping you could help me understand more about this world."

Nolan laughed softly but with a tinge of compassion in his eyes. "Memory loss, eh? Well, it's not uncommon for those who find themselves in strange lands. But worry not, Anthony, we'll start with the basics. Let’s begin with geography."

Anthony nodded, feeling a mix of relief and eagerness. He watched as Nolan pulled out an old, well-worn map and spread it out on the table.

"This world is called Altheron," Nolan began, pointing to different sections of the map. "It’s divided into eight major continents. The easternmost part of the map is an area called Eldoria, known as the ‘Forgotten Realms’ in Thelvani. Eldoria is composed of two continents: Caldarion, or ‘Land of the Brave,’ the third-largest continent to the north, and Verlorn, or ‘Verdant Wilds,’ the fourth-largest continent to the south. These two continents are connected by an isthmus known as Maldor, or ‘Land of Mist.’"

Anthony leaned in closer, studying the map with keen interest. His internal monologue buzzed with thoughts. Eldoria, Caldarion, Verlorn... So many places I’ve never heard of. But they all sound so vivid, so full of life and history.

"From Eldoria, if you go west," Nolan continued, "you’ll find Calamir, or ‘Calm Waters,’ a vast ocean that runs the entire expanse of the sealine of Eldoria, from Frostinor, or ‘Snow’s End,’ in the northernmost part of Caldarion to Aldurith, or ‘Land of Burning Wood,’ in the southernmost part of Verlorn. In the middle of Calamir lies the third continent known as Myrthar, or ‘Land of Legend,’ the smallest continent."

Anthony’s mind raced. So many names, so many places. This world is vast, much bigger than I could have imagined.

Nolan pointed northwest of Myrthar. "Here, you’ll find the fourth continent and the fifth-largest but also the wealthiest: Rioranth, or ‘Land of Kings.’ West and southeast of Rioranth, separated by a narrow sea called Thalosmar, or ‘Narrow Sea,’ is the fifth and largest continent, Nirathis, or Opulosmar, ‘Land of Plenty.’"

Nirathis... That name sounds familiar. Anthony’s thoughts drifted to the stories he’d heard from the villagers.

"Further west from Nirathis, separated by the sea of Moltharos, or ‘Vast Sea,’ lies the sixth and second-largest continent named Goroth, or ‘Land of Giants.’ To the south of Nirathis, separated by the sea of Deithmar, or ‘Sea of Gods,’ lies the seventh and sixth-largest continent of Orindor, or ‘Land of the Ancients.’ To the north of Nirathis, separated by the sea of Frosthmar, or ‘Frozen Sea,’ lies the seventh-largest continent of Ultharion, or ‘Frozen North.’"

Anthony’s head was spinning with the influx of information. This world is so diverse, so intricate. I have so much to learn.

Nolan paused, giving Anthony a moment to absorb the information. "This map," Nolan said, "is but a glimpse into the vastness of Altheron. Each continent has its own unique cultures, histories, and mysteries."

Anthony nodded, feeling a growing sense of excitement. "Thank you, Nolan. This is incredibly helpful. There’s so much I need to learn and understand."

Nolan smiled, his eyes twinkling with the joy of sharing knowledge. "And now that we’re done with geography, let’s talk about history," he said, his grin widening. "This is where things get truly fascinating."

Anthony leaned forward, eager to hear more. His internal monologue was a mixture of anticipation and determination. There is so much to learn, so much to discover. This world, Altheron, holds countless secrets, and I’m just beginning to uncover them.

As Nolan began to recount the rich and complex history of Altheron, Anthony felt a deep sense of gratitude. He was no longer a stranger in this world; he was a part of it, with a purpose and a place. The journey ahead was still uncertain, but with each new piece of knowledge, he felt more prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Anthony listened intently, absorbing every word Nolan spoke, ready to continue his journey of discovery in the world of Altheron.