I woke up. With my eyes still closed I lied still and listened. I couldn't hear the bustling streets, nor the cars honking their horns at the intersection that was close to my apartment. Alarmed I opened my eyes and saw a wooden ceiling. I turned my head and looked around the small room I found myself in.

There was a small bedside table next to where I laid and on it was some kind of pot and a wooden plate with a piece of bread and some cheese on it. Suddenly feeling very hungry I sat up and took a piece of cheese off the plate and started eating. After I was done eating, I looked at the pot, which strangely, seemed to be filled with wine. I was not one to say no to free booze so I drank greedily. Once I set the pot back on the table I stood up and walked to the wooden door. Listening carefully I heard quiet voices behind it. I opened it slowly and peeked through the opening before throwing caution to the wind and opening them fully and stepping through.

The room I found myself in was about three times the size of the room I woke up in. It was scarcely decorated and in the middle of it was a table. There sat two women. The younger one appeared to be around twenty, while the older one seemed at the very least thirty. They quickly took notice of me and stood up, The younger one smiled and looked at me.

"It seems you finally woke up, how do you feel?"

I looked at her questioningly. "Hello. I feel fine. May I ask what I'm doing here. And also where this is?"

The older woman spoke up. "We found you by the river. You were lying unconscious on the bank, so we brought you here. This is our house. It's about a mile from Stratdeep."

At my questioning look she continued. "My name Is Nessa, and this is my daughter Meena." She pointed at her daughter.

Still confused I introduced myself. "I'm Michael. Thanks for helping me." I paused "Umm do you by chance have a map I could take a look at."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Nessa looked at Meena and gestured for her to get the map. "I take it you've never heard of Stratdeep before?"

I shook my head. "No, never."

While waiting on Meena I took a moment to think. I had some inkling to what may have happened, however impossible it seemed. Lately I've been reading about reincarnation and I've also always liked reading fiction. It didn't really add up since with reincarnation I would have been born in a world as a baby, but I wasn't going to look at a gifted horse's mouth. Well. maybe I was thinking too far into it. Might have just woken up in some hick place.

I was removed from my deep thought when Meena returned and spread the map over the table. 

I looked at it and paused. This definitely wasn't earth. It only showed one continent and it's shape wasn't anything I recognized. Luckily for me, It seemed everything was written in English. The script was a bit different though, with letters having spots and lines where they shouldn't. It was still readable to me though.

Nessa looked pointed at a spot on the map. "This is Stratdeep."

I smiled, already putting my plan in action. "Ahh so that's where I am. It doesn't seem like I'm too far from home. Only a day or so hike."

Convinced, Nessa smiled and motioned Meena to bring something. After a minute Meena returned with a leather package.

"You had this on you, we took the liberty of saving it." 

I took the package and opened it. In it was a dagger and sword. They seemed to be made of iron. Nothing special. Very sharp though. 

Beside the weapons laid a weapon belt with, which I put on and sheathed the weapons.

Nessa walked close to me and put a leathery bag inside my hand. A satchel. It was quite heavy so I opened it. It was full of coins both gold and silver. Quickly thinking i took two gold coins and gave one to Nessa, and then one to Meena.

"Thank you for your help. I appreciate what you have done for me" I said, while giving them my best smile.

They first tried to give it back, but after a bit of convincing they put the coins in their pockets.

I smiled at them and walked to the door. "I think it is time for me to go. Thanks again." 

While they were still silent, I opened the door and stepped outside. It was a nice day, and it seemed to be morning. I looked along the road and could see city walls in the distance. I looked back at the house, then turned towards the city and started walking. After a minute, I could hear yelling behind me. I turned around and could see the two women standing in front of their house, waving and thanking me. 

I smiled.

Two gold really goes a long way.