Mr teacher continued on with his lesson after that. At first it was interesting trying to guess what they are talking about, but when the only content that is written on the chalkboard is what must be their very fancy language, it gets tiring quickly. I soon lose focus of what is going on and my mind starts to wander. Normally this is tolerable at best, and suicidal at worst, but this reached a whole other level. I have felt lonely before, but this, this is different. For all I know, there is not even a human on this planet, and looking at their tech base, my knowledge will not be useful for another two hundred years, and given how silent the magic system has been, if it even talks, I'll probably be long gone before then.

When you are this alone, is it possible not to cry? I don't know because I did. As quiet as possible.

Deep in thought, I lose track of time. I only snap out of this from a gentle hand on my shoulder. Expecting Mr Teacher, my last expectation was a guard dressed similarly to those of the tower, but all in robes.

Panicking, seeing the plot come back so quick, I jump to my feet, causing the wooden desk bottom to crack from my knees hitting it. I suddenly feel a jolt of electricity shot through my shoulder, causing my back to tense up and right arm to spasm, smacking myself in the mouth. In a panic, I lash out at my attacker, and with all the strength I can muster, and the 2 weeks worth of baseball throwing knowlege I have, throw my closed fist at his chest.

I feel pain. I am pain. All I can see, hear and taste is pain. It tastes like licking a 9V battery but all over. I cannot move, and my mind is trying to block as much as possible. Before passing out yet again, I hear the sound of a helmet hitting the floor and footsteps storming away.

????? another random timber framed building

I wake with a groan. My everything hurts, but my need to go to the bathroom is higher. Stumbling around I do not find the bathroom, but beside my bed is a very basic drawing of an outhouse, and an arrow pointing out back propped up on a mug of water. I realize that I do not have my coat on, nor my boots, mittens, tuque or shirt. I quickly find my coat and put it on, and run out to do what I need to do.

As I walk out, I notice the stars immediately. The stars are completely unfamiliar, so there goes the idea of planar shift bringing me here. So whatever pulled me here is more complicated than single dimensional travel.

Re entering the building, I notice it is the back of the school. As much as I can see of it when it is this dark out though. I guess I did not get night vision either upon arrival, and these elves must have at least a little due to the fact that there are no lights as I look down the street. Just a few candles in the windows, and the stars above.

Relieved, I crawl back into bed, stiff as a board, and try to sleep. My mind wandering to how I know no one, cannot even talk to them, probably destroyed my only chance of a friend and am probably going to be thrown out of town come morning. Sleep comes fitfully between sobs, as I try to cry again, but can't.

I awake to the sunrise. Still very sore, I stay still to not worsen whatever happened to me. I see the silhouette of someone near me, and I lay perfectly still, trying not to be seen. They reach down, and lift up a cloth of water and gently brush water over my forehead.

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I sob. That's something mom would do. But I'll probably never see her again!

Whoever this person is, pats my head as I roll over painfully and go back to sleep.

I awake late in the day, still without my shirt and feel less sore. My muscles no longer feel like they are screaming. I carefully stand up, look around and see my shirt. It has a patch on the left shoulder, right where the shock entered me the first time.

Remembering what happened, I look to my hands to see if I broke anything as I am definitely not a fighter. My right wrist still hurts, but no more than if I fell on it, so probably only sprained or strained. But the thing that sticks out to me the most is the colour.

It is red.

Now by red, I don't mean bruised and swollen. I mean dried blood red.

Using my left hand, I check my nose. No, I did not punch myself in the face this time.

Then I remember, I punched him. Really hard. reliving the moment, I can now imagine each rib popping, the sharp slicing motion of his ribs trying to bite my arm. And then nothing.

Did I kill the guard?

Did I KILL SOMEONE?!

Hyperventilating, I crawl back into bed to try and process this. and let out an animalistic roar of anger, sadness and rage.

I killed someone. That someone could have had a family, and definitely had parents. Odds are they were at the peak of their life being involved with whatever that tower was, but I killed him.

Me, a nobody from nowhere with no martial training. Me.

My mind starts to loop, digging itself deeper into all the ramifications of this. Hauled off by the town guard, executed, fought over for power, just being another dumb mook in someone else's story. An NPC.

Suddenly, the comforting pats occur again, this time with my head under the covers. I start wailing. Too many emotions, too much everything. These last 48 hours have had more happen in them than I have had in months before.

I wiggle my way through to the top of the bed. Before me is an elven woman with long red hair. She puts her finger to her lips, shushing me, and she leans into me to hold me close. I try to remain quiet but sob away.

She does not run. Nor scorn. She just hugs me.

I calm down and she lets go. Staring at her, she gestures to her mouth, seeming to ask if I am hungry. I nod yes.

Shortly later, I hear a male voice. It's Mr Teacher's! This makes sense. I am in the back of the school.

Oh no. The kids! What will they do hearing me like this?!

Too exhausted and weak to care. I fall back onto the straw mattress and try to forget everything. Well, everything except that hug. The comfort there is what I need.

A few minutes later, Mr Teacher comes in with a bowl of oatmeal, and vegetables.

I dive into the oatmeal, eating like I have not eaten in 3 days. The vegetables are a little tangy, more like citrus, but still good.

He looks at me, with care in his eyes. He then points outside. I look. He is pointing at the sun.

He then points at me, and the bed, and then holds up 3 fingers.

I ponder for a bit. He repeats the actions, this time pointing at the sun, the horizon, and then the horizon on the other side.

I've been out for 3 days!

I fall too my knees in shock and grief.

"WHY CRUEL WORLD!!!"

Looking at me, now in shock, Mr Teacher stands up, and gets some paper.

I guess I am still a kid here, living with the teacher. and now revealed that I can talk. Now am I learning, or am I teaching?