Startling Zach awake were the noises of a bustling city. He groaned and stretched as he sat up. Checking his surroundings, he appeared to be in a small alleyway in between two cobblestone buildings. Wha? What’s going on. Why aren’t I in the hospital? Pushing himself to his feet, he stumbled toward the street. He held his hand against his brow to shield himself from the harsh afternoon soon, his eyes still adjusting. This… this can’t be right.

The stone street wasn’t full of automobiles like he had expected. Instead, there were wagons and buggies being pulled from a variety of creatures. Some of which Zach knew only existed in fairy tales and video games. A large lizard, a head or two longer and taller than a horse, was pulling a large cart full of medieval armor, for example.

Zach retreated into the ally. This can’t be. I must have hit my head or something in the crash. Yeah! This is a dream. It’s gotta be a dream. A confused smile split his face as he entered the street again. He coughed as he inhaled some dust being kicked up by the wagons. Wait… Can you cough in a dream?

“Watch it kid!” A muscular man with green skin and tusks coming from its mouth shouted as he pushed by Zach. “Get out of the street, you urchin. Your blocking traffic.”

“What?” Zach muttered, instantly recoiling from the sound of his voice. It was much higher pitched than his normal voice. As he looked up at the man, he noticed it. Unless the man was a giant, Zach had shrunk. “Sorry.” Zach ran off and turned on a less busy side street.

He was looking at his hands as he sauntered down the side road. They were small, tiny in-fact. His hand was soft, unscared and delicate. All of his callouses from years of hard work were gone. He gazed about until fixating on a bucket outside a wooden building. Sprinting over, he peered into the water's surface.

This can’t be… I’M A CHILD! Zach let out an involuntary scream, causing the surrounding people to stare at him with a mixture of concern and confusion.

A short, stout, bearded man ran out of the wooden building and faced Zach. “Shut up, boy! Your going to scare away my customers. Get lost before I make you!” Zach lost it and started openly weeping. “I said shut it, you sissy boy.” The man backhanded Zach, sending him crashing hard to the ground and back into the world of unconsciousness.

When he awoke for the second time that day, he was lying in a bed. Immediately checking his hands, he frowned. That wasn’t all a dream. I’m somehow a child again.

“Finally awake?” Zach turned to see an elderly robed woman approaching him. “I was afraid you would never wake up.” Zach sat up and went to stand, but the woman motioned for him to remain seated. “Take it easy. Let me change the bandages on your head first. You took quite the fall back there, little one.”

Reaching up, Zach felt a sticky bandage covering the back of his head. He went to unravel it, but the older woman swatted him away and took the process over. He could see the fresh bandages sitting in her lap and didn’t fight her. While wrapping his head, the woman continued the conversation.

“So, my name is Deborah but you can call me Debbie if you like. What’s your name?”

“Zach.”

Debbie smiled at him. “Thats a nice name. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zach. Care to tell me what you were doing disturbing Mr. Heavystone at his establishment? He doesn’t take kindly to people who disrupt his business.”

“Yeah. I found that out firsthand.” Debbie chucked and Zach continued. “I… I don’t know how I got here. I’m…” Zach hesitated. Unsure how much of his story to share. Should I tell her I’m from the future? Alternate reality? Different dimension? Oh god. How would I even explain it to her if I can’t even explain it to myself?

“Zach?” He was lost in his own thoughts long enough that Debbie was worrying and had to say something to snap him out of it.

“Huh?”

“You were saying something about how you got in front of Mr. Heavystone’s establishment?”

Zach shook his head. “Never mind. I don’t know. I guess I got lost.”

“Hmm. Where are you from? Can I take you back to your parents?”

“I’m from far away and my parents are… gone.”

Debbie frowned and stood up, collecting the soiled bandages and bringing them with her as she walked to the other side of the room. “I’m sorry to hear that. You should be all set now. So…” Debbie walked back to stand over the bed Zach was sitting on. “What do you have planned now?”

“I’m not sure. This whole… situation is new to me. I don’t know what the next step is.”

Debbie frowned. “You lost your family recently then?” Zach nodded. “Well, your welcome to stay at my orphanage but you’ll have to work for your keep. I can offer a roof over your head some nights and a basic education. As I said, you will have to work though. It won’t be elegant work either, mostly manual labor, but it will help you earn a few coppers of your own and help keep the orphanage afloat. How does that sound?”

Zach contemplated the idea. He really didn’t have a better option. He was in an unknown world he couldn’t even begin to understand, with creatures out of fairy tales, hostile shop keeps and nothing but the cloths on his back. Backed into a corner, Zach nodded his head. “That sounds nice.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Excellent.” Debbie clasped her hands together. “Why don’t you follow me then. I was about to start today's lesson.” She stood and started walking toward a staircase. When she noticed Zach wasn’t right behind her, she waved for him to follow. “Well, come on now.”

Zach leaped from bed and scurried over to her side. The pair proceeded downstairs and into a large open room. Several dozen children were running around playing while a couple of adults tended to the younger ones. There was a man holding a baby and a woman handing out dried meat to a circle of eager toddlers. The building they were in seemed to be run down. There were several holes in the walls and ceilings, most windows were either cracked or broken out, and no one had decent quality clothing on. Zach, who appeared in ripped and torn cotton cloths, had the nicest outfit of anyone in the room.

I guess this is my new life now. Zach entered the room and sat on the floor away from everyone else. He wasn’t eager to make new friends and just wanted to be alone to better process the last 24 hours. Before he got a chance, the women who was tending to the toddlers came over and spoke with him.

“Hello. Your new. My name is Samantha. Is there anything I can get you?” The woman was much younger than Debbie and had flowing ebony hair. Zach shook his head. “Are you sure?” She pressed, but Zach just continued shaking his head. His stomach took that moment to grumble loudly. The woman showed him a kind smile. “Here.” She handed him a piece of the dried meat. “Its dried frobbit.”

Zach cocked his head. What the hell is a frobbit?

“Don’t worry. I can’t say it tastes all that great, but it will fill you up.”

Zach smiled and took the offered food. Taking a hesitant bite, he smiled. It’s actually not terrible. Kinda taste like rabbit.

“See. Things are already looking up.” Someone on the other side of the room was ringing a bell. “Oh. It looks like its time for class.”

Zach followed the woman into a side room. There was a desk in the front and a large rug covering most of the room. Children were piling in and sitting on the floor, so Zach found a spot. After the room was full, Debbie entered and took a seat at the desk. She started by teaching everyone the basics of essence. Some older kids were getting bored, likely having sat through a similar lesson before, and chatted amongst themselves. Zach drank in the new knowledge and tried brainstorming ideas on how to get home. It was late by the time the lesson was over and after the children ate, they retired for the evening.

Zach hesitantly opened his eyes the next morning. Still wishing this was all a dream. When he awoke to his child body, things really set in for him, but he was determined as ever to make it home to his family.

Days, weeks, months and years went on as Zach got into a routine. He would start most days with a quick breakfast before Debbie would tell him where he could go for an odd-job. Zach enjoyed working. It took his mind off the situation and kept his hands busy. He didn’t make much, most of his earnings going to the orphanage directly, but over the course of several years he manages to scrape together a handful of silver.

Everything changed when he aged up. Debbie, the kind woman that she was, allowed Zach to stay in the orphanage past the usual kick out age of thirteen. It still amazed him that orphanages in this world kicked people out when they became teenagers. It made a little sense seeing how many kids came and went from Debbie’s place, but it was still a shocker that thirteen was the age of an adult.

The day in particular that set everything into motion was when Debbie was teaching folklore. Since Zach spent most of his days working, he missed most of her classes but was home for today's and today's was about the legendary hero who made his dreams come true.

“Sit still, children. I’m going to read you one of your favorite legends. The legend of the great hero who transcended and got his wish granted.” Debbie opened the book in front of her and read it aloud.

There once was a man like you.

A basic rank, that was true.

But he fought hard and traveled far.

Slaying enemies that were not subpar.

Improving his rank and skill.

While full of kindness and goodwill.

Until one day.

The gods descended to say.

Of us, you have befriended.

The rank you reached is transcended.

Ask of us anything.

And we shall give you everything.

One wish we shall grant.

With our spell, with our chant.

When she was finished reading, some children raised their hands for questions and Zach grabbed the book to read it for himself. It was written in the language of this world, one that he spent many years learning. He was pleased that he could understand the spoken language of the world when he arrived. It just sounded like English to him, but the written language was a mixture of strange symbols that frankly looked like hieroglyphics to him at first.

“Yes, Tommy?” Debbie called out to a boy with short red hair who had his hand raised.

“He was able to ask for anything and it came true?”

Debbie nodded. “Yes. No one knows what the great hero of legend asked for, but after his wish was granted, he disappeared. Some say he asked to join the gods, and he looks down on us even today. Waiting for the next person strong enough and brave enough to hit the transcended ranks. Others say, because of his love for adventure, that he wished to be reborn into a new world. No one knows for sure and no one has hit the transcended ranks since him.”

Zach tapped Debbie on the shoulder and spoke when she faced him. “Sooo, I could ask to be transported in time and space?”

Debbie cocked her head. “Time and space? I’m not really sure what your asking, but legend says you can ask for any wish and it will be granted. When you hit the transcended ranks you don’t use your own essence for power. You bend the essence and energy of the very world and shape into what you desire. It’s hard to explain but, yes, you could accomplish anything if you were that powerful. If you wish it, the essence of the world will make it happen.” She smiled and the children all clapped.

Many of them closed their eyes and focused on gathering essence in an attempt to rank up, but Zach closed his eyes for a different reason. He thought of his family. His wife, and especially his daughter. Their image burned in his mind. Over all the years, he never forgot them. Emmy. I swear I will make it home to you. I’ll do whatever it takes to have you in my arms again. I will rank up. I will become transcended! I will return to Earth!

Zach pulled Debbie aside and asked what the quickest way to gain ranks like the hero of legend. Debbie smiled and gently pat Zach on the head before responding. “Oh, little Zach. If you want to try to become the next hero of legend, you need to join the adventurer's guild. They will be your first stop on the road to greatness. The hero of legend was one of its founders.”

Zach thanked Debbie for the information and immediately left the orphanage. Stopping at the market, he purchased the best sword and chest armor he could find for what little money he had. Next stop, the adventurer’s guild!