"AAAHH!" (Heavy fast breathing)

Sonny woke up screaming frantically, checking his face and where he was impaled to see nothing there.

No redness, blood, or even a scar.

"What the hell? Nothing, is there? The pain... was so intense."

He notices he is wearing boots, pants with a weird big belt, a shirt, and a vest that's not his.

He looked closer and saw that the clothes were different from what he was used to. They need to be updated.

Then the thought hit him "Where am I?". So he looks around and notices that he's in a forest.

"Huh? I don't live close to a forest."

He feels the heat from the sun between the tree branches on his face as he looks up.

"This has to be a dream."

He runs his hands through the grass he is lying on, and to his surprise, he feels the moisture from the morning dew.

At the same time, he hears the wildlife around him, birds chirping, animals rustling the trees and brush, and the sound of the wind.

"I have to find a way out of this forest." He stood up.

"Seriously? What's with these clothes? What's this...a sword?"

He unsheathes the unassuming, average-looking weapon checking out the blade and handle.

"Why do I have this?" Returning the sword to its sheathe.

He begins inspecting his attire and going through the pockets.

"Empty. I don't know what's happening, but I need to figure out how to get back home."

He begins to wander the forest. Tall trees in every direction, plants and flowers spread out, some recognizable and others not. Finally, he notices a patch of sunflowers and goes to pick one.

"Oh, a ladybug."

He picked the flower next to the ladybug and proceeded the smell it. The scent of the sunflower is subtle and faint. It has a natural, irresistible fragrance. It gave Sonny a sense of calm, so he smelled it again. The alluring scent gave a sensation as if he were inhaling the essence of nature itself.

"I'll have to come back to this forest someday." He puts the flower in his vest pocket.

In the distance, he saw a deer and started slowly approaching it, aware that wild animals are dangerous and many are scared easily. Before long, the deer was spooked and ran off.

After some time passed, Sonny made it out of the forest. He is standing on a little cliff that looks over a valley. Shock and bewilderment cascade over his face. The valley was vast, as far as the eyes could see, with mountains beyond that.

In the distance, he saw what appeared to be a walled medieval-looking town with a castle. He had to look twice to make sure it was what he was seeing.

He saw a winding path leading down the cliff and started to walk towards the funny-looking town. Then, he realized he was in for a long walk.

"This has to be a dream or the afterlife, but why this sword? Am I in a-uauagh!" He slipped on some loose rocks and tumbled down the small cliff.

"Owow!" He lost his train of thought for a moment. "Great, now I'm dirty and bruised, ugh, I'll figure it out when I get to that town.

He continued to walk toward the town, "Ugh, it's so far. This is going to take forever." As he walked, he noticed the tall grass. "This grass is almost up to my knee." Then he hears something running through the grass.

'Huh, what the hell was that?"

Something is speeding around the grass. He can't see what it is, but it's circling him.

"REEEEEECK!!" The wild animal shrieked and charged. It jumped at him, but he managed to dodge the attack. Then, it turned around and quickly attacked, chomping down on his left arm.

"AAAHHHH!!" Sonny screamed in pain. The beast is turning and yanking on him to rip the meat off his arm.

"AHH!! GNNN!! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!?"

Trying to fend it off, he got a good look at the beast. It looked like a feral rabbit except much bigger having short ears and blood-red eyes. Sonny managed to throw the beast from his arm and held the arm with his opposite hand.

"Shit! Why is this thing attacking me?" He started running to the town, but the beast was chasing him.

"It won't give up. At this rate, it's going to kill me! I have to do something." He was out of the grassy field now on dirt. He pulled his sword out, turned around, and swung at the beast but missed it.

He keeps swinging at the beast, but it's dodging his attacks.

"Ugh, I can't keep this up." Exhausted breathing

"Fine!" He holds his left arm out in front of him. "As soon as it bites. I'll force it to the ground and stab it."

The beast attacks again, biting the same spot on his arm. "HNNF!" Fighting the pain, he grabbed the beast, sword still in hand, and pinned it down with his arm still in its mouth, and the beast started shrieking again and kicking frantically.

Sonny is struggling to keep the beast pinned down.

"Hold still, you bastard!" SHRUNGH!

He thrusts the sword into the beast's belly, and it screams in agony, struggling to escape, but he holds it down until it finally stops moving.

"Mmf." He held his left arm, "I need peroxide to disinfect this wound."

Finally reaching the town, he comes to a large gate with guards and a long line of people seeking entrance.

"Why is there a line and guards at the gate? Is there a toll to go in? Shit, I don't have money. Maybe I can ask the guards to let me pass to treat this wound." walking up to a guard.

"Excuse me.." showing his arm, "is there a way I can-"

Guard: "What are you doing!? No cutting the line lest you want your toll increased!" the guard shouted.

Sonny: " I'm sorry, but I don't have any money."

Guard: "Money? What is that?" the guard looks up and down at Sonny, "Ugh! You must be a foreigner. If you do not have the coin, bullion is a fine tribute. Now, away with you!"

What a disgusting look of contempt that guard had on his face, Sonny thought as he turned to walk to the back of the line.

Sonny: "Foreigner? Do I look that different from everyone else? I mean, I guess. Although, of course, it's somewhat true since I don't know where I am. But, at least the line is moving quickly."

Now at the back of the line.

"You look like you were a beast's plaything, hehe."

Sonny: "Huh?" he looked up to see a short, stout middle-aged man dressed elegantly. He's standing next to a horse-drawn wooden cart with boxes. Strangely some of them have small holes in them.

Sonny: " Something like that. Hey, can you tell me where I am?"

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"Oh? You're not from around here, are you? I'd be careful. The nobility can be quite hostile to foreigners."

Sonny: " I've noticed, I tried to enter, but the guard got angry 'cause I don't have a coin.'

"I see. You were attacked by a beast and lost your coin pouch."

Sonny: "Y-yeah..."

"Ha ha, no matter, I will cover your toll. Here my boy", the man handed Soren ten silver coins.

Sonny: "I'm sorry, I can't accept-"

"Take it; you need to treat that wound, don't you? You'll return the favor when you have the time, hehe."

Sonny: "Since you're not giving me a choice.."

"Hmm, anyway. This walled city is known as Fulda and has a particularly nasty Lord. He's a greedy one with steep taxes. He even levies the guild. It's revolting!"

Sonny: " Guild?"

"Mm? Must not have one in your country. The Guild is a way for young and older men and women to make coins. If you have a weapon and the will, you can make a good living exterminating beasts, protecting convoys, and doing explorations, among many other requests."

The two of them are next in line at the gate. Guard: "Tribute!" Sonny hands the three silver to the guard.

As Sonny started to walk in, the guard put his arm out to block him.

Guard: "Best to mind your manners.." Stare (Sonny is finally able to enter the city.)

"What do you think of the city? Magnificent, isn't it?"

Sonny stared in awe, " Y-yes, it is.."

"Well, best to get that arm treated immediately. I'm anticipating our next meeting. Here, my card."

Sonny: "Thank you for the information and the coin."

"Of course, my boy. Just be sure to see me soon, hehe."

The flashy middle-aged man goes on about his business. YM is grateful to him and plans to see him again when he gets his bearings. He looks at the card handed to him.

Sonny: "!?. I-Is this...Old English? I can read some of it. Guess I should have paid more attention in literary class back in school. So his name is...Dalic, and he's a merchant...of what? It doesn't say."

While looking around at the strange yet intriguing area, Sonny: "Ok, so to my knowledge, I was in a house fire, woke up in a forest with strange clothes and a sword, was attacked by a weird small animal beast-thing, entered a walled castle city with guards dressed as knights, and theirs Old English writing everywhere. I think it's safe to say I died, and now I'm in another world."

An intense feeling of fear came over him, "AARGH!! What am I going to do now? How am I going to survive? But wait. I first need to address this wound." It took some time for Sonny to calm down.

"Did Lucas survive, or is he here too? He wasn't there when I woke up. I should ask around at some point. He may have come here before me."

He started wandering around the city, taking it all in. He saw shops, merchants, galleries, and restaurants... but couldn't find what would be considered a hospital or clinic.

The sun began to set.

He eventually came across a tavern.

"Is this...a bar? I hope they have peroxide or, at least, something that might help disinfect this wound... But, unfortunately, I can't quite read the sign. 'The Conner'...what?"

He struggled to read the sign, but it's called The Cornerstone Tavern. Upon entering, the lively ambiance rushed through his ears. Then, as he walked to the bar, he heard loud chatter from the patrons.

"Welcome, what can I getcha?" the burly bartending lady said.

Sonny thinks I doubt they would have it since it seems like it's the bronze age or something, but "Do you have something like peroxide?"

Bar Lady: "Is that some foreign drink? Sorry, we only carry domestic?"

Didn't think so, Sonny thought.

Bar Lady: "So what would ya like?"

Sonny: "Sorry, I don't have any coin."

Bar Lady: "Why not find a seat and relax then?"

Sonny: "Yeah, that's a good idea." He found an open table near a wall, wondering what to do next. His arm doesn't hurt as much now, and the bleeding stopped.

He thought about his family and hoped they were all ok and wondered if he'd be able to see them again someday, then his mind started drifting.

(Hi...hello?....can you hear me?..𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦...)

𝘚𝘓𝘈𝘔!

Sonny: " Huh...w-what?"

Bar Lady: "There you go, ladies. Got his attention for you."

"Thanks, Hilda."

"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵."

Hilda: "Heh."

Hilda, the bar lady, brought Sonny a mug of ale and slammed it on the table to get his attention for the girls.

"Hi. Mind if we join you?" Sonny's eyes lit up when he saw two beautiful young women.

"𝘞𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

Sonny: "Uh, sure, thank you.", He thought he was not old enough to drink, but they appeared young too. That is how it is here. He then grabs the mug with both hands.

"Oh, that looks bad" The girl grabbed his left arm. "Here, let me help you with that." Suddenly a green light emitted from her small bracelet, and Sonny's wound began healing. Sonny was in shock, gasping. He felt the wound closing and disappearing as if it were never there.

Sonny: "W-W-H-How did you do that?"

"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨."

"I can't do any spells, but I know how to control my mana enough to do basic healing with my bracelet."

Sonny: "A healing bracelet?"

"Yeah!" Big smile

Hilda: "Foreigners, am I right? Heh, I'm just messin' with ya, kid. The truth is, I came to give you a mug of ale on the house 'cause you look so rough, but these ladies beat me to it."

"Your bruises were healed too."

Hilda: "Yeah, but you're still dirty, and your clothes are filthy."

"𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭."

Sonny: "I don't have different colored eyes." VM thinking, what do you mean different colored eyes? They've always been light brown.

"They look that way to me and don't see many people with that hair color either."

Do you mean black? Sonny thought. I see five in my view right now! What's going on?

Hilda: "What? Did you forget what you look like?"

"𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳."

"Maybe he knocked his head while adventuring."

Hilda: "Maybe. He should get a check-up."

"𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰." The girl faces the mirror toward Sonny.

Hilda: "By the way, kid, what's your name?"

Sonny: "Oh, it's..." He looks to the left toward the mirror, "Ssssrrnnnn..." he froze with a look of shock and horror as the person he saw in the mirror was not him. Instead of the black-haired brown-eyed man he used to be was a young man with red hair, a blue left eye, and a green right eye.

Hilda: "Whatsa matta, kid? Been traveling so long, don't look so pretty?"

Sonny is still looking at the mirror and moving his head around.

"So you said your name is Soren?"

"Huh? No, it's Sonny."

"𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥?"

Sonny thought, oh, sure. Why not? I mean, I'm a completely different person now. Why not have a new name too? He is freaking out. His heart is racing, and he's getting light-headed.

Hilda: "Whoa, kid, you ok?"

Sonny: "S-Sorry. I felt like I was about to pass out."

Hilda: "Well, figures, how long has it been since ya had something to eat?"

Sonny: "I am feeling hungry.."

Hilda: "Here." she handed over a menu, "Let me know what ya want, and don't worry, it's on the house."

Sonny: "Thank you, and sure, you can call me Soren."

"Nice to meet you, Soren. I'm Beatrice Stellos."

"𝘐'𝘮 𝘙𝘶𝘯𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳."

Beatrice: "So, what country are you from?"

Sonny, now known as Soren: "Uh..." they wouldn't believe me if I told them the truth, "S-Sorry, I'm having trouble focusing right now. Can I eat first?"

Beatrice: "Sure thing."

Soren looks at the menu, "What kind of menu is this? It's so basic."

After looking the menu over. Soren: "I'll have sliced meat with a bread roll and a sliced potato."

Hilda: "Alright, kid, I'll bring it to ya when it's done."

Soren: "Thank you."

Runa: "So you know, there was a reason why we approached you."

Soren: "What's the reason?"

Runa: "Well, I noticed that sword on your hip when you first walked in and wanted to ask you to join us because you look capable. We're beginner adventurers, and as I assume you know, due to your arm, it takes work.

Soren: "That beast I fought was vicious, and if there had been more of them, I would have been done for, so sure, we can partner up.

Both girls are excited and express gratitude.

Hilda: "Here's ya food, kid."

Soren splits the bread roll in half, then puts the sliced meat and potatoes between the bread pieces.

Hilda: "So whatcha going to do for sleep tonight? You got somewhere you can stay?"

Soren: "Crap, what am I going do? I don't have anywhere to go."

Hilda: "Don't worry, kid, I'll put you up for the night at the nearby inn."

Soren: "No, I can't-"

Hilda: "It's fine. Inn's are expensive, but doncha worry about me cause you're going to register at the guild tomorrow and accept a request so you can pay me back, you bein' such a good guy and all, heh. Plus, these cuties need someone to protect them."

Soren: "Ah, that was good!"

Runa: "You ate that fast."

Soren: "I was hungrier than I thought. Thank you, Miss Hilda."

Hilda: " Eh? Don't you go 'Miss'n' me; it's Hilda."

Soren: " Ok, Hilda. So where is the inn?"

Beatrice: "We're rooming at the same inn, so follow us. It's a short walk.

Hilda: "When ya get there, tell him 'Hildabear' sent ya so he'll know to charge me."

Soren: "Sure thing, Hildabear." Chuckling

While walking to the inn, "It's so dark now, and lanterns everywhere." Soren said.

Runa: "It's so pretty at night, and the stars are so bright."

Soren thinks to himself that they are bright. He's never seen the sky so lit up before. It's because theirs no pollution here, the air is so fresh, and that sunflower smelled divine.

Beatrice: "Here we are."

Soren walked up to the counter, "Hello, sir, how can I assist you?" the innkeeper said.

Soren: "Hildabear sent me."

Scoff, "That woman, ugh, here." The innkeeper hands over an old skeleton key tied to a piece of wood on a string with the number 8.

Beatrice: "Oh, that's right across from us."

Runa: " Here's your room Soren."

Beatrice: "Hey, I just want to say I appreciate you joining us. It's been tough trying to recruit people because we're beginners, so...thank you."

Soren: "It was the least I could do to repay you for healing my arm. Thank you."

Beatrice smiled, "Ok then, I hope you sleep well. We'll be up bright and early tomorrow."

Soren: "OK."

Both girls smiled, "Goodnight, Soren."

Soren: "Goodnight." He entered his room. "Ugh, I'm beat. I haven't felt this tired since the last time I had an all-night gaming session..." he fell onto the bed, "..bright and early... I wonder how Emily is doing?" He fell asleep.

The next morning.

Soren wakes up to birds chirping. He looks at the window and sees the bright sunlight. He gets up and walks to the window.

"The air is as fresh as it was yesterday."

He walks to the door.

"The guild, huh? After yesterday I wonder what this day has in store for me."

He leaves the room, walks to the door the girls are in, and knocks, but there is no answer.

"Are they at the lobby?" walking toward the lobby.

He doesn't see the innkeeper, so he places the key on the counter, "This should be ok right?"

Leaving, he opens the front door to see the girls conversating right outside.

Both girls were caught off guard, "Good morning, Soren."

Beatrice: "You ready to go to the Guild?"

Soren: "Yeah."

Beatrice: "OK, let's go."