Dominic awoke the next morning to the sound of clanging bells echoing through the city. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up in the small bed, his muscles aching from the previous day's training. The wooden beams above him creaked slightly as the wind blew in through the narrow window, bringing with it the scents of the bustling city outside—fresh bread, wood smoke, and the faint tang of the nearby sea.

He was still getting used to waking up in this strange, ancient world. Everything felt both familiar and alien, like a dream that hovered on the edge of consciousness. But as he stretched and felt the lingering warmth of the magic he had tapped into the day before, he knew that this was no dream. He was in Andaria, and he had to adapt quickly if he was going to survive.

After dressing in the simple tunic and trousers that had been provided to him, Dominic made his way downstairs to the main hall of the barracks. The room was already lively with activity; guards and soldiers ate breakfast at long wooden tables, their conversations a mix of laughter and serious discussion. At the far end of the hall, Selene and Marcus were deep in conversation, leaning over a large map spread out on the table before them.

As Dominic approached, Selene glanced up and smiled. "Morning, Dominic. How are you feeling?"

"Sore," Dominic admitted with a small grin. "But ready to keep going."

Marcus nodded approvingly. "Good. You’ll need that attitude for what’s ahead."

Dominic’s curiosity piqued as he looked at the map. It was a detailed representation of Tiberios and its surrounding regions, marked with various symbols and annotations. "What’s going on?"

"We’ve got a mission," Selene replied, her tone both serious and excited. "A small one, but it’s a good opportunity to get you some experience."

Marcus pointed to a location just outside the city’s walls, where the forest met the rugged hills. "There’s a village here, Wyvern’s Rest. It’s not large, but it’s an important supplier of lumber and other resources for the city. Lately, they’ve been reporting strange occurrences—missing livestock, lights in the woods at night, and, most concerning, a few people who’ve gone missing."

Dominic frowned, leaning in to get a closer look. "What do they think is causing it?"

"Could be anything," Marcus said with a shrug. "Bandits, wild animals, or something more… unusual. That’s what we need to find out."

Selene rolled up the map and tucked it into her belt. "We’ll be heading out shortly. It’s a day’s journey on foot, so we’ll need to leave soon if we want to make it there before nightfall."

Dominic felt a flutter of anxiety in his stomach but also a growing excitement. This was what he had read about in all those LitRPG novels—a real adventure, a chance to prove himself. "What do I need to do?"

"Stay close to us and follow our lead," Marcus instructed. "We’ll be there to guide you, but this is also your chance to see what you’re capable of outside of training. You’ll have to use everything you’ve learned so far."

Selene handed him a small satchel filled with supplies—dried meat, a water flask, and a few other essentials. "And if you feel that spark of magic again, don’t fight it. Let it guide you. Just be careful not to overdo it."

Dominic nodded, securing the satchel across his shoulder and checking the sword at his side. The weight of it felt more reassuring today, a reminder that he wasn’t completely defenseless. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "I’m ready."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Marcus clapped him on the shoulder, his expression unreadable but not unkind. "Then let’s get moving. The sooner we get to Wyvern’s Rest, the sooner we can figure out what’s going on."

The trio made their way out of the barracks and into the bustling streets of Tiberios. The city was alive with activity—merchants hawking their wares, children playing in the alleys, and guards patrolling the streets. But as they passed through the gates and left the safety of the city behind, the atmosphere changed. The noise of the city faded, replaced by the quiet rustle of the wind through the trees and the distant calls of birds.

The road to Wyvern’s Rest was well-traveled but narrow, winding through the dense forest that surrounded Tiberios. The canopy above filtered the sunlight, casting dappled shadows on the path ahead. As they walked, Selene and Marcus kept a vigilant watch, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

Dominic tried to keep up, his mind racing with questions. "So, what’s the plan when we get there? Just ask around and see what people know?"

"More or less," Marcus replied, his voice low but clear. "We’ll talk to the villagers, get a sense of what they’ve seen and heard. Then we’ll check out the surrounding area. If it’s bandits or wild animals, we’ll deal with it. If it’s something else… well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Selene glanced back at Dominic, her eyes sharp. "Stay alert. This isn’t just about fighting. Pay attention to the details—sounds, tracks, anything that feels out of place. It could make the difference between walking into a trap and avoiding one."

Dominic nodded, his senses heightened by their warnings. The forest around them seemed peaceful enough, but he knew that danger could be lurking just out of sight. As they continued along the path, the silence between them was filled with the soft crunch of their footsteps on the dirt and the occasional rustle of leaves.

By midday, they reached a small clearing where they stopped to rest. Marcus handed Dominic a piece of bread and some dried meat, which he accepted gratefully. As they ate, Dominic couldn’t help but voice the question that had been nagging at him since they left.

"Do you think this has anything to do with how I got here? I mean, could these strange occurrences be related to… whatever brought me to this world?"

Selene exchanged a glance with Marcus before answering. "It’s possible. This world has its own rules, its own ways of doing things. The ruins where we found you are ancient, and there’s a lot we don’t know about them. They’ve been quiet for years, but if something’s stirring there, it might be connected to the anomalies we’re seeing."

Marcus nodded. "But we can’t jump to conclusions. There are a lot of dangers in Andaria—some mundane, some magical. We need to keep our focus on what’s in front of us."

Dominic understood their caution, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that his arrival in this world was more than just a coincidence. As they packed up and continued on their way, he resolved to stay vigilant, to prove that he could handle whatever this mission threw at him.

The sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon when they finally arrived at Wyvern’s Rest. The village was small and rustic, with simple wooden houses and a few larger buildings that served as a tavern and a general store. The villagers went about their evening routines, but there was an undercurrent of unease in the air, a tension that was palpable even to Dominic.

As they entered the village, an older man with a weathered face and a sturdy build approached them. He was dressed in simple but well-made clothes, and there was a grim determination in his eyes.

"You must be the ones the city sent," the man said, his voice rough but welcoming. "I’m Loras, the village elder. Thank you for coming."

Marcus nodded in greeting. "We’re here to help. Tell us what’s been happening."

Loras sighed, rubbing a hand across his grizzled chin. "It started about a month ago. At first, it was just small things—animals disappearing, strange noises at night. But then people started vanishing. Good men and women, gone without a trace. And last week, we saw lights in the woods, like nothing we’ve ever seen before. We’re a simple folk, not equipped to deal with this kind of trouble."

Selene stepped forward, her expression serious. "We’ll do everything we can to help, Loras. Can you show us where the lights were seen? And where the people went missing?"

Loras nodded, his relief evident. "Aye, I can. But be careful. There’s something unnatural out there, something that doesn’t belong."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the village in twilight, Dominic felt the familiar warmth begin to stir in his chest once more. This was his first real mission, and though fear gnawed at him, he knew he had to step up.

Together, they followed Loras toward the edge of the village, where the forest loomed dark and foreboding. Whatever lay ahead, Dominic was ready to face it—with Selene, Marcus, and the growing power within him by his side.

This was only the beginning.