Aira surveyed the cabin, noting the scattered items. Rusty tools, small objects of unknown use, brittle sheets of ancient paper, and remnants of a fireplace filled with petrified ashes, all of that was mixed with dust and dirt. With all her tools gone, she had to rely on whatever she could find in this forsaken place.
She moved around slowly, hoping to find something she could use to start a fire. After a few moments, Aira saw a flint and a piece of metal hidden beneath a pile of debris.
"At least some luck remains with me," she thought. "And some things remain constant no matter the world."
Aira sat down with a groan. Or maybe it sounded more like a growl. But there was no one there to judge. Her whole body protested to that simple movement.
She stroke flint against metal. Sparks flew, and after several attempts with her clumsy and unresponsive hands, she ignited a small flame. That mundane action was very comforting. It made her believe that no matter which circumstance she found herself in, with magic or without, she could find a way to survive and maybe even thrive. Well, the latter was still a bit questionable.
"Ah… Small wins," thought Aira, smiling.
She carefully fed the bone-dry remnants of the ancient furniture to the fire, making it flare up and provide a welcoming glow. Some warmth. The heat spread around Aira, creating a comforting aura. It almost made her believe the situation wasn't as dire as it seemed. Now, more than ever, she needed that optimism.
"Alright, Aira, it isn't that bad," she thought. "Well, it is. But you are alive. That's a plus. Magic alone shouldn't define you. There are plenty of things that make you who you are. All your knowledge and experience isn't lost. And there's a whole new world to explore."
She grasped her head with her hands. "What am I even thinking about? How can I survive without magic?"
Aira took a couple of deep breaths, trying to settle her emotions. "Don't overthink that. If there are people in this world, you can fight. You are a trained warrior. You can teach them battle strategy, or whatever. And even that sluggish body shouldn't stop you!"
The thought sparked curiosity amidst despair. This place held mysteries waiting to be unraveled. But were there even any living souls in this world? Humans... or somebody else? Her transformation, though scary, might offer new possibilities she wouldn't even consider otherwise. She just needed to make an effort to figure them out.
Aira winced as she tried to flex her stiff fingers, feeling the sharp twinge of pain in her joints. The warmth from the fire provided a bit of relief but didn't bring her any closer to her old self.
"It would be nice to have less stiff hands and legs," she thought.
The crackling of the fire reminded Aira of all the past camps she shared with her friends and comrades. Friends, allies, mentors—all oblivious to her predicament. Would they mourn her as dead or fruitlessly search for her, hoping to bring her back?
Before entering that cursed dungeon, she had boldly announced her plans to reach the 100th level in just a few days. But everyone knows the dangers that lurked within. It wasn't uncommon for adventurers to meet their demise inside. And there wouldn't even be a body to recover in that case.
Perhaps that's how the others would remember her—as another overconfident battlemage who didn't plan well enough.
These depressing thoughts wouldn't help her, though. To dissolve them, or at least to get distracted, she stood up and began a more thorough exploration of the cabin. The structure was small and simple, but even the most boring item may be an essential clue in a new world. Every Aira's movement was slow, and she could almost hear her joints creaking as she rummaged through the broken furniture and dusty shelves, finding little more than cobwebs and decayed remnants of the past.
In the farthest corner, she discovered a small chest, its wooden surface worn and hinges rusted. Slowly, she pried it open, revealing a few items that had survived the passing of time: small trinkets she didn't recognize, a rusted knife, and a small leather-bound journal. The blade was dull, but it was at least a weapon. Better than nothing. Aira pocketed it and picked up the journal.
She returned to the fire pit and curled up next to the crackling fire, tracing the lines on the cover with her fingers. In her old world, she'd expect to feel something more than the bare sensation of touch. But here, she had to get used to having no response from objects.
Aira opened the book carefully, scanning the neat handwriting with her eyes. However, the words were utterly incomprehensible. A wave of frustration washed over her, but she tried to suppress it. At least there was a language. That meant there should be a way to learn it, communicate with people, and find out more about this world.
That almost sounded like a plan!
If there were any people left alive in this world.
Even if attempting to read the texts was a complete failure, Aira felt a renewed hope. She might have lost all of her former power and skills. She didn't even know the exact place where she appeared in this unfamiliar world. But she was still herself. A powerful woman and a warrior who found a way to survive in so many dire situations. Yes, none of them were as insane and desperate as this one. But there's first time for everything, right?
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Finally, she had some sense of direction and allowed herself to relax. The gentle warmth of the fire calmed her nerves, and fatigue blanketed her. Aira curled tighter as she stared into the dancing flames and let her thoughts drift.
***
She was pulled out of her slumber unceremoniously by an abrupt noise. Her eyes snapped open, her senses on high alert. However, while her mind was ready to react, she still had the same sluggish body that wasn't ready to move at first command.
While she was sleeping, the fire had burned to embers, and the night turned into predawn twilight. More faint sounds came from outside the cabin: footsteps and hushed voices.
The door was pulled open with a bang from the outside. The figures that stormed in moved with precision and brought blinding light. They scanned the room with practiced efficiency and Aira recognized that kind of people. She was that kind of person herself. It had to be some sort of patrol or militia, and she wasn't yet sure how friendly they would be toward a suspicious person. But at least their presence confirmed that there were sentient beings in this world.
Aira tried to rise, but her stiff limbs betrayed her once again, making the movements slow and sluggish. At the same time, the intruders were quick and precise, their weapons drawn and pointed at her. The first human to the building shouted something at either her or his buddies. But Aira didn't understand a word.
"Look, I just need some help!..." It was only her second attempt to speak since she appeared in this world. But instead of her voice, there still was that unfamiliar growl. And it definitely sounded nothing like the words she heard from the intruders. And they... not only did they not understand her, but the guttural sounds she produced made them even more apprehensive.
That crushed Aira's hopes. Before that, she tried to persuade herself that her last day's growls were just some form of speech native to this world. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to learn an unknown language without effort, thanks to some arcane force? But no, she obviously forgot that there was no magic here.
Still, despite being sure that these warriors would not understand her, Aira had an overwhelming urge to explain everything. She gestured frantically towards the fire and the journal beside her, hoping they would understand.
One of the intruders, a woman with green hair, attracted Aira's attention more than the others. She stepped closer, her curiosity visibly piqued. Even despite Aira's growling, she didn't seem to be afraid. On the contrary, she was intrigued and followed Aira's gestures with her sharp eyes.
Though she kept her distance initially, she slowly closed the gap between them until she squatted not far from Aira. Green hair threw Aira off a bit. In her world, it wasn't a thing. Unless somebody decided to use dyes or magic. But that was another confirmation that she truly wasn't home anymore. The other people from the group boasted various shades of hair and skin. Many of them quite peculiar to Aira's foreign eye. Still, in every other way, they looked as human as any of Aira's friends and acquaintances.
Aira perked up at the woman's voice as she spoke. But again, it was utterly unfamiliar to her. The language was indistinguishable, words blending together in a meaningless stream. Promptly understanding that her message wasn't coming through, the woman removed a strand of her green hair from in front of her eyes and switched to gestures, attempting to bridge the communication barrier in any way possible. It wasn't much better, but Aira was grateful for the effort. At least it meant there was a chance for her to survive another day in this unknown world. The intruders were ready to spend time making contact.
It seemed that the woman was beckoning Aira somewhere. To go with her to a different place and leave the fleeting safety of this cabin. In a way, it was what Aira asked for: sentient beings whose language she would probably be able to learn. Going with them wouldn't put her in much more danger than staying here without food, water, or weapons. If she survived, she might even gather more information about this place, its rules, and the balance of power.
The humans had a brief but spirited debate, pointing at her and somewhere outside of the cabin. The woman who caught Aira's attention was the most animated during these talks, even grabbing another man's hand as if trying to persuade him of something. Ultimately, the leader nodded, his expression skeptical but intrigued, and motioned for his team to prepare the captive.
She approached Aira again, seemingly trying to calm her down and show she shouldn't resist. What happened next explained the warning: two men searched her, removed the knife, and bound her hands and feet with high efficiency. Aira didn't resist. She knew she had to learn to communicate with them before even gaining trust. And in her current state, she wasn't in a position to fight her captors anyway. Cooperation seemed to be the best approach, at least for now.
When everything was done, they put her onto a makeshift stretcher, their movements practiced and coordinated. It didn't seem like the intruders even considered offering her to walk on her own. They were prepared to carry her wherever they planned to go next.
As they started their journey, the first light of the morning sun illuminated the area around the dilapidated cabin. Aira didn't even notice as the night passed by. She made an effort to closely observe the people surrounding her. Finally, she had some opportunities to gather information about her captors. Find things that were different and similar between the worlds.
"They are humans, alright," she thought. "But they aren't like me. They aren't slow. Still, they were prepare to deal with somebody like me. The speed and the decisiveness with which they prepared the stretcher meant they were prepared. Does that mean I'm not the only one?"
Every minor detail could help Aira to survive. So, she observed the preparations this group of people made with militaristic precision. They were well-trained, and each of their actions seemed to have a purpose. Every person knew their role, and they didn't have to consult with each other.
Overall, they didn't look any different from the humans of her own world. Both males and females were present, with the leader being a man. The most intriguing team member was, of course, that green-haired woman. She exuded confidence and passion and was able to influence the opinions of her peers and the commander.
And even during the march, the group was as efficient as before. They picked up a brisk pace despite having to carry Aira along. She noticed how vigilant they were, constantly tracking the surroundings. Even after capturing her, they didn't plan on shirking their duty.
So, they didn't give Aira many opportunities to learn even the simplest words. Not that it was easy to guess them without any context. They just didn't talk much.
But now, she couldn't help but feel determined to crack the code and understand these strangers. The only thing she needed was time. Time to forge a connection with them. Time to learn their language. To ensure her safety.
These people were hardened survivors. And that was what she had in common with them. Perhaps that would help her to build trust and start a dialogue.