Ailee nearly crashed into Izak’s back when he stopped abruptly. She had been lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the uneven ground ever since the massacre with the scavengers a few hours ago. The memory of Izak’s burning red eyes lingered in her mind, but what unsettled her even more was how quickly his wound had healed.

  "Ailee, you okay?"

  "S-Sorry... Yes, I’m fine. Why did you stop?" she asked, shaking herself from her thoughts.

  Izak pointed ahead. "I think we’ve arrived."

  In the distance, hidden behind towering trees, stood an enormous wooden wall. From where they stood, they couldn’t see beyond it, but if a settlement existed, it had to be there. As they approached, the sounds of voices, children playing, and distant chatter filled the air. The dense forest gave way to tall grass and wildflowers carpeting the earth, painting a striking scene around the fortified entrance.

  The wall itself looked almost alive—dark wood stretched high, entwined with thick vines and patches of vibrant leaves, while clusters of colorful flowers bloomed across its surface. To their right, they spotted an opening in the wall, guarded by five armored men. A narrow path led inside, curving out of sight beyond the perimeter.

  "Halt!" a guard shouted as they neared the entrance.

  They stopped as three of the guards quickly closed the distance.

  "Scavengers aren’t welcome. Leave or die," one of them barked, his face impassive.

  The speaker appeared to be in his fifties, well-built, with a longsword strapped across his broad, muscular back. His piercing gaze locked onto Izak’s weapon. The two guards flanking him rested their hands near their hilts, their stance wary.

  "Oh, I’m not a scavenger—" Izak started, but Ailee cut him off.

  "Sorry, sir! My friend and I aren’t scavengers. In fact, he just saved me from a group of them this morning. I’m from a town west of here, near the forest’s edge..."

  She quickly recounted the events of her village’s destruction, her voice trembling at the memory.

  One of the younger guards kicked at the dirt, frustration evident in his posture.

  "How many is that since the start of the year?" another muttered, his face red with anger.

  "Calm yourselves. It won’t change anything," the older guard said before turning back to Ailee. "I’m sorry to hear such grim news. Your village isn’t the first to fall to deserters and mercenaries lately."

  His gaze shifted back to Izak. "You should change your outfit next time to avoid confusion."

  After a few more questions about the attack and their survival, the guards finally allowed them through the gate. To keep things simple, Izak explained that he had been out in the forest when he heard screams from the village. Realizing what was happening, he hid at the forest’s edge and watched as the scavengers overran the town. When he saw Ailee running toward the trees, he rushed to help her, managing to pull her into cover before they could catch her. Ailee eyed him but said nothing.

  Eldermere

  The city was far larger than it had appeared from the outside, stretching eastward with the towering Infinite Cliffs forming a natural barrier to the north. From the entrance, a thin but tall waterfall cascaded down the cliffs, crashing into the heart of the city.

  Both Izak and Ailee froze, mesmerized.

  A wide street extended inward, lined with wooden buildings. The scent of baked bread and sizzling meat mingled with the fresh aroma of wildflowers.

  "Don’t just stand there—move!" a grumpy old man scolded as he walked past them.

  Izak and Ailee exchanged glances before stepping aside and continuing forward.

  The city buzzed with life—market stalls overflowed with fresh produce, craftsmen shaped metal and leather, and children darted between the crowds. Inns, shops, food stalls—it was overwhelming.

  "The guard told us to register at the City Administration," Ailee reminded him.

  They followed the main street until they reached an impressive natural pool with a grand fountain at its center—a dragon, its maw open, water cascading in a never-ending stream. The pool was surrounded by delicate blue and white flowers, their petals swaying in the breeze. The water was crystal clear, yet Ailee noticed she couldn’t see the bottom.

  Beyond the fountain stretched a vast plaza leading to a towering three-story building. Its base was made of pristine white stone, while the upper levels were crafted from dark wood, striking an elegant yet sturdy design.

  "Must be the administration," Izak muttered.

  As they stepped inside, they were immediately greeted by a tall, dark-skinned man. His features were sharp, his gaze intelligent, and his long white hair cascaded past his shoulders.

  "Welcome to the heart of Eldermere, the jewel of the Dark Forest," he said smoothly.

  Izak barely concealed his surprise. A dark elf.

  He glanced at Ailee, but she seemed unbothered, so he held his tongue, not wanting to appear ignorant.

  "My name is Vaelin. If I’m not mistaken, you’re here to register?"

  They nodded.

  "Follow me, then."

  Vaelin led them to a small office on the first floor, gesturing for them to wait.

  The seats were so soft that they reminded Izak of the ones back home. It had been days since he awoke on Zerath, and comfort had been a rare luxury. The room was small but cozy, large enough to host five or six people. A huge circular window on the right overlooked the main square, where the stunning fountain stood at its center.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  As Izak walked toward the window, a female voice called out.

  She was a head taller than him, dressed in a fitted dark blue leather suit.

  "Welcome to Eldermere, the last free city of Vandorath. Izak and Ailee, isn’t it? Follow me, let’s get this registration done." News traveled even faster than on Earth, Izak mused.

  She led them into her office and sat behind a massive wooden desk, its surface covered in documents and loose sheets of paper. The office was well lit, its walls almost completely covered by shelves filled with books of various sizes and colors.

  "Please, sit," she said, her voice firm yet polite. "Let me introduce myself. I’m Ithara Velannis, the mayor of this beautiful city. I’m sorry about what happened to your town, Ailee. Know that you can stay here, and we will help you settle." Yeah, she had already been informed, Izak thought.

  Ithara asked a series of basic questions, her hand writing down notes in a massive ledger with a beautiful feather as Ailee answered. Within minutes, she was done.

  "We're finished. Once again, welcome. As a healer, you may work with our medical staff if you choose to. Take this to my assistant—he will help you settle."

  Ailee exchanged a glance with Izak before nodding and exiting the room.

  "Now, Izak," Ithara continued, her sharp gaze turning to him. "Before we begin, give me your hand."

  Caught off guard by the request, Izak hesitated but complied. She grasped his hand with her left and covered it with her right, then closed her eyes.

  A moment passed in silence before she released him and opened her eyes.

  "It has been a long time since one of your kind visited us," she murmured. "The last time, I was still a child. I also sense… something more, hmm that's strange... interesting." Her gaze locked onto his. "Tell me, how did you arrive here? Your world is called Earth, isn’t it?"

  Izak stiffened.

  She knew.

  She knew of Earth. She knew it was his home.

  Could she help him?

  He hesitated. They had just met, and he had too many secrets to keep.

  Trust her.

  Azelia’s voice echoed in his mind. He didn't know why but he felt relieved she was still there, inside him... It might be strange to feel comfortable with another presence inside his head but hearing her voice was relaxing. It reminded him he wasn't completely alone.

  Following her words, Izak decided to tell his story. From the lightning strike to waking in the glade, his encounter with the scavengers, and the attack on Ailee’s town. He kept to the same story he had told the guards. He also decided to omit his bond with Azelia, he didn't know her enough for that.

  Ithara listened attentively, never writing anything down. She occasionally asked for details, nodding in understanding. Her expression darkened at the mention of the deserters but quickly returned to normal.

  "Thank you, Izak," she said at last. "I know you have many questions… Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers you seek. All I know is that about six hundred years ago, a young man from your world arrived here. He stayed for a few months but then disappeared. We never heard from him again."

  Izak leaned forward, intrigued.

  "Do you know what happened to him?"

  "Only fragments," she admitted. "He was a soldier, caught in a war. He fell from a cliff while escaping pursuers on horseback and somehow ended up here. He spent two seasons in Eldermere before setting out on a quest to find a way home. Whether he succeeded or perished… I do not know."

  Though it wasn’t much, the knowledge that someone else from Earth had once been here—and had searched for answers—gave Izak a strange sense of reassurance. Not because he wanted to return, but because it meant he wasn’t the only one. Someone had walked this path before, even if their fate remained unknown.

  With Ithara already aware he wasn’t from this world, Izak took the opportunity to ask more pressing questions. He wanted to understand the current state of the land. Ithara explained that the continent had been trapped in a long war, but in recent times, the situation had worsened. Skirmishes had become more frequent, and bands of mercenaries, scavengers, and deserters now roamed unchecked, pillaging everything in their path. Even Eldermere had been forced to fight off a few groups of deserters who had attempted to take what they pleased. Stability was crumbling, and survival had become uncertain for many.

  Before long, Izak found himself outside the building, staring at the dragon statue, a letter in hand. He had been registered. He was now a citizen of Eldermere.

  "Izak!"

  Ailee approached, her expression bright. "Did you get registered? How did it go?"

  Izak walked toward her, slipping the letter into his pocket.

  "Yeah, all good. Let's eat something. The mayor gave me five silver coins. I’m craving a real meal… It’s been too long since I had proper food."

  As they strolled down the main avenue, searching for a tavern, Ailee glanced at him.

  "Will you settle here?" she asked. "I already visited the healer’s building, and I can start whenever I want." Behind her smile, he could see how deeply the attack on her village had affected her. Getting back to work was what she needed, he thought.

  Izak didn’t answer immediately.

  Now that he wasn’t in immediate danger, everything was hitting him at once. Adrenaline had kept him moving, but now the weight of his situation crashed down on him. He had no home. No path. No certainty.

  Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

  "I don’t know… I need to find someone, but I have no idea where to start. I’ll need money. I’ll need to get stronger. With the war going on, the world is a crazy mess."

  Ailee stopped, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. She seemed lost in thought.

  "Hmm… since you know how to fight, you could register as an adventurer in the city," she suggested. "They take all kinds of jobs to help the people. You’d earn money, build a reputation, and might even gather useful information along the way."

  Izak considered it. Ithara had mentioned the adventurer guild too.

  It wasn’t a bad idea. He needed to start somewhere.

  "Thanks, Ailee. I think you're right," he said. "I’ll visit the guild later today. I also need to book a place to stay—according to Ithara, most basic inns charge a silver coin per week."

  With a goal in mind, he already felt lighter.

  They continued walking until they stumbled upon a cozy-looking pub. The scent of roasted meat and vegetables filled the air. They exchanged a glance before Izak pushed open the heavy wooden double doors.

  The interior was dim, but the rich aroma of food was intoxicating. Potted plants lined the walls, and a massive counter stood directly across from the entrance. A few patrons sat at the bar, drinking and shouting in merriment.

  One of them, a dwarf—or at least Izak assumed he was a dwarf—held a mug twice the size of his head. The sight made Izak chuckle.

  If this wasn’t cliché, he didn’t know what was.

  Nobody paid them much attention as they settled at a small table. The furniture was made of dark red wood, sturdy and polished from years of use.

  "Gilda!"

  A deep, gruff voice bellowed from behind the counter.

  "Get your ass over here and serve the customers! I can’t leave the bar, or these crazy lasses will empty my ale reserves!"

  Ailee let out a small laugh.

  "Your ass, you!"

  The sharp retort startled them.

  Turning, they saw her—Gilda Ironmug.

  As wide as she was tall, the dwarf woman strode toward them, her burly frame wrapped in a barmaid’s dress that reminded Izak of Oktoberfest—except she wasn’t a beautiful German waitress. She was a grumpy, no-nonsense barmaid.

  She slammed two large mugs onto the table.

  "Today’s special is mushroom soup, roasted boar, and cooked potatoes. That work for you?"

  They nodded.

  Less than five minutes later, they were filling their stomachs. Izak ate so fast that he had nearly finished his chunk of meat before Ailee was done with her soup. They barely spoke, too focused on the meal.

  At some point, Izak received an unsolicited refill of both meat and ale. He wasn’t about to complain. The food was amazing—he couldn’t tell if it was because of how long it had been since his last real meal or if it was simply that good.

  By the time they finished, the sky outside had darkened.

  "I still need to visit the adventurer’s guild," Izak said. "I hope it’s still open."

  "I’ll go with you," Ailee offered. "It’s next to the healer’s facility. They have a room where I can stay until I get my own place."

  Before leaving, Izak booked a room for a week, paying one silver and forty copper for the lodging and food.

  Stepping outside, they watched the sun dip behind the towering city walls.

  "We better move," Izak said. "I don’t want to waste any time."

  And with that, they set off toward the guild.