"Aw... my head." I moaned holding my temples as I got up in a heap of wheat. The last thing I recalled was that weird portal dragging me in. My recollections were hazy. "What was that portal just now?" I said out loud.

  I searched my brain to find answers, but came up empty. I can't remember anything. All I knew was that I had just shown up in this world, and it seemed so... strange. Yet, as I inhaled the fresh air and looked at the big blue sky above, I felt at peace. This was unlike anything I'd seen before. The newness of it all almost made me dizzy.

  But the harsh truth hit fast. Memory loss, I thought with a frown. The muddle, the confusion—it wasn't a nice feeling at all. I felt lost, with just one bit of memory stuck in my head: Four others were with me. I couldn't picture their faces, but I knew they were real. In some way, they were part of this trip.

  "This looks like a farm," I said looking around. Piles of wheat lay here and there. The place was quiet, in a spooky way. "But nobody's here. Who owns this place?"

  Before I could figure anything out, horses' hoofbeats shattered the quiet. A wagon rumbled and squeaked as it came closer. I peered at it. A wagon? Why would a wagon be out here in the middle of nowhere?

  As it got nearer, I waved my arms. "Hey! Stop for me!"

  An elderly woman held the reins, her face gentle and welcoming as the wagon halted.

  "You seem lost young man," she said in a friendly tone. "Do you want a lift?"

  I paused then agreed. I had no other choices. "Yes, please. Thank you, ma'am."

  I climbed aboard and tried to collect my thoughts. The wagon shook as it moved along the path.

  "Where are you going?" the woman asked with a big smile.

  I needed to think . "Uh... the Bay Area," safe answer right?

  She chuckled. "The Bay Area? You won't find a bay in this direction, young man. Those clothes make me think you're not from around here."

  I looked at my yellow trench coat. It was dirty and stood out, not helping me fit in at all.

  "Don't worry," she said, "we'll reach the castle soon."

  My ears shot up. "A castle? You mean a real medieval castle? " I asked trying to hide how thrilled I was.

  The woman chuckled. "No, I'm no noble. I'm just a simple trader taking cotton and wheat to the capital." She stopped, her eyes going gentle. "The farm you woke up on belongs to Lord Gilbert. He's a nobleman, a kind one. He lets us work on his land and only takes a fair tax in return."

  Before I could say anything, the castle appeared in front of us.

  My mouth fell open. The building stood tall above everything else shining in the sun. Its gold details and clean white marble made it look almost magical. It reached at least twenty floors high, a stunning work of design.

  "This... this can't be true," I said . "Why isn't this on TV or social media? It looks like a world wonder."

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  The woman's face turned serious. "TV? Social media? What are those?"

  "You don't know what a TV is?" I asked in shock. "It's a box that displays moving images and shares news from all over the world."

  "Oh, you're talking about cellesvision," she answered. "It's not box-shaped but circular. Only nobles can afford them."

  "Is it possible to see one myself?"

  She grinned. "You might find one at the market near the castle. But watch out—you'll need a Dham-stone or another pass to get by the guards."

  I felt disappointed. "I don't have one of those stones."

  The woman looked at me with understanding. "Then sneak in. This wagon has a wheat bush at the back. Hide there as we get close."

  "I appreciate it, ma'am," I said with gratitude.

  "We're getting close to the gate," the old lady whispered. "Don't move and stay out of sight."

  I hid in the bushes, thoughts racing. Could this be a different world? The portal I saw earlier left no doubt.

  "This reminds me of Europe," I said, "but I'd know if a place like this existed."

  Then there was the cellevision - that device the old lady talked about - something my world didn't have. This wasn't just a historical setting; it had magic too.

  The thought hit me hard, my mind in chaos.

  "I'm lost and have no clue about my location," I grumbled feeling frustrated.

  I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. "Relax, Torayu. It won't be that bad. Perhaps you'll meet more people like her—sincere and welcoming."

  At that instant, my thoughts about the old woman seemed genuine. She had shown kindness and offered help, and for the first time since I got here, I felt a spark of optimism for what lay ahead.

  But that optimism didn't last long. Just as the wagon approached the castle's golden gate, the guards moved forward motioning it to halt.

  "Ey old lady, you got any permission?" one of the guards rudely asked. I couldn't see how they looked, but I could hear their response.

  "Here is my dham stone. This is my second visit to the capital this month. I have been here twice, and this is my third time," the gentle old lady explained.

  "do you think I am a fool ?" one of the guards replied.

  "Why? What's wrong? It's the same stone I used for trade earlier," the old lady said, her voice cracking.

  "These rocks don't matter to someone like you," one guard mocked, his voice full of scorn. "Just look at your clothes. You're a dirty commoner, not worthy to breathe near the gates."

  "Please," the old woman pleaded, her hands shaking as she offered the dham stone. "A flood blocked the other road, and I couldn't get to the other gate."

  The guard's face grew darker. "How dare you justify yourself to me?" he yelled banging his spear on the ground. "You knew the rules, and you broke them. As punishment, we'll be taking your horses and all your goods."

  "No, don't!" she begged, her voice breaking. "This is everything I have—my bread and butter. I'm finished without it!"

  Her frantic appeals appeared to entertain the guards. Another one moved closer, his words taunting. "Finished, huh? Should've thought of that before you broke the law."

  "Please, I beg you," the old woman murmured, with tears running down her cheeks. "Have mercy."

  The first guard grinned. "Mercy? You're fortunate I lack the time to lock you up. Here, take this instead!"

  CRACK.

  The crack of a whip split the air followed by an agonized scream from the elderly woman. Anger flooded through me as I watched from my hiding spot in the wheat pile. My heart raced. These people were brutes. Thugs who picked on those weaker than them.

  But what options did I have? They carried weapons, and I was just... myself. Powerless.

  "Damn old hag," the second guard growled scraping his boots on the ground. "She ruined my shoes"

  "Take it easy, Nicarus," the first guard laughed. "We'll get good money for the wagon and its contents. You can get new boots then."

  "Whatever," Nicarus snarled, his face dark with anger. "Just remove this trash from my view. I need to go to a ceremony. You handle the horses and the goods. I'm going back."

  "Kill her," Nicarus said as he walked away. "We don't need any loose ends."

  My blood turned to ice. Kill her? For what reason? A simple error? The words kept repeating in my head making me dizzy.

  I wanted to yell, to struggle, to take action. But I couldn't move. Not yet. My muscles were stiff not because I feared getting caught, but because of the shock from what I'd just heard.

  The guards pulled the crying woman away. I clenched my fists, my nails digging in, and stayed hidden.

  This place isn't just different, I thought. It's cruel.

  As the guards moved out of sight, I muttered under my breath, "Nicarus. I'll remember that name. You'll pay for this. I swear it."

  Rage clouded my vision as dark ideas filled my head. Anyone who did such things didn't deserve to live.