Ethan stood up and dusted himself off, his body completely healed from top to bottom. Though the same couldn't be said for his brain.
His mind raced, still processing the events of the past few hours. A relentless wolf, a near-fatal fall, and the bizarre magic system that had saved his life. He was in a world that didn't make sense, and yet, here he was, surviving by the skin of his teeth, with an SSS grade hidden class to boot.
"Okay," he muttered to himself, taking in his surroundings. "I can do this."
The settlement wasn't far. It looked peaceful—a stark contrast to the chaos he had just escaped. He started to make his way down the slope cautiously, keeping his eyes peeled for any new threats.
As he reached the bottom of the slope, the village gates loomed closer, a simple wooden structure that gave little hint of what lay inside. Would they accept him? Could he even trust them? His hand instinctively tightened around the makeshift spear he still carried.
Ethan's heart raced as he approached the village gates, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath him. The gates were simple, wooden, and unguarded. There were no sentries posted at the entrance, which seemed strange, considering the dangers that lurked in the wilderness just beyond.
He hesitated just a few feet from the gate. The settlement appeared peaceful, almost too peaceful, but the tension in the pit of his stomach warned him otherwise. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his mind.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered under his breath as he stepped forward and raised a hand to knock on the wooden gate.
Before his knuckles could make contact, the gate creaked open slightly. Ethan froze, his breath catching in his throat. A pair of eyes peeked through the small opening, scrutinizing him for a moment before the gate swung open wider, revealing a tall, middle-aged man clad in simple leather armor.
"Ethan, where did you go? The village chief has been looking all over for you."
Ethan blinked, taken aback by the man's words. "What?" he stammered, confused. "You... you know me?"
The man frowned, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Of course, I know you. Where have you been? The village has been in a panic since you disappeared."
Ethan's heart raced, confusion clouding his thoughts. Disappeared? He didn't recognize this man, nor could he recall ever being in this village before. The last thing he remembered was barely escaping the wolf and the fall off the cliff. How could they possibly know who he was?
The man sighed, clearly exasperated. "Look, I don't know what happened out there, but you need to come with me. The village chief has been waiting, and you know your father's temper better than me."
Ethan hesitated, trying to piece together the situation. Had this world somehow created a version of him that existed before he arrived? Was there another Ethan here? His thoughts spiraled, but he knew he had no choice but to go along with it. If they thought he belonged, maybe it would buy him some time to figure out what was really going on.
"Okay," he finally said, nodding. "I am just feeling a little confused at the moment because I took a bad fall." He awkwardly explained.
The man gave him a long, searching look as if sensing something was off, but then he turned and beckoned Ethan to follow him into the village.
The village beyond was small but bustling with life. Simple wooden houses lined the dirt roads, smoke curling from chimneys, and villagers moved about with a quiet energy, as if the day had worn on them. He got quite a few friendly smiles, some of which he returned.
The man led him down the central path toward a larger building near the heart of the village. It was sturdier than the rest, built from stone and wood, with a thick oak door standing slightly ajar.
The man stopped in front of the building and motioned for Ethan to follow him inside. "The chief's been worried sick. Best not keep him waiting."
Ethan nodded silently and stepped through the doorway. The inside of the building was dimly lit. Seated at a large wooden table in the center was an older man with a weathered face, his eyes sharp and calculating as he studied Ethan's approach.
The village chief rose to his feet, his expression one of both relief and confusion. "Ethan," he said, his voice gravelly. "You're back. Look at you! Your clothes are all torn, and you are caked with blood from head to toe! You have been training again, haven't you?"
Ethan hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Training? Was that what they thought had happened to him? He wasn't sure what training they were talking about, but it was clear that this version of Ethan they knew had a reputation.
"Uh, yeah... training," Ethan muttered, deciding it was best to go along with the assumption. "It was… pretty intense. I am bit confused because I had a little fall."
The chief nodded, his expression softening with a hint of pride. "I figured as much. You've always been a determined one, pushing yourself beyond your limits. But this," he gestured at Ethan's torn clothes and bloodstains, "this is the worst I've seen you come back. You need to be more careful out there. There are very dangerous beasts in these forests. The only reason they don't dare enter our settlement is their fear of Lord Nessleson."
Ethan swallowed. "I'll, uh, keep that in mind."
After a moment of silence, the chief sighed and gestured toward a chair by the table.
"Sit down, boy. You look like you've been through hell. I'm sure you're hungry. We'll get you cleaned up and fed before your mother finds out you've been back. Otherwise, she won't let me hear the end of it."
Ethan stiffened at the mention of his "mother," but nodded and sat down. He needed time to gather his thoughts, figure out how he had ended up in this strange place, and more importantly, why these people thought they knew him.
The chief signaled to the man who had brought Ethan to fetch some food.
What now? He and his supposed father were sitting next to next without anyone else. Was he to make some small talk?
Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his chair, and the silence prolonged. His father poured some drink from a jug and continued to sip it contently while looking at nothing in particular.
He wondered what the drink was when the smell of the wine hit his nose. God, what was a nice aromatic smell. The rich, earthy aroma of the wine filled the room. Even the best drinks he had savored back on earth wouldn't come close to this one.
He couldn't help but glance at the jug. There was more of it. Was the old man going to share some?
His father caught his gaze and chuckled. "Ah, you've got an eye for good wine, just like your old man. This one's from the northern vineyards. Took a lot of barter to get a few jugs of it. Do you want a taste?"
Ethan was about to nod when the man laughed again. "Don't even think about it. In a few hours you are-"
Interrupting their conversation, the door flung open and a young woman entered. "Ethan!" She rushed in, her expression a mix of relief and frustration.
"Where in the world have you been?" she demanded, hands on her hips. "You've been gone for hours. Do you have any idea how worried I was? We thought... we thought something might've happened to you!"
Before Ethan could respond, she grabbed him by the arm, inspecting his torn clothes and the dried blood. "And look at you! You're a mess!" Her eyes flicked to the chief, all her worry instantly turning to anger and aimed at the poor man.
"You! You are responsible for this. Always pushing him too hard!" the young woman snapped at the chief, her eyes flashing with frustration. "I know you think it's for his own good, but look at him! He's lucky to be alive!"
Ethan shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, his mind racing as he tried to piece together who she was. His sister, maybe?
The chief raised his hands defensively. "Marella, calm down. You know how important it is for him to be prepared. He'll never be able to face what's out there if he's not pushed to his limits."
Marella crossed her arms, her frown deepening. "There's pushing, and then there's nearly getting him killed. You need to be more careful. Well, mom is on her way. You can hear the rest from her." She huffed before grabbing Ethan and dragging him over to another room.
Ethan looked at his father, and the man simply gave him a helpless sigh. He had the look of a war veteran who had fought many battles with the women in the house and won none.