After returning from the sanctum, Vaelis sat on the simple bed inside the tent, his mind busy with thoughts. The warmth of the stew lingered in the air, but his focus was elsewhere. He was still trying to piece things together.
Then, he heard footsteps outside.
His body tensed up. But the steps were calm, light—nothing threatening. He relaxed a little.
A figure stepped through the tent flap. It was a girl. Not stunning, but her presence felt natural, grounded. Her clothes didn't look modern, nor ancient. Somewhere in between. It was clear to him: this place wasn't Earth.
She looked at him and smiled gently.
"You're awake," she said.
Strangely, he understood her perfectly.
"Yes," Vaelis replied.
She nodded. "My husband found you passed out near our hut. Sorry, I should introduce myself—my name is Lina. You were completely naked, so we thought maybe... maybe you were some kind of escaped slave from the Taveran. They throw people out like that when they collapse."
She gave a hesitant look, as if she wasn't sure whether to believe her own theory.
"Long story short, you've been resting here. What's your name? And what's your story?"
Vaelis paused, then replied, trying to sound as honest as possible while shaping a cover story.
"My name is Vaelis. I wasn't with the Taveran. I was on a journey with a friend... but we got lost. As night fell, we decided to rest near some trees. But when I woke up the next morning, my friend was gone—and so was everything else. I wasn't even in the same place. And I was... well, naked. So I started searching for anyone, any sign of people, and eventually stumbled upon your village. But I must've passed out. Hunger, exhaustion, and cold can do that."
He looked down, then added, "To be honest, I don't remember much of my past."
Lina blinked, clearly unsure how to take it, but then she nodded slowly. "That's... a strange story. But the world is big. All kinds of things happen."
"Where am I, anyway?" he asked.
"You're in a small village called Uren," she said. "It's part of the Kingdom of Kael. Our kingdom's known for fire magic. Does that ring any bells?"
Vaelis shook his head. "No. Nothing."
She studied him again. "I thought so. You don't seem from around here. Your skin's too soft for this environment. And your accent... you speak our language, but there's something off. No flavor of this region."
She looked curious, but not suspicious. Then she added, "My husband knows more about the world than I do. But he's not here now—he's on duty."
"What kind of duty?" Vaelis asked, interested.
"Nothing serious. Our kingdom's just... having a small conflict with the neighboring kingdom, Virel. It's over resources."
"What kind of resources?"
She hesitated. "Cultivation stones, I think. They're valuable for cultivators. I don't know much about it, but my husband could tell you more."
"So, how many kingdoms are there?" Vaelis asked.
Lina tilted her head, surprised. "Do you really not remember anything? Not even where you're from?"
Vaelis shook his head with a solemn expression. "Before that night, everything is blank. I only remember what happened after I woke up."
She looked at him for a long moment. There was doubt in her eyes, but also a quiet understanding. "Alright... I won't pry into your past. Not everyone wants to remember."
She took a deep breath and answered, "There are fourteen kingdoms within our empire. It's called the Empire of Thalara. It's considered the second strongest empire in the world."
"Second strongest? How many empires are there?"
"Four," she replied. "Each separated by the Great Veil Ocean in the middle of the world. Some say people have crossed it, but if so, they're incredibly powerful and very few. The other empires... I've only heard their names: Zareen, Morkhal, and Arthell. I don't know much about them. Honestly, I don't even know that much about the fourteen kingdoms in Thalara. But my husband, Darnan, he knows more. He reads a lot."
Vaelis nodded thoughtfully. *So there's an entire world divided by oceans and empires...* It was overwhelming, but oddly exciting.
He leaned forward slightly. "I don't have anywhere to go. Until I recover my memories—or figure out where I belong—could I find work here? Maybe settle down for a while?"
Lina smiled gently. "If you work hard, you can make a decent life here. Farming, construction, labor—those are the basics. If you had any cultivation skills, you could be hired as a guard, maybe even in a city or a Taveran... but this is just a small village. Work comes slowly. You'll have to be patient."
Vaelis nodded. "I understand. Thank you."
They talked more as the sun began to rise outside the tent, casting a soft glow through the fabric. The conversation wandered from crops to festivals to neighboring villages.
And little by little, Vaelis began to understand this new world.
Even if he still didn't know who he really was.
But for now, he had a place to be. And that was enough.