Author note:
For any very early reader, if any at all: The previous iteration of chapter 3 had content from this chapter, but is now cut in half.
The town is quieter than I expected.
Not empty, just not a lot. A man walks past me with his hands tucked into his coat. In the distance a woman carries a crate balanced on her hip. A child struggles to push a small cart, wheels rattling against the gravel.
Most of the buildings are stone or wood. Buildings that look old, but well maintained. Blank brown wooden doors. Windows are intact, some with shutters pulled halfway down.
"Hm. Seems like this world has not ended at all." I murmur, "Or it did a poor job at doing so at least, HAHAHAHA-"
I close the door behind me.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" I mumble, before deciding on a random direction.
The further I go, the more the town changes in small ways. Less homes, more open fronts. The air smells faintly of smoke in one stretch, then oil a little further down. Somewhere nearby, metal strikes metal in a steady rhythm, barely drawing in people's attention.
I stop for a second, note it in my mind and keep my ass moving.
People notice me sometimes. Not often. A few glances linger longer than others, mixed expressions. Most just look once and move on. A bit eerie, perhaps I'll understand later.
And some people feel… just different.
It's subtle at first. Standing near them slightly teases my attention, and my body notices something before my thoughts do.
Before I finish my thoughts a woman passes by, which makes my chest feel a bit heavier, like the air around her weighs more. A man laughing with a vendor leaves a faint warmth behind as he moves on.
A pair of guards pass me, and I instinctively look down. It's like I am standing near something stable. The guard seems to... ooze maturity.
It's a feeling that is hard to describe and compare with anything I've experienced. The concept is common in fantasy stories. Presence. Aura. Weight or just something that naturally leaks.
"Indeed interesting," I say to myself quietly.
After a while, patterns start forming. Certain streets are busier than others. Some areas smell like food. Others like oil and smoke. Guards pass by and people are just minding their own business.
The town isn't large. I haven't visited every street or corner, but most directions lead to the same familiar environments. Buildings are spaced apart, not stacked on top of each other. There aren't many tall structures, and none that dominate the skyline.
It's not crowded, but lively.
I also notice something strange the longer I walk. The road is suddenly not gravel, but cobblestone.
The houses don't look modern, the streets don't either, but the plumbing does.
I spotted a public wash area with some kind of washing devices. Or that's what the symbol on the sign refers to I believe. I also went into a not so fancy open building and I found out that modern toilets actually exist everywhere, or at least there.
It must be a blessing. Thumbs up is all I can say.
And it is apparently the sixth of something today. Not sure what that means.
More importantly, there is magic. Every isekai and transmigrator reader's dream. It should have been me! I always thought, and to think I am here.
I decided to end my outing, since a few hours had already passed.
I return to the house, and hunger and thirst are back in full force. I go to the kitchen and drink water from the sink. Eugh, this water is definitely worse than the precious tap water I had in my world.
I then remember something about the old man. The old man said there was a lecture overmorrow, but I don't know how long it's been since I was knocked out. It was probably at least one night.
He didn't even mention the time or location.
So I decided to wait. In my room. On the bed. Laying down, blanket on my body and head on the pillow. Closed eyes. Just a small nap, no more than 5 minutes, while I wait.
-
I snap my eyes open
"No!"
I overslept.
A familiar and heavy presence can be felt.
No sound. No movement.
Just the sense that I'm not alone anymore.
I get up from the bed and quietly walk to the open door. I look to my left and see something down the stairs.
Madin Din Dun stands at the bottom of the stairs, hands behind his back, expression neutral, like he's been here the whole time,waiting impatiently.
My chest tightens.
He looks me over once, then exhales quietly.
"The lecture has started, child."