Alex walked along the dirt path of the small village he had finally found—after days of traveling, running, and fighting.
The village was modest: wooden houses, dusty roads, and a handful of people bustling about their daily routines.
A wooden watchtower stood at the entrance, barely tall enough to see over the nearby trees. Perched atop it was a young man—barely in his late teens—gripping the hilt of his sword with nervous anticipation.
There was also a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
He scrambled down the tower and rushed forward, nearly crashing into Alex.
"Welcome, sir!" the boy declared proudly. "You've entered the great Village of Windmere! I'm Joel."
Alex barely gave him a glance as he walked past.
He needed information—where he was, what had happened to him—and for that, he needed a reliable source.
Looking at the teenager, he didn't find one. Unbothered, Joel grinned and followed him.
"You must be tired from your journey! Allow me to guide you."
Alex kept walking. Joel kept talking.
"This is the main road to the nearest town. We have approximately 400 citizens here—most of the men are warriors. Are you a warrior too?"
Without waiting for a response, they reached an open area.
"Over here is the market square. Sometimes we get traders from other villages and towns. You should come during that time—it's worth it!"
He noticed where the stranger's gaze had shifted and hurried in that direction.
"That's our village blacksmith! He mostly does repairs. If you need new weapons, you have to place an order several days in advance."
Alex exhaled slowly.
This boy talks too much.
Joel beamed at him.
"You look strong. Are you an adventurer? A mercenary?" His voice was filled with awe. "What level are you?"
For the first time, Alex looked at him for more than a second.
"Level?"
"Yes, level! I just reached Level 5. I plan to go to Town Dera soon, maybe have some adventures!"
He leaned in close and whispered, "Do you know about dungeons? Have you been in one? They say Town Dera has one. You can find skill books, spell books, and lots of rare items in there!"
They arrived at the blacksmith's door.
"So... everyone has levels?" Alex asked.
"Of course! Are you making fun of me, sir?"
Joel reached the door, but it was closed.
"Ah, damn it. That guy must've gone drinking again. Let's come back later, sir. So—where to next? Come on, I'll show you the inn!"
Alex sighed and followed him.
As they walked, villagers cast wary glances at Alex.
Their eyes were filled with suspicion.
He was used to it.
A stranger clad in dark clothing, bloodstained—though dried—still carried the marks. People always assumed the worst.
He didn't care.
He wasn't here to make friends—he was here to gather information, then move on.
Joel kept talking the whole time—about his Initiation, about town life, about training.
Alex couldn't help but feel like he had come to an entirely different world.
He was different.
He had gone through Initiation at the age of 21.
Everyone here did it at 15.
That either meant he was in a very distant part of the world—far from King George and his kingdom—or...
He had come to a whole new world entirely.
And the second option felt far more likely.
But how?
He didn't know. It was the biggest question on his mind.
One thing was certain—he wouldn't find answers in this small village.
He had to keep moving.