Child Of Time

The first light of dawn barely touched the horizon, casting a soft, pale glow over the quiet road as Gray walked. The village still slept, its streets empty save for a few early risers and the occasional guard making rounds. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of dew-covered earth, and a gentle breeze rustled through the trees that lined the path.

Gray moved with purpose; his footsteps silent on the worn cobblestones. He was headed toward the village gate, ready to leave this place behind. His work here was done—information gathered; weapons procured. Now, his sights were set on the next destination: the nearest city, where he could find a teleportation gate to Seraphis. the heart of the continent and home to the World Academy.

'This village was merely a stopover,'

he thought, his mind already shifting to the challenges ahead. The few days spent here had been productive, but ultimately, this place held nothing of real value to him. He had what he needed—the rest was trivial.

As he continued down the road, a small annoyance tugged at his thoughts.

'The weapons here are primitive.'

Gray had searched for a katana, a blade he was particularly fond of from his past life, but to his disappointment, it seemed this world had no knowledge of such a weapon. He had questioned several blacksmiths, browsed every shop, but all had turned up empty-handed.

"A katana doesn't exist in this world."

Gray's lips curled into a faint smile.

"That's not a problem," he thought. 

"If I can't buy one, I'll just make it myself."

The thought of forging his own blade, one that would feel right in his hands, ignited a spark of excitement in him. He could wield any weapon with deadly precision, but a katana—that was something special. It would be a symbol, a connection to his past and a reminder of who he truly was.

His musings were interrupted by a sudden shout.

"Wait!"

Gray stopped in his tracks, his golden eyes narrowing as they fixed on the source of the voice. A bulky guard, tall and broad-shouldered, stood in his path, blocking the gate. The man was clearly trying to assert his authority, but as he met Gray's gaze, he faltered. the intensity of Gray's stare was enough to make the guard flinch.

The guard quickly composed himself, though the slight tremor in his voice betrayed his unease.

"Sir, please… show me your ID."

Gray remained silent for a moment, letting the tension hang in the air. The guard's bravado was admirable, but ultimately, pointless. Without a word, Gray slipped his hand into his pocket, activating the rune on his wrist. The familiar warmth spread through his fingers as he accessed the storage. Within seconds, he withdrew two golden coins, holding them out for the guard to see.

The guard's eyes widened in surprise, his stern expression faltering as he processed the sight of the coins. For a moment, he hesitated, but the temptation was too great to resist. The stern façade crumbled completely, replaced by a greedy glint in his eyes as he snatched the coins from Gray's hand.

"Thank you, sir,"

the guard mumbled, bowing deeply and stepping aside to allow Gray passage. The earlier bravado had vanished, replaced by a servile demeanour.

Gray didn't bother to respond. He simply walked past the guard, his steps steady and unhurried. As he exited the village, the road ahead stretched out before him, leading toward the distant city. The sun was beginning to rise, its light casting long shadows behind him.

'No matter which world I'm in, Gray thought to himself, people are all the same—greedy.'

With that, he continued his journey, the village fading into the distance behind him. The path ahead was long, but Gray's steps were sure, each one bringing him closer to his goal.