Time had trickled by since my arrival in this world. In the space between then and now, something remarkable had taken place: I HAD LEARNED TO SPEAK. I really thought I would lose my mind if I continued to blabber like that. It was a silent victory, an unsung milestone in my journey to adapt to Gaia. And as I grasped this newfound ability, my quest for knowledge and understanding soared to greater heights.
As a young child in a world where knowledge was often limited, I was fortunate to have a mother like Helen. Her patience and dedication not only nurtured my early steps but also opened a door to a new world. Honestly it was a world I didn’t want to visit …again
"Arthur, let's try this again." Helen's gentle voice resonated as she pointed at the letters on the weathered parchment. "This is 'A,' and when you add 'P,' it becomes 'AP,' like in 'apple.'"
Sitting by the hearth, I'd struggle with each stroke of the quill, attempting to mimic the shapes and curves she effortlessly demonstrated. "A... A-P... Apple?" My young voice sounded uncertain, but Helen's smile was unwavering.
"That's right! You're doing wonderfully," she encouraged, her eyes glowing with pride. "Soon, you'll read stories all on your own."
The cozy warmth of our home was juxtaposed against the vastness of the knowledge those books held. I would watch Helen engrossed in her readings, sometimes reading aloud to me, her voice resonating like a storyteller weaving enchantments.
"Mom, why do we have so many books?" I'd asked one day, tracing the intricate patterns on an ancient tome. I could understand if all these books were focus on a subject but there were so many mentioned topics
Helen paused, her eyes distant for a moment, a subtle shadow passing over her expression before she answered. "In this world, Arthur, strength is important, but knowledge is the companion that shapes and refines strength. They go hand in hand. There was a time when I realized that far too late."
I noticed a trace of sadness in her eyes, reminiscences of a past burden she carried. Her words, while profound, seemed tinged with regret and an untold story, hinting at a world of trials she'd encountered.
"The more you learn, the stronger you become," she finally continued, her tone a mix of longing and wisdom.
Her words echoed in my mind as I finally understand the reality of this world.
“It appear that be strong would not be enough to survive here…”
With time, I learned not just the power of words but also the secrets of the world I inhabited. My thirst for knowledge extended beyond the pages of books, seeking to understand the very foundation of this world.
"Mom, what's our world called?" I inquired, curious about the realm beyond our city walls.
"We live in Gaia," Helen replied, her eyes glimmering with affection for our world. "It's a planet teeming with magic, divided into four continents: the domain of humans and beastmen, the land of the dwarves, the ethereal realm of the elves, and the demon territories."
She retrieved a small, worn map, depicting a fragment of the human territories. The parchment was weathered, creased, and delicate, a treasure trove of information etched by skilled hands.
"Your father created this map when he was younger" she revealed, a wistful smile gracing her lips."But I don’t think it is my place to tell you how"
“Younger? I already expect him to be an adventurer in the past but right now I start to doubt if he is really in his early thirties” I thought a little bit surprise by all my father did before my birth
Her evasion piqued my curiosity, yet I sensed it wasn't the right moment to press further. Her gaze lingered on the map, a testament to the scarcity of information available in our world.
"Finding this much information was already difficult," she added, hinting at the challenge of acquiring knowledge in our world.
As she traced the map's outlines, I absorbed the limited knowledge it offered, realizing that even such meager details were a treasure in a world where information was a rare commodity.
"These lands host different races, each with its distinct culture and customs. But Gaia faces a common threat," Helen continued, her tone growing somber.
"Devils, invaders from another realm, pose a danger to all inhabitants. They arrived through a portal in regions abundant with mana, seeking to conquer and destroy."
As she spoke, the gravity of her words painted a picture of a world constantly under siege, where the diverse races stood united against a relentless adversary.
"Mana?" I echoed, trying to grasp the core of this mystical force.
"Mana is the essence of life, Arthur," she explained.
"It's an energy that flows within every living being, an unseen force that fuels magic and life itself."
Her words were like puzzle pieces clicking together, slowly forming a vivid picture of Gaia's intricate fabric.
"Mom, do all beings use magic?" I asked, imagining fantastical spells and enchantments.
"Yes, and no," she replied with a hint of mystery.
"All races have access to the six elemental realms: fire, earth, water, wind, light, and darkness. And when we turn five, we awaken our elemental affinity naturally. It's a phenomenon deeply rooted in our world."
As she spoke, I pondered the implications of such a profound awakening. The very fabric of existence was woven with elemental threads, and each being was connected to these primal forces in a unique way.
---
Mom's voice lingered in my mind as i contemplated the intricate threads of magic and elemental affinity that bound Gaia together. Yet, amidst these enchanting forces, there was a shadow, a stark contrast – the monsters that prowled beyond the city walls.
"Mom," I queried, curious about the other inhabitants of their world, "what about the creatures outside the city? Are they all just... mindless monsters?"
With a solemn expression, Helen began unravelling a different facet of Gaia. "No, Arthur. These creatures are far more complex than stories may suggest. They're not just beasts. They're intelligent, cunning even."
I was taken aback; my preconceptions of mindless creatures shattered like brittle glass. I listened intently as Helen revealed the startling truth about these monsters.
"Monsters here aren't merely products of instinct. They reproduce, feed, and evolve using the ambient mana. This essence gives them a level of intelligence and adaptation that's unlike anything you might have read."
As mother described goblins laying intricate traps and wolves stalking prey for kilometres, a newfound sense of awe mingled with a tinge of apprehension within me. These were not creatures relegated to folklore; they were complex adversaries, each with its own sophisticated way of surviving in Gaia's wilderness.
"And here I was already imagining hacking dozens of goblins by myself," Arthur admitted, his fascination now tinged with a touch of trepidation.
Helen affirmed. "Monsters in our world are much more intricate and dangerous. You need to be cautious and vigilant beyond the city walls. They're not mindless; they're survivors, each with their unique methods of hunting and adaptation."
I absorbed mother's words, realizing that thriving in Gaia wouldn't just hinge on strength or knowledge. It would demand adaptability, strategy, and an astute understanding of these creatures' multifaceted nature – a far cry from the simplistic monsters depicted in the novels I once cherished.
Surviving and thriving here isn't just about what I remember from my past life, I mused, looking over the array of books and scrolls before me. Sure, that knowledge might help me understand people better or sidestep some pitfalls, but in Gaia, it's different.
"You've got a head start, but you're in a whole new world now," I whispered to myself, reflecting on the vast insights these tomes held. The teachings here aren't just words; they're the keys to adapt, to grow, to thrive in a world where I'm starting from scratch.
The wisdom passed down by my parents, engraved in these pages, that's where the real power lies. It's in merging what I knew from my past life with the customs, teachings, and abilities of this world.
"It seems I will need to blend the knowledge I have from two worlds to survive here " I thought, envisioning a path that wasn't just about spells and swords but about weaving together two worlds to forge something new.
The first step? It's simple: learn. Not just from the books but from the lives around me, from the people who call this world home. Everybody is a source of knowledge resulting of the encounter they have with death themselves.
So, with my past as a shield and the wisdom of Gaia as a sword, I'll move forward. Ready not just to survive but to thrive, carving my destiny by merging two realms, seeking strength in the harmony between the old and the new.
