The man turned out to be far younger than Jason had imagined. He couldn't have been any older than thirty. Jason noticed his hands were covered in some kind of white substance and he was wearing a rather unusual burgundy cloak. Compared to the drably colored clothing that the rest of the villagers were wearing, it stuck out like a sore thumb. Aside from the cloak which was in superb condition, the rest of the stall was well used. Even stranger, it didn't seem like he was selling anything that Jason could see. There was a belt with tools on it and several boxes filled with paper of all things.
The paper had writing on it so it couldn't he couldn't have been selling it could he? Perhaps he wasn't a merchant after all. The man shuddered at Jason's smile. What exactly did his face look like to make all of these people react like this? It was supposed to be a friendly, reassuring smile. "Please," he finally said, stuttering through his words. "You can take whatever you like, please just don't hurt anyone."
What in the world was going on? "I don't need anything except information," Jason said, trying to keep his cool. It was disturbing to cause this kind of reaction in so many people. Was he some kind of monster?
The man looked confused for a moment before terror took over once again. "Please, just take whatever you want," he said again.
More than disturbing this was inconvenient Jason thought cursing the sparrow. What had it done to him? "I just need to know where I am. Do you have a map?"
"I don't have anything like that," the man said, sounding like he was in pain. "I don't know that you'll be able to find a map at all here." He was torn between fear and confusion. "Please just take whatever you need. Nobody will stop you."
Jason wanted to ring the man's neck, but figured that wouldn't help his situation much. Better to just give him what he wants, Jason thought grimly. He was starting to feel like the man wouldn't accept anything less than getting robbed. Screw it, Jason thought. "Fine, give me the water jug there," he said pointing towards a clay pitcher behind the man.
The terrified villager apparently expected more as he looked quizzically at Jason. "Fine," Jason continued, annoyed that he couldn't even rob the man without judgment. "Why don't you give me that toolbelt," he said pointing at the belt he had seen earlier. "And your cloak too."
The man froze at the mention of his cloak. It did look like a nice cloak and he kept it in immaculate condition compared to everything else. Maybe Jason had gone a bit too far asking for that. However, a moment later, he took it off with shaking hands and handed it along with the belt to Jason. He then grabbed the pitcher.
"Actually do you have a bag I can put this stuff in," Jason asked without thinking, and immediately regretted it. What was he at the grocery store? The man still reached under his desk and pulled out a large woven sack without a word. It may not be the most ethical thing to do, but it wasn't like Jason had intentionally come trying to rob him. The fool man seemed like he wouldn't take anything less than robbery.
Jason grabbed the pitcher and took a long drink from it. He wasn't thirsty, but who knew where the nearest water would be when he left. He didn't have the tiniest intention of staying anywhere near this town.
Unsure what to say, Jason gave the man an awkward nod and started walking away. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a teenager come out from behind the stall and whisper something to the man. If only Jason could hear what they were saying.
"We can't activate it over something like this, we just have to hope he takes what he wants and goes without incident." The sparrow was apparently reciting their conversation to him and Jason didn't want it to stop the first useful thing it had done.
"There's no way he'll be content with just taking stuff, he's going to kill us all."
"There's nothing we can do if he does, so just stay low."
"I thought he was dead."
"The battle queen herself killed him years ago, but I'd recognize that face anywhere. Something is off with him, but there's no point in risking it. When he's out of here, I want you and Derek to run to the capital and warn the new hero. It's of the utmost importance…"
The sparrow stopped talking in his head, but it seemed they should still be talking. It must not be able to hear things from far away. "That is correct."
Jason wanted the stupid bird out of his head, but he might as well use it for now. "What's going on here," he thought to the sparrow.
"That mason's apprentices are going to warn the king that you have awoken," the sparrow said. "We must keep him from finding out at all cost."
"That isn't what I meant," Jason thought, but the sparrow didn't seem to even hear him.
"You need to follow the apprentices and keep them from telling the king at all costs."
"SHUT UP!" Jason screamed out loud, unable to handle it anymore. The few people still outside jumped and cowered away as he passed, but Jason didn't care anymore. These people already thought he was some kind of monster so what did it matter if they also thought he was unhinged.
"I've already made it clear that I don't care about what you called me here for! You can either start giving me answers or you can forget about demanding anything from me!" He was nearly outside of the village again, for whatever little good it had done.
The young guard or whatever he had been was cowering along the side of the wall, still looking terrified, but also somewhat hopeful. Probably relieved to see me leaving, Jason thought bitterly. Was it going to be like this everywhere he went? He really needed a mirror or something. He felt his face, but despite feeling completely foreign to him, it still seemed human. If he could just find a mirror or something.
Jason turned towards the boy at the wall, causing the boy to start trembling once again. He wasn't even pretending that he might put up a fight anymore. "You," he called out to the boy. "Go get me a mirror or something similar."
The boy hesitated. Actually frozen in fear might be the better description, Jason thought. He seemed unsure what to do. This world wasn't that technologically advanced. Maybe mirrors weren't something that anyone could have. Did ancient people have mirrors, he thought hopelessly? He was really out of his element here. "Well?" he called out to the boy, who finally made a decision.
He bolted off towards the rest of the village and into one of the first shacks. Hopefully he wasn't running off to go hide. Only a few seconds passed before the lad came running back out with a sword in his hand. Was he going to attack him? The thought wasn't as alarming as he thought it should be. Why wouldn't he have just used his spear?
Jason tensed as the boy ran to him, but he dropped the sword at his feet and ran back into the town. Jason leaned over and picked up the sword. He knew nothing about swords, but it felt like it was a nice weapon. It didn't shine like swords he had seen in movies, but he could make out his reflection for the most part. Clever boy, Jason thought with a chuckle.
Jason's new body was taller and more muscular than his old body, but he already knew that. He was more interested in his facial features, which after a glance, he found were indeed rather intimidating. A bald head, stern eyes, and a jagged nose and jawline. It was also just as covered in scars as his arms, which was discomforting. Still, he didn't have horns or some kind of disease, so why would all of these villagers instantly recognize him and flee in terror. Unless they all knew his face…Had he been reincarnated into some kind of famous outlaw?