In the blink of an eye, two more years had passed. I had grown stronger and more agile, learning to walk and talk without any problems. With the help of my family, I had begun to venture outside of our small wooden cabin.
At first, my parents were hesitant to let me go outside, worried that I might be snatched by predatory birds or other beasts that preyed on human children. They told me about the dangers of the world, of creatures called "Rocs".
I was quite surprised to hear the name of the species my parents were most worried about. I vividly remembered that name from all the fantasy novels and games I had read and played in my past life. From my memory they were horrifying birds with wing span as big as houses and claws as sharp as the sharpest swords that hunted even elephants, But as I learned more about the world, I realized that these "Rocs" were not quite the terrifying monsters I had imagined. They were certainly large, with wingspans of about three meters, but nowhere near the forty meter behemoths of my imagination.
As I ventured outside of the wooden cabin that had been my home for the past few years, I was filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity. With each step I took, I discovered new things about this strange world that I had been born into. I wanted to know everything, to understand the society I lived in, to learn about the science and technology that surrounded me, and to explore the mysteries of magic and mythical creatures that seemed to exist in this world.
I had already discovered that Rocs, those horrifying birds from my memories of fantasy novels and games, were real and lived in this world. But what about other mythical beings like elves, dwarves, and dragons? Did they exist too, or were they just figments of my imagination?
I had always wondered about the level of technological advancement in this world, and I was surprised to find that it was a mix of old and new. Blacksmiths who worked with iron existed, indicating that the Iron Age had begun, but basic inventions like the wheel and crop rotation were still unknown, at least not in our village. This was a far cry from the world I remembered, where technology had progressed much further.
I also learned that the four seasons existed in this world, but I had never experienced snow. I was told, by the village elder, that this was due to our village being located in the northern part of the continent, close to the volcanic region of the north. It was a strange realization, to know that instead of ice caps of the Arctics there lies a giant volcanic continent.
As I approached the elder's cabin, my heart raced with excitement and nervousness. I had always been fascinated by the idea of magic, and I had finally mustered up the courage to ask the village elder if he possessed any magical abilities. As I opened the door and stepped inside, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The elder was exactly what I had imagined a magician would look like - a wise old man with a long white beard, draped in a flowing robe and holding a wooden staff.
As I approached him, my nerves began to get the better of me. I had always been fascinated by magic, and the idea of being in the presence of someone who could actually wield it was both exhilarating and intimidating. But I knew I had to ask, so I took a deep breath and gathered my courage.
"Elder," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Can you use magic?"
The old man looked at me with downcast eyes and shook his head. "I'm afraid not, my child."
"Well can you teach- wait what?" I was confused and surprised. If this cardboard cut out of a wizard can't use magic then who can?
Seeing my distressed eyes the old man gave a hollow chuckle and replied with a crestfallen voice. "Magic is a power reserved for the gods and their chosen servants. Not lesser species like us."
"But what about the stories of humans who have used magic?" I asked, unable to contain my sadness.
The old man's smile faded slightly. "Those are just stories, my child. Fantasies meant to bring hope and joy to our mundane lives. The reality is that magic is a power beyond our reach, and we must accept that and be content with the gifts that the gods and our elven masters have bestowed upon us."
I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment and frustration. I had always dreamed of using magic, of discovering its secrets and unlocking its power. But now, I realized that it was nothing more than a pipe dream, a childish fantasy that could never be realized.
"But," the old man added, his voice soft and gentle. "That doesn't mean you can't still strive to be the best you can be. You have talents and abilities that are unique to you, and you should nurture and develop them to the best of your abilities. Who knows, you may even discover something that has never been seen before in this world."
I ran outside the elders cabin, towards my own house in disbelief, struggling to understand the harsh realities of this world. I had always imagined magic to be a wondrous and magical force, something that could solve all problems and bring joy and happiness to those who possessed it. But now I saw that it was a privilege reserved for the chosen species, a power that could bring just as much joy and prosperity to the species that wielded it as it could bring pain and suffering to those that didn't.