I slowly learned the language of my new parents as I grew up from a newborn to a few months old infant. They spoke a dialect of Old English, which was very different from the modern English that I knew. They called me Eadric, which meant "rich in power". They were simple farmers who lived in a small village in the kingdom of Wessex, in the 9th century.
They were kind and loving to me, and I felt a bond with them, even though they were not my real parents. They taught me how to walk, how to talk, how to eat, and how to behave. They also taught me about their beliefs, their customs, their history, and their legends.
They told me stories about the gods and goddesses, the heroes and villains, the monsters and dragons, and the magic and miracles. They told me about King Alfred the Great, who defended Wessex from the Viking invaders. They told me about the runes, the symbols that had power and meaning. They told me about the druids, the wise men who could communicate with nature and perform rituals.
I listened to them with curiosity and wonder, but also with skepticism and doubt. I knew that most of their stories were myths and legends, not facts and history. I knew that their gods and goddesses were not real, but only personifications of natural forces and human emotions. I knew that their magic and miracles were not possible, but only illusions and coincidences.
But I also knew that I had to keep my thoughts to myself, or risk being shunned or worse. I had to pretend that I believed in what they believed, or risk being accused of blasphemy or heresy. I had to hide my programming skills and knowledge, or risk being labeled as a witch or a demon.
I was a stranger in a strange land, a modern man in an ancient world.
I grew up to be about two years old, and I was able to speak fluently and walk steadily. I explored my home and also played with other children in my village. They were mostly friendly and cheerful, but also naive and ignorant. They had no idea about the world beyond their village, or the history before their time.
They expressed that they wanted to grow up to be knights and become strong and hunt wild monsters. They dreamed of glory and honor, of fame and fortune, of adventure and romance. They admired the warriors who fought for their king and their land, who wielded swords and shields, who rode horses and dragons.
I smiled at them and nodded along, but I felt no connection with them. I had no interest in becoming a knight or hunting monsters. I had no desire for glory or honor, for fame or fortune, for adventure or romance. I missed my old life, my computer, my code, my coffee.
I wondered if there was a way back to my old world, or if I was stuck in this one forever.
I hoped that there was more to this world than what I saw.
I wished that there was something that could make me happy.