It was at this very moment, as Alsies lifted a succulent piece of fruit to his mouth, that he heard a peculiar sound. The shrill ringing of the phone jolted the man out of his thoughts, a sound that was completely alien to his ears. Bewildered, he paused mid-bite, his eyes scanning the room for the source of this strange commotion. As the ringing grew louder, Alsies's gaze fell upon his pocket. Realizing that the sound was emanating from within, he quickly fumbled to retrieve the offending object. The cell phone, a device he had never seen before, buzzed and rang with an intensity that would rival the alarm bells of a nearby castle. Alsies's face contorted into a perplexed expression as he stared at the tiny electronic contraption held gingerly between his fingers. Never before had he encountered such oddity. For a moment, he half-expected a mischievous sprite to appear and reveal this to be an elaborate prank.Intrigued but slightly wary, Alsies held the cell phone to his ear, unsure of what he was supposed to do. Suddenly, a tinny voice crackled from the device, startling him. It appeared to be a message from the future, spoken in a dialect that was foreign and eerie. Alsies's confusion grew with each passing second, unable to comprehend the reality of these incredible contraptions. He couldn't help but imagine how he would impress the villagers with tales of these fantastical inventions, but the more he pondered, the less it all made sense. As the voice continued salutations, Alsies once stoic face transformed into an expression of utter disbelief, mingled with a twinge of amusement. The situation struck him as quite comical – a bumbling medieval man, his face smeared with crumbs, entranced by an otherworldly device and its cryptic messages. Unable to resist the temptation, Alsies let out a hearty chuckle that reverberated through the room. With a newfound confidence, he raised the cellphone high above his head, declaring himself the "King of artefacts".Thus, as Alsies entertained the newfound marvels of the cellphone, his appetite for adventure grew. No longer satisfied with mundane tales of crestfallen knights and chivalrous maidens, he dreamed of a world where the bizarre and the incredible intertwine. With a belly full of laughter and an imagination abuzz, Alsies embarked on a quest to uncover the secrets of this strange contraption, the cellphone, making him the most peculiar and delightful character in the annals of medieval history. The screen was lit up with the words "Call in Progress.""Do I answer it?" he wondered. It seemed like the logical thing to do, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong. "Hello?" he said tentatively, his voice sounding shaky and uncertain. There was a moment of silence, and then a deep, smooth voice responded. "Mr. Ben Daniels? This is Frank. I'm calling to check in with you. Are you feeling alright?". The man's heart began to race. He had no idea who this Frank person was, or what he wanted. He tried to steady his voice as he responded."I'm...I'm fine. I'm just...a little disoriented."Frank's voice sounded soothing and reassuring. "I understand, Mr. Daniels. These things can happen sometimes. I'm glad to hear that you're doing okay. Now, I'm going to need you to get ready for the board meeting this afternoon. We have a lot to discuss, and I know you'll be up to the task." The man felt a surge of panic. He had no idea what this board meeting was about, and he had no idea how to prepare for it. He tried to remain calm, but his voice was trembling as he spoke."I'm...I'm not sure I'm up to it". The man paused, trying to collect his thoughts. "I'm not sure I'm up to the task, Frank," he said. "I don't know what this board meeting is about, and I don't know what I'm supposed to say." There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then Frank spoke again. "That's understandable, Mr. Daniels. I'll give you a rundown of what you need to know. Can you take some notes?". The man's hands were trembling as he reached for a pen and paper. "Yes," he said, trying to sound composed. " Frank's voice was steady and clear as he outlined the agenda for the board meeting. It was a lot of information to take in, and the man struggled to keep up. He tried to focus on the key points, but his mind kept wandering."Are you still with me, Mr. Daniels?" Frank asked, after a few minutes had passed."Yes, I'm still here," the man said, his voice sounding strained."Let's take a break for a few minutes, and then we'll go over the material again," Frank said. "I want to make sure you're fully prepared for the meetingFrank's voice was gentle and patient as he continued speaking. But the man's mind was racing, and he couldn't keep up. He felt like he was in a fog, and he couldn't focus on anything."I'm sorry, I'm just not following this," the man said, his voice sounding more desperate now. "Can we start over?"Frank took a deep breath. "Of course we can, Mr. Daniels," he said. "Let's take a step back and go through the basics again. And don't worry - we have plenty of time before the meeting. We'll make sure you're prepared."Perhaps it would be helpful if my assistant, Ms. Rose, walked you through the material," Frank suggested. "She's quite good at explaining things in a way that's easy to understand.""That sounds like a good idea," the man said, feeling a wave of relief. "I'd appreciate any help I can get.""Ms. James will be with you shortly," Frank said. "In the meantime, why don't you try to relax and take a few deep breaths? We have plenty of time."The man nodded, even though he knew Frank couldn't see him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then it struck him like lightning, what if he suggested Ms James attend on his behalf, he coined the idea, to which Frank accepted. "That's a great idea, Mr. Daniels," Frank said, sounding relieved. "Ms. James is very capable, and she can speak on your behalf at the meeting. Would you like me to set that up for you?""Yes, please," the man said. "Thank you for being so understanding, Frank.""It's no problem at all," Frank said. "I'm here to help you in any way I can. Now, why don't you try to get some rest? I'll make sure everything is taken care of." "I have to say, Mr. Daniels, I'm impressed by your ability to delegate," Frank said. "Many people would be too proud to ask for help, but you're being very smart about this. It shows that you're a good leader."The man couldn't help but smile at that. "Thank you, Frank," he said. "I appreciate that.""It's my pleasure," Frank said. "Now, why don't you try to relax? Ms. James will be here soon."The man nodded, and tried to let his mind go blank. He focused on his breathing. "I am tired Frank, tomorrow l am resigning" Alsies said."That's quite a change in topic, Mr. Daniels, and a bit sudden, why?," Frank inquired, sounding a bit surprised. "But I'm more than happy to talk about that, if you'd like.""Yes, please," the man said. "I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I could use a break from talking about the meeting and work.""I completely understand," Frank said. "So, tomorrow huh?""I'm thinking about it," the man said. "I've been working for so long, and I feel like it's time for a change.""That's a very exciting prospect sir" Frank said his voice dry and tearful."Well, Mr. Daniels, it's been a pleasure speaking with you," Frank said. "I'll make sure everything is taken care of, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.""Thank you, Frank," the man said. "I appreciate all your help.""It's my pleasure," Frank said. "If there's anything else I can do for you, please let me know.""I will, thank you again," the Alsies said. "Have a good day.""You as well, Mr. Daniels," Frank said, and the call ended.