"So what's your story?" Hanz asked.
"Let's see, where do I begin… Well, my name is Yoshihiro Takagi, and one day I just randomly woke up as a prisoner to the elves. I have no idea how I got there in the first place. It was really strange, and I don't even remember what age I am or even where I was born. So I really have no idea why I even look the way I do. Anyways, the guy who was in charge of the border patrol, or whatever they were called, wanted to sell me into slavery. Luckily when I was on the way to their camp, a group of strong adventurers rescued one of the prisoners I was next to, so I was saved in the process. Now I know, these people may not be very, very close friends, but they showed me great hospitality and taught me so much in one day that I have a debt to repay them. I wish to one day join their adventuring group and explore the world I crea…" Takagi pulled just short of saying "created," "…the world I haven't seen."
"Sounds like they are great people. If only I was as fortunate as you to be saved by someone who walked by," Hanz said.
"So how old are you, little Hanz?"
"I am 10," Hanz replied while shedding a tear.
"Shouldn't he look a little older? Oh yeah, I remember I made it a rule that age works differently here. 1 year here is equal to about 425 days. In our world, a 10-year-old from here would be somewhere around 12 years old. I just added that detail for fun; I had no idea it would carry over," Takagi thought.
"Hey, so who is this guy that killed your father and destroyed your home?" Asked Takagi.
"I didn't get a chance to hear his name, but I will never forget his face. He is an orc with a scar that runs from cheek to cheek and a goatee. He carried the most evil grin I have ever seen. Mark my words; I will one day get revenge."
"Wow, you sound really brave! But you almost got killed by a small wolf," Takagi added.
"Small…?" Hanz thought in confusion.
"I know I am weak, but I can't… I can't," Hanz began to break down in tears.
"Here, have a fish," Takagi said after picking up a stick with a cooked fish at the end.
The fish looked delicious to Hanz, possibly because it was the only food that he had seen in what felt like a lifetime. Last night was probably the last night that he would ever eat, any meal that came close to the feast he always had would never come close, not even that fish. Hanz regretted each time that he didn't feel hungry and tossed out his food.
"Hey, if you don't eat that piece of fish, it'll get cold," Takagi urged Hanz.
Takagi and Hanz both finished all the fish that was prepared, and Hanz was wondering what his life would become now. He had nothing to look forward to. He had no studies, which was great, but his life was over.
How would he live? He wondered if this would be his new life.
"Hey, Hanz, let me show you something cool," Takagi said after realizing Hanz was dozing off in his head, probably thinking about negative things.
Takagi shot up from his seat and grabbed Hanz. He took Hanz down a path that Takagi had made through the forest. Takagi had found plenty of amazing places in his new home, and this place that he wanted to take Hanz was one of the best. The thick forest made it impossible to know where you were going, yet Takagi moved through the trees and bushes confidently.
"Um… how are we going to find our way back?" Hanz asked.
The path shrank smaller and smaller to the point where there wasn't a path. While looking forward, Takagi pointed up and turned his head, "look up at the trees."
Hanz glanced up and noticed there was a long cut through each tree.
"Woah, that's high," Hanz said in response to the rather high placement of the cuts.
"Yeah, I had to get creative with the placement; these stupid Riese Bears kept scratching the trees I marked," Takagi said.
"Riese Bears?" Hanz replied.
"Oh, just the local race of bears in this forest. Those little suckers are strong," Takagi replied.
"Little? I bet they are another monstrous beast," Hanz thought. "So how big are they?"
"Maybe twice my height," Takagi casually replied to Hanz.
"...WHAT! Monsters like that exist, and you're taking me right into a deeper part of the forest?" Hanz said, beginning to panic. He began to hyperventilate and looked around cautiously, he began to hear every movement that was nearby and fear crept up his back.
"And we are here," Takagi said.
At that moment, Takagi looked out in awe as if it was the first time that he came across such a view. In fact, Takagi loved every single time he came across this view, or any other one like it.
"Wow…" Hanz let out a relaxed and amazed tone.
In front of Takagi and Hanz was the most amazing scenery that both of them would ever dream of being in front of. They were on top of a very high cliff, and the bottom of the forest looked so far away. Hanz felt as if he lay at the top of the world. The trees moved with the wind and the fine fresh smell of pine and spruce. Birds flew by and soared through the sky. Off in the distance, a flock of birds numbering nearly 30 all flew off at once. An eagle let out a loud cry, and the wind blew back into Hanz's face, parting his hair. The view was nothing short of astonishing. Off in the distance was a valley with a small river flowing freely.
"You know I may not remember much, but I too lost someone important to me. I was a shut-in who never left his home, I had everything I ever needed within my home; food or money was never a problem for me. When I was left here in the woods by those people who rescued me, I felt like the whole world ended for me. Whenever I feel like the forest gets the best of me, I come here. As for your loss, the pain will never go away if you linger on the thought. Accept that there is nothing you can do about it, and sadness won't bring your loved ones back. If they were here right now seeing you cower in fear, think of what they would tell you," Takagi said. "At least that's what some of those books I read said a long time ago."
Hanz replied with happy tears and stared off into the far distances of the valley. Takagi wasn't sure if what he said was the best thing to say, but he just let most of it flow. It had been several hours since Takagi and Hanz both ate, and Takagi's stomach began to rumble in response to the thought of food.
"Hey, are you hungry?" Takagi asked.
"Um, yeah, but if you aren't hungry, that's okay," Hanz replied while wiping away his tears.
"All right, have you ever tried elk before?"
"Yes," Hanz replied.
"Well, forget about them because you're about to taste the best elk you've ever had in your life," Takagi stated confidently.
The usual spot that Takagi found elk is a clear grassy plain within the forest where tall grass was all over. Takagi had many chances to hunt elk, but he preferred to hunt them only on special occasions. To Takagi, this felt like the perfect time to hunt one. A flawless catch was never guaranteed, but Takagi had become rather skilled at hunting for food, for obvious reasons. Hanz watched as Takagi masterfully stayed still and waited for the right moment to strike. As soon as the elk turned to face a different direction, he slowly stood tall, took two quick steps forward, and flung his spear, making direct contact with the skull of the elk. Takagi only took the information he was taught and applied it to his everyday life.
"I had to force myself to remember how to keep myself alive. These suckers are a little heavy, but I have to carry him all the way back to camp," said Takagi.
"Carry?! Those things are very heavy!" Hanz exclaimed.
Takagi grabbed the two front legs and the two rear legs and threw the elk over his head.
"Let's go before it gets too heavy," said Takagi, with a clear indication that the weight was a lot to deal with.
That night ended in a small feast between Takagi and Hanz, making sure to put to use every bit of the elk. They laughed and conversed with each other, mostly passing the night telling stories. Stories that were merely funny moments that happened within their daily life. Takagi had surely changed since he was left in the forest. Takagi never felt alone, but he would much rather be laughing and conversing than being alone, after all, he knew that even though he wasn't human, humans are social creatures.