Austin looks up at the sky and see's it partially covered by the tress around him letting in little sun light.
"Wow this forest is very dense, it's surprising they were able to build a road here." Austin said
He continues to walk until he starts to feel hungry
"Man, I should've brought some snacks." Austin say's while holding one hand over his stomach.
"Guess I'm going to have to hunt something." Austin say's pulling out his sword
Austin use's some trapping knowledge Alvina taught him to make a snare, and he places some seed's to attract a small animal.
Austin then sits and waits behind a tree for the trap to go off pondering about his future from now on. Wondering if he's really up to the challenges ahead.
After a while the trap goes off and Austin shoots up going to check the trap only to find it empty and the seed's gone.
"What the hell" Austin say's with a disappointed look
He checks the trap to see if it was set up right, but he then see's that the rope was chewed slightly, and it snapped when it went off
"Wow these animals are smart" Austins say's amazed
"Guess I'll have to use my sword then" Austin say's while picking up his sword
Austin starts to walk into clearing near the main road; he them starts to hear shouting and his curiosity takes him towards the direction of the yelling
Austin gets close to where the yelling was coming from and sees a caravan being attacked by a group of men in white robes. He is then able to start clearly hearing what is being said
"PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE!" a man shouts
"YOU HERETICS ARE SCUM ON THIS PLANET AND WE SHALL RID THIS WORLD OF YOU!" one of the men in white robes shouts
*Heretics? * Austin thinks to himself
Austin turns to leave as to not get involved, but steps on a branch breaking it revealing his location
"WHO'S THERE SHOW YOURSELF" one of the men shout
Austin, knowing he's done for if the run's stands up with his hands up
"I mean you no harm I'm just passing by" Austin say's
"Are you a heretic?" the man asks Austin
"I don't know what you mean?" Austin say's confusingly
"Are you or Are you not a follower of the one true God" The man ask's Austin while approaching him
Austin sees a rosary on his neck which looks familiar. He then understands what they mean by this and quickly thinks of an excuse
"Yes, I am I follow our one true God, and shouldn't we be converting them instead of killing them our one true God wouldn't want his children killing each other, right?" Austin say's while looking at the people being hurt
"You are right we will give them the option and do it ourselves, so you can continue and leave" The man say's to Austin
"Actually, I was going to ask if I could do it since you look like you would rather find more heretics" Austin say's nervously
Austin begins to pray that this is enough to convince him to leave
"And how do I know you'll truly do what you say" the man ask's
"Uhm, I have a coin that proves my faith" Austin say's while reaching in his pocket
"Here look." Austin says while handing over a Quarter from his world
The man looks at the coin with the words "In god we trust" written on the back of the coin
"Alright I believe you" the man say's while pocketing the coin
"Let's go there should be more people who need saving" the man say's to his colleagues
As they walk away Austin breathes a sigh of relief and turns to the caravan
"Hey look I'm not going to hurt you but you should go the opposite way you come from" Austin tells the caravan
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!" one of the caravan members say's while hugging his leg
Austin taken aback by this gesture of gratitude
"Yeah, no problem but could you not grab onto my leg like that" Austin say's pushing the member away
"I'm so sorry where are my manners "the member say's
"My name is Amon hapsurg, and I am the 3rd son of count hapsurg" Amon say's while holding his hand over his chest
"And this is my fiancée Abaleen" he says while moving his hand towards her
They are both clothed in luxury clothing and wear gold rings. Amon has long brown hair neatly tied in a ponytail with facial features befitting the son of a count. His fiancée Abaleen has long blonde hair with fair white skin and light green eyes. Clearly, they were definitely of noble lineage
"My name is Austin, and I was happy to help you guys, but you should look into going back the way you came seeing as you'll run into those guys again." Austin tells them
"If you don't mind me asking, where did you come from" Austin asks
"We were coming from Nara" Amon say's
"I assume you are heading in the same direction?" Amon asks Austin
"Yeah, I am "Austin responds
"If you would like I could give you a ride to the city as payment for saving our lives" Amon said while gesturing towards his carriage
"It's not enough for the debt we owe you but please accept this as repayment" He added
Austin looked at Amon and wondered if he should or shouldn't accept the ride
"Sure, I'll go ahead and join you guys" Austin said
"Great then hop in the back and let's be on our way" Amon said with a smile
Austin walks up to the carriage and gets in laying his sword and bag next to him
As Amon and Abaleen sit in the front of the carriage they set off towards the port city of Nara
"So quick question how did you know what to tell those men back there" Amon asked
Austin looked towards Amon "I just said what came to mind" Austin responded
"You sounded like one of them back there I'm glad you weren't though" Amon said
"If you don't mind me asking who were those guys?" Austin asked
"They're Inquisitors from the Mono-Gods church" Amon responded
"They've been around for the last few centuries slowly spreading their religion all over the world so far Neptune is the only place that they don't have a single church established." Amon added
"Why is that?" Austin asked
"It's because the current king's grandfather outlawed and barred the religion in the country as a way to keep the people of his nation safe." Amon responded
"They're known for killing those who choose not to follow their religion and forcefully converting others" Amon added
"Like how back there they were calling you heretics." Austin said
"Yes, we're a part of the goddess Salacia's dominion which is a smaller part of a larger church known as the Aethereal Church which celebrates many gods and goddesses" Amon responded
"That's pretty interesting to know" Austin said with a slight smirk
"It's going to be a while until we get back to the city so you should get some shut eye until then" Amon told Austin
"How long will it take?" Austin asked
"It shouldn't take longer than a few hours, we'll be lucky if were there before sundown." Amon responded
"Alright I'll get some sleep then, so please wake me up when we arrive" Austin said
"No problem" Amon responded
As Austin laid his head down on the carriage floor, he drifted off wondering how he met such people and how this could affect his plans.
He wakes up back home in his bed
"What the?" Austin say's while getting up
He gets out of bed and looks out the window and see's he's back in his home on Earth.
Shocked he looks at himself in the mirror and saw himself although he didn't feel like himself
He goes to open the door to leave but it's stuck as he pulls on the doorknob
"Why aren't you opening" Austin say's frustratingly
*KABOOM*
He hear's and explosion and runs to the window to see the village on fire and being attack by people in white robes carrying a banner.
"What the hell?!" He says in a shaking voice
He starts to try and open the window, but the window wouldn't open
During his struggle he hears Alvina screaming and he turns to look where it came from where he sees Alvin and Lilia dead on the ground and the men in white robes take Alvina by knocking her out.
Austin looks on in pure horror as he is powerless to do anything to help.
A place he can call home is being destroyed before his eye's and he can't do anything but sit and watch
Then a black fog surrounds him and covers his view
"You are worthless" a voice tells him
"They all died because you were too weak to help them" another one say's
Austin, his eye's opened wide staring into the abyss
The voices begin to get louder as they get closer and closer
Austin is shaken awake by Amon
"Hey are you ok. AUSTIN" Amon shouts while shaking Austin
Austin shots up in a cold sweat
'You we're moving a lot back there and looked like you were having a nightmare" Amon say's
"Yeah I-I think I was" Austin say's
"Are we at the city yet" Austin ask's
"No where still a couple of hours away and it looks like we won't make it before sundown, so we'll have to camp for tonight." Amon responds
"You have a tent, yes?" Amon asks
"Yeah, I do" Austin responds
"We pulled off to the side so we're sleeping in our carriage tonight" Amon responds
Austin gets out of the carriage and starts to set up his tent.
As Austin finishes setting up his tent, he starts to feel hungry remembering he didn't eat.
"Hey do you guys have any food by any chance?" Austin asks
"Yes, we have some jerky and fermented fruit" Amon responds
"I can spare a bit since me and Abaleen were about to eat "Amon adds
"Thank you" Austin say's while taking the food from them
Austin sits down in his tent and starts to eat, missing the food Lilia made at the inn.
He started to remember the dream he had and how small he started to feel afterwards.
He felt so powerless to help those that gave him a place to stay and food to eat
Realizing that he wouldn't be able to sleep he walked out of his tent and walked into the forest towards the sound of running water
He found a small pond filled with fish.
He undressed and submerged himself in the pond contemplating about what he's supposed to do and what he wants to do
After a few minutes he resurfaces and looks at the moon and start's thinking that it's the first time in a long time he's seen so many stars in the sky.
He lays back on a rock hoping to get a little more tired before he got out
"Who are you?" a voice say's
Austin turns around and sees a sprit who looks like a girl
"Whoa where did you come from?!" Austin say's while swimming back
"Why do you look so sad" The spirit asked while turning her head to the side
"Why do you feel so empty" It added
"I don't know what you're talking about" Austin respond's
"Your heart is blackened by doubt and self-loathing" the spirit said while pointing at his chest
"What are you?" Austin ask's
"I'm the guardian of this part of the forest Firth" the spirit say's
"Why are you here, why are you talking to me" Austin ask's
"I was drawn here by a negative energy" Firth responds
"I don't think you belong here" Firth adds
Austin taken aback by the situation in front of him gets out of the pond and starts to put on his clothes
"I'm fine and yeah I don't belong anywhere" Austin says frustrated
"I'm just drifting along the road I'm giving my life purpose, and my heart isn't black I still believe I can do this" Austin adds
"If you continue on this path, you'll see nothing, but tragedy awaits you" Firth say's
"You need to learn to accept yourself no matter how powerless you are" Firth adds
"Easy for you to say you don't know what I'm doing" Austin say's
"I'm leaving" Austin said while walking away
"This boy is going to face death soon and he will fail to stop it" Firth say's before disappearing into the wind