[POV ERIC]
As I was told to wait to verify my story with the palace report, I was lost in thought. The sight of the cold, damp cell made me ponder about my next move.
The dwindling elven population makes me uneasy. I was sure that if war broke out, the elves would not be able to keep up with the human forces. My mind drifted to a dark future, where the defeat of the kingdom would result in my fate as a slave.
However, I wasn't going to give up so easily. I chose to use the knowledge I held about my previous world. My hobby of reading books and my hyperthymesia ability, which allowed me to remember almost every detail of my life, became my weapons.
I pondered, trying to recall the strategies and history of war from my old world. I believed that with the knowledge I had, I could find a way out of this escalating conflict.
In deep thought, I imagined myself as a wise military leader. I calculated all possibilities and sought the best strategy to cope with the approaching war.
First, I will look for allies. Although the elven population is dwindling, I believe there are still other kingdoms or tribes that are willing to ally themselves against a common threat. I will use diplomacy to forge strong alliances, so that we can protect and strengthen each other.
Secondly, I will prepare a strong defense. I will order the elven guards and troops to strengthen the defenses at the border and other strategic areas. I will also study effective war tactics and strategies, and ensure that our troops are combat-ready.
Thirdly, I will use the knowledge from my old world to search for the enemy's weaknesses. I'll find out the weaknesses of humans and their war strategies, so that we can anticipate their moves and defeat them more effectively.
In my daydreams as a military leader, I mused about strategies to find the enemy's weaknesses. I imagined myself infiltrating the enemy's mind, trying to understand the human way of thinking and war strategy.
I tried to take into account all possibilities, from battle tactics to psychological weaknesses. However, I realized that it wouldn't be as easy as I imagined. War is not only about strategy and physical strength, but also about courage, intelligence, and endurance.
"Maybe there's another way to deal with it," I muttered softly, letting my voice tremble in the cramped space of the prison cell. The chill of the night air permeated the dark hallways, creating an increasingly oppressive atmosphere. I spread my hands over my knees, trying to find warmth in the enveloping silence.
Looking back on my new existence as an elven child, I realized that I couldn't rely on past experiences that only existed in memory. I wasn't a general who had been through many battles and had in-depth knowledge of war strategies.
"After I get out of here, I have to find allies," I thought, steeling my resolve. I must find people who are willing to join me in facing this inevitable war. And I must do it quickly, for time will not wait.
…
After waiting in the enveloping darkness of the cell, the heavy metal door finally opened with a rumble. Dim light poured into the cell, dazzling eyes that had grown accustomed to the darkness.
Someone from outside stood in the doorway, his shadow faintly visible in the dim light. His voice sounded hoarse as he apologized for the unavoidable situation. His face was not clearly visible, but I could sense his vulnerability through the tone of his voice.
"Forgive us boy, because of the conflict we had to give you a bad experience," He said, his voice filled with deep regret.
I nodded gently, trying to offer some comfort. "It's okay, I quite understand the situation we're in right now," I replied in a calm voice, though my heart was still pounding in anticipation of what would happen next.
The soldier seemed surprised by my calm reaction. He raised his eyebrows, trying to understand what was behind my still dark face. "That's good, and somehow I feel that you're very mature. Is this a result of the difficult situation we're in?" he murmured with curiosity radiating from his eyes.
I just smiled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension in the air. "Haha~ that's possible," I said, though I wasn't actually sure where the source of her perceived maturity came from.
I could feel the soldier's eyes tracing my face, trying to understand who I really was. However, I was just an elven child who had just stepped into this world, with all the confusion and worries attached to me.
"In that case, please come out," the soldier continued in a rather awkward-sounding voice, as if he wasn't too sure how to interact with someone like me. "Captain Naura would like to see you again, but she's quite busy right now. I was ordered by her to accompany you out. Are you coming to the capital for the first time?"
I nodded, realizing that the uncertainty and strangeness emanating from me was probably suspicious enough for them. "Yes, it's my first time coming to the capital," I replied calmly,
"That's good," he said finally, with a gentle smile that showed a hint of warmth between our tensions. "I can introduce you to the capital of Alferusia. Follow me."
With that, I followed the steps carefully, trying to absorb every detail that might be a clue about life in this world.
"Oh yeah, it would be rude if we didn't get acquainted. You can call me Jack, uncle Jack is fine too," he said with a friendly smile, trying to create a more relaxed atmosphere between us.
I nodded politely. "Yes, it seems uncle is from the village too?" I asked while trying to maintain a light conversation.
"Haha, how did you know that?" Jack was surprised by my knowledge.
I just smiled, "Hehehe... It's obvious from uncle's face."
"Owh, come on. I'm pretty confident since I've been here for so long. Does it still have that village aura!?" Jack asked, trying to find clues on my face.
I hesitated a little before answering, "Eeh... Uncle, didn't you look in the mirror before? Everyone will know you're from the village if the dark lines on your forehead are still there," I said in jest.
"Huh? Really!?" Jack was startled, immediately tracing his forehead to find out what I meant.
The fine lines on his forehead and the wrinkles around his eyes showed traces of his long and hard life experience. It was the hallmark of a farmer who had spent years working under the scorching sun and rural wind.
"Yeah, geez even 8-year-olds make fun of me," Jack said with a sigh, trying to console himself for his mistake.
I felt a twinge of admiration watching him take the ridicule in such a relaxed manner. Before I knew it, a small laugh escaped my lips, following Jack's humorous tone.
We walked through the darkening hallway, our pace quickening as we neared the light at the end of the hallway.
And when we finally reached the end, I couldn't help but marvel at the fantastical sight before me, as if I had entered a world that was completely different from anything I had ever imagined.
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Author note:
Character Description
Name: Jack
Age: 253 years old
Appearance: Jack is an adult elven man with a simple yet tough appearance. He is of medium height, with a stocky and muscular build. His hair is messy and dark in color, creating a rough and wild impression. His eyes were sharp and eager, reflecting his persistence in carrying out his duties. His ears are slightly pointed and hidden behind his disheveled hair. His skin is slightly dark, reflecting his habit of being out in the field and exposed to the sun. He always wears the typical warrior's attire of light armor and a spear weapon that is always with him.
Other things:
Eric in the previous world had an ability called hyperthymesia. Hyperthymesia is a rare condition where a person has the ability to remember almost every event in their life with great precision and detail, even those that happened in their childhood.
In other words, Eric has a very strong and clear memory of all the experiences he has had. He can remember small details that others might miss, as well as remember the chronological order of events very well.
This hyperthymesia ability certainly gives Eric a huge advantage in processing information, solving problems and making decisions. He can easily access past memories to draw conclusions or make predictions about the future. In addition, this ability can also help him in dealing with difficult situations, as he has direct access to previous experiences that may be relevant to the situation.
Nonetheless, this ability can also be a burden for Eric, especially if he is constantly reminded of bad or painful experiences in his life. This can affect his mental and emotional well-being, and make it difficult for him to forget or let go of unpleasant experiences.