As the man got closer to where Tim was, Tim was able to see some details about the man's face. He was a man of average height with a very slender build. Looking like he weighed less than 150 pounds he was by no means a big man. His skin was touched by the sun to a deep brown that was darker than the people Tim had seen before. The man looked to be in his late 30's with a mature face that seemed mismatched with his body adorned with wrinkles on his face telling that he has had some experience in how the world works.
When he got to the Bank where Tim was, he jumped out of the boat holding a rope that he fastened to a nearby rock to prevent the boat from flowing downstream without him in it. He tuned to look at Tim and started talking. "My name is Chong Xu and you are?"
"My name is Tim. Where did you come from?"
"Come from as in just now or as in originally?"
"Both would probably help answer some of the questions I have."
"Well originally I came through a door about 20 years ago. The door was located in the capital of the Binzeese Empire. Just now, however; I am traveling between villages trading some goods on my boat."
Tim took a look at the two person dinghy that Chong had traveled in and didn't see much else in the boat except a long parcel about the size of the oars and a few times a wide. "Uh, it don't look like you have much to trade. I take it that business has not been too good?"
"Ah on the contrary business is going great. What I got would let me be pretty comfortable if I can sell them at the right price. Now that I've told you who I am and what it is that I'm doing, don't you think it's time to introduce yourself?"
"Oh, I apologize. My name is Tim Felix. I also came through the doors, but only just here yesterday. I came from The Kingdom of Sen, but as for where I'm going, I'm pretty clueless about this world. I found my way to this river, got attacked by this weird mouse, and went to bed. I guess my plan was to follow the river downstream to try and find some more people."
"That mouse you got attacked by, was it a creature?"
"What do you mean creature? Aren't all animals creatures?"
"No, not here. This world is an entirely different one than we came from. While it still has regular animals its also inhabited by things known as creatures. Typically they are variations of animals that you are familiar with, though they are much stronger and more aggressive."
"So how to I know if its a creature or if its an animal?"
"God's voice tells you"
"Wait, GOD'S voice. What do you mean by that?"
"When you turned 16 you heard a voice in your head that told you to come to The Door didn't you? That's the voice of God, or at least the being these people worship as a god. It comes into your mind for a few reasons but mainly it pops up when you kill and eat a creature. Did you hear it with the mouse you killed?"
"Yeah it had told me that it was a typical Field Mouse with no attribute. What does that mean?"
As Tim asked this question a loud grumbling sound filled the air coming from Chong's belly. "To tell you the truth, friend, I did have motivation to stop and talk with you today. Last night a large creature came after me in the water. I was able to escape as I always do, but unfortunately I lost my food supplies in the bout. Although I have been here a while and have a few points built up myself, I'm not much of a fighter or even a hunter. I chose to get by by buying and selling wares to afford my food. If you would be willing to feed me on this trip to town I would let you ride with me down the river to Haj. We should be there by midday tomorrow using the current, but if you would rather walk."
"I would be more than happy to help you out, especially since it would end up helping me in return, but as I said earlier, I just got here. The only weapon I have is this knife." Tim pulled the small dagger out of it's sheath at his side and displayed it for Chong to see. "Thankfully I was able to kill the mouse, but that was way more luck than it was skill."
"I think I have just the right thing for you. These are my wares so I expect it back in perfect condition but I think I could get by with letting you borrow one," Chong said this to Tim as he walked back towards the boat. Reaching in to grab the parcel he pulled it out of the boat with a heave. Unwrapping it, Chong revealed it to contain 5 spears of impeccable craftsmanship. They were about six feet long each with leather bound to three different parts on the shaft for handles and the blades were a shining silver adorned with a language that Tim was unfamiliar with but could somehow tell read silver soul. "How come I can read this? This isn't the language of the Sen Kingdom?"
"That's part of the explanations I will give if you fill my belly. If you go wade into the water you should be able to see some fish and fish creatures in the water. Shouldn't have to worry about anything too strong in the shallows." As Chong was saying this to Tim his stomach rumbled again.
Tin looked down to the last few bites he had leftover from the mouse that he had forgotten to eat while talking to Chong and decided to give the man the rest. Taking it quickly and decisively Chong was very grateful and when Tim got into the water with the spear, he was more than happy to begin to explain just where they were and how this new world work.