Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow as he finished shoveling the last bit of dung into a bucket.
His muscles ached from the repetitive motion, and his mind wandered back to the events that had led him here. The old man's barn was hot, the air thick with the smell of hay and animals. But it wasn't the work or the smell that weighed on Jacob—it was the reality of his situation.
"I'm really not on Earth anymore," he thought, glancing at the unfamiliar creatures in the stalls beside him.
The animals looked like horses but were slightly different. Their coats shimmered in the dim light of the barn, and their eyes had an eerie, almost intelligent gleam. He couldn't shake the feeling that even these animals were watching him, judging him in some way.
One of the foals, curious and energetic, trotted over to him. It was smaller than the others, its coat a light shade of cream, and it nudged his leg with its soft muzzle. Jacob chuckled softly, surprised by how affectionate it was. "Hey there, little guy," he muttered, reaching out to stroke its head. The foal leaned into his touch, its large eyes blinking up at him with innocent curiosity.
For a brief moment, Jacob forgot about everything else. The foal nudged him again, this time a bit more forcefully, almost playfully. Jacob laughed. "Alright, alright, I get it. You want some attention, huh?"
The other foals, noticing their sibling getting some attention, began to gather around him. Jacob found himself surrounded by the small, horse-like creatures, each one pressing against him, eager for a pat or scratch. He couldn't help but smile, their playful antics lifting his spirits in a way he hadn't expected.
After a few minutes of this impromptu playtime, Jacob stood up, brushing off the dirt from his pants. His stomach growled loudly, reminding him that the old man had promised food after he finished his chores. He glanced around the barn, realizing that he had been so absorbed in his thoughts and the animals that he hadn't even noticed the old man.
The old man had left quickly, though Jacob couldn't shake the feeling that he had been watched the whole time
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, Jacob decided to head toward the farmhouse. His hunger was becoming unbearable, and he had no choice but to trust the old man's word.
Walking across the farm, he couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. The memory of Lora and Ava flashed through his mind, their smiles, their laughter. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the emotions welling up inside him.
"I'll get back to you," he promised under his breath. "Somehow, I'll find my way back."
As he reached the farmhouse, the door creaked open, and he stepped into a modest room that seemed to serve as both a kitchen and a dining area. The old man sat at the table, a half-full mug in his hand, grinning at Jacob.
"Well, well, looks like you didn't screw up too badly, kid," the old man said with a chuckle. "Even the horses seem to like you."
Jacob felt his guard go up. "How did he know?" he thought. Had the old man been watching him the entire time?
Before he could say anything, the door behind him opened again, and Jacob turned to see a young woman enter the room. She was around his age, with beautiful brown skin and curly hair tied into two puffs on either side of her head, giving her an air of youthful charm. Her eyes, soft and kind, reminded Jacob of Lora, stirring up emotions he tried to keep buried.
"Hi there," the woman greeted him warmly. Her voice was gentle, and she noticed the distant look in Jacob's eyes. "You're welcome to stay here for as long as you need. Don't worry about food. I'm making something for us right now."
Jacob blinked, taken aback by her kindness. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. All he could do was nod, trying to hide the storm of emotions that her presence had stirred within him.
The woman turned toward the old man, casting him a playful glance. "I'm the one who convinced Grandpa to pick you up from the street, by the way. He wasn't going to do it, but I wouldn't let him leave you there."
The old man choked on his drink, sputtering in surprise. "Oi! Don't go telling him that!" he barked, glaring at her. "I was gonna help him. I just didn't want to get involved with any trouble, that's all."
Jacob raised an eyebrow, realizing that the decision to bring him here hadn't exactly been the old man's idea. He chuckled quietly to himself. "So, it was her, huh? Guess I owe her more than I thought."
The old man, clearly embarrassed, quickly changed the subject, his tone turning gruff. "As the lass said, I'm her grandpa, and you—" he pointed a thick finger at Jacob "—you better not get any ideas about her, got it?"
To emphasize his point, the old man grabbed a carrot from the table, snapping it in half with a loud crunch. Jacob swallowed nervously, feeling the tension in the air. He forced a wry smile and tried to laugh it off, but before he could say anything, his stomach growled loudly, breaking the awkward silence.
The woman laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Sounds like you're starving. Don't worry, breakfast is almost ready. Just sit tight."
Jacob, feeling his hunger intensify, nodded again, grateful for the distraction from the old man's threatening words. His thoughts drifted back to his situation. He still had no idea where he was or how he could get home, but at least, for now, he had a roof over his head and some food on the way.
The aroma of the cooking food filled the room, making his stomach churn in anticipation. As the woman busied herself with the meal, Jacob glanced down at the rings on his fingers. Mr. Wills' rings had saved him twice now, but they were also the reason he kept getting knocked out. He frowned, wondering if there was something more to them.
His thoughts were interrupted as the woman placed a plate in front of him, filled with simple but hearty food. There was a porridge made from some grain, a citrusy drink with a mild sweetness, and a chunk of bread that looked like it had been freshly baked. Jacob's stomach growled even louder at the sight.
Unable to hold back, he dug in, the first spoonful of porridge surprising him with its rich flavor. It wasn't just delicious—it felt empowering, as if the meal was nourishing more than just his body. The citrus drink was refreshing, cutting through the heaviness of the porridge, and the bread was warm and satisfying.
He barely noticed the old man watching him with a growing look of astonishment as he finished his plate in record time.Jacob put his plate down, feeling a little embarrassed as he realized how fast he'd devoured the food. He looked up and saw the woman smiling warmly at him, while the old man, now leaning back in his chair, had a vein popping out of his forehead.
The old man crossed his arms, shaking his head in disbelief. "Little bastard," he muttered under his breath. "You ate that like you hadn't eaten in weeks!"
Jacob smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. His hunger was far from sated, though. He glanced at his empty plate, wondering if it would be too rude to ask for more. As if reading his mind, the woman quickly reached for his plate and refilled it with a smile.
"Here you go," she said sweetly, placing another portion of food in front of him. "Eat as much as you like."
Jacob nodded in thanks, his eyes wide with gratitude as he eagerly started eating again. But as he continued to wolf down the food, the old man's expression grew more and more incredulous. Finally, he slapped his hand on the table, the loud thud causing Jacob to jump.
"Oi!" the old man barked, pointing at Jacob with a stern glare. "Do you know how much that grain costs? You're eating it like it's water! Even the city lord doesn't have the luxury to eat it like you're doing!"
Jacob stopped mid-bite, glancing between the old man and his now half-empty plate.
He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like a guilty child caught sneaking snacks before dinner. His face flushed with embarrassment, but before he could figure out how to apologize, the old man continued his rant.
"And the juice—" The old man jabbed a finger at Jacob's drink. "That fruit is very rare and expensive! We don't just serve it to anyone, but here you are, drinking it like it's nothing. What are you, a bottomless pit?"
The woman, standing nearby with her arms crossed, shot her grandfather a sharp look. "Grandpa, he's a guest. Leave him alone," she said, her voice firm but kind.
The old man grumbled under his breath, clearly unhappy but too embarrassed to argue with his granddaughter. He shot one last, exaggerated look of dismay at Jacob, then pointed at him dramatically. "You turned my own granddaughter against me! She was such a good girl before you showed up!"
Jacob's lips twitched, trying to hold back a smile. The woman rolled her eyes, clearly used to her grandfather's theatrics. She turned back to Jacob, offering him an apologetic smile. "Don't mind him. He just likes to make a fuss," she said, her tone lighthearted. "I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Zuri, and this dramatic old man is my grandpa. You can call him Old Man Zeph, though."
Jacob blinked, finally learning their names. Zuri and Old Man Zeph, he thought, filing the information away. He nodded to show his understanding and smiled, grateful for her kindness.
Zuri tilted her head slightly, her eyes scanning Jacob with curiosity. "Where are you from, anyway?" she asked, her voice soft. "It's clear you're not from around here."
Jacob tensed at the question, his hand instinctively going to his chest, where the rings rested under his shirt. He wanted to tell them everything—about Earth, his old life, the sudden transmigration—but the words caught in his throat. He knew that even if he could speak, there was no way they would believe him.
Old Man Zeph, noticing Jacob's discomfort, chimed in with a knowing look. "He can't speak Nyotian," he explained, his voice gruff but not unkind. "But he can understand it. Maybe he's from some merchant family and only learned how to understand it or is from some unknown tribe. Either way, you'll have to use gestures if you want to communicate with him."
Zuri's face lit up with understanding. "Oh! That makes sense." She looked back at Jacob with a kind smile. "Can you answer with gestures, then?"
Jacob nodded, relieved that they were at least aware of his situation. He gestured for her to continue, signaling that he was ready for her questions.
Zuri took a seat at the table across from him, her posture relaxed as she began asking questions. "Are you from the Jua Kingdom?" she asked, pointing out the window to the north.
Jacob shook his head, the gesture feeling more natural with every answer.
Zuri tapped her chin, thinking of another question. "How about the southern islands? Maybe somewhere closer to the Shazi Empire?"
Again, Jacob shook his head.
After a few more questions, all leading to the same answer, Zuri sighed, giving up. She knew she wasn't getting anywhere. "It's alright," she said with a small laugh. "Wherever you're from, you're welcome to stay here for as long as you need."
Jacob nodded his thanks, but the frustration still lingered in his mind. He needed to find a way to communicate properly with them. That's when an idea sparked in his head.
He began gesturing wildly, mimicking the act of reading, flipping pages, and tracing out letters in the air. At first, Zuri looked confused, but slowly, a look of realization dawned on her face.
"Oh! You want books?" she asked, clapping her hands together. "Well, we have a few in the study. I can show you after breakfast."
Jacob's eyes lit up with hope, and he nodded enthusiastically. Finally, a way to learn their language—maybe even learn more about this strange world he had found himself in. He couldn't believe his luck.
Zuri chuckled softly at his reaction. "Alright, alright. Let's finish up here, and I'll take you there."