Jacob awoke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the simple wooden shutters of his room. The bed, though modest, had provided the best sleep he'd had since arriving in this strange world. His body felt lighter, the exhaustion from days of stress and uncertainty melting away. He stretched and swung his legs over the side of the bed, the cool floorboards beneath his feet reminding him that this wasn't some dream. This was real.
After quickly dressing in the simple cotton pants and shirt Zuri had given him the previous day, he stepped out of his room and into the warm morning air. The smells of breakfast cooking wafted through the house, and as he walked outside, he spotted Zuri by the fire pit, tending to a pot. Her movements were quick and efficient, as she stirred the contents with practiced ease.
Zuri glanced up and smiled when she saw Jacob. "Making breakfast," she said, her voice light and cheerful.
Jacob returned the smile, nodding as he tried to piece together his response in the broken language he'd begun to pick up. "Yes," he managed to say, his accent thick and clumsy. Zuri's smile grew even brighter, a small giggle escaping her lips at his effort.
Inside the dining room, Old Man Zephyr sat at the head of the table, leaning back in his chair with an amused expression as Jacob entered. There was a certain warmth in the old man's gaze, one that Jacob was still getting used to.
"Jacob," the old man greeted with a slight nod. "I have a favor to ask."
Jacob tensed slightly, wondering if this "favor" meant another day of shoveling manure or some other backbreaking farm work. His smile wavered, turning slightly wry as he prepared himself for the worst.
Zephyr chuckled at the look on Jacob's face. "No, no need to worry," he said, waving his hand. "I'm not sending you to the barn again. Today, I need you to accompany Zuri to the market. We need some supplies, and I'll need you to help her pack them into the cart."
Jacob's eyes widened slightly, the prospect of getting off the farm and seeing more of the world sparking an unexpected sense of excitement. The market? That meant people, new sights, maybe even a chance to figure out more about where he was and how things worked in this place.
He nodded eagerly, his enthusiasm clear even as he struggled to form the words. "Yes," he said, his voice stiff and halting, but his meaning unmistakable.
Breakfast passed quickly, and soon Jacob found himself standing outside by a large, sturdy cart. Zuri was already there, checking the reins of the massive horse that stood hitched to the front. The beast was huge, easily larger than any horse Jacob had ever seen, its muscles rippling under a sleek black coat. Its eyes seemed to glimmer with intelligence as it watched him approach.
"This is Royu," Zuri said as she patted the horse's flank affectionately. "His name means 'Wind Rider.' He's strong and fast, but he's got a bit of a temper sometimes." She shot Jacob a playful glance.
Jacob cautiously reached out to pet the horse, but before his hand even made contact, Royu snorted loudly and tossed his head, glaring at Jacob with what could only be described as disdain. The horse's eyes narrowed as it seemed to size him up, almost as if mocking him.
Startled, Jacob pulled his hand back, blinking in surprise. "You little bastard," he muttered under his breath, shooting the horse a glare. Despite himself, he couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. How was it that even animals here seemed to think they were better than him?
Zuri laughed, clearly amused by Royu's attitude. "Don't take it personally," she said, climbing onto the front of the cart. "He'll warm up to you. Eventually."
Jacob rolled his eyes as he climbed up beside her, muttering something under his breath. Yeah, sure, just like everything else in this world had been so easy for him so far.
As Zuri flicked the reins and Royu began to pull the cart forward, Jacob took in the landscape around him. They traveled over rolling hills and across narrow ravines, the scenery changing gradually as they moved farther from the farm. The air was cool and crisp, with the faint scent of pine trees and wildflowers hanging in the breeze. It was peaceful, in a way, but Jacob couldn't shake the ever-present feeling of unfamiliarity. Every rock, every tree, every sound felt foreign, like he was walking through a dream he hadn't fully woken up from.
After what felt like an hour, the cart crested a hill, and Jacob's eyes widened as the town came into view below them. It wasn't just some small village or a cluster of homes; this place was bustling with life. People moved through the streets in every direction, carts and wagons lining the roads. The walls surrounding the town were tall and sturdy, with guards stationed at the gates, keeping a close watch on everyone who entered.
As they approached, Jacob noticed that some people rode on regular horses, while others rode massive beasts, creatures that looked like they belonged in a fairy tale or a nightmare. One man rode on an ox the size of a truck, while another sat atop a bear-like beast with thick fur and gleaming eyes. Jacob stared in awe, the sheer strangeness of it all hitting him once again. He'd never seen anything like this on Earth.
The cart slowed as they reached the town gates. Guards stood at attention, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords, though they didn't seem overly concerned with the flow of people coming and going. Jacob watched as some travelers presented small stones with strange markings, and the guards waved them through without so much as a second glance.
When it was their turn, Jacob briefly wondered if they'd have to pay some sort of toll. But Zuri simply reached into her pocket and pulled out a stone similar to the ones the others had shown. She flashed it to the guard, who gave her a respectful nod before allowing them to pass through the gates without any issue.
Inside the town, the contrast between the outer homes and the inner ones was stark. The buildings near the gate were simple, with wooden roofs and small yards, but as they moved deeper, the houses grew larger, more intricate. Courtyards surrounded by high walls, mansions with banners bearing family crests, and towering structures filled the streets. Jacob couldn't help but marvel at the craftsmanship; everything had an ancient, almost regal feel, unlike the modern cities of Earth.
As they continued toward their destination, something caught Jacob's attention—a disturbance up ahead. A group of guards, riding on those same massive bear-like creatures, were clearing the street, forcing pedestrians to move aside as they escorted a lavish carriage through the center of the town. The guards wore heavy armor, their expressions arrogant and severe, as they pushed people out of the way without a care.
Jacob glanced over at Zuri, noticing the tension in her posture. She, too, seemed wary of the approaching guards, though she kept her head low and continued steering the cart to the side of the road. But just as they were about to avoid the commotion altogether, something made Zuri freeze.
A small child, no older than five, was chasing a tiny rabbit-like creature across the street, giggling as she ran. The girl's mother cried out in horror, her voice lost in the noise of the street as she desperately tried to reach her daughter.
The guard bearing down on the child gave no indication that he intended to stop, his cruel smile widening as his beast charged forward, the child directly in its path.
Zuri reacted before Jacob could fully process what was happening. Without a second thought, she jumped off the cart and sprinted toward the child, her legs moving faster than Jacob had ever seen. The urgency in her steps spoke volumes, her face twisted in fear as she pushed herself to reach the girl before the guard's beast could.
The guard on the bear-like creature had a twisted grin, clearly deriving pleasure from the panic of the mother and the danger the child was in. He made no move to rein in the creature, almost daring the crowd to react. The enormous beast's paws pounded against the cobblestone street, its breath huffing out in large clouds as it thundered forward.
"Move, Zuri!" Jacob's mind screamed, but his voice was caught in his throat.
Zuri reached the child just in time, scooping her up into her arms and rolling out of the way with barely an inch to spare. The beast's massive paw slammed into the ground where the girl had been, causing the cobblestones to crack under the weight of its strike.
The mother screamed again, rushing forward to take her child from Zuri's arms, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you! Thank you!" she sobbed, clutching the girl to her chest.
But Zuri barely had time to acknowledge her. The guard had pulled his beast to a stop, his grin gone, replaced by a furious scowl. He glared down at Zuri, clearly incensed that someone had dared to interfere.
"How dare you!" the guard bellowed, his voice full of rage as he kicked his beast into motion again, this time charging directly toward Zuri. "You dare to get in the way of Boru Clan business?"
Zuri stood her ground, eyes narrowed. "You were about to kill a child!" she shouted back, her voice steady despite the obvious danger.
The guard's expression twisted further with anger, his hand reaching for the hilt of his saber. "I'll show you what happens to people who don't know their place!" he spat, raising the weapon threateningly as his beast lurched forward.
Jacob's instincts took over.
Without thinking, he jumped from the cart and sprinted toward the guard. His eyes quickly scanned the ground, searching for anything he could use as a weapon. His hand closed around a large stone, heavy and rough, just as the guard raised his saber to strike at Zuri.
"Hey!" Jacob roared, his voice loud enough to momentarily catch the guard's attention. The guard turned toward him, eyes filled with contempt, but before he could react further, Jacob hurled the stone with all his might.
The rock sailed through the air, striking the guard's bear-beast square in the side of its head. The beast recoiled, its roar of pain echoing through the street as it stumbled back, disoriented by the blow.
Jacob didn't stop there. Without missing a beat, he grabbed another stone and threw it at the guard himself. This one struck the armored man in the chest, causing him to grunt as he lost his balance slightly.
The crowd gasped in shock, their murmurs quickly turning into a mixture of concern and amusement. "He hit the Boru Clan guard!" someone whispered in disbelief. Another voice chimed in, darker and more sinister, "He's done for now. No one crosses the Boru Clan and lives."
Some in the crowd even laughed, clearly taking a twisted pleasure in the unfolding spectacle, already predicting Jacob's demise. "That kid's as good as dead," a man snickered. "Boru Clan doesn't let things like this slide."
Jacob's heart was racing, adrenaline flooding his system. He had no idea what he was doing—he didn't even know if what he had just done was smart or suicidal—but he couldn't let Zuri face this alone.
The guard's face was red with fury, his saber raised high as he pointed it toward Jacob. "You little worm! Do you have a death wish? You dare to strike me? You'll pay for this insolence with your life!" His beast, still recovering from the blow, snarled and advanced, its eyes locked onto Jacob with murderous intent.
Jacob clenched his fists, every muscle in his body tensing as he prepared for the worst. His breath came in ragged gasps, but strangely, his mind was clear. The noise of the crowd, the thundering of the beast's paws on the ground—it all seemed distant, as if happening in another world. His focus narrowed to the guard in front of him, the beast, the saber. He had no weapon, no real plan, but something in him had awakened.
For the first time in his life, in this bizarre world that he barely understood, Jacob felt a surge of energy—a strange calm mixed with excitement—bubbling up from deep inside him. It was as though, in this moment of danger, his mind had sharpened to a razor's edge. He wasn't afraid anymore.
Zuri, having handed the child back to her mother, stood up and screamed toward the guard, "Stop! Don't hurt him!" But the guard ignored her, his attention now fully on Jacob.
The beast began its charge, barreling toward Jacob with terrifying speed, but instead of retreating or freezing in fear, Jacob stood his ground. His heart pounded in his chest, his pulse roaring in his ears, but his body felt light—ready.
As the beast closed the distance, the guard raised his saber, preparing to strike. But Jacob's eyes were locked on the creature, and with an almost instinctive reaction, he darted to the side just as the massive beast lunged at him. The saber sliced through the air where he had stood just moments before.
Jacob's movements felt more fluid than they ever had. He dodged, barely avoiding the creature's snapping jaws, and rolled across the ground, coming up on his feet in one smooth motion. His heart raced, but his mind remained focused, clear.
The crowd gasped, many of them in disbelief. "Did you see that? He dodged it!" someone whispered in awe.
The guard, clearly enraged, pulled hard on the reins, bringing his beast around for another charge. His eyes were filled with murder, and it was clear he wasn't about to let Jacob get away so easily.
But something had shifted inside Jacob. This wasn't like the street fights back home, where he had fought to survive with brute strength and instinct alone. No, this was different. Here, in this foreign world, something else had awakened in him—a sense of control, clarity, even in the face of overwhelming danger.
The beast charged again, but this time Jacob was ready. His fists clenched as he prepared himself for the next onslaught, his mind racing as he calculated his next move.