Inside the vast town of Marakad, nestled towards the eastern side, stood a giant's house built of sturdy stone. To human eyes, it was simple yet grand, its massive scale dwarfing any structure Aleck had ever known on Earth. This house, like much of Marakad, was carved into the valley's rocky landscape, blending with the natural beauty around it. The wind whistled between the towering cliffs that flanked the town, filling the air with a cool chill.
The early morning light filtered through the clouds, casting a soft glow over the house. Bruce, with his powerful frame and calm demeanor, stepped out, ready to begin his day. He wore a thick cloak, fitting for the cold climate, and held a resolute expression as he prepared to head to the medicinal pharmacy where he worked. Before leaving, he offered a short farewell to his wife, Nita, and the boy standing outside their home with a spear in hand.
Aleck watched as Bruce walked down the stone-paved road, his figure growing smaller as he moved toward the town center. Once Bruce was out of sight, Aleck turned his attention to the spear he held tightly in his grip. His muscles tensed with anticipation as he began his routine.
It had been almost a year since he had found himself in this strange world, living among giants. Over time, Aleck had learned to understand their language, a language that had once sounded like meaningless noise to him. Now, he could communicate with the giants, though it had taken months of trial and error, misunderstandings, and persistence.
But no matter how much time passed, two things remained painfully clear to Aleck:
The giants believed he had lost his memory due to some traumatic accident.They thought he was a lost giant child, mistaking his small stature for that of a child from their race.
Aleck never corrected their assumptions. At first, it had been because of the language barrier, but as time went on, guilt began to build inside him. He knew he should clear up the misunderstanding, but every time he thought about it, something stopped him. Maybe it was because he didn't want to disrupt the life he had built here, or maybe because a part of him feared the consequences of revealing the truth.
Aleck had spent the past year training relentlessly. Power, he understood, was the currency of survival in any world outside of Earth. He didn't have any overpowered abilities like the heroes from the novels he used to read back on Earth, nor did he possess the strength of the giants. What he did have was a simple, almost useless skill—Forget—and a burning determination to make up for what he lacked.
The spear had become his weapon of choice. It wasn't the most glamorous weapon, but it was practical—it had reach, and with the right technique, it could keep enemies at bay. Aleck wasn't a giant, but he didn't need to be. What he lacked in size, he could make up for with precision and speed. The giants had unknowingly given him the time and space to grow stronger, and he wasn't going to waste that opportunity.
His training routine was simple but rigorous. Each morning, Aleck would start with basic drills—slashing, stabbing, thrusting, and repeating the motions over and over again until his arms burned and his legs felt like they would give out. He focused on getting used to the weight and balance of the spear, perfecting each movement until it became second nature.
The wooden practice spear he used was rough, not the finely crafted weapon of a seasoned warrior, but Aleck made do. His mind wandered as his body moved on autopilot, each slash and thrust accompanied by thoughts of the future. He couldn't stay here forever. He had to get stronger. He had to find a way back—back to his family.
Just as he was about to finish another set of thrusts, the familiar sound of Nita's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Loren and Kharan, come in for breakfast!"
Aleck lowered his spear, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. Loren, Bruce and Nita's son, had been inside the house practicing his own routines, and now joined Aleck at the door. The two of them walked inside, the smell of food already filling the large kitchen.
Sitting at the long wooden table, Aleck took a deep breath, taking in the familiar scent of the giants' food. Over the past year, he had grown accustomed to their meals. The giants' food was unlike anything he had eaten before—massive portions, far larger than what he was used to on Earth. The dishes were hearty, full of flavor, though some of the textures had taken a while to get used to.
He sat beside Loren and across from Nita, who was finishing serving the meal. It still amazed Aleck how efficient Nita was in the kitchen, moving effortlessly despite her massive size. Giants ate a lot—a whole lot—and Aleck, being human, had initially struggled to keep up. But as time passed, his body had adjusted. His training helped burn through the massive amounts of food he consumed, and now it felt almost natural to eat like a giant.
The conversation at the table was light, as it usually was. Loren spoke excitedly about his swordsmanship lessons, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. The boy had been training with a master swordsman in the town, learning techniques that Aleck found fascinating. Loren's innocence reminded Aleck of the life he had once known—the life he had lost.
Aleck mostly listened, nodding along as Loren and Nita exchanged stories. He contributed here and there, but his mind was elsewhere, thinking about the future. He couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away from him. Every day he spent here was another day he wasn't getting closer to his goal.
But for now, he had no choice but to wait. He had to train, to build his strength, and one day, when he was ready, he would find his way out of Marakad.
As the conversation at the table drifted toward other topics, Aleck reflected on something that had struck him recently—the giants didn't have last names. Every giant he had met so far, including Bruce, Nita, and Loren, only had a first name. It was as if their single name carried all the weight and meaning they needed.
When Aleck had first arrived, the giants had called him Kharan as he was mostly silent, a name he hadn't understood at the time. For months, they had referred to him by that name, until recently, when he had finally learned to communicate his real name. But by then, he had grown attached to the name Kharan.
In many ways, Kharan was who he had become during his time in Marakad. He was no longer just Aleck from Earth, a man lost in a foreign world. Here, he was Kharan, a boy training to become stronger, learning the ways of the spear, and preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead.
Aleck kind of liked the name and decided that going forward, Kharan would be his alias, the name he would carry in this world. It felt right.