It had been almost a year and a half since Aleck, or Kharan, as the giants called him, had arrived in Marakad. In that time, his days had been filled with the rhythmic repetition of spear training. Every morning, without fail, he took his wooden spear and drilled himself until exhaustion took over. Over time, the spear had become more than just a weapon—it felt like an extension of his arm, as natural as breathing.
Yet, despite the progress he had made, Aleck knew deep down that he had reached a plateau. His techniques were becoming sharper, more fluid, but they lacked the polish that came from true mastery. What he had accomplished so far was just the foundation, the bare minimum. He had learned the basics, but the real spearmanship—the art that turned a weapon into something far more dangerous—eluded him.
Aleck knew that if he wanted to become powerful enough to survive in this world, he needed something more. He had done everything he could on his own, but now it was time to seek the help of others. The giants had been kind to him, offering him shelter, food, and even support, but he had kept one major secret from them for all this time.
It was time to reveal the truth.
That evening, after Bruce and Nita returned home from their work, Aleck decided to speak. He waited until dinner was over and the atmosphere was quiet before finally calling them over. His heart raced in his chest, but he knew this was a conversation he could no longer avoid.
"Bruce, Nita," Aleck began, trying to steady his voice, "I... I need to tell you something important."
Bruce and Nita exchanged curious glances before sitting down. Their son, Loren, was already asleep, leaving just the three of them in the warm glow of the hearth.
"Yes, Kharan? What is it?" Bruce asked, leaning forward slightly.
Aleck took a deep breath, his mind racing through the right words to say. "I… I remember everything," he began. "It's not that I lost my memory. It's just that… I never forgot in the first place."
As if on cue, a familiar chime echoed in Aleck's mind.
[Forget]
[Description: Allows you to forget any aspect of your life. The forgotten aspects are stored and can be restored at any time.]
Aleck rolled his eyes. "This stupid system," he muttered to himself. Is it trolling me every time I say the word 'Forget'?
Bruce and Nita looked at him, confused but patient, waiting for him to continue.
Aleck took another breath. "And… I'm not a giant. I'm an adult human. I ended up here after getting lost from my own world."
Bruce and Nita were silent for a moment, their expressions unreadable. Aleck braced himself for their shock, maybe even anger, but instead, Nita let out a soft chuckle.
"Are you both not surprised?" Aleck asked, incredulous.
Nita shook her head with a gentle smile. "Surprised? No, not really, Kharan. It became pretty obvious that you weren't a giant after a while. We just… assumed you'd tell us when you were ready."
Aleck blinked, taken aback by the ease with which they had accepted his confession. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.
Bruce waved a massive hand dismissively. "There's nothing to apologize for, Kharan. Either way, we don't mind. And you shouldn't feel guilty. You've been part of this family for over a year now."
Nita nodded in agreement. "We still consider you a kid, Kharan. We giants live for at least 300 years, and I'm already 160. From our perspective, you're still just a boy."
Aleck laughed nervously, the tension in his chest easing a little. They had known all along.
"Now," Nita continued, her voice more serious now, "tell us in detail what happened and how you ended up here."
Aleck launched into his story, explaining everything from the moment he had been summoned to this world, the events in Arkellith, the Saintess, and the strange journey that had led him to the giants' village of Marakad. He spoke of the confusion, the dangers, and the betrayal he had faced along the way.
Nita's expression darkened as he recounted the details of Arkellith.
"Those damn Arkellith bastards," Nita spat, her eyes narrowing in anger. "It seems they haven't given up their notorious ways. They've been corrupt for centuries."
Aleck hadn't expected such a strong reaction from her, but then again, he sometimes forgot that Nita wasn't just a kind-hearted wife and mother—she was also part of the elite Giant Ground Force, a unit of warriors who had been involved in several major operations, some of which directly related to Arkellith.
"What can we do?" Bruce sighed, leaning back in his chair. "The Titan Cult in Arkellith is corrupted to the core, but the people there… they're innocent. They've been brainwashed and fooled by those scumbags for generations."
Nita clenched her fists, her jaw tight with frustration. "I'll pay them a visit one day. Teach them a lesson they won't forget."
Aleck's mind raced as he pieced together bits of information he had only just begun to understand. Nita's involvement with Arkellith went deeper than he realized. Her past operations, her experience in the Giant Ground Force… as a warrior wielding a hammer she had been part of the effort to dismantle the corruption in Arkellith. And it had been during those operations that Arkellith had lost the favor of the Titan God.
All this time, she had been more than just the helpful mother figure who corrected his spear postures during training and often educated him that general knowledge of the weapon, shifting of weights and efficient application of momentum are the basics for any weapon mastery. She was a warrior, someone who had fought in battles.
"Just so you know, I'm perfectly fine with you all calling me Kharan. I'll tell you my real name once I've become powerful."
Nita gave him a smile. "There's a lot you don't know about this world, Kharan. But you'll learn. I'm sure of that."
Aleck nodded slowly. There was so much more to this world and the rest of the worlds than he had ever realized. The Titan God, the giant clans—he had only scratched the surface.
"What do you want to do now?" Bruce asked, his deep voice steady, yet curious.
Aleck's expression hardened as he gripped his spear tighter. "I want to return to my world, and I don't have much time—it's already been more than a year," he said, frustration creeping into his tone. Every passing day felt like a step further from home, from the life he once knew.
Bruce nodded thoughtfully. "There's one thing the Saintess told you that's true—there's no known way to send you back to your world, not without the power of a god."
Aleck's brow furrowed. "Why is that?"
Bruce sighed, his massive hand brushing through his hair. "It's simple, really. Traveling between worlds isn't something that can be done casually. It's restricted, governed by laws that control all of existence. For anyone to cross between worlds, they'd have to break those laws, and very few beings are capable of bending them."
"Gods?" Aleck asked, already knowing the answer.
Bruce nodded. "Exactly. Beings who have transcended those laws. They're the only ones who can bypass the restrictions and perform feats beyond what we are allowed to do. One such being is the Titan God. If you want to return to your world, you'll need the help of a god or..."
"Or...?" Aleck's voice trailed off, sensing there was more.
Bruce's gaze met his, intense and unwavering. "Or, you become a god yourself."
Aleck fell silent, processing the weight of the information. It felt like an impossible goal, a challenge that went beyond anything he had ever imagined. But the more he thought about it, the clearer his path became.
After a long moment, Aleck's resolve hardened. "I need to meet the Titan God," he said softly, but there was no doubt in his voice. "No matter what it takes."