The quaint village of Greystone rested at the base of the Glimmering Peaks, surrounded by towering evergreens and perpetually blanketed by a soft mist. It was the kind of place travelers passed by without a second glance—unless, of course, you were someone like Kieran.
Kieran, an unfortunate transmigrator from Earth, had been stranded in this fantasy world for three years. He had no grand cheat system, no godly powers, and, as far as he could tell, no discernible destiny. Instead, he had a modest hut, a knack for brewing surprisingly good herbal tea, and the dubious distinction of being the village's go-to odd-job man. If someone's chicken went missing, Kieran was the one they called. If a cart's wheel broke, he was the fixer. Life was mundane—simple, even. He had long accepted it.
That was, until today.
A loud knock echoed through Kieran's door, interrupting his peaceful morning routine of sipping tea and staring into the fog. He opened the door to find a young woman, no older than twenty, kneeling in the dirt with her head bowed so low it almost touched the ground. Her flowing white robes and ornate silver headpiece suggested noble origins—or perhaps just someone very lost.
"Oh, revered Sage of Greystone, I have finally found you!" she cried, her voice trembling with reverence.
Kieran blinked.
"Uh, sorry? Sage? Are you sure you've got the right guy?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.
The woman looked up, her bright green eyes shining with awe. "Yes! I am Meliora, third princess of the Kingdom of Lyria. The whispers of the wind and the guidance of the stars have led me to you. You are the one destined to guide me on my journey to reclaim the Celestial Crown!"
Kieran's jaw dropped. "The Celestial what now?"
Without waiting for an answer, Meliora rose to her feet and pulled out a large, embroidered sack. She upended it, spilling glittering gemstones, golden trinkets, and several rolled-up scrolls onto his floor.
"These are but a humble offering," she declared solemnly. "Please, accept me as your disciple and teach me the ancient arts of the sages."
Kieran stared at the pile of riches, his mind scrambling for an explanation. "Lady, I think you've got the wrong guy. I'm just a handyman. Fix carts. Herd goats. That sort of thing. Definitely not a sage."
Meliora shook her head firmly. "Your modesty only confirms your greatness, Master! Legends speak of reclusive sages who hide their power behind humble facades. Your simple life is the ultimate proof of your wisdom."
"Wait, what legends? Who even writes this stuff?" Kieran muttered, panic creeping into his voice. He tried to close the door, but Meliora shoved her foot in the gap with surprising strength.
"Master, please!" she pleaded. "The kingdom's fate depends on your guidance! I am prepared to face any trial you deem necessary. If you wish, I shall remain kneeling here until you accept me."
"You'll freeze out here!" Kieran protested.
"Then my frozen body shall be a testament to my devotion," Meliora replied, her expression heartbreakingly earnest.
Kieran groaned. "Fine! Fine. Just come inside before the neighbors start talking."
Meliora practically skipped over the threshold, beaming. "Thank you, Master! Your benevolence knows no bounds."
Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose as he shut the door. "Alright, let's clear this up. I'm not a sage. I don't know any ancient arts. You're looking for some wise old guy with a long beard, not me."
Meliora ignored him, her attention caught by a battered tome sitting on a shelf. She pulled it down with reverence.
"Is this your sacred grimoire?" she asked, her voice hushed.
"That's a cookbook," Kieran deadpanned. "It's got recipes for bread and stew. Hardly magical."
Meliora flipped through the pages, her expression undeterred. "Ah, but simplicity is the mark of true genius. These must be metaphors for deeper truths!"
Kieran threw up his hands in exasperation. "You're impossible. Look, just take your riches and go find a real sage. I'm telling you, I'm not the guy you're looking for."
Meliora clasped her hands together and bowed deeply. "I hear and obey, Master. I shall return with more offerings to prove my worth."
Before Kieran could respond, she swept out the door, leaving behind the glittering pile of treasures on his floor. He stared after her, stunned.
"Well," he muttered to himself, "this is going to be a problem."