Young Female Voice: "Ith'laer, thae en'var shiel..."
(Translation: "He's not waking up, it's been a week...")
Another Young Female Voice: "Shaera en'thalan, ven'mir tolë dae. Shae'an tolë vael en'mil norë ai ara thalinaë raë shael... shaer vhiran, shaer lir'eri naë shael vhen."
(Translation: "That's normal, he lost too much blood. We have no healing potions or magicians skilled in healing magic nearby… poor boy, he looks so young.")
Older Female Voice: "Shael'ves, orëlaë shael en'harin. Var en'laes thae vhir tolë araën, lir'shilë tolë en'thala."
(Translation: "You two, stop being noisy. Leave him to me and return to your duties.")
Older Female Voice (to herself): "Shari... naë'ver lir'thalan vhirë norë, laren'vhir shaer norë ai shael tolanë. Var lir tolë ai En'lor aë'mir? Shael lir'farë ai shië... tolë naë ral lir'silë laë, farë naë tirë... aen shaë ai En'arë, aën shaë thae norë thaë."
(Translation: "Pale and clear skin, black hair and sky blue eyes, hands without calluses yet a well-built body. Is he the son of a noble family? Why is he in the middle of the Ancient Forest? His clothing is strange… like those of royalty, but simpler.")
noisy, urgh, let me sleep for another hour...
I heard noises, seems to be multiple woman, but i can't recognize their language. I opened my eyes slowly.
Older Lady: "Araëv lir'ael, tirha tolë."
(Translation: "You are finally awake, come, drink this water.")
I saw three woman, one is an old lady with hunched back, dressed in brown silky robe and strange tatoo on her face, she held a small wooden cup in her hand, steam rising from its contents.
The other is a mature lady with brown skin and brown eyes, dressed like a traditional nordic woman, her mature figure cannot be hidden by her clothes.
The last one is a little kid around 10 or 11 years old, she have black hair and brown eyes, she wears the same clothes as the mature lady, probably her mother.
Does she want me to drink this? i stared at her confused.
"Where…" I croaked, my voice hoarse. I tried again. "Where am I?"
The three women exchanged glances, clearly not understanding my words. The little girl tilted her head, whispering something to the mature woman.
Young Girl: "Shael'nir tolë ai norë?"
(Translation: "What is he saying?")
The older lady sighed, setting the cup down beside me. She spoke again, her tone softer this time.
Older Lady: "Shalë tolë ai shaë norë. Tirha tolë; lir'farë shaë en'larin."
(Translation: "Don't strain yourself. Drink this; it will help you recover.")
I hesitated, then slowly reached for the cup. The steam carried a faint herbal scent—earthy, calming. My hand trembled slightly as I lifted it to my lips.
No harm in trying, right?
The liquid was warm, bitter, but oddly refreshing. Almost immediately, a soothing sensation spread through my body.
The older lady gave a slight nod of approval before turning to the others. Their language flowed between them like a melody I couldn't understand.
I leaned back, exhaustion still clinging to me, but a single thought burned in my mind.
I am supposed to be dead, where am I? And who are these people?
"My ring...do you guys know where it is?" i gestured my right index finger to my left index finger and circled around it, gesturing a ring.
The older lady's sharp gaze softened as she rose to her full, albeit hunched, height. She turned to the other two women, speaking in their melodic tongue, her voice commanding yet gentle.
Older Lady: "Shael'en varë en'silë tolë ai lir. Shaë ai norë en'farë ai lir farin shaelë, var'ven ai shaë tolë."
(Translation: "His belongings are stored safely. The ring he wanted is among them in the drawer.")
The mature woman nodded and moved toward a small, roughly carved wooden cabinet at the edge of the room. She opened one of its drawers, sifting through its contents.
Meanwhile, the young girl's curious gaze lingered on me. Her cheeks flushed slightly as her eyes darted over my body, but her expression quickly shifted to one of pity.
They're staring at the scars…
My body was a mess. Angry, jagged scars stretched across my chest and arms—bite marks left by wolves. My left leg was practically lifeless, swollen and discolored where their teeth had sunk in. Burn marks marred the right side of my torso, remnants of the fire I'd barely escaped. Even the faintest movements sent jolts of pain coursing through me.
At least I'm alive… though barely.
The mature woman returned, holding a simple ring between her fingers. Its silver band gleamed faintly in the dim light of the room, and the sight of it sent a wave of relief coursing through me.
Mature Woman: "Shael farë. Ai lir tolë shaë ai ven?"
(Translation: "Here it is. Is this what he seeks?")
She crouched beside me, holding the ring out in her palm. I reached for it instinctively, my fingers trembling as they closed around the familiar weight.
"Yes," I rasped, my voice still hoarse. "Thank you…"
The women exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from curiosity to quiet amusement.
The young girl whispered something, her voice barely audible.
Young Girl: "Shael tolë ai en'miranë shaelë farë… aën shaë norë tolë ai silë var?"
(Translation: "He really wanted that ring… Do you think it's magical?")
The older lady shushed her gently, her gaze returning to me.
Older Lady: "Tirlae norë shaë, lir'en var ai shaë farë."
(Translation: "Rest now, and you are safe here.")
I held the ring tightly, its smooth surface grounding me in this strange, surreal situation. A soft warmth pulsed from the ring, almost as if it was responding to my touch.
Let's see if it still works.
I turned the ring on my finger, tapping its surface with my thumb. Instantly, the air shimmered around my hand, and a small silver object materialized, spinning slowly before dropping into my palm.
The women gasped, their voices a chorus of astonishment.
The object was a small silver coin, its surface inscribed with intricate symbols of communication. A faint glow danced across the carvings, radiating a quiet power. Its information displayed inside my head as its binded to me now.
[-Tongue of the Traveler-]
-Rank: ★★
-Creator: The Polyglot Guild of Eldoria
-Description: A small silver coin inscribed with symbols of communication. When held, it grants the user the ability to understand and speak any language for a limited time (up to 24 hours). The coin's power doesn't just translate words; it grants an intuitive understanding of the culture and nuances behind the language. The user can charge it under the sunlight. Note: Can be charged passively, we recomended the user to hang it on his neck or somewhere it can get the maximum amount of sunlight.
"Erhm… is this thing working? Can you guys understand me now?" I asked hesitantly, holding the coin up for emphasis.
The older lady's eyes narrowed slightly, but she gave a curt nod. "Yes," she said slowly, her voice carrying a deliberate weight. "We can understand you now."
The young girl clapped her hands together, her face lighting up with delight. "It really works! Big brother, your magic is amazing!"
The mature woman shot her a warning glance, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone cautious but not unkind. "And why were you in the Ancient Forest? It's not a place for anyone, let alone someone carrying such artifacts."
I took a deep breath, wincing as a sharp pain lanced through my chest. "First, let me thank you all for helping me. If not for your kindness, I wouldn't have made it out alive," I said earnestly, forcing a weak smile despite the ache in my body. "My name is Azur Denver. It's… nice to meet you."
"A surname? Is he really a noble?" The old lady thought to herself, before speaking.
The older lady inclined her head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment. "I am Elder Shaera," she said. "These two are Liriana,"—she gestured toward the mature woman—"and her daughter, Eria."
Eria beamed at me, while Liriana gave a polite nod, her eyes still sharp with suspicion.
I can't let them know I am not from this world, its better for me to integrate to this world first, find out where i am and possibly move in to a big city to gain foothold.
"Thank you Elder Shaera, Madam Liriana and Little Eria" i smiled at them, though, with my scars and burn mark, i might look like a monster.
"As for Madam Liriana's questions, I am the eldest son of the Denver Family, due to family conflict, i am no longer together with my parents, i traded all my belonging for a chance to explore the world, of course, i still have my artifacts, however due to some circumstances, i was teleported to that forest and met the fierce attack of the wolves" I didn't lie, Considering who my father is, i can be considered as noble back home. I also truly are no longer together with my parents, all my belonging are traded for coins and i am teleported to that forest. I spoke no lies.
"Very well, you just woke up and shouldn't excercise too much energy, your belonging is in that drawer, sadly your expensive clothes are torn apart, for now you can use the clothes of the men in our village. rest well" said the elder while pointing towards the previous drawers.
"Rest well, Sir Denver, come Eria we need to give Sir time for himself" said Madam Liriana while picking up Eria by her armpit.
it seems i am safe for now, but those arrows yesterday, its not ordinary arrow, i need that kind of power to protect myself in this world, my artifacts are nothing much as its only help for miscellaneous thing. Moreover, my entire body hurt so much i might as well pass out again.
Just like that, I passed out again.
The next morning, I woke to sunlight filtering through a small window. If there were something that is easily noticable, that would be the two moon in the sky. My body ached, and my left leg felt completely useless. The bite marks on my chest and arms still burned, and the burn on my side throbbed. I grimaced as I tried to sit up, each movement sending sharp pain through my body.
I needed to move, to stand, to see if I could still walk. Slowly, I gripped the bedpost and pushed myself upright. My right leg bore the weight while my left leg dragged behind. I shuffled over to the drawer where my belongings were stored. The ring was there, along with other items, including simple clothes and tools.
I picked up the ring again, feeling its power hum beneath my fingers.
If I'm going to survive here, I need more than this.
Footsteps outside interrupted my thoughts, and Elder Shaera entered, her voice firm yet calm.
Elder Shaera: "You must rest. Your body is still weak."
"Elder, do you have anything that could help me walk?" i asked the elder, even a stick will help as i am going crazy from being in a room all this time.
Elder Shaera: "I do, but just lay in your bed for now, you are really in a terrible condition and can't afford to waste your strength for anything aside from recovery" she said calmly.
"Then do you have any books? preferable a book that teaches me the language of this region, or book that can help me understand this region better, i can't really use my artifact 24/7" I asked, i can't just waste my time doing nothing, I should try to improve everyday.
Elder Shaera regarded me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small nod, she turned and left the room, the wooden door creaking as it closed behind her. Alone again, I exhaled a shaky breath.
Books, language, culture… I needed to understand everything about this world if I wanted to survive. The [Tongue of the Traveler] was helpful, but relying on it all the time would only draw suspicion. Besides, its passive charging method would limit me if I kept draining its power.
I examined the other belongings stored in the drawer. A rough leather pouch contained a few bronze coins—probably local currency. A simple knife, its blade dull, was also tucked inside. There was a plain wooden comb, and alongside it, a small bundle of dried herbs tied with string. My artifacts and personal items seemed untouched, well not like they can touch them based on their reaction before, but the lack of gear made me realize just how unprepared I was for this world.
I tested my weight again, using the drawer for support. My left leg remained unresponsive, and I gritted my teeth against the pain shooting through my chest and side. Standing was a chore; walking was going to be a nightmare.
Footsteps approached the door again, this time lighter and faster. Eria burst in, carrying a wooden bowl filled with steaming porridge.
"Big brother, you're awake again!" she exclaimed, her smile wide. She placed the bowl on a small table near the bed. "Mother says you need to eat to get better."
I gave her a tired smile. "Thank you, Eria."
She tilted her head, her expression curious. "How did you make that silver thing appear yesterday? Was it magic? I've never seen anything like it."
I hesitated. "It's… a tool from where I come from. Not quite magic, but useful."
Her eyes sparkled with interest, but before she could ask more questions, Liriana's voice called from outside. "Eria! Don't bother him too much. Let him rest."
Eria pouted but obediently nodded. "I'll be back later!" she promised, darting out of the room.
Alone again, I sat on the edge of the bed, forcing down the porridge. It was bland but warm, and it eased the gnawing hunger I hadn't realized I felt. Each spoonful brought a flicker of strength back to my limbs.
As I rested, I noticed the faint hum of energy from the [Tongue of the Traveler], now hanging around my neck on a simple string. My thoughts drifted to the world outside—two moons in the sky, arrows that carried strange power, and wolves that were far more vicious than any I'd encountered back home.
What kind of world have I been thrown into?
The door creaked open again, and this time, Elder Shaera returned, carrying a small stack of books wrapped in cloth. She placed them on the table beside the empty bowl and gestured for me to take a look.
"These are what we have," she said. "They might help you learn our language and customs. Some are old, others are written by travelers who visited our village long ago."
I unwrapped the cloth carefully. The books were worn, their leather covers cracked and faded. Flipping through the first, I saw rows of script—symbols and letters unlike anything from my world. The second book appeared to be a dictionary, with basic phrases translated into another language. The third was a collection of folk tales, its pages filled with illustrations of mythical creatures and heroic figures.
"This is more than enough," I said sincerely, meeting her gaze. "Thank you."
She nodded, her expression softening slightly. "If you truly wish to recover and learn, take it slow. The Ancient Forest is no place for the unprepared. You were lucky to escape with your life."
Lucky? No, I had barely escaped death. But I wasn't going to argue with her. Instead, I inclined my head in gratitude.
As the day wore on, I immersed myself in the books.
I took out a [Scroll of Quick Understanding] from my ring and ripped it apart, soon, my thinking become far clearer, i can calculate more things in my brain, i can even count as fast as a calculator.
Alright, let's start with the second book [Understanding Morian Language, A Guide for People From The Imperial Capital Written By Alenius] i need to learn the language first.
At first, the language felt like an impossible puzzle, but with the Tongue of the Traveler assisting, patterns and meanings began to emerge. The grammar was complex, filled with nuances and cultural references. The more I read, the clearer it became that this world valued tradition and lineage deeply.
By nightfall, exhaustion crept back over me. My body was far from healed, but my mind buzzed with new knowledge. As I lay back down, the faint glow of the two moons cast an otherworldly light through the window. I stared at them, my thoughts a mix of determination and unease.
But atleast now i know, I am in a corner of the Morian Kingdom, a small kingdom under the ruling of Eiger Empire, this village, known as Green Trunk VIllage is located at the border of The Ancient Forest, bordering the elven kingdom on the other side, Luckily this kingdom is peaceful and have no big conflict to the surrounding kingdom.
After organizing what I've got for today's reading, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me once more.