Chapter 1 - Starting Point

Kazimir trained all his life to be a scholar first, and a warrior second. He learned martial arts, tool-crafting, as well as social and physical sciences. He thought that every bit of knowledge will help him in the future.

In his memories, he and his mother escaped his old world with great difficulty. His mom seemed to be someone important as he used to live in a castle as child. He was hidden, and not many people knew him but then again, his memories were fuzzy and he didn't remember his early childhood that well.

He was six years old when he came to this world with his mother. They met the kind old man by chance, and Kazimir was adopted by him when his mother passed away. His grandfather later told him that his mother was grievously injured when they met, and she only lasted a few weeks before she died.

His grandfather heard from her that Kazimir and her were from another world. She asked him to take care of Kazimir, and to let him return when Kazimir was old enough to live by himself. His mother left a 「Magic Crystal」 as a way for him to return to the other world.

His grandfather didn't have any children of his own and was happy when Kazimir came into his life. He raised Kazimir with love and treated him like his real grandson. Kazimir received the best education from private tutors, was taken around the world to experience different climates, and reached an extreme level in various martial arts.

Kazimir loved his grandfather greatly: he had a very tough childhood, but his grandfather's deep love made it bearable. Kazimir's grandfather, Lin Wei, owned a Chinese restaurant in America. He wasn't rich, but successful enough and had savings to support Kazimir's education.

His grandfather died when Kazimir was only 16 years old. Left alone in this world, he didn't feel like he was ready to go to the other world just yet and spent another dozen years improving himself in every way.

Kazimir finally used the 「Magic Crystal」 on his 28th birthday. It was a small circular gem that was a transparent black in color but let out a soft white light from within that illuminated the stone. He grasped the small gem in his calloused hands and recited [Transfer].

The gem cracked, shattered and dispersed into nothingness. The previously gentle light intensified to a blinding crescendo. His body felt light and Kazimir's senses was robbed by the light that filled his vision.

The last thought Kazimir had before he lost consciousness was, 'I'll miss this world, and you too grandpa...'

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It's cold, did I fall asleep? Kazimir's thoughts came slowly and with a fuzzy feeling.

Opening his eyes, he looked up at a clear blue sky. His vision was framed by the crowns of the trees in the forest around him.

He remembered his training and organized his thoughts.

The first thing to do is to check the state of his body. He stood up, looked over himself, did some stretches, regulated his breathing, and checked under his clothes. His whole body seemed to be smaller, and he didn't have the scars that he got used to seeing on himself. He looked down his pants to check if everything had shrunk, but luckily the important parts were fine...

"Okay then, next let's try... [Status]."

A slightly transparent screen appeared in front of him, the layout was exactly like you'd expect to see on a character page in a video game.

Name: Kazimir Lin

Race: Human

Level: 1 Class: N/A

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Vitality: 6

Intelligence: 6

Spirit: 1

Titles: N/A

Skills: <Survival lvl 1> <Martial Arts lvl 7>

He wondered what the average levels were for a human, and why only his martial arts and survival knowledge were considered as skills.

"&#$@&! Survival is only level 1!? That's pretty disappointing, but at least it's a Skill."

Kazimir calmed his mind, closed his eyes and listened to the surroundings. After a few moments he heard the sound of running water. After following the sound for a few moments, he came to the shore of a large creek, it could almost be a river.

He washed his face to clear any remaining drowsiness from his mind. He then looked at his reflection in the river. He saw familiar face that was younger than before staring back. Kazimir confirmed that he got younger.

"I wish the status page would tell me how old my body is now."

As he was musing over the changes to his body, a rustling sound caught his attention from the opposite shore. Three short, green figures emerged from the trees, apparently conversing by chittering and growling.

One was gangly with a pouch slung across its shoulder. Another was more muscular and taller than its companions, but still shorter than the average middle schooler. Last, he saw a green figure that was the average of the three, with a small dagger in sheath at its waist.

The three fully walked out of the forest and noticed Kazimir. An awkward silence came upon all those present, they stood still in shock as their eyes met.

A passing bird was the signal that broke the deadlock. It let loose some droppings that fell on one of the figures below.

*Splat* - the wet dropping hit one of the short green figures, the medium-built one.

"Eck!"

With a surprised yell the one hit flinched, and the other two charged and crossed the shallow river.

At this moment Kazimir slowly turned and briskly walked back towards the forest. An excited smile played on his lips and a tinge of nervousness could be seen in his eyes.

He picked up a sturdy looking stick as he walked, and nimbly jumped up a tree. He then calmed his breathing and waited in anticipation.

The green-skinned trio ran into the forest, mumbling and talking in scratchy sounds. The medium one that was "bombed" by the bird wiped his face, and pulled out a stone dagger from its sheath.

The strongest looking of the bunch came up from behind, and drew a crude spear from his back. The last one had a few simple rocks in its pouch and a sling.

Kazimir quietly maneuvered himself on a tree branch to slightly above the strongest looking figure. He held his breath and dropped down. As he was falling, he swung down and smashed his makeshift club on his target, shattering its skull and his stick.

The other two green creatures screamed in surprise. The medium one stabbed his dagger at Kazimir. Kazimir grabbed and redirected the green hand holding the dagger. He added his strength to the thrust, and helped the dagger find its way into the sling-welder's eye.

With two down, Kazimir applied a joint lock and just like a human's, the green creature's arm was dislocated. Kazimir then put the small creature in a choke hold, and strangled it until it passed out.

...

When the creature woke up, he realized that he was bound by makeshift bindings made from some local vines. His shoulder ached, but was back in correct position. He was very surprised that the human didn't kill him already.

"Can you understand me?" The human asked the creature.

"Chee.. Chess" (ye- yes)

Kazimir felt delighted at the fact that the short creature could understand English. "Good. First, tell me: what's your name?"

"Obyqqlaqq," the creature answered fearfully, gazing at Kazimir nervously.

"…That's too hard to remember, I'm going to call you... Obie"

The creature nodded but was scolding Kazimir in his mind. $#&@, why are you changing my name?!

"Are you a goblin?"

The goblin nodded again.

"Okay Obie, do you know where I can find other humans like myself?"

Obie shook his head to say no.

"Tell me how you learned to speak this language."

"Ai lorned zhe Kommon tohng fromm mai unkl, but Ai hab neva seen hoomans befor" (I learned the Common tongue from my uncle, but I have never seen humans before.)

"Next question: If you've never met a human before, why did you immediately decide to chase after me with intent to kill?"

"Yoo arr alone, but zer war tree of us. Ai sink wee wer stronger, could kil and eet yoo eezee." (You are alone, but there were three of us. I think we were stronger, could kill and eat you easy.)

"Well do you know of anyone who may know where humans can be found?"

Obie again shakes his head, "No, but yoo come to mai villaj, elter mite knoe." (No, but you come to my village, elder might know.) Obie was thinking that once they get to his uncle's - the elder's side, this human will be easy prey for his uncle.

Kazimir thought about it, the strong-looking goblin was much weaker and the rock thrower was much slower than he had expected.

"How many goblins are there in your village?"

The goblin frowned, and indicated that there were about two dozen.

So about twenty, thought Kazimir. As long as he wasn't too badly outnumbered, he believed he could protect his life. Twenty to one didn't seem too bad.

"OK, but walk slowly and let me know when get close. If you lied to me, I'll kill you, but help me and I'll let you go."

Obie nodded emphatically. He will seize this chance to live! This human seemed too trusting, and easy to fool.

Kazimir picked up the crude spear, sling, and pouch with rocks.

He then removed the bindings on the goblin's feet, but kept the ones on its torso and tightened them.

"Lead the way."

With one following the other, the two figures disappeared into the forest.