A new day

Austin wakes up in a daze from after the events of yesterday. He walks downsatirs and sees the inn bustling with people drinking and having fun.

"You're finally awake huh?" Alvin asks "yeah" Austin responds

"man you stink guess you didn't take a shower the other day huh?" Alvin said while pinching his nose

"Oh yeah I should probably go bathe" Austin says while walking upstairs, he gets his bath towel and a change of clothes and walks to the back of the inn where the bath is located, he lights a fire under the tube and lets the water heat up while he gets undressed.

Austin steps into the tub when its heated and starts to think back to yesterdays events finding it surprising he had the courage to help someone and risk his life to do so

"I wonder how those two sisters are doing, I hope her back is alright" Austin said to himself

"well might as well get to my feet and hit the ground running, today is a new day" Austin says while getting out of the tub.

He gets dressed and goes back to the inn where he see's the navy recruiters talking to a group of boys who look around his age with them each signing up and handing over the enlistment forms. The recruiter then walks over to Austin

"Do you want to enlist in navy?" He asked Austin, Austin stares at the forms the recruiter was holding

"yes I do I have my form in my room will you wait here while I go get it?" Austin asked

"sure ill be right here waiting" the recuriter said.

Austin walks towards and up the stairs to his room he opens the desk and takes out the form which has his name, age, and gender written on it.

He walks back downstairs and hands over the enlistment form

"Thank you, you will report to basic training a week from today and all you need to bring is yourself" the recruiter said

"alright I look forward to it" Austin replied.

The recruiter walks out of the inn and Austin breathes deep knowing that he just signed up for the military "you really went through it huh?" Alvin asked while walking to him

"yep I'm heading to the port city in a week" Austin said

"then you'll want to get a start tomorrow the walk to the city is a day and you'll want to be there ahead of time so you can familiarize yourself with the city." Alvin says

"yeah I know Lilia told me the other day" Austin responded

"I was gonna go yesterday but instead though it would be a better idea too start training" Austin added

"Well then you gonna start the journey tomorrow then?" Alvin asks

"That's the plan which kinda sucks" Austin said

"I can tell your still unsure about going to Nara so soon" Alvin said putting his hand on Austin's shoulder

"yeah I am. I have little knowledge about this world and I hoped to be here until I was able to learn more" Austin responded with saddened expression

"you've got to follow through on it if you don't go you'll be branded a deserter or coward" Alvin said

"I know and I plan on doing it but I can't help but feel anxious going in blind" Austin replied

"for now I'm going to get some medical herbs for the road incase I need them." Austin added

"alright be careful this time don't want to have you come back late again." Alvin said jokingly. Austin would walk out of the inn and head towards Zebres' home.

As he walks he looks towards the forest and the road leading out of it wondering how his journey to the city will be.

"WAIT YOU THERE!" a voice shouts, Austin turns around and looks at who was yelling and see's the older sister Mariana running towards him.

"I've been looking for you since yesterday" said Mariana, but by just looking at her he can tell she's doing better than when he found her.

"You're the girl I helped...Mariana right?" Austin asked 

"yes, and i've been meaning to thank you for saving me and my sister I don't have much but hopefully this will be enough" Mariana say's while handing over a small bag of coins,

"no please I don't need any kind of reward" Austin said pushing away the small bag. He know's the money would help him in the city but it wouldn't feel right taking it from her.

"Are you sure?" Mariana asks "There's 50 copper coins in here" She adds. 

"yes im sure I was just helping because I wanted too" Austins responds. 

"Then at the very least take these" Mariana say's handing him a basket full of herbs. 

"Whoa what are these?" Austin asks

"They're medical herbs and a few are also usable to cook with." Mariana says "I collect them and sell them to traveling merchants that pass through here" she adds.

"Then I can't accept these either since they're how you make money." Austin said

"No please take them I have plenty at home still" Mariana say's while persistanly handing Austin the basket.

"Alright then thank you" Austin say's as he takes the basket "You saved me a trip to the healer" Austin added

"Then if you're not busy would you like to have lunch at my home its just a litle ways there" Mariana says while pointing towards her home.

"Sure that would be nice" Austin says. Austin thought he should also ask her which herbs are medical and which are edible while he was at it too.

They begin to walk towards her home and on the walk he see's more demi humans as if they were mostly congested here. 

"Mira, i'm home!" Mariana shouted 

"welcome back big sister I just got lunch ready" Mira say's with a smile. Austin thought that it was an infections smile that made you want to smile back.

"Oh its the big brother that saved us yesterday" Mira say's "will you be joing us for lunch?" she ask's.

"yeah i'll be joing you since i've still got somethings to ask your sister"Austin say's

"Then please have a seat i'll bring the lunch out" Mariana say's while walking to the kitchen counter

Austin looks around the hosue while sitting at the table and the home is quite small, there's only 2 bedrooms and one large room that connects them, he also see's theres no bathroom but an outhouse he can see through the window. 

"So is it just you two that live here?" Austin ask's

"Yes, because our parents were killed during a surge 3 years ago" Mariana replies as she brings the lunch too the table 

"I'm sorry if it was a touchy subject you don't want to talk about" Austin said feeling a hint of regret 

"Don't worry you didn't know so I don't blame you" Mariana responds looking a bit sad 

Austin looks at the prepared lunch which is a sandwhich which lettuce, beef and tomatoes. He took a bite and it tasted great even though it had basic ingredients. It's a taste that makes him feel warm.

"Wow this is really good" Austin say's while stuffing his face

"I'm glad you like it since its really all we eat for lunch" Mira says "I would really liked to have more ingredients to make something different and more filling" she adds

"When we get some more money i'll go to the city and buy some spices for you" said Mariana 

"you guys don't have spices?" Austin asked 

"No we don't, because they cost quite a sum for a pound, at most they can cost 2 silver per pound" Mariana replies 

"Actually I was wondering if you could tell me the different herbs you handed me right now since i'm going to the city tomorrow?" Austin asks while putting the basket full of herbs on the table 

"No problem ill show you which ones are medical first" Mariana says "but before that if you don't mind me asking why are you going to the city for?" she asks.

"I'm going to the city for basic training as i've joined the navy" Austin responds 

"Thats really cool!" Mira says as she stands up in a childish manner

"Then im guessing these herbs are for said trianing?" Mariana asks 

"No, they're for the journy on foot since I have to walk to the city and camp for a night." Austin replied "Alvin has told me that monsters lurk in the forests" he added

"The let me show you which medical herbs are for what and how to prepare them" Mariana say's 

"So first is this one its called a Zuma grass" Mariana said while pulling out a hand full of the Zuma grass. The grass looked like normal grass but had slight darker color too it.

"This grass is used to heal cuts and scratches on your body but you should disinfect it whith water first" Mariana said. 

"This next one is flander root" Mariana say's while getting it out of the basket. The root was small but fits in her hand it has a brown color with small streaks of green. 

"This one you crush up and heat in a pot which turns it into a tea that helps with fatigue and soreness" Mariana said

"And this is the last one Hemoc weed" Mariana say's while pulling it out of the basket. The weed was a distinic shade of green that stood out.

"This is used to draw away monsters when its burned and can also br used as a sedative for sneak attacks on monsters too" Mariana said

"This is the only herb I have on hand for cooking its callad Parsley" Mariana say's while taking out the herb. It looked exactly like parsley from his world

"This one can add some taste too the food you cook" Mariana said

Mariana would put all the herbs back into the basket and hand it too Austin

"Once again Thank you for saving me and my sister I hope your training goes well." Mariana say's with a smile 

"Thank you and Thanks for the herbs i'll be sure to put them to good use"Austin say's smiling back. He walks out of their house and starts to head back to the inn since he got the herbs he needed.

He opens the door to the inn and see's sailors drinking at the nearby table they're all in uniform and they look roughed up with one having bandages on his head and another missing a hand.

"Hey Austin welcome back got what you needed?" Alvin asked while walking towards him 

"Yeah I did I also ran into the sisters I helped the other day I'm glad to see they're doing alright" Austin replied 

"What happened to them" Austin whispered to Alvin

"They were on the K.N. Necto it was sunk just the other day" Alvin whispered back 

Austin would see them staring at him like they were looking right through him. He would go back upstairs too his room and finishes packing up his herbs in a bag. Austin goes back downstairs to ask Alvin a question

"Hey Alvin should i buy a sword or something to protect myself from monster on my way to the city?" Austin asks 

"It would be a good Idea but ill just give you one that I have on hand since I never use it" Alvin say's while walking to the back. He returns with a sword in it sheath 

"Here you go its fairly old but should still cut like a sword you'll have to learn how to use it when you get to the city." Alvin says

"Do they teach you how to use it while in training?" Austin asks 

"Yes they do, but they put a big focus on how to operate the ship and the purpose of your job on the ship" Alvin replies 

"What job should I try to get?" Austina asks

"To tell you the truth they chose your job for you." A;vin responds 

"They all have their ups and downs but whatever job you get you need to do it right" he adds

"I'm gonna take a walk the village before dinner to take in the sights one last time" Austin says

"No prolem be careful and come back safe" Alvin replies

"I will" Austin responds

As Austin exits the inn he starts to walk around the village and think of what happened the last few days and the people who helped him and he helped, but a strange feeling of uneasiness still remianed like something that didn't feel right. 

As he stopped under a tree he took a deep breath and started to feel the weight of his uneasiness hit him which was caused by the knowledge that he won't be able to go back to his world, he won't be able to see his family anymore, play with his friends online, or attend his last year of school.

With this thinking he begins to shed tears as he wants to go back but doesnt know how too. 

After getting up from under the tree he looks to the forest knowing he has to enter it tomorrow in order to get to the city. 

As the sun begins to set it illuminates the mountain range as Austin heads back to the inn 

Austin walks into the inn and is greeted by Zebres, Alvin, Lilia ,Alvina, Mariana, and Mira who surprise him with a farewell dinner 

"Surprise!" they all shout as Austin enters the inn with a large meal on the table 

Austin jumps not expecting such a thing

"W-What is all this?" Austin asks 

"Its a farewell dinner my wife organized" Alvin responded

"We all wanted to wish you farewell and safe journey's on you trip to the city" Lilia said

"Please sit down and enjoy the food me and mother made" Alvina said with a smile 

As they all ate they talked through the night and Austin enjoyed their company one last time before he left the village.

"Austin are you ever gonna come back to the village?" Zebres asked 

"I'm planning on coming back if I ever get time to do so since I don't know when i'll have time to" Austin replied 

"Well all I can say is that you're in good hands my Aunt works in the navy as a medic she's station in the port city you're training at" Zebres replied 

"Wow really? Thats pretty cool" Austin replied

"She's a far better healer than i am she's studied medicine for 200 years and she's showing no sign in slowing down" Zebres said

"Then i'll something else to look forward too when I go to basic training then" Austin said with a laugh

As the night went on he started to feel a sense of belonging like he had a place he could call home in this world.

Austin would walk back upstairs to rest and get himself some sleep to be ready for his big day tomorrow

Austin would wake up to find himself back in the goddess' realm. He looks around trying to find Salacia who was no where to be found 

"Hello?!" he shouted out 

"Is anyone there?!" he also shouts 

He then hears a voice in the distance. He starts to walk towards it and see's the goddess asleep 

"Uh Goddess?" He say's. She doesnt respond 

"Goddess" He say's again but a bit louder 

The goddess starts to open her eye's like anyone would and stretches her arms up above her head and yawns

"Huh? what are you doing here?" Salacia asks rubbing her eye

"I don't know I fell asleep and ended up in here again" Austin replied

Salacia would conjure up a table and two chairs for her and Austin

"So what's on your mind im guessing you have questions?" Salacia say's

"I have many but right now only 3 really matter" Austin says

"One how did I end up here, two how do I understand everyone, and 3 Is there a way for me to go back?" Austin asked while holding up 3 fingers

"To awnser your first question you came here through a portal the opened and transported you here as to how they work I am unaware of it" Salacia responds while pouring a cup of tea 

"As for your second question when someone transmigrates they gain the ability to understand this world in their language and you in theirs" Salacia responds

"And for your last question as far as I know there is no way for you to return to your original world" Salacia says responding to his last question 

Austin starts to feel even more uneasy after being told this and he doesn't know how to take this. He can't go back

"Thanks for awnsering my questions" Austin says 

"It's no problem at all, but you are going to the port city Nara correct?" Salacia asks 

"Yeah I am, how did you know?" Austin asks

"I've been watching you as my champion and to see you save those two girls was incredible i'm sure I made the right choice in chosing you as my champion" Salacia exclaimed 

"Thank you and I'm going there for basic training becasue I joined the navy" Austin said

"Then I wish you luck but please be sure to remember the contract we signed" Salacia said

"Thank you and I promise I will" Austin said

"Then sweet dreams my champion" Salacia say's as Austin closes his eyes

He felt light like he was sinking back into himself as the sun rose he opened his eye's. 

Today is the day.