Evan approached the first stall closest to him, a man in his late twenties stood behind it, selling vegetables and fruits stacked neatly in baskets and organize. His face are very average, has brown hair, dark brown eyes, white tone skin, and has straight nose.
For Evan his face is very average.
Evan bowed politely and greeted him.
"Do you perhaps buy goods, sir? I have something with me… something very interesting to sell."
The man gave him a long, suspicious stare before replying. "Go on then. What is this 'interesting' thing you're talking about?"
Evan's heart skipped. "I'm lucky I chose this stall. If this works and, I could sell my pen. That should earn me enough coin to buy food… finally." He chuckled faintly in his thoughts, hope pushing away his hunger for a moment.
But the man's stern voice tore him out of his daydream. "So? What are you offering me, lad?" The man's voice sound more impatient.
Evan swallowed and forced a smile.
"Oh… this, sir."
He reached into his sling bag he could feel his phone his paper, fingers brushing against the familiar metal shape. The man's eyes followed with mild curiosity as. Evan slowly drew the pen out and raised it in his left hand.
The man frowned, his brows knitting together. "What is that strange black stick you're holding?" The man ask with curiosity.
Evan let out a nervous chuckle. "Strange, huh? Well… this is a pen, sir"
The man repeated the word as if tasting it.
"A... Pen."
Evan nodded eagerly, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. "Yes! A pen. With this, you can write words on paper, easily and cleanly and more efficient than you always used. Inside, it carries something called 'ink.' just press it to paper and the words appear. Like a magic, isn't it, amazing sir?"
The way he explained things made it seem as though he were speaking to a five year old child.
He grinned proudly, thinking, "That explanation was perfect. There's no way he'll turn this down. He has to see how valuable it is."
But the man's tone turned cold.
"Hey, lad…" His voice carried the weight of irritation. "Do you think I need such a thing? I already have quills and ink of my own. Why would I bother with your strange little stick?"
The words stung, but the man continued, his tone softening slightly. "Still… I could take it off your hands. Let's say… ten bronze coins."
A cool breeze swept under the stall roof, brushing against Evan's sweat-soaked shirt. His stomach churned, not just from hunger but from anger at the unfairness.
Ten bronze? That's a joke right?
I can't even buy two pieces of bread with that. Bread costs eight bronze each, in this village… He clenched his jaw, forcing down his frustration.
Evan managed an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry, sir. But I can't give you this pen for such a low price. It's far too useful for only ten bronze." His voice grew firm, steadier than he felt inside. "Could you perhaps… raise the offer of yours?"
The bald man leaned back, folding his arms across his red jacket. His white linen shirt peeked out beneath, and his black trousers were dusty from the day's work.
"How much, then?" he asked bluntly.
Evan hesitated, then gathered a courage to say it. "Twenty-five copper coins, sir."
The man scoffed and laugh, and then shaking his head. "Impossible. That little stick is neither useful nor interesting to me." The man added. "It's better to use my old quills and inks, and maybe I could not even resell that to other merchant."
Evan sighed, lowering his gaze. For a moment, despair tugged at him. But then he raised his head again, his voice quiet yet resolute. "Then I will look elsewhere. Perhaps another stall buyer or merchant will see its value." He bowed deeply before turning to leave.
He had taken only a few steps when the man's gruff voice rang out. "All right! I'll do it, the twenty-five copper you ask lad. Don't make me regret it!"
Evan's lips curled into a relieved smile, though his heart still thumped in his chest. I can't believe that worked… thank God it did.
He turned back quickly, walking faster this time. "Pleasure doing business with you, sir!"
He handed over the pen, and in return, the man gave him a small brown linen pouch. Evan peeked inside counted it for a second it was twenty-five copper coins glimmered faintly in the dim light. He almost laughed in relief.
"Thank you," Evan said warmly, extending his hand. The man hesitated but eventually shook it. Their deal was sealed and done now.
As Evan walked away, his thoughts were consumed by food. "Finally… I can buy and eat."
Timed passed while walking in the market.
He hurried toward a stall stacked with bread and fruit. A middle-aged woman with kind eyes stood behind it.
Evan stepped forward, trying to sound composed despite his growling stomach.
"One bread, please."
The woman nodded at him. "Eight bronze coins."
Evan dug into the linen pouch, and handing over a single copper coin. The woman then returned two bronze as his coin money change. After Evan taking the change he tucked them carefully away in to his sling bag again, before slowly clutching his large brown bread.
The moment he bit into the warm brown bread he'd buy, the flavor flooded his mouth. His eyes widened. "So… delicious…" he voice whispered, devouring it as though he hadn't eaten in weeks.
But when the last crumb was gone, hunger still gnawed at him. He wanted another bread, yet the reason held him back.
I have to save much coins as much possible. I need a food to survive and also water… a place to call home and rest comfortable, even if it's just for a seconds.
With that thought, Evan slowly left the crowded marketplace, the voices of the merchants and buyers echoing in his ears over and over.
Their strange medieval clothes still felt foreign to him, as though he had stepped onto a stage play that would never end.
While Evan's walking to the cobblestone pathway he Observe that it has a same environment, a little to be more precise the pathway in this village has a wooden pole and above it a lantern hang in it. Same as the modern world were Evan remember.
And slowly time passed.
Eventually, he returned to the empty shed he had found earlier. The walls were cracked and full of holes, the window frame of it are messing or shattered or damaged. The cold air crept in freely touching his skin. Evan know it wasn't safe, and it certainly wasn't warm either, but it was all he had for now. He promised tomorrow he would find a decent place that he could stay comfortable.
A few seconds passed.
He placed his sling bag beneath his head for a pillow and locked the broken door as the best he could. Lying on the hard wooden floor, he stared at the darkness of the ceiling of the shed.
Slowly loneliness crept in, heavier than the hunger he'd feel. His chest tightened.
I want to go home… back to the modern world were I came from. Back to my mother, and my little sister… my friends. I want to eat my mother's delicious cooking. I want to wake up in my bed and realize all of this was just a bad dream.
His throat ached as the thought cut deeper. But deep down… Evan know this is real. And not just a bad dream or nightmare but a real one.
Time stretched endlessly as his eyelids grew heavy. He could hear footsteps outside, the chatter of villagers passing along the cobblestone path. The shed sat on the edge of the marketplace, surrounded by stalls and people around it. Their lives carried on just beyond his fragile refuge shed he has.
Before sleep claimed Evan.
One last thought lingered in his mind,
I really need to know… what land am I, or where am i. What year. What kingdom or nation am i. Anything that can help me survive and go back to my world.
But slowly exhaustion drowned him. His thoughts faded slowly like a fog, his body finally surrendering to rest.
And slowly Evan begun to sleep.
And in the silence of the night, the darkness swallowed Evan whole.