Slowly, the sunrise rose above the Village of Silan.
Its golden light spilled over the rooftops and the massive church standing proudly at the center.
The delicate spires gleamed as they caught the early rays, their sharp tips reflecting the brightness like blades of gold. Beneath them, dozens of people filled the streets, each busy with their own morning work, routine, and businesses.
The cobblestone roads were alive with sound, the chatter of townsfolk, the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves, and the creaking wheels of wagons heavy with goods.
Carriages passed through the narrow lanes, merchants called out their prices, and children ran about between the stalls. It was another busy day in Silan.
-----
Time passed
The sun climbed higher, its light growing stronger.
A warm beam slipped through the window of one of the small houses behind the church the residence where Evan stay and slept.
The light touched his blanket first, then his face.
Evan stirred beneath the soft white fabric, mumbling incoherently before slowly opening his eyes.
He rubbed them lazily, blinking away the haze of sleep, then sat at the edge of his bed, lost in thought.
He stood, stretching his arms, then turned toward the window beside his small modest wooden desk. After a few seconds of staring blankly, he began walking toward it.
The latch of the window was intricate, and Evan struggled with it at first. "What kind of design is this?" he muttered groggily, fumbling with the mechanism.
After three attempts, he finally managed to open it.
The morning air greeted him, cool and gentle. The sunlight hit his face directly, filling his chest with warmth.
He squinted and gazed toward the church, its towering spires and arches loomed over the city like guardians of faith.
The gray stone shimmered faintly beneath the sun, the architecture of it is a clear testament to the Holy Empire's power and influence.
Evan admired it quietly, half awake, and half lost in thought.
He rubbed his eyes once more before muttering to himself, "As expected of this nation. Their architecture truly are impressive... I'd rather wake up to this view every day than those dull modern buildings back in my world."
A faint smile appeared on his lips. Then came a sound.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Are you awake, Mr. Evan?" a calm, respectful voice called from the other side of the door.
Evan immediately recognized it. That's Stefan, he thought.
He turned toward the door, walked over, and opened it.
The hinges creaked softly. Standing there was Stefan, slightly taller than Evan, dressed neatly in a white long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and brown sandals.
Stefan bowed slightly and greeted him, "May the Goddess bless us."
Evan bowed as well. "And may She bless you too, Sir Stefan."
Stefan smiled politely. "The Breakfast has been prepared downstairs. The servants finished setting the table a while ago."
Evan's lips curled into a faint grin. "Understood. I'll catch up with you, Sir Stefan."
"Take your time," Stefan replied with a nod before heading downstairs.
-----
Evan closed the door and glanced around his room, searching for his black shoes.
They weren't where he had left them. Nor was his waterskin, which he usually kept inside his sling bag.
His brow furrowed as he inspected the bag and noticed its zipper slightly open.
Someone went through my things? he thought. But after a quick check, he sighed in relief, his cellphone, and his whole pad paper, and leather pouch with eight copper coins were still there.
"Thank the heavens," he whispered, smiling faintly.
He turned to his small cabinet and noticed a pair of new sandals placed beside it. "Huh... these weren't here before." He slipped them on, appreciating their lightness. "Guess someone replaced my shoes, huh."
Though a few of his items were gone, he still had his sling bag the only possession that had been with him since the beginning of his journey in this mysterious world.
After a short pause, Evan exhaled deeply. "Alright... time to eat."
He opened the door and descended the stairs.
The residence interior was modest but beautifully crafted.
Smooth brown lines traced the staircase, and the wooden railings were carved with subtle floral patterns.
The air smelled faintly of incense and baked bread.
As Evan entered the dining room, Stefan looked up from his seat. "Ah, Mr. Evan, you're here! Come, sit with me. Let's eat together."
Evan smiled and nodded, taking a seat across from him.
The table was neatly arranged with fresh bread, sliced meat, and a small bowl of fruit. Evan took a piece of bread, biting into it carefully. His eyes widened slightly.
"This... tastes better than the bread I bought in the marketplace," he murmured, genuinely surprised.
He continued eating, cutting a small piece of meat with a knife and savoring its flavor. Across from him, Stefan ate with quiet grace, every movement precise and proper.
After a few moments, Stefan spoke. "Mr. Evan, do you have any questions to ask? I can sense that you're watching me rather closely."
Evan blinked, embarrassed. "Ah, sorry for staring. I just... have a lot in my mind." He hesitated, then added, "Can I ask you a question then?"
"Of course," Stefan replied firmly. "You may ask anything you wish, as long as I possess the knowledge to answer it."
Evan nodded, choosing his words carefully. "Yesterday, Sir Nathaniel mentioned that I'm going to serve the Empire... and the Divine Goddess. What exactly did he mean by that?"
Stefan set down his knife and fork and folded his hands. "As far as I know, Sir Nathaniel told me this morning that you're going to become a 'Seeker,' just like me, after one week. And he said it was very urgent to do so."
The word lingered in Evan's mind. 'Seeker.'
He leaned forward slightly. "A Seeker... what is that? Some kind of rank in the church?"
Stefan nodded. "Yes, exactly. The church has a complex hierarchy and classified by 'Tiers.' Tier 1 is the lowest of it, and Tier 7 is the highest... or at least, that's what I know."
Evan furrowed his brow, trying to understand. So the church runs on this ranking system... Tier 1 to Tier 7 or more.
Interesting he thought.
Stefan continued, noticing Evan's thoughtful look. "It's confusing at first, but once you become a Seeker, like me you'll understand it. You won't be the same as an ordinary human anymore. You'll be... something beyond what normal people can comprehend."
He smirked slightly, confidence glinting in his eyes. "And only a few people or group know of this structure, the church's members, and the certain noble families, and of course, the Four Great Families who stand above all in the Holy Empire."
Evan froze for a moment, the weight of Stefan's words sinking in. "And now you're one of them Evan." Stefan added.
The room fell silent again, the clinking of utensils the only sound. After finishing their meal, two maids entered to clear the plates and wipe the table and also bring them a water.
Evan took a sip of glass of water before speaking again. "Sir Stefan... how does one person 'become' a Seeker?"
"Hmm, You will be blessed by a Divine Power, directly from the power of the Divine Goddess and also the guidance of it." Stefan explained more. "And the one who will conduct the blessing is Sir Arion the Priest of the Village of Silan, and also he is classified as a 'Tier 3 Priest'."
He stood from his chair, adjusting his cuffs. "I have duties to attend now. May the Goddess guide you, Mr. Evan."
Evan nodded politely. "May She guide you as well."
-----
After Stefan left, Evan remained in the dining room for a moment, deep in thought. A Seeker... a hierarchy... the Divine Goddess. Everything feels too organized and not right, but also too perfect for Evan to understand.
Eventually, he rose and returned upstairs.
Inside his room, he noticed the small calendar hanging near his door.
The logo words in it is 'Gregorian' it means it's the Gregorian calendar.
And what is written in it, is 4237 years of the Fourth Age. The month read is, January. But Evan doesn't know exactly date he was transported in this world.
"it's been five days now, since I arrived in this world" he murmured.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor as his thoughts drifted.
The morning had faded into afternoon, and the sunlight had grown warmer through his window.
"What a strange world," he whispered, his voice trailing into a sigh. "And it's only been five days yet I feel..."
Evan left the residence house, hoping to get some fresh air and clear his thoughts for a moment.
He walked aimlessly around the back of the church, his footsteps echoing faintly against the cobblestone path. The air was cool and gentle, brushing against his face as he took a deep breath.
Soon, he came upon a large square-shaped garden quiet, serene, and beautifully kept.
The scent of blooming flowers lingered in the air, mixed with the earthy fragrance of freshly watered soil.
A stone fountain stood at the center, its clear water rippling softly under the sunlight.
Evan stopped for a moment, his gaze wandering. "It's peaceful here…" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I guess this is the only place in this world where my mind can rest for a while."
He sighed, his thoughts drifting back to everything he had learned since arriving in this strange new world, the Church, the Seeker, the Divine Goddess. For now, he simply wanted a peace and silence place.
Evan found a nearby wooden bench beneath a tree and sat down, closing his eyes as the soft wind carried it hitting his face in a gentle manner.