...
The girl wore a pink saree, her hair neatly tied back, and her eyes widened in surprise as she quickly knelt to gather her fallen books.
"Auch!" the girl exclaimed.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Vyom apologized quickly.
---
"Ouch!" the girl exclaimed as she stumbled.
"I—I'm sorry! I'm really sorry," Vyom said quickly.
"You should watch where you're going," she replied, her voice sharp.
"I said I'm sorry," Vyom repeated.
They both crouched down, gathering the scattered books. Vyom handed them back carefully. The girl's traditional attire looked priceless—her pink saree elegant yet simple, as if it belonged to another era.
Vyom hesitated before asking,
"Why are you carrying so many books alone?"
The girl paused, then replied coldly,
"Because I don't have money to waste on trivial things."
Vyom nodded.
"Okay… If you need help, you can tell me. And—can you tell me the name of this territory?"
She thought for a moment.
"There's no need. This place is called Thalyron."
"I've never heard of it," Vyom said. "Do you know about India?"
She shook her head.
"No. I haven't heard that name before."
"Oh… okay. Sorry for disturbing you."
"Mention not," she replied briefly.
As Vyom handed her the remaining books, he noticed how the stack nearly hid her face.
"You're carrying too many," he said. "If it's okay, I don't have any work right now. I can help."
She studied him for a moment before nodding.
"Fine. Take some and walk with me. But if you try to steal anything, guards are everywhere."
Vyom took half the books and raised an eyebrow.
"Do I really look like a thief?"
"I don't know," she answered flatly.
They began walking side by side. The street grew quiet, the air calm and heavy with silence.
Suddenly, Vyom spoke,
"What's your name?"
"Aysha." she replied
"That's a nice name," Vyom said. "But why are we bringing all these books?"
She glanced at him.
"Why do you need to know? Mind your own business."
After that, neither of them spoke.
A few minutes later, they reached a massive house—far larger than the others. In front of it stood a sign forged in metal, its letters glowing faintly like they had been born from fire.
Aysha stepped through the gate, then turned back.
"Thank you."
She placed four silver coins into Vyom's hand.
"Buy yourself proper clothes."
Before he could respond, she closed the gate.
Vyom stood there silently, staring at the coins—
and at the strange city that felt older than time itself.
He looked around. The city… the people… everything felt real—too real. He glanced down at his clothes and frowned.
These clothes look strange here… he thought.
Did I really come to another world?
A strange excitement stirred inside him.
What if this is another world? What if I'm the hero?
With that thought, Vyom walked toward a nearby store.
The shopkeeper noticed him immediately and shouted,
"Hey! Don't come into my shop—I don't give things for free!"
Vyom raised his hands.
"Okay, okay. I want to buy clothes."
At that moment, another man—likely the store manager—stepped forward with a polite smile.
"Sir, please come in. Tell me your budget."
"First… can I see the clothes? Vyom asked.
"Of course."
The manager showed him many outfits.
Vyom examined them carefully, but none felt right.
These aren't like the clothes I've seen in anime or manga… he thought.
Those look way better.
Finally, he pointed at one set.
"I'll take this. What's the price?"
"Fifty bronze coins," the man replied.
Vyom's face fell.
"I only have silver. Is that okay?"
"Yes," the man nodded.
"Three silver coins."
Vyom hesitated.
I don't even know the value of money here…
"Can you reduce it?" he asked carefully.
The man smiled.
"Two silver coins. You seem new here, so I'll give you a discount."
Vyom handed over the coins, took the clothes, and stepped outside.
Then he turned back.
"Um… do you know where I can change?"
The shopkeeper looked at him.
"Where are you staying tonight?"
Vyom froze."Oh no… I don't even have a place to stay."
"I… don't know," vyom admitted.
The shopkeeper thought for a moment.
"I know a place. It's cheap."
Vyom nodded quickly.
"Okay—but I don't have much money."
"How much do you have?"
"I have only Two silver coins," Vyom replied.
The man smiled awkwardly.
"One night costs ten silver coins."
Vyom's heart sank.
The shopkeeper sighed.
"That's a problem… but don't worry. You're new here, right?"
"Yes." Vyom replied.
Then the shopkeeper led Vyom to a place, a house that looked as if it were made of cement.
But when Vyom looked more closely, he realized it wasn't cement at all—it was carved entirely from stone. The surface was smooth and clean, without a single rough edge.
The shopkeeper stopped and asked for two silver coins.
Vyom hesitated.
"I'll come with you,"
he said.
"No," the shopkeeper replied calmly. "I'll talk to them separately."
Then Vyom handed over his last two silver coins.
After some time, the man returned and said,
"The room on the upper right is yours. This token proves you can stay tonight."
"Thank you," Vyom said sincerely.
But the man had already walked away.
Vyom entered his room and changed into his new clothes.
But He didn't notice the old ones slipping onto the floor.
Slowly… the ring on his finger glowed faintly.
The old clothes vanished.
Vyom didn't notice.
After changing into the new clothes,
he searched the room for his old ones.
He checked the bed… the floor… even the corners of the room.
"Nothing."
He kept looking.
"Minutes passed."
"Then half an hour."
"Then nearly one full hour."
But no matter where he searched,
his old clothes were nowhere to be found.
He searched the room but found nothing.
Sitting down, he ran a hand through his hair.
Was all this a dream?
No… dreams don't feel like this.
His heart began to race.
Did I really come to another world? Am I… the hero?
He raised his hand, focusing hard.
"Fireball… water magic… anything…"
Nothing happened.
Exhaustion finally claimed him.
The long day weighed heavily on his body.
Vyom fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes again, soft morning light filled the room.
"6:00 a.m."
He was back.
In his own world.
Vyom sat up suddenly.
"…What?"
He rubbed his face, breathing slowly.
"What a dream…" he muttered.
"I haven't seen a dream like that in so long."
He lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
"Maybe my punishment is over. Yesterday was just a dream…"
---
(To be continued...)