"Identify yourself."
The voice fell from the top of the wall.
Elias looked up.
The logs were massive.
Thick, uneven, some more worn than others. They were stacked on top of each other, forming a tall barrier, reinforced with metal plates in certain areas and tightened ropes that looked like they had been replaced multiple times.
"Elias," he replied, his voice drier than he expected. "My name is Elias."
The guard took his time to respond.
"Where are you from?"
For a moment, Elias hesitated.
What if this was like the thing in the forest?
The voice. The posture. It all looked… normal.
Too normal.
But staying outside meant death.
If this was a trap… then he had no way out anyway.
Elias glanced back at the forest.
Dark. Still. Motionless.
As if it didn't belong anywhere.
"I don't know…" he admitted. "Everything changed."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
Then, the creaking of wood.
A ladder slowly descended from the other side of the wall.
"Climb."
Elias didn't hesitate for long.
He began to climb.
Each step felt heavy. Not from exhaustion… but from the sensation that he was leaving something behind without understanding what it was.
When he reached the top, the guard was waiting.
A man with a tired face, firm posture but not rigid. His eyes weren't cold… but they weren't kind either.
He stared at him.
For too long.
"Another one," he muttered.
Elias frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The guard didn't answer.
He turned away.
"Go down."
Elias descended into the inner side of the wall.
And then he saw it.
The village.
Small. Compact. Built from wood, metal, and things that clearly hadn't been made for that purpose.
There were people.
But not like in his world.
No one spoke.
No one laughed.
Some looked at him… but quickly looked away.
Others didn't even bother.
It was as if they already knew.
"Walk," the guard said.
Elias obeyed.
They passed several houses. A man carried boxes with repetitive movements. A woman sharpened a tool with an empty expression. A child watched them from a corner… without curiosity.
That was the worst part.
There was no curiosity.
"…This place…?" Elias began.
"Don't ask too many questions yet," the guard cut him off. "You won't like the answers."
They kept walking.
The silence grew heavier.
"There's someone," the guard said finally.
Elias looked at him.
"Someone?"
"Yeah. He might take you in."
"Take me in?"
The guard glanced at him.
"He'll give you food. A place to sleep," the guard muttered, while Elias felt a small wave of relief
A brief pause.
"In exchange, you have to be useful."
Elias clenched his jaw.
"And if I'm not?"
The guard shrugged.
"Then you won't last."
They stopped in front of a small tavern.
Nothing special.
But something was different.
A sound.
Metallic.
Soft.
"He's in there," the guard said.
Elias hesitated.
"Aren't you coming?"
"No."
"Why are you helping me?"
The guard didn't answer immediately.
He looked away.
"It's not help."
A pause.
"It's habit."
And he left.
Just like that.
Elias stood there alone.
Again.
He looked at the entrance.
Took a deep breath.
And stepped inside.
The interior was simple.
Tables. Utensils. A small kitchen.
But something didn't fit.
A plate was floating.
Elias froze.
The object trembled slightly in the air… before drifting toward a nearby table.
It landed with a soft sound.
A man stood with his back turned.
He barely moved his hand.
As if that was enough.
"…Tsk."
The plate had landed slightly off-center.
The man adjusted it.
Perfect.
Then he turned around.
Wavy hair, copper-toned. Short, unkempt beard. He didn't look strong… but not weak either.
His eyes settled on Elias.
Studying him.
"New."
Elias nodded.
"The guard sent me—"
"Yeah," he cut him off. "I know."
The man observed him for a moment in silence.
"You don't look very useful."
Elias frowned.
"I'm not useless."
The man smiled faintly.
Not kindly.
"We'll see."
He turned, picking up another plate.
"Work for food and a place to sleep."
A beat.
"I don't pay."
"What?"
"If you survive, we'll talk later."
Elias looked around.
The stares outside.
The silence.
The emptiness.
He had no options.
"…Alright."
The man nodded.
"Good."
He placed the plate on the table.
"Then try not to die."
Elias hesitated for a moment.
"What's your name?"
The man looked at him.
"Marek."
He said it like it didn't matter.
"Elias."
Marek didn't react.
He simply went back to what he was doing.
The plate rose again slightly.
More stable.
But not perfect.
Elias noticed.
"…What is this place?" he asked.
This time, Marek stopped.
He set the plate down.
Slowly wiped his hands.
And looked at him.
Directly.
"If you're going to stay…"
"…you'll have to understand how things work here."
Elias said nothing.
"You start tomorrow. Go get some sleep. Second floor, turn left."
Marek turned to look at the fading light outside.
"And if you don't die before then…"
"…I'll explain how this world works."