A Journey

With his injuries tended to and his new attire keeping him warm, Reiner was ready to continue his exploration.

Taking a moment to check that he had properly adjusted the collar and cuffs of his heavy coat, he ensured that he was well-insulated against the biting winds.

Standing amidst the vast, snow-covered field in this unknown world, Reiner found himself at a crossroads with two distinct options before him.

First, he can return to the Proseford Village, where Zephyr lived.

Or he can continue Zephyr's journey to the Ysvelor City.

Returning to Proseford Village, where Zephyr lived, seems the better choice.

With Zephyr's memory fragments, Reiner was familiar with the village.

The village also offered a sense of safety and its warm-hearted residents.

It's also a safe environment where I can get a support network, including Zephyr's home.

For Reiner, support was one of the basic necessities.

I can also rest and replenish supplies from the village.

Reiner considered the journey ahead, his thoughts turned to the supplies he had with him.

For food, I have a limited amount of dried meat jerky, a few hard bread loaves, and a small pouch of dried fruits and nuts.

Reiner thought as he ate one of the meat jerkys. The taste wasn't exceptional. It was pretty much ordinary.

On the other hand, he had a canteen of fresh water with a capacity of 5ltr. Unfortunately, it was already half empty.

These provisions were intended to sustain him for a few days.

His inventory included a small knife, a flint and steel for making fires, some sets of clothes, and a pouch with basic medical supplies, like bandages and the homemade herbal antiseptic solution.

At this rate, I will run out of food and water before I can even reach Ysvelor City.

Reiner smiled bitterly.

According to the documents and maps, Ysvelor City was around 170-210 miles away from Proseford Village. You can change the amount by taking some detours.

However, there weren't any safe shortcuts.

Reiner estimated would take him three to four days of travel on foot to cover that distance.

Approximately, I haven't even clearly half of the distance towards the city.

Moreover, as Zephyr chose a shortcut through the forest, it would be dangerous.

Even though a shortcut through the forest reduced the distance considerably, Reiner didn't want to enter the forest yet.

It seems returning to the village is the only option.

Reiner shrugged his shoulders at that thought. While there were some benefits of returning to the village, there were some cons too.

First, he might not be able to find answers about his current situation or why he was transmigrated.

Returning might tie him to the village. It might be even harder to leave that place in the future.

In the end, I will have to stop by Ysvelor City someday.

As he gazed into the distance, his thoughts kept drifting toward Ysvelor City. It was a place he'd inevitably have to visit, and the prospect was both intriguing and daunting.

Although currently going to the city wasn't crystal clear, Reiner knew it was an idea worth pursuing.

Continuing the journey could uncover more about the world and the truth behind Zephyr's death.

After all, didn't he want to go to the City? Even at the cost of passing through the dangerous forest.

Among the missing parts of Zephyr's memories, this was one of them. Reiner couldn't find out why Zephyr wanted to go there.

It was a riddle he had to solve because he would have to live as Zephyr.

I will have to live as Zephyr until... I find a way to return to the earth.

Zephyr Loraine, was a citizen of the Western Continent's Quilloria Kingdom, Lyravon County, a village near Ysvelor City.

But that Zephyr died and Reiner was living in that body.

Before setting off, he bent down to carefully tighten the laces of his worn and battered leather boots.

His boots were already worn out, and he knew that secure and well-tied laces were crucial to prevent discomfort, blisters, or injuries during the journey ahead.

By ensuring his boots were laced up snugly, he aimed to enhance his comfort and reduce the risk of any footwear-related issues as he ventured back to the village.

While being vigilant, Reiner turned away from the path leading to Ysvelor City and began walking in the direction of the Proseford Village, his footsteps carving a path through the snow.

The snow crunched beneath his boots with every step, and the chill of the crisp air served as a constant reminder of the uncertainty he left behind.

Only less than an hour passed since he woke up while being injured. In this one hour, he encountered many bizarre things.

Although they can't be compared to his life in Florida, they were enough to surprise him.

"Still, I wonder why this world is covered with snow."

Reiner thought while inspecting his surroundings and continuing his journey.

Still, he remembered a quote.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."