Back to reality

„So, you say you come from The Empire?" said the man, looking at me abruptly. I was amazed by fluidity and precision in his voice and language. He spoke with confidence and a certain aura of wisdom was circling around him.

„Yes, I do. Is there a chance you know how to get back?" I replied rashly but with respect. He looked at me almost suspiciously and then a sudden realization came to his expression.

„I see." he mumbled. „Come, sit with me. I will explain it to you." He then said something to Hromesh, who then went to neighboring room.

„I think we should start by introductions. I am Anton. May I now know your name?"

„I… don't remeber." I said with noticeable shame.

„Strange. And I thought Imperials always valued their name over everything. Was I mistaken?"

„No, you weren't. I myself am ashamed about it." He nodded and continued.

„And what was your proffesion in The Empire?"

„Soldier. Rank Captain." He mumbled something to himself and then excused himself and ran upstairs.

I waited for about five minutes, until Hromesh came back with plate full of refreshments. There were some cut fruits and vegetables, some cheese and sliced ham. He also brought some bread. He put the plate on table and looked around. I just pointed the way Anton ran away and he laughed a bit. Ah, gesticulation, breaking barriers between languages. He then returned to the room he came from, presumably kitchen and brought some liquid in glass bottle together with some very small glasses. He poured me some, sat down and waited for Anton with me. I smelled the liquid curiously. It's strong odour punched me in my nose. It was some kind of liquor, very strong though. I heard clapping when Anton ran down the stairs with a book. Again. He browsed it for a while and looked at me again.

„So, how did you even get here?" he asked curiously.

„I don't really know, I just woke up in a cell in some kind of dungeon and made my way up to the surface." I suddenly remembered men who I encountered near the surface and whom I had to kill.

„I, uh, encountered some men who attacked me, so I had to shoot them. Is this justified as a self-defense?"

I had to make sure I won't be prosecuted.

„Worry not, those were just a common looters, thugs, let's say. I suppose, at least."

Although it was not very comforting, I had to bear with it.

„And when you made it to the surface, you met Hromesh who took you here, I suppose. Right?"

„Yeah, that's right.

He scribbled something in that book of his.

„So, can you get me to The Empire?" I asked again, opening that topic.

„No." he answered very quickly. I was dissapointed.

„Can you at least tell me which way to go?"

„No." he said calmly.

„Why?"

„It's quite simple. It does not exist."

His words came flowing at me like a bullet from a faraway sniper and hit me as hardly and painfully. I couldn't make sense of my mind, breathing loudly and sweating. What did he mean by „does not exist"? How could that be? Ah, I see. He may have mistaken some words. After all, imperial was a hard language to master, so he could've made that mistake. I asked him, to make sure.

„Does not exist?" I asked to make sure I understood it correctly. He nodded.

„How? How could that be? How does a whole nation just vanish?" I yelled in frustration and agony, angered at Anton. Why was I angry at him? I don't know, maybe because he told me the truth.

„Listen, old fart, if you try to lie like this to me again, I'll shoot you right to your face."

He continued calmly scribbling in his book. I sat down, trying to calm down. After a few minutes, I apologized to Anton for yelling at him. He just nodded.

„But… how? How is it possible?"

„I can't tell you that." he said calmly. I was being desperate. Desperate for answers.

„Why is that?" I asked, as calmly as I could. He shrugged.

„Because I don't know, dear friend. I don't know what has happened to this Empire of yours. You know, I only found out about such Empire's existence about two to three years ago. And even then I had to conduct more profound research to make absolutely sure. I am one of the only people who are aware, that there was an Empire much more advanced than we are. It isn't even common knowledge." That explained everything, but he could've told me this all along. I still had one reproach, though.

„It's The Empire. Not „an" Empire, THE Empire."

„Of course, sorry, my bad."

To my surprise, he didn't seem to care and just went along with my reproach.

„Do you want to know what happened to your Empire?" he asked suddenly. I coughed and looked at him in disbelief.

„That's right. I am a scribe and a scholar. But most importantly, I am also a historian. And this Empire of yours interests me particulary. And I want to know, what happened to it. So do you, am I right?"

He caught my interest with this one. If I get to know, how The Empire collapsed, I may learn how to get myself back.

„So you want my help?" I asked humbly.

„Yes. Mainly because you are, at least to my knowledge, only living Imperial around. So you will be of tremendous help."

I stood up, feeling a spark of hope inside me. In the end, what else could I do? I don't know the language and culture here. I could not lead a normal life. This was my best bet.

„Alright. I agree. I will help you." I said with confidence.

„I think this cooperation will prove to be mutually beneficial." said Anton with a smirk.

We shook hands and sat down again. Anton started talking about planning.

„From now on, your name is Johan. I will also teach you basics of this language and customs." said Anton. I was confused.

„Why is that?" I asked him, still confused why would this help me.

„Because our voyage will be long and hard. You have to know at least basics of our language, so you can find your way across our lands."

Voyage? What did he mean by that? Were we supposed to go far away in search of answers?

„Alright, but I want some answers. First of all, where am I? What exactly happened to me? What year is it?"

„Okay, one at a time. You are in the Hanatia. Kingdom of Hanatia, ruled by King Ramesh II."

Never heard of country with that name. I must be really far away.

„The year is 1450."

1450? That's strange. Maybe they count years differently?

„And as for what happened to you, I don't really know. Only thing I know is that you've slumbered – for at least few millenia. I don't know how many years exactly, but The Empire you know is gone for at least thirty thousand years."

I gasped. That long? How is that even possible for me to survive?

„But…how?"

„I also want to know that. But now, you're in a completely different society – much less advanced than yours was. I presume that after the fall of The Empire, human race scattered throughout the world. But it took many years to form some kind of society."

I was astonished. He must be very intelligent man, to know this much, even if their society isn't as advanced as ours. It is an achievement to even realize this. It bugged me. How does he even know all of this. I decided to ask him.

„How do you know all of this? I mean, you don't have scanners, detectors and other tools used for archeology, right?"

His expression was a bit puzzled. Maybe he was confused because of my words.

„Oh my. I don't. This is all just an assumption. I cannot possibly know what happened."

This surprised me even more. Just an assumption, but such a convincing one. This man was truly exceptional.

Finally, Hromesh, who was sitting there all the time said something to Anton. Anton smiled and took a sip from the liquor Hromesh brought. I did the same. It was really strong, it felt as if pack of wolves was tearing my throat from the inside woth their sharp fangs. I coughed so hard it hurt. Anton and Hromesh looked at me with a smirk. It was just too strong for me.

„What is this?" I asked with sore throat.

„It's made by distilling plums." he answered. Plums? Never heard of distilling plums. But, as Anton said, this was completely different culture. It shouldn't be so strange for them to have their own unique drinks and liquors. Wanting to melt that bad taste away from my mouth, I reached out for hams and cheese Hromesh brought along with the liquor. And they were great. Fresh, juicy ham was sliding in my mouth as if it was water and the cheese was ripe and tasty. I also ate some of the vegetables and fruit Hromesh brought. They were all great. For but a moment, I stopped thinking about my horrible condition and circumstance and just enjoyed the taste of food. But the reality soon hit me back, as Anton stood up.

„Alright, Johan." he said. I have to get used to this name.

„I have a vacant room on second floor. You can use it. It's a bit small, but I'm sure it will suffice. It has to. Go put your belongings there and come back here. And, also, put all of your armour, or whatever that is there also. You'll bring unnecessary attention, if you continue to wear it. After that, come back here. It's the second door to the left."

I listened and went upstairs. Stairs were wooden and creaky. After I climbed them, there was a hallway with few doors on the side. I opened second door to the left, just as Anton said. The doors were smaller than I was. I had to crouch a bit, so I didn't hit my head. The room behind the door was small, but cozy. It looked like it was a storage room originally, redesigned for a bed room. The bed was also a bit smaller than me, so couldn't lie strechet out. It didn't bother me that much at the time. I took my armor and gun off and put it on my bed. Then I left the room and came back down. I didn't realize it until I saw my room, but people here are a bit smaller. It is normal for me to be higher than Anton, as he is an old man, but Hromesh is a youngster, maybe even few years younger than me, but still smaller by at least ten centimetres. I felt like a giant.

After I came back down, Anton was already sitting at the table with some books and quills. I presume they didn't have pencils or pens.

„Sit down, Johan. We will start with alphabet, reading and writing."

I still couldn't get used to that name. Something about it just felt strange. But I didn't really have a choice. So I sat down and started learning this language of theirs.