76 Back home

April 5th, 1641

5,641 years in world

"Thank you truly, Mister Gottes. I don't believe we would have made it through this voyage whole without your help." David Jones, the captain of the ship I had just departed from, said, as we shook fourarms.

"Of course, captain. I couldn't let my chance of finally getting home turn back." I said, with a laugh.

When the pilgrims first arrived in Massachusetts, I had been waiting for them.

Talk about a bunch of bewildered people.

But with a very well rehearsed back story, I managed to gain their trust.

My story was that I was shipwrecked and that I was the only survivor of the ship.

The fact I looked 'mostly' like them and could speak perfect English persuaded them enough to trust me.

I decided to help them come in contact with the Wampanoag tribe.

Otherwise known as the tribe that helped the pilgrims through their first winter here.

I had long since come to terms with the bad side of what will happen when more European settlers come to the Americas.

It's inevitable that more will come, and no matter what I do, more and more people will still come.

My hope of introducing the Pilgrims to the natives and telling the Pilgrims of the natives culture, was to curb some of the fighting that might arise from misunderstandings. But truthfully, I didn't have high hopes that it would really change anything.

the diseases that will wipe out an untold number of native tribes were impossible to stop. Just like the fighting.

But that didn't mean I would let the natives be wronged like they originally were in my old world.

So, I ended up staying longer than I had originally intended.

Being the peacekeeper between the two groups.

But after I managed to teach a few of the Europeans the native language, as well as English for some of the natives.

I decided to let things play out.

I won't always be around to hold their hands.

On the return voyage to England, we had been forced through two massive storms that would have done extreme damage to the ship if it wasn't for me.

Thankfully, the main mast didn't break, but a few of the boards below did.

Sending geysers of water into the belly of the ship.

But with my strength, I was able to plug the leaks in minutes while it would have taken the other crew members much longer.

Allowing us to keep going, instead of turning back.

"Are you sure you don't want the pay for your work?" Captain Jones asked as we released our grips.

"Aye, I'm sure." I said, picking up my two large bags from beside me.

"I should get going, though. Let the family know I'm still kicking." I said, with another laugh and a wave, as I turned and started walking.

As I traversed the bustling streets of London. I couldn't help but be amazed at all the new structures that filled the now massive city.

As well as the numerous shops that filled the narrow streets.

It was clear that there was no rhyme or reason for any of the streets. making it clear that there was no planning involved with the mishmash and confusing street layout.

I had been forced to turn around a few times when I took the wrong street by mistake.

After the second time, I resorted to using my system map to help me out before I decided to just use the rooftops to make it out.

Eventually, I managed to find my way out of the city

And from there, It took me only an hour to finally see the castle, which now had a large stone wall with a gatehouse around it.

Also, with a rather large sized town surrounding it.

Walking towards the large drawbridge gate that was currently open. I looked around the town.

Compared to London, the town was perfect.

Clean cobbled road going straight down the center of town, and well kept houses and shops lining it.

The people themselves were in better shape than most Londoners.

With clean clothes and full unamaciated figures.

It was clear to see these people weren't struggling as badly as some others.

Finally reaching the drawbridge, I walked past a pair of guards in fine clothes and shining chest plates with helmets.

Both men had stoic expressions on their faces and looked like they knew how to hold themselves.

At their waists was a short sword in perfectly maintained scabbard.

But propped on the ground between their legs, Was a musket.

With the butt on the ground, they held the barrel with both hands while staring forward.

As I passed through the gatehouse, I was stopped by three other guards in the same attire as the ones standing by the drawbridge entrance.

Two of them carried their muskets on their shoulders, while the leading man only had his short sword.

It was clear he was the leader.

As his armor had fine work added to his,

And a ploom of white feathers seemingly sprouting from his helmet.

The whole ensemble was finished off with a large mustache that was curled at the ends.

"Good evening, sir." The lead guard said as he stepped in front of me to stop me from entering.

'Here we go again.' I thought, with a small eye roll, as memories of the last time I was stopped entered my head.

"Are you here to see Lord julius." The guard asked as he unfurled a rolled scroll.

"That I am." I said, giving him my best smile.

He nodded his head, then asked.

"And your name, sir."

'At least this time, they are being polite.' I thought with a chuckle, as I answered.

"Adam Gottes." I said, using my alias.

All three of them seemed to freeze at my words.

"A-Adam?" The guard asked as he looked up from his scroll, then at me.

I nodded my head.

"That's me." I said, with a raised eyebrow.

The guard's eyes flicked up to my hair and seemed to widen even more.

Then, in a clearly well rehearsed movement. All three of them dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

"We have been expecting you, lord." The lead guard said as he bowed his head even deeper.

For a moment, I was taken aback.

Normally, I have to knock some sense into people before they believe me.

But this guy clearly knows 'who' I am.

"Uh. You can stand now." I said.

Thankfully, not needing to be asked twice, they stood again.

With backs straight and their chests out.

"Lord Julius will wish to see you at once, Lord. Please follow us." the lead guard said in an almost reverent tone.

Doing as he said, I followed closely behind the group as they marched towards the entrance of the castle.

Reaching the large wooden doors, we had shipped from Germany.

I watched as they pushed them open.

Entering the large entry hall.

Otherwise known as the kill box.

Looking up, I saw two guards standing.

Ready for intruders.

From there, we passed two more large doors, where we finally entered the great hall.

Which hadn't changed since the last time I was here.

With arching ceilings, marble pillars, and floor.

The entrance was created to make a statement to any visitors.

And that was of wealth.

It might not be the biggest one, but This castle was hands down, the finest of them all.

And if Julius hadn't paid an exorbitant amount of gold to be allowed to build it, and keep it.

It would have long ago been taken by a king or queen as their own.

Since it even put the kings to shame.

"Right this way, lord." The lead guard said, as he gestured with his arm, toward a medium-sized door.

Which I remembered to be the large business room, where any visitors with business were greeted.

Stopping the two other guards outside the room.

The lead guard pushed the doors open and gestured me in.

Nodding my head, I thanked him before he closed the door behind me.

Stepping into the large opulent room.

I looked around.

The room was large, with a red rug taking up much of the ground, covering the stone.

While the walls were covered in some of my paintings and a few tapestries.

Which depicted battles or stories.

But smack dab in the middle was a large oak desk that had a high back chair behind it, with stacks of paper cluttering the desk.

But what caught my eyes was the figure sitting behind that desk and in that chair.

"Just one moment, sir." Julius said as he scribbled away at some parchment with a quill.

"Sure, take your time. It's only been a few hundred years after all." I said, with a smile, as I tried to keep the mirth from my voice.

The quill made a loud "scratch" as it came to an abrupt halt.

And like a bullet shot from a gun.

Julius's head shot up, a split second before he rocketed from his seat, right for me.

I only had time to toss my bags to the side before he slammed into me in a rib cracking bear hug.

"Adam!" Julius said excitedly.

"It's good to see you, kid." I said, with a loud laugh, as I patted his back.

Separating from me, Julius looked me up and down.

"Where on earth have you been!" He asked sternly.

"Oh you know me. I was just on a little exploration trip, that's all."

"A little 'exploration' trip. Adam, we have been looking for you for decades." Julius said. Now sounding truly angered.

"Normally, we can tell your general location any time you stop at one of the banks. But for nearly the past two hundred years, nothing. It was as if you fell off the side of the earth." Julius said as he looked at my two large bags.

"Well to be honest, I kind of did." I said, with a cheeky smile.

Julius raised one of his eyebrows.

"What?" He asked.

"I may or may not have taken a trip with Columbus to the new world on his second voyage." I said, as I watched Julius's facial expression morph, as he went through a myriad of emotions.

From anger to confusion. Before settling on amusement.

"Jane won the bet." Julius said with a chuckle.

Now, it was my turn to be confused.

"bet?" I asked.

"yes. We had a small bet going on where you might have gone." Julius said with another chuckle.

"I thought you might have gone East to Asia, to live like some hermit on a mountain. While Jane had gold on you being somewhere none of us had ever been before." Julius said as he shook his head.

"My my, what great friends the two of you are." I said, bemused.

"Well come now, tell me about your journey." Julius said as he gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk.

And so, I did.

I told him of my trip there and of the natives of the land.

I told him of the incredible places, like the grand canyon, or Niagara Fall, Yellowstone, and the many other places.

I told him of the nomadic tribes that lived on the land and their culture.

I didn't tell him of the quileute tribe just yet and preferred to keep that to myself at the moment.

As I was telling him of the voyage back to London, the doors to the room were pushed open.

"Julius. May I have a word?" a man said, from behind me.

Turning my head, I saw a man of medium height stepping into the room.

"Ah Carlisle, just the man I was about to send for." Julius said as he stood to his feet.

" I would like to finally introduce you to the man I have been telling you about." Julius said.

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