”Calm down, I won’t kill you as long as you can point me to Wiyam” I say.

“I-I don’t know any Wiyam” the young woman stammers and is visibly shaking. She really is afraid of me, huh? Guess I did just tear apart metal with my bare hands.

“He should have been in the south palace”. I say, trying to guide her a little.

“I don’t know any south palace!” huh.

“Are we not in Roxburg?”

“We-we are in the temple in Roxas, o spirit” Roxas? Never heard of that city before.

“I am no spirit. Am I still in Cospia?” I ask, curious as to how far I was moved.

“I know of no Cospia, as I said, we are in Roxas, o spirit!” What nonsense.

“I obviously meant the country. What country are we in?”

“I, we, I…” She feels terribly confused. “We are in human territory, O spirit!”

Human territory? What is she talking about?

“Who is the king?” If Wiyam made it to the king’s post it will probably be trickier. But I still strangely powerful, since I have exited from the metal prison and have started moving around. Like I could break a brick wall with my fists. I have half a mind to thinking I could just walk up there and beat his head in, if he hurt Atna.

“There haven’t been any kings for years, o spirit!”

“STOP THAT SPIRIT THING!” Seriously, listen to people, it’s annoying. Ah, the puddle earlier was evidently from the bucket, as a new one formed under her in response to my shouting. But no king, eh? Did a democracy break out or something?

“Then who is in charge?”

“The… The human leader is the honorable Edelrit, o spirit” I inwardly sigh, why the fuck does she keep calling me that.

“Why do you keep calling me that!?” I accidentally let my annoyance slip clearly through my tone. She is looking like she is ready to die.

“I, it was not me, it was what they told me, what they said.” She gets defensive.

“What have you been told?”

“That… That the evil spirit was sealed in here, and that should he ever break free, he will aim to kill all of humanity!” huh?

“Please, please spare me, I will do anything!” she continues.

“I am no spirit, just a man. How long was I sealed for?”

“The legend says since time immemorial, but at least since the temple was built.”

“And how long ago is that?” I feel myself fearing the answer to that question. I didn’t have a good perception of time in there. I thought 30 years or so would have passed, purely by guessing, but what if it is a hundred? Will all be gone?

“800 years ago, o spirit!” 800 years? 800 YEARS!? That would mean everything and everyone I had ever known was gone. I grasp my head. My mother, my little sister Vella, Bosir, Kamas, Bern, Larn, Mynie and so on. Every relation I had built. Every expectation I have had. Gone. What was it for? It can’t be true. She must be lying.

Language! I know, in just 500 years or so, language transforms beyond recognition! I learnt as much in my old world!

“You lie! Why do you lie?!” I feel the uncertainty in my own voice.

“I- I would never dare lie to the great spirit! I will even help you destroy humanity! Just please! Please spare me!” Holy shit, what a declaration. The fear she feels for me. It convinces me that she is speaking the truth. But. Everything. I only got to spend a single night with Atna. I never got to repay Kamas and Bosir for their help, like Jorgen. I have lost everything.

Wait. Jorgen, Hannah! There may still be someone in this world I know! I feel my mind locking fast on Hannah.

I decide I could use some help, so remembering her declaration.

“Very well, just find me some clothes, it doesn’t matter what. Oh and what are these?” I point to the strange papers attaches to the metal blob I emerged from.

“Those.. Those are ***” Huh, a word I never heard before showed up.

“What are those?”

“Magic, on paper, so it works without a caster. These were placed to repair and harden the seal.” Huh, I was not imagining things, it did grow back!

As the young woman leaves the room, I think to myself. I don’t know where I am. Even if I assume I am still in Roxburg, most likely not only the name, but also the layout and the roads would change over such a long period of time. How can I find back to the abandoned dungeon? Wait, I remember its name. it was “meadow” right? I remember the comment from Jorgen about it being ironic since it was in a forest.

As she returns with a black robe similar to her own, and immediately kneels before me once again, I feel guilty. But I have to know.

“I need to get to a specific dungeon, do you know how to find it by name? It is only known as “meadow””

“Yes, my lord. The hunter’s guild has charts of dungeons all over the land as to guide expeditions!”

Guild, not association huh? Shit, I hope I can convince them to just show me instead of having trouble of having another apprenticeship. Though I could probably also just show my strength, which I feel is insane now.

I am thinking of what do with the girl. If people generally believe my seal to house an evil spirit, they will inevitably panic if they hear about it. And this girl has seen me and can describe me. I even feel the idea of killing her entering my head, but I shake it off.

“Please guide me to the hunter’s guild” I ask nicely.

“Understood” She says as she rises. Huh, now that I notice it, I am considerably taller than her. Have I grown up since then?