The whole process of entering was rather lackluster. The technician told me that if a way of exiting safely is found, I will be notified directly and twenty-four hours after I got to a safe place I would be transitioned to the outside for a medical exam. Since the introduction of these capsules, an improved version has been released, so there were some differences in the ones that I had passed on my way in. None of them had a viewing port to the inside, however. Once inside, the occupant's’ body is put to sleep. The mind is fed sensory information with the small headpiece that has a thin piece that covers the eyes, a breathing mask like thing is placed on the mouth and nose, and finally some earplugs made out of the same material as the rest are placed in the ears.

They said that once all the headgear is in place, the capsule is filled with a liquid that is full of some newly tested nanites. These nanites feed the body and help with changes made from within the world. Though they told me not to worry about the whole process, I cannot stop myself from doing so.

My parents stayed with me to the end of course. I don’t know what I could do without them. I hope, no, I know that I will see them again. We won’t be seeing each other for long, but I know we will meet again, and if all goes well, we can be together forever. Most people would be anxious of just giving it all up, and I know that many will not share this sentiment with me, but I am going into this to gain a new life.

…

…

I am still lying down, but everything had changed to that of a brilliant white. Sitting up, I can see that there is nothing but the white void anywhere around me. There is no glare, but the light is omnidirectional, covering everything from nowhere all at once. Looking at my hands, it barely feels like I am looking at my own hands, there are no shadows, and it is really messing with my mind. I nearly fall off whatever I am sitting on when a voice from everywhere and once again nowhere resounds throughout the space.

“Welcome traveler, unlike many others you have decided to participate in our simulation program, and we would like to thank you for participating in our new beta program as well. As soon as those you have chosen finish their preparations, and space is made for them, they will join you. As a final choice, you do indeed wish to participate in this program, correct?” The disembodied voice echoes the in the room.

A pale blue window pops up and has the words ‘Continue?’ with Yes or No options. I, of course, select yes and all of the sudden I am in a small grove with a pond off to my right about by 5 meters. The air smells clean while the sunshine feels warm. Looking down at my hands, I can see that they are shaded and look real again. I seem to be proven right that it will all feel completely real. Hell, how could I say that what was before was real?

With a small welling of existential dread, I push it back down in favour of exploring my surroundings. I look around for anything I might have been given and see that there is a small copper coloured dagger hanging from my waist. I also seem to be sitting down underneath an oak tree, with its branches casting shadows down on me below. Examining myself further I seem to have some simple wool clothes on. Certainly not as comfortable as what most would consider good quality in the 21st century, but definitely more than I was expecting. Looking up, I see a bag hanging off of the branches of the tree that I am sitting under.

Bracing myself against the tree, I gingerly stand up. My legs are a bit wobbly, but I am actually standing on them myself! Unaided! Well, except for the tree. I take a few steps around the tree, each one more stable than the last, and all the while a huge grin sits on my face. I don’t think that I could be anymore happy right now. Until I think of my mom and dad anyway. That dampens the mood a little bit, but still, I am walking again!

I gently take the bag down off of the branch and examine it. It seems to be made of leather- real leather, not that fake stuff- and it is stretched over a solid frame, though I cannot tell exactly what it is from the outside. The seams are all sown up with thick threads, or even sinew, but I cannot tell exactly. The whole thing isn’t exactly light, but I can tell that it wouldn’t be too big of a burden when travelling. Sitting back down with my back against the tree, I look inside.

What seemed to be an empty water skin sat atop anything else that was in the pack, so I took it out and gently placed it on the grass. Under it were some apples and some leather pouches. At the very bottom of the bag was a simple hooded cloak. No changes of clothes it seems. I sit everything down on the ground next to me before the pack is finally empty. It seems there was another even smaller pouch in the folds of the cloak that fell onto the ground when I took everything out. Starting with that pouch, I opened them up. Inside was what looked to be a small handful of coinage, somewhere between the colour of brass and bronze. I dumped them into my other hand and counted out about a half dozen of what I assumed to be copper coins, and as I shook it further, one more coin came out, though this one had a bit of a tarnished look to it, and was silver in colour. I have absolutely no idea what these are worth.

Looking at my newfound wealth, I put them back in the pouch they came from and set that to the side. I opened up the pouches that are heavier than the others and saw some smoked meat. Some rations for the road then. I retie those and put them back in the sack with the cloak and all of the apples except one. I tossed the sack onto my back, picked up the water skin, and walked over to what appears to be a small lake with a meandering stream running into and out of it. After filling up my water skin, I sit down at the water's edge to enjoy the peaceful scenery. I don’t really know anything that can beat just existing here in peace.

The first bite of what looks like a granny smith is simply divine. I hadn’t had an apple as good as this since my grandparents literally sold their country home and moved further south where it was warm. I finish off the apple and toss it off to the side to decompose, but before that I take the apple seeds and put them in one of the pouches. Wherever I am going, I will have more of these apples. There were a few apple trees interspersed throughout the oaks and poplars. There were all three of the main colors of apples, and looking around I seem to just be in the wilderness, so I take a few of each.

As I was looking up into the tree to find another apple, I spot a different kind of apple sitting just before the apex of the tree. It seems to be a light-ish blue colour. It is the only one of its kind around so I see if I can work my way up the tree to get to it. There are a couple of low-lying branches, but none of them seem quite up to being able to hold my weight. I give the most stable looking branch a shot, and while it does creak ominously, it seems to be holding for now.

I shimmy up the tree shifting from branch to branch. As I reach out to grab the blue apple, I hear a cracking sound from underneath me. I make a swift grab as I go tumbling down out of the tree. I land with a great crash and the apple bounces out of my hand. I lay there for a few minutes calming down. I don’t know how long it has been since my heart was racing this fast. Though it seems that I was mostly undamaged from the fall, I would probably be feeling that in the morning. While I may not have noticed it till now when I am sitting trying to not pay attention to the literal pain in the ass of landing on a branch, the birds have resumed chattering and some other small animals running about. One of the larger animals seems to be moving in my direction. As I face it, it bends down to sniff at the blue apple.

“NO!!!”

My frantic yell startles the animal which was about to bite down into the apple. The deer takes the apple in its teeth and bolts. I rush to my feet to give chase, but I never make it to that step. The long forgotten branch trips me up and I end up with a mouth full of dirt.

Sputtering and trying to expel the dirt, I frantically look about trying to see where the deer went. However, I don’t see it anywhere. Reluctantly, I stand up and brush myself off. My clothes seem to have acquired some grass stains all down my shirt and pants. The defeat is nearly crushing. I didn’t get to have a taste of the perfect looking blue apple. This put somewhat of a bad light on my otherwise perfect day. I head back to the pond with my pack having gotten a moderate amount heavier. I unstopped my water skin and took a swig. I refilled it just for the sake of keeping it at maximum capacity. I did do a quick rinse off of my clothes, and I did get a fair bit of the dirt and grass stains out, though they would definitely persist for much longer.

I start to head downstream of the pond. When I first got here it seemed to be around nine to ten in the morning according to the sun. Right now the sun is almost directly overhead so I would say it is about noon. Time does indeed pass when one is having fun, though that deer did sour it a little bit. I did vary my pace a good bit, just to get used to having working legs again. Jogging was difficult at first, but it didn’t take too long before I managed to nail down a pace that worked.

About an hour passes before I come across what looks to be a farm next to the stream. I see a man off about 30 meters in the distance working in a field sowing his crops.

“Excuse me, sir!” I call off to him.

“Ain’t no sirs round here, young’un,” The older figure says. I approach the man and can see quite clearly that he is rather elderly. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain as he stands up from leaning over to throw the seeds into the ground.

“Well Mr., can you point me in the direction of the nearest town?”

“Just down the stream yonder, there be a dirt road leading into the village of Haran.” He replied in a rather tired sigh.

“Thank you, have a good day Mr.!” I call over my shoulder as I walk back towards the stream.

“And you, lad!” He calls back.

Another half an hour later I arrive in what is probably the small village of Haran. It wasn’t much to look at, about two dozen buildings in total. Nothing more than small wooden huts or longhouses really. A couple of the buildings looked to be shops with pictogram signs hanging out front. Going off of the signs I see a blacksmith, a tailor, a forester or huntsman, and what looked to be an herbalist or alchemist. As this was a rather small place I bet it is more of an herbalist shop or apothecary.

An alchemist all the way out here seems unlikely as you need to use magic to make the potions and such. Probably. Maybe. My only knowledge of how to make potions is from fiction and video games. If what I know is true though, magic is supposed to be kind of rare. Everyone has the chance to get some, though. According to some of the literature in the packet people with magic can start the process of implanting a magic seed into anyone, though that takes years to bear fruit after it took years to make the magic seed in the first place. Another method of forming magic capabilities is absorbing so much ambient mana that you form a mana core on your own. This one is mostly how magical beasts occur. A third method to having magic run is to be lucky enough that both of your parents had magic in them. Even if both parents did have magic it wasn’t a guarantee that the offspring would inherit any. The final way that they told me about is about the same as absorbing lot of the ambient mana, which is to eat magic infused foods or animals repeatedly. Even if a person does any one of these things or even multiple, it isn’t a sure thing that you could get magic.

While I hadn’t done much in the way of sewing or cloth making before, I could probably patch and repair some of my things, but for that, I need some cloth scraps. For those I probably needed money, and I would have to be careful with the supply that I did have. I headed for the tailor’s as that was the most likely place where I could get some of the materials I needed and ask some questions. I knocked on the open door and stepped inside. It was a rather dimly lit for a place where detail mattered. An older lady was sitting on a rocking chair measuring out lengths of fabrics. When she heard my knock, she looked up and put on a motherly smile.

“What can I do for you, dearie?” She said in a sweet grandma-like voice.

“I was hoping that you could show me how to repair my clothes if I did some chores for you, maybe ask a few questions too.” I took a breath before continuing, “I am a bit far from home, and I never had to do a lot of things myself, though I would like to learn how.”

“Well, I suppose that is a rather fair trade. There is an axe out back, could you please fill up the spot next to the firepit with wood for me? I will get something going so we can talk and you can get a meal in you before I show you how to work a needle.” She finishes with a chuckle, I suppose knowing how to use one is a skill most people would possess. Though she does seem kind enough, offering a meal to a stranger and all.

I nod to her and went out back. Sure enough, there were some logs and an axe leaning against them. While it may not have taken long to fill the place next to the fire, I cut some extra just so that she didn’t have to do any herself. As I am taking a quick drink from my water skin, the wizened tailor calls out to me. I quickly jog back over before saying “What is it?”

“I need some of that cloth over near the wall could you grab it for me?” She says.

“Here it is” I say as I hand it to her. “I don’t think I got your name yet.”

“Diana, young one. What would yours be?” She still has the smile of a sweet grandma, warm, comforting, and disarming. A smile that you would be more than willing to spill all of your secrets too.

“Davin.” Though my reply is simple enough.

“Well, I thank you for helping this old lady. Now, come over here and grab you a bowl of this soup and a bit of bread.” When she mentions it, all I can do is nod. The soup smells almost heavenly.

“Now, what questions can this old lady answer for you?” She says as I take my first bite. I can say that it does taste as good as it smells. It is simple fare, a light vegetable broth with some carrot and potato chunks, as well as some simple herbs garnishing it.

“Well, as I said before, I am not from around here, and I need to know if things work differently.” I dig about in my pack, which I had sat at my feet, before pulling out the coin pouch, as well as a handful of copper coins from within. “Where I am from, I could get a simple meal for a copper or two,” I say, lying through my teeth, which makes me feel extremely guilty, though not enough to stop me from getting some basic information. “And I think that I might be able to sell a few of these apples for some coppers, but I don’t know what would be a good price for them.”

“Well, you are about right on the meals sonny, though anyone who would charge more than a copper for some soup and a bit of bread like this is just plain mean. As for those apples, I would say you could get a copper apiece, though I am sure you wouldn’t mind sparing a couple for this old granny, now would you?” She says with an expectant look.

“Of course, ma’am. The least I can do for my gracious host.” I say with a smile, before putting the three best looking ones on her table. It always pays to help take care of your elders.

“Thank you, sonny. I am sure you have a few more questions though,” she says as she waves me on, before picking one of the apples for herself, and taking a bite out of it. The look of delight on her face is more than enough compensation for a few apples.

“Well, I was wondering about how many coppers I could get for a silver coin around these parts. As well as how much an extra set of clothes would run me for, I did lose a few things on my journey, and some of my other clothes were one of the casualties.” I said with a small chuckle. Though I did dig into my soup a bit more while I waited for her to answer.

“A silver would usually go for about fifty coppers, though it can vary a little bit depending on who you talk to. If someone is trying to get you to cough up silver though, never let them take it below forty-five, otherwise that is just criminal!” She shakes her head a little, letting off a bit of the steam she had just built up. “As to another set of clothes, I think you are in the perfect place! I can rustle up a new pair that should fit you in a jiffy, though it’ll cost you three coppers and a couple more apples!” She laughs a bit at that. She is hopefully giving me a good deal, though so far, she hasn’t seemed like the type to wring people dry.

“Well, I think I shall take you up on that, if you through in some scrap to help me repair my clothes, and that lesson of course.” I reply.

“Sure thing, sweety. Let me get a few things together, and we can start.” She walks off, a bit wobbly, but fairly quickly, searching the room for whatever she needs. I finish up my soup and the bit of bread, before setting the bowl aside. Once she returns, she launches right into her lesson.

“The first thing that you will need for sewing is a needle. I use these bone ones that I get from the forester, but if you are in the big city you might be able to get a metal one from the blacksmith. The one here says he doesn’t like to waste the metal on em.” Diana starts.

“You will need one too, but today I can show you how some basic stitching and how to make shirts. Pay close attention.” She then proceeded to explain a few kinds of basic patterns with it and explains the usefulness of them and in what situations you would use them in. Diana finishes her lesson out with explaining which ones you would use to make a shirt and pointing them out on the small one she was working on.

“That is enough for today Davin. Get a needle and I can show you a bit more. I should have another set of clothes for you in the morning.” She says. She had taken a few measurements during the lesson, explaining how to get them, and what you would need them for. Such as arm length for sleeves, as well as circumference to make the holes big enough, simple things like that.

“See you tomorrow Ms. Diana.” I tell her as I step outside into the setting sunlight. She waves but doesn’t look up from her work as I go.

I walk down the street, well, I may say street, but it is just a dirt path that the buildings face. As it is rather late in the day, I head down to the forester to see if he is in. When I step up into the doorway, I notice the glint of metal down next to the step. I pull out what looks to be copper in a half circle shape. Diana had talked about half coins briefly, but they usually don’t see all that much use at the copper level. It is still rather strange to see it in use, though, especially since most coins were completely round in the U.S. I knock on the forester’s door as I open it. A man about my age, maybe a bit older, sits inside behind a counter butchering a deer.

“Hello.” The man says.

Very eloquent, this man.

“Hello. I was wondering if you would happen to have any bone needles.” I ask. He pauses a bit, looking like he was thinking.

“Give me a minute, they are one copper.” He resumes his bloody work, cutting off the front leg at the shoulder, before setting it aside and wiping his hands on a cloth on his belt.

“I don’t suppose that a half copper and an apple would do?” He takes another second to pause and think before he replies.

“I will let you take it for just the apple if you have a red one.” This reply being much more enthusiastic than any that I had gotten out of him before.

I take my sack off and sift through it, before coming back up with the best looking red I have. The look in his eyes is one of joy, though it is quickly muted as he looks back up at me. He gives a quick nod and says, “That’ll do. One needle coming right up.”

He goes to one of the drawers on another counter behind him. A few needles are in the drawer that he opened showed that he had some ready made to sell. With nothing better to do, I take the needle and head out, giving the man a wave as I turn towards the door and he nods back. I walk down the road to the tree line to find a good place to sleep. There was an adequately sized tree quite close, so I climbed up and kicked back on the lowest and widest branch. I took out another one of the apples and munched it down as I contemplated my time thus far inside. Honestly, if I hadn’t been told that I wasn’t on Earth anymore I wouldn’t have been able to tell. My last thought before I drifted off to sleep was that I hope I don’t toss and turn in my sleep.

The next morning, I awoke to the sound of a rooster. With that sudden noise, I came tumbling down out of the tree and landed on my ankle weird. It was nothing major, just a minor sprain at the worst. I stretched out and my ankle felt much better for it. Though, as I stretched, I could definitely feel a minor pain in my ass from yesterday, and a cramp in my back from sleeping up in a tree. Should probably work out better sleeping arrangements for the future.

After a quick breakfast of another apple, I strolled back into the small village and went back to the tailor. She showed me some more ways to patch up some clothes and then taught me how to make the most basic of clothing. All it really involves is stitching the pieces of cloth or hide into a shape that is comfortable enough to wear. While I may not be able to go and make some clothes fit for a king, it was passable enough that I wouldn’t completely look like I was a homeless person if I ever ventured into a town, city, or even a slightly bigger village. The teaching session went on for about four hours or so. After Mrs. Diana graded me as passable enough, she gave me some work to do. I repaired what I could until the sun went down.

She gave me two coppers, thanked me for the help and said that I could get double what I did today if I got there at about the same time and worked till dusk. She had given me a meal at lunch, as well as one for dinner. The clothes that she had made for me, or refit for me, were a fairly comfortable pair of hempen pants, as well as some shorts that were made of cotton to go on underneath the pants. The shirt was another cotton construct, that breathed well enough. I was finally able to wash my first set completely, which had gotten to the point of being a bit rank.

This cycle continued for four days before I was ready to leave the small village. The total coinage that I had collected was eighteen coppers and a half copper that Mrs. Diana gave me just for keeping her company for a few days. I now had twenty-two coppers, though one of that was in two half pieces, and the single silver piece still.

On the fourth day of the cycle, I used the morning hours before noon and went to the blacksmith. He was outside at his forge measuring ore on a scale. The blacksmith was a mountain of a man. He looked to be over six feet tall and his muscles looked to be big enough to lift an anvil one handed. I waited until he was done doing the measuring and looked around the forge. In one corner there was the big forge where all the metals are heated, next to that is the anvil. In the opposite corner is where the blacksmith is currently, different piles of ore are stacked in crates next to the scales. In another corner is a tanning rack where some leather is being stretched. Opposite that is where the ore is cast into ingots.

The blacksmith finishes measuring and saunters over.

“How can I help you, young man?” His voice fits his size. Loud and base filled.

“I need a set of tools, but I don’t know if I can afford them.” I said, honestly, because I still had no idea what stuff is supposed to cost.

“Don’t worry, son, how much do you have on you?” He said kindly enough.

“Eighteen coppers…” I low balled a little bit, not wanting to be completely wiped out from the purchase.

“I have some old tools laying about, a felling axe, saxe knife, draw knife, chisel, hammer, and a copper pan. I would be willing to part with them should you help me around the shop for a day.” He said, after contemplating it for a little bit. “You look like you would need the lot, you look a bit under equipped to be living off of the land.”

“Deal!” I brought my hand up and wore a happy smile. When he shook my hand it almost took my arm off!

“My name is Davin, what would yours be Mr. …?

“Sigmund. Most people this far out don’t care much for family names. We usually just go by our professions.” He nodded sagely at that, though he couldn’t have been over forty.

“Thank you, Sigmund. Would tomorrow be a good day to come help you?” I asked.

“That would be fine. Just be here as close to sunrise as you can.” He said, thinking about it some more, before reaffirming it with a nod. “Yea, sunrise would be good. Not that you can sleep much longer with that damn rooster about.” He said with a chuckle.

“Yea, haha. I will be here soon as I can then.” I gave a wave as I left, receiving a nod in return as he went back to his work.

I spend the rest of the day doing some minor tasks for Ms. Diana, mostly just keeping her company, and talking over some light work. Filling in the woodpile, overflowing it even, so she doesn’t have to get anyone else to do it for a week at least. She gives me a few more meals, and it is a bit hard to part with her in the evening, as I know this is one of my last nights in the village. Though she does manage to wring a concession out of me in that I come back for one last meal as a thanks in lieu of a payment for the work I did today.

Stretching the next morning I head straight to the blacksmith. Today was filled with work. Following Sigmund to his little mine in a hillside, I carry ore back and forth as he extracts it. I help the blacksmith carve bricks from the leftover stone, with the chisel he promised me no less, and whatever ore is there he turns into ingots as I watch and hand him things as he asks for them. It was a relatively short process. Melt the ore down and scrape off as much of the slag as you can. After a quick rinse, I gather up all the things I had been promised, though he only took fifteen coppers, leaving me with seven and the silver.

I head back to Ms. Diana’s one last time, and as I am almost there, I can smell a divine scent wafting through the air. Her door is seldomly closed, but I knock as I enter regardless. She is back near her cooking area, and it seems she has made soup again, but I can see bits of meat this time, so it might be better to call it a stew. I share one last meal with her, as we talk and relax, going fairly long past sunset, which is usually when people head to sleep as they don’t want to waste candles too much.

She gave me a hug before I left, saying “You visit more than my own grandchildren. Don’t you go off and get yourself killed, you hear me? Maybe if you are in the area you can come see me again, sweety. Don’t forget about your grandma now!” I don’t let go of her for a while, both of us reminiscing on our families, and how our own temporary family has to end.

“I will, Ms-, granny. Sleep well.” I say, with more than a single sniffle, before heading out to my usual sleeping spot by the tree. I had shifted away from the branches, preferring instead to sleeping at the base of it. Family was on my mind the whole time I was drifting off to sleep.