The sun was cresting the horizon by the time I reached the edge of the forest. However, the splendor of the day’s end was stolen from me as I waited in the elongated shadows of the evening trees. Like a whisper of the forest, I hid myself, watching the world before me, studying it like a scholar. No, not like a scholar, like a thief, planning to take everything and uncover the secrets hidden away before me.

The treetop view limited what I could really see, and didn’t do what I was seeing now justice at all. For one, there were a lot of farms. Miles and miles of them. At least 50 miles or more of farms that led to a massive stone-walled city in the distance. The stone-walled city seemed to also be backed onto another mountain range, whose peaks could not be seen through the clouds.

The river I followed flowed freely through the farms towards the city before turning to the left a dozen miles or so before it.

In the distance, I could see another river running from the city to my left to merge with the river I followed here and then they both flowed farther left to the horizon. I could only see the river so far away because the sun’s light was reflecting on it in so many places as it set for the day.

Random wooden farmhouses dotted the farms before me. Some of their chimneys pushed out smoke, others were smokeless. Fields had been or were being plowed for a new harvest. I didn’t see a single crop yet though.

The ground itself was brown with the toiled earth, showing that it was going to be planted soon. The smell of dirt filled my nose even from this far away, showing just how much earth had been toiled.

I took everything in at a glance. My perceptions of this world and the civilizations in it were beginning to form from the basic information I was grasping.

I first started with travel, the most basic groundwork for a civilization. The ease that people could move between cities or towns usually showed how high their level of technology would be. If goods and people could not move freely, even between towns or cities, then information and technology would also be slow to travel and grow.

So I turned to the roads. From what I could see, the roads through and around the farms were dirt, leading me to believe that stone roads may not have been common. Or that people did not use the roads enough to warrant stone or paved roads. I didn’t know if that was an indicator of the city beyond, but for now, I would look at the roads as they were.

I then looked at the living arrangements for people. How and what people lived in would tell you more about a person’s life than you could realize. If you kept your house well maintained, it meant that you cared about where you lived or had the time and energy to at least take care of yourself and not just work to get food. The structure of the place you lived also would tell you what they prioritized. Do they have a large home? Small home? Wooden home? Stone or concrete home? Do they have windows? Had glass been invented and is it cheap enough that it is common for everyone to buy? Is the house made out of bricks? Do they have indoor plumbing? Do they use an outhouse?

Each of these things tells a little bit about where you are and what the people who live there value.

I was in a new world with goblins and monsters that can hide in plain sight, how does that affect the technology level of a world? How do they build houses? How do they defend themselves from such things outside of those walls in the distance? All of this ran through my head as I strained my eyes to see the farmhouses nearest me.

To put what I studied in layman’s terms, the farmhouses, that I could see, were old, worn, wooden buildings near shacks to hold tools or supplies. At least that’s what I guessed from the smaller shacks outside the home. But those shacks could have been outhouses too.

The main point though was that the houses I noticed were all made of wood. Some may have had stone at the base of the home, but all I saw was wood. The houses themselves were small from my angle, and none of the ones I could see had more than one story. Their design and look made me think of the frontier times back on my world. The open land with small homes and dangers at every turn.

I did not see any electricity poles, satellite dishes, mailboxes, or trashcans. I did see wells, stacked wood on the sides of some of the houses, and dirt paths. I didn’t see cables to pick up satellite signals, or even shingles on the roofs of houses. It was all wooden slats or boards.

I knew that this world’s technology level was low from the screens, but I didn’t realize how low. I thought it meant just a couple dozen years or so behind us, but it may be much further than that.

‘But these farmhouses are on the fringe, near these dangerous woods, and are probably filled with those down on their luck or the poor. I can’t make a determined decision on the technology level of this world until I make it into the city. Maybe I’m just in an Amish paradise or something?’

I joked to myself, but what I saw still made me weary. The lack of basic proper communication could mean that I wouldn’t be able to warn the masses, nor would I be able to get the information I need in front of the people that matter easily even if I wanted to. I began to revise my plans as I studied the farms from a distance again.

‘Crap! I won’t be able to hide myself…’

Another thing that made me sigh was the fact that I had no hiding place once I stepped outside of the forest. The area before me had been cleared of almost all trees. Meaning, that once I left the woods, I would be seen by the locals. Of which I had yet to see one up close. The closest farms didn’t have anyone on them. The ones far away did, but I couldn’t make out their forms. They were bipedal so at least I could look like them from a distance.

Deciding to wait the night, I turned back and moved deeper into the forest for a few minutes. When I believed that I was far enough away, I turned my gaze downward.

‘Earth manipulation may get another level tonight.’

-----

The night was peaceful, my sleep refreshing. No beasts or monsters shaking me awake thankfully. When I opened my eyes, the sun was creeping over the horizon. The many air holes I made in my makeshift cave brought the light in nicely.

I stretched myself, ate a few bites of the brick of food. Of which I had yet to finish one brick. I didn’t know what it was made out of and when I inspected it all I got back was food bar. Not the biggest help in the world, but at least it satisfied my hunger after a few bites.

What made me smile though would be the fact that I leveled up earth manipulation, silence, and night vision last night. They all got me close, but not over to the next level. I was at 98% though.

Last night, I had a deep conversation with myself on how I would play this out. I had many plans, but came to only one conclusion. First, I would go to the locals at the nearest farm and confirm a few things, like if I can understand them, and what they were, before deciding on my next move.

If I can communicate with them, great, then I’ll find out who they are, where I am, how to enter the city, what customs I need to know, who to know, and what the value of money is, etc. If I can’t communicate or if I can’t get the answers to all of my questions, I’ll move to the next farm on the outskirts. Then I’ll confirm that information by going to another farm and talking with them.

Once I have gained enough intelligence and confirmed said intelligence, then I will head towards the city.

‘But I won’t head towards the city today. I still need to test a few of my spells first and level up once more. Once that’s finished, then I’ll start to make my way towards the city.’

I absentmindedly turned on mind shield and kept it active since I felt that it was the spell that was closest to leveling up, and thus, leveling me up. It only costs 2 mana out of my regeneration too. Not too bad.

With a plan in mind, I left my cave, sealed it back up, and began walking back over to the edge of the forest.

The day was new and the air was cool. As I left the forests, I spotted a man in the fields nearest me, toiling away at the dirt with a hoe.

When I saw him a huge weight fell off my shoulders. He was human. Two arms, two legs. He had on brown pants and a brown shirt. A straw-looking hat was on his head too. But definitely human.

If I wasn’t in a different world, I could have placed him as just a guy from my world working on his fields early in the morning.

He was only about half a mile from me and already working hard. I silently cast silence on myself just in case and walked without my weapons on me like my bow. I learned it would be faster to defend myself with a mana bolt than an arrow currently. Plus, the bow could scare him.

As I got close enough without him seeing me, I cast inspect on him. He had yet to notice me. My silent movements helped my approach. The screen I got though, was different from what I was expecting, as well as the screen after it.

[Inspect spell fail! Inspect spell level too low to inspect.]

[Congratulations! Inspect leveled up!]

[Congratulations! You leveled up!]

‘Eh?! Spells can fail after you cast them?... Does that mean he is far higher in level than me? Is he that strong? How high does my inspect level have to be before I can inspect people? Does that mean others can inspect me?! How much of my status screen can they see? Crap! I was hoping inspect could help me find out more, but now I just have more questions!’

I didn’t have time to try again, nor did I have time to walk away, because he turned to start on the next row of his farm and saw me!

----------

(Clark's POV)

Today was turning out to be a very good day. I didn’t find any critters yet in the soil and the fields are still rich this year too. I had hoped that they would be for the next 5 years so that I could save enough for when they become barren for a season.

The real surprise I got was to have my Hoe Arts skill level up! And that was just enough to push me over and let me level up!

‘Ha! Marci and I will have to celebrate tonight. Maybe even tomorrow morning too. Haha! Who knows? Our first child may come from all our celebrating! Hehe~’

As I finished a section of my fields and was about to move onto the next row, I spotted someone behind me out of the corner of my eye.

‘What!? How did he appear so close without me hearing him! Is he going to attack me?! Is he a bandit?! Marci!!’

“Who are you?!! State your name and business! If your not quick about it I’ll turn you into mush for my crops!”

‘Mush for my crops?! That was the best you could come up with?!’

I lifted my hoe up ready to attack. Hoe arts may not be a fighting art, but I can definitely try sticking the pointy end in his face!

However, the man before me, no, the boy before me jumped back in alarm and held up his hand in front of him. I thought he was trying to pacify me and say he didn’t want to harm me, but instead, a ball of mana appeared in front of his outstretched hand.

‘MAGE?! NO! Oh no! What have I done?! I’m dead! I’m dead. I’m dead. I’m sorry Marci. You married a fool!’

I dropped my hoe and got on my knees.

“Please don’t kill me! I’m sorry for my actions against you my lord. Please spare this lowly one! I did not know!”

I bowed my head onto the dirt and begged for his forgiveness. I doubt I would receive any, but Marci may be spared from his rage.

------

(John’s POV)

‘Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! What the hell just happened!?! What’s going on?! One minute he is threatening me with his hoe, the next he’s on his knees?!’

I dissipated the mana bolt quickly and stepped back. I was far too confused. I needed to pacify the situation quickly and learn more.

“No, no! I’m sorry! It was out of reflex that I cast it! I just saw your hoe and my body reacted. Please, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry. I should have said something or made a noise or something. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

My body was drenched in sweat. This was not how I pictured my first encounter with a native of this world to go. The only good news was that we could understand each other and spoke the same language. But I couldn’t focus on that right now. My mind was filled with other things and scenarios.

‘Crap! What if he calls the cops on me? Are there cops in this world? Would I get arrested for threatening someone with magic? Should I just throw some money at him and apologize again-Wait? He said lord?’

The farmer, who looked to be a few years over 30, glanced up at me with tears in his eyes. His face was a mess and his eyes showed shock.

“Truly?! You would spare someone as lowly as me my lord?!”

I tried not to shrink back from his gaze. I didn’t like seeing men older than me cry. Nothing against them or men crying, it just made me uncomfortable. And seeing this guy’s head with dirt on his face from the ground and tears and snot coming out, I could only just nod my head aggressively and gesture for him to get up.

“Yes! Yes! I was at fault, so please stand up and wipe your face, please. I’m so sorry to have scared you. I didn’t mean to. Truly.”

He immediately began to wipe his face with his shirt and stand up.

“Yes! Yes! Thank you my lord! Of course, my lord! Right away my lord!”

Once he had settled down and wasn’t crying, I tried to smooth things over to begin my questioning. I at least wanted to gain something more out of this interaction other than a headache.

“Again, I would like to apologize for what happened earlier. I truly didn’t mean any harm. I was just hoping to find out some information from you. Do you have a moment or two to answer some of my questions?”

The tanned, brown bearded farmer nodded his head at my words. Now that I got a good look at him, he just looked like a regular guy. His arms were muscular and tan from the long hours in the sun, and his hair was short and brown, matching his eyes.

“Of course, my lord! I will do my best to help you, but I do not know much. I didn’t gain entry into the academy when I was younger, so my knowledge may be lacking. I hope that is ok my lord.”

I waved my hand and smiled. The piece of information about an academy was filed away for later though. Now, however, it was time for some acting.

“Not a problem. Any information will do. I have been lost for quite a while in that forest behind me and seemed to have found my way here. Could you please tell me where I am?”

The farmer nodded his head.

“Of course, my lord. Oh! I apologize, my lord, this one’s name is Clark Hundak, son of Ferris Hundak and Loral Hundak. The city of Darno is where you are my lord. Or at least the edge of the claim of the city of Darno. If you had been lost in the Dark Forest, I fear for you, my lord. It is a dangerous place with many beasts and monsters hiding in its depths. To have faced them and survived shows of your strength and prowess my lord!”

I sighed internally. I didn’t need the extra flattery, but at least I got some very interesting information from that quick answer.

‘Academy, Darno, Dark Forest, ok next’

I smiled a congenial smile at Clark.

“Thank you Mr. Hundak. I appreciate you saying so. You’re quite right about the Dark Forest being dangerous. In fact, I’m sorry to say that I met a monster in the Dark Forest that took parts of my memory from me. Quite the nasty beast. It got away sadly, so I hope you can answer some common questions without judging me.”

I put on a sad smile and scratched the back of my head. Clark gasped at my revelation and nodded his head.

“Of course my lord! How terrifying! A monster that can steal memories! I must alert the guard for such a beast later. Please ask me anything and I will answer it as truthfully as I can my lord.”

I smiled and put the information about the guard aside for later too.

“Can you tell me where Darno is in relation to other places?”

Clark nodded his head.

“Of course my lord. Darno is in the center of the Hoxim Empire. If you head in the direction of the rising sun, you will find yourself at the capital after a few weeks of travel and the Ovrorean Empire past that, at least that’s what I’m told. In the direction of the setting sun, you can find yourself in Eden, the town of plenty. It would take about the same amount of time to reach Eden as the capital by foot. But if you take a riverboat it would cut that time in half. Further west is the massive military city of Dart Mount, situated between the Dragon Back Mountain that cuts the world in half they say. Through that valley leads to the beastmen kingdom.

To the south are the towns of Lumor and Seashan, and the city of Clear View. I was told that even farther south than that on a mountainous island in the south is the fallen dwarven kingdom.

Um. Ah. I… I don’t know much more than that. I do know that the Ovrorean Empire borders us, but I haven’t left the city of Darno, so my knowledge is limited to what I have heard in the tavern I worked in as a child. Does that help my lord?”

I smiled and nodded my head.

“Yes it does. Thank you Mr. Hundak. Now I must ask, and please do not be taken aback, but why do you keep calling me lord?”

Clark looked at me for a moment and scrunched his bushy eyebrows. I could tell he was nervous from all the information he kept trying to spill out of his mouth at a fast pace earlier. But after I asked him that question he slowed down and looked to the ground to speak.

“Um….. My lord. I….You are a mage, my lord. All mages have nobility in Hoxim. His majesty the glorious emperor Julius Som’s Hoxim the 4th decreed it 80 years ago that any who walk the path of a Mage should be given the nobility status and rank of a Lord. It is the lowest form of nobility, but as a noble, you are given land and servants to protect and prosper in the service of the emperor. All children must be taught this regardless of status by the glorious emperor’s decree.

After all, even the weakest of mages are as strong as a knight……. Did the monster take that information from you too my lord?”

I chuckled and sighed, Clark’s shoulders flinching at my reaction to his words.

“It seems that it did Mr. Hundak. Thank you for informing me. I just have a few more questions then I will be out of your hair.”

Clark nodded.

“Of course, my lord.”

I sighed internally but didn’t drop the sincere smile on my face.

[Congratulations! Acting Skill Level up!]

‘Oh. Nice.’

I cleared my throat.

“Mr. Hundak. I seem to have forgotten the price of objects and the value of money. Could you help me on that?”

Clark paused and blinked his eyes as he looked anywhere but my face. He was getting more nervous I could tell. I couldn’t fathom why, but I tried to keep myself as amicable as possible.

“Of course, my lord. The common currency for lowly ones such as myself is mostly copper coins. 100 copper coins are equivalent to 1 silver coin. I have seen a few silvers when I worked at the tavern but not many. I was told by a grump-*cough*. I mean I was graciously told by a tax collector at the bar that 100 silver is equivalent to 1 gold coin. There are a few others above it, but only the very rich ever use them. I haven’t even seen a gold coin so anything higher is far out of my reach.”

He then stopped and looked at me.

“Is that what you were referring to my lord?”

I half nodded and half shook my head.

“Kind of. Could you tell me the price of an average room at an inn, the price of some decent food, a beer, and clothing? I don’t want to be swindled and it would also be nice to know how the regular people handle food and clothing prices. If you don’t mind of course.”

Clark’s eyes widened in understanding. It seemed that his nervousness had decreased after I said that.

“Ah! That’s what you wished to know my lord. Of course! You came to the right guy then. I learned lots of interesting things through my youth.

Inns for lowly people like myself cost about 10 copper a night. It is rather inexpensive for us thankfully. For an inn for one such as yourself, it would probably be a few dozen silver or so. But I don’t visit such establishments. For food, I have only had a few decent meals on special occasions, and only decent meals that didn’t have meat in them. They were great! However just a little expensive. Between 10 to 18 copper. Much higher than an edible meal at 5-8 copper. If you want a decent meal with meat in it, you would be paying much more, a few silvers at least, especially for meat from the dungeon.

Decent beer can be anywhere from 8 to 10 copper an ale. For delicious grade beer you would have to pay 20 silver or more an ale. Anything higher grade than that, I do not have the capital to drink.

Common clothing can be around 8 to 12 copper for a pair of pants or a shirt. Uncommon clothing would be 30 or more copper and Fine grade clothing would be more than a few silver a piece from what I have been told.

It all depends on who you know and if you are a repeat customer. I mean, I have been getting the same clothes from the same shop for 20 years, so I get a little bit of a discount. Although it may just be my trading skill’s level that helps lower the price.”

As Clark finished, I absorbed as much information as I could from him. It was a lot of good information to sort through. However, one thing that was bugging me was the grade of things.

“Mr. Hundak, you said common, uncommon, and fine grade of things as well as decent, delicious, and edible. Could you tell me more on that?”

Clark looked worried at me before nodding his head.

“I’m so sorry for your memory loss my lord. That monster is awful. I’m glad I can be of service to you my lord though.

Grades for food are different from other objects. I don’t know why the great system makes it that way, but the great system does. The grades go from trash, edible, decent, delicious, excellent, exceptional, and legendary. I believe that there is another, but that’s as high as I know.

The adventurers say that you can temporarily increase your stats for a time from excellent food and above, but I have never tried it due to it costing more than 50 silver or so for a meal.

The other grades are for objects and crafts, clothing, blacksmithing, and the like. It goes from poor, common, uncommon, fine, exceptional, rare, and legendary. The emperor’s sword is a legendary artifact for example.”

I quickly realized that there were a lot of things I would have to remember going forward and I needed to start writing them down so I wouldn’t forget.

“Thank you Mr. Hundak. One last thing, how do you get into the city of Darno? Is there a tax or something to get in? Do I need some form of identification?”

Clark smiled and shook his head.

“The City of Darno is a very safe city due to the City Lord being from the Aeronaut noble family. They have the most knights of the kingdom patrolling the city and keeping the guards in check and honest. There used to be a tax to get in and out, but not anymore. And no my lord, there is no need for an identification. You may walk in when the gates are open and walk out when the gates are open. However, if you get stopped by a knight or guard of the city, you may be required to verify your identity by being inspected by the Inspect division of the knights. I don’t think that they would ever inspect you though my lord, but for me or someone of my stature, I would be inspected. If you are heading to Darno, I wish you health and happiness my lord. I wish your memories to return quickly as well.”

I nodded my head and thanked Clark for his help, I took out a silver coin from my pocket, really my inventory, and walked over and shook Clark’s hand. He was incredibly nervous and uncomfortable when I got close to him but calmed down when I released him.

He looked down and stuttered in surprise when he saw the silver in his hand. I waved goodbye and walked back into the forest under his surprised face before he could say anything.

I had to digest everything he had just told me before I talked with another farmer. Plus, I had another status point to add.