Gettin' up to no good

“I’m heading out!” Than exclaimed, leaving the front door flapping in his wake.

With his head poking out from around a corner, Brauch replied. “Don’t stray too far! And be back by noon!”

Than disregarded his older brother’s pleas. After all, nothing was going to get in between him and a new adventure.

About five years had passed since their first arrival to the beach town they now called home. “Strident,” was its name. Apparently, it had a reputation for being a “cradle for great warriors.” Or at least that’s what Than had read in a book. Regardless, it made him feel warm inside and fed nicely into his ego.

“It's a sign, I'm sure of it. I’ll be a success this time around!” He recited in his head.

Setting his narcissistic thoughts aside. During the past few years, Than had finally come to realize something … This place wasn’t his world. There were far too many differences. The days were longer, the wildlife was unrecognizable, and all of the maps he’d gotten ahold of so far described continents he’d never learned about. So, unless there was a world-ending event that leveled civilization back to the medieval age, this wasn’t Earth.

With that in mind, some things finally began to make sense. Like Strait’s seemingly outdated ship, or the lack of general technology in people’s households.

Nonetheless, one thing still irked him, and that was the fluency with which those from this world spoke modern English.

Putting everything else into consideration, the language seemed out of place. Though, since it worked in his favor, Than didn’t stress too much about it. Not that he would anyway, considering he had much more interesting things to deal with.

“There it is!" Than exclaimed as he viewed past the brush of trees in front of him.

There, resided a secluded beach. Its sand was pillow-like in nature, and it was fenced on all sides by lines of flat-leaved trees that separated it from the rest of the world. In other words, it was the perfect place for Than to study. 

As with various other things, he'd come to learn of the little area during one of his many expeditions to scope the area surrounding his new home. It was what he did to alleviate the boredom, and while it wasn’t much, Than concluded that it was a better existence compared to living as a newborn on a ship out in the middle of nowhere. Thus he remained secluded.

“It's a good thing I brought this along.” Than whispered to himself, pulling out the little handbook he’d swiped from his older sibling.

“I’m curious. What do the children of this world learn?”

With that motive in mind, Than opened the book and began reading. Flipping through a couple of pages, it quickly became apparent that the book was an instruction manual on sword fighting techniques.

Than scoffed. “Not exactly what I was expecting, but still typical for a kid his age.” He muttered, tossing the manual to the side.

With the desire to learn being his only immediate goal in mind, Than began plotting his next move.

“I don’t know much about this world, and I also don't have many connections, so the only real way I’ll progress, is by taking advantage of my early start in life by filling my head with useful information.” Than grumbled. “But I can’t do that when everyone around me is a complete and utter idiot who's only concerned about swords and martial arts!”

Five years had passed, and yet, Than remained at square one. Even at his young age, he felt as if he was behind the times, a thought which made him insecure.

Right at that moment, a memory rushed into Than’s head.

“Oh, yeah. Didn't my single, absentee father give something to that old man?” Than scratched his chin. “I wonder what that was all about.” He said with a sly grin.