Three-Star Man

As I woke in the vast desert with seemingly nothing around, my gaze fixed upon an enormous white rock behind me covered in mysterious drawings and scratches, and standing around it was a group of six people, dressed in leather clothes and all wearing wide-brimmed, weathered hats. Each person carried a strange metal object around their hip. I had never seen something like that before, but they appeared to use it like a weapon or defensive object, as their hands were always waving or close around their hips, similar to experienced knights with their swords.

After awakening, I found myself bound by a strange rope by these desert people to restrain me. To make things worse, I arrived here bare, with no weapon, and fully nude, and strangely my magic isn't working thoroughly, but at least, they did give me ragged old clothes for me to dress up, in as this scorching sun beat down relentlessly, burning into my skin. In stark contrast, these desert people seemed entirely at ease, I wish I was the same sigh. 

"Ye have to go with us eight-y boy ", spoke one of the six people, he was bigger than the others, dressed like the others but his hat was different, it had a star on the middle of it, he must be the leader of them, it is strange that I can know their words as their language is different from mine, maybe they casted some magic on me for it.

I just nodded and follow them along, I don't know how strong they are or where am I so it's best to follow and observe, either way, I doubt I can't escape.

The more time we spent together, the less I felt these people were as strong as me, they got no mana in them, at least that I can feel, but since I, a knight of the order of Vrid can't notice it, so it's unlikely. For warriors they are lacking in training, what warrior doesn't know mana? Everything in here is strange.

As we walked through this empty desert, a figure of a town started to appear on the horizon, this whole travel through the desert was strange, it seemed too calm, too empty of life, I can't feel anything at all around me, it was very unsettling. After some time of walking, I started to notice some details about this group, all their bodies were well built, like experienced warriors and their senses were sharp as well, this whole trip they were on edge, especially their leader, the star hatted one, of all of them he seems the stronger of them all, they do bicker around a lot, a lot different from the structure that my knightage had.

My mana is starting to stabilize, and I could cast some strengthening magic on me, which helped a lot to counter this heat, however, that also made me confirm that they don't feel magic at all since they didn't notice it one bit.

[Unknown Desert Town, Year ?]

As we get closer, the town was inside what seemed a painted circle, of runes of some type, similar to a wall protecting a town. After entering, the ground changed its texture to one more similar to dirt than sand, making it easier to walk through, but that wasn't the only thing that changed as I entered, the temperature also seemed to drop significantly and the town here is filled with mana and the presence of magic of some kind, I don't recognize it clearly.

The town was filled with houses, of two floors or one, made with various types of wood, not even one house was made of stone or some other material, it seems here that ores are rare. Their architecture does seem advanced, and they maneuver wood very well, superior to Vrid at least, so they aren't an uncivilized culture, they are just poor at resources it seems.

As we walked through the streets of the town, the people around us immediately took notice of my presence. The mundane tasks and conversations came to an abrupt halt as curious gazes fixed upon us. Whispers and hushed discussions spread like wildfire through the crowd, some paused their chores, standing still with rakes and buckets in hand, while others left their sewing or weaving to catch a glimpse of me. A crowd around us was starting to create, following us. 

The people here were all very on edge, with eyes filled with distrust, seems they don't know how to react to me, am I that big of a shock to them? The number of people now following us was around 50, with all of them carrying that metal object around their hips, some even now gripping it tight, I don't know what that is, but I doubt it would help much against me.

As we approached the center of the town, an enormous building loomed ahead with a big circular square around it, different from the others this one seem more complex, it looks like a building of importance, the hub of the town, where I suppose the chief of this town lives. 

In front of it, there's a line of three people kneeling, all dressed in ragged clothes similar to mine, but I don't seem to recognize them, and right behind them, each one has a guard pointing the metal object behind their head, with one waiting for us in front, dressed with a hat with three stars this time. 

"Wich Era", says the three-star man towards the chief of the group that I came in with an imposing voice, the group's expressions were suddenly of fear, which delighted me a bit, they did put me through this heat. 

"B-Boss yer never goin to guess it hahehe", says one of the men behind the chief of the group.

"Spit it out dumbass", responds immediately the chief of the group, giving a back slap to the one who spoke

"Era Eight! ", says the chief proudly.

The three-star man seemed confused like he never would expect that answer to come out of his mouth. He was perplexed by it.

"Eight you say "

"Don't play around Jez ", says the boss with an angry tone of voice at them, he now seems like they are playing a joke on him.

"I Aint! I S-swear boss ", speaks the one who spoke out earlier frantically, trembling in fear, getting another slap behind him by the chief of the group.

"Bring him", commands the three-star man at them.

As they bring me closer to him, his appearance became more clear to me. His outfit, crafted from high-quality white leather, stood in stark contrast to the other desert dwellers around him, and his black hat and boots added a touch of elegance and power. On top shining the most were the three stars, shining brightly like they were new, they must be polished every day, which shows how important to him it is.

"Eight ay ", he bickers.

"Show the mark ", as he says this two of the group push me down to kneeling and showed him the back of my neck.

This man suddenly starts laughing, hysterically. What is this eighth era they were talking about, and what do I have on my neck? As I'm thinking that, the three-star man starts talking loudly so everyone can hear.

"You bums done did it ay"

"Those Gravi fuckards won't mess with us for a big old time"

"Call Sevis"

After yelling that to the crowd, he came closer to me and says with a big grin on his face, "Big catch you are ay , new blood ".