The Search Of Beginnings, A Starting Loop.

It was a definite shock for me, everyone else had been unable to understand let alone respond to me. Now it makes a bit of sense as to why he's in a higher position than that female guard, he must be like a tutorial guide on a game. Except it's real life, I don't suppose he can teach me how to understand everyone else. That would be helpful, I'm at least glad that now, I have someone to talk to that can understand and respond. "You can understand me?" Making sure I wasn't hearing things, I could have gone crazy after dying. This could be some kind of fever dream for all I know.

"Yes, that is correct. The language of the hero has been passed down from generation to generation in my family, we have been eagerly awaiting your arrival for centuries. I was growing unsure of your arrival in this millennia, but it seems that worry was unfounded."

He smiled and offered me a hand, I hesitantly grabbed it as he gently pulled me towards him. Setting me on his knee, with a pat on my head. He went on a rant about how the "prophecy" foretold that a Hero and a Demon king would be born on the same day, both born to defeat the other. I yawned boredly at the drawn out explanation, "But that doesn't mean we have to be enemies, even if the "prophecy" says we are. In the end it only depends on people's actions, majority of the time it's the people that lead the Hero and Villain on to become enemies because it's what was "foretold." I don't think the "Demon King" would even know who or what he is until the people lead him on a path to believe it."

He sat frozen in shock as he stared at me in disbelief, my brows furrowed as I tilted my head and waved a hand in the man's face. "It shouldn't be that shocking...Should it? It's like the concept of the Heroes tend to make the villains because of their actions, or the villains make the heroes by theirs. Most events are caused by the actions of people."

After the initial shock passed, he held a wide smile. "You certainly are a hero, with strong beliefs and understanding of faults." I was a bit confused but nonetheless, things seem to be going well. We talked some more and I found out his name is Samuel Onen, though that was all I could find out so far, since he insisted I be dressed properly and start being taught the language, among learning how to fight.

At dawn I'd eat breakfast, then run a few miles before training with Nico, towards the afternoon I'd have lunch then begin language lessons with Mrs. Presta. Unsurprisingly, the first few weeks were the toughest. Even with a different body, I still retained my lack of exercise, not very surprising. It was easy to assume the body I was now in had been formed simply as a vessel, for me to train and use however I needed.

The best part was that I didn't have carpal tunnel anymore, although I think I gained something else from Nico's constant "training." It's called training, but it's just me getting my ass kicked for hours every day. I really think Nico might just enjoy letting out his stress on me, is what I would say if I didn't know better. Onen mentioned that Nico used to have a younger brother and I happened to look similar to him. I had asked what happened to the brother but Onen didn't tell me, he simply shook his head and redirected the conversation, sadly. Though it was understandable, open wounds aren't enjoyable to pick at.

I'd say it took no time at all to learn both language and fighting, but that would be a lie and personally not very believable. In actuality it took quite a while, which was partly my fault since I kept getting distracted and sneaking off halfway through lessons to explore the city. I did eventually manage to learn both, thankfully. It had already been eight years since I woke up in this world, and I couldn't exactly tell how much of it wasn't wasted time…All things considered, It was seriously hard to see any of the past me anymore. I'm already so much different, gone was the sad introverted loser who did nothing but game, now...standing in his place was a less introverted loser who does nothing but train.

That is somewhat better, right? Right? Whatever, the biggest change was my body, other than the fact that I gained a new one when I came to this world. The first time I looked into a mirror was definitely an experience. Maple brown eyes stared back at me, a head of brown hair accompanying them. My stature and physique were somewhat the same as my old body, but after training I built up some muscle and looked somewhat intimidating. One thing I did find out that surprised me quite a bit, was that there weren't any other races other than Humans.

Sad I couldn't live out the long life of an elf, not that I'm too upset with simply being human. But that wasn't even the weirdest thing, everything was somewhat similar to things in my old life, there wasn't really anything…Fantasy, about this world. Other than the small rodents that somewhat resemble goblins from your classic fantasy world, nothing was drastically different. Which made me question a lot of things, but mostly, if no other race then human exists. What was the Demon King? Obviously I immediately asked Onen this, and his answer was surprising, but expected.

He told me "The Prophecy states he is a powerfully evil human, that he has the powers to reveal the evil inside people and make them follow him." Which only added to my long list of questions, after multiple conversations over periods of days. Here's the basics of what I found out.

Powers don't strictly exist in this world, the only supposed powers of this world lie with the Demon King and Me, the Hero. Though the explanation of the powers are fairly vague, and I still have yet to figure out what my "powers" are. I tried everything from Rasengan, to strained yelling for a possible super saiyan. No surprise really, though that didn't mean I wasn't a bit disappointed. After I had turned fifteen, I started taking small jobs for the people around the city. Only slightly for the money, considering Onen gave me a monthly allowance regardless.

Besides, it gave me something else to do other than train and study. I spent a lot of time learning more about this new world, even if the aspects of it weren't that different. The map definitely was, different names and new lands. A shocking amount of sectioned countries all with different or combined leaders, even some unexplored lands far off. Which were simply left blank, the only thing hinting to any form of land was the inked lines separating the colored and blank.

Things are a lot less advanced in this world, candles are still used as lighting. Even in the wealthier homes, windows and candles kept the inside from being in complete darkness. It isn't all that bad, considering the candles smell really good. The years flew by quickly and unceremoniously, Nico had started taking me out in the woods for actual practice. He taught me hunting. tracking, how to hide in different situations and terrain, and how to set traps of different kinds. It was really helpful, though everything I had been taught was useful. Other than the constant beating from training, that I could've gone without, since I didn't exactly learn anything other than Nico can be brutal.

Thinking about everything that's happened over the past eight years, the main reason I'm training is to either defeat or possibly befriend the Demon King. Although that all really depends on him, its training to be prepared for the worst. Yet also be hopeful and expect the best, it's really not easy to do both.

A lot has happened, and I haven't even faced the Demon King yet. But it's nice, throughout the years, the others have really become a sort of family for me. Onen is the caring supportive father I've never had before, Nico is the annoying shithead but kind older brother, and Mrs. Presta became a sort of aunt. She definitely fit the role at least, damn that woman loves her wine and gossip. Strangely enough she has a weird thing for turtlenecks as well…

It was nice, living with them. Though I suppose things can't stay the same for long, I turned eighteen and before I knew it. I was saying my goodbyes to begin my journey, it was certainly sentimental. It wasn't hard to forget why I was training in the first place, being caught up in the enjoyment of having people actually look after and care for me.

Which only made the realization of everything hit that much more, I had already left my old life behind me, and this one had already been a thousand times better than my past could have ever been. And it was thanks to the people I met, whether it was luck or coincidence that I met the people I did. I'm grateful, that said, it was a bit suffocating sitting in this carriage, especially with the overbearing number of intense looking guards bumping shoulders.

Is this really how this adventure begins? A carriage full of fully armored sweaty men, and women. To be fair, it could be worse…It could be naked sweaty men…I hate how I just imagined that…I hope we can find this Demon King soon, I don't want to travel in this carriage for longer than needed, I do hope he's reasonable. The best I can hope for is willing to try and be friend—It was mid thought when my head suddenly hurt and my vision faded to the shocked and panicked faces of the guards. I couldn't tell what exactly happened, considering everything became dark quickly after.

A shockingly familiar splash of cold water woke me, opening my eyes I was once again in the familiar tall windowed roof building with the statues. It was a surprise, to say the least. I had just been in that stuffy carriage with all those guards, did that mean I died? Sitting up, my eyes scanned the room. Remarking the unchanged decorations and clean interior, the door opened and a shocked gasp echoed throughout the building. I looked at the familiar woman, though…Not familiar, because she looked the same as when I first woke up in this world. She didn't have the familiar gray hair I remembered, as when I grew up, she looked less aged.

While my brain tried to wrap itself around the current situation and the fast paced events, the building quickly filled up just as it had before. The familiar female guard appeared and told everyone to leave the building, thankfully it seems I can still understand them. Since I did study the language, I don't know why I thought I would forget it. The only thing that changes is my body—Wait…I died, but…Everything is still the same? Did I not reincarnate into another world?

Don't tell me…? Can I not die? Hold on, no. Let's backtrack, I felt a pain in my head and everything went black. Then I woke up back here, the baker…Mrs. Kester, the one who first found me, she looked younger. The same as when I first awoke here, I lifted my hands and looked down at my body. I had the same leather covering as I did back then, and my body was back to that of a Ten year old child.

"What the hell is going on…?"