Relaxing

The sky outside was a deep, dreary gray and rain was coming, with a chilly breeze. I remained inside the warm hall, sitting alone while enjoying a cup of ale. I could hear the wind howling outside, but I was content to stay inside where it was dry and warm.

As I gazed deeply into the intricately carved wooden cup, I allowed my thoughts to wander. I heard the crackling of the fireplace and thought about how grateful I was for the ale. It's a flavorful, malty beverage that we didn't have access to before, all thanks to the hectic pace of building the settlement and not farming the land. After all, you can't eat when you are dead.

It was a poor strategic decision on my part, but I was already seeing into the future and had planned to raze that tribe to the ground. I knew that they were full of grain and riches since they were included in the inner trade of the confederation. I was planning to take their resources for myself.

Thankfully, my well-calculated gamble paid off, and we were able to strip the tribe of all their belongings, leaving their people practically naked. Yes, we even took their clothes. And since it rained yesterday, all our tracks and traces have vanished.

"I wonder if the gray wolves had their fill that day?" I mumbled, imagining the beasts tearing the corpses apart with their powerful jaws. After all, we had heard wolves howling menacingly in the distance as we escaped the scene.

I shook my head vigorously, trying to expel the dreadful image I had imagined from my mind, as I began thinking of the future. I was trying to focus on the potential positives, but it was difficult when the image of those wolves was burned into my brain.

"Why would I torture myself like that?" I thought as I finally threw that gory image out the window, a part of it is thanks to the weak drink I held. I was trying to get the image of the mutilated body out of my head, but it was seared into my memory. I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath before downing the drink in one gulp.

I didn't care that there were only two days left until the first wave of zombies. I lived my life in a simple routine. Yesterday was the school day, where I taught Latin to everyone. Of course, it's a slow process. But since Latin will become known in the years to come as the world slowly learns of the rising Roman Empire, why not just follow the trend and teach it. Plus, it's not like I have anything else to do; maybe thanks to this we won't have the language barrier when we meet them.

As for the ultimate question of whether the Latin I know is the same as the Latin the Romans knew, I just don't have a definite answer.

Even though I don't care about the possible impending doom and bleak future that I might face in that world, I'll still fight tooth and nail for my life and the chance to see tomorrow.

With a heart-wrenching sigh and a cheeky smile, I left all my worries at the back of my head, convincing myself that everything would be alright.

Thanks to the newfound clarity, I learned many things. For example, I learned that any environment that changes or buildings that are built in my settlement will also change in the other world. What's more, I discovered that I could use my knowledge of the other world to my advantage and make my settlement the most prosperous one yet.

I took full advantage of the situation, and, after questioning the mad being about the route of the wave, it answered me that any outsiders will come from outside the settlement and any casualties from my people will spawn on the inside, in simple terms they would come from the outside — like those overused mobile games where you need to build a fortress and survive against waves of zombies.

"wouldn't that be easy?" I just had to dig an enormous hole and let the zombies that were coming to fall to their death. I remember asking that day and all I received was a mocking laugh.

Anyways, I did just that, with the help of some able-bodied men and women. We dug traps and trenches around the settlement and outside the gates, leaving only one safe and narrow path for entry. Of course, they grumbled and complained a lot. I couldn't blame them, considering the situation we were in. Right now, the settlement is not safe with all the traps.

Thankfully, I was able to reward them with some of the best weapons and armor I had gained from the war. I reassured them that in two days we would remove all the traps.

"All that is left is the new weapon," I thought to myself silently as I kept thinking about my distant memories of something that could help Runar in completing the weapon today. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something I was forgetting, some crucial detail that would help him finish the weapon.

Suddenly, I felt a warm hand rest on my right shoulder, making me turn to see what it was. My face changed from contemplation to delighted surprise as I hurriedly stood up from my chair to embrace the figure which I saw standing there with its signature poker face and awkward movements.

While hugging him, I felt that he wasn't hugging me back with the same level of enthusiasm. So, with a big bear hug, I lifted him off the ground and shouted "Hans, you better hug your little brother or I'll fight you!"

Letting out a mischievous smile, I knew Hans didn't like being touched. Feeling him pushing me away, I relented and let go. I took a deep look at his face, searching for any injuries.

He had bright red, long hair that was styled in a tight bun. His oblong-shaped face made his wide-set blue eyes look even wider. His soft lips and straight teeth always made him look harmless and friendly. To top it off, he had a perfectly straight nose. All in all, he is more handsome than anyone else in the village.

As I cautiously prodded his seemingly frail figure that was deceptively hiding his well-toned muscles, I found no injuries. Letting out a relieved sigh, I looked deep into his eyes and apologized. "I'm sorry, brother! I shouldn't have sent you again to scout for Days into Suardones Land!"

"Hmm," he just shook his head disapprovingly, while gently tapping my hands, signaling for me to take them away.

"No!" I shouted, vehemently shaking my head. "Our father and mother would be so disappointed in me if they saw me putting you in harm's way! "

Shrugging his frail-looking shoulders, he went on and sat in the seat next to mine without saying anything else. That's just how he is - he's a man of few words... or no words. There's nothing wrong with him; he just doesn't talk. He's the strong, silent type.

I nervously sat down next to him, locking eyes with his as I asked the important question that had been weighing on my mind for days, "Did they come?"

I saw him simply nodding in response to my question, so I quickly fired off the next one, making my spit fly towards him. "Are they coming here?"

Seeing him shake his head in response to my question, I was relieved. My heart, which had been pounding nervously in my chest, soared with elation as I thought, "The stupid plan actually worked!"

I slumped into my chair and asked in a nonchalant voice, "Did they go to the Lemovii?"

Nodding, Hans kept his signature poker face. Again, I was delighted to see his reaction.

"Did you follow them?" I inquired, my heart racing as I desperately hoped he'd answer no. Yet, as he nodded in affirmation again, I stood up angrily, shouting, "Why did you follow them?! Do you have any idea how dangerous that could have been?! You could have gotten seriously hurt, or worse!"

I was about to say something, but when I saw the determined look in his eyes, I just let it go. He's been gone for days on some venture and he returned unharmed, so there's no need to add more drama at home.

Yet, when I saw him shrugging his shoulders with nonchalance, I couldn't help but curse him. "What kind of scout doesn't talk?! Go to school and learn from the walls! Go learn how to communicate effectively! with writing!!"

"Mmmm" he moaned ecstatically as he stood up abruptly and went on his merry way.

"Wait!" I shouted as his back was disappearing. Looking at him turning towards me with his harmless expression, I asked, "Did they attack the Lemovii?" Since Hans didn't add some gestures earlier, it surely meant that they attacked. Yet I wanted confirmation from him — did he see it with his own eyes?

Looking at his nonchalant nod, I mumbled a sarcastic "Good," as I continued pressing for their numbers. But I only received a shrug that made me curse under my breath again.