The New Reality

Shurei's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft sunlight filtering through the open windows. He sat up slowly, taking in his surroundings—a small, rustic room with wooden walls and simple furniture. His body felt strange, almost lighter than usual.

"Where am I?" he muttered, feeling a sense of disorientation.

Before he could gather his thoughts, a voice called out to him. "Kaizer! You're finally awake, boy."

Shurei glanced up, seeing a man in his 40s with rugged features and a warm, almost fatherly demeanor. The man approached him with a chuckle. "You gave us a scare there. Thought you were going to sleep all day!"

Shurei's mind raced. Kaizer... That was the alias he had chosen before the blackout. But this man—who was he? His memories were still foggy, but he kept his face calm, masking his confusion.

The man patted his shoulder. "Come on, your mother was worried. Get yourself ready and come outside when you're done."

The man left, leaving Shurei alone with his thoughts. So, I'm Kaizer now... in this world, he thought. But where exactly am I?

Shurei decided to play along, at least for now. He quickly dressed in the simple clothes he found by the bed and stepped outside. The village around him was quaint and quiet, with modest wooden houses scattered around a small square. Children played in the streets, and adults worked diligently in the fields or carried out daily chores.

"Morrin," the man had called it. The village of Morrin—a small, peaceful place tucked away in the middle of nowhere. The simplicity of the village was almost unnerving to Shurei, given the cruel realities he knew were likely lurking just beyond its borders.

Flashback to Paradise

As Shurei walked through the village, he couldn't help but feel an unsettling sense of peace. Morrin, he thought, a place far too ordinary for a world like this.

His mind drifted back to Paradise—the cold, sterile halls where he had been raised. Paradise was a place where weakness was purged, and emotion was a liability. In those days, every mistake was punished with brutal consequences. He remembered the long hours of training, the grueling combat exercises, and the cold stares of the instructors as they watched him and the others fight for survival.

"Again!" The voice of his instructor rang out through the white, clinical room. Shurei stood amidst the wreckage of what was once a sparring partner. His body ached, but he dared not show it. Any sign of pain or fatigue would be seen as a weakness to be exploited.

The other children—his so-called "comrades"—stood to the side, their faces emotionless as they watched him. None of them dared to speak out, for they knew that the moment they showed sympathy, they too would be dragged into the pit.

Shurei met the instructor's gaze, cold and calculating, even at that young age. "As you wish," he replied, his voice void of any emotion. He was conditioned to survive, to suppress any feeling that might compromise his efficiency. Emotions were for the weak.

As Shurei remembered those days, he was reminded of how far he had come. Survival, manipulation, power—that's all that matters, he thought. And it's no different here.

Gathering Intelligence in Morrin

Returning to the present, Shurei pushed the memories aside and focused on the task at hand. He needed information.

Over the next few hours, Shurei—now Kaizer—blended in with the villagers, careful to observe more than he spoke. He quietly helped his "father" with various tasks, all the while asking casual questions that would help him understand this world better.

"How's the harvest this year?" he asked an older man stacking hay.

The man paused for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "The harvest?" he repeated, as if surprised that Kaizer would ask something so mundane. "Not bad, lad... could always be better. But... haven't you been helping out these past few seasons?" He chuckled nervously, shaking his head. "You've always had an odd way of talking, Kaizer."

Shurei remained impassive, letting the man's words slide off him. Let them think what they will, he thought. I need answers.

Agriculture seems to be a central part of this area, Shurei noted. He glanced at the surrounding fields. But what are the larger economic systems? Who holds the real power here?

As he passed by a group of women washing clothes by the river, Shurei listened intently to their conversation, picking up bits and pieces of local gossip.

"Did you hear about the adventurers in the next village? They caused quite the stir last week, took out half the livestock just for sport!" one woman said with a disapproving shake of her head.

Shurei approached them casually, his tone polite but direct. "Adventurers? Do they come here often? How do they usually behave?"

The women exchanged glances, surprised by his inquiry. One of them laughed nervously. "Kaizer, are you feeling alright? You've lived here your whole life—you know as well as we do! But... they come by often enough. And not all of them are kind."

"Not kind at all," another added, shaking her head.

Shurei's mind began to work quickly. So this isn't just a typical NPC village. Morrin is a target—fodder for the real players.

Perfect, he thought. I can use this.

Key Locations in Morrin

Later, Shurei made his way to the blacksmith's shop. The blacksmith, a tall, broad man with a no-nonsense demeanor, glanced up from his work as Shurei entered the shop, giving him a nod of acknowledgment.

"Kaizer, right?" the blacksmith said, wiping his hands on a rag. "What can I do for you?"

Shurei offered a polite smile, careful not to seem too inquisitive. "Just curious about Morrin. It's always so quiet here, isn't it?" He let the question hang in the air, waiting for the blacksmith's reaction.

The blacksmith narrowed his eyes, just for a moment, as though trying to make sense of Kaizer's question. "Quiet?" he repeated, his voice slightly tinged with confusion. "Well, I suppose so. But... you know that already, don't you?" He let out a short laugh. "Always asking the strangest things, Kaizer. But yeah, it's peaceful enough here. For now."

Shurei simply nodded, letting the blacksmith's comment pass. Let them think I'm strange... It will only make them underestimate me.

The blacksmith continued. "But you know as well as I do that the world outside Morrin isn't so kind. Adventurers pass through here all the time, and not all of them are as friendly as they should be."

Shurei's mind began to work, piecing together the information. So adventurers treat this place as a mere stop on their journey, he thought. And the villagers are little more than background to them... perfect.

Conversation with the Elder

Later, Shurei approached the village elder, giving a polite nod. "Excuse me, Elder. I was curious if you could tell me more about Morrin and its history."

The elder gave him a curious look, as though surprised by the question. "History?" he echoed. "Ah, Kaizer... You were never one for the past." He smiled softly, then stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, Morrin has been here for generations. We live quietly, mostly unnoticed by the outside world, save for the occasional visit from adventurers."

Unnoticed, Shurei mused. That may explain why this place feels so insulated, like a pocket of peace in a chaotic world. But peace is always fleeting...

As he listened to the elder speak of Morrin's traditions, Shurei was already forming plans. He knew he would need to gather more specific information about adventurer activity, the world beyond Morrin, and most importantly—how he could use all of it to his advantage.