ABERGDON AWAITS

Tony woke up near Highland Valley-what the locals called Valley Molab. The Traveler's tools were lying next to him, scattered on the ground.

WELCOME TO ABERGDON OF THE BRACADIS

The words echoed in his mind like a strange welcome. He didn't know exactly how he got here, but he was sure this was where his mission started.

Not far from him, he found a brown coat, an old leather belt, and a saddlebag hidden in the weeds. He quickly put them on. He still had no shorts, but that didn't matter. Unlike Elsie, who came here by accident, Tony had a plan. He came ready. This was part of time travel.

The valley ahead looked long and narrow. The sky was full of dark clouds, and the air felt heavy. Maybe it would rain soon. Tony looked to the north and decided to go that way.

"If someone passes by," he said to himself, "I might look familiar... but they won't recognize me."

He kept walking until he reached the edge of the valley and entered a quiet forest plain. He moved fast. Anything could be hiding here. Wild animals... or worse.

Then-snap.

A dry branch broke under his foot.

Tony froze.

Something was moving through the bushes. A large boar stepped out. It sniffed the air and looked around.

Tony quickly pressed himself against a tree. He stayed very still, holding his breath. His heart was beating fast. Sweat ran down his face.

The boar kept sniffing. Then Tony's hand slipped a little, just enough to be seen.

The boar charged.

Tony ran. He dodged trees and ran in a zigzag to confuse the animal. The saddlebag and belt bounced on him, but he didn't stop. His legs were tired, and his lungs burned, but he pushed through.

Little by little, the boar fell behind. Tony didn't look back. He kept running, knowing that with every step, he was getting closer to finding what he came for.

Tony hid beneath a dark, hollow space on the path. The beast would take a while to find him, he thought. It was a safe spot under the raised ground. The beast, confused and at a crossroads, couldn't see Tony anymore. Tony knew that if he held his breath long enough, he could stay hidden. He held on as long as he could, and then, with a deep breath, let himself relax.

It had been a tough day. The first day in a different timeline. Luckily, he hadn't faced too many dangers on his journey-until now. As he descended the raised ground, he finally saw what he had been looking for. But it wasn't his sister.

It was ABERGDON, the place the old man had spoken about. The city seemed to glow in the distance. Tony's coat hung to his knees-far too big for him. He didn't have time to think about his appearance. He had to keep moving.

When Tony arrived at the city gates, a soldier stopped him. The soldier wore a heavy, rust-colored mail shirt that reached just below his waist, protecting him from head to toe. A steel helmet covered his head, the edges slightly dented from past battles. His belt was adorned with a simple leather pouch, where a sword hilt poked out. The soldier crossed his arms, his boots clicking on the stone ground as he approached Tony.

"These gates are under strict orders," the soldier said, his voice sharp. "No one has been allowed outside for three days. Where are you from?"

Tony thought quickly. "I went out to gather some hazelnuts, flax, and parsley from the abandoned farms nearby," he lied. "I was attacked by a boar. It took me a while to escape."

The soldier eyed him suspiciously. "And why is your coat so oversized? Are you hiding something?"

"I'm not hiding anything," Tony answered quickly. "My shirt got torn in the forest. This coat is all I have left."

The soldier seemed to consider this for a moment before stepping aside. He motioned for Tony to enter. "You may pass, but be careful," the soldier warned. "Things aren't normal around here."

Inside the city walls, Tony was led to a storeroom. The walls were lined with stacked crates and barrels, and the air smelled faintly of salted fish and dried herbs. The soldiers handed him a pair of breeches, simple cloth pants that looked like they had been worn by others before him. They were a little tight, but they were better than nothing. The soldiers wore similar outfits-light tunics underneath their armor, with wide leather belts that held their weapons and gear. Their boots were worn from countless travels, the soles thick from years of use.

"You can rest here for now," the soldier said, his voice softer now. "But don't get too comfortable. Captain Verde has plans for everyone."

Tony nodded but didn't speak. As he changed into the breeches, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was unfolding-his destiny, unraveling before his very eyes.