Raven slowly regained consciousness, but his body was still utterly exhausted. The waves toyed with his fragile form, as if refusing to swallow him completely, pushing him toward the unknown only to drag him back again. The currents were strong, pulling him under with every attempt he made to stay afloat, but his survival instincts did not fail him.
At one moment, a massive wave surged forward, carrying him away from the relentless currents before hurling him forcefully toward the shore. His body crashed against the wet sand, his hands instinctively clutching the ground as if he had finally found refuge. He had no energy left to understand where he was or what had happened. All he could do was surrender to sleep—his body had already reached its limits.
Seven hours passed...
Raven's eyes slowly fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the dim light. At first, he couldn't comprehend where he was. The simple wooden ceiling above him, the scent of medicinal herbs filling the air, and the faint glow of oil lamps—everything was entirely different from the dark, suffocating cell he had been trapped in just hours ago.
He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his body, as if every muscle in him was screaming in protest. He wasn't bound this time, but he was far from being able to move freely.
Suddenly, a man entered the room. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with a short beard and eyes that held a mix of caution and kindness. He carried bandages and some herbal medicines in his hands.
The man smiled: "Finally awake… I was starting to wonder when you'd regain consciousness."
Raven, trying to grasp the situation: "Where am I? Who are you people?"
The man, as he began dressing Raven's wounds: "Calm down… You're safe here. We found you unconscious by the shore—you were barely alive." He then turned toward the door and called out, "Bring some food. Our guest is in desperate need of it."
Raven hadn't realized how hungry he was until the rich aroma of food filled the air. As soon as the plate was placed in front of him, he grabbed the spoon and began eating ravenously, as if he hadn't tasted food in years.
Raven, after finishing his meal: "That was the best food I've had in… I don't even know how long. But tell me, what is this place? And what do you people do here?"
The man, arranging the herbs on the table: "This is our village. Some call it a city, others call it a refuge. Call it whatever you like—no one here cares about labels."
Raven, puzzled: "Call it whatever I like? I don't understand… I'm ready to go outside—I need to see where I am."
He carefully stood up, still feeling the ache in his body, but he needed to know the truth. As he stepped out of the room, what he saw was beyond anything he had expected.
Before him stretched a vast settlement filled with wooden houses, as if belonging to a time long past. But at the same time, the streets were paved, and he could see motorcycles and even a few modern cars parked along the sides. People dressed in traditional clothing walked among others wearing contemporary attire, creating a striking contrast between two seemingly different worlds.
Raven, in astonishment: "What is this? Is this a village or a city? Why do your homes look like something from the past, yet you have the latest cars and motorcycles?"
The man smirked: "See? That's why I told you to call it whatever you like. We live differently here. Some prefer simplicity, while others embrace modernity, and no one forces their way of life on another."
Man: "Listen, I'll explain everything later. But for now, these men will take you to the person in charge of this village."
Raven, thinking to himself:"The person in charge? So they have some kind of governing system here too... This isn't just a random settlement."
He had no choice but to comply. He followed the men as they led him through the village streets. People around them cast curious yet wary glances at him, as if they hadn't seen someone like him in a long time. The village wasn't noisy, but there was an underlying sense of quiet anticipation in the air.
After a few minutes, they arrived at a building that stood out from the rest. Unlike the surrounding wooden houses, this one looked more modern and sturdier. However, the strangest thing about it was the complete absence of guards.
Raven, glancing around cautiously:"No guards? Strange... If this were the home of Asteria's ruler, there would be no fewer than sixty heavily armed guards."
One of the men gently nudged him forward, leading him inside. He found himself in a modest yet well-organized room. Behind a wooden desk sat a middle-aged man with graying hair and calm eyes that radiated experience.
The man, with a faint smile: "Welcome... No one has come from the sea in a long time."
Raven, confused: "Why would anyone come from the sea in the first place?"
The man in charge, studying him intently: "You came from the sea."
Raven fell silent for a moment. He wasn't eager to discuss what had happened, but his curiosity was beginning to burn.
Raven: "It's a long story..."
The man, placing his hands on the desk calmly: "It seems you've angered the government of some country."
Raven's eyes widened slightly, his eyebrows raising in surprise.
Raven: "Huh? How do you know that?!"