Alaric was really scared. He was a weak person who had just been reincarnated into a new world after dying, so he didn't want to die again. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his hands were trembling with fear.
But the headmaster sent him away to somewhere far, somewhere dangerous.
During the teleportation, Alaric felt nauseous; it was as if his head was spinning. The whole process felt like an eternity, yet it only lasted a few seconds.
Then, Alaric found himself in the middle of a forest. Everything around him was pure vegetation with no sign of civilization or anything like that.
It was the pure wilderness, a place of untamed beauty and danger. Alaric found himself lying on a soft patch of grass, surrounded by the lush greenery. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight, even in his dire situation.
"The first thing I need is shelter, fire, water, and then food."
Despite the daunting odds, Alaric was determined to survive. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was ready to give it his all.
He started to move. Staying in the same place wouldn't do him any better. He tried to make as little noise as possible. A forest has its dangers-unseen creatures lurking in the shadows, poisonous plants waiting to be touched, and the ever-present risk of getting lost.
A refreshing night breeze hit his face. It felt nice. But Alaric was really mad, and a breeze wouldn't change his state of mind.
"That fucking headmaster even sent me away during the night to make things worse, damn it," he muttered, punching a nearby tree to let go of his anger.
The more he walked, the more he felt like he was in the heart of a desolate wilderness, isolated from all signs of civilization.
Alaric didn't even see a single road. It didn't need to be a stone road that merchants and travelers used. A mud road would suffice him. Yet, there was nothing like that.
After two hours of aimless wandering, battling the dense forest and the wounds it inflicted, Alaric was on the brink of despair when he finally caught sight of something.
A river. That alone wouldn't make Alaric happy, but he spotted a small cabin next to the river. It had some lights.
"Someone must be living there," he thought.
With nothing to lose, Alaric moved toward the cabin, using a small wooden bridge to cross the river. He knocked on the door of that wooden cabin.
Anxiety took over him. Alaric had no idea who or what would answer him. Would it be someone dangerous or someone that might help him?
He was well aware that it was unusual for someone to live in such a remote location.
As the door creaked open, Alaric was met with a sight that only deepened the mystery of this remote cabin. A striking woman stood before him, her long blond hair and piercing blue eyes a stark contrast to the rugged surroundings.
She had a sword in her hand. "Who are you?" she said.
Just like Alaric was anxious, she was too. She was not expecting any visitors living in that remote place, so when someone knocked on her door, well, she thought it was trouble.
"I need help," Alaric said, "can I come in and explain things to you?"
Alaric didn't have any weapons with him, and his aura was weak, too. That woman didn't see him as a threat. She let him in, but she always kept his weapon close to her in case she needed it.
"I'm Alaric," he said, "a project of a mage who got expelled from the magic academy I was studying at. They sent me to this place."
The woman frowned. "Really? We are literally in the middle of nowhere, and as far as I know, there aren't any magic academies in this place."
"Well, they used a teleportation spell to send me here, that's why. Look, I have no idea where I am, and I don't have the power to survive here. You are my only hope of staying alive..." Alaric said, his voice trembling with desperation.
The woman's frown deepened, but she could see the fear in Alaric's eyes. She knew he was telling the truth.
"Fine, I can let you stay, but if you try anything..." she said.
"Thank you, thank you," Alaric said, his voice trembling with relief as he kneeled, "you are my savior."
"But to stay here, you must work hard. Help me get water, make a fire, gather food, and clean this place. It ain't easy to live in such a remote place. Also, you can't stay here forever."
When Alaric heard about the chores, he cried.
"Don't cry, idiot. You are a grown-ass man, so you shouldn't cry when someone helps you," she said.
The woman was called Ashley. She thought that Alaric cried because of her help, but he actually cried because of the chores... Alaric really just wished to relax and avoid all of that... hard work.
Anyway, the first thing she did was clean his wounds and bandage them. The bandages were, in fact, leaves that she had gathered from the forest.
Alaric, though, was grateful for the care. He knew that in his current state, any help was better than none. He thought to himself, 'Better than nothing.'
"Done," Ashley said after she was done bandaging his wounds, "you can sleep on the ground. I only have one bed, sorry."
"It's okay."
Alaric was happy to have a roof over his head. Sleeping on the ground was nothing to him. He thought he would be sleeping outside or inside a cave with no comfort at all. A cabin like that one was like a five-star resort to him.
The improvised bed on the ground was a godsend. Alaric, utterly drained both physically and mentally, collapsed onto it and was instantly swallowed by the comforting embrace of sleep.
Ashley, her senses on high alert, decided to wait until Alaric fell asleep. She was taken aback by how quickly he succumbed to his exhaustion, a testament to his weariness.
Alaric woke up on the following day with a strange notification.
[Arcane Idleness Protocol Activated]