Kaylie walked me out of the room, this time without any guards following us.

  “You did better than I thought,” she said.

  I didn’t think the outcome was great, but maybe she was right. “Would she really kick me out? I’d die out there without weapons or help.”

  “Her? Nah,” Kaylie said, flashing a big smile. “She’d probably have Carrick or Sana do it.” Gosh. She even smiled while talking about my death. “It’s nothing personal. That’s just how the world works. You don’t feel bad when you kill something to eat, right? Same idea. It’s survival. And it’s not like she’s killing you. It’s just banishment. She’s not responsible for protecting you. She is actually a generous and good person. Originally, there was no one here, and she started this village to harbor people. The Unionists started selling people as slaves, and she helped free them and founded the village to support them. She takes in as many people as we can handle. Consequently, if she takes in too many people who can’t handle their fair share, then we all would suffer or die. Just be glad she isn’t like the others that would sell or enslave you.”

  Her words held truth. I did come from a world where we tried our best to abolish slavery. To me, it was better to die than be a slave, but I was not sure others here agreed with that.

  Another topic sparked my curiosity, so I asked, “What are the Unionists?”

  “You're from a different world,” she replied, eyebrow raised. “Let me explain the lay of the land. We're on a peninsula, mostly claimed by the Unionists in the north. They're a loose coalition of kingdoms that split off some time ago. On the other side are the Loyalists, and they're constantly skirmishing with the nearest city.”

  “What are they fighting over?”

  “Oh, you know, the same ole same ole,” she replied flippantly. “Someone’s daughter killed their father. Then the opera began. Someone else kills someone else’s father. Now it’s just a blood feud and a war without end. What’s important for you is knowing where you can go. Heading straight north will lead you to the Unionists, and they might kill you or sell you. Northwest might get you to the Loyalists, and you could be safe there, unless they think you're with the Unionists and kill you on sight, considering you'd be crossing a hostile border.”

  I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Okay, both options sound risky, but what do the names mean? It might give me better context for what's going on.”

  “The Unionists want to unite the continent under their rule, while the Loyalists remain loyal to the old king,” she explained.

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  “So one wants to unite the continent and the other one doesn’t?” I questioned.

  “I doubt that,” she replied. “The continent was originally united under the old king, so I assume the Loyalists want that too.”

  “They both want unification. They just want it under their own rule?” I clarified.

  “Probably,” Kaylie said with a shrug. “But how is that different from any other conflict? That's why I didn’t bother with the details, because it doesn’t matter.”

  She wasn’t far off the mark. Every struggle for independence seemed more about power than separation. If the seceding party could rule, they wouldn't seek independence either.

  “That only leaves the ocean and this peninsula as safe?” I asked.

  “Oh no, slavers live on the sea. We don’t often go near the coast because those who do often end up as slaves on their islands,” she answered me, patiently as usual.

  I tried to wrap my mind around where I could go if I was banished. “North is death. The coast is slavery, which is worse than that. That only leaves the West. It’s a big space, but I didn’t see much out there. Are there villages that are safe that way?”

  “Not a chance,” she uttered with a lighthearted tone. “The majority will take your life due to racial differences. Others disregard that, but would eliminate you for encroaching on their territory. If you make it far enough, you will end up reaching the Dead Lands, and you don’t want to end up dead there.”

  “I guess this is the safest place I have until I can figure out how to get home.”

  At that, Kaylie laughed. “I don’t think you are getting home.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Many over the years have used their choice of three to ask rash questions. Primarily related to who they were or why they were there. From what we know, the purpose of the entity that brought you here is to help life on your world grow. However, most individuals are brought here not because they are required, but rather because their presence might cause harm to their origin.”

  “You are saying that I am harmful to my world?” This statement had left me perplexed. I had nothing remarkable or extraordinary about me. I didn't have much money or power. I had just debt and bills. “Then what she told me about getting back to my world…was that a lie?”

  “No. The Ancient wouldn’t have lied as that would have been against the rules. If you can do what she said, then you would have a good chance. I am just letting you know the reason you are here is because they don’t want you on your original world, not because they want you on this one in particular. They probably won’t want you to go back easily. It sounds like she gave you more help than anyone else I have heard of, so you might have a better chance. I just feel like it won’t be easy, and it might be better to concentrate on surviving here.”

  I needed to get my priorities straight. Getting home was the real goal, but survival came first. Staying in this village seemed like the best way to do that. If I went anywhere else, I would probably be in even more danger. At least here, I had a chance to level up in relative safety.

  “What do you suggest I do?”

  “Do?” Kaylie questioned while looking me up and down. I was still half-soaked and covered with grime from being in the wilderness. “It is not all about effort. A hammer is not a bucket, and a bucket is not a hammer. You should remember this. We will identify your strengths and then develop them. From what Sophia said, this might be difficult, but we will try asking everyone to see if you can help out.”