Erebus' POV:

I woke up early the next morning and walked down to the docks, I spotted an old fishing rod and smiled to myself. I picked it up and focused on my internal Aether. I manipulated it just enough to expand outward and allow me to change class into a fisherman.

Once the ambient glow of Aether died down, I reared the poll back and flung it forward casting my line deep into the water. It was then I sat on a post and waited. After a few minutes I got a bite and I expertly reeled in my catch. Once I picked the fish up I smiled and threw it back in before putting the rod down.

I then pulled out my monk soul stone and shifted class again. I then looked up at the sky and noticed it was still early so I jumped into the water and dived deep, taking full advantage of the kojin blessing I was given. I explored under the waves and found some interesting plants, however I soon resurfaced and climbed back onto the docks. It was at this point the other fishermen were showing up. I quickly met up with the fisherman of the boat that had picked me up and offered my services.

Despite not being able to understand him I could hear the appreciation in his voice. I just nodded and went about setting up the boat. Eventually we set off and were on the open ocean. We threw out some nets and cages and then went to a spot and casted out some lines.

I spent the next five or six hours fishing and listening to the water. It was a nice change of pace from constantly fighting primals and fighting wars or dragons or garleans mechanical beings from other dimensions focused solely on figuring out what made you strong. Just thinking about it all made me exhausted, so I just focused on the thing in front of me, fishing.

We eventually made it back to shore and I helped unload the boat of the day's haul. It was a decent amount but a lot of the fish were on the smaller side. Once finished I made my way to the outskirts of the village and practiced my martial arts forms.

After about an hour of practice I sat down, crossed my legs, closed my eyes, and just started listening to the wind blow around me. This world seemed peaceful, at least this small part of the world. This small section seemed far away from any sort of worldly matters, it felt like nothing could touch this area and I was happy to let it remain that way.

This routine continued for around a month. Fishing during the day then training in the evening. It was after that time that things started to get strange.

I was walking around the village with a tome in hand with a table of written characters and their sounds along with my own language so I could start learning how to read and understand this dialect. I had been about a week into learning the language and with the help of Sadeena I felt like I was making decent progress.

It was during this study time that an orange sphere with a face bounced up to me and latched onto my leg. I felt a small amount of pain causing me to grumble as I pried it off of my leg. I then threw it up into the air and roundhouse kicked it as hard as I could.

Once my foot made contact with the creature it made a loud pop, and a number displaying a three and the letters xp appeared in my field of view. I raised an eyebrow and saw a small bar at the very bottom of my vision appear. I attempted to look at it but as soon as I focused on it a black box with similar characters to my own writing system popped up right in my face. I jumped back but the box kept following me.

"What in the name of Hydaelyn is this…" I muttered as I looked over the information "leveling…? What…?" I commented to myself

As I came across the 'stats'

Attack was on the low side as was my defense though my agility was high, and mp was normal. I sighed.

'Perhaps they change with my class?' I mused to myself as I thought about closing the box

To my surprise the box vanished from my sight and I walked around looking for more creatures.

"Maybe it works like my soulstones? The more combat I participate in the more the soul stones memories open up…" I said aloud to myself

I spent the rest of the night and early morning fighting the orange spheres and had reached level three. I started making my way back to the village when I saw a carriage be pulled into the center of the village.

It looked like it was being pulled by a chocobo-like creature. I walked behind the carriage keeping low to the bushes. When the carriage finally stopped a woman and a man walked out and started greeting the villagers. I relaxed a small amount seeing everyone being friendly.

Seeing there was no hostility I walked out from the bushes and walked over to the small crowd. As soon as I entered their field of view everyone waved me over. I jogged over quickly before waving to everyone.

"Qui is this?" The man said as he turned to me and I had to translate his sentence for a moment

"My… name is… Erebus" I started but I had lost track of my words and it felt like the entire book was running through my head at once 'damn it what was the phrasing again…" I grumbled in my own language

"Erebus? That is an Novus name" the man said looking me over

'Novus… Novus… that one is new, or fresh… but the conventions might lead it to… interesting?' I thought to myself as I looked at him

"I guess it is?" I said uncertainty lacing my voice and he smiled

He then turned to Sadeena and started talking quickly with her. I had a vague notion that they were talking about me as some of the gestures were made in my direction but I chalked it down to him asking about who I was. I just shrugged and walked back to the place I was staying and ended up taking a long nap.

I woke up a few hours later to someone poking me with a stick. I quickly grabbed the stick and heard the yelp of two children. I looked over and saw a young raccoon girl, a little dog kid and a weasel girl. I sighed and got up and followed them.

Normally I wouldn't be woken up from a nap but when it happened there was work to be done. However when I walked into the center of the village a ton of fresh fish and other ingredients were waiting. I sighed as Sadeena walked up and threw her arm around me. Now I wasn't normally one for touching like this but Sadeena was an exception, she had welcomed me first so I just let these interactions slide.

"Ere, I may have accidens let loose that your cooking was mirandum" she said and I tilted my head at the words I didn't know but shook my head

"So I have to cook for them?" I said and she smiled widely causing me to sigh

I quietly walked back to the house and grabbed a culinary knife and several pots and pans. I then focused on my time in the culinary guild in Limsa Lominsa and felt my aether well up as I shifted class. Once the light died down I walked back out and started setting everything up.

I made several fires and placed boiling water and pans on them. I then spent the next few hours cooking a large feast one that would have the chef's bane begging for more.

"Erebus! Play with us!" I heard the familiar voice of the raccoon girl from earlier yell and I laughed

"Not now Raphtalia, after supper" I said as she pouted, I then handed her a freshly grilled fish with spices that were provided by the noble and his daughter

Once all the food was cooked up I saw the happy and surprised faces of the villagers. Even the nobles that were here had surprised looks on their faces. I quickly ate my food then started cleaning up.

Around two more months had passed. I was now 'level twenty' and I had a good understanding of the language here. I could talk to the villagers about any kind of business and even started to learn fishing techniques from them.

The children were always trying to get my attention as I was still the strange guy from the sky. They relentlessly attempted to figure out where I was from but I never once budged, even when Raphtalia was pouting about it.

Life seemed good, until I heard the cracking sound.