It has been a while since i even wrote a story, non the less publish one, i was hopeing to restart an idea i had awhile back but never really got into. Hopefully i can get pass 5 chapters this times.
Chapter 1: Awakening in Riften
The sharp scent of damp wood filled the air as Max stirred, consciousness slowly pulling him from oblivion. His eyes flickered open to a dimly lit room, its walls adorned with faded tapestries depicting ancient battles and majestic landscapes. The wooden furniture looked handmade and rural. Confusion gnawed at his mind as he tried to recall how he ended up here. He shifted, feeling the weight of unfamiliar clothes on his body. Gone were his blue jeans and jacket. Now were linen-type cloths, green for his shirt and dark blue for his pants, all held together by a single rope around his waist. He didn't know where he was but knew he wasn't in the big city anymore.
A soft voice, laced with concern, interrupted his thoughts. "Ah, you're awake. I found you near the lake, barely clinging to life," said a figure sitting at the edge of the bed. She had a weathered face, her eyes reflecting a mix of sympathy and curiosity.
"Where am I?" the Max croaked, his voice hoarse.
"You're in Riften, traveler. My name is Sylgja. You were nearly drowned when I pulled you out of the lake. What were you doing out there?"
Memories flooded back – a storm, Lights going out, and a wall falling onto him. His heart quickened with realization. "I… I don't remember. I don't even know how I got here. Riften? Is that a city?"
Sylgja nodded, her expression softening. "Indeed, it is. Riften is a bustling city in the southeastern part of Skyrim, nestled at the foot of the Throat of the World. You must be far from home not to recognize this place."
He struggled to make sense of his surroundings. "Skyrim? Throat of the World? I've never heard of these places. This is all so strange."
Sylgja offered a sympathetic smile. "You must have hit your head hard. Skyrim is a province in the northern part of Tamriel. Riften is known for its thieves' guild, diverse market, and the beauty of Lake Honrich. But there's much more to discover here." A mixture of awe and disbelief flickered in the protagonist's eyes. "Tamriel? Thieves' guild? This sounds like something out of a fantasy tale. How did I end up here?"
"That, my friend, is something I do know. I would assume that it washed up from a shipwreck, but no debris was around the shoreline. Do you remember anything?"
Max looks at her, puzzled. He definitely isn't from some ship. The last thing he remembers is being in his apartment on the 9th floor working on his projects, but he doubts these people would believe him if he said that."The last thing I remember is that I was in my home sleeping."
She didn't look at him puzzled but didn't seem to question it but followed up with another question. "That's strange, Oops, how rude of me, I never asked for your name."
"It's Maxwell, but just Max is OK."
She nodded before getting up from the end of the bed and dusting herself off.
"Well, Max, I'll be around with a hot meal for yourself; just stay there and rest until you feel you can move around again, OK? Dot need you going outside and passing out again." She joked before leaving through the only door in the room. It was silent in the room except for the distant steps in the house making the wood creek. Every now and then, Max could hear a cart passing by the window with closed curtains. It's not that he didn't have the strength or curiosity to get up and open them to see this new world he's found himself in. No, something else was disturbing him, a realization he died. He couldn't break down in front of Sylgja, but it made sense when he went back through his last memories. There was a storm in his city or maybe a tsunami? But the building was coming down because of it, and the room blocked him. Then, a cement wall leaned forward, and before he could move, it was too late.
The thought of it made him sad, but not as much as he thought it would, and when he thought about it more, he was relieved. Don't get him wrong, he liked his previous life, a good job, a good apartment in a big city, and everything people would kill to have his life. But the struggle to get there, was it worth it? In his late 30s, with no family or close people, most of his health was gone from drinking so much to getting through engineering in college only to continue in his job even worse. Now, his back felt terrific, and he thought he could run miles without tiring out or the consistent need for a Red Bull. He doesn't have to worry about returning to paying bills and working hours sitting at a desk.
Either way, there wasn't much he could do about his past life. Even if he wanted to return, he would need to figure out where to start. With that thought, he got up from the bed and looked at himself in the mirror beside the door. He noticed he was a lot slimmer but toned with longer hair than he would usually let grow, black hair now quickly touching his shoulders. His dark brownish eyes were no longer hidden behind thick glasses and even looked like he had developed an inch or two.
Moving to the curtains and opening the curtains, he found himself amazed by the view. Before him stretched a picturesque scene out of a medieval fantasy: small wooden houses with thatched roofs lined the cobblestone streets, their chimneys billowing smoke into the crisp mountain air. The city was surrounded by towering mountains, their peaks shrouded in mist, and the distant sound of a waterfall echoed through the valley. The sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape. Max couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of it all. It was far from his previous life's concrete jungle and bustling streets. Here, nature reigned supreme, and the simplicity of the rural life felt strangely comforting. As he gazed outside, he noticed the people of Riften going about their daily activities. Merchants were setting up their stalls in the market square, children played near the lake's edge, and a group of adventurers clad in armor and armed with swords passed by, exchanging hearty greetings with the locals. A sense of wonder washed over Max. Despite his situation, he couldn't deny the allure of this new world. It was a chance to start anew, to leave behind the stress of his old life and embrace the unknown. The possibilities seemed endless, and he felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped away from the window, ready to face the obvious challenges of getting accustomed to this new place. But before he could return to bed, Sylgja returned, opening the door with a warm plate of what he assumed was soup by its texture and heat.
"Looks like someone has gotten their strength back. You'll need it if you want to make it around these parts. I brought you some vegetable soup to help pick yourself back up." she set the bowl on the nightstand near the bed.
"And if you feeling up to it, tomorrow I could use a hand in moving some things in the shop. I know this might be a bit too soon since you only woke up and-"
"It's no problem at all. It is the least I can do after you saved my life," He responded immediately. He needed to repay her kindness somehow, and the last thing he needed was to get into debt with someone.
"Great! I'll see you tomorrow morning at dawn and get some rest; you'll need it !" And with that, she left immediately, leaving alone in the room with his thoughts again.
'So this is it, huh?' he thought to himself. 'Well, gotta start somewhere. Good thing I didn't start in prison or something, still.' as he walked to pick up the soup, he wondered,' It would have been cool to have been here with someone from my past life, but I don't think that's possible.' Max sat on the edge of the bed, holding the warm bowl of soup. He took a cautious sip, the flavors exploding on his taste buds. It was simple yet delicious, warming him from the inside out. As he ate, he couldn't shake off the surreal feeling of starting anew, which both excited and frightened him. He finished the soup, feeling nourished and surprisingly content. Placing the empty bowl aside, he lay back on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. As he closed his eyes, ready to drift off to sleep, he whispered a silent promise to himself - to seize this opportunity, to explore this new world, and to live a life worth living. And with that thought, Max succumbed to the embrace of sleep.
In the remote region near Winterhold, where the snow-laden plains stretched as far as the eye could see, a young mage named Aiden was returning to the College of Winterhold after an exhausting day of studying spells. As he trudged through the snowdrifts, his keen eyes caught a glimpse of something unusual in the distance. Approaching cautiously, Aiden discovered a young woman lying unconscious in the snow, dressed in unfamiliar modern clothing that looked nothing like the attire of the people in Skyrim. Concern etched his face as he knelt beside her, gently brushing off the snow for a better look. She seemed unharmed but was clearly freezing from exposure to the harsh winter cold. Aiden carefully picked her up without a second thought and conjured a warm, protective barrier around them both. Cradling the mysterious girl in his arms, he hurried back to the College of Winterhold, his mind racing with questions about how she had ended up in such a perilous situation.
"What happened to you..."
[End of Chapter 1]
Short i know but like i said im still getting used to it again. I gotta learn how to structure my stuff better and everything. If you guys have any critics just let me know and i will see yall next time.
