Valerius stirred.
He sat up slowly, blinking at the light, the broken wood and scattered stone all around him. The remnants of a house… no, of a home. Smoke hung in the air like a veil.
Near the edge of the wreckage, Grace took a step forward, but her father threw an arm across her chest.
"Stay here," Frederick said firmly. "I mean it."
Cautiously, he approached the ruin, stick in hand.
Behind him, an old man muttered, "Be careful, Frederick. That might very well be a demon."
Within the rubble, Valerius rubbed his head and winced. How do I get this suit off? I need to pee.
Then he noticed the gaping hole in the front of his arc armour—his belly was visible, smeared with dry blood but fully healed.
He pressed a hand to it, remembering the hooded figure and the pain. I'm… alive? But how? I know I'm built different, but damn.
He tapped twice on the cracked chestplate. Nothing. Then again. And again. On the fourth tap, the suit hissed and unsealed. The front folded open with a mechanical groan.
Valerius stepped out and immediately relieved himself beside it with a long sigh.
Behind him, Frederick approached slowly, raising his stick. "What are you?"
Valerius looked back midstream. "Ahh… hello?" he said sheepishly.
"I asked you a question. Are you a demon?"
Valerius scowled, zipping up. "Demon? Do I look like a demon to you? Which you—"
CRACK!
A gunshot rang out.
The bullet struck Valerius in the forehead and bounced off with a ping. He stumbled back, groaning. "Aw—what the hell?"
On a rooftop, a man with a musket stared in disbelief. Smoke curled from the barrel. He had short pointy ears, a brown moustache, and a wide-brimmed leather hat.
Frederick's eyes widened. "Demon!" he shouted.
Panic erupted. The crowd screamed and scattered.
More shots cracked from the rooftop. Valerius shielded his face.
"Who the hell is shooting? Stop!" he shouted.
Another bullet struck his chest and fell harmlessly to the ground. He stared at it, wide-eyed. For a moment, a memory surfaced—lying in a hospital bed back on Earth.
Ziraiah stood beside him. "Guess what?" she said. "The doctor said only half the bullet penetrated your skin, it couldn't penetrate your abs. You've got some rock-solid abs, Val."
He blinked. "What do you mean? I don't have abs."
"Course you do," she grinned. "They're just buried under the fat. You need to hit the gym."
Eryndor leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes fixed onto Valerius with quiet amusement. With a faint smirk, he said,
"No gymnasium known to man could furnish the requisite weight to contend with the forging of Valerius's musculature."
Snapping back to the present, Valerius picked up the bullet. "Well, I'll be damned," he murmured. "I've graduated from semi-bulletproof to bulletproof."
The shooter vanished over the rooftop.
Grace's mother grabbed her arm and fled. "How could we let a demon into our house?"
Doors slammed across the village. Windows shuttered. Valerius stood alone in the ruin.
Frederick and his family rushed into his brother's home.
"I told you!" Frederick barked. "You brought a demon into our village!"
Grace shouted back, "Why does everyone keep calling him a demon?"
Her mother turned to Frederick. "Explain. What did you see?"
Frederick was pale. "He got shot in the head. The bullet bounced off!"
"So your first thought is demon?" she said. "You've seen real demons. Did he look like one?"
Grace added, "He could've used magic!"
"You don't know that," Frederick snapped.
"I know he's not normal. But he's not evil."
"You've never seen a demon. How would you know?"
"I have," said Theosis, the village physician, calmly sipping from a wooden cup. "And they don't look like that."
Frederick turned to him. "You saw his wound yesterday. He should've died. Now he's fine. He even removed that metallic thing."
Theosis shrugged. "Perhaps it was magic."
He stood up and headed for the door.
Frederick raised a hand. "Where are you going?"
"To talk to him. I have questions."
"Don't be reckless, Theosis!"
The door closed behind him. "If he was a demon," Theosis called over his shoulder, "he would've started killing us already."
---
Meanwhile, Valerius sat on the rubble, his arms draped over his knees. His mind still fogged with pain and confusion.
Hey, Yelleen, he whispered in his head. Where am I?
"You are in the Grekon Kingdom," came the soft reply.
How did I get here?
"I don't know."
What about Eryndor and Ziraiah? What happened to them?
"Don't worry. They're safe… just very far away."
Valerius exhaled and lay back, eyes on the blue sky. "Well… at least they made it out. That place was a nightmare."
"They were saved."
Valerius smiled faintly. "Good."
He closed his eyes.
For now, that was enough.
---
A tall 10 foot three figure approached through the dust and light. His gait was calm, his face unreadable.
Valerius squinted up at him. "And you are?"
The man stopped a few feet away. "I should be the one asking that. You're the stranger who fell from the sky. How did you get here?"
Valerius shifted, sitting up with effort. "Honestly? I have no idea."
The man stepped closer and slowly sat beside him on a slab of cracked wood. "Name's Theosis. I'm the only physician in this village." He studied Valerius with curiosity. "Are you a Gifted One?"
Valerius frowned. "Gifted One?"
"You really don't know…" Theosis rubbed his chin. "People who can sense and control Vitalis from birth—we call them Gifted. They're rare, but usually end up as mages, or scholars, or nobles with power."
Valerius looked off at the smouldering remains of the house. "And what does that have to do with me?"
Theosis smiled faintly. "Yesterday, my brother called me to see if you were still alive. I checked your wound myself. You weren't just dying—you were finished. Missing half your gut. There was nothing I could do." He paused. "And yet here you are. Talking. Breathing. Whole."
Valerius gave a half-laugh. "Then I guess I should be thanking you for trying."
Theosis shook his head. "Oh no. I didn't save you." He turned to face him. "That's what I came to ask. How did you survive? Because only magic could've kept you from the grave."
Valerius stared down at his hands. "To be honest… I don't know. I don't understand it either."
Theosis lowered his voice. "The whole village thinks you're a demon."
"A demon?" Valerius snapped his head up. "Do I look like a demon?"
"You withstood multiple gunshots without a scratch… and destroyed my brother's house just by screaming in pain."
Valerius rubbed his temple. "I can't really explain any of that. My mom… she always kept things from us. Said we were different, but never told us why. I've always been strong, but I guess in this world…" He trailed off.
Theosis narrowed his eyes. "This world?"
Just then, a voice echoed inside Valerius's mind. It was Yelleen.
"I wouldn't recommend telling him you're from Earth."
Valerius stiffened. "Uh—I mean… around here. This region. This… area." He forced a smile.
Theosis didn't press. "Alright. But you still haven't told me how your wounds healed overnight."
"I wish I knew," Valerius said. "It just happened. Like something inside me flipped."
Back in Theosis's home, Frederick sat glowering in the corner of the living room. His wife quietly mended fabric beside him.
"Well," he muttered, "our house is gone. Flattened. And now that fool doesn't believe me when I say the stranger's a demon."
His wife didn't look up. "I don't believe you either. Am I a fool too?"
Frederick opened his mouth, then shut it. Silence lingered.
"Grace," he said after a moment. "Looks like we'll be staying with Uncle Theo for a while."
No answer.
"Grace?"
But she wasn't there.
Outside, behind the broken wall of the old house, Grace crouched quietly. She peeked from behind a large wooden beam, eyes fixed on the conversation in the ruins.
If Uncle Theo is speaking with him calmly, she thought, then he's definitely not a demon.
Back among the rubble, Theosis pointed to the open arc armour nearby. "Mind telling me what that thing is?"
Yelleen's voice came again, sharp this time. "Don't. I would advise against it. Don't start telling random people where you're from or what you've been through. You need to learn to keep your mouth shut, Valerius."
Valerius sighed.
He had survived death. But now, his real test was beginning.
Valerius scratched the back of his neck. "Uhh…"
Theosis narrowed his gaze, then exhaled sharply. "I see. You'd best make sure whatever you're hiding doesn't bring danger to this village."
With that, he turned and walked away. As he passed the splintered doorway, his eyes flicked toward the collapsed beam—and the girl crouched behind it. He said nothing, only smirked and kept walking.
Once he was gone, Grace whispered, "Psst… hey!"
Valerius turned around just as a small stone hit his shin.
"Ow—did you just throw a rock at me?"
Grace stood slowly from behind the wreckage, brushing dust from her skirt. Though kneeling, she was nearly eye level with him.
Valerius raised an eyebrow. "Why were you hiding?"
"I didn't want my uncle seeing me speak with you," she said. "He worries too much."
"That was your uncle?"
Grace nodded. "The village healer. He's a good man, just... stern."
Valerius gave a small nod. "He did try to help me. Guess I owe him."
Grace looked him over with soft curiosity. "Are you well now? You screamed so loud earlier… and… you crushed our house."
Valerius winced. "Yeah, sorry about that. Really. I wasn't myself."
She gave a faint smirk. "You don't say."
Valerius glanced around at the rubble. "Right… probably doesn't help to just say sorry."
Grace folded her arms. "Not much."
He nodded thoughtfully, then said, "Alright then—I'll rebuild it."
She blinked. "You'll… what?"
"Rebuild your house. I mean, I wrecked it, I should fix it."
"You know how to build a house?" she asked, confused.
"Yeah, kinda. My mother made me learn—plans, weights, angles, the whole thing. I hated it, but I guess it's useful now."
Grace tilted her head. "You speak strangely."
"Yeah, of course I do."
She stepped forward cautiously. "So… you truly know how to make walls stand again? Roofs that won't fall in? Proper beams?"
"I do," Valerius said, crossing his arms. "I mean, I've never done it alone, but I know how it's done."
She gave him a sceptical look. "You speak as if you were raised by masons."
Valerius chuckled. "Something like that. But with more yelling."
Grace smiled despite herself. "Well then, if you build like you scream, it should be a strong house indeed."
Valerius grinned. "Best compliment I've had in a while."
She looked around the ruins with a wistful sigh. "It was a small house, but it was ours."
Valerius glanced around too. "How about we make it a little bigger? Maybe add a second room?"
Grace blinked. "You can do that?"
"Sure," he said. "You might have to help though. Ever carried wood?"
Grace straightened proudly. "I've helped lift water barrels."
"Perfect," he said. "You're hired."
Grace laughed, then covered her mouth—like the sound surprised her. She gave him a warm look.
"You're strange," she said.
Valerius shrugged. "yep, you said that."
---
Theosis stepped out into the road and raised his voice. "It's alright! He's not a demon—no need to fear. I just spoke to him!"
Windows creaked open. Curious eyes peeked out.
From a crooked shutter above, an old man called, "But Frederick said—"
"Fred's just paranoid," Theosis called back. "You know how he is."
Inside the house, Frederick stood stiff by the window, arms folded.
His wife sighed, watching the scene unfold. "See? If that boy were truly a demon, your brother wouldn't be standing there."
Frederick grumbled. "Demon or not, he destroyed our house. He's not walking away from that. He'll help rebuild it. Strong as he is, it's the least he can do."
His wife tilted her head. "And what if he says no? You saw what he did. It's not like you can force him."
Frederick's mouth shut. No answer came.
The door creaked as Theosis entered. "Hope that puts your mind at ease. That boy's no trouble. Besides, if your daughter works her charms, maybe he'll end up protecting this village."
Frederick narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
He turned sharply. "Grace!"
Theosis lowered himself into a chair. "She's with him. She's fine."
"You left her with that stranger!?" Frederick barked, striding toward the door.
"Here we go again…" Theosis muttered, rubbing his temple.
Frederick stormed out. His wife sighed and followed. "I swear, if it's not demons, it's dinner…"
Theosis smirked to himself. "I can't wait for the day she brings a boy home."
---
Out by the rubble, Grace sat on a broken beam, watching Valerius draw in the dirt with a stick.
He was kneeling, lines and boxes sketched around him in the soil.
"So first, we'll need a solid foundation. I was thinking stone footings sunk about—hmm—eighteen inches, with a gravel trench for drainage. That way we won't have moisture creeping up."
Grace blinked. "What?"
Valerius looked up. "Right. Okay. Basically, we dig a hole and line it with stones, then layer gravel so the rain doesn't mess things up underneath. Stops the walls from rotting."
"Rotting?" Grace frowned. "You think stone can rot?"
"No, the wood on top of it—never mind. Okay, once we've got the base, we'll frame the structure with vertical supports—four by fours, maybe treated pine if I can find something close. Then cross beams for the roof, maybe a hip or gable style depending on the slope—"
"You're speaking in tongues again."
Valerius paused. "Right. Sorry. I just mean… we'll make the walls stand with big wooden posts, then cover the top with a slanted roof. I can design it so rain slides off properly."
Grace tilted her head. "That I understand."
"Cool. And I was thinking of adding better insulation. Maybe we can pack the walls with straw or mud between double panels—sort of like sandwiching it."
She laughed lightly. "I don't know what a sandwich is, but it sounds clever."
Valerius grinned. "You'd love one. Bread. Cheese. Sometimes ham. It's a whole thing."
She shook her head, smiling. "You're very strange."
"Thank you. I try."
Just then, they heard Frederick's voice call out in the distance. "Grace!"
Valerius raised an eyebrow. "Is that your dad?"
Grace groaned. "Yes. And if he sees us laughing, he'll think you've bewitched me."
Valerius stood and stretched. "Well then, let's not give him a reason."
But Grace didn't move. She looked down at the drawing in the dirt.
"I don't understand most of what you say, but… I think I'd like to see you build it."
Valerius smiled. "Then I'll make it the best house in the village. With a working door and everything."
Grace smirked. "That would be new."
They both laughed. And for a moment, the ruins around them didn't feel like loss—but like a beginning.
Frederick stormed through the rubble, boots crunching over scorched earth and broken wood. His wife trailed behind, less hurried but just as tense.
He spotted Grace beside Valerius, the two of them crouched over a patch of dirt etched with strange symbols.
"Grace!" he snapped.
She stood quickly. "Father—"
"What did I say?" Frederick barked. "You—get away from my daughter."
Valerius raised his hands slowly. "I'm not trying anything. We were just talking."
Frederick stepped in front of Grace and jabbed a finger at him. "You destroyed my home."
Valerius scratched his head. "Technically, my body did… while I was unconscious."
Grace's mother gently pulled her daughter aside. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mother. We were just talking. He's not dangerous."
Frederick turned to his wife. "He's strong enough to level a house and shake the ground. He was shot in the head. Nothing happened!"
Valerius folded his arms. "Someone shot shot me. Many times."
"That's not the point!"
Grace stepped forward. "Father, listen. He's going to help rebuild everything. He showed me how."
Frederick turned to her. "He what?"
Valerius knelt back down and motioned to the lines he'd drawn. "It's a layout. Stable base, rain-proof roofing, better ventilation. I've studied architecture—well, sort of. My mom made me learn it."
Grace nodded. "He said he can make it stronger than before."
Frederick squinted at the dirt, eyes darting over the boxes and lines. "What's… this part?"
Valerius pointed. "Kitchen. And over there—extra support for the roof. You don't want a collapse during heavy rain."
Grace's mother looked intrigued. "That… is a good idea."
Frederick glanced at her. "Not helping."
Grace said, "Father, if he were a demon, he wouldn't care about rebuilding anything."
Valerius added, "I don't want to be a burden. I really am sorry about the house. Let me make it right."
Frederick crossed his arms. "And how exactly are you going to do all that?"
Valerius cracked his neck. "I've got strength, and I know what to do. All I need are tools, time, and… well, fewer bullets flying at my head."
Frederick looked at him long and hard.
"…You really know how to build a house?"
"Yes," Valerius said. "And I promise—I'll make yours better than it was."
Frederick looked at his wife, then at Grace, who was watching him with hopeful eyes.
He sighed deeply.
"Fine. But I'm watching you. One strange move, and—"
"I get it," Valerius cut in. "You'll burn me at the stake."
Grace's mother chuckled despite herself. "He's not wrong."
Valerius smiled. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Frederick grunted. "First you have to clear this place."
Valerius nodded. "OK, no problem."
Frederick turned and began walking back. His wife followed, giving Grace a knowing look as they passed.
"You're lucky he agreed," she whispered. "Or I would have punished you since your actions led to the destruction of our house."
Grace rolled her eyes. "Mother…"
Valerius leaned toward her. "Don't worry, your house will be way batter than before after I'm done."
Grace smirked. "i hope so."
They stood in the wreckage together, one strange boy and one brave girl, surrounded by broken beams and charred stone—about to build something new.
To Be Continued...