The Ashen Keeper

Chapter 5

As she gets in on the metal carriage known as the car, she saw wonders that dwarfs some of the highest monuments in her land.

Tall concrete structures called skyscrapers. Cars being widespread when she thought they would be more obscure. There are more people walking and frolicking than she has seen in almost her entire life.

Fashionable clothing seems to be everywhere. Food so abundant she wondered how everyone could finish it. Water as common as seeing a pebble on the side of a road.

The skies were not as clean as some forests she has been to but it was nice not breathing ash and dust. And the lights, they are everywhere, she had not seen a single dark corner in the city other than shades.

People were looking at trees, watching birds, some walking hastily, some walking slowly as they had conversation with their peers.

It was common to see haggling in the street shops, some were sitting down to eat and drink while other bought it to bring it back home, people holding vegetables in their paper bag, and people in clothing that seems to be common in these lands.

It was truly a golden age that puts Gwyn's golden age to shame. The painter must has outdone herself to paint this place of paradise.

This is a place of prosperity and peace like she had never seen. Suffering was the common theme back home but here; it seems so distant, so far away.

After some time, they eventually arrived in what people here would call an apartment. She moved in with nothing as everything has already been prepared. Coulson taught her how to use this thing called the internet. It was a wonderful thing. Oh, how many wizards would shed tears of blood to see every person have such divine artifact.

It was as if the collective wisdom of mankind was gathered here. They told her that she just needed to search for what she wanted on her monitor. Coulson went back after an entire day of showing her everything she needed.

She learnt about banks, how taxes work here, the different types of food and clothing, the accent, what each thing were used for, the sanitary devices and many other things. The flame also assisted her in learning it seems.

The agent seemed to a bit baffled on how she was learning all this in a single day but accepted it when she told it was a matter of arcane.

There were tons of things for entertainment up here. Entertainment was naught but luxury back in her own land and education seems to be more spread out here.

[A few weeks later]

The organization which is known as S.H.I.E.L.D as told by Coulson educated her in more ways than one. They taught her the might of machines and might of their weapons are definitely more superior to what common knights wear.

She learnt why dragons and magic were considered stories as it was basically impossible following their laws of physics. They taught her arithmetic's, which is known as math here, science and all other forms of common sense over the weeks that she has arrived in the strange land known as Earth, specifically, a county called the United States of America.

She once again learnt the lesson of not judging what she sees immediately. There were both dark and light in everything. She learnt of how people would end themselves over cases known as poverty and bankruptcy. She learnt that everyone has to work one way or another in order earn their necessities.

A house to sleep, food to eat, water to drink, everything has to be paid in the form of money. She was surprised to learn that they didn't have to pay for air as that seems to be the only thing that seems to be free as people rarely made their own food and grow their crops.

Eventually she integrated into this peaceful yet somewhat harsh society. Back in her lands, she was firekeeper who took care of the very flames that fuels the world. Here, she joined the church. She was not a very religious person, but it seemed like a fitting job for her.She took on the position known as a nun.

Young men would often flock to her for unknown reasons, but she loved the job for some reason. It was strangely peaceful when praying to someone.

She would go outside the church and pray in all religions she knew of, both from back home and here. From what she learnt during her stay, religion did not grant you miracles, yet people worship them. It was baffling for her due to people having faith in something they do not even know exist.

All religions back in her homeland would grant miracles but here, you either have faith or you simply do not. It was such a simple concept, but it also led to many people not having as much faith in their own god. Back in her lands, how much faith you have could be a factor that decides whether you live or die.

There are some people who cannot live off supplies given by their institute, but she was okay with the bare minimum. She had no need to ingest food or water, but she still does it. Unknown to her, she became very famous. Mostly, it is due to her appearances, whether it be the metal blindfold or her impeccable features.

The firekeeper however had little knowledge of it due to mostly sitting beside a bonfire she created when she was free. As if she was content with doing nothing but staying absolutely still. This boring yet peaceful life was something she longed for in her entire life. It was something that almost every being back in her homeland longed for.

Men had fought for it, souls have been burned for it, living beings suffered for the short time they live simply to experience what it is like to have a normal, boring life.

Men had been slain for the cause, souls had been sacrificed for the cause, mighty beings suffer untold sufferings for the cause and yet she got it easily.

She thanked all the lordly ones once again for granting her a wish that many would gladly kill to have it realized.