He was walking through the forest, the boar by his side. Both of them were starving.
What should I do? I’m starving.
The boar had taken a liking to him—it followed him everywhere.
"This is your forest. Don’t you know where I can find food?"
The boar couldn’t speak, but it moved its head as if telling him to follow. Somehow, Nolan understood.
It turned and began walking. Nolan followed as they moved through the trees.
Nearly an hour later, Nolan was exhausted.
Finally, the boar stopped. It looked at Nolan, then pointed its head toward something up ahead.
"It’s a deer. Go get it," he said.
The boar looked at him and nodded—reluctantly. The message was clear: the deer was too fast.
I’ll be the one to catch it. I’ll stop time.
Everything froze—even the boar.
He walked up to the deer. It was mid-chew, frozen in place. He gave it a push—it didn’t move. He shoved again, and it fell like a statue, its tongue still out, posture stiff.
Nolan picked up a heavy rock and set it carefully on the deer’s leg.
Then he whispered again,
The deer thrashed, pinned by the heavy rock.
The boar rushed forward and rammed it repeatedly—until it lay still.
The boar gave Nolan signs it wanted to eat, but Nolan shook his head. "Not yet." He wanted to cook it—but didn’t know how.
He placed the deer on the boar’s back.
"Can I ride on your back? Take me to where we fought those goblins."
The boar bent its head in agreement. Nolan climbed on, carrying the deer with him.
The boar ran through the forest until they returned to the clearing where the goblins had fled.
Nolan got down and picked up one of the rusted swords the goblins had dropped.
Then grabbed a rock to sharpen the blade.
He dragged the deer off the boar’s back.
"I lived alone in my old world. I’m good at cooking."
"I need water. Where can I get water?"
He remembered the angel’s words in his dream—this world had magical elements. But did he have them?
Again. Still nothing.
Then he imagined water. A small stream appeared in the air. He tried again—and more came.
He was learning fast, thanks to his blessings.
He used the water to clean a slice of the deer, then went to a dried branch and cut it. He tied the deer’s legs to it, then gathered firewood and built a stand.
The deer would hang upside down, like a cooking spit.
"Am I going to be able to use fire magic on my first try?" he asked himself.
Flames shot from his hand—faster than expected. The firewood ignited.
The deer began roasting.
It wasn’t seasoned, so it didn’t taste great.
Once cooked, Nolan took it down, sliced a piece with the sword, and took a bite.
"I haven’t eaten anything since I got here—finally," he said. "Finally... food. But man, it tastes like nothing."
The boar watched eagerly. Nolan cut off a large chunk and handed it over.
It was already getting dark.