The excitement came as quickly as it left. Drifting for days, simply lying in a canoe with a piece of cloth to shield me from the sun, was boring. The sun beat down fiercely, and although there were moments of calm when the wind blew gently and I swayed with the waves, the monotony was hard to bear.
Of course, the nights were something else entirely. The sky transformed into a deep, dark canvas, dotted with thousands of bright stars. The constellations were clearly defined, and I, like a fascinated child, tried to identify the shapes in the vast universe. Sometimes I would spend hours gazing at the stars, searching for one that seemed familiar, or trying to recall the constellations I had studied in old books, even though I no longer had access to them.
I would definitely learn more about astronomy when I got to Greece. But that, of course, was still a long way off. For now, I was content with my solitary observations under that vast sky.
Anyway, I hadn't done much in those years. My body was still that of a child, and training was useless until I at least reached the physique of a teenager. Training would be pointless, and although the will was there, I was limited by the fragility of my youth. So, for now, what I did was travel. And, yes, fish. I used rope and worms I had collected, placed inside a small ceramic sheet I had made the year before while building the canoe. It was one of those small creations that, although simple, gave me a sense of accomplishment.
I thought about writing a book about my experiences, something I could title Izu's Adventures Around the World, Western Edition. Of course, that would be later, when I had the words and the stories to fill its pages. But that was still a long way off. Sometimes, I would imagine what that future would be like, how my life could be transformed into a great story to tell.
Something I've discovered during all this time is that I'm a born procrastinator. I would think about doing something, start it enthusiastically for a few days, but then get distracted by another idea, another project, and soon forget the first one. That's just how I am, a mix of momentary passion and constant distraction.
The journey was mostly slow and boring. The canoe barely made any progress, and the horizon seemed to drift with endless laziness. But after almost a month of sailing, with our food running low, I reached the shores of Belgium. Europe. I had finally arrived, and all in less than twelve years. It was certainly an achievement, even if it wasn't entirely clear what it meant to have arrived here, or what the future held.
After disembarking, I gripped my spear firmly and began walking. My destination was Rome, or what would be Rome in about nine hundred ninety years, if my calculations were correct. I remembered the legends, the stories about the Olympian gods, and how deeply intertwined they had been with Rome. If all went well, I intended to meet them. After all, a mortal who neither aged nor died was not something that went unnoticed, and if I presented myself properly, perhaps I could win their favor.
Was I nervous about what lay ahead? Not at all. I knew I was immortal, and gods, like all powerful beings, are won over with flattery. If they liked you, they'd put you on their good side, and that was all I needed. After all, who wouldn't want the gods on their side?
—xxx—
Name: Izu Evermore
Age: 230 years, 6 months, 12 days
(Physical appearance: 9 years old)
Year: 4770 BC
Height: 1.40 m
Two centuries had passed since I arrived on this continent, and what a time it had been! Of course, one would think that two hundred years would feel eternal, but time really flew by as I went from one place to another, exploring indigenous tribes and, of course, surviving as best I could.
As time went on, I became involved with more and more tribes. The change was inevitable, of course, because I couldn't walk around with my fair skin so exposed to the sun. I had to cover up, right? And that's how my clothing began to change. It's not that I was some kind of fashionista, but suddenly I had to add long sleeves, long pants, and even a hood to cover my head and face. Kind of like an attempt at camouflage in a world that wasn't ready for white skin.
Oh, and something funny: having fair skin here in this part of the world is seen as being possessed by evil spirits. I mean, it's not like I took it personally, but the superstition was so strong that children were sometimes sacrificed to appease the gods. Why? I have no idea, but you know, "if you make a sacrifice, then it will rain or the harvest will be good." The kind of thing that makes scientists scratch their heads.
All this time, I still looked like a kid. Seriously, at this point I feel like I'll never grow up. Not only is puberty taking forever, but I don't even have that typical sex drive. I guess testosterone decided to take a long vacation. And honestly, if things keep going like this, I'll be waiting another two thousand or three thousand years to grow a beard.
I've traveled extensively throughout Europe and ventured as far as what would be China, though so far I've only encountered small indigenous tribes who live off fishing, rice, and bartering. I've become an expert in the art of exchange. A stone for some gold pieces, then gold for animal hides, and animal hides for… real animals? Quite a lucrative business!
Now, here I am, riding a donkey I've named Pedro. And while my outfit is still mostly animal skin, because I'm very practical, of course, my sewing has improved a lot. I don't even need a needle to make something impressive. Sure, all this is the result of decades of continuous practice, but it seems I'm finally getting the hang of it.
Anyway, I'm currently traveling along what would be the Great Wall of China, although it's still 4,500 years before they even start building it. For now, I'm indulging in the luxury of exploring at my own pace. I've been through Egypt, Rome, Greece, and all I've found are small settlements. No cities worthy of what I consider a seasoned traveler. But my next stop will be Uruk, a city that won't see the light of day for another thousand years. I'll stay there until it disappears, which will take another thousand years, and then I'm off to Egypt and, of course, Israel. Things are moving at an epic pace!
Perhaps, amidst all this, I'll decide to play a little joke on future historians. Imagine this: I draw a mammoth and write "iguana" underneath. I draw a sloth and label it "platypus." And, to top it all off, I give a toucan a saber toothed cat. It would certainly drive scientists crazy!
I could also try becoming pharaoh for a few years before looking for a new job, but I'll think about that later. Seriously, I need a journal or something to record all this craziness.
Back to the matter at hand: as I continued my journey, I began to sense something strange. Pedro suddenly stopped, looking uneasy. Like any good explorer, I grabbed my spear, dismounted my donkey, and started looking around because something told me I wasn't alone.
And then, I heard it. Without a second thought, I thrust my spear forward and pierced a fang ridden, cadaverous figure.
"Graaaaaaah!"
I raised an eyebrow at what I saw in front of me: gray skin, sunken eyes, a body tense as if it were made to leap.
"Ah, it's a Chinese jumping vampire," I muttered.
Without thinking, I stomped on its stomach with all my might, crushing it to the ground. The creature tried to move, but with my supernatural strength, I held it firmly down. Sure, the spear wasn't blessed or anything, so it wasn't very effective against vampires, but for now, my plan was to make a few quick cuts to ensure it didn't get up.
"That's right, in China they also have demons in the form of animals, like werewolves and other supernatural creatures!" I thought as I continued my task.
Finally, after a couple of well placed spear thrusts, the vampire fell. With a sigh, I withdrew my spear, slung it over my shoulder, and decided it was time to move on. Quite an interesting day!
Getting back on Pedro, I set off, ready to see what else this strange world I had to live in had in store for me.