ã€ŠI&#x27;m nothing special, so can i go back please ?ã€‹


 Prologue : Stay calm.

    "- Ok."

    Stay cool. Don''t panic.

    "- Ok."

    Who am i kidding... Im panicking. I wouldnt speak to myself like that if i was not.

    "- Ok."

    Stay calm. Breath slowly¡­ humff¡­ pffffff¡­ Done. Let''s observe where i am, and analyze quietly and caaaalmly. Right.

    I am in the middle on a fucking fantasy city.

    I''m sure of that since i can spot beastmen and other fantasy-like creature all around me. Heck, it even look like the disney castle in the distance. Sadly, i dont think i''m at disneyworld or whatever affiliated resort since i don''t see any Mickeys anywhere¡­ Well. I was already pretty sure the second when i''ve been ejected here where i was. Or more accurately where i was not. Earth.

    Even if i look like this, (binge) reading is a hobby of mine and i''ve stumbled in the ?transported to another world, be the overpowered hero blah blah blah harem? and all the standard plots declinaisons. On this subject, i''m at least glad it dont look like a chinese novel world where they kill people for no reason everywhere like they''re ants... I''ve always wondered how they''re was still someone alive in these novel world¡­ Well, it''s still okay if i''m not in one of these.

    I''m glad too ive not be killed by something like a clich¨¦ magic truck, dumped on me by airplane or whatever¡­ Well, no, i mean, im going astray here, i must focus. Dont escape reality. Focus, me!

    So, i''m in the middle of a medieval fantasy city.

    The batiments are looking somewhat neat, with white stone and clean colors, orange tile roof and glass windows. The street is a proper street with pavement made from some grey stone and sewer-thing look-alike are here and here. So it''s not a shabby world with no technology.

    The people are busy going around doing¡­ well, the everyday life. Some are buying food, some are going around with their childrens or lovers. They dont look famished or poor, but dont look like they are rich either; it seem i''m in the middle-class area of the city. Good good, at least the people dont look strained like in a monster-crisis, imminent war or oppressed by upper class noble going around terrorizing everyone. I can see that because some are chatting with each other and some are just sitting at a bench, looking at the passing people with dazed looks. Isekai standard plot A, B & C seems out for the moment.

    I''ve also spotted two armed guard going on with some patrol duty chatting with happy beastmen children. Dont look like a xenophobic culture so. I also spotted someone doing some magic¡­ yeah this is the stuff¡­ helping a guy who needed help to lift a big cabinet. It''s floating¡­ Heck, now theyre transporting it like its some balloon, attached with a cord. I dont think its safe to do that when the wind blow. But i''m again loosing my carefulness here. Focus again, focus!

    For now, the city look good. Didn''t spot abused slave or some shit anywhere. Altought i dont know how to read the strange writings-signs on each building, i can found that they do since each shops have explicits icon in front: book for library, a sword for armory, needle and thread for tailor¡­ At least i dont think i can mistakenly enter the wrong kind of shop and being cutted to pieces because something.

    The products i can see from outside the shops look like they have some technically advanced crafting methods : printed papers, neatly sewed clothes, some strange looking mechanism and clocks, confirming my impression of this world not being a backward hole with unevolved people. At least technically speaking, the clock look like some old european good looking timepiece from the end of the 19th century, with neat copper and glass. I''ve even spotted some strange looking musket in the back of the armory when i was looking from outdoor.

    Now me: I''m looking the same as i was ten minutes ago: Basket, jeans, movie-logo printed sweat. It mean i look like a sore thumb in the middle of the street with my "exotic" clothes, and people look at me curiously while passing.

    Well, the guys have mostly simple brown tissus pants and single colored shirt, while the girl have all pretty colorfull dress, the only exceptions being some passing aventurers with a mix of metal and leather armor on their shirt and pants.

    And now that i take a good look,ouch, the girls are all good looking, even the older ones. Mmmh, You can easily pass the time here looking at every girl going on a stroll withouth being bored, there is something for every tastes. Well, i think the beast girl at the back who seem to have rhinoceros blood is not really that you can call a beauty, but she''s still quite decent looking. And the guys around look all sturdy, even bulky. Especially the non human one¡­

    At least i look like someone a little thinner than the average man, and since i''m not on the small side, i can quite blend in the crowd if i need to escape at some point. Ha no, an elf man¡­ Woman? Man. Well, he has the same build as me. But he look like some fucking model.

    Mmmmh, i''m still not sure about his gender after all.

    While i was still contemplating, i remembered something suddenly.

    As a grin was forming on my face, i was thinking...

    This world seem fantasy stuff, right ? Since i''m here,i can somewhat check it, right ? Soooo, why not ?

    I said withouth speaking too loud:

    ? - Status. ?

    Aaand... nothing.

    ?- Index!?

    Nothing.

    ?- Stats! Summary! Character! Inventory! Spells! Menu! Whatever!!!?

    ...

    The passerby people are looking at me with pained gaze. I wave at them with a smile. Yeah, don''t worry, look away, Please. I''m reflecting on doing whatever coming to my mind and shouting in broad public. I wont do it again. Look away. Please. Thanks.

    Well, i honestly hoped it would work, in all novels they got the index menu with stats, skill and everything as a basic starting point. But hey, after all, its reality.

    Hmm, no, thinking about it, its not.

    Well, in fact its reality but not really.

    Hoooo, fuck this.

    Now, i have to try "communicating" with someone. And since it dont look like they can speak any langage i can understand, i have to go with the good old gestures charade to say something. Just hope i dont make the local insult while trying to explain myself.

    I choose to go to an harmless-looking merchant in front of a clothe selling store near where i was.

    I tried to say ?hi, i dont speak your language can you help me?? when pointing to myself and speaking some word then pointing to himself and to myself again with a puppy eyed (at least i wanted to try to look puppy eyed...) sad expression, shrugging my shoulders.

    ¡­

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.The guy now look like the living avatar of the smiley [  ]. Great. I retry again.

    After some time looking like i was doing some weird dance to be understood, the marchant seem to ponder about something, and then call a child who was playing near his shop, giving him a copper coin and asking to him to¡­ Well, i dont know, since i dont understand anything¡­ But, after that, the child take me by the hand and with a smile try to make me follow him.

    Since i can''t do anything by staying here withouth further information or communication method, its better than nothing, so i go with the flow. The nice gentle looking merchant smile too and wave me a goodbye when i am dragged away by the child. Hey, did he give a coin to this child withouth asking anything in exchange ? Is it a nice guy ? Or... I just hope this child is not guiding me to the gentle looking slave merchant¡­ At worst i will run away.

    After some time going on a ride with the child ¨C heck, this little guy has some strenght and he''s fast, i dont have the time to look around on the way, how is it possible ? ¨C i''m now before a huge white buiding made of big pans of stones fused together and curiously reinforced with a metal-looking hence on the outside. A really sturdy-looking building. A big metal sign showing a sword and a shield stuck in each other is above the western revolving saloon-doors.

    The clich¨¦ adventurer guild!? Well, at least they can perhaps help me. Again, i hope they dont have the assorted cliche bad guy group attacking all guy going to the counter. I havea lot of hope lately, dont i?

    The child drop me here and go away withouth turning even a glance at me. Well. No choice. I enter the imposing building.

    On the inside, shockingly, its clich¨¦ again.

    A wooden floor, a polished counter made of precious looking wood on the back of the batiment, with georgous looking womens from all race in uniform doing paper job, and people lining up in front of them. A huge ceiling, with stairs on the left of the room going to differents floors with more people circulating. But before that, in front of me, a lot of tables with adventurers-like people happily chatting and drinking, some eating, some sleeping on their chairs with waitress going around them and a big ancient looking tavern bar going all the way to the back from the right of the room. In all, this room is almost 800m2. I look like a huge administration office or a bank from earth but crafted with wood and stone only.

    When i go further inside, except some seated adventurers in front of me looking absentmindedly at my printed sweat while drinking, i go almost unnoticed.

    Well, at least i hope so. Hope springs eternal.

    I go to a counter where almost no people attend and wait a little in line. The tanned guy before me is one meter bigger than me - my height is 1m86 - but he still look like hes humaaaaaaaaaand when he turn to look in the direction of the merry-drinking people, he has only one huge eye in his face. A cyclop. I freeze on the spot while smiling wryly for several second, then turn my eyes to the ceiling, hoping he didnt see me staring at him. better pass for a strange guy than an impolite guy to a 1 ton muscle-looking monster.

    After shouting something at the people and smiling withouth a look at me he return to his business waiting in the line. SAFE. i return my gaze to his back and look at his equipment. He look normal. Well, normal for a cyclops monster in a fantasy world. Well, i mean i dont see living sword spitting lightning everywhere or this sort of thing.

    While waiting, i wondered how many second i would survive if i was able to ask him how he can see and measure something in the distance with his only eye. Hahaha. No, i would really die. Its not funny. I wonder why these type of questions are the only ones popping to mind when i see mythological creature like this in front of myself... Haaa... Escaping reality again...

    Finally it''s my turn. After the big guy in front of me leave, i''m able to see the receptionnist: a beautiful woman, the elf mature type with slighty dropping green eyes, delicate pale cherry lips, beautifully waved long pale-blonde hair and a ¨C HO MY GOSH ¨C gravity-breaking stack of watermelons, to the point that i was wondering when was the last time she was able to see her foots. She look at me with a professional smile and a reserved disposition behind her counter. She has a mostly white uniform with blue adorments and a same blue badge on her chest, looking like the guild emblem.

    Remembering the lesson from the cyclops a moment ago, i instantly advert my eyes from the badge and that''s behind. Dont know if she wont grill me with a fireball or if she have the power to, after all.

    And since im here to ask for help, i have to be polite before anything. I go back to my reliable self and earnestly try to stop wondering about everything like i am a visitor in some strange amusement park.

    While locking the (beautiful) green eyes of the receptionnist with mine, i advance to the counter and speak while doing the gestual charade again.

    ? - Hello, excuse-me, i dont know where i am and if someone can speak my language, can you help me please??

    I try to act in earnest and ask on a neutral tone my question, withouth any bad emotion showing. At least if she dont undertand, she wouldn''t mistake the intention behind.

    And surely, the head of the elf tilt to the side, looking like she didnt understood a thing i just said. Previsible. But then again, she smile at me and move her right hand.

    Her (beautiful) hand start glowing with a yellow, then green halo, and one second after, she speak a word and this halo go straight to my torso. While i am stunned on the spot, she smile to me again and start speaking.

    And i still dont understand anything.

    ?- Hum, i''m sorry but i still dont understand a thing...?

    I say it while relaxing and with a sorry tone, trying to express that i dont understand what she said or the meaning of this spell on me, but the receptionnist give me a puzzled look. She then again repeat the same pattern with the spell and the same word a little louder and try to ask me something in her incomprehensible language again. After the same answer, she look at me with round eye and start using a lot of chant and gesture in front of me, with a lot of glow and sparkle, to the point that the others receptionnist nearby stop their activity and start looking at us. It''s escalating quickly.

    I dont fucking dare to notice the others people in line behind me quietly going sideways for the moment, since i am looking in front, at the elf woman, while wondering is she was not going to blast me away with this spell because i was making her took too much time for a customer or any random reason like she was thinking it was all a prank to annoy her.

    She cant do this in the middle of the batiment, right? Right? Is it already too late to run?

    The spell finish with a big pale green flash going from the elf to me, with sparkles englobing me for ten or so seconds. I look nervously to myself until the last light disappear, then to the receptionnist. She''s a little out of breath, discheveled and look at me with a smuggy proud smile. With one elbow on the counter, the neat receptionnist aura she was giving at start has vanished. But she still look beautiful.

    She then say something again. And, magic!

    I still dont understand a thing.

    I start panicking. This time, she can REALLY blast me away in fury.

    As i was doubting if it was wise to say it or not, another receptionnist, a young feline-looking beastgirl come and speak to the elf, then speak to me.

    ?- Sorry, i still dont understand a thing you just said...?

    As i was troubled on how to explain myself again, the elf was popping a vein, and with a frozen smile, she start to gather her green aura, who start to turn to a dark blue. Scary.

    The other receptionnist hurriedly stop her with some difficulty, then stare at me. And after looking like she was racking her brain hard for a moment, she ask in a slow manner, accentuating each word:

    ?- Doo doo shpike ingish??

    ?- What? ?

    With some efforts, she seem to concentrate to remember something and say again:

    ?- Doo too shpeak engrish??

    ?- Haaa! Yes yes!? i say happily while nodding.

    The beast girl seem happy while the elf girl look at us with a jaded expression. The blue aura still on her hand. Ok, this was a close call...

    Wait, did she just speaked english in a fantasy world ?

    Beast girl indicate me to wait for her on a chair on a corner of the room while the elf magically regain her business attitude for the next customer. Well, looking at him, it''s too late, he''s afraid. The big sturdy guy who was after me, now look like he has knees made of noodles. And the other one in line didnt seem to boast about too. He''s the last since I''ve spotted the two who were after him going to other receptionnists lines sneakily.

    Well, pissed womens are scarry after all, humans or elfs. These guys have to be especially polite and down to business or else they... Oops, she''s giving me a frozen stare now. What a beautiful ceilling they have. Hooo, the floor is clean too. that''s basaltic stone, right ?

    After some time, the beast girl come to me, still in her uniform, and with a ?follow me? sign, she start to go outside, and make a signal to me again while pointing to the cinderella castle with pointed towers i''ve spotted before. Ok, i understand. Disney castle, here we go.

    ?- At least, i have perhaps a way to communicate and some clues here...?

    While advancing, i look at the castle with the setting sun, to notice there was a small sun behind the big one.

    Yep. Fantasy again. I mus admit, this is beautiful beyond imagination.

    But even if its incredible, i have people waiting for me home. I dont have any envy to do "yeaah, im in some new world, let''s forget everybody else and let my family cry at home thinking im dead, yeaaah" from shitty generic characters. And i have a job to do... Okay this one can be waiting, i dont care.

    Annnd, after all, i dont really feel like killing everything on sight too. Well, basically, i''m happy with a somewhat quiet life, withouth running and shedding blood everywhere. I''m a strong believer of the "i dont like doing to other that i would not like done to myself" and "if you can help and make some people happy withouth too much effort, why not ?". It not mean i would stay full pacifist if i was attacked, but hey, i would not make the trip to annoy something or someone who would have quietly stayed in his own area withouth bothering anyone because of a bad pretext.

    So please. Please, i want to go back home, fast.

    I think about that and let out a long sigh while following the beast girl.

    Mmmmh, nice ass by the way¡­

    Shit. I really have to concentrate and go back soon before my will soften and another thing harden.

 1 - if i see him, i will kick him in the crotch

    I am now following the beastgirl receptionnist along the city.

    Unlike with the tractor-like child, this time, i''m able to observe a lot more of the populace and batiments.

    She has short brown hair, a pair of stripped feline ear and a tail coming from her¡­ Hold on, wait, the batiments and the people i said.

    We were currently on a big avenue going all the way to the hill where the castle was. At this distance, it was possible to see a forest surrounding the castle, separated from the city by a wall.

    The road of this avenue was curiously made from yellow stone, contrary to the others grey-paved roads and white building surrounding us. When i say buildings, they''re only two to three floors talls, sometimes a little more, but since they dont look like they have elevators here, it seems logical if you dont want to strain yourself.

    At each sides of the road, trees and thicks green bushs separate the pedestrian side from the road side.

    The vehicles where essentially carts or big wagons pulled by horse, big ox, or¡­ I dont understand that this creature is¡­ a mix of a mammouth and the giant head of the cat from the book ? alice in wonderland ?¡­ It''s especially true since it seems constantly smiling while pulling a big trolley loaded with giants trunks looking like they were at least from 100 years old trees. He can swallow at least 2 people withouth chewing with these teeth. How the heck are they keeping a beast like this tamed...

    Looking at the scenery in general, it look like a venue from a tourist city in my normal world. Except for the other races and the giant cat-mmouth monster. And the magic. And the castle. And the two suns. Well.

    On the subject of magic, a guy with a scarf and a dark brown robe just passed me floating 20 centimers above the ground while reading a flying book. Nobody reacts. It''s normal.

    I wonder if i stay relatively unfazed because everything is so much strange that my brain can''t process the excess of weirdness, or if it''s because it mean that i will start depressing about what will happens to me if i stay withouth thinking about something for more than one minute¡­ Don''t think about it, it''s dangerous.

    And by the way, how much time will we be walking like this ? Disneyland didn''t look like it was THIS far away ?

    ¡­

    ¡­

    Two hours and a half of walk after, yes, it was THIS far away. And because this thing is HUGE, i''m sure you can go at the next moutain range and think ? ho, it''s just a trot to be here ? all the same. This scam.

    Following the receptionnist who seems not able to say anything understandable anymore aside from ? faulloauwmi ? and who but seem on the contrary pretty able to be a marathon champion, we walked the still yellow pavement from the gate up to the porch of the castle. We passed a green lush forest and a big lake who extend until the bedrock of the batiment. The hill too was pretty big after all. at this size, it''s almost a small moutain.

    This castle, from a distant point of view you see almost only pale yellowish walls and the distinctive fairy tales-like pointed purple roof, but when you come close, it seem more ancient. Like an old english and french chateau, but with weird roofing. Theres also a lot of people coming and leaving from the front gate, most of them looking like childrens and adolescents, all wearing a brown robe and different colored scarfs. Haha, it almost make me remember the movie harry potter. It''s funny. Huh.

    ¡­

    No, it''s not "almost" it''s exactly like this, now that i make the connection ! I''ve been transported into the movie ? I''m a lost muggles ? What the fuck is this ?

    The moment i stop on my track to think about that, the receptionnist immediately halt and come at me, take my hand and resume our walk. Yeah, i know we''re almost here but dont be too eager ? She didn''t seemed annoyed to bring me here at first¡­

    ¡­

    After passing by the first garden from the movie "harry potter", we enter the hall from the movie "harry potter" with moving paintings from "harry potter the movie" everywhere in the walls. I will not think too deeply about it i said. Ha, the counter with old school pointed-hat receptionnists was not in the movie, or at least it was on a DVD with a cutscene i didn''t see.

    Ok, i REALLY need to stop crushing my brain with all this shit or i will go crazy for sure. I need to find out if they have someone who can understand me here, and ask for help. Don''t think about the useless details. Even if these details seems to seriously try to mess with me.

    My beast girl receptionnist go with me to one of the ? my beloved witch ? receptionnist and speak about i dont give a fuck anymore please give me someone to explain all that''s happening to me or iwillstartscreamingatfullluuuuuungs. Huf. Huf. STAY CALM.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    After a moment observing the paintings playing tennis among themselves to calm and distract myself - in fact it didn''t help at all - the beastgirl smile at me while inviting me to follow another glass-character-human-witch-receptionnist-girl-with-huge-boobs combo.

    I look at her for a moment as she frown and smile deeper while pointing at the girl who was waiting.

    Yeah, i understand this at least. The drag will go, you''re free.

    I wave goodbye and follow the other girl who hurry up to precede me in one of the three big corridors bording the halls. I hope my next interlocutor will not treat me like a hot potato suddenly for no reason... Well even then, if i can have answers, i would not mind.

    Sooo, what can i say, i pass in front of some classroom where¡­ Ho well, you''ve seen the movies, it''s the fucking same. It''s not good for my mental health. I need to force myself to stay composed. But if i see hagrid, i will kick him in the crotch to relieve my stress. Wait, he may really here... I dont know anymore. Nervous breakdown is coming.

    After some times navigating in the maze-like corridors and passing between huge gardens and giant library with hundred meters ceiling and flying books everywhere and behaving like tamed sparrow ¨C children where feeding them with ink to call them ¨C we take a round staircase going to one of the huge tower of hogwa- the castle.

    There, i was introduced into a huge empty office with a couch on each side, a big chair behind a finely wiseled wood desk and several chair in front. Behind, a huge glass window gives sight on the lake, then on the city below.

    The witch receptionnist press me to sit on one of the chair then she leave the office, closing the door behind.

    Ok, what will i do now. I hope they dont take long, i''m starting to brood over my situation...

    After five minutes watching the desk furnitures and the little lake activity i was able to see while sitting on the chair, the door open and several people enter at once.

    Two middle aged womens, one young woman carrying a huge load of books and papers and three middle aged mens, all with robe and pointy hat, look at me while taking a seat.

    Seriously, on children it look like hallowen, on the receptionnist it look like cosplay, but on older people it look like cheap porn garb for orgy purpose.

    The three womens go behind the desk, one sitting and the other two standing behind while the mens go sitting far away on the counch, looking at us. What are they doing ? I dont like this.

    I turn to the middle aged woman sitting in front, A relatively pale, 40 years old woman with finely drawn features, raven black hair and slighty dark circles under her eyes ¨C in fact she look more like a 40 year old gothic ¨C give me a rather weary look. Then, the other 35-like woman, a beauty with brown hair and a rather motherly gently-looking vibe speak to me.

    I dont undertsand a thing.

    But.

    I can at least understand it''s not the same langage the other people where using.

    ? - I''m sorry but it''s not yet my langage, milady ?

    I said that smiling, while scratching my head.

    ? - Ho, english it is. Do you understand me better now ? ?

    Don''t cry, me. I successfully withhold my tears. They dont need to see me desparate at this point. For now.

    ? - Yes ! Yes ! Thank you so much ! Please, tell me, how can you speak with me ? It is a spell ? Where i am ? ?

    ? - Calm down, calm down. For now, let me introduce myself. I am the teacher in charge of extraplanar interference and communication, you can call me lisa since it would be difficult to retain my normal name ?

    I didn''t think one day i would see someone put ? extraplanar ? seriously in a conversation.

    ? - I can speak with you because i''ve studied your langage and different others. You are currently in the magical academy of griffydaure-

    I almost seen this one coming.

    -in the kingdom of darla, on the west continent of khumera, in the world of arhan. You have to know the world where you are now often "receive" people from other worlds-plane for many different reasons, and we are here to help you found out why and how you effectively did come in our land. For example, our magical academy was founded almost 300 years ago by someone summoned from another world, and one of the headmaster after that was an otherworlder too, so you don''t have to worry about your treatment here. ?

    Your founder was from another world ? No shit, sherlock. I would''nt have even conceived this possibility.

    Well, she insisted on the last part while speaking as kindly as possible, i think she try to make me understand i''m not an isolated case and they can help me.

    I look at her, calm myself, and take a deep breath.

    ? - So, what do you want to know ? ?

    ? - Do not worry, we have a questionnaire spe-cia-lly for people like you ! ?

    She''s overracting a little. With a beaming huge smile, she reach out an arm to the second woman standing, who in turn fetch a pile of papers from the heap of books she was still having at hand.

    She lock eyes with me, take a woodpen, and start.

    ? - Then, first, please tell me your name, age, and the name of your original world. ?

    Yeah, this is normal to start by asking this after all.

    ? - Kyle, 35 years old, from earth. ?

    She smile, write nimbly my answer, and take a breath, before following by a glorious...

    ? - Then kyle, did you :

    - Died, or been transported by a god claiming he has a mission for you in this world ?

    - Died, and been offered a new life by a god claiming it was a mistake ?

    - Summoned by someone or some people ?

    - Someone came from a portal and forcefully dragged you here from your world ?

    - An unknow entity taking you forcefully ?

    - Others ? ?

    She cutely tilt her head on the side and smile again, waiting for my answer. I smile back at her.

    ¡­.

    WHAT.

    THE.

    HECK.

    ARE.

    YOU.

    ASKING.

 2 - A shitty stone.

    After a moment zoning out, wondering if my ears were operating normally, i answer to the still dazzling smiling lisa, the extrapla- the translator professor.

    " - Hmmm, answer six. "

    " - Ho, an irregular ? We will need further detail about it later. "

    She mumbled another thing while taking notes.

    " - Then, next :

    - Did you were specialised in any field in your original world, or your activity led you to have a high aptitude in any type of work, crafting, researsh ? "

    " - Huh, no, i know some husbandry since i sometimes help my brother who is a farmer and i know my way with computers and general trade, but it cannot be called to the point of a specialised field or anything... "

    While she was writing my answer, i remember the other people - i forgot about them for an instant since they were deathly silent from the start ¨C but when i look at them, they are still staring quietly at me withouth any facial expression. They''re starting to feel eerie...

    " - Do you think you were lacking the oppotunity in your previous world to make a certain talents, aspiration or job you were finding appealing, bloom ? "

    " - No, i was quite happy with my life, family and friend, and my job was still okay¡­ Even if i were to have some ambition, it was not something i would''nt have been able to obtain in my world¡­ "

    " - Ha, you were with family, this answer another question from later, wait a moment¡­ Okay, now :

    - Do you have oberved since coming to this world a strange power coming from you ? If yes :

    - was it magic ?

    - was it communication with other entity or unexplainable sensation of someone calling you ?

    - Another type of power related to the mind ?

    - Other ? "

    Ok, now, what is this ? An interview ? They think i''m planning to migrate here ? The mens on the couch are customs officers ? I''m starting to be annoyed a lot, but i try not to show it. Well, it show a little but i try to mask it.

    " - I didn''t feel anything, didn''t answer anyone call and whatever power is not coming from anywhere in my person " i was about to say my ass here " I was just confused and afraid to come in a strange city out of nowhere when i was in my bedroom and about to go to sleep. "

    Her smile fade a little and withouth writing the answer, ask again with a dubious expression :

    " - Are you really SURE you didnt feel a power surging from you at some point after coming here ? Nothing at all ? Excuse me, but it''s highly improbable. "

    " - I really didnt feel anything at all. I can say for sure because i even tried and looked like a fool for a moment... "

    She began to write down the answer.

    " - I put these questions on hold for the moment. It''s possible you are a late bloomers after all, it''s not unheard of, and we have a device to help us know about your power features. We will take you here after this interview. I will skip the others related questions, if you allow me. "

    " - Then,

    - It is possible for you to share, or be inclined to share, some knowledge we dont actually have about any technique, system or craftmanship you may know with us ?

    - If yes, what would you ask in return ?

    And finally,

    - what are your objectives, for now, in this world ? "The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    " - Yes, i dont mind sharing whatever i know you dont actually know, and the only thing i want in return is my answer for the last question, to have a mean to come back home ! I dont fundamentally dislike this dream-like fantasy world you live in, but being abruptly thrown here withouth warning, withouth knowing how my family at home will react or what''s going to happens to me, i''m giving my all to not turn crazy you know ? I just want to go back... "

    For some reason, after i finished speaking from my heart, i heard someone sighing on the side. Are they disappointed on my answer ? They think i''m stupid because i dont want to stay here in magical ponyland ? I dont give a fuck. I also dont care if they obviously want to exploit anything worthwhile i can be able to offer since i came with foreign knowledge. I want them to make me go back if they can, that''s all. At most i will take something, to bring back some souvenir. More like yes, i will take something if i can, a healing potion or two would be nice after all. And if they can cure some old wounds and back pain, i''m ok with that too, but it''s secondary.

    " - This is interresting. We are gladly able to provide some help to make you go back to your world, but first, we need to know what was the mean used to transport you in this world. Since you answered "unconventionnal method", we would like for you to explain more precisely what happened "

    She say that while her smile appear more beautiful than ever. Did she take pity on me, or did she imagine herself in my shoes ? Well, if it can help me go back faster, i''m not against a beauty like that interrested in my case after all. Mouahahahaha. Haaaa, with only knowing the fact that they can help me, it made a good chunck of my tension vanish. I feel already muuuuch better. Well, since i''m thinking about silly things, it seem obvious.

    But i need to be a little distrutful. Being used, then discarted is a high possibility too. Shit, i am too franck as always and i relax too fast. I need to be more mindful about them. Focus.

    " - Yes¡­ Basically, after a flood in a field owned by a member of my family, as i was checking if there was any damage done and strolled around, i''ve happened to spot a strange vivid green colored stone near the riverbed, probably washed away from upstream. I picked it up to check on it later, then resumed my task.

    At evening, after going back, i remembered the stone and picked it up from my car when i''ve left it, then came back to my house to look at it with better light.

    It was an almost round granitic stone, with spots of green-looking like glass, quitte pretty as a whole. I was thinking it was some old house decoration who got polished by water over time, since i was able to see some rounded remains of a carving.

    I was about to put it on display somewhere in the house, when the stone slipped from my hand, hit the ground, and cracked. Then, the ground caved immediately has some weird scripture glowed around the hole who formed, and the next thing i knew, i was drop in a city with mythological creature around it...

    If it can help to figure something about it, i can even draw it if you want. "

    Prof. Lisa looked up, thoughtful, then speaked at the book-carrier woman in their native langage, probably to repeat that i said. Hum, so the other dont need it, they can understand me ? Ho yeah, since they reacted last time, it''s obvious. I really need to get my shit together and notice these things sooner, for fuck sake.

    " - Excuse me again, but to confirm, are you sure you didn''t see any creature or people when falling in this hole ? "

    " - Absolutely sure, only this damn stone. "

    " - And do you still have this stone with you ? "

    " - I''ve checked the moment i realised i was in a foreign environment, but she was not here anymore. I think she was destroyed or she fell somewhere else..."

    " - We can check on this later. We need to look is compatibilty for now, and we will advise what to do after. "

    the seated gothic-chief-woman who raised her head speaked in a perfect english too. Damn. she sound like an evil mastermind.

    " - The headmaster is right. Please, follow me now "

    She invite me to leave my chair and open the door, suggesting me to follow her. Behind me, the three mens and the book girl follow me, but the vampirella headmaster stay seated. Ultimately these guys are like security guards, huh.

    Our little procession walk for about ten minutes or so until we stop near a big woden door with bronze engraving imitating vine leafs. The door open automatically and we enter in a large meeting room with a lot of chair, but empty of people. Prof. Lisa go to the podium where a fountain-like statue with a round, faintly glowing crystal is enshrined and ask me to come.

    I''ve seen this pattern somewhere !

    " - Now, we will check your power affinity. Please touch the cristal ball while concentrating, the result will be announced by this statue and we will be able to record it."

    I know i said i wanted to go back fast, but hey, who could not be at least a little excited about this ? I wanna try magic too if i can. I advance and touch the orb while repressing a grin. Since i''m here, i dont loose anything by just testing it ! This is just to help me go back faster ! THIS IS FANTASY ! Yaaaahhh !

    ¡­

    It''s slow.

    ¡­

    And the light from the orb seems to have gone out too. It''s processing ? I was thinking of a glowing light telling "abilty in water magic blah blah"...

    ¡­

    I look at prof. Lisa. She raise a dubious eyebrow.

    Did i have broken the device withouth knowing it ?

    ? - This is¡­ unexpected. If we analyze a reaction like this, it would mean you have no magic power at all... ?

    ? - Well, too bad, i say a little disappointed, it seems i''m normal here too, after all. ?

    ? - No, you dont understand. You have no magic power. This is highly abnormal.?

    ? - Really ? Why ? ?

    ? - Even the most tiny insect in this world have magic power. Even flea have a trace of it, you know. The fact that you dont have anything is amazing in itself ! We need to do some test immediately, please follow me to the next room, then we will check your body ! ?

    She then excitedely go down the podium and begin to trot back to the door with sparkling eyes.

    Great. So i''m worst than a flea here.

 3 - Body examination

    We enter a torture chamber.

    Kidding. It amazingly look like an upgraded nurse office. It''s a white and clean looking room with anatomy drawings on some walls. Moving anatomy drawings in fact. They even have stethoscope, pharmacy, and other light hospital equipment you wouldn''t think they belong to this world. I can even see a dentist chair with all the associated tolls on a corner ! Even magic cant go against carries ?

    Prof. Lisa go to a desk, take some paper and put on a white doctor blouse. The four other accessory people take blouse as well and go back to stay near the door. I''m not planning to make a run for it, damn it. Not for now, at last.

    " - Dont worry, we will perform a light examination for now and take a blood sample for content test."

    I dont like being shoot, but i dont have a choice huh ? She take a sealed syringue and a vial. So much for the magic examination for now.

    " - Please give me your arm so i can take the sample... Great. Your blood is red... Good."

    You expected it was another colour ? Rainbow colored ? Well with all the races here, it wouldn''t be so strange i think.

    " - Negzamrea."

    She say that and a yellow glowing light go from her hand to the point she just stung.

    Nothing happen. It was desinfection in place of alcohol ? Prof. Lisa take another look, then chant again.

    " - Nego Negzamrea."

    What now.

    " - Fascinating ! It seems healing magic dont work on you !"

    So i can''t be treated by magic too ? Hey, i just remembered something.

    " - Yeah, in fact, when i was on that seemed the adventurer guild for me, one of the receptionnist over there tried to use magic on me, but nothing worked."

    " - So interresting ! I put the blood on hold for now, please go behind this glass"

    She say while pointing to a big opaque glass screen. I execute myself and go behind. Do i need to get naked ?

    She go back to the desk, take a little stone on a display unit, then go the screen and put it in a tiny hole on it, and the screen light up.

    " - This device will let us know if something is wrong inside your bo... dy..."

    WHAT''S HAPPENING, DONT SPEAK LIKE THIS AND STOP WHILE SAYING A DEATH FLAG DAMN IT.

    " - ... Anything wrong ?"

    The most frozen smile i''ve ever done.

    " - How can i say this, Say it for fuck sake ! we can''t see what''s inside your body at all. It seem you''re nonconductor to this magic too."

    I start breathing again. At this stage, i was thinking Alien was going to burst out from my chest. Almost nothing can amaze me anymore here.

    " - I would like to check your metabolism but for now we cant with the material here... I can do some testing, but it will be a little painfull. Dont worry, come with me on this desk, it will hurt the minimum possible !"

    What do you want to do to me. And stop saying dont worry, it has the opposing effect. She point on a desk with a huge scope thing on it and see i look warily at her.

    She calm her visible researcher- frenzy enjoyment a little and look at me gently.

    " - Dont worry. Stop it with the dont worry ! I need to check what magic affect you and how it affect you. it will do some pain, but even if healing magic dont work on you, we have some healing potions, and even if it dont work too, we have bandages and more traditionnal medicine."

    I''m not convinced, but i need to show that i''m willing to participate. I''m screwed if i dont, since they are the only one who can help me.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    " - I will go, i will go, but please restrain yourself..."

    " - Dont worry, i''m a master at pinpoint magic !"

    She wink at me while saying that. Yeah, she''s charming alright, but i''m still uneasy about it.

    And vade retro lewds toughts. It''s not the moment.

    I put my arm on the end of the lens and Lisa - i will stop calling her Professor - call the book girl while getting at the other end of the microscope. The book girl then speak with lisa and start casting a spell. HEY, IT DONT MATTER IF YOU''RE MASTER OF PINPOINT SPELL WHEN IT''S ANOTHER WHO DO IT.

    A little blue wave of magic is cast on my arm then disappear. The two girl exchange a talk then she recast. This time a tiny lighter flame go from her finger to my arm.

    " - Hey, it hurt !!"

    Damn it, i''m not too much sensitive about pain but it hurt nonetheless. Lisa cry out something behind her lens and start writing something. The other girl give me a "im sorry" look. Yeah, i know, proceed. They exchange a light discuss again then fire another spell. This time, the skin of my arm is frozen with a thin layer of ice. At least it hurt less and it calm the burn from before. And again, discussion, and they shoot a little spark at me.

    " - brzzz, you''re gonna try all the elements on me or what ?"

    " - Ho, i''m sorry, yes, we have to test ten more spells, but dont worry. If that i think is right, it will sting only two times more."

    " - Ok..."

    After that, a little rock rebounded on me withouth hurting much, a ray of light burn me a little, and the other spells didn''t seemed to work until the girl fetched two scrolls from her heap of books.

    She open the first one, read whatever what was written on it, and a yellow glow envellop my arm while the scroll burn withouth leaving any ashes behind. Nothing seem to change this time too. After moving my hand as ordered by the mad scientist behind her lens, the book girl do the same with the other scroll, and this times a dark glow go for my arm.

    I immediately feel bad, and almost collapse on my chair, with no strenght left. The book girl hurriedly help me while Lisa shout something and laught. I would like to be angry but i dont even have this energy left. Even my eyelids are heavy, and i need to fight to not fall asleep.

    Five minute later, my strenght go back and i get up from the bed i was put to lay on the same room, with lisa and book girl rummaging through papers on a side. I get up and ask.

    " - Can you tell me what happened at least ? What was that ?"

    " - Ho, five minute precisely. Well, i didnt expect a low tier curse of tiredness to work on you, but dont worry, this was a short time limit hex and will not have any aftereffect."

    You fucking cursed me ? My eyes almost pop out of their sockets from anger. AND STOP FUCKING SAYING DONT WORRY AT EACH SENTENCE.

    " - Please, dont misunderstand me, it was to have knowledge of what we cant do to you, so we will not make an error next time. I will not do it again. I have a pretty good suspicion about your body, but we need to do a little last check and i will explain everything to you. Are you still ok ?"

    " - Not like i have a choice, but please, no more spells."

    " - Dont worry, this time we will just check how you perform in light weight exercise"

    My eyes twitch.

    For the weight test, since i''m a little stronger than the normal guy (due to farm work essentially), so i dont mind. Let''s just hope there''s not another surprise...

    Lisa point at different dumbells lined on the ground behind here and ask me to go to each of them, and try to lift them.

    " - ... Is it not strangely ordered ?"

    No, i say this because from right to left, are laid four crescent-looking weight, the last one looking like it just came out from a random humoristic comic and weighs at last 200 kg. And just after, four other tiny looking thing are aligned, sized like my fist...

    " - Yeah ! Please do that, and say it if you cant lift any of them them or have to overstrain yourself while doing so !"

    I go to the first one, then raise it. It weight like 10 kilos. No problems. I smile at the girls.

    The second one weight 50. I use my two hand to raise it. Still no problems. Still smiling.

    The third one weight at least 100. I destroy my back while lifting this at waist size, while my smile go tense. The girls look at me warmly. I look like a fool, huh ? Ok, i drop the strong guy act.

    The fourth huge one, i try forcing to no avail. And my back hurt. No way.

    The fifth little one and the three others after that, i lift them all with two on each hand. They weight 2 kg each ? This time, the girls began writing franctically on some papers. After some times, Lisa face me up and tidy herself while coughing.

    " - Yes, with this, it''s confirmed. My dear kyle, i can advance a theory about your body we have further confirmed by the fact i wasn''t able to analyze your blood with magic. It seems your body absorb magic in her non-elemental state. You absorb any magic directed at you and it look like it disappear somewhere, but i''m still not too sure about the mechanisms further involved. It will require another study for that."

    " - Huh, but didn''t yours spells earlier damaged me ?"

    " - Yes, i was about to explain. As i said, your body absorb the magic in the non elemental state, but not the phenomenon created. For example, if i were to thrown a fireball at you, you would absorb the magic of the fireball, but would still end up incinerated by it, because the fire component would not be absorbed. The same about the curse, you absorbed the magic, but not the weakening component. It''s a little curious but the strenghtening component in healing magic and augmentation magic seems to be absorbed as well withouth affecting you, but like i stated, it will need another study to found out.

    Ho, and it seems the magic of any object you touch is absorbed too and make the effect on it go null. The dumbbells you lifted at the end were made with magic to weight 100kg each."

    Soooo, if i process all of this right, i have all the flaw, no benefit ?

    The thing that desperate me all the more, is that i cannot blame anyone but my luck. Seriously.

    Lisa continue to have a magico-science discussion with the girl in their language while i grumble on my chair.

 4 - A patchwork world

    Three days after coming to this world, i''m in the room the magic academy has kindly offered to keep their subject researsh at hand reach to help me, since i didn''t have any other mean of lodging.

    In these three days, i was made going back and forth between check-up tests and discussions with people about what i was able to provide in knowledge from my world.

    On the bright side, the tests were mostly made from observing magic flow near me and sometimes by taking blood samples but nothing painful or tiring. I was afraid one time when they picked up that looked like a sort of asshole breaker device, but it was a magic measuring device. I was prepared to make a run for it. Especially since Lisa said it was to "check the depth" of the magic absorption with a bright smile. Haaaa, Lisa. She was not a bad person, just a crazy motherfucking researcher.

    And i was the guinea pig.

    The other researchers were paying me for useful information. I was doubtful they were gonna give me anything at all when we started, but it seem the laws in this country are stricts for people like me.

    I''m really not the first otherworlder here, huh... Well, from this day on, i will be remembered in this world as the man who introduced precision-seeder machine to farmers. This damn thing required so many tuning to work, it ended with me knowing the plans like the back of my hand. At least, one thing who helped me.

    On this subject, except this, i wasn''t able to be of much help, since the things i was able to give details on were at best already known, at worst useless and outdated.

    On the wrong side now, since i was given time to rest, i was brooding over my situation. I was hoping the people at home were not panicking because i disappeared but i highly doubted it.

    And another problem arise too.

    Due to the fact i was siphonning whatever magic device i was touching or was near for a long period of time. The quality of life was screwed up for me, since in a magic academy, almost EVERYTHING worked on magic. Cant take water from the local tap, cant turn on or off the light. Cant take a fucking shower ! Because of that my room was light up with candles most of the times. Even the door was a magic-fueled item, so i needed to keep it open all the time. No, in fact it was better, because with this i will not die from carbon dioxide poisonning from all the candles. No heating or cooling too. Shit.

    To kill time, i was able to read local history books written in english they were keeping in their library, and some learning book for childrens. I quickly abandonned the childrens books since i was not really interrested to know the name of monsters in the alphabetical order of this world. Besides, i hope i will never, ever, have an encounter with the monster in our equivalent of the letter L. I wasn''t able to sleep immediately after that, checking the windows mutiple times. Things like THIS exist in this world... Holy crap.

    The history books made me learn more about the situation of this world and why some laws applied only to otherworlders. Why they are in place. And why it''s fucked up.

    At start this world was created by one big god with an unpronouncable name, then later he leaved his children in charge while going to shape another world somewhere. Blah blah, they created different fantasy race, humans, elves, dwarfs, demons who are in fact a subrace of humans more adapted to magic, beastmens, strange squid people (?), etc... Then jealous gods from ruined worlds came and unleashed monsters here and here, or mutated existing natural animal to harass the native people. But the original gods each battled against the evil gods blah blah and gone to slumber after the battle to recuperate blah blah the monster are still here but the evils gods can''t come anymore because of the beating they took. Yeah, at start, this was a normal story. Normal, for a fantasy setting, huh.

    After that, the races built churches for each of their gods, some doing better than other after the war, but the gooddess of light for human, the nature god for elves, the beast god for beastman were the more important. Some original monsters races build more peaceful relations after the war, but they were few.

    And dont ask me to say the name of these gods, it''s a succession of things like shght for 10 letters, i have a headache just reading it.

    The god who were less tired or some servants of them (half gods it seems) decided there was a need to call people from elsewhere to help the reconstruction of the world, and to rediscover techniques lost in the war. Then, they called people from differents worlds to help their lesser bethren and handed other the techniques of summoning to them if the need arise again.

    It''s good. The first people who came were benevolents and helped the world recover. Some times passed. Kingdoms emerged, life prospered.

    And after that, it blew up on their face.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    It seems the first one who screwed up was a human kingdom at war with a demon kingdom about ressources nodes in a moutain range belonging to the demon side 650 years ago. After being flattened out by the demons, the royal family decided to summon a "hero" to help them "cleanse the demon threat" "for the human race". A man and a woman were summoned, and turned to be powerful individuals. They happily gone to war to help their fellow humans - bullshit ! -, and they won.

    I say they won, but more like they exterminated the entire demon kingdom, civilans included. Fucking psychopaths.

    The male hero came back with his magician companion and some other females warriors and decided to take the hand of the first princess of the kingdom, making him a prince. The king accepted, the population was happy, it was their "hero" after all.

    A year after, the king mysteriously died from old age, and the hero became king. And after that he took his fellow summoned partner has a wife too. And the two other females warriors he fighted with in the war. Then the second princess too. At the end of his life, his harem had twenty-three members.

    And it''s not finished yet. Since he was so powerful, why only this kingdom when he can have an EMPIRE ?

    He attacked the neighboring nations, even old allys of the kingdom and trampled them over, taking their first princess has wife and cleaning all the others with royal lineage. He also, after marrying the shrine maiden of the biggest light goddess temple, created a subchurch who venerated him like the envoy of the goddess, and forced it to be the empire religion.

    After his death, his legacy was a gigantic empire taking all the north part of the eastern continent.

    And 52 childrens, all with rights for the throne.

    But they were all so controlled and crushed by their father before his death, they first settled themselves in different territory before going to a larved war with each others. Now, the emperor is the head lord of the strongest territory of the moment, but it''s changing so easily with machinations, betrayals and other court shemes - since all the lords have blood ties with the hero, they can claim power at the first sign of weakness of the current regent -, resulting in the empire having no power has a whole anymore.

    It''s now a rotten and agressive piece of land, and the rest of the world give them their shit right back at them. Nobody has any relation with them anymore. Serve them right.

    Well, it was the most outcome inducing case of all, but some others are noteworthy :

    - 400 years ago, a man created the "750 artifact of black death" - Based on pictures, they were magic powered gun, rifles and other heavy warfare material ; even a explosive mine planter ! - after his death, his childrens selled each artifacts to whoever bidded the highest, resulting in all the mafia groups on the south continent having assassins armed with guns and whatnot.

    Luckily, the southern adventurers guild promptly issued a bounty for these artefact and their holders, but to this day, 47 are still on the run.

    - 250 years ago a man slaughtered an entire enemy kingdom, all civilian included. He appeared from the holy temple of the other kingdom to help them in "the time of need". Turn out an evil god posed has the god of the country to mess with them and sended a madman who grew stronger the more he butchered people. Luckily, he was killed by the heros of two others races, helped by a demigod, before things get out of hands. But only one hero remained alive after that. The kingdom where the evil god send his hero was destroyed by the other neighbouring nations after that, for being the "seed of evil" and is still now a wasteland.

    - 200 years ago a dungeon - the dungeons in this world are mostly prisons created by the power of the gods to seal powerfull minions of the evils gods or to purify areas tainted during the war - appeared to have a human consciousness from another world when he conquered a dwarf country and made a undead nation in the moutain range he appeared. To this day, nobody was able to reclaim it or reach the arch-lich in the depth of the maze he created.

    Of course other madmens existed too, but at a much lesser scale. And fortunately, other people helped this world too.

    Fortunately for me too because otherworlders would have been killed on sight with only the previously cited guys.

    For example, 300 years ago the founder of this magic academy was a prodigy who roamed the world as the most powerfull elven magician who ever existed. The last half of her life was dedicated to create magics and wizardry academys on each continent : Ravenglow, Slythe, Huffpuff and Griffydaure - I know from where she was, this one ! Another note : it seems strange but the time when you "leave" your world doesn''t have anything at all with the time you "come" to this world. Two otherworlders have been related to encounter each other, the older "in this world" was born 200 years after the other "in their original world" -, and since she was acclaimed as the greatest hero alive in these times, and also the only hero alive after the battle with the evil god hero, all the others countrys happily helped her to establish the schools, gived them specials rights and independancy.

    These academys are now a paragon of knowledge and study, and helped greatly this world to spread useful magic to the people. It also helped some other otherworlders to establish themselves, mostly in the crafting and medicine area.

    But otherworlders who were not associated with the academy have also helped this world in differents expertises too : building, alchemy, exploration, technology - A city-state exist with almost science fiction technology it seems ! But the downside is that magic cant work well with high tech device, or they made each other fail, so it''s not very widespread except in some specific points of this world. Beside, it seem the pollution resulting in the building of these devices is not kindly looked upon by the other races -, so the consensus with all the major country in the world is that each otherworlder will be heavily examinated upon identification. And look like the Earth is badly considered, since the ratio of disaster coming from our homeworld exceed the good side.

    Not that i cant relate with them. It also explain the shitty survey.

    Well, its late now.

    I put the book on the bedside table and blow the candle, then try to sleep.

    Before closing my eyes, i check the windows. Nothing ? Good.

    I fall asleep. Another day in a patchwork world.

 5 - Back to the elf.

    It''s been eight days in total since coming to this world.

    Now i''m almost left alone since Lisa is doing some crazy test by herself in the laboratory, and only another assistant-researcher young man come with me to monitor help me translate things for my comfort. For my security i''m advised against going out of the copy-paste hogwarts castle until we find clues to help me return home. Since i''m terribly weak.

    Ho yes, one of the things we discovered about my body is, since i''m a sort of black hole for magic power, withouth being able to use any of course, i cannot be strengthened by it. Because yes, all the people here are naturally much stronger than normal humans, with magic naturally flowing trough them to make them stronger, more resistant to diseases, more nimble, more everything blah blah. And it''s worst for people using real strenghtening magic, an advanced form of the natural effect.

    To explain that to me, they said i am roughly speaking at the power level of a 8-10 years old child. No, i''m not jealous at all. No magic, feeble as fuck, It''s like starting the indianapolis car race with your foots and a walking frame.

    It dont bother me, anyways. When you got fucked up so much it''s going from your ass all the way to your mouth, it doesn''t matter if it''s going one or two meters more after all. You already have the aftertaste. I''m not jealous i said.

    Ok, done ranting. Back to business.

    I''m planning to wait two more days and try to break out of here if nothing change. I have concealed some coins from the money-they-paid-me-but-i-cant-use-any and i made a translated list of some importants typicals phrases to at least explain some simple need when outside. I''ve decided to only use writing as a mean to communicate. Better pass for a mute than recognized as an otherworlder because of some horrible misspealing.

    And who the fuck can say five consonnant following each other to start with ?!

    I''ve been able to prepare this since i spend most of my time in the library. Besides this and looking at the children practicing magic, there''s nothing to do. My translator guardian dont speak to me or initiate a conversation, and when i start one, he answer as briefly as possible. He avoid touching or coming close to me too. Heh, he didn''t ever bothered giving me his name. I dont know if it''s because he''s wary of me or some otherworlder xenophobic reaction, but for me, he''s catalogued as an asshole. I stay polite with him but he can go fuck himself for all i care.

    At some point, i even missed Lisa and her antics. I really must be down...

    While i was in a corner of the library, reading one of the last few book in english i didn''t already read left, book girl came and speaked some words with my ball-and-chain translator.

    " - Sir, it seems the Professor want to have a word with you. Can you follow her ?"

    " - Gladly !"

    Perhaps some news finally ? Or at least, something special happened since he didn''t say it was for a test, but to discuss. I hurriedly close the world map encyclopedia i was browsing and follow book girl.

    Guess i didn''t described book girl before. She look like 20~ years old, petite frame, blonde hair with bobbed hair style, always with a random large book disproportionate to her size, and an unfazed look. Beside that, that''s all. The only personnality trait i was able to have a glimpse of, is the fact she seems to have some pity for me during the many times i was experimented. She''s also the only one i see regularly besides Lisa.

    While i am reminiscing this and others details, we abruptly arrive to Lisa office.

    This is also a serious problem when i navigate here : i cannot recognize right from left, i can get lost in less than five minutes if someone doesn''t show me the way. My glorious plan to escape is for naught if i cant even find at least the exit of this castle.

    Me ? Direction impaired ? So what ? Have you ever tried to find your way in a giant castle with moving rooms and staircase ? It''s nice in a movie ? No shit. A nightmare in reality.

    In the simple room with a lot of papers and torture-looking devices scattered everywhere, Lisa is seated behind her desk, smiling calmly.

    " - Please take a seat Kyle. I have some very good news for you. The academy has given is OK to proactively help you go back to your world. For that, we need to go see someone who can have some clues about it, so, are you ready to follow us ? The departure is scheduled in two days."Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    I involontary shiver. It''s like a dam of pent-up stress break suddenly and i''m surprised at my own excitation.

    " - Finally ! Thank you to help me, THANK YOU ! What do you need to do before this, how can i assist, anything ? To be honest, i''m about to explode staying here while doing nothing at all. Do you need the money i have ? Since this money is worth nothing in my world, i''m not planning to keep it, so if it can help gather the equipment or the mean of transportation faster, i would gladly use it for that !"

    Lisa eyes widden a little because of my outburst. She seem somewhat relieved, and, still smiling, lean toward me. Wo-hoo cleavage. But sadly, i need to look at her eyes.

    " - Since you want to participate, it would be rude to decline. And since you want to have some fresh air, you can go with one of the assistant to the adventurer guild to hire an escort. Delegates from this school will come with you for the journey of course, but since we are scholars, not travellers, we need to have specialized people to guide us to destination. If you''re okay with that, you can go now, i call for the assistant."

    Yeah ! Even the two hours of walk to the guild doesn''t scare me now. I''m really too stuffed here and it''s a good change of pace.

    Finally, i was right to not escape, everything go in the right direction ! Almost.

    I thank again Lisa as i''m brought back to my room to prepare. I promptly put on a set of civilian clothes with a leather jacket, who will not make me stand out when outside, and some light leather kneepads and gauntlets, because we dont know what can happens. And because it look damn nice too.

    Ten minutes later, i follow book girl and the translator-researcher-assistant-scum towards the exit of the castle - damnit it was here ! - and we walk along the yellow road toward the city.

    Since we''re early afternoon, we pass the lake and the forest while taking our time, thereby i can observe much more of the local wildlife i wasn''t able to see the first time i came here.

    Bees the size of my head, fox with burning bright red eyes, and... Hey, we dont have all day ! Hurry up, let''s move on !

    Half an hour after, we pass the exterior gate of the academy and enter the suburb of the city. At start, there was still a majority of students moving to the different shops on each side of the road, but gradually we cross more and more "normal" citizens and more different races of people. It almost didn''t see any beastman in the acadamy for exemple ? Well, in fantasy folklore, they werent the best at magic, if i remember it right.

    I''ve thinked about that multiple times, but otherworlders have influenced - i dont say tainted - this world in many ways, but how come we, in earth, have legends about the different creatures i''ve encountered here ? Logically, it''s because people have done the reverse path ! So yeah, there''s really hope to come back. Full of these hopes, i walk faster to the adventurer guild. Or more like, i walk faster to catch up with the two accompanist. Damn it, even physically weak scholars can leave me in the dirt withouth breaking a sweat !

    Two hours passed, and we''re now in front of the sturdy batiment of the adventurers guild.

    Before we entered, the book girl said something to the translator and went to a door on one side of the batiment.

    When we enter, the guild was mostly the same than last time, only a lot less people were inside. The only ones i was able to see on the first floor were only two receptionnists, a barman, a waitress and three rough looking groups of adventurers near the bar drinking beer and visibly waaaay past the maximum consumption to safely drive after.

    Translator-scum invite me to follow him to the counter where a beautiful blonde elf receptionnist... I must have done something horrible in a past life... wait for us with a strained smile. I go slightly behind translator when he start speaking to her. I''m not a sissy, they said it themselves, i''m weak.

    Since i''m avoiding staring at her, i look around and spot a tipsy guy from one of the adventurers groups coming unsteadily at us with a beer mug. He size me with his eyes and, while spewing some of the beer in his mouth, say something to me.

    Ya know, i can''t understand you, partner.

    I shrug my shoulder, showing that i didn''t understood, but he keep yapping something.

    Since translator-scum turned to look at the commotion, i ask him.

    " - I''m sorry, but what the hell is he saying ?"

    " - Ha, he''s saying that weak-looking guys like you have nothing to do in the adventurers line of work and some others mean things. I''m sorry, miss receptionnist say it happens sometimes when they come back from a long mission, they drink withouth restraints and do stupid actions. It''s their means to decompress."

    " - Ho, i see."

    I will have all the cliches throwed at me ? Now the brawling adventurers ?

    " - Can you say for me to the receptionnist that for the job, i absolutely dont want this guy and his team ?"

    " - Huh, yes, i do it right away."

    He then speak to the receptionnist who slowly write it on a paper. She then yell something in the direction of the adventurers standing at the bar.

    ...

    Two minutes after, we peacefully walk out of the guild while people are fighting hard inside. It seem the leader was not happy to be left out from a potentially good paying job, then it escalated quickly. Translator-scum look at me with doubtfull eyes. I dont care, you know. Hooo, guards are coming. Good luck, guys.

    I may be physically weak, but money is still power. Muahahahaha.

    We wait a little for book girl to join us again, then go back to the castle. Again, two more hours, walking... But for some reason, i''m in a good mood.

 6 - POV : Professor Lisa

    Eight days ago

    This is a nightmare. The worst kind.

    Me, the headmaster of the academy, the teacher in charge of protection and barriers magic and three others teachers in charge of teaching advanced combat magic are in an emergency reunion. One abberant has appeared in the town and is now conveyed to us by the secretary of the guild master of the adventurers guild.

    Abberants are otherworlders coming withouth notice, or more exactly withouth being called. The last time one of them appeared was 30 years ago, and it was handled by the headmaster herself. He was a dangerous one who was able to mortally wound two teachers before being put down.

    It''s our job since the fondation of the magic academies to adress these problems. It''s in the founding contract, the secret other side of all schools founded by the magician hero. Protect this world from foreign threats. This is the reason we are highly respected by all the country leaders of this world, but only a handful of autorized and strong enough people from the school staff know about it and are in charge in each academy.

    On the meeting room, the atmosphere is solemn. Each of us have already put on our battle gear, concealed below our academy robe. Silence permeate the chamber as we wait for the headmaster to speak.

    " - Professor Lkhenai, since this is your field speciality, you will assume the examination of the subject.

    Here the papers with the questionnary and how to analyze it if you were to have any trouble about it.

    We will stay on guard in the room, and if he do anything who can be deemed strange or dangerous, we will destroy him on the spot."

    The headmaster, a raven haired, pale woman who doesn''t look like 67 years old at all , formerly nicknamed garbra the hex witch when she was younger, push as expected the responsability to me.

    I have been formed for this.

    But, to have been formed for this doesn''t mean i would be happy to confront one of these monsters. Especially since i''m more of a researcher than suited for combat.

    I close my eyes and remember slowly the four main steps to follow.

    First : create a sentiment of trust with it,

    Second : analyze the abberant and determine his personality and if he''s a threat because of it,

    Third : discover his power and if he''s potentially a threat because of it,

    Four : elimination or supervision of the subject.

    It involve many other points, but these one are the four core rules, and succeeding them is essential.

    I open my eyes and slowly nod.

    " - Yes, madam. I will not let you down."

    " - This is what i''m expecting of you. Remember, do NOT sympathize with it, whatever the reason. Always stay cool headed even if you yourself feel pity on him or are afraid. One mistake in the evaluation can spell the demise of all of us. If he were to turn suddenly wary, if he were to suspect something, we will potentially all will be in danger.

    I will now cast a magic to protect us from mental influences, poisons and diseases. The room where we will go is a safe room further enhanced with barrier magic, so dont worry about going all out if necessary."

    Diseases. This was the horrible power of the last abberant, the one previously killed by the headmaster. This one was an envoy of the evils gods, or so we suspect, and no records of this man have been leaked to anyone but a few outside the four academy. Because of that, the tale of the two teacher who bravely offered their lifes to protect others will sadly never be remembered in any book. I bit my lips, hoping the gift of this one will not be one of death and carnage.

    " - Don''t worry, Lkhenai. Put your best smile and act friendly. Nothing bad will come to any of you, this time, i swear on the found-"

    A knock interrupt us. The headmaster''s secretary enter with a nervous face.

    " - He''s here. We are bringing him on the designated room."

    The atmosphere tense up to another level.

    " - It''s time."

    We all get up from our chairs. After the Headmaster cast her spell on us, we head to the room.

    Two minutes later, we are in front of the door. After nodding with each other to renew our resolves, i put my hand on the door handle.

    I breath in, force a smile, then open it.

    A single man is looking rather confused at us from his chair.

    <hr>

    Today

    I knock at the door.

    " - You can enter."The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    " - Headmaster. Here the report about Kyle."

    I stand in front of the desk of the rather dark room, filled with pictures and paintings of the previous headmasters, and with a water fountain gurgling in a corner of it. This was, it seems, a requirement from the founder to not touch this room, like many things in the academy. So it was a custom to not modify too much anything in the castle, to honor her wish and memory.

    The headmaster, who was looking at a moutain of paperwork, slowly lift her head, put them on the side of the desk, then seat back on her chair and cast me a piercing glare.

    " - Give me a short summary of his condition and what you were to suggest for further actions"

    " - Yes.

    As we have previously discovered, his body condition make him unable to harness any magic power, and even if the ability to be immune to mana seem a tremendous advantage, it leave him in facts in a weak state against anything magic related or even anything physically dangerous. As a side effect, magic sense are not able to discover him, since no magic power can be reflected back to the caster.

    Since no brain magic can affect him because of the previous point, we have used a classical method to have a glimpse of his personnality : the results were on the "good side", a calm and rather analytic personnality with quiet aspirations, indoor and family oriented interests.

    Finally, we haven''t discovered yet what or who helped him cross to this world, since no data have been found in the library about the stone he described.

    To sum it up, for the moment, his danger can be categorized at null."

    The headmaster eyes light up as she cross her arms to her chest.

    " - For now, you say ? And in the near future ?"

    " - ... After further experimentations, i discovered his ability to absorb any mana he came near was actually slowly increasing by approximately 1% of the original zone it was covering each day. I say absorbed, but i didn''t find out for sure if the mana is really absorbed or destroyed when vanishing. And futhermore, his ability is not only centered around his body, but with each part of him ; the blood i have taken out from him has the same property, only that the magic void doesnt grow with time, or at a much slower rate. Thankfully, his wastes are not similar.

    In a few years, he can be a hazard to all magic-related life around him, or be used as a weapon against any magic opponent as a tool for assassination if his blood is regularly taken out. On the unlikely worst case scenario, all magic technology would be rendered useless after some times."

    " - But you dont advise to remove this potential threat ?"

    " - No."

    " - Please explain why, with arguments i can agree for."

    I gulp when a weak wave of magic leak from the headmaster. It''s not a good sign when she''s this serious.

    " - ... Yes. Because of two possibility. Even if we were to subdue him, because his ability is not an ability created by the mind or the soul, but is inherent to his flesh, to kill him would amount to only change the starting point of the no-magic influence area-"

    " - Even if we can''t seal him with magic, can''t we burn him ? Throw it in a dungeon ? These things are here to emprison dangerous monsters like this, no ?"

    " - Burning him would only create ashes who absorb mana with the wind. Sealing him is to no avail since he would be ending up absorbing the seal, and the dungeon would finish with all his magic absorbed even if he were to die inside.

    As for the other possibility, in the case where all the mana he absorbed is effectively stored in his body, his death would probably result in a huge sized explosion."

    " - Big ? How much ?"

    " - ... the size of this country at least ?"

    She shoot up to her feet. This is the point of the conversation i feared.

    " - How is it possible ? He absorbed so much magic already ?"

    I cast my eyes downside.

    " - Well... For experiments purpose, and to see if his ability to absorb mana was not something like a battery, i ended up make him absorb a mana cristal who was full to the brim with the entire magic pool of the staff and some students classes ? And he emptied it in a matter of seconds..."

    " - YOUUUU DID WHA... !

    ...

    No, let''s leave it at that for now. And ? What do you advise, miss Lkhenai ?"

    Her hairs sway lightly and a magic tatoo mimicking a white skull mask appeared on her face for all but a second. I''m definitely dead after this.

    " - Simply to help him go back home. He doesn''t wish to stay here after all, and would happily cooperate, so it''s the most win-win situation."

    She sit back on her desk.

    " - Remember you are not supposed to go for a win-win... Haaa... But i can agree. Go back and tell him the good news, on my side i will contact someone who can help us find a mean to send him back. I will leave you in charge of the organization of the transport, and i will choose two people to go with him to protect and keep an eye on him."

    " - Yes headmaster."

    I turn myself and open the door to leave. My argument were sound and pondered, but aside from that, i''m rather happy i can help him since we can. For the few days we have been together, he was a rather cooperative guy who never said no to any experiments and tried his best to help in any meaning. It was the first time i ever encountered someone who didn''t yell at me and try to escape in the second or third day of testing. All were a band of scaredy-cats, really.

    " - Before leaving, miss Lkhenai."

    " - Yes, headmaster ?"

    " - After they leave, you will have to come back here for a discussion about your way of doing experiments withouth consulting me first."

    Yes, i''m definitely dead.

    Meanwhile, kyle was trying to find where the fuck was the north in the encyclopedia book he was reading, while grumbling. He didn''t know, but he was barely safe.

 7 - Lets get the party started

    Today is a good day.

    I''m finally able to get out of the school. I almost feel like a teenager before holydays again.

    I get up from my bed, take some water from a jar and wash up my face. I look at myself in the mirror.

    " - Mmmmh, I have some beard, but the only way to shave myself here is almost only with magic instruments, so, too bad."

    I change my clothes to the adventurer outfit they have given me yesterday ; well, it''s almost the same as the civilian clothes from two days ago, but with a more robust pair of boots, a leather pant, and a dark brown mantle. I''ve already put my old "earthian" clothing in my bag, to change back if needed, and some spare undeawears. I take the almost ten kilogram fucking purse with all the money given to me when i helped - damn it, it seems so easy to be ultra rich when you can use their fucking bottomless bag - , put it on my belt, and go with a "tingling tingling" to the door, waiting for the people to escort me.

    Ok, this sound make me sound like i have some jester bells with me. I put the purse in my backpack.

    I will have to transport this all the way, since we can''t pay the escort before the end of the mission. I foresee walking with all this money will be hard in more ways than one. Well. I don''t care, i will not be pessimist today, i''m in a good mood. The hope for going back is here ! I''m ready to go !

    As i open the door - who was not really closed to begin with -, i''m greeted by Lisa, Book girl and another young man, who i vaguely remember having encountered one time in Lisa''s laboratory, who were waiting for me.

    " - Hi Kyle ! I''m here to bid you farewell and to introduce you to the two people who will come to help you.

    You already know our defense teacher, you can call her Nina, she will be in charge of protecting you directly if a need arise. She''s a master in barrier and defensive magic. For obvious reasons, if she were to put up a shield, dont touch it !

    " - Of course. Hi again B- Nina."

    She nods back at me. Haaa, so, book girl is called Nina ? Alias huh ? Well, all the name i''ve heard since coming in this world are only things i would be able to say right when sneezing hard. It''s good they''re considerate on this.

    " - And this is the one who will translate for you. He''s my assistant teacher, he''s young but you dont have to worry about is capabilities. Travelling with you will also help him improve, so i hope you will lend him your help."

    " - It''s a PLeAsure to mEAT you, you Can cAll me CARL"

    " - Haaaa, likewise."

    I smile at the 20-years-something old boy. He has a funny way of speaking, like a tourist who have learned only from books : his diction go anywhere randomly. It''s something i dont dislike, it always amused me back on earth.

    Appearence speaking, he''s a rather good looking guy with short brown curly hairs, yellow-brown eyes and thins glasses, only that he''s 2 meters tall... Well, at least it''s not the other scumlator. And this one seems a nice smiling young guy. A good young one.

    Hey, i sounded like an old geezer just now !

    " - Well, Kyle, i sincerely hope i will not see you again, because it will mean you have been able to go back home."

    Or because i have been slaughtered in some shit hole on the way.

    " - Thank you. I hope too, in a good way. And whatever happens, know that i will never forget your kindness."

    Lisa made a complicated expression for an instant, but smile again and start to warn me about precautionnary rules while travelling outside. Don''t wander out of the road, dont be distanced by the escort, dont wander around, always obey the others instructions, dont eat something you dont know, be wary of strangers... Huuuh, Lisa, you know, i''m not a five years toddler... She keep saying nonsensical things like this until we reach the gate. I didn''t respond "yes mommy", but it was close.

    After escorting us all the way down the moutain, she hug me and say goodbye. She almost start crying before turning back to the castle, saying she has an appointement with the headmaster now. What a nice girl she is !

    I sincerely hope she will stay well. It was short, but i will miss her, despite her antics.

    I throw a last look at hogwarts-cinderella-castle. The founder of these academy really must have crossed some wires in her memories. It''s a perfect mismatch.

    Well then.

    Here we go !

    With the company of my two new fellows travellers, i was expecting to go by the yellow road directly to the town, but Carl told me the meeting point was in another location. So now i''m following him and Book girl along a little path in another district of the city.

    It seem this part of the city is the craftsman and industrial part of the city.

    The road enlarge a lot and the constructions are a lot more bigger and older-looking than the center and residential parts i have been before.

    All around us are sturdy looking, grey buildings, with almost only two floor each, all neatly aligned and somewhat grouped with each other by the raw materiel they processed. For example, Blacksmiths and smelters are in front of each other, and at another corner, leatherworkers, butchers and tailors are banded together. It''s a rather great insight since it can efficiently cut the cost and time needed for the process of the differents elements of an animal body for example... As i was thinking this and looking at a sword a blacksmith was almost finishing forging, i almost ran into Carl who stopped for no reason. Ouch.

    " - S''il te plAISE, attends un peu iCI."

    " - Huuuh, wrong language."

    " - Haaaa, sorrY, i sAD pLEASE wait for a moMENT hire."

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.As he say that, i can see Book girl entering a shop. HAaa, we seem to be in the magic corner. Strange looking object are on display on each trade batiment. It also seem to be some sort of jeweler corner, since a display with a thick glass let me see some shining gems and glowing crystals. Not really shops but not craftmens workshops either, huh ? Well, the stone are absolutely beautifuls. As i was approching another shop to have a better view, the shopkeeper who was at the door pointed at me and jabbered something with a displeasant looking face.

    Carl who was just behind me responded in the same way and pulled me back to the other side of the road.

    " - Excuse me, what did he say ?"

    " - He sAD country PUMPkins have NOThing to DO in his SHop."

    Haaa ? How the hell do i look like a country bumpkin ? Hey fucker, my world is way more advanced in technology than yours. It''s like a savage from amazonia saying what you''re too primitive to understand how to use a bow when you have a gun to hunt. Ok, not like i can display the glorious technology of my world right now, but even then. I must be unlucky with stones anyways.

    I snort to the shopkeeper and go back waiting Book girl. We dont have to wait at all, since she was already going out of the shop as we were coming back. She has now a thick, long wood rod with no ornaments on it. Really. Just a big piece of stick. I was expecting some mystic cristal on one end, but after looking closely, nothing at all.

    Perhaps a magic wand or something ? Well, stop, i dont need to try to find a reason, I doesn''t concern me after all. Not like i can use it.

    She say something to Carl and we go on our way again.

    After another ten minute walking, as we enter the stonemason area, Carl point in the direction of a group of people in a little plaza in front of us.

    " - They ARe the Guy We will TRavel WIth".

    Ho. It''s five people. Three males humans, a striped ginger feline-type beastman, and ho my god again, a wonderful female elf. Are the breasts a racial feature coming along with the pointy ears ? She dont have back problem ? She kill opponents by smashing them with her knockers ? At least i hope she''s not like the last elf i encountered.

    The Beastman was accompanied by a huge black mastiff dog, and the humans of the group are waiting near horses with one open wagon tied to another horse behind them.

    YESSSSS, i will not have to walk like a madman all the way. If two weak scholar can already make me so pathetic, what about strong adventurers...

    As i was thinking nonsense again, Carl and Book girl exchange a word with them, then Carl call me.

    " - LET me dO the presentAtion. This pErson Is from the SAND cat tribe and wIll BE the trAcker for our PartY. You can Call it MIKE. Ho, and the DOggy is CAlled PEte.

    I slowly nods to say hello. He''s a muscular looking guy with the characteristics ears and slitted eyes of a cat, a long tail going back and forth coming from his back, and a short stripped fur in place of visible skin. His hands seems to be coming with soft buschings. Ha-ha, it''s really a humanized cat. I also wave my hand at the dog who approach to sniff on me. But for some reason he back off immediately. Why ? I''m pretty loved by animals back home... I''m almost hurt here, you know.

    " - This pERson here is an Elf you Can call Leera. She''s Good at a spatiAl NATural magIC used by elves."

    HO MY GOD SHE BOW WHILE SAYING HELLO THEY ARE THE SIZE OF HER HEAD. How can she not trip on the ground ! No seriously, i''m a lambda male, i love them big too, but i would be drowning on them with thiiiiis size.

    As i was looking wide eyed at the sight, the elf straighten herself. I suddenly change the location of my gaze to the guy next to her. I dont want to make a bad vibes for a first contact, and i myself wouldn''t like to be looked like that after all. I need to be polite.

    Beside, if his husband is in the party, i would die for sure with a light knock.

    " - Ha yes, this is an honor to meet her. Hum, and these persons are ?"

    " - This is the chIEF of the grouP. You CAn refEr to hIM as JOE. He''s a Warrior. Behind hIm is his brothEr JOHN, he''s the HEALer of thie partY. And LAst, JIM is another warrioR."

    Joe, Jim and John ? You lack imagination for their names or they were all born in the year of J ?

    The two brothers look too similars to not be twins. Each one is a 30 years old guy with black, messy hairs and blue eyes. They are a little shorter than me, but with muscles cut for heavy works. They also fucking look handsome, i have to admit.

    The third one was younger, a 2 meters tall 20-old guy, and looking at his equipment, he was more of a damage dealer type of warrior, with two one handed swords on his waist and a bigger one on his back.

    Ho shit, the one on his back look really heavy, at least 20 kilogram. He fight with that ?! No, more like, he always travel with that on his back ? Looking at a guy of this caliber, he effectively would have easily played in the movie 300 withouth requiring any makeup, but even then, it must be uselessly tiring.

    Do magic really strenghten them to THIS point ?

    Besides, what''s the problem with the ADN here ? Even Carl look almost like a model. Since we came from Hogwarts, what i am in this party ? Dobby the house-elf ?

    They start discussing among themselves and Book girl. After some time, they call to me and urge me to get in the wagon. This wagon is convertible and have one solid locker on the back doing the job of back wall. He has two bench, and i''m asked to settle down on the second one. Carl, Book girl and the healer.. Jim ? Jack ? Jhealer go to the front one. Hey, it''s tight, what the fuck are you doing guys. Why no one go with me ? You like being pressed like lemons ?

    " - It''s to Baiter prOtect yoU !"

    Why not. After all, i have more space for myself like this. I put my backpack at my feet as we slowly depart.

    I''m pleasantly surprised by the fact this wagon have shock absorbers, and good ones at that. i''m experiencing almost none of the movements induced by the metal wheels on the paved road or from the horse gait.

    I have all the leisure to look at the passing scenery. The crafting area slowly give way to a more modest residential area, with old looking buildings and childrens playing on the road. It''s the old city with a poorer part of his inhabitants, but they dont look unhappy or famished. The childrens are smiling, the womens speak among themselve. It remind me of some old italian village of earth.

    You can definitely see it''s a nice city. After all is said and done, i''m somewhat lucky to have been thrown here.

    I look pleasantly at the bluey old stones and the streets vendors scattered along the road. I stole a glimpse at Leena on her horse too. They move. It''s hypnotic. I cannot look away. Good job, horse.

    After fourty minutes or so, we approach a big wall where guards interrogate the people wanting to leave the city.

    When it''s our turn, they ask what i understand to be our papers, and after a short check on the wagon, we continue withouth any problem, passing on a drawbridge above some river, who was probably something coming from the academy lake.

    After that, as far as the eye can see, it was a succession of fields and farms. The air conveyed the nice scent of fresh earth and plants. I smile as i didn''t realized how much i missed this before.

    This is almost the same scent from home. Even on another world, earth smell always the same...

    While contemplating, i start to wonder how much time we need to attain our objective, to meet the guy who can help me. MMMh, come to think of it, i didn''t ask before who and where we are going. It can be pretty far away. I''ve made a copy of this continent map yesterday, so if he give me the name of the destination, i can have a rough evaluation of the time needed, maybe ?

    " - Hey Carl, i forgotten to ask, but who is the person we need to see ? And where she is exactly ?

    " - Wir werden heute Abend w?hrend des Abendessens dar¨¹ber reden"

    " - Huuu... Dude... Its the wrong language again."

    Perhaps this trip will be a little more tiring than expected.

 8 - Its slow...

    " - We will dO a cheiK on the roaDmaP when wE will stoP at tOnight''s camP. TodAY wE are on a SAfe rod. "

    " - Ho."

    " - I''m sorrY for Two-Day buT wE need to discusS accomoDation oF the paTH wiTh them. EnjOy the tRip in the meal-time."

    Well, i have to bear with it until tonight so. It''s obvious they need to discuss it first with the escort and decide on the best road to arrive safely. I will continue to enjoy the scenery in the meantime.

    And surely, time slowly pass as the horse pull the carriage along the highway.

    Multicolored fields and farms follow one after the other. It could perfectly fit a postcard picture of earth in the 19e century, if the people were all humans and if some of the vegetables were not so ridiculously bigs. That thing who look like a tomato but the size of a watermelon ? Hey, if i came back with the seeds of this plant on earth, GMO producers would go back crying to their mommy ! I smile quietly as the idea could be awesomely good, forget the fact magic seem to be heavily used everywhere. But hey, i dont loose anything and they dont weight much, so i will try to have one if i can. Mmmh, i will try to have a bunch of them, in fact.

    Looking more along the way to the farmers working by hands, i admit i would be worn out for the same work, especially at the same speed. They dont seems to be using too much beasts for labor here, at most i have seen one ox or horse every ten or so fields, but the amount of land worked on is fucking tremendous. Well, if you have magic, it must be more easy.

    Yup, magic infused people and earth magic are awesome. Hats off.

    Our escort is surrounding the wagon. The elf on the right, the shield warrior on the left, and dps warrior on the back. I dont remember exactly who is who except for the elf called leena. Leera ? Shit, i was distrayed by her... mystic elvens features and i didnt heard well when they were all introduced. Haaa, they''re still bouncing everywhere. I cant help but look at her sometimes when my eyes wanders. They''re must be prisonners of the law of attraction of masses.

    No, but more seriously, i really need to stop myself to look at it, it will just hurt me to see it too much withouth any hope of contact. And it''s rude.

    Hey, and now that i think about it, where is the beastcat ? He''s not near the wagon or anywhere behind.

    After some times, i finally see it a long distance away from us. He''s walking with his giant black dog. When i say walking, you need to understand walking at the speed of a horse walking a little fast. He''s done that for a couple hours already. I''m SO happy to have this wagon, really. Withouth, i would have been a piece of dried meat in only a day at this rythm. Yup, it''s great.

    At noon, i was expecting us to stop somewhere, but i was handed over a sort of ham sandwich and some water by Carl, because it seem everyone will eat on the road, still mounted on their horse. Speaking of Carl, he speak to me at regular intervals to ask me if everything is okay or if i need something, then return to discuss thing with book girl and the healer. Yup yup, a good guy.

    ...

    Okay, i''ll admit it, i''m bored as fuck.

    Wake me up when something change. I will now use my special power "sleep anywhere, anytime". Action.

    ...

    In the middle of the afternoon, after the post-eating dozing off, i look again at the bouncing elf the landscape. We have finally get past the endless sea of fields, the only farm we can see now are the more "animal husbandry" type. Cow, horse, and... And... Holy shit, what is this THING.

    It look like a cow, but with a neck the size of a giraffe. And it''s blinded by a headband. Strange. And the male was totally different from the female ; his horns are rolled inward, almost like a ram but in reverse. and his tail is more like a reptile tail. Epic. I''m excited. What taste could have a monster meat like that ? What can he do ? Why the heck do they are blinded ? Well, i mean, i was expecting to see monsters on the road, but not people breeding monsters like "classical" animals.

    My interest picked, i totally wake up from my boredom and check every side of the wagon to see if another fantastical creature - for me at least, the other are unfazed as fuck - is around. I''m in a mythological safari park, i have to enjoy it while i can, heh ? I must look like a children now. Stars in the eyes and everything.

    Huuuh, one of the warriors is giving me a troubled smile. Less of a children, more of a country bumpkin, mmmh ? Yeah, i dont look like a cute children, i know. An unshaved 35 years old man getting all excited must look very silly at best. Still, i dont care. Creatures ! Wooh-hooh ! Too bad i dont have my phone to take pictures.

    A little later, i spot another herd of strange creature... Well... It look like a dinosaur with the size and the horn of a rhinoceros. They have a stripped whity-grey color with smooth skin, an elongated head and the tail of a crocodile. they grazes peacefully under the eye of the shepherd. Looking at the size, it''s like a chihuahua keeping a bunch of cows. But man, they have dinosaurs here ? No, i doubt it, they would have been decimated by magic creature, or do they use magic too now ? Or it can be another mythological creature ? I don''t remember having seen this creature anywhere in jurassic park or whatever book i''ve read about dinosaur when i was young.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!WHERE IS WIKIPEDIA WHEN WE NEED IT ! Ha yes i know, i left him in earth, with internet, the phone and the rest. So great.

    Time passed again and evening came. Unluckily for me, i didn''t see any other creature on the way after, only normal-looking one, and less and less farms. Smalls patch of forest started appearing here and here, nothing more than little groves, but it was a sign that we were now far away from the city. Carl told me a little time ago what we will soon enter in a renforced camp where we will eat and stay for the night.

    Cool, i was getting hungry. Not like i did anything, but the sheer observation made me starved, and if i can eat the meat of theses beasts, it would be better ! Withouth being a glutton, I really wonder how they taste.

    Finally, we arrive at the camp. I was expecting a small village, but it''s a 30 x 30 meters solid stonewall sheped like a bee cell, which makes an enclosed space on the side of the road, withouth any visible building inside. It look like it''s just a safe space. Beastcat is waiting for us near a thick wooden gate, and looking at the smoke coming from the inside of the camp, we will probably not be the only one sleeping here tonight.

    In front of the entrance, warrior-in-chief push a round crystal in a little hole of the stone wall, and the wood gate open for us, before he take it back. Hey, so you need a token or something akin to a pass to enter the protected space ? It''s well thought. Except if the pass is stolen perhaps ? But with magic... Well, first thing, is magic so convenient ? Not like i know anything about it, actually, i can say to anything i dont understand "it''s magic ¡ì", but perhaps it is not really. I will have to ask Carl about it later. Better to know how it work if i''m left alone for some reason later.

    When we enter, a caravan of merchants and some guards are already eating inside, looking at us with curious eyes. The warrior-in-chief say something and we go in a side of the safe area to make our little campment.

    I can finally get off of the wagon !

    Our escort is immediately busy attending the horses and getting the tents up, except for warrior-in-chief going to the fireplace of the merchants to discuss with them. Carl and Book girl were rummaging their bags, and since i have nothing to do, i just stretch myself to loose some strains.

    Hey, why do you make a little tent aside from the others and put my backpack near it ? I''m like 3 meters away from everyone. I''m not infectious, you know ? Stop it a little with the shunning, for fuck sake !

    Five minutes after, a little campfire was made and we are eating and discussing among us. Except me, who was punished, alone in a corner. At least, the vegetable soup was good.

    Ho, you want to know how can we have a soup like this ready in a matters of minutes ? Simple. Book girl have taken it out from her bag. THE ENTIRE POT. Still fuming. It was not even sealed and it didn''t spill.

    On earth i always wondered how can girls can put so many things in their handbag, in this world t''s on another level. What ? Sexist remark ? No way.

    I finish my soup with some bread and hand it other to Leera the boob elf, who create water with magic to clean it before storing it back in a bag. The merchants have already gone to sleep in their corners, except two guards in fulll body armor who are still keeping watch near the almost extinguished fire.

    After that, i look at our fire for a moment and then at the night view. Since it doesn''t have any industrial pollution here, this is awesomely cleaner than on earth. Stars with all size shine gently on a dark blue palette colored sky. The moon is bigger than our earthian moon and i can see other tiny moons or planets on the distance. Really. I''m reminded every time, in every details, what i am in another world.

    " - Kyle, as promisEd, i will eXplain to yOu the rOad we will take !"

    Whoops, i didn''t see Carl approaching me. Almost had an heart attack here.

    " - Haaaa, sure. So, where are we going ? How much time, and finally, WHO is the person we are going to see ?"

    " - HaHa, slOwer, plEase, i neeD to finD my words. First, wE are WeddinG in the East part of the continEnt, to a Kingdom called Hespea, it''s ten Days of Travel from heRe. It is not a humAn country, but our acAdemy is in good Term witH the one we Are going to See."

    When we will know each others better, i will need to help him correct his way of speaking. I''m definitely not going to marry him in the eastern part of the continent.

    " - But foR the Rod we need To TaKe, this is where wE have a Problem. One of the Country we need to pasS is starTing a war with his neighborhooD, and our eScort say we will neeD to pass by another Rod. The Rod is a little lesS sure, but it''s betTer to avoid the area since Bandits, pillagers and others baD People can attack us, and fighting Beasts wilL be Better than them."

    War ? Yes, i wouldn''t like coming in the middle of it. Humans are the most vicious predators after all.

    " - So wE will have to pasS by a big Forest and an inhuMan Kingdom beFore coming bacK on the more secure waY."

    " - An inhuman kingdom ? Like a beastman kingdom ? It''s different from the non-human country ? Or is it because people are not humanoids ?"

    " - We call inhuMan Kingdom where RaCe of People are but not only non-humaN Because of apParence but beCause of how they thinK. They just are aLiens to what we call logiCal or... It''s diffiCult to clarify myselF. Just know they thinK diFferently. The one territory we are paSsing throught even aBide to others naTurals laWs."

    What the heck mean they think differently. Like insects society ? And differents natural laws ? It''s possible ? Like what ? Flying rocks, reverse rivers ? I''m pretty curious now. Carl chuckle as i look at him with rounds eyes.

    " - I will asK our guide tommorrOw aBout details, he has already Passed this Territory, he know more thAn mE.

    Finally, the Guy we are going to inTerrogate is Called Ashtgmir. It''s a half-GoD servant of the goD of Fire. I Dont know muCh abouT him, but Mina have Already enCountered him, iF you haVe Questions laTer, tell me and i will ask."

    WHATWHATWHAT THE FLYING FUCK IS A HALF GOD OF FIRE !

    I imagine immediately a titan made of lava. We are going to directly see THAT ? It''s not going to annoy him ? he will not burn me to a crisp on a whim ? By fire be purged and everything ?

    " - Now, neeD to SleeP ! Travel will Resume earlY Tommorow. We can speaK on the Way. Have a Good night !"

    Carl then get up, and go to the tent where the others mens are going to sleep.

    I stay here, blankly staring into the empty space.

    Dont fucking leave me to sleep after throwing a bombshell like that, damn it !!

 9 - whats the time, mister wolf ?

    After a short night dreaming about people on fire using me as a matchstick, i was full of energy to... sleep again.

    No i mean, the sun is just rising, at least, the first sun is ! It must be 4-5 o''clock in the morning !

    They''re all already packing things, my tent included, below which i was still lying down in my sleep bag. Nooo, the light, it huuuurts, i''m not a morning guy, have pity !

    I understand all these poors vampires who dont want to get up with the sun. Damn, i will need to adapt if we go on like this for ten days.

    After an improved breakfast with the local blue coffee - Yeah, i needed time to adapt to this color the first days on the academy -, and a uselessly energetic Carl, we prepare to get out of the safe space. The merchants already leaved for 15 minutes before warrior-in-chief gave us the green light to resume our travel.

    And another day on the wagon.

    Today, i will save us time : i''ll sleep right away.

    ....

    So, two hours after, i''m awake now, and i''m ashamed. I''ve sleeped when the others were dutyfully standing watch while travelling. Even if i''m the one escorted doesn''t mean i can do crap like some shitty VIP starlet. I fucking hate that, and i just did it. Damn it !

    " - Hum, Carl, is there anything i can do to help ? Do you want me to watch in place of someone ?"

    " - Hmmm ? No Kyle, donT waRy, we''Re doinG Fine For now, you can eVen go BacK to sleeP if you wanT."

    Ok, now i''m treated like a useless decoration. I reap that i sow, next time, i will have to at least stay awake to do a conversation with Carl for example. Now, he''s looking at one of Book girl''s book and seem like they are in a great debate about something. ''Was already selfish enough, i cant cut him in his conversation now...

    Well, let''s resume looking at the surrounding...

    Still on the highway, we''re crossing a not too dense forest, we can see fairly far inside.

    No animals except some birds and little squirrels with strange brights colors frolicking around.

    Our escort are still in the same formation as before, beastcat is still ahead of us with the doggie.

    Elf''s boobs are still bouncing.

    Yep yep, nothing changed.

    Well, this way, i have time to mentally prepare myself to face a half-god fire entity. The only problem is knowing what the flying fuck i must prepare myself for ! For now i''ve mostly dealed with humans and a little with humanoids people you can categorize "similar" to humans, but how the heck can you start a conversation with something who''s perhaps a living mini-supernova ? And in this case, where do i need to look to find the face to begin with ?

    While i was mumbling crazy scenariis to myself, the wagon came to a sudden halt. I quickly look everywhere to whatever was the reason for this stop, since the last pee break was just one hour ago ?

    Our escort seem vigilant about something, coming and goind around the wagon still on their horses, Book girl is gripping tightly her stick and her book, while Carl and J-healer are looking everywhere. Also, i cant see Beastcat.

    Enemy attack ? I initially want to look too, but with a small calculation, i came to the rapid conclusion :

    ME + VISIBLE HEAD + RANDOM ATTACK + STURDINESS OF A COOKIE = (RED PULP EVERYWHERE)2

    So i quickly bent down. Wise choice. I stay still and silent, meanwhile the only sound i am able to pick up was the horse hoofs clapping on the ground. Damn it, it''s exasperating to not know what will come ! Do i need to be prepared to run ?

    After ten more minutes, j-warrior in chief say something and we slowly resume our march.

    Still crounched on my seat, i ask Carl.

    " - Carl, please tell me, what happened ? Something strange ? Enemies ? "

    He answer in a low voice.

    " - It Seems Mike PicKed up sounDs of a Fighting cominG From a Few kilometeRs away. Joe Said it''s unwise to sTumble into a laRge scale sKirmish like that, and Since there is a BiFurcation Before, we Dont need to Face unnecessary Danger. So we will deviaTe a liTtle but it will be Safer this way."

    Mike and Joe ? Haa, Beastcat and the lead warrior with a J.

    So people are attacked ? We cant help them ?

    " - You dont think of helping the people who are attacked ? You''re powerfull magicians, no ?"

    " - We aRe not whoRe maGe. Dont oveRestimate magicians ; my fiRst masteR always said thiS : even if you aRe a giant Killer, even if you saved Kingdoms and empiRes, a lucky arRow from a novice solDier in the head mean death foR you Too."

    Ho. I was thinking mage were more... Resilients ? I would really need to make him explain how magic work to me tought.

    " - And we Dont know eitheR who is fighTing and their numbeRs. It could Perfectly be Bandits against Bandits or against a Powerful monsteR. In both case, our numbeR wouldn''t matter and it would be too late to esCape. So we are evadinG this Fight."

    Sound perfectly logical. Not like i can say anything since i cant do shit. Beside the fact i''m not even the real client, but more of the "fragile item" to convey, saying to them to perhaps go die for no good reason would be totally awful. I just hope this was not poor people being decimated by a bizarre monster...

    We advance at a slower pace than usual until we find a fork with a less large road. Once taken, everyone''s horses suddenly broke to a gallop, to put as much distance as possible from the main road with the potential threat. We continue like this for at least 30 minutes until we slow down to a more normal speed.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    In the meantime, since i was still bending down, i cant say i''ve really seen anything about what happened. I slowly get up to look at the new area we''re passing through.

    It was still the same forest, but much more thicker. The woods were now tangled with plants from all size.

    From the look of it, it was still a non-tropical forest but with overgrown vegetation everywhere, a little like a mid-west america forest but with trees at least fifty meters talls. The only difference is because of the trees who have purple leaves and brownish to reddish trunks. It''s like looking at a forest with a camera filter for color-blind people.

    But the sight is nevertheless magnificient. I dont think you can see a so grand forest like this in earth anymore. Colorful butterflies and birds were flying near the crown of the trees in a beautiful danc-

    Mmmmh, these butterflies, didn''t i just see one killing a bird just now ? And they''re almost a meter long.

    I quietly crouch again, and put my backpack on my head. I must look silly, but it''s better being ridiculous than sorry. And with a hole in the head.

    ...

    Evening came, and with that, my arms and head were badly aching from having the backpack on top of me all of the time. I forgot this fucking heavy money purse !

    In the afternoon, the tense atmosphere from earlier gradually vanished and we went back to a more tranquil pace, but i didn''t relaxed myself ; too many strange animals everywhere. And above all, insects the size of my hand buzzing everywhere. I wonder how insects can be this big... A ladybug is cute when she''s the size of your pinky, not when its a damn friggin'' flying bowling ball !

    I can almost swear i''ve seen a squirrel-like creature having a larva going out from his mouth. Or he was eating it but in the wrong way. Holy crap, i hate insects. I''m sure with my luck, they will stung me to lay egg and turn me into a living nest for larvae before the end of the trip. Haaaa...

    This time, there was no fortified place to sleep quietly ; we are in the wilderness, so we will camp in the open.

    When we finallyy stop near a clear area, Beastcat has already gathered some pieces of wood and put it into a pile to start a fire. The horse are tied to nearby trees and the wagon was parked on the forest side. After that, our tents are neatly put around the fire to make a circle. And i was not put aside this time ! I was asked to simply stay in the wagon for the night. snifff.

    Carl explained to me it was to protect myself and what i was forbidden to move out of the vehicle for the time being. Well, if it''s easier for them to defend the wagon, i perfectly understand, and it''s not like i didn''t sleep here before... And fortunately i am a man, in the case i need to pee.

    After that, another soup is served from the magic bag of Book girl. Really, how many pots of soups have been shoved in this crazy bag. This time, it''s a thick bean soup with large slice of bacon-like meat. mmmmh... ?

    I''m planning to ask some details to Carl about the giant firecracker we are about to see when beastcat and Boobs elf get up suddenly and take their weapons. Hooo, shit, what''s happening now.

    A moment later, everyone is armed, except for me, and ready to attack whatever come to light. I am looking too with half the face protected by the wagon wall. I want to know what''s happening too ! And i saw it a moment after. Glowing eyes appearing from the night, increasing in numbers while their distances from the fire decrease.

    Wolves ! Dires wolves even, a lot of them, one meter tall with grey fur and white fangs, who approach silently from the other side of the wood. Good job picking up the sound of them coming, because they''re absolutely silent even now when i can see them. Fiven ten, fifteen... twenty wolfies the size of Beastcat doggy. It will be hard... What can i do...

    " - Kyle, DonT Moo fRom the CaRriage !"

    Kyle shout at me with a rougher voice than usual. So, what can i do ? The pom-pom boy ? The commentator ? Play some music who fit with the action ?

    Ok. Since i cant do anything, i will finish my soup. I will die if they die anyways. I can enjoy my last meal. Shit.

    One of the horses who was peacefully grazing finally picked up one of the wolf approaching and whinnied loudly.

    At this signal, the wolves start to leap on us ! Well, on the escort who was at the front of us, mainly.

    J-warrior in chief start blocking two wolves with his shield while keeping another at bay with his sword. J-warrior damage dealer is slashing and already empaled one of the wolf, who was wailing at his feet, loosing a sword in the process. Doggie is growling at two of the wolves while Beastcat is engaging two as well with a one-handed axe. Boobs elf is slighty behind, casting some spell, and Carl is apparently reciting a spell too. Book girl and J-healer are behind, to probably oversee the situation and react if the circumstances need it.

    The wolves are pounding madly at the feets of the warriors to make them fall. You can perfectly imagine how it would be really hard to get up again if you were to trip up, you would certainly be swiftly dragged in the forest and finished off quickly.

    J-warrior-in-chief-tank is mainly stalling time with a skillfull use of his tower shield, in exchange he didn''t deal any real damage yet. But his ability to attract and block most of the wolves from advancing make him a splendid tank. Eight wolves are now facing him growling and foaming, while slowly trying to surround him since they are not able to get past him easily.

    J-Damage dealer was splendidly killing a third wolf while evading a fourth, and Beastcat is on his second wolf. The worst one is doggie, who killed a wolf but was cruelly bitten by the other one, blood flowing madly.

    Meanwhile, Boobs elf finish incanting and a brown glow rise from her feet and with a slow rumble, wood spikes and roots start to appear from the ground, binding the wolves in front of J-tank warrior and skewering others ! It''s what they call druidic magic right ? And- Ho, Carl launched an ice bolt, freezing three wolves who were coming from the side of the wood. They drop dead on the spot. I did not see them coming at all.

    The fight started to heavily bend on our favor and some wolfs already started yapping while fleeing ! damage J-damage dealer and J-tank finally go side by side, J-damage dealer cleaving the last still-rooted wolves in two with his massive claymore while J-tank blocked each attack coming at him. J-healer was already near the doggie to heal him while Beastcat finished the two last wolves on his side.

    That was amazing ! Seriously, it was like i was seeing a next-gen 3-D movie with a giant screen. The action was intense and the fight lasted no more than ten minutes. It was a spectacular to watch.

    ... If i say that out loud, i would perfectly understand being the next one to be cut into piece or squeezed like a lemon by some tree branch.

    After finishing the last injured wolf remaining, they start to clean up the battlefield, retrieve their weapons and quicly dugged a hole with the magic of boobs elf to put the corpse in it. Better not have a blood scent in this forest !

    Me ? I am still eating my soup. I was ordered not to move...

    The area is almost cleaned of the last remnant of the battle when beastman suddenly jump and run on the direction of the horses, while boobs elf scream something to the others. Another monster ? Wait, i have almost finished eating. They all quickly stop everything and came back near the fire where Book girl is incanting something. Beastcat rapidly come back with the horses and make them lay down near us.

    A glowing, yellow bubble appear around us in the form of a dome. Look like a shield ! Is the next monster something better not to fight this time ?

    I suddenly hear a sharp whirring just behind me. Like an automat, i slowly, mechanicaly, turn myself.

    Two meters from my position on the wagon, on the other side of the bubble, something is trying to enter.

    " - HAAAA WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIIIIIT !!"

    I spit the mouthful of soup i was swallowing and almost stun myself when i scream and fall from where i was seated.

    A three-meters long, black, mosquito-like monster with dark red multifaceted eyes, and black hair all other the body is trying to perce the bubble. His dart-like nose is of the same lenght than J-damage dealer''s claymore.

    It''s not too late to come back to the main road, right ?

 10 - Night raid

    The thing is looking at me.

    It is looking in my direction, but with insects eyes who can look anywhere at the same time, and my present state of mind, for me, everything is targeting my sorry ass.

    It moved slowly on the shield, poking on it sometimes with is sword-like trunk, trying to find a way to enter.

    It would look ridiculously fake, like a cheap halloween doll made from iron wire and bristles brushes, if it was not for the fact he is moving and... drooling something transluscent.

    I didn''t dare move from the wagon. In my frozen state, i slowly, softly called Carl.

    " - Caaaarl, do you think we can do something ?"

    No one answer.

    " - C... Carllll ?"

    No answer. Are you trying to fuck me with cheap thriller horror movies suspens ? I slowly turn my head.

    Crap, now i have the horror movie mentality who kicked in. Generally, i would turn now to see all the people killed and devoured while still alive, and i will be beheaded on the spot or something horrible like that. I finish to turn and on the other side is -

    - At least two dozen of giants mosquito from all sizes.

    Luckily all outside of the shield. Pffff. Safe. At least for now.

    Carl seems concerned about the situation - really ? i wonder why ?? - and discuss with the others in a very low voice, meanwhile Book girl is still standing while generating her shield. I would like to pat her for the good job, but it would end up with the shield fading and everyone dead, so, no thanks. Beastcat is still holding the horses who are lying down, while blocking theirs eyes with patches of tissus.

    Ha, they just finished the discussion.

    " - Carl ? What can we do about these monsters ?"

    " - Kyle. We can Do nothing for now, these monsteRs are not as sTrongs as they look, but they aRe Troublesome since they tRavels has swarms and are Poisonous. They paralyze the Prey when they start sucKing their insiDes, and they can easily Pass through leather with the sTings in their proBoscis."

    Yeah, thanks for the ray of hope you''ve just provided and all the scientifics details. Now i have the mental image of being sucked to death by a bunch of these things, looking at my own brain being aspirated, like in some old Starship troopers movie.

    " - If we waiT for some tiMe, they will naturally Go away, the problem iS, if they''re on a fRenzy, they have a Troublesome tRait."

    THANKS FOR THE DEATH FLAG. We can be sure it will happen now. Next you''re planning to speak about your fiancee you will marry when you come back home and shit like this ? Arrrgh, stop, i still have the horror movie mentality working at full throttle i said. "Dont worry, we''re perfectly safe !".

    And, just after i think that, since the law of murphy command it, i start hearing a low buzzing sound, who slowly go crescendo. Damn it, I KNEW IT. FOR FUCK SAKE, WHY DID YOU SAY IT.

    From a low and annoying buzzing sound, like a mosquito flying just near your ear, it go gradually to the sound of a whistle blowing at full lungs, still just at your ears. It was uncomfortable to the maximum, and even trying to block the sound was useless, because it was reverberating directly in our brain. Fuck, this is supposed to do what ? Explode our skull with sounds ?

    Since Doggie is a dog and has a naturally enhanced hearing, he is howling and whinning so much that beastcat need to use one of his hand to tie a headband around his head to tone down a little the sound who is hurting him. But it is almost useless. And the moment he do that, all the horses began to panic and get up in fright from the sound, loosing the makeshift blindfold on their eyes in the process.

    They see the fucking mosquitos and begin charging randomly in the camp. Murphy, i hate you.

    Beastcat manage to calm down one of the horses while Warrior en chief defend in front of Book girl and Carl. The three others, Priest, Warrior damage and Boobs elf try to calm down the last four horses, but they dont have time to do so. In sheer panic, they escape from the protection of the shield - withouth destroying it apparently - and began to run away at full speed.

    The first one did a little more than twenty meters before he collapsed, sucked to death by two giant insects who jumped on him the second he got out from the safe zone. And the three others, looking at the number of these fuckers who went after them, i dont think they will fare better than the first contender.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    My eyes are morbidly attracted by the sight of the poor horse who lie down outside. Now, three more insects have begun to drain him from his blood and... everything other in the inside. Holy crap. I''m not a lightweight for the gore stuff, but THIS is not something you would like anyone or anything to die. Shit, it seems he''s not even totally dead. The corpse of the horse slowly deflate while the abdomen of the mosquito slowly inflate and take a red tint... I forcibly look away, to concentrate on that''s happening to us now. Some mosquitos are still just outside the shield, poking on it sometime, while Book girl maintain it with a deadpan expression. In the meantime, Beastcat managed to use a rope to tie down the limbs of the remaining horse to ensure he will not have the same fate as the others.

    The campment is devastated and our tents are brokens. We only have one horse now. The situation look grim.

    Boobs elf rummage around to find what exactly has been destroyed and what is usable, meanwhile, another discussion with Carl and the three others begin.

    They all seems annoyed, but not nervous or panicking, so i think i can relax a little ? Proof of that, they didn''t even unsheathed their weapons since the beginning. This magic-shield-zone-thing look sturdy after all, but i''m more concerned about the stamina or magical power or whatever is used by Book girl. How long can she maintain that ?

    And behind me, the same fucking freaking gnat is still testing the solidity of the shield while looking at me. What ? You want to have childrens with me or what ? Get the fuck out with the rest of your family.

    .... If i remember right, technically, i would be used to feed the larvae. So yeah, it would have children with me. Inside the childrens. I look at the poor horse, who is now a deflated baloon, except for the bone mass. I would finish like this. A rubber human costume. BRRrrrrzzZzghtfmbll. A little spasm make me shudder.

    Ten minutes after, nothing really changed outside, but Carl and the others finally finished to discuss.

    " - Kyle, we have Done a checK-in of the recent Developments. We still neeD to cRoss this forest to arrive aT another ciTy, but since our mounts aRe Dead, we will have to aBandon the wagon and walK. The lasT horse will Be carrying our luGgage."

    Walking ? here ? With fucking monsters everywhere ? With my snail speed ?

    " - Carl, can''t we attach the horse on the wagon ? Or one ? It will be less taxing on the horse to transports equipments on the wagon than carry them on himself right ?"

    " - SaDly no, because of the weighT of the wagon, we wouldn''t Be able to get in aFter. And Beside, we would Be able to travel more freEly and Faster than with the waGon with only one horse. I''m sorry, it was uneXpected to see these monsteRs here, they''re generally More in the South. We will neeD to see what attracted them in this zone aFter we Get at the next Town guilD."

    You fucking like to throw flags, huh ?

    " - Haaa, yes, then how will we do for tonight with these things still here ?"

    " - Nina Can maintain her barRier until morninG. These creatures are only noCturnal, so they will leave once the lighT start being bRighter. She has already Done iT before, so we are noT worrying. One people of our escoRt will stay on guaRd with heR. We have to sleep now, Nina will sleeP on the horse Tmorrow, but we will neeD to depaRt at Dawn. I know it Can be frightening buT try to relaX please."

    YYYeaaaah, like i will simply sleep like that. With just hundreds of giant killers-insects next to me. So relaxing. And tomorrow, we will have to travel inside the man eating forest, on foot to boot. The future look so dreamy, really. I dont foresee anything going wrong. Hey, why do we need to go ahead now that i think about it ? It''s more dangerous, no ?

    " - Cant we go back to replenish our stock of horses ?"

    " - We aRe now faR away from the city, it will taKe almosT the same Time to go bacK than going aheAd."

    " - ... I understand. you''re all professionals after all, so you know how to react better than me.

    I will try to sleep."

    " - Good nighT. Try to have a Good sleeP."

    Yeah. Good night. These are the right words. At least he didn''t say any other death flag like "dont worry, tomorrow will be a quiet and safe day !" before leaving. Haaaa...

    I collapse in the wagon while thinking. I''m so mentally exhausted it''s really possible that i will start sleeping at some point after all. I brood again about what happened since coming to this world withouth asking for it. At least, i can be happy to not have been dropped in this forest alone in the beggining.

    But i must say, i expected adventurers to do a more flashy and easy job than this ? Like, fireball, and poof, roasted insects, or an insecticide spell of some sort with citronella scent ? A giant slipper ?

    Or perhaps our escort is just not that strong ? They have killed all the wolves but... Well, i admit they detected the mosquitos and reacted accordingly... Haaaaa, i dont know, tourmenting myself like that will not help in anything. I need to sleep now. No nap on the wagon tomorrow.

    Ho shit, i forgot about that too, i really need to sleep fast, or i will be a living zombie, later on the road. Crap, how much days did he say we would need to walk from dawn to evening before ? Shiiiiit...

    I turn to the side to make myself more comfortable, and close my eyes.

    I open an eye again and see monstersquito who is still looking at me, with the head upside down. I must look really appetizing.

    I turn to the other side. And i dont know why, but my imagination take over and i see myself being empaled in the ass, then quickly drained from everything. By the ass.

    Finally, i think i will try to sleep on my back.

    In my dreams this night, monstersquito gave me a special accupuncture session.

 11 - Dont stop the magic.

    " - chip chip !"

    I yawn peacefully while waking up in my bed. When i open my eyes, i can the see the blue sky and hear the bird singing outside. I''m under my favourite warm, soft quilt.

    It''s pure bliss... Haaa, another beautiful day.

    Mmmh ? There is something on the other side of the bed.

    I slowly turn my head.

    Monstersquito is under the sheets and smoke a cigarette. He, too, slowly turn is head toward me.

    " - So... happy ?"

    ....

    HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA#$¡è%¡ì#&#0#@¡ì]}% !??!?!??

    <hr>

    My eyes shoot wide open.

    I finally wake up from this nonsensical nightmare when Carl poke me on the side. THANKS, CARL.

    I look nervously around, but the area is now clear of all monsters insects. It look like a peaceful man-eating purple forest again. Our escort is harnessing the horse with all the remaining heavy equipment we will take, while the less space-taking one are put in Book girl space magical handbag something. And dont ask why they cant put everything on it, i dont know myself. Speaking of her, the poor Book girl who protected us all night is really tired and munch silently on the breakfast Carl prepared near the bonfire.

    Mmmmh, i dont see Beastcat or the dog anywhere...

    In summary, except for the visible, empty corpses of the horses, and some wolves who were hurt in the earlier fight and didn''t flee fast enough to escape from the giants mosquitos swarm, nothing remain from the fight last night.

    Yep. It''s clean.

    No, these things on the grounds are not traces from another big creature i didn''t hear last night. I can safely erase them from my memory. They dont exist. I was sleeping anyways. I will deny you, reality.

    Ok, really, no need to tense up again, i''m already pretty useless like that, no need to turn psycho who scream and have panic attack at the worst time. It''s always like this in movie, the one who cant react when he''s panicking die first. I need to have a cool head.

    Or at least, look like i keep a cool head...

    Ho, i''m hungry. What-can-i-eat-on-this-wonderful-day (monotone.)

    I calmly ( ... ) go down from the wagon, smelling the sweet scent of the (blue) coffee, and walk to the fire where the breakfast is prepared.

    " - Ha, Carl, what a bad night yeah ? The loss of the horses and all... So what will we do today ? How much time until we reach the next city by foot ?"

    I''m trying to distract myself here, but i''m also curious.

    " - They Say it''s going To Take three days !"

    Three days.

    You will be mourned, my poor feets.

    " - We have TaKen your speeD into acCount so it will take one more Day than normal."

    " - Thanks. I''m sorry to be so useless."

    " - No, no, it''s noT your fault to begin with, so noBody is going to blame you for this here. We will finiSh to eat and start immediately. I have alreaDy taken the liberty to place your baG on the horse, so you will tRavel lighter."

    Carl... You''re such a good guy !

    That said, i still cant help having mixed feeling, like, you know, i''m a sheltered princess or something. I''ll never get used to it. You can''t help it, on earth i''m usually the worker-guy-who-do-everything.

    I really wonder what they said to the escort guys to explain my absolute uselessness...

    Well. Time to fill my stomach. Mmmmh, sausages... Green sausage, but sausage nonetheless. Dont think about what''s inside, just eat it. It smell like sausage, it cruch like sausage, and it taste like... Freshly cut grass. yeahh.

    Well, we have an elf with us, so it''s probably that ? Or not ? Are elf vegetarians ? Is it racist to think they are vegetarians only ? Do it count at cannibalism to be vegetarian for an elf ? WHY THE FUCK ALL THESE STUPID QUESTIONS ARE THE ONLY THINGS POPPING ALL THE TIME IN MY HEAD ?

    Stop. I need to eat. Eat. Stop thinking pointless things.

    After eating my fill, Chief-def warrior put the exhausted Book girl on the horse in an improvised seat made with some woodplank from the wagon. She smile softly and immediately fall asleep. All the equipement is attached behind her so she will not slip while dozzing off. When she''s solidly harnessed, the escort take place around us with J-priest guiding the horse with a leash.

    And now, here we go. A full day walking...

    ...

    Surprisingly, if i didnt walk at a fast pace, and if they didnt walk slowly, they would have been nothing but a tiny dot on the horizon in less than ten minutes. I can perfectly picture myself walking on my knees in the next city, everything beneath it would have been worn out by the road...

    " - Is it okay like this ? We Cant go slower, we need to keeP up this pace to attain the next saFe area before the night."

    Carl is at my side since he dont speak with Book girl or J-priest. We have a safe area tonight ? Woo-hoo ! I''m motivated now. No fucking monsters and a good night sleep !

    " - We will stop at a safe area tonight ? It''s great ! I was thinking there was no one since we were sleeping in the wild yesterday..."

    " - It''s just Because we entered late on this roaD, we would''nt have Time to attain it before the deaD of the night, it would have been Too dangerous. And we didnt have lucK with the monsTers, the wolves were one things, but to enCounter Fagznhtss here too..."Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    " - How come these Fagzbzz-stuff monsters exists ? It''s the work of evil gods and everything i''ve read on the library ?"

    " - Ho yes, you Dont know very munch how this world worK. Let me have the pLeasure to explain."

    He pause to collect his toughts with a large, large smile. Haaaaa, i think i triggered what we can call familiarly a verbal diarrhea, i forgot he was a teacher in training. Well, it''s going to distract me on the road... Go for it, my Carl radio.

    " - MonsTers come from differents souls patTern. There are essentially monsTers who came fRom the soul patTern of special area, of fabricated Belief, of a long lifetiMe, of a physical particulariTy or by the sheer size of some pacKs. The monsters Born from area are-"

    Wha dide yu saeee ? try it again ? He started speaking another random language ?

    " - Sorry to say this, but i stopped understanding anything after the monsters come from."

    " - Ho, you dont kNow about how the floW of magic worK ? I will starT from here, then !"

    " - Huuu, yes, it would be a pleasure, but consider the fact i came from a world when magic dont exist at all, please."

    Not as if it concern me since i''m a living magic-repellant, but well.

    " - Magic come from the Soul. Each living beinG from this worlD have something you can define by a soul souRce coming froM them, you can imagine it like a litTle sun inside you. He permanently Radiate magic everywhere in the boDy, and the more developped the Soul is, the more magiC it naturally produce. Plant, inseCt, fiSh, animal, then senTient being is usually the order of magic one naturally Radiate from the smallest to the highest Power. You can also compaRe the soul to the eGo to explain the Power difference. Plants have a small to non-existant ego, when animal haVe already a simple senSe of Self, even if they''re some difference Between them."

    " - Okay, for now i still follow."

    " - You see, when Someone want to use magic, they neeD to visualize and Direct the magic power emanateD from the soul-sun to the desired area and imagine the Determined effect. If you need to create water from your hand, you have to Sense your magic fiRst, direct a chunck to your hand, and imagine the staTe of the water you want to proDuce. It seem Simple, but it''s hard to do it at the same time when you begin. The same when you wanT to reinfoRce your muscles, it doesnt matteR if it''s internal or external, the thing that matter is if you Can effectively direct, Vizualise and imagine the effeCt you want."

    " - But the more magic you have the better, no ?"

    " - Not necessarily. Naturally when you have a stRong magic power you''re more suited to wield iT, but even against the power of a dRagon, a human has a chance if he has more contRol over his own magic. To maKe a example, someone strong, with bulging muscle is not Going to be necessarily more efficient in Combat against someone who know how to Fight even with a lowestPower."

    " - It''s like a mastery stat in video game ?"

    " - It''s Something from your worlD ? I know someTimes when people crosS worlDs they are given a way to examine in a more familiar waY the sTate of their body, but it''s just an imprit from the enTity bringing the otherworlder to this siDe, the model of a self diagnostic spell."

    Whoa, slow down here, please. It''s starting to get hard.

    " - Its not some special power offered by a god or something ?"

    " - There are sPecial powers sometimes, but the majoriTy offered are just pattern imprited on your memory, the real help is an eaSiest way to manipulate their magical power. And for the self-diagnostiC sPell, when you have the patTern, your mind create somethinG you have an easiest time undersTanding, or at least one you are the most used to See."

    Mmmmh, okay, so in short they just make a short magic training with the strict minima before tossing us here ?

    " - I was thinking that for "normal" people ejected here, they would have been offered something more... Heroic ? Powerful ?"

    Like i can speak.

    " - As i saiD, it happen sometimes but it''s not neCessarily a good thing. And Since they come from another worlD, usually their constitution already give them an adVantage, and/or their capaciTy to visualize and create magic become something diFferent from the folKs here."

    He seem to be unhappy saying that. Well, if some motherfucker like the ones pictured in history books popped here and here with the ability to fart fireballs or shoot wire-guided missiles from their nostrils, i can perfectly relate to the fact people are upset about it...

    " - Well, bacK to the explication about monsters. I briefly explaineD the basic about magic, and i said your soul-Sun raDiate magic everywhere in your body. Now, since you permanentlY emit magic power, a little part oF it is Sometimes send involontarily to an object you think for a reason or another. This magiC emanation is usually feeBle and litTle, but it can accumulate over time, creating what we can call an enchanTed zone if it''s a place, or a magiC monster if it''s a creatuRe."

    " - It seem dreadfully easy to have monster spawning everywhere..."

    " - It taKe a lot of time, fortunately, and it depend furtHer on the creatures who "think" of this. Except for really powerful creatures, it also reqQuire a lot of creatures to think of it, and it''s always starting by Being weakly enchanteD.

    I will say another examPle, but a clearing in a Dense foreSt can somewhat be enchanted by the plants around it, but it will take a great Deal of time and generations of plants. Generally, it happen faster beCause animals "think" about it too, since the zone is givinG them a special impression or saFety. The more restricted the zone is, the more Faster it will be to be enchanted."

    " - It not happen to large areas ?"

    " - Yes, but these zones neeD to be awfully special. I will not exPlain it because it will confuse you, but magic come From the earth others naturals elemenTs too and Can Be mixed with it, helping and sthrengtening the enchanting Process greatly. The perFect example would be an active volcaNo, with the fire and earth elements, but as you will See on our travel, we will also paSs through a zone affected with eartTh and pure magic power elemenTs."

    " - Ho... The zone with others natural laws you speaked before, right ?"

    " - Yes. These zones have a sPecial effect on the earth and have a Tendancy to give birth to magical creatures. Not all are Dangerous or threatening against peoPle, some even friendly, but frankly it all depenD from the zone, the thoughts of cReatures who slowly enchanted the area and the Type of creature who were liVing beFore."

    "- Like ?"

    " - A swamp is enchanted. Animals and people think it''s a Pain, plants cant gRow well, some magiC with water and earth is mixeD. And you have the previous inhabitants slowly mutaTing into giants monsters liKe the one we have encountereD yesterday."

    " - ..."

    " - I can give you other examPles. Especially bloody battlefielDs from greats wars have a tendancy to gather strong negatives thoughts and create undeaDs and wraiths. Oasis in the middle of a desert can gain stronG reCovery purposes..."

    " - Okay, okay, i see, it depends on the nature of the thought involved, and it need to be strong and stable over time, right ?"

    I''m slowly thinking it''s like a tea infusion, but with magic instead...

    " - Exactly ! The creatures from these areas are then linKed to the nature of the zone. They all have a sTandard intelligence and neeD to stay in this generally Defined zone, since they need more magiCal power to exist than They can produce for themselveS."

    " - Then why do we have encountered these things yesterday ?"

    " - It''s because to exisT ouTside, they need to hunt for magic. And the beTter way to hunt for it is to devour other magic, especially from People or animals."

    Outch ? Hey, why the fuck would they want to devour me in this case !

 [Not a chapter] why im late æ‚

    Heya,

    Just dropped to say sorry again for the second late chapter in a row and to explain why : last year i was doing volunteer work to help friend in a (big, really big) video game festival (this year, more than 2k players and 24k visitors), and wasn''t really sure to do it again this year but somewhat ended up going because i was expected to come ^^ so eight full days working and nights drinking + 2 days to physically and menbtally came back to my senses = I''M LATE ¡ìIf you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Expect the chapter in 4-5 days max. I think i will do more chapters in previsions of cases like these.

    And i will redo the cover, she suck.

    Sorry again, see ya next chapter

 12 - The speech continue

    " - Should it not make me inedible then ?"

    " - It dePend on the monster. For inseCt type with low intelligenCe, at long as it move, it''s a pRey."

    Valid point here.

    " - Also, as we have disCovered at the aCademy, you can only fool magiC senSe. You are still visiBle by everythinG who see heat, viSion, sMell... You will mosT definitely be a Prey for any predator Coming, magical power or noT."

    " - Ha. ha. ha. Not like i was having any hope for escaping that."

    Well, any hope left, i mean...

    " - Coming bacK to the topic, the same enchanTing can be done on objects, too. Like the sword of a faBled king who have legends about iT, can gain incommensurable Power as the story is Told and passed on. There is also a joB for people who want cReate magical objects of all sort and natuRe, a magician specialized in senDing way more magic in the object than jusT mere toughts. If we were to clasSify them, the first one is definiTely sTronger than the second since it still acCumulate power over time, but generally they all sTart at simple enchanted objects. The Deciding factor is essentially Time, or, HA HA (laughs), the Tendency to exagerrate a story. Ho, and there also caSes like the objects in a dRagon''s treasure for exemPle. Because dragons live long, have really stRong magic power and a tenDency to fancy highly their possessions, they senD way more magic in their belonginGs than any regular magician, de facto creaTing powerful enchanted items."

    " - I suppose dragons are not keen to part with the said items ?"

    " - Dragons are senTient Beings who can be reasoned and with whom we can Ttrade, but generally they dislike other races because they are sTrongly territorials people, and also... Well, let''s say that encountering a dragon often Results in a fight for whatever reason."

    Why do i think i asked for another flag. Please, dont put a dragon in this forest, please.

    " - Still speaking about enchanted objects, i can tell you the eXperiment from the Professor Czhellh of the northern aCademy. He proved with absolute cerTitude the differents points in the making of a naturally enhanced oBject by creating a simple sworD for one of his assistants, sword imbued with a little elecTricity magic, not even enough to shock someone. He then called barDs and storytellers to the academy and paiD them to sing tales and songs about the supposed great baTtles done by a namelesS solDier with the help of this sword, who casted "storm and fire at Command".

    " - And ? What happened ?"

    "- The story was passeD down for a few years and became well know within the countRy. Five years after, the sword started to maniFest stronger lightning power over time, and even fiRe magic as well. Ten years afteR, she was able to manipulate the weather in a Small area. After fifteen years, the Professor made his study known across the kingDom, since the sword was able to manipulate the elements liKe in the story and the theory was pRoven true. He demonstrated the importance of the time Factor, the incidence of the number of people inVolved, as well as the fact than a proDuct dont necessarily start with the Told property imbued to it."

    Fifteen years for a study ?!? Well, it''s normal i suppose ? Also, i can''t help but think this world would be the paradise for a scam artist or a good advertiser ? Hey, you wanted to enlarge your penny ? Check this awesome penny-enlarger-wand ¡ì

    " - What happened to this sword after that ?"

    " - She''s heavily guaRded in the northern academy. You see, even when the Public was told it was just a fiction, a prank, the people still Telled the story to childrens and..."

    " - Okay, i can imagine it."

    " - Yeah, it''s now a pretTy powerful artefacT. The study was made 180 years ago, you see. And, well, the story sPread to the neighboring nations, too."

    " - ... Yeah, i get it, it''s gone out of hands, basically."

    ... And with this penny-enlarger-wand, an automatic hose reel is offered free of charge ! You will need it later. Dont ask why.

    " - Sometimes Research have unexpected siDe efFects, but we always take all the precaution neeDed before starting. for Exemple, another proFessor from the royal kingdom of blablablah-"If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    I stopped listening. A hundred meters in front of us is a flock of what looks like gazelles. About thirty individuals graze peacefully on each side of the road, without worrying about us.

    They have an almost crimson fur streaked with black and eighty centimeters long, beautiful black ebony horns. Oh yeah, and some of them have these said horns with lightning discharges running throught them. And they are almost 1m70 tall. Obviously, as if it could be normal critters in this damned forest !

    And these people dont stop at all ! Carl is still babbling about the spear of i dont know who, and our escort keep walking. No danger ? Ok, i keep walking too.

    " - ... then his sPear gained the ability to aTtack his ennemy from the most vulnerable spoT from behind and..."

    No, i dont want to know about some butt-chasing spear for now, more importantly, some of the gazelles-things stopped grazing and are starting to look at us with a lot of electricity charging on their horns, but it''s still ok ? No one react ? Still safe ? We can pass right throught them ?

    " - ... But the cRown of Jchz¨¹hn offered us another aPproch to the sTudy of extra-humanoid intelligence, since they have Totally other concepts about..."

    Hey, guys, they are scratching the earth with their foot while lowering their head, i know from personnal experience and i can say they are going to stomp over us, while frying us like walking fly-swatter for the fantasy touch bonus, you know ? Why are we still walking toward them ?

    " - This brought Us to the essential disCovery of-"

    " - Carl, sorry, but, hmmm, is it not dangerous ? They''re going to charge, you know ?"

    I point with my two fingers to the already charging herd. Holy crap.

    " - Ha, noooo, Dont worry, we have a specialisT for that. As i was saying, the Discovery of..."

    Really ? No, but you know, they are almost on us ? Hey Carl, mind if you pass in front of me ?

    Already too late. The charge was almost like a flash, since they were also incredibly fast. No time for Carl to shield me or react further, shiiiit !

    But then, all the gazelles stopped two meters before touching the front guard, who is none other than Boobs Elf. Ho yeah, it''s an elf, nature, everything, animals, so it''s cool ! Perfectly logic !

    Well, no, but i dont care about logic anymore. The herd immediately dispersed and is currently letting us pass while resuming their grass-eating activity. It was so... anticlimatic.

    Not like i''m going to complain about it, but...

    " - ...And you see, this waS the amazing Conclusion we arrived at the enD of a study who lasted no more than eighty years and iNvolved many researchers and Professors arount the continent ! Amazing isn''t it ?"

    " - Hmm ? Ho yeah, incredible."

    After that, Carl continued to speak non-stop about different type of special objects, where i didnt understand a thing anymore since he speaked in technical terms who seemed prodigious but totally abstract for me. You know, when your best friend try to explain how to make a fusion reactor ? The same, but he speak sometime in russian.

    I tried to stop him so what he can explain better but he said "wait, let me finish", but then, he started on the next subject the moment he finished the first.

    My god, he will have a breakdown of the tongue''s muscle at this rate.

    Well, following that, he started speaking about the different type of magic again. This time i managed to understand a little more : magic come from elements like fire, water, air, electricity, earth, void, and pure magic. But here come variations of these elements and it start becoming complicated.

    For exemple, light is a product of the fire element, but can be produced by lightning too. It has almost the same effects, just the fire one has a more stable output, it seem.

    Ice is a variation or water element but can be obtained by some water and the void element too.

    Ho yeah, i didn''t explain first, but the void element is the disparition of something or all thing in a small area. Like a repulse element.

    Also, air element is more of a wave or movement thing. Electricity consist of lightning but magnetism-type too. Earth is matter in general. Water is not only water but all volatile things it seems.

    The most interesting one is pure magic element. It encompass all mana manipulation like the one in enchanted objects, but also the healing spells, information spells and nature-growing spells for exemple, by manipulating the mana in another body. Well, i didnt really understand all that he said, since it''s really fairly difficult to comprehend.

    In summary, results of a spell can come with any random element jumbled together, if you know how to use and intricate them.

    And on another subject, after the gazelle encounter, the road was peaceful. Except one time, the corpse of a six-legged bear was on a tree branch, five meter high. Nobody reacted ! That''s normal too. Do in rome as the romans do. There is a shelter tonight. Hurray.

    To complain a little, we didnt stop at all to eat, and even the occasionnal pee or poo-stop were shipped in express. For me, i decided to deny any release-of-duty for my intestine until we are at the safe area. No way i will do anything outside of view here, because even a bush can be a man killer, for all i know.

    And now, it''s approximately 4 o''clock in the afternoon. ...How can i know that ? I asked.

    My legs seriously started to hurt since two hours ago. What did you expect ? I''m not some spartan in a movie.

    " - Look ! We are almoSt here, you can already see the shelTer from here."

    I immediately perk up. Where, where !

    ...And i finally spot it, when straining my eyes, after a few minute walking. Its a tiny, tiny grey patch on the side of the road, far off. Dammit, how can Carl need glasses, he has at least 100/10 at each eyes to be able to spot that at this distance !

    After another thirty fucking minutes walking, we finally arrive to the entry of the shelter. Like last time, its a thirty meter diameter bee alveolus made of a stone. J-warrior in chief take a stone and put it in a hole near the entry, who immediately open. I rush inside, i will be able to rest. I look at a seemingly clean patch of earth and fall graciously on it like a cow dung. You almost heard a splatch sound. I dont care anymore about apparences too. Just let me sleep already.

    " - I''m sorry, but it''s noT good to sleep immediately especially directly on eaRth like this. Come, we will builD the tents and make a meal, you will Be able to sleep after !"

    Haaa, buzz off, what are you, my mom ? Let me sleeeeeppp...

 13 - Gimme shelter

    I roll around a few times and reluctantly get up.

    No good, no good, he''s right, i need to stop acting spoiled like some child on weekend. I''m in debt of their kindness to help me find a way back. I have to act with more dignity... Or at least more of whatever can look like it.

    I painfully walk - my muscles ashes all over now, for fuck sake - to the camp where two of the J-escort guys are putting up the tents. In the meantime, Boobs elf is looking for the horse, while J-warrior number 2 and beastcat are out looking for wood, i think. Carl is helping Book girl to search for whatever is in her bottomless handybag. They''re all busy on their own things.

    Well, i would like to help, but last time, i was pretty much repelled by Carl and Book girl, saying i wasn''t allowed to touch anything and it''s not my job, and they''re professionnals paid for that, etcaetera... So i guess this princess will have to pass time while looking around the shelter, since it''s still daytime.

    Aaaand this place is... empty. Except us, there is no one. Just the grey walls, with bare earth and some grass patchs here and here. And the open sky, since there is no roof. Like last time.

    Yeah, it seem there is a shield magic or whatever in place of a roof in case of a bad weather, and in a case of flying animal attack, the wall is imbued with something like an animal repellant, making them avoiding it if they are not properly guided inside, like cattles or horses. Or whatever weird animal they have.

    Carl explained that to me. I was thinking he was a real estate seller trying to sell it.

    Well, i ca-

    Hmm ?

    While still strolling around, i spot something on a corner of the wall. A big stone ? No.

    Something dropped by a previous traveller ? I decide to check and nonchalently walk to it.

    It''s a pudding.

    No kidding, it''s a fucking slime, but it look like a living pudding try to move. he has a semi-opaque yellowish color, and i can perfectly picture caramel rolling over on top. I''m only 5 meter away from him. It seems it''s trying to find a way out of the shelter by climbing on the wall, but to no avail.

    Slime !

    In all rpg or novels, it''s a basic ennemy ! Killing a slime, it''s the first step to success ! Wealth ! Power ! Everything !

    " - CAAAAAAARL, THERE IS A WOBBLING THING HERE !!!"

    But again, we''re not in a friggin'' RPG !!

    Carl rushed over with J-warrior in chief. I point to the quavery jelly on the ground, while retreating slowly.

    " - It dont seem really threatening, but better safe than sorry right ?"

    In fact, it''s one of the few monsters i was able to read about in the little translated bit of the library of the academy, back then. It''s a sort of unicellular goo with acidic property most of the time, but who have many variant, with some intelligence or not. It''s not classified at offensive when it''s little, more like a pest, since it dont "view" thing more than two or three meters away.

    In fact, J-warrior seem to sigh has he see the slime, and start to take a big peeble on the ground.

    " - Ha yeah, theSe litTle one someTimes travel undeRground and find themselVes trapped inside houses or batiments. We will taKe care of it."

    Carl walk back while waving at the rest of the group, who stopped doing whatever they were doing to look at what''s happened. It seems it was a "Nothing special" signal since they immediately resume their activity.

    Meanwhile, J-Warrior in chief mumble something while kneading the pebble.

    I''m not stupid, i know it''s a spell, thank you.

    The peeble start glowing a metalic shine, and he shoot it on the slime like a pro baseball player would do.

    The slime explode on the spot ! Poor thing. His inside splatter everywhere inside a one meter rad-

    HOLY SHIT, THE EARTH IS INSTANTLY MELTING !

    No, what is this ! I was thinking it was just some sulfuric acid-like thing inside, who slowly corroded a prey like a stomach acid, but it''s the fucking alien''s blood acid who melt everything instantly ! What ! This is a "minor pest", this ? And you, why do you walk away like you just chased away some damn mouse from your kitchen ? There is a fucking twenty centimeter depth hole on the ground, for flying fuck sake !

    ...

    Haaa, this world is NUTS !

    ...

    After ten minutes silently writhing in anguish, I start going back to the camp, before hesitating and returning to the slime-explosion-ground-zero.

    I''ve spotted it.

    Inside the hole is a tiny green marble. the slime core. I touch it with a grass leaf to be sure the acid was totally inactive and put it in my pocket. Perhaps it will have a use after ? Or something like that. A core is just a little mana container of a magic beast, Carl said. The way J-warrior treated that with a total lack of interest make me think it dont worth shit, but i dont lose anything by taking it, right ?

    After that, i go back to the camp.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    It smell like food, after all. And after walking all day like some french legionnaire, let''s say i would gulp an entire calf and have room for the dessert !

    I sit down before the closed pot. It smell good.

    And tonight we have... We have...

    Is it another slime ? A soup ? Why is a soup PURPLE ? And what''s with this consistance ? It look like chemical glue...

    Ho, i dont care, gimme that, i''m too hungry to bicker about it.

    Well, it tasted good in the end. But i can swear something was still writhing in my mount, and it was the not the spices.

    No. I dont care. I dont want to know. It was spice. I just want to sleep now.

    " - Well, we will sleeP early, this way we will be aBle to depart earlier. TomoRrow we will be able to finiSh this discussion about the Basis of magic together !"

    " - Ha, yes, thanks Carl ! Well, have a good night so !"

    Well, i hope to understand a fifth of this one, this time.

    And like that, i fall asleep like a log. You really dont know how much a dreamless night can be sooo good.

    Except for my stomach, who was fighting hard.

    <hr>

    ...

    " - So eSsentially the formula for utiliZing magic in normal conDitions, to a close target can be simpLified to [ PowerEfficiency = ((LenghtFormula x IntricateElements ) x MagicUnitsUsed ) where eacH element can be graded from 0.1 to 1 for the sTandard measurement to any other numBer depending of the output or the Counterbalance desired."

    " - Huuuuh, yeah, you know, explained like this, it''s a littl- "

    " - For examPle someone who want to use light magiC to illuminate a 20 m2 squaRe zone with a almost instant castinG, so a sinGle element simple spell with a minimum facTor speed will need Ten time the magical ower neeDed for this single spell. For sure, this foRmula dont take into accounT the precision factor or any distance blahblahblah- "

    My god, it''s worse than yesterday !

    Since approximately... Very early in the morning, we departed after a rushed breakfast. And since then, Carl speaked. Alone.

    I think i started to emerge from the drowsiness one hour after the start of his speech, but even then, the little bit i was able to understood the meaning were mathematics formula to estimate the purity of magic element in whatever spell, and technicals things like this.

    No, really, i deserved it. It''s totally my fault to ask a magic-Nerd for informations on his favorite subject, a topic whose complexity i honestly didnt know, and not expecting the babbling-tsunami who followed.

    But really, he need to work on the understanding part if he want to be a teacher later. This guy is a teacher-in-training right ? I''m worried for his future students.

    And like that, another four hours passed.

    Please, dont ask about what he was speaking after that, i think i heard something about radiowave and electric waves colliding with magic power in a mathematic formula i''m better not remembering, for my personnal sanity. For now i was essentially looking at the scenery, while saying "yes, yes, incredible" sometimes. He was chatting happily in his own little world, and i''m no man to break the happy fantasy of a nice guy.

    The forest is still on a light purple tone, with some normal-looking green trees who started to sporadically appear here and here. Perhaps we slowly start to get out of the more "magical part" of this forest ? Because yes, analyzing from all i was able to understand, i concluded this purple area is the heart of the forest, with an higher magic concentration.

    And it explain perfectly why we have encountered all these damn fucking monsters only after entering this part !

    I will not ask why this road was safer than the other, because i too think it can be better to face "honest" monsters who want to drink your brains fluids with a straw, than perhaps a more "human" threat who have the advantage of having a brain on their own, and who will perhaps need your brain fluids too.

    Well, for now, except my feet who have quadrupled in volume, everything is alright. I would like to take the horse a little to let them deflate, but Book girl is sleeping on it again, since she apparently has taken the night shift to guard us all, back at the safe area.

    " - And we Can narrow Down the required amount of magic asKed for countering the jaMMing effect by noticeable margin by uSing the Jgackhz Theorem i used earlier."

    " - Really ? Incredible."

    " - Yeah, But this theorem dont taKe into account the variable of- "

    I discovered too that Boobs elf was regularly using a spell that shooed away all the little pest around us. I dont know why i didnt see this before, it is just a slight move of hand with a pale green glow, and she was doing this every two or so hours. Perhaps i did not look down past the chest all this time... Hmmm, i stared again. Bad me, bad !

    And another hour passed.

    Aaaand, we encountered something on the way. The bad kind of encounter.

    Beastcat is in front of us, with his dog, near a overturned cart on the road. We pick up the pace until we arrive near them. Book girl was waked up and is now gripping her stick. And when we arrived on the spot, it was a massacre.

    Carl and J-priest immediately start examining the corpses near the cart while the other look out for an eventual threat coming from the forest.

    The semi-destroyed wood cart is upside down on his side, with ten or so barrels who seem to still contain wine, for the ones who were not totally crushed when the accident happened.

    The corpse of a horse was midly devoured near it, with his head and a lot of his breast missing. And for the corpse of the man who was discovered under a crushed barrel, only his head was missing. It was cut clean, like the horse. Totally unnatural. Like poof, a laser attack cutted it clean, in one swoop. No resistance at all.

    Hmmm, but, say, i dont mind seeing a corpse, but if J-priest start to manipulate it like that, i swear i will vomit whatever i still have on my stomach of the purple soup on you.

    The corpses of the two are still relatively freshs. No fly maggots on the corpses - in this case i would have puked immediately on the spot -, and still some blood not totally coagulated. And the stomach is not inflated with gaz yet. I can say this because i deal with dead animals sometimes in the farm, i can reasonnably say its 12 to 24 hours since the death.

    J-priest discuss a moment with the others, and then, they all take their weapon on hands, and surround us as we resume walking, this time with beastcat near us too.

    The grimace on their faces dont spell anything good.

    " - John said iT happened 12 hours ago at leasT. And it''s not a sword atTack, it''s too clean. We think it''s a raRe magic creature called a Lghz-hyjk. It''s a really Dangerous one, so please dont Wander outside of Nina''s shielD."

    12 hours ? Yeah, i was right. In your ass, magic ! And yeah, another thing who can flatten me with a finger. I''m starting to get jaded. Can we not encounter some wild Care bears ? I can use a hug for a change... Well i mea-

    CRUCK !

    My thinking was disrupted by a deafening crunching sound and a shockwave coming from the magic shield, who made us stumble.

    Looking at the origin, i see two nightmarish huge black-blue pincers starting to penetrate inside the shield, on Nina face-level.

    Pincers connected to the maw with writhing tentacles of that seemed a huge worm.

    With an elongated neck of at least twenty meters, relied to a hellish body i would have prefered not seeing in my life.

    And the missing heads were here, with many others.

 14 - Head start

    Hemm, huuu, seriously, i... cant clearly process what''s... happening

    Huuu, we, we are under attack by a thing scarier that all the other fucking one i''ve seen so far ! Heck, usually i compare them to alien, but even him would go back with his tail between his legs back to his egg, crying from fright ! I mean...

    A two meters large, black pincer has penetrated from the tips of his two claws inside the "shielding dome" and is currently trying to crunch the rest to enter entirely.

    On the other side of the shield, a large, gaping worm maw surrounded with countless little claws scratching the shield, and with the inside of the maw carpeted with little teeth like a fucking worm from Dune, is trying to force his way following the claws. And a long, scaled neck with at least a twenty meters lenght is hooked away with the rest of his corpse, who was hidden away behind some trees.

    And no, i dont want to know what''s behind, the front is perfectly good enough to already make me know we''re screwed.

    Promptly reacting after the lightning attack, the two J-warrior are positionning themselves to slash away at the neck of this wormy-thing, while J-priest, Carl and Boobs elf are casting random spells.

    Beastcat seem to have gone away to attack the main body.

    And for me, i''m frozen in place, with eyes wide open.

    What did you expect, really ? That i will attack him with my poor little fists ? Leeeeeroy jenkins ? Dream on.

    I didn''t see it cracking before, and franckly i would have been perfectly happy not knowing it, but the shield dome of Book girl look like he''s made of solid glass, with each destroyed bit silently exploding when touching the ground. The main problem is the threathening sound of this glass breaking is awfully going louder with each passing seconds ! Book girl is currently glaring at the gaping, drooling mouth, while tightening her grip on her magic stick.

    And in the meantime, the faster to react, J-warrior dps, is attacking !

    He send a huge, heavy slash with his great two-handed sword at the base of the neck, near the maw of the beast, and i can tell because the slash leave a red glow after-effect, that it was enhanced by magic. Some green goo splash around, but sadly it doesnt look like he penetrated much, huh.

    J-warrior tank is currently trying to bash directly near the base of the claws with his shield, but it seem riiiiidiculously ineffective. I hope he has anoth-

    - RrrrrRRRRRBRRRAAACK ! -

    Ho, a spell was launched ! Boobs elf used magic to create a three meters huge stone hand from the ground who immediately grab the worm by the middle in an attempt to squeeze it !

    Yaaay, way to go, my girl ! Except that the worm dont seem to fazed by this ? But at least he stopped moving wildly like some maggot on a fish hook. And Carl too seem to have finish-

    - FRrrRRRTCHCKTCHAKTCHAK ! -

    -ed his spell, he create a lot of sharp icicles and propel them in a machine-gun fashion on another area not yet attacked of the neck ! It''s spectacular, but not really effective too, judging from the swallow wounds.

    Hooo, well, they didn''t do much damage, but the worm seem to be annoyed by it, nonetheless ! He stopped trying to penetrate further into the solid shield and is currently doing the reverse way to get out, but his large pincers are slowing him, since they were already inside. And in the meantime, the four others hack, slash and... magic-lash him to the maximum they are able to, since it cant retaliate yet. The damage are still not much but it''s accumulating !

    It''s like looking at an blockbuster epic movie from up close, except that you will die at the end of the credits. Yeah, i''ve totally came back to my sense. Seeing them attack back this thing reassured me a lot, we have hopes to win ! I hope.

    If it was not distracting for them and potentially a way to have the creature attack me, i would cheer loudly.

    Ha. Ho. It finally escaped from the shield.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The two J-warriors immediately disengage from melee and put some distance from the immediate vicinity of the maw. The stone hand from Boobs elf is still holding the worm neck by the middle and Carl is preparing another spell.

    The huge worm slowly stand up to take a look - Huu, though he has no eyes ? - at the situation around him, and with a huge wave-movement with his neck, break free from the stone retraining him.

    And after that, i absolutely didn''t see what happened.

    The worm used his own neck and claws as a sort of whip and trashed madly at everything around him, leaving big scars on the floors and on the shield surrounding us - Book girl seem to have totally reformed it in the moment the monster leaved the breach -, and created a huge dust cloud for a good thirty seconds.

    I was holding my breath from the tension. Because, franckly, after the attack started, i was immediately thinking the others outside were already a bunch of freshly cutted sashimi.

    Fortunately, after the dust settles, i can fortunately see all of them survived. Pfffff... And i''m happy because they are alive, not because they can protect me ! I''m not that much of an asshole !

    The two J-warrior were protected by a blue glowing magic shield, casted by J-priest i suppose, meanwhile Boobs girl and Carl were hidden behind a huge stone wall. Well, no, the remnants of a huge stone wall. Even then, they have some wounds all others, especially the J-warriors who were the closest of the "ground zero" attack.

    And the worm stand up again to look or whatever at the still living people before him and start clashing his two huge claws together. All the people are preparing themselve to what''s follwing next, and the worm open wide his mouth, turn in the direction of the J-warriors and prepare a roar.

    - Bragrlgrlgrlblll !

    Huuu, well, it sound like a sink who was just unclogged.

    Ha no, it was not a roar, he puked a liquid on them, but it was quickly dodged by the two of them. It do not seem like acid, so i suppose it''s some poison... and the maw turn to us now.

    The shield have an umbrella option ?

    He prepare another roargrblbl, but stop before releasing it and quickly turn on himself.

    Boobs elf use this moment to cast another spell, to create another stone hand to grab his neck, but it was quicly destroyed while the worm was quickly returning to his "base" behind the line of trees. The same instant, the two J-warrior shouted something and breaked to a run in the same direction.

    And on the other side, another trashing occured. Shit, Beastcat...

    All the trees were starting to fall.

    Especially one, in the direction of the shield i am under.

    You remember ? They are giant trees.

    Hu, w-what do i do ?

    " - Kyle ! Run ! The shielD cant blocK this"

    HO SHIT !

    I start to run with all i have. And i think i have destroyed Book girl''s shield while passing just now, but we will analyze that later, ok ?

    " - No ! Run on siDe, not along ! Tree will sTill fall on you "

    HOLY SHIT, WHAT THE FUCK I WAS DOING.

    I was running on the direction he was dropping !!! HOW CAN I BE SO STUPID LIKE SOME FUCKING ANIMAL LOOKING AT SOME CAR HEADLIGHTSHITFORFUCKSAKEIDESERVEBUTTKICKHOMYFUCKINGODIWILLDIESOSTUPIDLY !!

    I take a 90¡ã turn and try to escape the maximum i was able to. In fact, i runned and jumped before the tree crashed on the ground.

    ...And luckily, i was able to escape !

    From the trunk.

    Not from the tree branchs.

    Outch.

    One minute later, i was able to extirpate myself from the leaves and branchs and approched a little to observe the battle still unfolding.

    The beast seem to have gone out from a hole on the ground. It was the same worm-neck and claws, but the main body look like a four to five meters crossbreeding of a weird brown and black oppossum for the fur and claw and a porcupine for the one meter spine who were emerging from his back. You terminate that with a long, slender tail who finish in three little others tails and you have your winner for the award of the worst bizarre-looking creature.

    Ho yeah, and on the body, they are heads.

    Not worms head, but other creatures heads.

    They are like tumors protubering from the back of the beast, between the big spines. Some seem to have been crushed by the differents attacks of our party, but at least 5-6 actually remain intacts. The head of a man, of a horse, of a wolf, and i wasn''t able to find out what the two other animals are, but they look like zombie head trying to escape from the digestion.

    The two J-warriors are now harassing the "worm part" of the beast with the support spells of Boobs elf and J-priest, while Carl is using his ice-machine gun again to randomly attack the back of the main body. Beastcat is attacking this part too, with a big, long spear. He seem to target especially the heads.

    - Bzrghzzzz !

    Hey, one of the head who was attacked released a spell just now ? Like a little light effect was targeted to were beastcat was. Damn, dont tell me these things are alive too ?! No fuck, seriously ?

    - Scratch !

    Ho fuck, beastcat was grabbed by the tail and thrown away against a tree stump. And in the same motion, the tail is now slapping in the direction of Carl who was still using his spell !

    " - CAAAARL, run aw..."

    A strange wind who was coming from beside me cut my words.

    Book girl is on the trunk of the fallen tree, mumbling something while extending her hands to the sky above the area of the fight.

    As i look in the same direction, i resume my shouting.

    " - CAAAAARL, RUN WAY NOOOOW !"

    A ten meters spike, formed with ice, crash on the body of the beast and skewer her on the spot.

 [Not a chapter again] Changed cover. And pool, too.

    I said it since chapter 2 i will change it, so i changed it. Probably re-change it later tought.

    And updated the summary too. Too short. Didn''t let the "what the fuck am i doing here ?" vibe transpire much.

    Hey, since we are at this, want some zoology study chapter like the after-note on the last chapter in a big chapter later on the story ? Hop, pool.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ...

    Yeah, i start working on the next chapter.

    And dont forget to correct some badly turned sentence when you see them, i''m not a native english speaker, please ¡ì It help me greatly. I am in yours hands, lady and gentlemens !

 15 - youve seen the butcher

    Haaaaaa, yes, okay, that''s another level we have here !

    In front of me was the still barely alive wormy-possum, with a huge main body writhing in pain and his twenty something meters wormy neck trying to wrap itself with his last jolts of life around the colossal ice stake who impaled him.

    Since Book girl was quiet and presented as a defense specialist, i''ve only pictured her as a walking bunker, but yeah, it should have been strange for her to be able to use only one capacity huh ? Hey Carl, if you need this level of firepower to be an academy teacher, you still have some way to go, bro !

    The J-team, Beastcat, Boobs elf and Carl have retreated far away from the dying beast to heal their injuries. J-priest is currently in the middle of healing all the melee fighters, while Boobs elf, Carl and Book girl are discussing something. And keeping an eye out for any other potential threat. I think.

    And for me, i was strongly encouraged to stay near the trunk of the tree and to absolutely not move. Book girl put a roundish, yellowish, semi-opaque magic shield around me to keep me safe.

    So, now, i''m forced to sit down in an almost foetal position, with no means to see what''s happening anymore.

    ... From the outside i must look like one of these cheap children toy you find in a plastic ball near supermarket. I just lack the chocolate egg...

    ... Well. I can only wait, now.

    And thirty minutes later,

    " - You Can come noW, Kyle. There''s no danGer anymoRe."

    I get up, and go near Carl and Book girl on the top of the tree trunk. From here, i can see that the beast finally died. she has ceased to make any move or sound. The fact it is dead doesn''t make it look less intimidating and disgusting, however.

    And smelling, too. I wonder why we didn''t have found this beast by the spell, it''s atrocious.

    The J-team is already on site to inspect the corpse of the monster.

    Beastcat come a little later with his bag, take a big saw who was inside and try to cut off the base of the worm-neck part.

    Boobs elf join them after with a big knife and... huu.. Slice open the beast part of the monster to... What the fuck is she doing ?!?

    All the innards of the beast are spilling from the big "entry door" Boobs elf is trying to carve from the main corpse. And now, fresh, still likewarm organs are pulled out by the two happy J-warriors, while boobs elf... Huu, she enter into the corpse by the wound... Ok, i dont understand anymore. She''s not luke skywalker and we''re not in a frozen waste planet, so why by the holy flying toilet is she doing this ?

    " - Carl, i''m sorry to ask, but what are they doing here ?"

    " - Ho, they are Fetching our Food for tonighT !"

    ... With a flat face, i slooowly turn my head to look at Carl with wide eyes. Aim : check. Puking in three... Two... One...

    " - HAHAHAHA, you have a Funny heaD ! No, they are looKing for precious iteMs inside the monsTer, like the magic Core and other imPortants paRts."

    " - Hahaha."

    Damn it, fucker.

    " - Yeah, you said it was like a magic battery before right ? It is valuable ?''

    " - It''s a veRy rare monsTer in this region, so the Core and the valuaBle organs shoulD sell for a decent suM."

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version." - Very rare ?"

    I will not react on the fact we are lucky enough to encounter a very rare monster totally by accident or i''m sure it will call for another lucky encounter. We didnt have spotted a dragon yet. This flag still float high and proud in the wind, ready to act.

    In the meantime, Boobs elf is back from her obstetrico-geologic trip, covered in a translucent gluttinous mucus, with a round grey ball and two unknown organs in hands. All of the escort guys seems to be happy at this sight, since they happily take the prizes and hug and congratulate each others... And now they''re ALL covered with the mucus. They finish by taking some other body parts, notably the spikes who where on the back of the beast and the pincers, and are now all coming back to us, with big smile on their faces.

    No offense, but i''m preparing to escape if they were to try to hug me too...

    " - With this, we Can resume our Walk again."

    Carl help Book girl to mount back, and after that pick up his little bag from the ground.

    " - We neeD to take some disTance beforRe other beasts are atTracted by the sMell !"

    A smell like this mucus-thing who stink in a five meters radius ?

    <hr>

    " - ... but a Core can also conTain some parts of the characteristiCs essence of the Creature, it''s uncommon but have its uSes when mixed as a-

    One hour later, we have walked away from the purple forest part.

    The trees are now all green again, with a normal height. Insects are the size of my pinky at best, and birds dont look like they will insta-kill you if they were to poop above your head. And we didn''t encounter another monster, for now.

    This is great.

    Except the fact my feet are killing me again. But since i suffer, it mean i''m alive, right ?

    Outch, my toe disagreed with me just now.

    " - ...A Core allow to maKe interesting things aGain in what we call livinG enchanTment. It consist to find a meThod to attach the Power of the Core to a liVing beinG, consuming the said Core in the proceSs, but allowing the enchanteD to take a part of the poweR to himself."

    " - Really ? That''s awesome."

    " - Yeah, and the weaKness is it need a core supPosedly stronger that your currenT power but the advantaGes are-"

    Carl is still going on with a lesson about the use of magic cores, and it''s another too densely packed bunch of informations, since they are used everywhere. In resume, they are battery, the stronger you take one from, the more she can have or eventually regenerate magic power, and size doesn''t really matter. After that i stopped paying attention.

    The smell from our escort have subsided after they used some magic to wash it away, and we are back to the same formation from before. Beastcat retrieved his dog who was hidden away from the fight, since the poor thing wouldn''t have helped much against this kind of opponent, and has gone back to precede us by 200 meters in the road. Book girl have gone back to sleep on the horse, annnd, well, that''s all. We are in the middle of the afternoon i think ?

    " - ... It allow the Formula about (MagicPower X Capacity) diviseD by the sQuare of the-"

    " - Sorry to intrrupt you Carl, but how much time until we attain the next shelter ?"

    " - They saiD two more hours i think ? So the formula is diviseD with the square of-"

    Endure a little more, my brave feet ! SURVIVE !

    ...

    And two more excruciating hours laters, we are in sight of the tiny shelter dot on the road landscape who scream "hey, look, the last kilometer is the worst ! Suffer, bitch !".

    Seriously, this trip is a training for olympic marathon. At least make it a bicycle training...

    .. Now that i think about it, do they know about bike in this world ?

    " - Hey, Carl, i wondered if-"

    " - But then we haVe the case about the Core of the Mrthuhta city who is... Ho, looK, the shelter, finally ! Seem like there''s peoPle here. Stay by our siDe until we confirm the saFety, please."

    People ? Where ? I dont have bionic eyes like you, you know ?

    And ten minute later, we are in front of the shelters, and yeah, there was three people in front too. Beastcat is already chatting and J-warrior-in-chief join them.

    Based on their outfits, they look like hunters. One human and two dog or wolf beast people. They are stil in the middle of dismanteling a prey, a deer the size of a fucking horse outside the shelter, above a hole digged near a tree.

    The talk seem like it''s going in a good direction since i see them smiling and laughing with each others.

    After he finished to discuss with them, J-warrior came back to us to speak a little with the rest. And at last, Carl relay the information to me.

    " - It''s a hunTer Party. They''re staying here for the nighT and are Planning to go back tomorrow morninG to the town. Since we have Killed a monsteR further away who would have probably Threatened them lateR, they will thank us by alloWing us to traveL with them, since they have a Cart ! Isn''t it great ?"

    " - This is very nice !"

    HO MY GOD. I almost cry internally.

    We are withouth further talk invited to the shelter. Four more humans, three mens and a woman, are busy inside processing the pelts of another prey and preparing the campment for the night. They salute us politely as they continue their activity.

    And inside, i can spot them. Not one, but TWO carts ! LONG LIVE THE HUNTERS OF THIS WORLD ! AND THE CART MANUFACTURERS ! I dont care if they are full of pelt or whatnot, and smell like rotten cheese, with fly buzzing inside, at least i will not have to walk anymore.

    Inside my boots, my tiptoes are doing a party.