We were sitting in my current house around the dining room table.

"I guess we can start with how long have you been out here?" Root asked.

"Umm maybe 7 or 8 days, the first few were spent inside of the mountain complex." I told them, I was not going to lie to them but I was also not going to give them everything up front.

"What about the group you came here with?" He asked.

"No group, just myself." I said. This caused Root to look at Orlo.

"She's telling the truth." They said with surprise. Their ability to see if I was lying or telling the truth was a bit unnerving.

"So do you mind telling us how you got here, the next closest village is almost 50 miles away. Between here and there, well it's not a safe journey." Root continued.

Crap… I was hoping to somehow avoid such a direct question but in truth it's quite obvious.

"I would rather not disclose that yet… I'm worried about the potential ramifications… it's well it's very complicated, it was also by accident." I told them, then they confirmed it with Orlo.

"Alright I guess that makes some sense, I know around these parts humans are mostly outcasts… you mind then telling us where you are from?" Root asked.

"Again complex… At least to me it's complex and based on what books I found in one of the houses I could not locate any other instances of my… situation…" I told them hoping it was not too much.

Turnip and Iser both looked at each other then Root and a questioning manor. He just nodded.

"Which house?" Root asked.

"Faded Red one at the corner, about that direction." I said and pointed roughly where I thought it was. Both Iser and Turnip got up and left presumably to go checkout the other house.

"Ok look we are not with the Empire… we play by their rules when we have to and keep a low profile. It's easier that way." Root said.

"Umm that's good to hear." I said. Not elaborating anymore then I felt was necessary, I also had no idea who’s Empire I was in.

"Do you mind if I make some tea and something to eat? I didn't eat much for breakfast…" I asked, they let me and followed me into the kitchen where I started to heat the stove.

We had some more back and forths but it was all very mundane. It was maybe 10 minutes later that the other two came back, each holding a few books. They made sure to make eye contact with everyone else and clearly some message was said that I didn't understand it worried me. Was telepathy a possibility here? Why not.

Iser then asked "So you have been studying all of these books?"

"Those and others" I said, keeping my response short.

"Those and others… ok Turnip ?" They asked.

"You aren't very familiar with magic are you?" She asked.

"Umm no not really…" I said but didn't elaborate.

"Ok… and you are aware that you were reading 4 different languages correct?" She asked.

I looked up at the group in shock.

"No…" I said with concern.

They all turned to Orlo and they said. "She's being honest?" They seemed just as confused as I felt.

"Iser and I were also speaking in our native tongues and you responded in kind." Turnip said.

"Ok now you do need to start explaining things." Root said more demandingly.

I looked around the room nervously but I was trapped, I didn't even have a window I could throw myself out of.

"Ok… so you are saying we are speaking a different language now?" I tried to sidestep the question.

"Yes, a common tongue used by many different nations. Please try to stay on topic." Root said.

I let out a long sigh.

"Like I said I arrived here 7 or 8 days ago… from my home to here…" I reluctantly told the group.

"And where is home for you?" Root asked.

"Northern Virginia, United States of America, North American Continent, Planet Earth, Sol System" I said.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

That got me a round of very confused looks.

"Anyone else recognize any of that?" Root asked.

"I think that was in her native tongue if I had to guess." Iser said.

"Did anyone recognize any of the words?" Root continued.

He got a round of negatives from everyone.

"I recognize it." I said just a tiny bit sarcastically.

"Yeah ok… I didn't consider the language barrier." He said.

"How about in our language this time." Lluvia asked, Orlo nodded in agreement.

"Who wants to tell her?" I asked, that got a chuckle from Iser and Root, Orlo tried to play along after a second.

Lluvia blushed then said "Orlo you were agreeing with me I'm not blind…"

"I don't think she can, there would need to be a translation from one language to another." Turnip said.

"Proper nouns don't generally translate well from language to language. At best you will get a description of a word if that even means anything." I added in.

"O great this one and Iser will get along great…" Lluvia said in mock frustration.

"And what is wrong with that?" He said excitedly.

"Ok so we have established you are not from here and you can translate very well. How did you get here then." Root said trying to pull the topic back in.

"Not sure if this will translate very well… transportation magic… I think" I said.

"Trans-port-a-tion?" Iser asked sounding out the word.

"Ok didn't translate… interesting actually… umm being moved from one location to another location without crossing the in-between space" I said.

"Ah we call that teleportation." Iser said.

"So you teleported yourself here?" Lluvia asked.

"Umm no, at least not intentionally… I got a prompt then accepted it. Then I found myself here." I said.

"You mistakenly accepted to be teleported? I mean I could get a 5 year old accepting a prompt for a new random skill but I can't imagine you would be that dumb…" Lluvia said.

"Do you know what a computer is?" I asked in reply.

"A what?" She said confused.

"Exactly… the answer to why I accepted is far more complex than you are currently aware of." I said with a little heat, and maybe some embarrassment.

"Alright so the answer is complex as to why, the complexity is in the context of cultural differences if I understand correctly." Root said.

"Not cultural but a difference in technology level. I can explain what a computer is but that would also require the explanation of other forms of mathematics… which I could also do if poorly. Oh and some physics." I said.

"Okay yes I am starting to get why it's complex… I think" Root said.

"Before we go on much further does anyone have anything to drink?" I asked.

We were all back around the dining room table. Each nursing a bit of wine.

"Ok, so a bit of warning before I start asking my own questions, I'm going to sound crazy, and most likely very dumb. OK?" I asked the group. Which I then got nods from everyone.

"Everyone sees prompts and information correct?" I asked. That got a chuckle out of both Lluvia and Orlo.

Root replied seriously "Yes but it is different from person to person."

"Ok well where I am from we don't have that so I had to ask." I said, that got me very surprised looks from half the table.

"When I came here the prompts were new for me, never seen them before in my vision… on computers yes… but not like how they appear now." I said, I got confused looks but I think Iser and Root were starting to get the picture.

"So when I think about what my skills and level and everything is I get a menu that tells me all of my stats." I said then asked "Does everyone have something similar?" More nods in response.

"Ok everyone please go around the table and say what their race is." Asked more than said.

"Bun" Root started

"Bun" Turnip said next.

"Kobolt" Iser said third.

"Harpy" Orlo stated.

"Elf" said Lluvia stated.

"Human Riftwalker" I said, and that got me 4 confused looks and one very wide-eyed excited look from Iser.

"I know what Human is, but I figure the Riftwalker part is important." I said more focused on Iser now.

"I was pretty sure but this all but proves it." Iser said.

"Wait, why does it all but prove it?" I asked.

"You could be acting." Iser said.

"Ahh good point… not much I can do about that…" I said.

"So umm what is a Riftwalker?" Lluvia asked a bit reluctantly.

"They are individuals of legend, the last one was over 100 years ago and founded the Snowland College and built the first gravity engine it is said." Iser stated.

"Wait… are you telling me that was made by a Riftwalker?" Lluvia asked in astonishment.

"Yes and now I suspect more? I think… Nicole said something about what did you call it a? Co-put-er?" Iser asked.

I smiled and said "Computer, which at the core is an application of mathematics, and physics…. I hope physics translates." I said.

"Yes I know of physics." Iser said all but jumping up and down in their seat.

"We umm…. This is going to sound super dumb… we figured out how to make rocks do math…" I said.

"How does that work?" Iser asked

"Umm very very finely controlled lighting…" I said.

"Look I can't build a computer… it would require industries that I doubt even exist yet. At best I might be able to shave like 60 or 80 years of experimentation." I said reluctantly.

"Alright I think we get the point… your world has stuff that we don't yet." Root said.

"I mean we don't have magic… or elves… or kobolts, or harpies, or buns…" I said with a bit of a blush.

I was continuing to be greeted by very surprised looks.