Levi paused in horror. The crowned man shrouded in black knew of his existence. Thankfully, he didn’t seem angry, only curious.

Eyes inspected him. Curiosity, contempt, disgust. Levi forced himself to calm down.

It was time to ask questions.

Levi bowed his head. “Great Ruler of the Round Table,” He said in a voice not of his own. It was low and scratchy, the lowest he could physically make it without damaging his vocal chords, or sounding like a ventriloquist.

Levi was about to launch into asking a myriad of questions. What is this place? Who are they? Why was he summoned? Where was he summoned to? But the Ruler raised his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

“No questions,” He said as if his words were precious. “You have one wish. If the wish is out of my control, I will lower it to within my capabilities, if not, it will be consumed. Think carefully.”

Levi stopped. His mind spun, working overtime in an attempt to understand the position he was in. He was initially going to ask for wishes such as unlimited power, immortality, or infinite wealth. The obvious ones. But could the Ruler make these come true? How much power did he have? Was he an all powerful god, creator of all? Or just a man that could grant wishes, that just so-happened to sit at a large round table?

The fact that he had granted Kale: Talent of an ArchMagus, meant that he held considerable power, but not omnipotent.

Remaining calm, Levi thought carefully. What did he need right now? First, it was strength to survive the coming dangers. The monster lurking in the Deep Dark, or the Greenkin’s, or whatever other monsters stalked the wilds outside of the town.

Should he wish for stronger skills, or should he instead wish for access to greater mana control to speed up the process of his learning? But that didn’t sit well with him. He could learn in time. Even if he did receive an instant power increase, the possibility of being ambushed was still there. He may become stronger, but he didn’t have the experience to use the wish.

Levi also had the idea of receiving information regarding his surroundings. It was something within the range of a being above the heavens. It wasn’t too far-fetched of a wish to have it consumed. Or maybe it was? Were these people even of this world?

No, he had to think bigger than that. Gaining information was something he could do on his own once he became a little stronger. It would be a waste of a wish.

Nor did he have any desire for wealth. Even if he had the most money in the world, what good was it if he was dead?

No, Levi was thinking of something else. A gamble. There was an empty seat at the table. If he managed to join the Round Table, who cares about a wish? He would have access to all of the information of each member. He would be in constant talks with this ‘Ruler’. Who knows what magical techniques they had, information they held on the world, or what wealth they had to share.

Information was power, and Levi was going to grasp it.

“I have a wish,” Levi said, pausing, “I wish to have a seat at the Round Table.”

Everyone looked at eachother. Some of them laughed. Others gossiped. Levi hid his fidgeting fingers beneath the shrouded embrace of his blankets. He felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.

Had he just wasted his wish?

“Interesting,” The Ruler said. “Then let it be so. What is your name, Traveller?”

Levi said after a second, “Traveller is fine.”

“So be it. Welcome to the Round Table, Traveller.”

***

Levi sat at the Round table. To his right was an enormous man. He was quite clearly topless as even through the blackened silhouette, Levi could make out every detail of his bundled-wire-like frame. To his left, was a voluptuous woman wearing a long flowing robe.

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“Lord, this is a terrible idea,” a man from across the table said. He was wearing a three-piece suit.

“Darian, a wish has been uttered that is within my grasp to grant. We have an open space at the table and none have called.”

“But what can he contribute?” Darian continued. “The selection process for the Round Table is strict and rigorous. Everyone's an expert in their respective field. What can the Traveller provide?”

Levi squished his toes further into his ragged shoes. He was right. What could he offer? This place sounded like an information trading network. But Levi knew nothing. He listened.

“Darian,” The Lord said, his voice becoming strict. “You have been here the longest. You know of the rules and conditions of the Round Table. What he can provide is up to him, when, and if he decides to speak.”

Darian grumbled, but nonetheless turned silent. Levi could feel his dagger-like stare bore into him.

The Lord looked at Levi. “Firstly, I will explain what the Round Table is, and what we do here.”

Finally, let’s see if my wish was worth it, Levi thought.

The Lord continued, "Here, we facilitate not only the sharing of vital information about the universe's events but also the trading of Ingredients. Our goal is to offer a platform for gifted individuals to transcend their usual limitations. As many of you are aware, as one ascends through the Tiers, the quest for rare Ingredients to nourish one's Birthright becomes increasingly arduous. This marketplace serves to mitigate that challenge. However, it operates on the principle of fair exchange. Obtaining an item of equivalent worth is no simple task; it falls upon you to secure the necessary goods for trade."

Levi nodded, as if knowing what the Lord was talking about. He had to play the part of an expert, just like everyone else here. If Darian was targeting him because he was unknown, he couldn’t place a further target on his back. If Darian figured out he was just a beginner Tier 1, how would he react? He’d most likely lean over the table and strangle him to death. If that was possible, that was.

Furthermore, if everyone discovered that fact, his trading options would be lower. Who would want to trade with him if he knows nothing, and is currently struggling with a little green problem?

Wait, Levi thought. The Lord wasn’t using ‘world’ when referencing where they were, but ‘universe’. Holy shit, are these people from different planets entirely?

"As for trading within these walls, I oversee the process personally. The specifics of the items you exchange will remain confidential, shielded from prying eyes. Should you wish, you can initiate a private discussion to delve deeper into the particulars of your trade. Furthermore, any physical goods you bring with you will be securely stored here, enabling us to facilitate trades regardless of your location in the universe."

Amazing, Levi thought. It turned out his wish was worth it. Multiple times over, in fact.

The Lord elaborated, "The principles governing the Round Table are straightforward yet paramount. Firstly, absolute discretion is necessary; discussing the Round Table with outsiders is strictly forbidden. Secondly, should members convene, violence of any kind is utterly prohibited. Thirdly, honesty and integrity are non-negotiable during trades; attempting to deceive your fellow member is intolerable. Violation of these tenets will result in swift expulsion from the Round Table.

Do you have any questions?”

Levi shook his head. It was best not to speak if he didn’t need to. He was relying on the other’s knowledge that Levi had taken over Kale’s body as a blanket. The more times he interacted with the others, his veil of mysteriousness would shatter.

I should have taken acting classes.

“Then,” The Lord said, cupping his hands together. “Let us continue with the meeting. You all may begin.”

Levi listened closely. Mainly, the meeting was about Ingredients. One person stated what they had, and then the others would try and trade it for something that they had in their possession. Others would chime in, trading the item around. It was like an auction house. It also became heated.

Sometimes, some people got what others wanted. It would turn into arguments, but it never went beyond a few curse words. It remained civil. Most likely that was because of the Lord who was watching their every move.

Someone had asked for a nightmare-ghost extraction. Apparently it came in a bottle. He also learned that there were also dragons in this universe. Then the discussion turned serious, almost grim. Darian spoke.

“We have lost all communication in one of the lower worlds: Ubez, specifically the west,” He said. “I believe a grave robbing has gone wrong in the Krag. If anyone has information regarding this topic, please come forward so that we can prepare for a possible invasion further into this world. It may be a lesser world, but our responsibility to do what we must is at the forefront.”

Levi opened his mouth, then shut it the next second. If he was in the west, then was it time to speak? To share what information he knew? Well, not that he knew anything, anyway. He still didn't know why everyone was missing, bar the monster during the Deep Dark, that was.

Levi found himself in a difficult situation.