"Jay....den" I said as I crawled up to him

Blood comes out of my bullet wound. Jayden is breathing heavily, he looked like he got shot on the stomach and at the neck.

"Medic! Medic!" A fellow soldier ran at us and shouted

Jayden holds his sniper rifle tightly, accepting his fate. 

"No need to reply, remember during highschool? When Kirby got kicked on the nutsack after confessing to her crush" I jokingly said

Jayden smiled and started laughing, he couldn't talk because of the shot on his neck.

"Just hang in there Jerome! The medic is coming! I have to leave both of you because I have orders to do, just hang in there! The medic is coming" The soldier said and went away

Jayden's eyes looks weakened, mine is getting weary. I already lost a lot of blood. I looked at Jayden, he is already dead. His eyes are closed. Tears came out of my eyes. There is no way... I am going to die.... As a... Virgin and no one is continuing my bloodline...........

"Catch the ball Jerome!"

Memories started flashing

"Hahahahahaha! Shouldn't have confessed to your crush Kirby! Go find a new one, someone better!"

"Kirby! Please wake up Kirby! Don't die on me!"

"Jerome... I have a challenge..... Last one to die between you, Jayden, and Joseph... Is... Gay"

"Gay"

"Gay"

"Gay"

The word echoed through my mind. Fucking Kirby, I am the last one who died. But what happened already happened.... I..... Am.... Ga-.

I suddenly woke up, I breathed heavily. I looked around me, I am in an unfamiliar forest resting on a tree. I looked below me, my rifle resting on my hands. 

I am still wearing my military uniform, rifle magazines in my pockets, pistol on my holster, pistol magazines on my belt. Slingbag with my food, water, and a picture of me including my 3 friends in it.

I looked beside me... A familiar human also resting on the same tree I am resting..... It is Jayden, with a big smile and a laugh face.

Where the hell are we? We died on the battlefield but why are we in a clearing of a forest?

"Oi, Jayden, wake up" 

I shook his shoulder, why the hell is he smiling.

"Jayden!"

He suddenly woke up with a shock face and looked around.

"Wh-what?" He said

His favorite sniper and pistol is still on him. Magazines and his slingbag.

"Where are we?" Jayden asked

"I also don't know" I replied

We helplessly looked around us, we both stood up and took off the dirt on our pants.

"Tsk, didn't we die on the battlefield?"

"Yes"

"Hmmmm, wait a minute" 

Jayden started touching me, and started slapping his own face.

"What are you doing?" I asked

"I am just making sure I am not dreaming after dying but it felt so real" he replied

"So, where do we go?" I asked

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"I don't know, walk to the trees blindly?" He replied

"Okay, just ready your gun for some threats"

We both checked our gun magazine, cocked our gun and started walking through the forest. We walked blindly, patrolling the area. 

"Are you..... Hearing that?" Jayden asked me

Both of us stopped walking, I focused my ears. I can hear.... Shouts and chaos.

"There it is again, let's go see what's happening" Jayden said

Jayden ran first, I followed behind. We followed the noise throughout the woods, dodging the trees. We started to see a cliff, we both stopped and looked down. 

We are looking at some kind of a medieval castle, armies fighting at the gate. Normal people fighting with... Some kind of big walking pigs, boars I think they call it. There are a lot of than the soldier.

Some soldiers are at the top with some kind of magical arrows and some on below behind the shielded knights point their staff to the monsters shooting something blue and magical.

"What the hell" 

"Let's go help them" Jayden said and started running downhill

I followed but I missed a step. I tripped over and started rolling down the hill. Shit. I started rolling and bumped into Jayden. He tripped over and started rolling with me. We roll and roll and roll until we stop at the bottom.

"What the hell man, be careful next time"

We both stood up and picked up our guns and continued our way. We arrived and started shooting at the big animals.

*Brraatatatatatatat*

The people with armors, spears, swords and shields are in shock to see the big walking animals collapse to the floor.

*Bratatatatat*

We shoot endlessly killing them, the big walking animals saw the situation and started retreating.

"Hold your fire Jayden and let them escape, we don't want to waste ammo"

Jayden stopped shooting, and watched them ran away. The people started celebrating, one of them came out of the crowd riding a horse and approached us.

"Who are you 2? What is your purpose here and why did you help us?" He asked

He is speaking English

"We are just passing by and saw this situation, so we decided to help" I replied

"Where did you come from? What kind of clothes are those and what kind of weapons are those?" He asked again

I looked at Jayden, he just shook her shoulders. 

"We, both also don't know, we woke up resting on a tree. And now we are here, talking with you" I replied

His face is full of confusion, but takes the confusion face away.

"Well, both of your stories seem very confusing but, both of you are invited for a free meal and a place for the both of you to stay, IF, you like. And maybe the king wants to see both of you and appreciate the help you gave us, the king might even give you a reward" he said

I looked at Jayden, he also didn't know what to do.

"Okay sir, we will gladly accept the invitation" I said to him

He nodded, we followed him inside. The house looks old-fashioned, people also wearing old-fashioned clothes. They all looked and stared at us.

"Sooooo, Jerome, you're thinking what I am thinking?" 

"We are back in time like in the medieval period?" 

"Exactly" 

We looked around again, there are bakery shops, swordsmiths, weapon shops, restaurants, guilds and a lot more.

"This is late to say but thank you for helping us, there's a lot of them that we might lose from the battle" the knight riding in a horse said

We continued walking until we arrived outside a palace.

"Here we are, follow me and I will show both of you to the king and queens"

We followed the knight through a grand hall, the air thick with the scent of incense and something vaguely floral I couldn't place. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes of battles and feasts, and the floor was polished to a mirror shine. It was like stepping into a history book, but with a touch of something…otherworldly.

"His Majesty and Her Majesty are expecting you," the knight announced, throwing open double doors that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal light.

The throne room was even more impressive than the hall. A high, vaulted ceiling adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures reached up to a stained glass window that cast a kaleidoscope of colors across the room. In the center, on a raised platform of black marble, sat the King and Queen on gilded thrones, their expressions unreadable.

The King, a tall man with a crown of silver that seemed to radiate a faint warmth, wore a regal purple robe embroidered with intricate designs. The Queen, her skin as pale as alabaster, wore a gown of rich crimson that flowed around her like a river of blood. A crown of emeralds adorned her head, glittering with an almost unnatural intensity.

The knight bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, I present to you the two warriors who aided us in repelling the beastly horde."

I swallowed hard, adjusting the rifle that still felt awkward on my shoulder. Jayden, ever the cool one, simply gave a curt nod. I felt his hand brush my back, a silent gesture of encouragement. He wasn't showing it, but I knew the fear was there, too.

The King studied us with keen eyes. "Tell me, warriors, how is it you came to be here? What are those strange weapons you carry?"

My voice was a little shaky. "We…we don't really know, Your Majesty. We woke up in the forest, with no memory of how we got there. We have no idea what those weapons are or where they came from. We only know they help us fight."

The Queen, her voice like the tinkling of crystal bells, interrupted. "Such strange tales. Yet, you did fight bravely. You saved many lives."

The King nodded in agreement. "You are welcome in our kingdom, warriors. You shall have food, shelter, and a place of honor among us."

He gestured towards the table laden with an assortment of delicacies: roasted meats, steaming vegetables, fruit glistening with honey, and bread piled high. It looked like a feast fit for a king, and I was famished. Jayden, ever the observant one, noticed a plate set aside with two mugs of some sort of ale.

The Queen smiled. "You have earned your rest, warriors. We shall hear your full story later."

We sat at the table, the aroma of roasted meat and spices filling our nostrils. I looked at Jayden, who was already digging into a leg of lamb with gusto.

"You've been through a lot, Jayden," I said, taking a bite of bread. "I don't know if I'd be able to eat if I was in your shoes."

He chuckled, his mouth full. "Yeah, well, I'm not going to let a little shock stop me from enjoying some good food."

As we ate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. We were surrounded by luxury, but it felt…strange. The King and Queen were generous, but their smiles didn't quite reach their eyes. They seemed to be watching us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

I glanced at Jayden, who was now digging into a pile of fruit. He seemed oblivious to my unease, but I could see the same flicker of concern in his eyes.

"We're in a whole new world, Jerome," Jayden said, his voice low. "And it's not one we're familiar with. We need to be careful."

"I know," I replied, pushing a chunk of roasted chicken across the table toward him. "But right now, maybe we just need to focus on eating."

We continued to eat, savoring the strange but delicious food. The King and Queen kept a watchful eye on us, and we tried to remain as nonchalant as possible, but every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of their eyes fixed on us.

And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of hope.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Here we are 2 visitors, your very own home from the queen and king. Both of you are the only who received this treatment but of course it's a good exchange for helping our kingdom" the knight said

The mansion is medium size, beautiful and painted white. There is a waterfall outside in front of the mansion.

"How about going inside?"

We followed the knight, he opened the doors for us. We went inside, we are greeted with cute and beautiful maids and handsome butlers lined up.

"The king even gave the both of you free maids and butlers but he will not be paying for their salary, the king may gave you a lot of coins but that won't last long right? I reccomend the both of you to work in the guild and earn money there" the knight said to us

"We have to go now, we still have lots of work to do. Do not forget about the guild"

The knight closed the doors behind us. I looked at Jayden to see his reaction, he is looking at me with a big smirk on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked

"Aren't you..... The one who is fond with maids? During our revealing our secrets game?"

Oh hell naw, he still remembered that

"Just be quiet and forget about it" I replied

Jayden looked at the maids and butlers.

"Just do your job" Jayden ordered them

"Yes sir!" The shouted 

They scattered around and started cleaning.

"I could see a lot of doors on the second floor, I'll pick the right one" Jayden said

We both went upstairs, Jayden went to the room on the right, I went to the room on the left. I was met by a beautiful neat room, a very comfortable looking bed, a cabinet, a window to see the outside, a chest.

I opened the cabinet, it was filled with old-fashioned clothes. I sit on the edge of the bed and thinked about how we even got here, we died in the war, then we wake up by that tree..... Damn.