‘Let’s see here.’ 

The basket shook as I hoisted it up to my face I placed my free hand over my eyes to block out the sun while examining the contents. 

‘Three loaves of bread, twenty eggs, three bottles of milk, and some carrots. Yep. This is everything.’

I smiled before letting the basket drop to my side. My other hand remained in place as I looked up at the clear blue sky. Not a single cloud met my sight, making me sigh with relief. The last thing I needed today was pouring rain. Took a whole day for my white t-shirt and black pants to dry last time. Which was all kinds of hassle considering they were my only pair of clothes.

My attention turned from the blue sky to the colorful houses that littered either side of the road. The sidewalks were completely clear, likely due to everyone still being sleep. The sun had just started rising over the horizon after all. Anyone waking up at this time was either an early bird or had insomnia. 

I liked to think I was the former. 

I retraced my steps through the center of town, walking past shop owners who had started setting up their stands. I politely waved to the ones who greeted me with a smile. I did increase my pace as I walked by them though. Didn’t feel like starting up a conversation this early. Besides, it was my turn to make breakfast today.

The sun had finally finished rising when I made it back to the small two-story cottage on the edge of town. The building stood alone with rolling grass-covered fields surrounding it at all sides. The white and gray stones that made up its sturdy rectangular walls stood out among the numerous flower patches that peppered the landscape. A welcome sight as I walked down the center path to the wooden front door. I took a deep breath of the fresh air around me, my neck length black hair blowing in the breeze. I made it to the door, knelt to lift a tiny rock nearby, and took the small key from beneath it. 

With a simple insert and turn of the knob, the door clicks open. I push forward and make sure to lock it behind me while bringing the key inside. With a deep breath, I get ready to announce my presence...

....Only to be interrupted by the sound of two people climaxing at the same time.

....And met with the sight of my housemate bouncing a harpy on his lap.

....And judging by how they’re still going at it, neither of them have realized I’m here yet.

Typical.

I cough into my hand to get their attention. They both go rigid, the winged harpy’s head swiveling around. The fear in her wide, bird-like eyes disappears when she sees me. Her sonorous voice lets out a sigh, “Oh, it’s just you. Welcome home, Marcus.”

“Thank you, Helvet,” I say while ignoring her heaving breasts and naked body. My eyes followed her black feathered arms to the man she was currently clinging to, then down to the dark spots at the edges of the couch, “I see you and Jack have dirtied the sofa...again.”

“Yeah, sorry about that man,” Jack’s deep yet embarrassed tone matched his muscled appearance, “Helly flew in some time after you left. We got to talking and one thing led to another, and...well you know how Heat Season is for these girls.”

“Helly” moves her head under Jack’s chin to nuzzle against his slightly tan skin, “Thanks for helping me with this, Jack. You’re much better than any of the males back home. Gentle at the start, yet rough when I ask you to be.”

“Well, gentlemen don’t let ladies leave unsatisfied,” the harpy giggles as the human male lifts her chin and kisses her. 

I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I make my way to the kitchen on the left, “I’ll be going to make breakfast. I’ll yell when it’s finished. Try not to mess the couch up too much. I just cleaned it yesterday.”

I don’t wait for a reply before ducking into the kitchen. Gently tossing the basket onto the round wooden table in the center of the room, I make my way to the counter, crouching low to grab one of the large metal plates from the bottom shelf. Mentally thanking Ulstor for doing the custom job I place it on top of a stand above a fist-sized hole in the counter.

Black stone lined the hole’s edges shines as the sun makes its way through the open window above the sink. I use the extra light to find and grab the glass vial of fire seeds on my right. The vial’s plug comes out easily, letting me pour the blazing crimson seeds into the hole. I make a mental note to go gather some more when I have a chance as I wait for the seeds to flair up.

Within a minute the seeds close proximity creates a good-sized fire that licks the underside of the metal plate. I nod before moving back to the basket. Drowning out the wet slapping sounds coming from the living room, I grab two eggs and start quickly crack them against the table. I move the shells over the makeshift skillet, letting the yellow yolks flow out onto the smooth iron. 

From there it’s a simple matter of taking out a spatula and working the eggs to perfect color. I should head over to Ulstor’s later and thank him for indulging in these requests of mine. Couldn’t be easy making stuff like this off what a customer says alone.

Once the eggs are ready I crouch to two smaller versions of the makeshift skillet, scoop them onto one, place it on the table, then do the same with the other. From there I grab another glass vial, this one filled with clear blue water, and pour it into the hole. Steam billows out with the hissing of the fire seeds being doused.

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Then it's a simple matter of grabbing some small forks and placing them on the table for Jack and me. 

Nodding at the simple breakfast I’ve made, I cup a hand around my mouth and shout, “Jack! Breakfast is done! Get in here before I eat your share!”

“Don’t you dare, man!” comes his laughing reply, swiftly followed by feminine giggling and the front door opening and closing. I frown before pulling up a chair and sitting down at the table. Jack joins me as he wipes sweat from his brow, blonde hair sticking to his skin in small strands. There’s not a single article of clothing on the guy, letting the world see every part of his muscled frame. Everything above and below his waist is completely bare for everyone to see and ogle at.

To this day I don’t understand how he can feel comfortable like that.

“Eggs? Sweet,” he pulls up his chair and starts digging into the food. His face lights up as the taste hits his tongue. I suppress the prideful smile that threatens to come over my features and focus on eating. It is pretty good if I say so myself. And that is not the bias talking. Really.

The two of us eat in silence for a while. Him for his reasons, while I’m running through important things in my mind. Namely, any remaining leads I have. The previous three had been a bust but I’m not giving up yet.

“Helvet seems to be doing well,” I say off the cuff. Maybe I should go back to the King and Queen and ask them for help?

“She is. One of her sisters laid a fertilized egg yesterday.”

“Really? Which one?”

“Vel.”

“Velvet? The one with red feathers, right?”

“No, blue. Everyone’s excited to have a new member of their family.”

“Good for them.”

Silence returns as we go back to our thoughts. I could look into Alchemy. No one’s done much with it. Might be something worth looking into there.

“How was your walk to Nelly’s place?” Jack asks after swallowing about half of his eggs in one go.

“It was fine. Didn’t stay long. Got the stuff, had a little chat and got out.”

“Oh. You know she told me her sister’s started looking for a mate.”

“Her sister would be eighteen in human years by now, so it makes sense when coupled with the lupine races’ above average libido.”

“Heh, heh, uh, yeah,” Jack goes quiet while I tap a finger against my chin. There was that supposed rumor of some ancient ruins housing magic of the old world. Maybe I should go check it out?

“So, how’s your search going?” and there was Jack showing off his seemingly preternatural ability to tell what I was thinking, “Found anything you could use yet.”

I shake my head, “No, I haven’t found anything I could use. Even the Archmages are stumped on how to make a portal back home. Keep saying that the ‘Magical Leylines that connect our Worlds are out of balance’ or something like that.”

“Ah, ok,” Jack went quiet for a bit. His expression shifted from uncertainty to worry before settling on determined, “Then, maybe it’s time-“

“I’m not stopping.”

“Marcus.”

“No,” I put down my fork and look up him, hoping he can sense my determination from the glare I send his way, “If we got to Ilithian through magic, then we can get back to Earth through magic. There’s gotta be some way to send at least one of us home.”

“And that’s fine, but how long have you been searching at this point?”

I don’t answer for a few seconds before turning my gaze away from him and mumbling, “Half a year.”

“Which is exactly how long we’ve been here,” he tilts his head towards the open window for emphasis, “You could’ve used those six months for something way more constructive.”

“Like what?” I already know his answer to my question, but I ask anyway. Maybe he’s changed up his pitch?

“Well,” he pulls up a hand and starts counting off on his fingers, “you could’ve gotten some friends besides me and the girls, maybe learned to grow your own food, learn how to use some magic of your own, or maybe even get a girlfriend.”

The frown on my face doesn’t abate as I begin my reply, “First, I’ve got friends other than you. I just don’t hang out with them twenty-four seven.” 

“Could’ve fooled me.”

I ignore his interruption and continue, “Second, Helvet and the rest of the girls are your friends. I’m a third wheel at best.”

“You know that’s not true. They like you just as much as I do.” 

“Third, do I look like someone with a green thumb to you?” 

“Never know unless you try.”

“Fourth, I have no aptitude for magic. You either have it or you don’t and I don’t.”

“But there are ways to get it!” Jack interjects, annoyance creeping into his voice, “The girls would be happy to help you find them. Hell, I would if you asked!”

“I’m well aware of the alternatives, and I have already stated that I refuse to consider them. Unless the criteria involve something other than an exchange of bodily fluids,” I involuntarily shudder at the thought of giving up my body for power before continuing, “Lastly, as I have told you before, I do not want a girlfriend. I’m perfectly happy as I am.”

“Come on, Marky,” I wince at the nickname. He only ever pulls it out when he’s getting upset with me, “You can’t keep being this stubborn forever.”

“I don’t see it as stubbornness. I see it as common sense. Why would I wish to start a relationship in a world that I’m going to be leaving at some point?”

“Well...do you have to leave?”

“Yes.”

“But this-“

“No.”

“You have to at least-“

“This conversation is over.”

“Marky you can’t just-“

I shoot out of my seat and shout, “Just because you’re willing to throw away your life back home doesn’t mean I am!”

The two of us stare each other down. Neither one of us budges. Just like every other time we have this argument. Eventually, I sit back down and angrily start eating my eggs. I still don’t understand him. This place isn’t our home. It’s not where we were born and raised. How can he so easily cast all that aside to live here?! It makes no sense to me!

The two of us remain in silence for I don’t know how long, both of our brows were furrowed in frustration. I was ready to keep it like that for the rest of the day.

Jack’s frown turned into a smile as he looked me in the eyes and said, “So, how’s your training with Olden going? Made any progress on your Sword Style?”

....Damn him for knowing exactly what to say to get me to talk.

“That’s going great!” my previous frustration disappears as a smile comes over my face, “Olden says I’ve got the basics down. Now I just need to create a Form for it, and then start making the more advanced techniques.”

“Really? Got any ideas right now?”

“Do I!? I was thinking of holding my sword like this and...” from there I regal him with the details of my own personal Fighting Style. It was still a work in progress, but I was just happy to have someone else to talk about it with. And I’m sure Jack knew that, too. Why else would he have asked me about it?

Because, even if we didn’t see eye to eye on going home, it didn’t change the reality of our situation.

We were the only humans from our world in Ilithian. It only took us one month to learn that. It took another to find out the dominant species were humanoid monsters and animals that could use magic and were still in the Iron Age technology-wise.

Even though Jack had his group of friends, it didn’t change the fact that I was the only other human here.

And the same was true for me.

We were brought here together through means we don’t even know. And while he’s perfectly willing to remain in this world, I’m not.

I will find a way to go back to our world. 

That is my mission, and I will succeed.

No matter how long it takes.