So there I was, standing in what I now realize is the equivalent of a Radio Shack from back when they supplied resistors, or what a magical Digikey outlet store would be, realizing that this entire world treats electricity as magic, and just briefly I consider the fact that they see its generation like Galvani: A biological process that is storing this current. Galvani was wrong that it is stored in the muscles, but considering I was literally shocked when I punched the guy’s chest in, it probably is literal as in an organ for them. And I am an electrical engineer here.

Saturated with the weight of the revelation, I carefully sit on an overstuffed chair near the large grandfather clock not wanting my weighty thoughts break this piece of furniture as well. Putting my face in my hands, I rub my eyelids trying to think clearly.

If the woman was able to realize what I possess, then their technology is not far off of computing, but all their devices are small. Looking through the shelves, nothing is bigger than a cookie. Considering Thallion talked about being drained by the translator, maybe the organ is like a capacitor, and it slowly fills when not in use, and drains at various rates? It would match the way he went very weak after touching the tester. But surely someone by now has put 2 pieces of metal together and licked them, and licked their palm? Surely I cannot be the only one that knows this info on a PLANET where they just pulled my from MY world somehow.

What would that make me? I know electricity, but the field is huge. Also, going to the red people is probably the worst idea I can have, as it smells most like the plot, and nope, not getting involved, I am going home!

I am tougher than most here, but an arrow would still be the end no matter what, and with electricity, there is so much that can be done. Sure, literal elemental fights are out of the question, unless they summon them too, but someone could easily carry black powder with them and throw that at someone, sparking it at the last moment to create a fireball! I am NOT fireproof.

So here I am, in the back end of nowhere, with a teacher, an overly enthralled computer saleswoman, and a plantmaster. I have no clue where I am, no training to fight, and probably being chased by what summoned me, as that probably took days of prep and a… very… large… inscription…

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I quickly pull out my personal phone, boot it up, and open the photos app.

Right there, in all the intricacies of the floor, is a massive circuit. It is all on the same plane, with no crossovers or unders, and while my picture only covers a small section of the floor, I remember that the entire upper chamber I was in had its floor covered in this singular intricate design. Looking closer, I see 2 pinpoints rising up from the plane of the embedded circuit, and join level with the floor. I grab the now abandoned translator and flip it over. It’s port is a match.

The thing that summoned me was not a singular thing, it was 50 people able to dump enough power into the floor to do it!

I curl up in a ball, and sob quietly, thinking about HOW am I going to make that and get enough power to do so? 50 people to pull me, plus a massive circuit imprinted in stone is one stupendous amount of effort.

I walk up and tap lightly on the table, the other 3 look at me as I have interrupted their argument. I shut down my phone again and start gesturing. I gesture covering my eyes, and fake running. As I try and charades my way through the phrase “Hide Me! I don’t want to be a soldier!” there is a knock at the door.

I dive behind the large, overstuffed chair as I hear a gruff voice, and catch a glimpse of polished red painted boots from my spot behind the chair and looking under it.

What starts as a normal discussion quickly escalates into a fierce debate, followed by barking, large gestures, and stomping.

They’re standing up to the guard. For me?!

I hear footsteps clink across the thinly carpeted floor, in my general direction, as well as begging from both Lena and the woman, and what sounds like Thallion being logical at them again.

Their defiance is a good stall tactic, but unless I can think of something, I don’t know what will become of me.

As the footsteps draw closer, along with the seemingly inevitable confrontation, my mind races with last ditch attempts and desperate plans to get out of this mess.

With a deep breath, bracing for whatever happens next, I come up with a monumentally stupid plan, knowing that the fate of not just myself, but everyone in this room, hangs in the balance.