I can't keep blanking out forever. Esmerya was watching me closely, but I’m not sure what she was searching for.

What were her personality traits again? Obedient, Adaptive, and Passionate? I remembered that the passive buffs from these traits gave her faster access to the spirit-archer class. I rub my forehead as I try to recall the exact specifics.

"Master? Are you okay?" Esmerya looked anxious as she reached her hands out towards me.

Should I tell them I was sent by a God to this world? Would it help them if they knew?

"I'm fine. I think. More importantly, we need more information about the area we are in right now." I glance over to the other races in front of me. Noticing my assessing gaze, Esmerya steps back in line with the other High Elves.

"We're in a new land, we don't know if we can use the magic that we have been using all this time. The local flora and fauna may be different. Our survival depends on our ability to adapt and overcome these circumstances. If we leave this place better than we found it, then that is good enough for me." I give an impassioned speech, but it does not seem to have the intended effect.

All of their faces are distinct enough for me to not have trouble telling them apart, but they all look confused and worried about me. Perhaps if I talked more like the text dialogue from the game they wouldn't be so worried.

As I look over each of them, I feel like I’m remembering more and more about them.

High Humans, a strong race with the most possible combinations for classes, still considered a young race compared to the others. Known to enslave other races, and their own, for profit.

High Elves, the most long-lived race and the most adept at utilizing the environment around them. They're also racist towards the dwarves, something to do with dwarves looking ugly and dirty.

Elder Beasts, a powerful clan with mixed blood. When they change from beasts to Elder Beasts they gain access to their bloodline abilities. Typically, a transformation into their ancestral lineage, but not always.

Lastly, the Elder Dwarves, an innovative race with a deep connection to the land they inhabit. They hate the elves for being frivolous and judgmental but are typically neutral to all other races. They love to invent new and wonderous things.

As I assess each race, an idea begins to formulate.

"Everyone is to remain on high alert until we understand where we are and the strength of those around us. Aglas, Verdin and Lilimera: Step forward to receive your orders." As I change my speech pattern to reflect the game’s dialogue, there is a collective sigh of relief.

So, it really was the way I was talking that concerned them. I'll have to continue talking like this and slowly integrate my own patterns of speech so they get used to it.

"Master Ehko. I, Aglas of the Shifting Wound, swear my undying loyalty to you." The young man folds his left hand in front of his heart in salute.

Aglas is a relatively young High Human, in the game you recruit him after he steals your weapon and gets caught by the guards trying to sell it on the black market.

"Master Ehko, Lilimera swears her fealty to you. Please use me as you see fit." Though her speech was much more relaxed compared to Aglas, Lilimera also folds her left hand in front of her heart.

As a High Elf, her physical features are slender and enticing and her ears are long and pointed at the top. In the game you find Lilimera hiding in an abandoned house in a town overrun by zombies.

"Aglas, I command thee: Use your Tactician Class and Trapmaker Profession to fortify the defenses of the Moving Fortress. Lilimera, I command thee: Use your Illusionist Class to protect Aglas from any potential danger." I order them in the style of text I remember from the game.

If I’m correct, their answer should be...

"I hear and obey." They swear in unison.

"Master Ehko, I, Verdin of the Shifting Wound, swear my loyalty to you until my last breath." The last of the three steps forward and salutes me.

Another High Human, Verdin was originally an assassin sent by a rival Fortress to attempt to kill the main character in the game, me. After defeating him in combat, you had a choice to cut off his head or let him go. I chose to let him go and he became my loyal servant.

"Verdin, I command thee: Use your Assassin Class to be my shadow. Loose your poisoned dagger to strike my enemies and all who seek my ruin." I nod my head regally towards him.

"I hear and obey." Verdin says while saluting once more.

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Then, he slipped into my shadow with the Shadow Walk Assassin skill.

Very convenient.

"Good. Now, I need a volunteer team of five to begin scouting and reporting. The main mission will be to get an accurate assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the local residents, whether they can be reasoned with, and if we can, to get a map of the region." I speak out our general plan, knowing that the finer details can be changed once we leave the fortress.

Seven people stepped forward from among the seventeen remaining without assigned duties.

I gesture to five of the seven volunteers and the other two step back into line.

"Myla, approach." I gave a quick nod toward the High Human female who had stepped forward.

"Thank you, Master. I swear to do your bidding until my life is complete." Myla attempts to salute, but her heavy armor makes it difficult.

"I command thee: As the Warden Class, your job will be to protect the other four in your party from any threats while they fulfill the tasks given to them.”

"I hear and obey." Myla responds.

If they all keep talking like this, I’ll never get outside. I need to hurry this along.

"Oath, Redmane, Jastra, and Lasenya. Approach." I gesture for them to join Myla.

After they are each done swearing their oaths to me, I give them their individual tasks.

"Oath, I command thee: Use your Surveyor Profession to survey the lands and use your Dragon Knight Class to support the team in fulfilling their duties."

"Redmane, I command thee: Use your Botanist Profession to determine the safe and dangerous flora in this new land and gather them for testing."

"Jastra, I command thee: Use your Sage Class to heal and protect your allies while they accomplish the missions given to them."

"Lasenya, I command thee: Use your Sorcerer Class to defeat those who would seek to harm your allies while they accomplish the missions given to them."

So. Much. Talking.

If I had been a smoker in my last life, this would probably have been the time to sneak out and relieve my frustration.

"I hear and obey." The four say at the same time.

"Go, accomplish the missions given to you. I look forward to your reports when you return. Take any resources you feel you need to get this done." I say this, but since they look eager to go, I’m not going to command them to wait.

The party of five leave, Aglas and Lilimera have gone to do their jobs as well. Twelve people remain. Next up we need paper in order to receive written reports. If I’m not mistaken, paper making is something the Scribe Profession should have knowledge of.

"Vilumi, come forward." I motion for the Elder Dwarf woman to come closer to my throne.

"Master, I swear ta thee-" Vilumi begins to make a vow, but I cut her off.

"Sorry Vilumi, that will have to wait. Do you know how to make paper and ink?" I feel bad, because she looks like she's about to cry when I cut her off.

"Yaa, Master. But I cannae make it without te ingredients. We got te moulds, just no fiber an wood to process. So long as we go' certain plants, we can make ink." Her thick accent belied her small stature.

"Very well. Vilumi, I command thee: Use your Scribe Profession to make paper with the help of the Nature Summoner, Desi-Duris."

"Desi-Duris, I command-"

"I got it, Mastah!"

Desi-Duris interrupted me before I could finish issuing my command. Well, he is a child, so standing around while I talk is probably very boring for him. Never mind that everyone still present is eyeing him with anger.

"It's alright, as long as you understand what I want you to do. I want you to summon trees for Vilumi to make into paper." I wave my hand for him and Vilumi to know it's okay to leave.

Vilumi looks flustered but Desi-Duris is taking it in stride, I feel like he is going to be easy to get along with.

Only ten people left, but I think until we get any more information it wouldn't be smart to delegate more tasks and weaken the defense of the Fortress.

"To you ten standing before me, I command thee: Protect the Fortress from any threat, take shifts so you do not get tired, and prioritize surviving if you cannot defeat an enemy."

"I hear and obey." All ten spoke at the same time.

Esmerya looks like she wants to say something, she's fidgeting like she has to pee.

"Esmerya, come forward. Speak what is in your heart." I'm going off script here but I don't think anyone is going to chastise me for it.

"Yes, Master." As she steps forward, the elven bow on her back glows a beautiful purple hue. "I wish to create a King's Guard to protect you while you go to the outside world."

My back is starting to hurt from this stupid throne. I can't help but think about how uncomfortable it is.

I stand up from the throne and step toward Esmerya. When I arrive in front of her I pat her head and look into her eyes.

"When the time comes for me to step forward into unknown territory, I hope for you to be at my side."

Seeing her beautiful face turn red is interesting. Maybe I should tease her some more.

"I hear and obey." She can no longer speak loudly.

"Let us go, I wish to see what the outside world looks like." I lead the ten who are in my throne room.

Even though it was a poor design choice, the throne room is almost a straight passage to the inner area of the Fortress. During a fortress siege event in the game, my character was always the first to be attacked, but it also allowed me to fight directly with the enemy troops while the enemy commander couldn't leave his throne room.

Walking through the passages gave me more insight into the fortress than I would ever have had in the game. I could feel the cold emanating from the metal coating the walls. If I recall correctly, I chose for the walls to be coated in Mithril to protect from incendiary attacks.

Mithril was only considered the third strongest metal in the game, but the other options cost fifty and seventy-five dollars to upgrade. Considering my previous rank, it wouldn't surprise me if people assumed I was a pay to win player.

The light blue shimmer on the walls are captivating, I have a hard time looking away. I'm sure the ten people following me see my actions as strange.

Give me a break, this world is amazing!

As I approach the large wooden doors, they react to my presence and begin to open by themselves.

A blinding light cascades down from the skies, followed by the scent of the outdoors.

Once my eyes finally adjust to the light, I see the ramparts of the Fortress with their glistening black-iron spikes.

Directly to my right is the inner garden, filled with herbs and plants from Earth. Just from what I can see and recognize, there are carrots, pomegranates, apple trees and bushels of blueberries.

To my left is the training ground which had previously been used to level up my characters during idle times. Once they hit max level, I left it as is because I didn't really need the bazaar, which was the other option.

From where I stand, I can see the party of five waving goodbye to me as they leave through the gates of the Fortress.

I smile and wave back.