Roy POV

Walking through a forest alone at night is an odd situation to be in. Still doesn’t feel real. Just a few hours ago, I was peacefully dozing off in class until a bunch of high-pitched, horrified screams woke me. When I slowly raised my head up from my desk, I took a brief look around the classroom to find nothing wrong. It was only after I let out a really long yawn and my drowsiness died off that I realised an entire wall was missing. Not only was a wall missing, but the suburban road and street outside were replaced with a vast and wild forest.

It seems like while I was asleep, the entire tenth grade (along with their respective classrooms) of my school was just plucked straight out from Earth and plopped here in this open field surrounded by woodlands.

What a day.

But my troubles didn’t end there. It seemed that a sizeable squadron of knights was awaiting us. These armoured troops stood at attention with their pikes pointing to the sky. They even had tents set up behind them. After a bit of confusion from our side and caution from theirs, a young lady approached us, closely followed by two knights. I found myself at the very back of the school group consisting of a hundred or so people, and since I don’t have friends and people tend to avoid me, I never got a proper explanation. Apparently, that lady was a fancy princess? And for whatever reason, she had us all magically summoned to this world to help kill a bunch of monsters? And also, because we were summoned, we could use magic? I think someone asked if we could be sent back, but Princess Lady said that we’d have to kill Lord Demon to ensure a way back. 

So, I think we’re being forcefully conscripted into a fantasy war. Not ideal. 

But at least we all got magic. After some commotion (I think some teachers and students were kicking up a fuss about the whole situation), we were all put into a line. Once again, I had no idea why and found myself at the back of everything. Knights were spread out along the line to keep a vigilant eye on us. They weren’t wearing any helmets, so I could see them look at us with what I think was wariness. I don’t know why they were so wary, but it isn’t really my problem, either. I once met eyes with a guard, and when I smiled and waved to try and ease tensions, they ever-so-slightly flinched and started glaring at me. I refrained from any further attempts at this.

Thrice up ahead, I could hear people make some noise. I think the noise was only good twice. Once, it was something about a saint, healing magic, and miracles. Not long after, there was something about a hero, hope, and more miracles. The noise a bit after that was the ‘not nice’ noise. Someone failed the magic check. The noise that followed was in response to Princess Lady wandering if she should exile them or something to that effect, and people were unhappy about the injustice. Princess Lady didn’t push the issue and let the magicless girl stay with her friends.

I stood in the queue for well over an hour, and as I inched ever closer behind everyone, I got a closer look at what we were put in line for. A lone cloaked figure sat at a small table. On the table, I saw what looked to be a crystal ball the size of a head. Two knights stood beside the cloaked person. Princess Lady stood nearby, overseeing everything with her arms crossed and brow furrowed. Seeing that she looked as young as all the other kids here was odd. It was even stranger to see that she wore a breastplate and a shortsword strapped to her side. 

A student placed their hand on the crystal ball. As he did, a vibrant blue light formed and started rapidly swirling around the inside of the ball.

“Strong water affinity,” the cloaked man said slightly approvingly. The boy lowered his hand with a smile. A nearby knight approached the boy with something in hand, and the cloaked man spoke. “Again, this is a magic inhibiting bracelet. For everyone’s safety, please put it on. We don’t want to risk your magic running wild and hurting anyone.”

The boy presented his wrist to the guard. The thick iron bracelet closed around his wrist with a mechanical clank, and the green gem in the bracelet shone brightly as it did. The student was then instructed to join everyone else. The knights had begun to pack up camp and were preparing to set out at this point.

At last, it was my turn. I did as I was instructed and placed my hand on the crystal ball, and… nothing. 

No reaction.

“Another dud? Seriously?” the princess said disbelievingly. 

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I’m afraid so, Your Highness,” the cloaked man confessed. 

The princess let out a sigh. “You have no use here. You’re free to go wherever you please, but you can’t stay with us.” She glanced around at the people behind me, seemingly expecting something. Then she raised a confused eyebrow. I turned to see what she was looking at. It was just people going about their business. Nothing special. I look back at the princess like a confused dog. “I was expecting your friends to object and intervene like they did for your other friend.”

I let out a soft chuckle and smiled. “Oh, no. Not for me.” I don’t know why, but my words received a cold stare from the princess.

“In any case,” she muttered, pointing to an opening in the treeline behind the knight’s camp. “I suggest you follow that makeshift path through the woods. There’s a town about two days west from here called Leefside.”

“Oh! Thank you!” I can’t help but smile ear to ear. It was very kind of her to give me directions. I smile and wave goodbye to the princess. Not two steps later, a girl cries ‘wait!’ loud enough for everyone to hear. I stop in my tracks and turn. The girl awkwardly pushes through and emerges from the crowd. She speedwalks over to us, her golden ponytail swaying behind her as she strides. 

It was Lola. I liked Lola. A lot of people did. I think she was one of the most popular kids in school, and for good reason. She’s nice. Nice enough to talk to me on rare occasions or special events. “Where is he going? Why isn’t he coming with the rest of us?”

“Because just like your friend Ace, this boy has no capacity for magic. He’s useless to us.” The princess responded cooly.

“So what? You basically kidnapped him and dumped him in another world. He’s your responsibility. You can’t just abandon him. Right?” Lola looks back to the crowd, hoping to rally the others and support her. 

She got nothing. The people nearest just looked on. Everyone else either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “Guys?” She asks, quieter this time, losing confidence. 

Eventually, another girl emerges from the crowd. She calls out, not bothering to approach.

“Layla? What are you doing? We’re leaving soon!”

So her name was Layla this whole time… What does it say about me that I don’t remember the name of the one person who’s nice to me? I can’t help but smile - nearly grin, at how bad I am at being a person. It’s comical.

Layla calls back to her friend. “It’s, uh… Ray! He doesn’t have magic, so they’re abandoning him!” 

Aw, she nearly got my name right. She really is sweet.

Her friend was silent for a second. “Uh… Okay? So?”

Layla, seemingly baffled, looked between me, her friend, and the other onlookers. She kind of looks like a goldfish in the way she’s widening and narrowing her open mouth, either trying to find the words to say or not knowing what words to start with.

“Layla.” I try to get her attention. She looks at me, worried and confused. I just smile at her. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“But-”

“Really, I’ll be fine.” Still smiling, I give her a small wave. “I’ll be going now. Bye.”

“Oh… Okay. Just… take care, I guess. See ya.” Layla diffidently backs down and returns to her friends. It was truly sweet of her to try the bare minimum for me. The only other people to do that were my parents, though if they didn’t have the threat of law over them, they wouldn’t even do that.

After saying and waving goodbye to the princess, her guards, the cloaked man, and the knights who looked at me as I walked by them, I started on my path into the woods.

Princess Amaryllis POV

The strange boy just left. He didn’t beg. He didn’t bargain. He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t even ask for any supplies or help of any sort. Nothing.

He just left.

“Did you see him pocket something as he left? Anything at all?” I asked my retainer beside me, wondering if she saw something I didn’t.

“No, Your Highness,” Annette answered. She sounded just as confused as I was. “He just left on a two-day trip with nothing. Through an unknown wilderness. Full of who-knows-what kind of beasts.”

“And while the sun starts to set,” I add, noticing the sky beginning to turn its fiery orange. What in the Hells has that boy done to be ousted by his community in such a way? Why did he not even care?

“Are you worrying about that boy?”

“What?” I glare at her, my patience wearing thin. “Absolutely not. Why would you even think I am?”

“You’re still looking at the tree line,” Annette answered, completely unfazed by my intimidation. For all the years I’ve known her, it seemed like nothing could bother her.

“No. I can’t pity these outsiders, and neither can you. Remember, these people are dangerous. I was just thinking about that boy. I can’t tell if he’s brave and capable or if he’s just that big of a… dingus.”

“Your Highness, please. That kind of language is unbecoming of royalty.” She looked down at me, her eyes narrowed more than usual. “You need to grow the fuck up and start using more refined language.”

I kick her shin.