After the meal, I pull out the card Narkul gave me, feeling the weight of responsibility that came with it. As the elf behind the counter processes the payment, I still can’t believe how smooth everything is going. The card works seamlessly, as if we’ve been part of this world for years.

“Thanks for dining with us,” the elf says with a graceful bow as she hands back the card. I slide it into my pocket and look at the others, who are just as full and content as I am.

“Alright,” I say, rubbing my stomach. “Phones next?”

“Definitely,” Jiho replies, standing and stretching. “But seriously, next time, I’m picking somewhere with a little less... crunch.”

Isak lets out a small laugh. “What? You weren’t a fan of the roasted caterpillar? I thought it was pretty fancy.”

Abel just shakes his head, muttering something about it being a one-time experience. Still, there’s a lightness between us now that we haven’t had since we first arrived. The shock is fading, and for the first time, I think we’re actually enjoying ourselves, despite the craziness.

We step out of the restaurant and back into the mall, and it’s like we’ve entered a marketplace straight out of a sci-fi novel mixed with a fantasy RPG. The stores here are a bizarre mix of futuristic and ancient. There’s a shop filled with sleek, glowing gadgets right next to one selling ornate magical artifacts. Another stall has someone selling enchanted jewelry that hovers in mid-air, sparkling with a faint, mystical light. Further down, I catch a glimpse of a blacksmith working in a forge, right inside the mall, hammering away at something glowing red-hot, while the smell of enchanted spices wafts from a nearby food stand.

“This place is insane,” Isak murmurs, wide-eyed as he looks around. “It’s like every genre of fantasy and sci-fi mashed together.”

Jiho looks equally amazed. “Yeah, but how does any of it make sense? You’ve got people selling potions next to, like, phones. It’s... a lot.”

“It’s a world with mana, elves, and aliens,” I remind them. “I think at this point, we just have to roll with it.”

We keep walking, passing by what looks like a pop-up kiosk with potions and ingredients, and I spot a couple of demi-humans—probably around our age—browsing the wares. One has pointed ears and wears a long cloak, while the other has thick horns curling back from his forehead. It’s still so surreal, seeing these species that were nothing more than fantasy stories back home, walking around in normal clothes, living their lives. We’re definitely the outsiders here.

Eventually, after passing by several more shops that range from futuristic tech to ancient curiosities, we spot what we’ve been looking for: a sleek, modern store with a glowing sign that reads Tech Haven.

“This is it,” I say, nodding toward the store. “Let’s get our new phones and see what else we can pick up.”

The store’s exterior is all polished glass and chrome, with holographic displays hovering just outside the windows. Inside, I can see rows of phones, tablets, and computers, all gleaming under the soft, futuristic lighting. It looks a lot like the tech stores we had back on Earth—just with a few more holograms and floating screens.

Abel gives a small nod. “Looks like we’ve finally found something familiar. Let’s get this sorted.”

We step into Tech Haven, and it’s like walking into a tech wonderland. The holographic displays and sleek, futuristic gadgets are everywhere, making it feel like we’ve stepped straight into a sci-fi movie. Isak is the first to break the silence, as usual.

“Alright, lads,” he says, practically vibrating with excitement. “Narkul gave us the golden ticket. Let’s go wild.”

Jiho, standing next to him, rolls his eyes but grins. “You realize we only came here for phones, right? We don’t need to buy out the entire store.”

“Speak for yourself,” I say, flipping one of the demo phones open and closed. The phone’s design is sleek, and it flips into a tablet or shrinks into an even smaller version. “We’re sitting on a treasure trove. I say we take advantage.”

Abel, ever calm, picks up one of the phones and examines it. He looks serious for a second before muttering, “I could use this to call all my future fans when I become a world-renowned hero. Might as well look cool doing it.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Future fans? You realize that hero status doesn’t come with a harem, right?”

Isak throws his head back, laughing. “See, Haru gets it. Abel, if anyone’s going to be the hero, it’s going to be me—with the harem.”

Abel shrugs, barely containing a grin. “Nah, I’m just in it for the gym equipment and a fridge full of energy drinks. Hero status is a bonus.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Sure, man. Keep telling yourself that,” Jiho says, smirking. “You’re going to need more than protein shakes and dumbbells to survive here.”

We all grab the phones after a few rounds of flipping them open and closed like we’ve never seen tech before. The decision is unanimous—these things are way too cool to pass up. As we head over to the earbuds section, I make a beeline for the ones I’ve had my eye on.

“I need these,” I say, grabbing a pair of sleek, wireless earbuds. “Can’t survive without music.”

Isak grabs a pair too, but it’s clear he’s already thinking ahead. “We’re hitting up the gaming section next, right?”

Abel, with that stoic expression of his, nods slowly. “Yeah, let’s get you a console, Isak. Something to keep you busy while you wait for your imaginary harem to show up.”

Isak just grins, taking it as a challenge. “Please, by the time we’re done, I’ll be the king of a castle with elf chicks feeding me grapes.”

I roll my eyes but chuckle. “You’re going to be lucky if you don’t trip over your own feet before we even make it out of the mall.”

The gaming section is just as wild as the rest of the store. Consoles line the shelves, but they aren’t like the ones we had back on Earth. These have holographic displays, motion-sensing controls, and some even claim to have direct mana integration for an immersive experience.

Isak grabs one that looks sleek and compact, with a modular design. The games that come with it are equally bizarre—there’s one called Time Warden, where you literally control the flow of time to solve puzzles, and another called Legacy of Steel, a VR experience that lets you play as a hero in an open-world fantasy setting.

“Look at this,” Isak says, holding up the console. “I could dominate the leaderboards in this world too.”

Abel stares at the game for a moment before shrugging. “As long as there’s something where I can one v one Isak, I’m in.”

Jiho and I just shake our heads as Isak loads up on games, clearly way too excited. By the time we make our way to the checkout, the total is ridiculous. The cashier, a guy around our age, just smiles as I hand over the card.

“Enjoy,” he says, packing up our haul into bags that feel heavier than they should. “Looks like you guys are set for a while.”

We step out of the store, loaded down with bags. Abel leans in, whispering, “You think Narkul knows we’re buying out the whole mall?”

I grin. “He gave us the card. That’s on him.”

As we walk, Isak swings one of the bags over his shoulder and says, “I’m telling you, boys, the harem dream is still alive. You’ll see.”

Abel, deadpan as always, just mutters, “Yeah, and I’ll be the one cooking for all of them.”

As we step out of the tech store, still carrying all our bags, Isak spots a clothing store across the mall. The sign above reads Tactical & Casual Gear, and from the looks of it, it’s packed with sports clothes, casual wear, and some stuff that wouldn’t look out of place on a battlefield.

“Okay, we need clothes,” Isak declares, already making his way towards the store. “If we’re going to be living in a new world, we can’t just walk around looking like we fell out of a thrift shop.”

Abel, with his usual calm but slightly dim logic, adds, “Yeah, and I’m not about to fight off aliens or elves in these old sneakers.”

We all follow him into the shop, and as soon as we step inside, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of relief. The clothes here are like an odd blend of familiar and foreign, just like everything else we’ve seen. There are tracksuits, jackets, sports gear, and casual clothes that could easily fit into any Earth wardrobe—but then there are other, more unique pieces too. Futuristic armor-like jackets, boots with strange designs that look both practical and stylish, and shoes with glowing accents that seem to change color as you walk.

“This place is crazy,” Jiho mutters, holding up a jacket that looks like something out of a cyberpunk movie. “I could get used to this.”

I start browsing the shelves, my fingers grazing the fabric of a few sleek hoodies and jackets. There’s something about being here, in this moment, that just feels right. Maybe Akari knew what he was doing after all, bringing us to a world like this. So far, it’s been fun, and even though the weight of responsibility is looming in the background, for now, I can’t help but feel happy. Things could’ve gone a lot worse.

Isak’s already trying on a pair of expensive shoes—some high-top sneakers with glowing soles that pulse every time he steps. “Check these out,” he says, practically dancing in them. “These are insane.”

“They look like something out of a video game,” Jiho comments, grabbing a similar pair in a different color. “We definitely wouldn’t find these back home.”

Abel, ever the wildcard, picks up a pair of running shoes that are sleek and lightweight but still manage to look ridiculously high-end. “I’m getting these,” he says, inspecting them. “I’ll be faster than a vampire.”

I shake my head at him, but I’m grinning. This world is full of surprises, and right now, we’re soaking it all in. I grab a couple of new jackets, some comfortable shirts, and a pair of those futuristic sneakers that Isak can’t stop raving about. Might as well blend in with this crazy place, right?

We take turns trying on the clothes, and for the first time in a while, we’re not just thinking about survival or the next big thing—we’re actually enjoying ourselves. The dressing room banter is easy, filled with dumb jokes and complaints about who’s picking out the best outfits.

As I step out in a new hoodie and jacket, I can’t help but smirk. “Akari probably thought he was doing us a favor, bringing us here. So far, I’m starting to think he was right.”

Isak, pulling on his jacket, gives me a grin. “Hey, as long as we keep getting cool stuff like this, I’m not complaining.”

We all grab a few more items—jackets, shirts, shoes—and make our way to the counter. The price, like before, is hefty, but when I hand over the card, the cashier just swipes it with a smile and hands over the bags.

As we leave the store, loaded down with new gear, I feel a sense of satisfaction. We’re starting to fit in here, in our own weird way. It’s not home, but it’s starting to feel like something close.