“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then, the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.”

― James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

“Look everyone! The coward A.K.A James Cross. I knew you were a piece of shit.”

BB’s hyenas laughed on cue at his not funny joke, and Arthur gave James a disappointed look. But Cara looked absolutely disgusted with James very presence. His other classmates were sneering and whispering at him. James ignored their comments and words. He turned to face BB who was glaring at him and asked a question.

“BB, why do militaries all over the world recruit young people from 18 to 21?”

BB blinked a couple of times, not expecting such a question from James. When he did not answer, James answered his own question.

“I’ll tell you. There are a few reasons. For example, 18- to 21-year-olds are approaching the peak of their physical abilities. So, the military will have them as trained soldiers during their peak ability levels. But more importantly, 18- to 21-year-olds are less set in their ways and have developed less bad habits. So, our age group is easier to train and mold than older recruits. In other words, young people like us can be manipulated by older and crafter authority figures.”

James pointed to the king and spoke again.

“King Perceval is a king. He is both a warrior and politician. Kings, presidents, and world leaders will use words like patriotism or serving your country and people to get you to fight and yes die for a cause you might not even understand.”

Mr. Abbot cut in.

“Mr. Cross, please do not insult our host.”

“Ha! Host? Mr. Abbot we were kidnapped from our home. Brought here and told we are heroes and must fight in a war for a world not our own. Besides, our only source of information about this world is King Perceval. I don’t think we should trust everything he says.”

One of the guards stepped forward, placing a hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword.

“How dare you call the king a liar boy! I should teach you a lesson on respect!”

But King Perceval held up a hand to forestall his guard. The man moved his hand away from his sword and bowed to the king. James faced the king and spoke his peace.

“I mean no disrespect to his majesty, but I don’t know you. I don’t know if you’re a good man, an honest man, or maybe even a desperate man. You told us many things that were true. Then, again you could have told us a few things that were not true. Yet, you could have leaved a bunch of things out.”

James could see from the corner of his eyes, that most of his classmates understood where he was coming from.

“All I’m say is this. You your majesty have your own agenda. Be we are not of this world. We do not know this world’s histories, religions, cultures, or traditions. Therefore, I say before getting into a war not of our making. Send us back home.”

There was a moment of silence, King Perceval studied James intently. James got the feeling that the king was trying to figure him out. As if deciding the best way to come at James.

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“Mr. Cross…is it?”

The king asked. James nodded.

“Yes, James Cross.”

“I understand your point of view. Let me say that my agenda is simple. I wish to defeat the forces of chaos and prevent the return of the Chaos Emperor. The inhabitants of Elantra are not strong enough. But you heroes from another world have the strength and power to defeat chaos. As for returning to your home. The spell we use to summon you is only a one-way trip.”

A boy James recognized called Lee Chan stood up and yelled.

“You mean we can’t go back home!? Even after we defeat chaos!?”

King Perceval did not hesitate in his reply.

“This is true. You may not be able to return home, but the rewards which await you after your quest is beyond your wildest dreams.”

But before the king could go on and on about riches and lands, and titles. James cut in.

“Bullshit!”

Everyone paused at the outburst, then King Perceval asked.

“Excuse me?”

“I said bullshit. I wise man once said a door swings both ways.”

James spread out his arms saying.

“This is a world of magic. There must be some kind of spell that can send us back home.”

Instead of King Perceval, one of the wisemen. An older looking gentleman with a bald head and a long white beard stepped forward.

“Mr. Cross, young man…I understand how you feel. But the summoning spell was granted to us by the gods.”

“Then, the gods can grant you a return spell.”

James interrupted the old man. The old man did not take offense, he continued as if James did not say anything.

“The summoning spell was in a runic code which took us years to decipher. We finally broke the code yesterday. If the gods were to grant us a return spell, it too would be in runic code which would take us years to decipher.”

King Perceval took back control of the conversation after the wiseman stepped back among his fellows.

“In other words, Mr. Cross. Only the gods can grant you your wish to return home. Perhaps if you defeat the forces of chaos. Perhaps then the gods would grant your wish and give you the spell to return home.”

The king shrugged.

“But we are mortals, and mortals cannot predict the actions of gods.”

James saw the lie in the king’s eyes, he knew it was a lie. He did not know how he knew this, but he had no proof. Therefore, he closed his mouth and sat down. It would be pointless to argue about returning home if he did not know the spell. Hell, he did not even know the summoning spell.

Until he gains more knowledge about this world and how it worked. James would do what he does best. He would listen, learn, and study. Knowledge was the key here, and he and his classmates are sorely lacking knowledge about this world.

“For now, we have rooms available for your use. You will also be given your own personal servants. If you need anything, anything at all please do not hesitate to ask.”

King Perceval said with a kind smile, a smile James did not trust. He could say the same for his classmates. Arthur bowed to the king.

“Thank you, your majesty. It has been…an interesting day.”

“That’s the understatement of a lifetime.”

Cara said. But the king had one last thing to say.

“Tomorrow, all of you will participate in your awakening ceremony. Once your mana has been awoken and you know your affinity. Then, your training will begin.”

That night James slept in a bed half the size of his room, inside a room bigger than his mother’s living room. He had a lot to thing about. The protagonists in those isekai novels were told they were heroes destined to save the world. But James was not that delusional. They knew nothing of this world. Its societies and culture, they were completely in the dark.

James did not trust the king. In truth, he did not trust any authority figure. He has been screwed over by the police and his teachers too many times to trust a king with his own agenda. Not to mention the forces of chaos who are a threat to Elantra.

“I’m not going to risk my life for a world and a people not of my own. Instead, I’m going to learn about this world and hopefully find a spell that will take me back home.”

No one, not even members of his family, have ever fought for James. He would not fight for anyone else but himself. Fighting for others, helping others always bit him in the ass. James would focus all his energy on finding a way back home. If his classmates wanted to return with him. He would be happy to help them. But if they wanted to stay here on Elantra, then that was their business.

“I’ll get the ball rolling after I’ve awoken my mana and learned my affinity. Right now, without power I can’t do anything.”

James tucked himself in and tried to get some sleep. Little did he know that this would be the first and last time he slept in this room.