Stepping outside of the cathedral, a massive field of grass awaited me.

We were on top of a small hill, with stone stairs leading to the ground.

A few small buildings laid in the distance, too far to see any details that might explain their uses.

I could hear a river nearby, but I couldn’t find it. But I did see a large lake, too big to see it’s full size, over to the side. So maybe the river came from there.

And, that was it. Nothing all that amazing.

Don’t get me wrong, the sight is beautiful. Way more than the little lake I used to sit by back home. But it’s just…

I was expecting to see flying monsters, creatures from fairy tales. A few floating islands, an airship with a giant fan pushing it forward. Just something that could never exist back home.

Not a field of grass with a few buildings and a lake. Something more, fantasy-like.

Goddammit, I’m complaining again.

This is a new world with magic, I shouldn’t complain. Even if my first impressions of this world kinda suck.

Actually, isn't my meeting with Alex my first impression of this world? Probably is, but seeing an old man cry while begging for us to help, isn’t as fun as it was back then.

“This is very beautiful Alex,” Satou softly said.

“Thank you Hero Satou.”

“Please, I’m no hero. Just call me Satou.”

“Of course Hero Satou.” Dude, he just said not to add the hero behind his name. What don’t you understand?

After a few seconds of silence, Satou came out with, “So we’re really in another world. And we’re supposed to save it?”

“Well, not alone of course. Not only will you have your friends and classmates, but also us. So don’t worry, I promise that you will be safe.” Huh, I feel like this is foreshadowing something terrible.

Taking a single step down the stone stairs, it took a very long time to get down the hill as everybody in the entire school was walking down with me. Some kids even stepped off the stone steps and began walking down on the grassy hill. Though I don’t know where they got their confidence to leave the planned path in a new world.

It felt like a field trip where the teachers didn’t get enough chaperones and instead of splitting us into groups, had everybody walk in one big pile. Making everything take much longer than it should with no personal space.

The main reason was that Alex was pretty old, and took a long time to take each step. Satou was helping him down, so the traffic began to speed up. But while it was slow, it did give me plenty of time to admire the view.

The grass was like emeralds, in how they shined like a gem. Half of the lake I could see was clean enough for the surface of the water to reflect the sun like a mirror.

The only problem was that somehow, very conveniently, every person around me happened to be the tallest people in my school. So I could only ever admire a small section, with the rest being blocked by these guys’ fathead.

Taking a small sigh, I unintentionally look down on myself. Finding my once blood-soaked clothing to be as clean as even before I stole them.

Once I noticed this, I also didn’t feel my itchy bandages.

Looking at the people around me, and finding no one looking in my direction I quickly tucked my hand under my shirt. And like I thought, not feeling my poorly placed bandages.

But what shocked me was how smooth my skin was. It felt like a whale’s tummy, without any signs of my past scars.

This could only mean one thing, Magic.

What, did you expect me to come up with some crazy theory about how these guys are evil or something? No way, they got rid of all my embarrassing scars, I love these people.

Though, this suggests that these people undressed or at least looked at our naked bodies. This includes Anna…

I’m going to burn this place to the ground!

Reaching the bottom of the hill, our little walk started picking up some speed with Alex’s legs having a much easier time with a more leveled ground.

It was only now that I stopped looking at my surroundings and began listening in on Satou’s and Alex’s conversation.

But I think I came in a little late, “long after his time, we are still trying to comprehend many of his inventions. Some even worship them as the creations of the gods.” Wait, what are you talking about?

“Amazing! Using his skills and knowledge to combine the science of my world with the magic of this world. He must have been very strong.” Who are we talking about again?

“No no no, he was not strong. His inventions and artifacts were strong, but he was powerful.” Who are we talking about?! Was this guy a hero from the past or something?

“He was powerful. I’m sorry sir, but I don’t understand. Isn’t being powerful and being strong the same thing?”

“Well, they are surely similar, but not the same.” Then just tell us, don’t make it some bug life lesson we’re going to have to learn later.

“They’re not the same? Could you tell me why?”

“Hehe, no Satou. That is something you need to find out for yourself.” I love how this guy is talking only to Satou, acting like nobody is around even though everybody in the school is listening in.

It looked like Satou was given massive weights at the thought of having to figure out the difference. Though I don’t see the big deal.

Alex brought Saotu back into the conversation, telling him one more important lesson, “Don’t worry about it Satou. You’ll know when you’re ready, and until then. Remember this.” Alex stopped in his tracks, having everyone behind him bumping into the person in front of them, including me.

“It doesn’t matter what your ability is. It doesn’t matter whether you're strong or have the blessing of a god. As long as you believe in yourself, and put in the work, you and your friends can all become strong and powerful heroes. Because just like Lugh, even the smallest of embers can create a blazing fire.”

I feel I just missed out on some important life lesson on how you don’t need to compare yourself with others, and how even if you have a worthless skill, you can still become strong. I wish I listened in because I need some of that wisdom shit.

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Also, the thing they were talking about had something to do with this Lugh person.

Sounds Irish, does this mean they summon people from all over the world? Maybe I’m thinking too much into it.

I’ll try and remember his name, but I don’t make any promises.

“So this is it!” A very cocky and frankly annoying voice radiated out. “I thought you said this was a world of magic. But all I’m seeing is some dirt poor field.”

Everyone including myself turned our heads over to the annoying voice.

To everyone’s shocked expression, it was a girl named… yeah I have no idea who this woman is. Again, not good with names.

She isn’t all that appealing to the eyes, even though only Anne enters my eyes. She has… you know what, no, I’m not going to describe her appearance. She dares to insult the view when her body is like that of a fat potato with dry mold growing on her. Plus your head is shaped like a chicken’s.

Seriously, you should get that checked out.

I’ve seen her around a few times, but she isn’t all that important. She’s one of those girls that walk around school judging everyone. But checking out everyone’s shocked expressions, I guess she’s important.

But if I had to guess, I think everyone is mainly shocked at the idea of voicing a complaint when we’re literally in another world. Even if we weren’t, we’re clearly kidnapped and they obviously have the firepower to kill us all.

Alex was staring deep into her eyes. I sensed some disappointment bouncing off of him, “Miss, may I have the honor to know your name?”

A very cocky but also cringy smile considering she has a chicken head plastered itself onto her face, “My name is Samantha Cains, and you dare kidnap us, only to shove us into this unwashed dirt hole. You haven’t even told us how you’re going to send us back.” Samantha huh… I’m not going to remember that.

But, her little statement did make plenty of sense. Alex never did tell us how we're going back home. Not that I care, but the people who had lives and loved ones back on earth, they had much to say.

“She’s right! You never did tell us how we’re going home!”

“Send us back, I don’t want anything to do with this stupid war!”

“I wanna see my grandpa!”

It was pretty much like this for the next two minutes. And all I have to say for it was, You Can Learn Magic Here! Why do you want to go back?”

The yelling continued to increase in volume as more people began joining in until it was at the point where even Satou couldn’t control the mob.

When I thought my fragile eardrums were going to pop, a demonic like voice radiated out like a shock wave. Sending entire blades of grass that were once rooted into the ground, into the air with nothing but his voice.

His voice came from the air, making everyone crack their neck as they all looked onto the sky. Finding a small little girl with a crimson red dress and some blond pigtails. She was like a doll, just less creepy. Not by much though.

But she was standing in midair as if a wall was constructed in that very spot.

“This is all we have?” Her voice continued to be very demonic and scary, despite what her actual appearance would let you believe. So it’s going to be that trope huh, “After all we’ve been through this is what we got. She sacrificed herself to summon some cowardly weaklings who can’t stop thinking about themselves. Makes me wonder why we even do this stupid summoning.” Sacrificed? I’m not going to think about who they sacrificed, but the thing I’m going to state is that we never asked you to summon us.

If you decided to kidnap us and don’t get what you want, then that’s your problem.

I can’t blame her though. I would also be mad if I got myself as a candidate for a hero.

“HOLD YOUR TONGUE!!! Do not speak ill of the heroes or say I will cut your toes off!”

“What is with you and toes? Doesn’t matter, do you really think this batch of people can help us.” You know, she’s a giant dick, but she has my respect. Don’t know why.

Alex clicked his tongue, not wanting to be in this conversation, “Haaaaa, listen Lilly, I’ll forgive you this time. But never speak such words again.”

Silence came over, neither of them wanted to speak.

It took an entire minute for this, Lilly girl, to start speaking, “Tch, you really don’t care huh. The war is already enough, and now after wasting so much on the last batch you want to grab more. Hmph!” Turning her back on us, she slowly walked into the distance. Walking on air the entire time…

God Dam, I want to fly!

Last batch?

All the air in Alex’s stomach pushed itself out in a quick two seconds, making a weird sound I assume to be him laughing, “Lilly, please come down from there? We all can see under your skirt.”

As those words entered her ears, I couldn’t see her face, but I could see the corners of her ears turn bright red as she fell to the ground.

...You’ve lost all of my respect.

Like, come on, if you're going to be walking in mid-air with a skirt on, you better be prepared for people looking down there. The perverts.

Ironically, as I think this, a small but tired voice said to me, “Can you please stop drooling? It’s weird.”

I didn’t know the voice was directed at me, seeing as how nobody ever wants to talk to me. Also, I thought I wasn’t the only one drooling.

And without thinking, I continued to drool. I don’t even think it was much seeing as the guy next to me was both drooling an ocean, and had a stick pointing out of his pants. Hah, I’m in a school of idiots.

And yet, for some reason, this person wanted me to stop above everyone else.

I don’t even know what happened, I was just standing there thinking about how cool walking on air would be when I felt a stick stab itself into my side.

It felt terrible, I had to bite down on my tongue to stop myself from screaming and causing a scene. I think my tongue’s bleeding.

You know, if this type of thing didn’t happen to me on a daily basis, I would be pissed right now.

But, instead of that, I just looked forward and continued to walk with the crowd.

“Please, wipe the drool from your face. It’s disgusting to look at, but I can’t look away.”

Looking over at the person who spoke to me, knowing that if you don’t look at the person, they get really mad.

When I did though, I found a girl maybe a head lower than me, with snow-white hair that was covered in dust, with beautiful eyes that had bags under them. And, while she was dirty, she had this strange aura around her that made you want to protect her, soo…

I’ll give her above average on looks. How about that?

“Can you please wipe the drool away?”

Remembering why she spoke to me, I quickly finish my task. Wiping the drool that was dripping from my chin, “Sorry about that.”

Hah, now she’s going to think I’m a pervert or something because I drooled. I only really care about the magic stuff, I could care less about a piece of cloth.

“...It’s fine... Just don’t do it near me. Some of it got on my clothes.” She said this quietly. It was kinda cute, but more annoying to try and hear it.

“Alright…”

“Also... you should stop drooling over someone walking on air. People will start thinking you're a creep or something.”

She knew what I was thinking. She knew why I was drooling.

Is she one of those creepy girls that never talk but can read your mind or something?

Continuing to walk with the rest of the school, I tried to listen in to Alex, but he was just talking about weird stuff I don’t understand.

It didn’t help that I unknowingly kept the girl beside me insight, constantly staring at her from the corner of my eye. It wasn’t healthy.

It also didn’t help that with every turn, or impatient people in the back wanting to move forward, I would constantly touch shoulders or arms with this girl. It felt weird, like I met this person before.

I don’t know what about her was familiar or was interesting enough for me to constantly look in her direction. She was kinda pretty, but not on the level of Anna.

Maybe it was because I was able to say a word without stuttering once. Or because she had this weird white pole in her left hand. I guess that’s what she used to stab me, but why the fuck does she have it.

Maybe it was by accident or she sensed me staring, but she looked over into my eyes.

It was really awkward, neither of us spoke a word.

I think I saw the corners of her lips move a little. Maybe she wanted to say something but was too shy to say something.

After a couple, I don’t even know, it was a long time, I was the one to break eye contact. I still kept her figure in the corner of my eye, and I saw her continue to stare at me for a few more seconds. Finally, she looked away from me.

It was at this point that I was enlightened. I finally realized why I was able to speak to her so comfortably.

It’s because she sucks at communicating just as much as I do! Fuck Yeah, this is the birth of a new friendship!

Okay, who am I kidding, she was the one who started the conversation, she’s clearly better than me at talking.

Doing an inner sigh, I thought of her for the last time. I swear I’ve seen her before, but where?

Hmmm, whatever. If I can’t remember then it wasn’t important.

But still… weird girl.

Smells nice though.