"Yes, I am indeed Kaitlyn.", Kaitlyn said, "But this world sure is strange." While Kaitlyn also seemed to have problems understanding why she was in this fantasy world, she seemed to be more curious than scared. "But for now we should search for a safe place for the night." "You're right, we can talk later. I don't want to be in this forest for longer, either."

"Open status". The dim light from the status window started illuminating our surroundings.

"Nice trick", Kaitlyn answered in response, "But I prefer this: 'Light!'"

A magically looking pattern consisting of multiple complex 3D shapes started forming in the air. Then a small ball of light grew in the middle and the pattern vanished. Kaitlyn seemed to perfectly execute this magic and slightly smiled in amusement at my baffled expression. "This sphere will follow us until I release it. Have you not tried to use magic? It was the first thing I did when realizing this was a fantasy world."

"I haven't." This was something I could have realized myself, especially after seeing the magic attribute in the status window... "Light!" When trying out my newly gained knowledge, the 3D magical patterns showed up again, but they seemed to be a lot less detailed than those of Kaitlyn. When the spell finished, I had a second dim light next to my status window.

Kaitlyn was watching me with an interested look, while her light brightly illuminated our surroundings. "Well, they say practice makes perfect, I guess this also applies the other way around. By the way, what is your magic affinity?"

"3...", I reply, not knowing how much would be normal.

"That would probably explain it. I have 57."

Wasn't that a bit unfair? None of my attributes came even close to that value. While still being lost in thoughts, Kaitlyn brought me back to reality.

"We should really start searching for a village now, the night is already pitch black. I've seen a river in that direction before I got attacked by the goblins, so let's pursue it downstream."

----------------------------------------

While following the river, we exchanged some information about how we came here. But to no big surprise, she told me the same story of being injected with that liquid and then passing out and then opening her eyes here, in this world.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

After wandering around for about half an hour, I noticed a few small lights next to the river.

"Doesn't that look like a village?"

"It does, but we should be cautious and disable our lights, in case they're hostile monsters like the goblins." Without saying anything further, her light made a small hiss and extinguished.

I close my status screen as well and try to cancel the spell without saying anything – but it doesn't work. "Cancel spell!", this seemed to work and the small light vanished. Was it something about my mental image? Well, it had worked in the end.

As we sneaked up closer to the village, we heard muffled voices from one of the larger buildings. It stood close to the entrance of the village and seemed to be some kind of tavern or inn.

I tried to whisper silently. "At least it does seem like a human village. Should we just go inside?"

"Yea, let's check it out. But remember to be cautious and keep your guard up." Kaitlyn whispered back as we approached the door of the tavern. We slowly opened the door, and stepped inside a dimly lit room.

Inside, we found a small group of townspeople sitting around a table drinking beer or something similar. In the far corner was a bar top and a grumpy looking old man.

When we entered, everyone stopped talking and looked at us. Then the grumpy old man started speaking. "So I remembered right, that we'd have the Origin as our guest... I guess you need some place to sleep tonight?"

While I was confused about the first part he said, I was glad we found a place to sleep.

"Yes. We don't have any money with us right now, but we can do some quests or housework for you tomorrow.", Kaitlyn answered before I could speak myself. Which was good, since I hadn't thought about that at all...

"That won't be necessary. We'll give you each a room tonight for free, but we don't like you, so please leave this village tomorrow morning." "Thank you very much!", Kaitlyn handled this conversation once again.

"Edith, show them their rooms." A young girl with cat ears, which I hadn't noticed before, stood up from the table. "Sure, will do!"

"So catgirls exist here too? Maybe I can even meet some elves.", I whisper to myself silently.

"Well, of course we exist!", the little girl seemed to have heard me across the whole room. "And I'm sure you'll meet some nice elves, too." After she said that, she suddenly seemed to be way less enthusiastic. "Please follow me upstairs to your rooms."

She showed us two average, but clean looking rooms. "These are the rooms we've prepared for the Origin and Miss Harris. Please make yourself comfortable."

"The Origin? And why do you know her name?", I replied. I've heard the grumpy man already saying that.

"You really always ask the same kind of questions...", the little catgirl said with a sigh. "I forgot you still don't know these things. But don't worry, you'll understand it soon enough." After saying that, she turned around and left without saying another word.

I spent the following night more with pondering about what had happened, than with actual sleeping.