“Oh.” Liam needed to clear things up. “No, the video just kinda came up randomly. Please think nothing of it.” He moved to a more distant seat from her.

“In that case… I can answer more questions,” Beth offered Liam.

“So what did you think of the magic in that first display?”

Beth raised her eyes toward the ceiling while deliberating how to answer. “I think what you showed me was brighter and more fantastic than how it really looks.”

“I see… I guess that makes sense.”

“But Liam, most of those types of magic you mentioned before, they’re possible, but it’s not like any one person can use them all. Not even the Grand Magus can do that.”

When Beth mentioned the Grand Magus, Liam was reminded that he doesn’t really know what’s going on in Beth’s world. Magic seemed really cool, but he needed to shift the conversation to something more general. “Can you tell me about the current war that caused you all to try to summon a hero?”

“Of course! I may not be the most knowledgeable person, but I’ll share with you what I can.”

“I kind of want to take notes, but I feel like I’ll regret it…” Liam decided to just commit everything to memory as best he could, lest it get read by someone later.

Beth launched into an explanation about the eternal war between her people and their enemies. As Alaric’s party had shown, humans, dwarves, and elves were all allies and even worked together closely at times. Interestingly, the were-people were allied to humans too. Some races, like the halflings, were neutral and mostly stayed out of the conflict. Of course, they could only manage that because their lands were away from any contested areas. Still, they often traded and offered other services of economic benefit.

If humans could be thought of as the keystone to the alliance, then demons were the lynchpin of the opposition. As Alaric had mentioned, orcs, goblins, trolls, and some other races worked together with the demons, opposing the humans and their allies at every turn. Humans referred to them as dark forces. According to Beth, there was no diplomacy. Humans and demons had no common language and never made an effort to communicate. On the rare occasion where someone made an attempt, they would simply get killed for their trouble, or ignored. The feeling was very much mutual.

In recent years, the strength and organization of the dark armies, led mostly by demons, had improved to a level that Beth’s allies couldn’t deal with. They were getting pushed back on all fronts, ceding land all the while. Given the direction things were going, Liam could understand why even nice people would resort to a questionable practice like summoning a hero from another world.

“Thanks, that’s really helpful. I guess it’s your turn?” Liam allowed Beth a chance to ask a question.

“If you don’t mind… What type of life do you lead here in this world?”

Given how serious Beth’s story had been, he felt a little bit awkward answering that question. He was leading such a peaceful life by comparison. Still, she deserved a response. “I’m currently a student. Here, it’s normal for people to study well into their teens or even twenties before taking on a trade or job or occupation that requires the majority of your time.”

“So late?”

“Yeah. It didn’t always used to be this way. Even now, we argue about how old someone should be when they switch from studying to primarily working.”

Liam spent a few minutes trying to explain some of the most common pathways for education and the types of careers that they lead into. Of course, Beth couldn’t follow quite everything, but she did the best she could.

“And what about you?”

“I’m…” Once again, Liam didn’t really want to answer. “My current specialization is called… undecided studies.”

“Undecided studies? What is that?”

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“It’s where… you haven’t decided on a specialization yet so you study some general topics that everyone needs to learn while you try some specialized topics and see which appeal to you, I guess?”

“We have nothing like that where I’m from,” Beth noted. “Of course, I don’t mean that in any kind of negative way. Just, I ended up on the path of a magus when I was a young girl. Had I not been selected for that, I’d already be many years into a different path by now…”

“In some ways, I’m a bit envious.”

Beth looked around the room. “Still, for you to be able to live in such a luxurious place while you study, is this not heaven?”

“Huh? Oh, well, no. I’m basically just taking care of the place for my dad since it’s near my school.”

“Is your father away?”

“He owns this house as well as his, uh, primary residence much further away. He lets me stay here while I study so long as I pay a bit of rent. In exchange, I take care of the place and help out when contractors, er, workers come to do work on the property.”

“Ah, I see. That does sound like a noble family.”

“Noble family?” Liam couldn’t help himself and spat out some air. “Not quite… we don’t really have those here. I mean, the super-rich do kind of act like nobles, but it’s not in the laws or anything like that… for the most part…”

“I’m sure many people back on the other side of the invisible door would be fascinated by the differences. I’m just an apprentice, so there’s no need for you to explain such matters to me further. Thank you for answering my question.”

Liam decided he was done with business mode for now. “Can you show me magic? Safely?”

“I…” Beth looked down at the table. “I’m not supposed to showcase magic for such a reason but…”

“If it’s a problem, don’t worry about it.”

“For you, I’ll make an exception. It’s the least I can do…”

Liam figured he knew what Beth meant. “After all you’re putting me through with the summoning door?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, that’s it.”

Liam found her response strange, as though she had a different answer in mind. Before he could ponder further, she decided what to show him.

“I’m one of the magi who was selected to study the summoning ritual, so my knowledge of other magic is limited compared to some of my fellow apprentices. Still, I should be able to show you something basic, at least.”

“Anything that won’t break the house or hurt me!” Liam suddenly got really excited.

“Okay.” She stood up and took a few steps back from the table. “May I influence those items at the center of the table?”

Liam looked down. There was a salt shaker, pepper shaker, empty plastic napkin holder, and a few coasters laying there. He grabbed the shakers and held them below the table. “The rest of those are fine.” He didn’t want salt and pepper going everywhere.

Beth nodded and raised her right hand. She concentrated for a moment while she focused her vision on the napkin holder. “Mage hand.” As she tilted her arm up, the napkin holder floated up off the table and hovered.

Liam jumped to his feet and inspected the napkin holder from several directions. It really was just floating there. As Beth said before, the magic wasn’t as showy as in the movie scene Liam had shared with her. She seemed more like an Earth-magician playing a trick based on the laws of physics than an honest-to-God user of magic.

The invisible door was the same way. There were no glowing portals or flashing lights; the person just kinda vanished as they passed through. The only other indication of magic at play was that broad people like Alaric would narrow down to pass through.

Beth tilted her arm down, causing the napkin holder to land back on the table.

“Wow! That was incredible!”

“No, I don’t think… Well, I suppose it was the first time you saw magic.”

“Y–Yeah…” Liam suddenly felt a bit silly. “I guess lifting up a napkin holder isn’t that amazing…”

“Do you want to know anything else right now?”

Liam looked at the clock. “Yeah, but actually I’ve kinda got some stuff to do. Can you deliver a message for me back to the other side?”

“Of course!”

“Actually, who am I even speaking with if I want a message delivered?”

“Umm… It was the Grand Magus who delivered me my orders to return the dog.”

“Okay. In that case, can you tell the Grand Magus to give me just a couple of days and then send someone over to talk more?”

“Yes, I can do that.”

“Sorry to rush you out. Strange as it sounds, let me walk you to the bathroom.” Liam led Beth to the room with the special toilet. “This is going to be weird every time, isn’t it?”

“I imagine so…” Beth stood next to the toilet, looking down into the bowl. “There’s so much more I want to ask, but I know that now is not the time. I’m sure others will extend a friendly hand to you soon.”

“Yeah, I just need a couple of days and then I’ll be available for a while.”

“I’ll deliver the message.” This was the part where Beth was supposed to climb up on to the toilet and drop into it, but she didn’t move.

“Uh, is the invisible door scary? Do you need a hand?”

“It’s not that… Well, yes, it does require a bit of bravery to pass through, but I already did it once…”

“Then is there something else you need before you go?” Liam pulled out his phone and checked the time again.

“I…” Beth balled her hands into fists. “I can’t do this…”

“But you just said—“

“Not that,” she cut him off for the first time. “I can’t keep misleading you.”

“Misleading me?” Liam thought back to their conversations so far. “Uh, perhaps the conflict in your world is not as bad as you’re making it sound?”

“No, it’s not that…” She took a deep breath and turned to face him. “I was ordered to withhold several pieces of information from you.”