“My name is Maximillian. What is yours?” (Maximillian)

“...?!” (???)

With a shocked look on his face, the youth finally seemed to react correctly. But immediately after this, his eyes lost their focus as his head drooped a bit, his mind spinning into gear, trying to sort through things. At lightning speeds, a lot faster than he used to be able to process thoughts, he began to organize information in his head into logical connections.

He was in an unknown land, most likely not the world he had been living in until now. This conclusion came from the feeling of the straw bed he was laying - or rather, now sitting up on, as well as the clothes and armor which are impractical and outdated in his world’s current times. He had read plenty of novels before involving transportation to another world. And having read quite a lot of dark ones, he knew to keep a doubtful mind at all times in regards to his surroundings. Trust only himself for now.

Next was the translating magic, figured out by the necklace he was now wearing, which was glowing faintly. It seemed to be the means of understanding each other, and also a realization that a thing called “magic” existed. Among some of the fields of magic he had learned from playing games and reading stories, one particular one dealt with the power of words and names. One’s name could be used against them with some spells, almost like hexes. He would need to give a false one to avoid this. Not only that, when it came to the memories associated with his real name, his true name, they weren’t particularly things he wanted to remember.

“I am… Ārohirohi. Hiro for short.” (Hiro)

Hiro had decided. He didn’t want to be known by his true name. Too many things he didn’t want to remember. Tucking his messy hair behind his ear, he stared the mage straight in the eye, not wavering. But it seemed he was too slow to respond, as he could see doubt in Maximillian’s face. It wasn’t hard to see, but Hiro was sensitive to body language. He could see it in the eyes, too.

Just as he thought, the mage wasn’t convinced it was his real name, but he could see the determination to be known as such. But that just made him all the more curious, and suspicious, of who this youth was. Said youth was currently looking at his hands, lost in thought.

He had changed. His body was slim again. He had been quite chubby before, and his hands covered in small scars from all the cuts he had gotten over the years with work and hobbies. His overweight body had become slim, the lack of weight and strength in his muscles showing just how light of a burden he was lugging around from now on, and his once tight-fit clothing had become comfortable, if not a bit loose. Even his hair which had been rough from mismanagement was now lusciously glossy, reaching to mid/upper back. Albeit, he was still looking grimy and dirty from having walked through that forest, and his clothes torn here and there.

“Hiro… I see. Well then, Hiro, can you tell me where you came from and how you got here?” (Maximillian)

At the question, the youth tilted his head slightly, as if pondering the question, his mind still in disarray. There were still a lot of things running through his mind, making him zone out, but he at least was beginning to understand why. His mind was working faster than it used to. Usually, this would be good. But for his mind, full of troubled thoughts that jump from one thing to another, pulling up information and then extrapolating from these to gain insights using his imagination and logical thinking, it was happening too fast without him having enough control over it yet. He didn’t have his usual means of clearing his mind.

His thoughts distracting him from answering the question, it looked like the commander was about to ask again out of frustration. Suddenly, he began to hum a slow melody, taking everyone by surprise. As Hiro hummed with his eyes closed, he could hone in on the sound and the memory of the music, drowning out the rest of his thoughts so that he could keep himself in the present. After a couple of minutes when he finished his tune, he opened his eyes again, the glaze gone as his attention was fully focused on the two in front of him. They had confused looks on their faces, but the magician seemed to have realized what he had been doing. The old looking man certainly was sharp and full of wisdom.

Which made it harder to tell a lie. Well, half truths, truths without a full story should still be enough.

“I don’t know where I came from, but I know this place and its people are unfamiliar to me. As for how I got here… I’m not sure.” (Hiro)

That was the best that he could do without revealing his world of origin. The mage seemed to know he wasn’t telling everything, but seemed to be able to sense from the youth that he wasn’t doing so out of ill intent. Nodding to himself, Maximillian made a somewhat gentle smile as he spoke up.

“Are you okay to walk? I’d like to show you something. There’s a few things I need to check, if you’re willing to help.” (Maximillian)

“Um… sure. But… You are? Sir?” (Hiro)

“Oh, I am Knight Captain Bhalrom.” (Bhalrom)

Caught off-guard at the sudden question to him, Bhalrom still responded promptly, looking at the mage and sharing a conversation through their eyes. With a nod, he gave a slight bow to the two before leaving first, presumably to resume his other duties. Looking between the two before focusing his eyes on the mage, the youth could see that the person in front of him was of high status for a Knight Captain to show such deference.

“Let’s go, shall we?” (Maximillian)

With a nod, the two left the room and headed towards the direction of the forest. Hiro remained two steps behind and one step to the mage’s right. A habit he had, similar to a dog following their master, but not with the same implications. As they walked, the youth took in the sight of his surroundings. A ruined village, looking as if a tornado had blasted through and blown everything over.

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Villagers were working to restore their homes, with a few of them already enough to shelter people from cold nights and stormy weather. Alongside them were soldiers, possibly knights if they were direct subordinates under the Knight Captain. They worked just as hard to help restore everything, while some remained posted as guards, and some sitting together among tents. An army camp. They looked ready to fight on a battlefield. With a small glance back, the mage took note of the youth’s curiosity, as well as seeing the sparks of understanding as well as questions in his eyes.

Coming to a stop at the edge of the village, they stood a bit of a distance from a forest. It looked quite dark despite the somewhat bright afternoon sky.

“You were found inside that forest. Do you know anything about it?” (Maximillian)

Looking at the mage’s face for a brief moment, Hiro felt the casualness which was hiding some intentions of probing him, but shrugged his shoulders and answered anyway. There wasn’t much to lose by being honest here.

“This forest isn’t familiar to me. Dark trees and a fog that seems to take in the light. No… The forest I remember walking through was… normal… uneerily so…”

His words beginning to drift off towards the end, he stared at the forest ahead of him as he recounted his earlier experience.

“It was quiet… a silence so loud... as if separated from everything…” (Hiro)

With an unknown look, Maximillian looked at Hiro, before continuing their walk. Entering a somewhat large tent, the mage indicated to have a seat on one of the chairs as he rummaged around through some rucksacks he had placed on a table. Hiro took this moment to ask some things he had been curious about.

“Was this village razed by bandits recently? I can’t think of much reasons for an army to be here.” (Hiro)

“Quite the observant one, you are. They came here to investigate the tremor. Did you not feel the one earlier?” (Maximillian)

Sneaky old man. Probing me in such a casual reply. Thinking so, Hiro deliberated a couple of seconds on what to say in response. The mage had specifically said “the” tremor, which meant it was something larger than just the casual shake. It was also odd to use “tremor”, as that was a word used in times where science hadn’t determined what they were. Earthquake. And that return question, asking if he had felt it or not, implying that everyone should already know about it if they lived in the same region or possibly further. The mage already had his answer.

“It seems I didn’t. Maybe I had already been unconscious at the time it happened?” (Hiro)

“Hmm… Or maybe something else. Well, I’m sure you would tell me if you wanted to.” (Maximillian)

With that, it seemed that they had both finish analyzing each other. Hiro had determined that the mage was suspicious of him and his intentions, as well as his origins, while Maximillian had understood that the youth was much wiser than he appeared, and didn’t have ill will against them. Bringing a bag of goods along, the mage sat in front of the youth on a similar stool, placing the bag between them.

“It seems there is more to you than meets the eye. Tell me, what do you know of magic?” (Maximillian)

“Hmm… I guess a lot and nothing at all? Ideas and concepts that I’ve imagined, but nothing real. This pendant was the first time seeing it.” (Hiro)

Saying that, he looked down and fiddled with the amulet around his neck, looking at its pale glow. Looking at the sleeve of his jacket, re realized he was still wearing winter clothes designed for mid winter, but it was a hot summers day in this current location. Another discrepancy between this world and the last to nail in the fact he was no longer in a familiar place.

“A rather odd yet interesting thing you said. Well, moving on. This yellow stone is called manatrine. It’s used to measure the magic inside a person. I’d like you to hold it with both hands and focus your energy into it---” (Maximillian)

~~~BOOM~~~

With the sound of a gunshot, the crystal exploded as Hiro’s finger touched it, sending shards everywhere. In surprise and shock, the youth had fallen backwards off his stool, while the mage was frozen stiff. After a moment, they both recovered and sat up in their stools again, looking at each other in confusion.

With a more resolute expression, the mage reached into his bag and pulled out another crystal, more refined and larger than the previous. Holding it out to the youth, they stared at each other before he nodded, stretching his hand out. Just as he touched it…

~~~BOOOOOOM~~~

Once again, it exploded with vigor, scattering everywhere with more power than the last. Deep in thought with a contemplating and serious expression, the mage moved towards his bed, reaching into a bag nearby. Hiro waited patiently, realizing that things shouldn’t have happened like this. Coming back with both hands carrying what looked like a large rock, the reddish crystal looked quite heavy and unpolish compared to the last, but it had a large presence than the last two.

Placing it on the ground between them, the Maximillian looked between it and the youth, before placing his own hand on his and closing his eyes, focusing his energy into the crystal. After a bit of a delay, a faint blue began to expand from the core of it, eventually filling the entire crystal. At this time, the mage let go and slouched in his seat, taking deep breaths, having expended too much magic in one go. After he had caught his breath, he looked at the youth, indicating for him to try again now that the stone had dimmed.

~~~FWH-BOOOOOOOOOOM~~~

Even louder and stronger than before, the blast wave knocked them both off their seats, Hiro a bit worse for wear having had his hand on the crystal. The soldiers and villagers, having heard this most recent one, barged in briefly to see if everything was okay. Seeing the both of them dusting themselves off, they figured nothing serious had happened and left, leaving the respected mage to continue doing what he was doing.

“There’s an older method I can try… but I’ll need your cooperation to do it. You need to remain still and relaxed as much as you can.” (Maximillian)

Seeing the expression on the mage’s face, Hiro nodded as he closed his eyes and let the old man do what he wanted. That expression was interesting, and he felt no ill will. A mix of curiosity, wonder, confusion, and even a hint of awe. It was like an explorer laying sight on the unknown. Feeling a hand on his head, he didn’t feel much else beside that. Though, he did feel an invisible pressure begin to build up, before eventually feeling as if a thick mist was wrapping around him, feeling the sensation of the tiny water droplets on him.

Just as he was about to ask the mage about the sensation, he opened his eyes only to feel a small shock, as if static occurred, and the mage sitting back down while looking haggard and exhausted, breathing heavily. As he started to calm down and fix his breathing, the look in his eyes showed that his mind was absent, as if looking far away.

Confused as to what had happened, Hiro waited for the mage to come right and explain what had happened. At this moment, a Knight from outside requested permission to enter.