It wasn’t even ten minutes in, I found myself face to face with two jackasses on horseback dressed in white armor with gilded shoulder pads. They said they were with His Lordship the Margrave of Riostarze’s private army, the Holy Knights Division and demanded to identify myself and my intentions of being here past curfew.

One of them stuck a sword against my chest.

It was a real sword. Not some pretend cosplay item.

I think I was starting to lose my grip on reality. Why would a pair of private army soldiers be out here at night… wearing heavy armor? Was this whole area some Renaissance fair I had mistakenly walked into?

I played it cool. “Good evening, gentlemen. I’m no one suspicious I swear. I’m just trying to find my way home.”

I couldn’t see their faces as they were covered in a full helm. But I could sense a momentary pause.

“Identify yourself.”

I gulped. “My name is Joey Beckham. I’m the son of Craig Beckham. I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He was on a talk show once and appeared on Reality Magazine? Anyway, my family and I were… camping. And we got separated. Is there a Sheriff’s station outside this Renaissance festival?”

They started whispering among themselves. I couldn’t hear anything except, “…can’t understand what he said. Sounds suspicious…”

The one to the right activated a small flashlight from their satchel. The glow lasted less than a second.

How did he do that without touching it?

“Joey Beckham. If you wish to leave here with your life, answer me truthfully. Are you with the band of thieves that have been showing up near villages lately?”

Now both had their swords pointed at me.

What the fuck?

For some reason, I found myself sweating bricks. Why were they taking this sort of tone with me? Weren’t they going too far with this Renaissance act?

“Answer me!” he roared. “Before I lose my patience!”

For the first time, I felt like my life was in danger.

I started looking around for a good place to run to. There was a river nearby. The water current seemed fast. Maybe if the horses wouldn’t follow me—

Before I could do anything, one of them shouted something.

“Elobard, restrain him! My detection card is showing the red of falsehood! He must be with them!”

Elobard unsheathed a piece of glass wrapped inside a fancy linen cloth inside a satchel tied to his waist. It looked like the glass card Trent had caught the chief with.

“Divine Restraint!”

As he said those words, the card began to shine a bright yellow. A circle of light with strange inscriptions appeared around me, binding me in place. I was completely unable to move.

A fear I’d never felt before gripped my heart. A fear of the unknown. More than the fear of whatever was preventing me from moving. I was deathly afraid of being so far away from home that I might never return.

“What is this?” I said weakly. “What are you doing to me?”

“I would suggest you not move. If you move, the grip of my spellcard’s effect will only tighten and the life will be squeezed out of you. I will release you once you take us to your leader. You must be a scout for those fiends.”

Spellcard…? That word again…

Is this… magic? No, that can’t be. What’s going on?

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I stopped struggling.

I’m tired…. I just want to go home.

A stream of tears started falling from my face.

“I’m sorry. I just left the village. I was running away from them. Please, don’t hurt me.”

Elobard looked at his companion who nodded. “It appears he’s telling the truth.”

“You mean Little Rock over yonder?”

I’d heard Arthur mention that name, so I nodded. ‘Yes.”

“Hmm. You look a little young,” Elobard concluded. “Though even if what you say is true, that doesn’t mean you’re not working with those bandits.”

“I swear I’m not.”

The other man nodded. “Again, he’s telling the truth.”

“Very well. My companion has a spellcard for truth detection. So we’ll escort you back to your village. I’ll need to have a word with your father. He should know better than to have his son out past curfew.”

Elobard released me from the restraint of light. The light dissipated and the glass card stopped shining.

“Uh, sirs. You said you were with a private army?”

“Yes,” Elobard answered. “The Margrave of Riostarze. He’s the highest authority in this land next to His Imperial Majesty.”

“So we’re not in New York anymore? The United States?” I said faintly.

Elobard spoke firmly. “I certainly don’t have the faintest clue what you’re referring to.”

“Neither do I.”

My body was getting heavier. It was taking all my strength just to remain standing.

Elobard helped me on his horse, and we rode back to the village. Once there, the guards quickly opened the gate and apologized profusely for my actions.

“See to it that the boy is properly scolded. We will allow this to slide. But there is never to be another infraction from this village. I hope that is clear.”

The two guards who had taken a light, teasing tone with me were as stiff as bricks and stuttering in the face of the men that escorted me.

“Yes, your g-graces. We’re most g-grateful. This will never happen again.”

The Renaissance knights left, leaving me with two furious guards who dragged me to the house I was supposed to live in.

The guards woke up Trent, who was once again, furious after learning what had happened.

I was told to go to my room and sleep, and my punishment would be decided in the morning.

I did as I was told.

The room was a stuffy little closet compared to my room back in my parent’s estate. It had a small desk, a lantern and chair, and a creaky little bed that I might fall out of if I twisted and turned during sleep. The pillow was extremely uncomfortable. It was little more than a sack stuffed with hay. somehow,

I felt sick.

Never mind the guy who knew exactly when I was telling the truth or not. Elobard, the guy using that glass card that started shining, created a light that held me in place. Out of thin air.

They’d done something not possible. That kind of technology didn’t exist. It just didn’t exist, man! It was like magic out of a fairytale. But it was real. The binding was real. I could feel it tightening as I struggled, just like Elobard had said.

I was starting to doubt Allen had anything to do with my abduction. I’d be giving the guy too much credit. Plus, the more I thought about it. What would be his motive? Not to mention, no one here seems to know Allen. And there’s been no mention of his girlfriend.

Nothing’s made any sense since I woke up this morning. Why?

Who put me here?!

What the hell is happening?!

Despite how hot it had been earlier, the weather now had cooled considerably. I opened the only window in this stuffy little room so I could breathe. My eyes took in the light of the moon and I looked up at the sky. It was the same as it ever was. Dark with a huge shining ball in the center and thousands of twinkling dots.

At least that’s what I thought. High up, a creature I’d never seen before flapped its wings. It was too high so I couldn’t fully see the details, but it had a high beak, was covered in emerald-green scales and fur covered its head like a lion. Though not huge, it was certainly bigger than any bird I’d ever seen.

My heartbeat began to pick up again. What was that thing? A dragon? A wyvern?

I was afraid again. If Allen wasn’t behind this, then there weren’t any drugs. No drugs making my face puffier, changing my eye color, making me look… like someone else entirely.

No!

NO!!!

I ran from my room. I found another room. There were four in total. One for me, another for Trent, and likely two other people who lived here.

I barged in. The door was unlocked. A woman in her thirties slept in the bed.

I slapped her awake.

“Where are we?!”

She sat up frightened, pulling the covers against her face.

“Master Alster, please. What are you doing? Calm down.”

“What country is this?!” I roared.

“T-this…” she said, choosing her words carefully. Ah, I must have appeared like a maniac to her, with the cold sweat dripping down my face and my bloodshot eyes. But I didn’t care.

“This is the Holy Empire of Emperor Julius De Claude Aul Nix IV, where you, Master Trent and your late mother were born.”

“And just where on Earth is that?!”

“This is the Rubel continent. One of the most prosperous in the world, thanks to His Imperial Majesty. Please, Master Alster, if you’re feeling ill, let us consult with your father and perhaps the village nurse.”

I was now wide awake.

I tried making my face look calm despite not feeling it. “Sorry. Go back to sleep.”

I left her room, dragged my body back to mine, and lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. It finally dawned on me.

I’m not on Earth anymore. I’m not Joey anymore.

That’s why I keep getting mistaken for this Alster guy. Because I’m him now.

I didn’t want to think anymore. If I did, I felt I’d throw up. But there was just one more thing I couldn’t get off my mind.

One burning question. A question that made my blood boil.

Why does the chief know my real name?