Chapter 3 - Franseid

"So why are we out here in the middle of nowhere, anyway?"

"I'm sure you can understand that summoning somebody in from a different world with potential witnesses could make for a messy situation."

"Yeah...I can see that."

Without saying anything, Adelaide turned around before marching. Ren wasn't exactly bright when it came to social cues or reading the intentions of others, so he just stood there like a statue.

"Are you coming or not?"

"--Right!"

He quickly caught up to her, matching her pace as he followed whatever path waited ahead. They soon entered a trail set between a path of overbearing trees, blocking out the pale skies above as a soothing shadow draped over the dirt road.

"So...where exactly are we headed?"

"Not too far ahead is a small village--"Franseid", there is a guild there, they'll register you as an adventurer so that you can officially begin your journey."

It was like music to his ears--guild, adventurer, journey--all terms that sang of "other world fantasy", only cementing the dream that was now reality.

"By the way, what is that object you're holding onto?"

Adelaide had asked after a few minutes into their travel down the evergreen trail. He didn't have an instant answer, as if he didn't realize he was holding onto something before checking.

"Ah."

It was the game he intended to buy before being transported, "Star Beach Saga II", which was now in his possession.

"I'm a thief! Ah, it's bad enough that I'm a recluse, but I'm also a criminal now!"

"What're you so worried about? You're in an entirely different world, you know."

"...that's true."

Even so, the product was now completely useless in a world set in an era resembling medieval times.

--Since I'm in a new world, that means I can have a fresh start, right? I don't have to be the hermit with no prospects, someone who is always looked down upon...I can be a hero.

With this new motivation, he tossed the plastic case into the nearby foliage, throwing with it his life as a N.E.E.T.

"You're an odd one."

"I know--wait, what the hell is that?!"

Blocking their path was a cat-like creature with spiky, jet black fur and beady eyes devoid of color or mercy. Its size was closer to that of a german shepherd than of a normal house cat, hissing as it bore its thick fangs.

"It's a katzen, don't worry."

"Don't worry--? Do you see those claws? Or the fact that it looks like it wants to eat my face?"

"Quiet, I need to concentrate."

"For what--?"

His fears were subsided as he became focused on Adelaide, a gentle, melodic wind beginning to encircle the elegant young woman. Whispers traveled from her glistening, pink lips, words that he was unable to decipher as they seemingly caused the wind to rise in intensity.

"Is this--magic?"

Ren raised his arm as a shield against the ferocious winds, a hail of fallen leaves pelting against his body as he did his best to keep his gaze on the spectacle before him.

"Listen to the beating of my heart, the rhythm of my breathing, as it is the same as the world's winds--grant me the ability to cut away my enemies: Luft, Atem--Departure!"

Adelaide chanted those words with absolute authority, her voice seemed to blend with the lively winds as she pressed her palm forward towards the now approaching katzen. A violent gust of wind tore through the air like a blade, colliding against the cat-like creature before all that was left was a mist of red.

"That was...awesome! Seriously, that blows digital magic out of the water!"

Ren shouted in excitement after witnessing such mysticism. Looking over at Adelaide, her breathing became ragged as she held her head as if experiencing a migraine.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?"

"...I'm fine, I overestimated how much mana I had left in me, that's all. Let's continue."

"If you say so…"

Passing the stain of blood that was the deceased katzen, Ren and Adelaide continued on their journey to Franseid village, now he was plagued with paranoia, hearing the bushes around him rustle. After how much that attack seemed to drain her, he didn't want to gamble on them being able to handle another one of those beastly cats without losing a few limbs.

"That was pretty cool, that was wind magic or something, right? Left, Adam, something!"

Ren playfully extended his palm forward as if casting the spell, half expecting something to actually happen.

"Mhm--"Luft" and "Atem", those are both principle casting terms of that particular element."

"Are you gonna...you know…"

"I'm not going to teach you magic right now, just focus on getting settled into Franseid first then you can worry about magic."

Adelaide let out a sigh carrying her slight annoyance at Ren's childlike excitement over magic.

"Right, right…"

He dropped his head in disappointment, following close behind Adelaide before a beam of natural light prodded against his eye. After staying under the natural shading of the trees, they had finally exited the treeling, stepping into a new stretch of land.

It was mostly the same fields of green from earlier, except now the sight of cottages came into view, some built of stone, and some of wood, as well as the distant prospect of people going about their day.

"Welcome to Franseid."

Adelaide gestured as if introducing him to the new sight, holding onto her pointy hat as a gust of air attempted to blow it off the top of her head. He expected a few houses here and there, and maybe a couple of families occupying the village, but it seemed he had the wrong idea.

"It's a bit bigger than I expected...by a bit, I mean it's way bigger than I thought!"