My name is Ryan Tyrell. On my way home from a walk, I found myself on another world. In spite of enjoying various stories and shows with this sort of plot, I was not prepared for it, let alone particularly willing to stay indefinitely. Though, the idea of living in a fantasy world appealed to me, my first experience with the locals ended up with me horking up a strange creature upon trying to say my name, and as a result, being taken into custody by the local Noble.

I sat across from Lissana and Nash in a rather fancy carriage. The street we rode through was busy, with all sorts of Humanoid creatures walking about buying things or selling things. I noted that there were very few Humans.

"I take it Humans aren't common here?" I asked.

"Most do not care to rub elbows with Beastfolk." Nash said. "I have never seen a Human so... terrified of one before."

"To be fair, you tackled me literally moments after I arrived, and the only, ah, well, lizard large enough to be a concern would likely eat me if it had me pinned down like you did."

"Are Beastfolk not common on your world?" He asked.

"It's easier to say that there are only Humans on my world." I said. "Under less stressful circumstances, I would have been more than happy to ask questions..."

"There are only Humans on your world?" Lissana asked, I nodded.

"Yes. Uh... please forgive me if this is considered an insult to you, but your kind would be most commonly known as 'elf'' back home."

The anger in her eyes said it all. "It is only because you apologized in advance that you keep your head." She said icily.

"Then please tell me what the proper word is." I said.

"My kind are known as Aelfan. That word is but a guttural mispronunciation of the proper word."

"Aelfan." I said, trying to pronounce it correctly. "Did I pronounce it right?"

She cringed. "It is an attempt, more than most Humans try." She said.

"I am, by the way, not a lizard." Nash said. "I am a proud Lacertian."

I didn't really have the heart to tell him that his species shared a common root with the scientific words for lizards, and chances were, if I did tell him, I wouldn't have one after the fact. His eyes seemed to get a dangerous gleam as he asked, "And what might I ask are you thinking, Human?"

"Nothing insulting toward you or your kind." I said.

Nash grunted in response.

"Do Humans tend to be a problem here?" I asked.

Lissana looked outside. "Only the fools." She replied, her face softened, it was the first time I'd seen her not restraining her expressions. "Humans are numerous, they are tenacious, if they were not capable of peace, they would be difficult to rid of pests. Though I do not tolerate blatant antagonism, I do understand that there are those with kind hearts. Yet..." She looked at me with pale golden eyes. "You said you believed yourself to have been summoned. What gave you this idea?"

"Well, it's a common trope." I said. "The hero gets summoned by a powerful mage to help with a problem, an outside context solution to a difficult problem."

"Well, there are no 'demon kings' running amok, though the Felgrat is a concern."

"Well, it's good there isn't a demon king running amok." I remarked. "What about a succession crisis?"

"All rulers are hale and hearty." Nash said. "With plenty of sons and daughters."

"Then, at the very least, I'm not here for a crisis... Wait, there wouldn't happen to be a powerful creature that I have to teach the meaning of love to, right?"

Lissana laughed, that was a good sign, at least.

"All of these strange ideas, they are common?"sur

"In stories, at least." I replied. "No crazy insane amount of debt that needs to be dealt with? I hope not, I'm terrible at math."

"We shall see what happens." Lissana said. "For now, acclimate yourself, and what may happen will happen."

I nodded. "Thank you." I said. "Speaking of which, that icicle thing... Was that magic?"

She nodded. "Yes. I am capable of magic."

"Awesome." I said with a grin. I instinctively reached for a messenger bag that wasn't there, then sighed. "Right, I didn't take my bag with me." I muttered.

"What were you reaching for?" Lissana asked, her body tense.

"Oh, I was going to grab my notebook and a pen. You see, I'm a writer, though I guess the term 'scribe' would be more appropriate in this context. I write stories, mostly fictional, but one of my favorite things to write about, at least on a theoretical level, is magic."

"The talent for magic amongst Humans is rare." She remarked.

"It's nonexistent on Earth." I said. "Well, not in the way you know. While I've never seen anything concrete, I have studied different magical traditions, most of which cross over with some sort of spiritual path or deity worship."

"Can you elaborate?" She asked.

We talked for the rest of the ride. I told her of magic tricks, which were simple acts of legerdemain, I spoke of Hermetic magic and the originators of it, as well as the myriad Pagan traditions that never really had a set method, I also spoke of Wicca, which I had dabbled in briefly before-

I went silent and looked out the window.

"Is something the matter?" She asked.

"Just... unpleasant memories." I said.

She didn't press the issue, but rather distracted me by speaking of how magic worked in this world. Magic worked on the Vancian model, a typical magic user had a set amount of spells they could cast, as long as they had the talent, naturally. According to her, magic was fueled by Mana, the life force of the land, the hard cap on spells per day was nature's way of allowing people to use its power without draining it dry.

"Of course." She said, "All living things can use magic to a degree, but the ability to truly use it as a spellcaster requires one to go through a painful trial, those who fail to overcome it die, and those who live through it awaken their talent."

"Sounds scary." I remarked.

"That is what such a trial entails. Perhaps, the reason your world is lacking so is that few have unlocked their talent." She remarked.

"Maybe." I saw a massive building. "Whoa."

"We are arriving." Nash said.

"This is where you live? It's bigger than... This is your home?"

Nash glared at me. "My Lady does indeed live here, and she is often host to many important individuals, dignitaries, princes, even Kings, should the situation require it. While you shall be treated as a guest, it is only for as long as my Lady deems necessary. Do not mistake her charity for favor." His eyes narrowed. "And do not mistake her tolerance as acceptance."

I nodded. "I understand, I think." I said.

"You will be given a room, food, and some clothing, you will be allowed to wander as you please, but know wards will be in place to keep you out of where you are not meant to be. Do not attempt to force entry into such rooms. This is understood?"

"Yes." I said.

"Good. Then it is understood."

They got out of the carriage first, with me trailing behind. We continued until we stood inside of a massive hall. Two lines of people of varying races stood on either side of the door, all forty of them bowing as Lissana walked past them. The moment she stood at the other end of this lineup, she turned to face them, as well as me.

"I have a guest with me, you are to treat him with the same respect as you would any guest, no matter their status. You are to refrain from asking his name, as he is cursed to choke on a Felgrat when he attempts to speak it. Ensure his comfort, tend to his needs, but know when to deny him."

All forty of them saluted and said, "As you wish, my Lady!"

"Cier, Mira, see my guest to his room, and ensure he has proper attire for his stay." She looked at the two sole Humans among the servants. "Do not throw away his clothing, I surmise it would be appreciated if they were kept well."

The two Humans saluted her and bowed. Lissana snapped her fingers and Nash walked over to her. Both walked through a door, I could see a slight shimmering where they passed. The servants left their rigid formation and left through various doors, while the two Humans approached me and gave a bow when they stopped at a little beyond arm's length.

"Please follow us, sura." The female said.

"Okay." I said. They stood up straight and started toward another door, and I followed them. "Making an educated guess, you would be Mira, correct?"

"I am indeed, sura." She replied.

"That makes you Cier."

"I am indeed, sura." The male replied.

"Well, I'm pleased to meet you." I stated.

Mira touched the center of the door, which shimmered before opening it. "You are now able to pass through this ward, sura." She said.

'Hmm... Is this simply some sort of form of 'sir', or perhaps some manner of honorific?' I wondered as I passed through the doorway. Cier shut the door behind us and we kept walking. 'It wouldn't hurt to ask.'

I cleared my throat. "I hope it isn't too much trouble, I am not from this world, and thus I am confused as to what the term 'sura' means."

Cier looked at me. "It is a term that means, 'honored male'." He said. "As you are here at the behest of our Lady, it is a term that fits you."

I nodded. "I see... If it is within your professional means, you don't have to refer to me as 'sura'." I said.

"I am afraid that would be impossible, sura, it would dishonor our Lady to treat any guest any less." He replied.

We walked through several long hallways until we reached a door. Mira rested her hand on it before opening the door. "This shall be your room for the extent of your stay, sura, if there is anything you need, there is a cord which will ring a bell. Please pull three times to ensure we notice."

"Thank you, I will try not to be too great a burden." I replied. I stepped in and they followed. The room was spacious, at least twice the square footage of my bedroom at home. There was a large bed set in the center of the room with two nightstands on either side of the headboard. The bed had four posts with curtains on all sides. At the foot of the bed was a chest gilded with silver. To my immediate left was a door that likely led to a closet, or if I was lucky, a bathroom of some sort. Nearby was a large folding screen- likely for privacy. To my immediate right was a desk, a bookshelf stocked with books, and a large mirror.

"Cool." I said. I looked at Cier and Mira. I took this time to try to memorize their faces, Cier was older than I was, I placed him about the age of my father, which was around fifty, maybe sixty. He had silver gray hair, blue eyes, and a goatee. Mira, on the other hand, was much younger- likely in her early twenties- with brown hair, blue eyes, and a faint scar on her cheek. Both had a serious expression, though Cier's was much more stern. They both wore black, Cier in a suit that wouldn't look too out of place on Earth, while Mira wore a relatively simple dress. It wasn't anything like a French maid uniform, that would have been stereotypical and honestly stupid. They did not look like anyone I knew, so the chances of this being some sort of weird coma dream were less, but I had seen a lot of people while passing them on the street, so it wasn't unlikely.

"Thank you again." I said.

"Dinner will be in the afternoon, on the seventh bell. You will be provided proper dining attire so as to not insult our Lady." He walked over to the door. "This restroom has an evening gown for your use until proper attire is gathered and delivered. If you would kindly, sura, please stand still while I take your measurements."

I did as he asked and he took my measurements with a surprisingly modern tape measure, though I noted that the symbols on it were unrecognizable, which meant another language altogether. Chances were, the only reason I could understand them was likely magic. Cier finished and asked me to undress so that my clothing could be cleaned.

"All of it?" I asked.

"Yes, sura." He replied.

I got undressed and put on the evening gown. Cier folded up my clothes, though stared at my underwear with a confused look.

"It's underwear." I said. "It's worn under pants. It's my only pair, so please don't lose it."

"I... understand." He replied. With a bow each, they left the room.

I walked over to the bed and sat down on it. I took a few deep breaths and let them out slowly. In... out... in... out... until my mind was centered. I then flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, I'd always written the various 'protagonist on another world' stories I'd come up with as a sort of escapist fantasy, hell that was the primary reason for their existence. The idea of going to another world, of leaving your problems behind and being the hero to save the day... I knew that the chances of me actually being a hero were slim to nil.

I was nobody, nothing, every bit a loser as every NEET or hikkikomori character was. I couldn't even dredge up the self-importance and arrogance needed to be the typical protagonist. "At least this isn't a harem anime." I muttered wryly.

There was a knock at the door. "Permission to enter, sura?" It was Mira.

"Yeah, you may enter." I said.

Mira entered the room with a wicker basket full of clothes, all of them neatly folded. She set to putting them in the chest at the foot of the bed.

"Are my clothes clean?" I asked.

"They are drying as we speak." She said.

"Thanks." I said.

She stood up and bowed. "Unless there is anything you need, sura, I will take my leave." She stated.

"Is there anything I can use to write?" I asked. "Paper or vellum or something like that?"

"I will ask my Lady." She said.

"Thanks, again." I sat up. "I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as you are."

I saw her face redden shortly before she bowed again and left. I sighed. "I hope she doesn't take that as flirting." I muttered.

I stood up and went to the chest. I popped it open and pulled out a bundle of clothes, I paused for a moment, and pulled the rest out and looked them over. There were five sets of clothes, only one was anywhere near 'fancy'. With subtle silver filigree and well-tailored seams, it wasn't much of a leap of logic to assume this was the dinner clothing. 'But what if it's something to wear if she has a fancy guest visiting?' I wondered. 'Does she need to keep appearances on the off chance someone might consider her hosting me as some sort of improper act for her station?'

I sighed, walked over to the bell cord hanging near the bed, and pulled it. Once Mississippi, twice Mississippi, thrice Mississippi. It was time to gather information on this world...