“Edelstein,” Kevin muttered those words as his eyes were twinkling in amazement. Walking down the street of Edelstein, his head couldn’t stop glancing around from left to right.

The buildings were made out of stone and precious minerals, with sparkling stones still gleaming even when underground. The architecture didn’t resemble any of the building-style back on earth which only further his interest. But something bothered him. Everywhere he looked, there was not a soul in sight. The streets were empty and the buildings unoccupied. His curiosity got the better of him.

“Why are the streets empty?” he asked.

The elf-like lady didn’t say a word as she remained silent as if she was a mute. The cold reaction was enough for Kevin, he shut his lips as he followed her from behind.

The closer they reach the center of Edelstein, the livelier it got. He finally saw the citizen of this other world. These people had platinum blonde hair and porcelain white complexion similar to his savior. Even if there was any difference, it was only subtle in-term of the shade of their hairs. These elves-like people were doing their daily businesses, trading with shop owners for daily essentials. It was more or less the same like what Kevin saw on the television screen and in the movie theatre.

Being in a real-life, fantasy is really different.

But then his heart dropped. He noticed these people were avoiding him. It wasn’t him acting like a big shot or feeling self-important but he sensed the gaze of these people directed at him. It was similar to the gaze of the elf-like lady that saved him as if he was an uninvited guest. No, to be more precise like a hateful enemy entering their house.

They avoided him like a plague and it boggled his mind. He wasn’t much but he did consider himself a pretty good man with good character but receiving these negative reactions really poked something in his heart. Kevin was getting uncomfortable by the second but knowing there was no way out of this, he tried to ignore it. He tried his best faking a calm expression until both he and the elf-like lady reached their destination. Kevin narrowed his eyes as the sight of the castle in front of him felt rather familiar.

I think I’ve seen this before.

His head tilted to the side as he racked his brain trying to figure it out. The huge castle gate opened as two armor-clad alvas greeted the two. Again, Kevin received the cold glares from these two knights. One of them even had his hand lightly gripping the handle of his sheathed sword, readied to take it out at any minute.

Kevin’s hands started shaking. This whole situation didn’t make any sense to him. His instinct was telling him to run but not right now. What he needed was answers, answers for why he was here.

He steeled his heart and followed the elf-like lady silently into the main courtyard. For a big castle, the place was quite desolate. A few were sneaking around taking a peek at the new guest of the castle. Scorn was visible on their faces which only pushed that pain deeper in Kevin’s heart.

Passed the courtyard, the duo entered a huge door stepping inside the great hall. Kevin couldn’t help but felt the grandeur of the great hall. The aesthetic felt alien yet felt medieval at the same time, a blend of unlikely things that produced quite a magnificent result.

At the far end of the great hall, a number of people were discussing. They were more or less the same but Kevin saw one or two of them slightly older in appearance. Yet his eyes were attracted to the person sitting on the throne made out of trees. It was hard to say whether it was man-made or it just grew like that. The person sitting on the throne dressed rather modestly in a pale green cotte, a medieval outer garment. More or less similar to a dress.

Kevin also saw the golden leaves wreath on top of her head. Yet even gold paled in its attractiveness compared to the beauty of this lady sitting on the throne. Her eyes dazzled in a pale golden hue and her hair was the obvious difference between the people he had met. Auburn brown hair draping over her shoulder that reminded him of autumn.

Then their eyes met and neither didn’t glance away.

“Elders, Tyeria is here to report,” the elf-like lady introduced herself while slightly bowing with her hand resting on her left chest.

The group of people who were discussing turned their attention to Tyeria. Yet the moment they saw Kevin who stood beside Tyeria, the look on their faces changed for the worse. But neither one of them spoke out loud about their discontentment except for one.

“Filthy apes, stink like a pile of schumutz suidae’s manure,” said one of the elders.

No one else said anything and Kevin knew that verbal mockery was fine-tuned towards him within this great hall. To be fair, he didn’t felt much from that cuss considering how weak it was. He didn’t even know whose manure the elder just spoke about so he definitely wasn’t affected by it.

Yet someone else intervened on his behalf.

“Gunron, are you mocking me?” the melodious gentle tune of a voice escaped from the lips of the lady sitting on the throne. Her voice might sound carefree yet the intention beneath it was far from it.

“No, my queen,” said Gunron as he was quick to kneel towards the queen.

“The person you just mock is my personal guest. You mocking him is literally insulting me directly,” said the queen.

Gunron, who was kneeling was sweating like mad. He didn’t even dare to look directly at the face of the queen.

“I apologize, my queen, that is not my intention,” said Gunron. Deep down he was hoping he would be forgiven.

Unfortunately, once a mistake had been done it wasn’t easy to escape such a thing.

“Your apology is misdirected, the one who deserves it is the one who you mocked,” said the queen.

Gunron’s face contorted much to his disgust. Yet he couldn’t do anything about it other than to suck it up and faced it.

He turned to Kevin while his expression turned stone cold.

“I apo…” Gunron’s word was cut off by the queen.

“I can sense your malice Gunron,” said the queen.

Gunron calmed himself down and appeared emotionless on the face. Once more he apologized.

“I…” yet once again the queen cut him off.

“Vanquish that hatred Gunron or else…” this time Gunron buried deep whatever hatred and disgust he had towards Kevin.

Gunron flashed a smile.

“I apologize for my crude words,” said Gunron as he slightly bowed with his hand resting on his left chest.

“No, it’s fine,” Kevin said. He didn’t mind at all but something begged the question. Why did these elves-like people gave such hateful glares at him?

“Leave me be with the guest,” said the queen.

The elders and Tyeria stood there motionless with a blank inscrutable look on their faces.

“I’m sensing defiance in your inaction,” said the queen. The moment she glanced at her subjects, all of them shivered in their boots.

“My queen, we take our leave,” one of the elders took responsibility.

The elders left but Tyeria still remained, she stood there staring at the queen. Her undying responsibilities wouldn’t let her begone leaving the queen alone with this stranger from another dimension.

“Why are you still here Tyeria?” the queen asked.

Tyeria bolstered her courage as she humbly gave her reason.

“For the sake of your safety my queen,” said Tyeria.

“Safety?” the queen asked. “are you mocking me? Do I look like I need your protection?”

Her gaze turned into a glare and the atmosphere turned for the worse. A heavy aura dropped on their shoulders. Tyeria dropped to her knees as her lungs had trouble breathing.

“Ugh,” Kevin too experienced the same thing.

He was on the brink of losing consciousness as he scratched his neck trying to gasp for that last bit of air.

A few seconds later, it was gone. The pressure went away and the refreshing fresh air filled up Kevin’s lungs. He was able to breathe again. His eyes stared at the sight of the queen and a sense of terror and awe was embedded in his heart and mind.

She’s strong.

One thing for sure, Kevin made a mental note not to mess around with the queen.

“Leave Tyeria, before my unneeded wrath befalls on you,” said the queen with her gentle voice.

“I obey,” said Tyeria. She got up while holding on to her flank and left the great hall.

Then there were two. Kevin fidgeted around as it got awkward for him. The stare coming from the queen felt like a police scanner trying to find a fault within him. A minute later, the queen stood up.

“Follow me,” the queen said.