Chapter 20: 2: One

The news of Duncan’s admittance into the ranks of the Alliance was met with much fanfare within the small kingdom’s borders. The shock at the news quickly turned into excitement once the full ramifications of the union became realized. The members of the Alliance were the richest and most powerful nations in the world. They were pretty much all that was left of the Altrech Empire, the revered institution that protected humanity from the Unholy in ages past. Duncan joining their ranks not only raised the kingdom’s prestige but presented them with a great honor as well. They had become part of a rare fraternity, one that had led and kept the peace for all of mankind for more than a millennium.

The official ceremony inducting Duncan into the Alliance wouldn’t take place for many more weeks. It was set to occur in Altrech, the united capital of all the Alliance nations, and would include the participation of the entire union’s leadership as well as the attendance of possibly every member of the Casaad’s wealthiest and most powerful elite. Such a grand meeting would take time to put together, and until then preparations were to be made. One such preparation included me, which was why I was currently in the royal carriage on my way to Scepter.

Scepter. One of the largest nations on the continent of Casaad and an honored member of the Altrech Alliance. By this world’s standards, it was a truly massive country. In my estimates, Scepter is about twenty times the size of the Kingdom of Duncan which, in turn, is roughly the size of Switzerland. They were known best for their mastery of trade, as the country had an intricate road system and transport network that allowed them to ship goods to and from the various non-aligned nations on their northern and eastern borders. They also had a sizable merchant fleet that bought and shipped goods from the various kingdoms in the southern part of the continent through the calm waters of the Sea of Casaad. All this trade made Scepter, as well as its allies, extremely wealthy. Griselda had told me of an old saying on the continent: “No coin ever winds up in one’s purse without passing through Scepter first.”

Its economic strength wasn’t the only thing that made this country unique. Scepter also has the distinct honor of being the only democratic nation in this world.

Forty years ago Scepter’s Hero, a man named Oliver, led a revolution that overthrew the country’s tyrannical king. The fighting was short but bloody and in the end, the entire royal family was executed for their crimes against the people. The bloodshed caused most of the country’s nobility to flee the kingdom in terror, abandoning their holdings to find shelter in the other member states of the Alliance. After securing power, Oliver quickly abolished the monarchy and set up a new government, one that he modeled after the democratic republics of Earth. A constitution was written giving everyone, even the lower classes, guaranteed rights and freedoms under the new government. The aristocracy was abolished. Elections were held.

One of the results of said elections was that Hero Oliver was almost unanimously elected to become the new republic’s first president. Sadly, his rule would not last long. The first few years of the Scepter Republic were chaotic ones as various political parties sprung up, all of whom were vying to take control of the new government. Three years into his term, President Oliver was assassinated by a rival organization. The factions quickly fought amongst themselves, trying to place their own people in the vacant position of leadership. There was much violence in the streets. The situation seemed dire for the fledgling republic, but thankfully the original revolutionaries managed to stabilize the new country with the help of Oliver’s replacement, the newly summoned Hero, Mark. The fighting was quelled, the guilty punished, and order was restored. Soon the people of Scepter got used to their new rights and responsibilities, and after a time the Republic of Scepter became a major pillar of the Alliance.

At least that was what the book I had read had said. I had my doubts though. The words “Proudly Printed in the Republic of Scepter” were located on the bottom of the title page so I wasn’t quite certain if I could take everything I had read within it as fact. It could have all been propaganda, especially the parts about the revolution and its bloody aftermath. The book made it seem like Oliver was a brave and stalwart hero who overthrew an evil king. Personally, I found it difficult to understand how a Hero could not only fight against but also murder the very same people who summoned him to this world. The ones who gave him a new life and granted him new opportunities, not to mention giving him his powers. I don’t agree with many of what King Alcor has me do, but rebelling against him has never crossed my mind. Just the thought of harming him or Ghaldor makes me feel ill. It just feels like a complete and utter betrayal. Also, the fact that Oliver set himself up as the new ruler of the country after he got rid of the old one just didn’t sit right with me. It made him seem like he was just after the throne all along.

Oh well. Regardless of how I feel, all of those events happened forty years ago. Oliver was dead and a new Hero was in his place. And apparently, Scepter had flourished after the revolution so I guess it all ended well in the end. Well, for everyone except that poor royal family.

I looked out of the carriage window and watched the scenery rush by. The thick forests in which I was incredibly familiar with had made way to rolling grasslands some hours ago. We were currently into the third day of our trip and were traveling through the kingdom’s main trade way, which was a long, heavily traveled thoroughfare that connected the capital of Vilgur to one of the Alliance’s many trade routes. We would continue down this road and eventually cross into Scepter. Once in Alliance territory, we would travel their highways until we came to the city of Morro. From there we would apparently be taking a train all the way to the Alliance capital of Altrech.

Yes, that’s right. Apparently, the Alliance had trains! One of the many benefits of summoning people from a more technologically advanced world is that some of those people are quite learned in how things in that world worked. The Alliance profited from these individuals who, though rare, had brought advances from Earth to Casaad, making the member states of the Alliance lead the world in the areas of science and technology. I couldn’t wait to get to Scepter and see what other things from home they had here.

I was not traveling alone. Griselda, as always, was by my side. Ghaldor had also invited himself along, which was surprising since I didn’t think such a trip would be of any interest to him. The purpose of the journey was for me to introduce myself to the other Heroes. We would soon be working together, after all, so meeting them and getting along would only benefit everyone. Of course, my encounter with the Hero Andre didn’t go so well, but hopefully, the other Heroes would be less abrasive.

One of Ghaldor’s apprentices was also with us, but with their beaked mask and all-encompassing robes, I couldn’t tell if this was the same person that had come with us during our previous trip. A small cadre of knights was also with us, escorting the carriage on horseback. Among them was Knight Commander Yorn, the Army Intelligence officer I had met on my first trip. He was in charge of security during the journey, an assignment he seemed to take very seriously. The young commander never smiled, and though polite he wasn’t what I would have called friendly. I didn’t hold it against him, though. He was in the army, after all. It was probably a military thing.

At around mid-day, we approached the border into Scepter which was demarcated by a large sturdy fortress built upon the road. In order to get into the country, we had to pass through the fort and be inspected. There was a long line of travelers and merchant caravans taking up the main gate. Guards, dressed in the same gold and red livery I had seen on the visiting Alliance soldiers, thoroughly inspected all the wagons and carriages that entered the country. What they were looking for I had no idea. Peddlers of food and other items had been allowed to set up stalls by the gate to service the travelers in line as they waited.

Upon seeing our entourage, the guards waved us towards a side entrance in the fortress walls that seemed all but deserted. Commander Yorn led the way, the knights on horseback surrounding the carriage as we made our way to the smaller gateway. We were met there by a detachment of Alliance soldiers, all of whom were clad in their army’s dress uniforms. The brightly polished golden armor shone brightly in the mid-day sun, and their scarlet cloaks waved gallantly in the breeze. When the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the gateway, the soldiers raised their gauntleted fists up into the air before slamming them against their armored chests in a form of salute. A loud clang erupted from the blows, the sound ringing throughout the entire fort.

Ghaldor helped me out of the carriage and soon we were approached by one of the soldiers. He was a handsome man in his thirties with brown hair and a well-groomed mustache. His dress uniform was also much more elaborate than the rest of the men there, with intricate filigree designs etched into his armor as well as golden threading throughout his red cloak.

“You must be the Hero Amelia,” the man stated when he reached us. He gave a cheerful smile as he bowed. “I am Colonel Allim Veyr, commander of Fort Annor. It is my pleasure to welcome you to Scepter.”

I blinked for a moment as the colonel waited for my reply. I looked up to Ghaldor; usually, the old man would take charge and speak on my behalf, but today it looked like he was going to stay quiet. The wizard had a bored frown on his face, looking for all the world like someone who wished to be anywhere else but where he was currently.

“Um, thank you, colonel,” I finally said after a few awkward seconds of silence. “For the kind welcome. I am very happy to be here.”

That seemed to be the right thing to say as Colonel Veyr’s smile grew even wider. “You must be weary from your journey. Please allow me to offer you and your escorts Fort Annor’s full hospitality.” He held his arm out, which I took with a slightly red face. I was still getting used to this whole acting like a young lady thing.

The colonel lead me towards the entrance into the fort, speaking pleasantries the whole way. Ghaldor and his apprentice followed us while some other Alliance officers spoke with Commander Yorn, most likely to discuss some official military things I couldn’t half guess about. Griselda stayed behind with the carriage and the other knights.

Fort Annor was much more modern in its structure and design than the forts in Duncan that I had previously visited. Although its exterior was built with solid stone, the interior of the buildings was mostly painted wood and brick. The corridors were wide and open with numerous glass windows letting in plenty of natural light. The rooms were less spartan than their Duncan counterparts, with various decorations such as paintings, curtains, and, shockingly enough, photographs. They were all black and white, but the captured images evoked a sense of realism that even the most talented painter could not capture with a wide gamut of colors. In one long hallway, a series of framed photographs were displayed showing all the previous commanders of the fort going back perhaps three decades.

Colonel Veyr took us to an elegantly decorated stateroom that had tables of food and refreshment waiting. My stomach grumbled upon seeing all the delectable treats in front of me, but thankfully no one seemed to have heard it. (Or they were being too polite to say anything.) I eagerly, though with refined manners and etiquette, began to scarf down the various cakes and sweets arrayed on the table while the colonel talked about the history of the fort and some other subjects I half-listened to.

“I’ve heard your power is quite the show,” Colonel Veyr said while I was busy swallowing down a mouthful of cream puffs. “My men and I were wondering if you could perhaps give us a small demonstration?”

“Oh, um…” I looked over to Ghaldor for permission, but he seemed to be in his own little world gazing deeply at the uneaten strawberry doughnut seated on the plate in front of him. Well, I guess he was leaving the decision up to me then. “Sure! I’d be happy to show you.”

“Splendid!” The colonel clapped his hands in delight. “I’m sure the men will love to see what our new Hero can do!”

The demonstration was quickly set up while I finished my snack. Once I was done eating, Colonel Veyr took us to the fort’s main courtyard where his men had trussed up a training dummy in the middle of what looked to be a training area. The dummy was the same type that Duncan forces used, with the enchantment that caused a glowing spot where damage was received. It was propped up on a stake which was erected in the center of the training yard’s bare dirt floor. A large crowd of soldiers stood on the sidelines while many more were lined up upon the fortress’s ramparts watching. Some of the civilians passing through the fort were also stopping by due to curiosity when they heard what was going on. A steady murmur of conversation could be heard as both the soldiers and the citizens talked in hushed tones about what was to happen. None of them had ever seen me in action, though a few may have heard rumors about my abilities through the grapevine. All talking stopped when they spotted me exiting the main building.

I stepped up towards the target and stopped when I was thirty feet away. Standing behind me was Ghaldor and his apprentice along with Colonel Veyr and several of the fort’s senior officers. The two from Duncan behaved nonchalantly; they had seen me use my powers before so this was all old hat to them. The Alliance officers however had not, and they all had excited smiles on their faces.

I observed my target and noted that this training dummy had been clad in an old set of iron plate. There were numerous dings upon the metal and its once shiny surface had dulled into a bleak, flat gray. It was obvious that this thing had seen much use during its history as a training aid; it was almost sad that this demonstration would be its final use.

As I looked upon the dummy, I mentally tallied my options. What trick should I do? I had done dozens of these demonstrations since my debut as a Hero, but all of those tricks were in front of people from the kingdom of Duncan. This would be the first time I performed for an international audience.

Maybe I could pick up a rock, then throw it while altering its speed and trajectory so that it could penetrate the armor? Nah, that was too much like Andre’s power and I didn’t want to be compared with that unpleasant person. Oh! I could neutralize gravity’s effect on the dummy and have it float around. No, that wasn’t flashy enough. I didn’t want the crowd spreading rumors that I had a lame power. I guess I could just do my regular bit of stomping on the ground and redirecting the force to destroy the dummy. That was pretty flashy and all the previous audiences I’d performed for seemed to love it. I doubt any of the people here have seen the trick, either.

Okay then, it was decided.

I raised my right arm, the movement causing those conversing in the crowd to stop. Everyone watched in silence as I pointed my index finger at the dummy that was several meters in front of me. Of course, none of this was actually necessary for what I was about to do; my brain had already finished the calculations necessary to perform my trick. I just felt like being dramatic in front of my audience.

With everyone’s attention on me, I raised my right foot and then slammed it onto the hard-packed earth below me. The force of the stomp was amplified and redirected, traveling swiftly through the ground towards its target. Its passing caused dirt and stone to rocket up into the air, and a shallow trench was formed on the training field. The force took about a second to reach the dummy and upon impact, there was a loud clap, eerily similar to a gunshot. The target dummy exploded, showering the area around it in bits of wood and metal.

The loud noise of the explosion shocked many of the onlookers, causing some of them to shriek in fright, but they quickly regained their composure. My audience began to clap and cheer. The loudest of the cheering came from the soldiers on the ramparts, all of whom had a bird’s eye view of the demonstration. They laughed as they clapped, some waving their arms at me, their excitement at seeing an actual Hero use their power overriding their military bearing. I looked behind me and saw the colonel and his officers smiling widely and clapping, much more sedate than their enlisted counterparts.

“Very well done, Ms. Amelia!” Colonel Veyr congratulated me after I walked back to join them. “A proper show, indeed! That was a most fantastic spectacle! Only the Invincible Hero could have been more impressive!”

Ghaldor frowned darkly at his words. I merely smiled and decided to ignore the remark. The Invincible Hero Mark III was Scepter’s resident Hero, so I expected some bias from the colonel.

“Thank you, Colonel Veyr,” I said. “I’m glad you liked it.”

Afterward, our visit to Fort Annor was finished and we were soon back on the road. This time the ride in the carriage was much smoother since unlike Duncan’s roadways, which were pretty much just well-traveled dirt paths, Scepter’s roads were paved with gravel. This made for a much more comfortable ride in the carriage. I was a bit worried about our escorts’ horses getting their hooves injured on the rough gravel, but Ghaldor assured me that the animals were fine to travel on these types of roads since they were “well-shod.” Whatever that meant.

The roadway cut through long swathes of flat land bare of anything but rolling grasses and the occasional wooded area. We passed by many trade wagons along the way, and I saw a lot of lone travelers traversing the land by themselves.

“Isn’t it dangerous to travel alone?” I asked myself aloud.

“Usually,” Griselda spoke up, obviously hearing my accidental question. “But the highways in the Alliance are patrolled regularly, so many find it safe enough to travel by themselves.”

As if to prove her point, several Alliance soldiers on horseback passed by outside my window, heading in the opposite direction.

“Oh. You sure know a lot about the Alliance,” I said. “Have you ever been here before?”

The maid shook her head. “No, this shall be my first time.” She then gave me an excited smile. “I’ve heard and read a lot about them, though. I am so grateful that you decided to take me on this trip, My Lady.”

“Uh, sure. No problem, heh.” I gave her an awkward smile. I really didn’t choose to bring her, not really. I just figured she would come with me like she always did. I didn’t know I had a choice. But regardless, even if I had known I still would have chosen to bring Griselda. She was a great maid and a good friend.

Night slowly settled over the land by the time we reached the city of Morro. It was a settlement founded beside a large river called the Gatis. The city was one of Scepter’s main hubs of trade. This was due to the fact that: a) It was located on the main road leading to the northern kingdoms, B) Had access to a water route in the Gatis, and C) Served as a main transiting area for the railway. Goods were shipped and loaded in and out of Morro regularly on a daily basis causing the city to flourish.

As our troupe entered the city, I was surprised at its sheer size. It was probably just as big as Vilgur, the capital of Duncan, but was much busier. Even as darkness descended, there were still large crowds milling around each corner or moving through the streets in thick waves. Thankfully for us, there were streets that were designated as vehicle-only, so we weren’t held back by the constant foot traffic. As we rode through the darkening city, the streetlights began to flicker to life, the flames inside them igniting to provide illumination.

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“Oh! I’ve heard of those!” Griselda gasped as she spotted one of the lamps turning on. “Those lanterns are gas-powered and automatically light up at a certain time.”

I nodded, intrigued at the technology available here in this city. Although not as bright as electric lights, the gas-powered lamps were definitely much better than torchlights and candles. Even the strange magical lights in Ghaldor’s workshop seemed dimmer in comparison.

We rode through Morro in silence as we took in the strange and wondrous sights of an Alliance city. The buildings here were much taller than in Duncan, with some of the tallest standing at ten to twelve stories tall. Definitely not skyscrapers, but impressive nonetheless. I was also amazed to see what looked like automobiles riding through the streets. There weren’t that many of them among the throngs of horse-drawn carriages, but the sight of actual cars took me for a loop. They were completely primitive in comparison to the modern cars of Earth, with high spoked tires, metal and wood construction, and loud, rattling engines. Still, after living for almost a year in what amounted to a medieval country, I was absolutely amazed at what the Alliance was able to accomplish.

We eventually stopped in front of a large, ten-story building. Commander Yorn informed me that this was the Hortenz, known as the best and priciest hotel in the city. It was where all the rich and famous people in the country were known to frequent when they were in Morro on business. I was kind of shocked to realize that I was now one of those rich and famous people. Griselda and I followed Ghaldor and his apprentice as the Knight Commander led us inside the swanky hotel. The rest of the knights stayed behind to attend to the royal carriage while porters from the hotel carried our luggage behind us.

My eyes were wide as I took in the Hortenz. It was definitely high class. The floors were fully carpeted with soft, burgundy fabric while the walls were decked in tasteful white and gray wallpaper. The main hall had what looked like decorative marble columns and the high ceilings were round and vaulted. Hanging from the center of the ceiling above us was what I thought to be a chandelier at first. But as I got a closer look I saw that it was actually a series of floating, glowing orbs arranged in a circular formation. The orbs emitted a bright yellow light that lit up the room quite brightly. They even twinkled a little, making them seem like really close-up stars. These were definitely magical and I was in awe. I may have appreciated all the wonders of the Alliance until now, but most of those were just old technology from Earth brought over here to this world. What I saw now was true, honest-to-god magic, and I was astounded at the beautiful sight hovering above me.

I heard Ghaldor’s gruff voice speak up from beside me. “How extravagant.” The way he stated the word did not make it sound like a compliment.

I looked up at the old man with a confused frown. “You don’t like it?”

“Humph!” Ghaldor sneered up at the magical wonder. “Mage lights of this caliber take considerable time and effort to construct and require regular maintenance from a Master magician. The components and enchantments for them alone are rarer than the stones in many a country’s crown jewels! For this establishment to use them in such a gaudy display is wasteful to the extreme. The same effect could have been created with those new-fangled gas lights. This is such a wasteful expenditure of resources!”

“That’s precisely why they chose to use mage lights,” Knight Commander Yorn spoke up. “Magic is expensive and available only to the extremely wealthy. The hotel wants to show off to its clientele, to make the Hortenz seem like a place where the elite belong. It’s a basic power move.”

Ghaldor rubbed his beard, the young commander’s words giving the old wizard something to think about. “Hmmm…”

Checking into our rooms was quick and easy since the well-dressed clerk at the front counter was expecting our arrival. Ghaldor and I were given first-class suites. Commander Yorn and the wizard’s apprentice had to make do with more modest and less expensive single rooms. Griselda would stay in my suite since it had a separate sleeping area for servants.

Uniformed attendants escorted each of us up the long flight of stairs to our rooms while the porters dragged our luggage up with them. We separated from Yorn and Ghaldor’s apprentice on the third floor since their rooms were located there. Our suites were on the fourth so Ghaldor, Griselda, and I didn’t need to walk much further.

One of the attendants we were following opened up a large set of doors when we arrived on the fourth floor. Beyond it was a long hallway lined with double doors. He led us to one of them and said, “This is the young lady’s suite. I hope it is to your liking, miss.”

Ghaldor’s suite was further down the hall, so he followed another attendant towards it. I bid him goodnight which he answered with a wave.

I entered through the doors the attendant held open and found myself gasping upon entering the room. It was like I had just set foot on a movie set for a film taking place in Victorian times. The burgundy carpeting had intricate golden trim woven in while the walls were covered with green wallpaper that had delicate, flowery patterns. The ceilings were plaster with an ornate decorative texture. A beautiful brass chandelier hung suspended at its center providing most of the light in the room, while on the walls were sconces where lantern fixtures hung, giving more light. Both seemed to be gas-powered. All the furniture was made of dark, polished wood with the seats and sofas having soft velvet cushioning. I also spotted what looked like a gramophone sitting in a corner of the room.

“I hope it is to your liking,” said the attendant. The porters entered behind him and placed the luggage they were carrying into the suite, then left without a word.

“It’s wonderful!” I told the attendant.

“Very good. If you require anything, we at the Hortenz will be most happy to attend. Just ring the bell and one of our attendants will be with you shortly.” With a bow, the man left, shutting the doors of the suite behind him. He didn’t even wait for a tip.

“Wow, this place is great!” I said out loud, walking deeper into the room to look around some more.

“Indeed it is, My Lady,” Griselda spoke up, looking just as much in awe at the room as I was.

I walked up to the gramophone-looking thing and searched for a way to turn it on. It looked quite different from the pictures I had seen online in my previous life. Instead of the flat, vinyl discs that record players used, these things seemed to be using small, metal cylinders. I saw a slim hand crank at the device’s side and began to wind it up. After a few revolutions, I let go and the machine began whirring to life. The cylinder started to spin and soon the sound of a violin playing emanated from the device’s large metal horn.

I listened in wonder to the tune coming from the clunky machine in front of me. The audio quality was awful, at least when compared to the digital music I was used to. The rumble of static was almost as loud as the music itself. But nevertheless, I found the device quite charming. The tune it was playing was unfamiliar yet the emotion the violinist was portraying through their instrument was felt through the recording. I listened intently for about two minutes before the song eventually came to an end and the cylinder stopped spinning.

“Wow, I never would have guessed they had these here in the Alliance,” I said with a laugh. I looked up to Griselda and found the maid looking shocked down at the machine. She had wide eyes and her hand held up to her open mouth. It looked as if she had just seen a ghost. “Griselda?”

“T-this has to be magic, yes?” The poor maid asked. This was probably the first recorded music she had ever heard, so I guess it was understandable that she would be blown away.

“No, it’s just a machine,” I told her. “We have a lot of things like this back home.”

“I… I see,” Griselda said, still sounding quite shocked.

I left the maid to compose herself and began looking around the fantastic suite. I found a nearby door that led into a large room containing some fancy furniture and a four-poster bed. I’m guessing this was my bedroom. There was another room next to it, this one much smaller and containing a single twin-sized bed and other spartan furnishings. I’m guessing this was the servant’s quarters. There was a final door nearby, which I opened and entered expecting to find a walk-in closet. I was surprised when it turned out to be a nice white-tiled bathroom. It had a sink with a mirror next to it, a large claw-footed tub, and a-

“Oh my god!” I shrieked in delight.

My shout seemed to pop Griselda out of her stupor as she quickly rushed towards me. “My Lady! What is the matter?”

“Toilet!” I shouted with a wide smile on my face. “They have a toilet!”

I pointed out the aforementioned appliance. It was a bit of an older design with the tank held suspended above the porcelain seat. But it was definitely a toilet! Finally, some sign of scientific progress in this world at last!

“I see,” Griselda said with a confused frown. “What is it?”

“What is it? What is it?!” I asked with an exasperated tone. “Only the greatest invention of mankind ever!” I walked over to the toilet and pointed down into the open bowl filled with water. “See, you poop here. After you’re done, you wipe yourself with these.” I pointed out the toilet paper roll set up in its own brass holder fastened to the wall. I ripped off a piece of TP, mimed wiping my butt, then tossed it down into the bowl. “Then you grab this chain and pull.” I reached up to the chain attached to the tank and then pulled it down. There was a loud flush, and the water quickly drained out of the bowl taking the piece of toilet paper down with it.

Griselda nodded at my display, her eyes wide through understanding. “I see. It’s very… innovative.”

“Isn’t it though?” I asked with a wide smile.

Griselda left the bathroom while I stayed for a few moments to flush the toilet again and again. It was amazing, I couldn’t wait to use it! I then noticed the sink and the faucet fitted to the bathtub. This one had two valves, designated as hot and cold.

“Oh my god! They have hot water!” I screeched.

This time Griselda didn’t come running. Instead, I heard the sound of the violin music again, so I’m guessing she was playing around with the gramophone. Good, she’ll be out of my hair for a while, then. Long enough for me to have a nice, hot bath! Days on the road had me absolutely feeling stinky, so I was definitely in the mood for a nice, modern-style bath. The hotel even provided shampoos and soap! This place was great!

I quietly shut the door to the bathroom, then began to disrobe. Or at least I tried to, as my fingers scrambled for the clasps at my back. Damn these dresses! I tried valiantly for several minutes to free myself from the silky, lacy confines of my own clothes, but all attempts proved futile. Finally, I gave up and opened the door to the bathroom.

“Griselda, I need help,” I said pathetically.

Ten minutes later I was lying in the bathtub enjoying the hot, bubbly water around me. I sighed and leaned back, relaxing my body as steam slowly filled the white-tiled room. This was the life. Hopefully, now that Duncan was going to be part of the Alliance, a few creature comforts such as indoor plumbing could be adopted by the kingdom. That would be fantastic. Maybe the Alliance even had air conditioners invented for those hot, arid summers. One could hope.

It had been a tiring day. Tomorrow would be another long day of travel, though this time it would be by train. According to Commander Yorn, the trip on the rails would take us about two days to get to Altrech. Definitely much faster than going by carriage, even a magical one. Then, once at the capital, I would get to meet the other Heroes. Not counting Andre, of course.

I wonder what they were like. Despite their fame, the non-aligned kingdoms didn’t receive much news about the five Heroes. The most I knew about was Mark, the Invincible Hero of Scepter. But that was because he had been around the longest out of the five, being summoned some thirty-something years ago. News of him and his deeds had traveled in the decades of his service.

And there was Andre, of course, but I tried not to think about him.

I really hope I could get along with the others. It would be nice to have people I could relate to. Don’t get me wrong, Griselda and Ghaldor were great, but they didn’t really understand what I was going through. They hadn’t been summoned to another world, or had been given new bodies and new lives. Were the others in the same boat as me? Were they also grotesque monsters in the past and given a second chance in this world? I didn’t know. Maybe I was different because I wasn’t summoned through godly magic. But I needed to know. Were there others like me here, in this world?

In a few days, I would find out.

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