"Oh, great God who reigns supreme over all mankind…"
A young man said out while looking at the gel-like entity with dog features before him.
"Please explain to me how can a dog like this exists?"
Part 1: The Story of the Knight
~ Protagonist POV ~
"You ready?"
"As always, RAAHHH!"
What we are looking at right now is one hell of a fire dragon. And trust me, it is not friendly.
Well, before we begin the battle, I'd like to introduce you guys to the setting. Location England, it is the peak of the Middle Ages, where magic and monsters are rampant. So, here we are, the titular Knights, men who follow the code of chivalry, serving under King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, to help the commoners with their problems, may it be with monsters or just rescues and fetch quests.
Let us introduce ourselves. I am Sir Lance of Riverton, and my heavy duty friend right there is Sir Rexinold of Gaulia. As opposed to what people think of a normal knight with all of his body protected by armor, I am what you call 'the nimble knight', who are known for only wearing a chestplate and boots for armor. All other clothing on me are just normal, like what commoners wear. While Rex here is a total big guy, complete with whole body armor, well, he does not wear the helmet, so…
"RAAAAHHH!"
Oh, it seems that Rex had already taken down the dragon, and uh oh, he is really injured. I go to him to give him some of my health potions.
"Lance, you idiot! Why did you…"
"Sorry, Rex, was daydreaming," I apologized while handing him the health potion.
"Why did you have to daydream while on a kill quest?"
Yes, I am quite the daydreamer, the one who saves the girl and rides off into the sunset, the end. Hey, it is a good daydream.
"That attitude of yours will get you killed someday…"
"Nah, that is not gonna happen, since I'm the hero and such…"
Rex sighed, "Ugh, again with his 'hero of legends' act…"
"My song will echo through centuries to come and… OW! OW!"
Rex pinches my right ear. Really now, no sense of humor?
"If you keep fooling around like that, you are better off with a job as a jester," Rex said.
"Haha, very funny, Rex, very funny…"
*rustling*
I quickly take notice of the quiet rustle. I have quite the sharpest hearing in all of the Knights. I tap Rex's shoulder.
"Rex, did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" he replied. Oh right, his hearing is quite 'problematic' if you can describe it in one word. You see, once when we did a quest regarding the capture of a mage gone amok, the mage in question casted an explosion spell, which I had warned Rex, but as we tried to get away from it, I, who was nearer to the spell, got inflicted with serious injuries, while Rex almost lost his hearing. That is when I got serious and trained to be the fastest moving Knight there is.
"Was I imag-"
*bang*
Then, as I was finishing my sentence, an unknown spell was cast. I sidestep to avoid it. What was that?!
"Rex!"
"What- AH!" he shouted as he dodged the same spell. Though I don't know what school of magic was that, I know who can cast such a spell…
"Rex! Watch out! It is the Sorcerer!"
"Tch… You did not have to say that twice!" he said, pulling out his sword from its sheath, and taking his big shield that was attached to the back of his chestplate. I also unsheath my sword and take a stance.
The Sorcerer then fired the same unrecognizable spell again and again, and it did not look like he was desparate. We quickly dodge his spells. I go head on and swing. *whoosh* And he somehow dodged it. Not surprised, because he IS a magic user.
"Rex, you okay?" I call out.
"I am okay," I sigh in relief.
"Okay, let us make a good plan…"
"Is it reckless?"
I grin, "You know me too well."
I rushed out quicker than a horse carriage. I have to give him the idea that I ran out and escaped. Then Rex will try to hold him down, while I, above them, prepare a magic spell to take the Sorcerer out. I am not all hack and slash, just so you know.
"Seems like your friend has run out on you…" the Sorcerer said, really defining his deep voice.
"Tch, that Knight was dead weight to me anyway," Woah, woah, Rex! You did not have to insult me!
"I thought you trusted him?"
"We do not get along, if you want to know."
"Well, whatever, that is not my concern, she will have this world for herself," She? We have a bigger enemy on our hands, eh?
"Well, whatever. I cannot let my concentration fade," I said to myself as I jump up to a faraway building. It looks like a pub, to be honest. I sat down near the edge, and now I have a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. Rex is swinging his sword, trying to deflect the might-be-really-dangerous spells of the Sorcerer, and I can see that the Sorcerer is quite depleted of his mana now. Now is the time to strike! I quickly prepare my unique spell, "Fast Judgment".
"Almighty God, the man I am about to strike with this is a sinner, and must be purified. Give me the power to end his evil…"
It is time…
"BRING FORTH FAST JUD-"
No. No way. He is… looking at me…
And Rex is nowhere to be seen…
He is chanting something…
Is this…
"Goodbye, Sir Lance, Sir Rexinold, it was fun while it lasted…" he said.
He fired a new, but still unknown, spell. I dodge it, but it made a portal…
"See you in Hell, Sir Lance," he lastly spoke before vanishing…
So… All of England, maybe even Europe and the world, is in great peril at the hands of the Sorcerer and his female boss. We tried to stop it… We should have run away… Warned King Arthur… That plan of mine…
Was really reckless.
Part 2: This World… Is Really Different (Literally)
~ Lance's POV ~
I wake up. I… thought I was in Hell…
Why… do I feel grass?
I open my eyes, to be greeted by a view of a forest. A really lush forest… Did the Sorcerer send me to the wrong place? What the heck?
Wait, "what the heck"?
"I'm… I am… We're… We are…" a voice echoed through my mind.
Eh? Since when did I learn these words? I stand up, then I noticed that my clothes were different…
Now, I'm wearing some sort of an open overcoat, the length of it I can describe as reaching a few inches above my knees. I also see a kind of fancy design on my coat's sleeves, which, basing from my new-found vocabulary, somehow describes as "a circuit pattern". My undershirt is white, if you want to know. And my pants… now they're a shade of purple… instead of the dirty white pants that I know. My steel boots are replaced by a pair of blue shoes with white highlights.
I ruffle my hair, then I realized that my ears now have some sort of small mechanics, a button to be exact, above it. Maybe I shouldn't touch it. Wait, where's my sword and sheath? Where are all of my potions?
"Ugh, just what the heck is going on?" I mumbled.
I decided on something. "Maybe I should find civilization before it gets dark…" I thought to myself. I turn around and started walking.
*step* *step* *step*
Wow, just how big is this forest?! I also took notice of a similarity between England and this new world. There are also monsters around. Yeah, lots of them, just like back then in England.
"Dogoo!"
Hm? What was that? Eh, maybe my imagination. No monster could make such a cute cry…
"Dogoo! Dogoo!"
That again… I looked around… there is nothing there… the heck?!
*jump*
"…! What in the…"
I noticed gel on my pants, near my ankles, and I look down…
To see a little living goo with dog mannerisms.
"Umm…"
I stare intently at the "dogoo" as it calls out. Uh…
"Oh Great God, who reigns supreme over all mankind…"
"Please explain to me how can a dog like this exists?"
I mean… it's a fricking dog… gel… thing… What in the actual world?! I know I shouldn't be surprised, since there are really weird monsters back in England, but what… I'm starting to think biology really needs to be studied more. It seems that there's more than meets the eye.
*jump*
"Woah!" I react as it tried to jump me. Is it trying to attack? I mean, it is a mob…
"Ya wanna fight, lil man?"
*jump*
"Hyah!"
Since I don't have my sword with me, I attacked it with my fists, but… damn, this little boy can be a big pervert if you imagine it attacking a lady. Goo all around my right arm.
"Goo!" it shrieked.
I try to grab it. It's very effective!
"I've got you in my hands lil man!"
*puppy cries*
What the heck? It really acts like a dog! Now I'm feeling sorry for the little guy. But I can't be… since it's an enemy of sorts…
*puppy eyes*
NO! NOT THE PUPPY EYES! I'M REALLY GUILTY NOW! Ugh, as long as it doesn't harm me… Doesn't… harm me…
I drop the dogoo. It looked at me… with the look of curiosity. Huh, it can express feelings. Typical of a dog-goo cross breed thing.
"Okay, just for now, I'm letting you off the hook…"
Sorry, though I'm a Knight, I have a soft spot for cute things. There would be times when we're tasked with eliminating a creature… and if I deem it as cute, I can't bear the thought of killing it, unless Rex jogs my brain…
That reminds me… How is Rex? Did he end up in Hell? Did he end up here? And why did I end up here? This place isn't as chaotic as Hell. Did the Sorcerer have a serious epic fail or something? Cause if he did, I'd facepalm three times.
"Goo!"
Huh? The Dogoo is looking at me. With the "take me home" look. Aw man, I… can't… what if I get caught because I have a mob with me? There goes me finding my answers… but… dammit, my soft spot is conquering my conscience. Aw fine.
"Fine, you can come along with me," I said, then the Dogoo's eyes lit up. Wow, can it understand human language? That's really magnificent.
*jump* And it just jumped to my golden brown hair, sitting comfortably on it. Looks like someone's happy. It made me smile as well. "Well, isn't this little guy adorable?"
A few hours later, night had fallen, and I decided to sit next to a tree. The rustling of the leaves make me sleepy. The Dogoo I befriended is already asleep on my head.
I quietly recline to the tree's trunk. I know it's not comfortable, but hey, this day is quite uncomfortable.
Me, a Knight, gets sent to another world(?), can you imagine that? I didn't even think this could happen to me. Makes me sad that Rex isn't with me. I don't even know if he's here. I just think things through. I have to find answers to these questions:
1. Who's this "her" the Sorcerer follow?
2. Why did I end up here?
3. What is this world anyway?
4. Can I go back?
5. Where is Rex?
6. Can I stop the Sorcerer?
7. Can I even sleep with these questions about in my head?
"Ah screw it, I need sleep…"
I close my eyes and let my consciousness drift off into the mystery known as "dreams".
~ Some 30 minutes later ~
*CRASH!*
"…GOO!"
"WAHH!"
What was that?! Sounded like an explosion! I look around and I see some kind of purple light, but it faded a few seconds after. Judging the distance, I'd say a kilometer away from me. Now that rung my curiosity…
"Heh, this dogoo can be quite a rooster as well, hehe…" I remark as I stand up and go to the weird light's location. Traversing through rocks, trees, and bushes, I think to myself, "This forest… you can really get lost if you aren't careful…"
No kidding. And now I realize my feet are killing me… Sheesh…
"AAAHH!"
What was… *THUD!*
Ow, ow! My back! That… hurts… Seems like someone landed on me…
"Ouchies…" Hm? A high-pitched voice? A cute voice, even? Who… landed on me?
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!"
Hm? The person stood up, and I instinctively stand up. If you're asking why instinctively, it's because I'm used to being a cushion for Rex whenever he falls sometimes… So, yeah…
"Hyap! Okay. Are you okay?" I ask. I can describe her (yes, a girl) as having peach colored hair, wearing a black headband with I think is a C as design, orange eyes, a pink sweater, checkered skirt… and well, that's all since my vision is quite failing on me… Wait…
*Thud*
"Ugh…" I wake up groggily. What the heck happened to me? Why did I lose consciousness?!
I quickly look at my surroundings. Still at the forest. And the girl I met is sitting beside me… She has a cute face, to be frank…
"Um… Hi," I quietly greet the peach (or pink, I dunno) haired girl.
"Oh, are you feeling better?"
"Well, apart from the fact that I'm hurting all over but quickly disappearing since I'm seeing a cute girl the first thing after waking up, I'm fine," I bluntly said, making her blush. Oops. Said too much. I react by covering my mouth with my hands. Sheesh, me and my smooth talking blabbermouth.
"W-well anyway, thanks for taking care of me, Miss…"
"Ah, it's Compa!" She enthusiastically said out. Looks like she's an innocent one, maybe.
"Alright, Compa, I'll remember that. Well, I'm Lance," I said with a smile. It's been a while since I made a conversation with a girl, so it made me smile a bit.
"Well, I gotta ask, what happened to me?" I asked.
Compa thought for a while, and replied, "Well, it seemed like you had fatigue, so I took care of you, is all…"
"Oh, and did you see a dog-goo thing around?"
"I killed it."
I look at her with a dumb looking face. "You're joking right? Right?"
"No, I had to. That thing is a monster here, you know…"
"But, I just…"
I look down on the ground. She… just casually said that. I feel like crying, but I can't…
"Dogoo!"
Eh! That same cry!
"Boy, you're still alive?!"
I quickly run towards the Dogoo. It reciprocated by jumping on my head, enjoying the texture of my gold brown hair. This little thing likes my hair… It's cute…
"Ah, stand back, I'm gonna shoot it," she said, taking out a big… thing… from somewhere… where the hell did that come from?! But it isn't the time to think, she's dead set on killing the little guy!
Ahem, that "something" is called a syringe…
"No! Don't! This guy's domesticated!" I jumped back, dodging whatever Compa's "syringe", as my new dictionary implied, shot. And I know that it wasn't a friendly fire!
"Eh? Why? Isn't it an enemy?"
I sigh, "Well, yeah, but sorry, I think monsters have a life of their own."
Dead silence. I hate silence.
"Oh…"
"Glad we got into an agreement, anyway, why are you here?" I asked yet again. Yeah, I do remember she fell on me, but why is she here for?
Compa thought, making me gaze at her sparkling orange eyes. Boy, am I in a weird England-themed heaven or something? Cause no girl this pretty and kind could exist in my book. I know that back in England, the hard way though. Ehehe… *insert smooth talking blabbermouth joke here*
"You see, I saw this purple light coming from this forest, Virtua Forest, so I decided to come here and check it out."
"Aren't you supposed to be with someone, at least?"
Question marks appeared above her head… Is she an airhead or something? I feel sorry for her.
"Eh, I didn't think of that…"
"Anyway, about you here…"
"Well, there was this purple thing that landed somewhere around here, and I got curious and all, so…"
My expression lit up, "Hey, that's where I'm going too!"
Compa stared at me. I stared back. Awkward silence… Ugh, can't take this… Ah!
"Hey, Compa, since we're both heading to the same location, why don't we go there together?" I suggested. I don't like the notion of a girl wandering alone at night.
~ A few minutes later ~
*step* *step*
So, yeah, it's been a few minutes after I started accompanying Compa. (For her safety and because I was going to that purple light anyways so… two birds with one stone?)
We haven't uttered a word since then. Actually, I'm feeling rather uncomfortable. Well, back in England, my smooth talking quirk earned me a lot of punches, slaps, and kicks to the groin from girls (Oh, God, please help me.) and… I don't wanna dive into my idiotic past.
But Compa seems… different. And when I say different, I mean, 'she's throwing glances at me and if I look at her, she gazes away blushing a bit'. Feeling uncomfortable with the situation, I decided to break the ice.
"So… Compa… you have an occupation of sorts?"
She looks at me, like that skit she did didn't happen (she may have not noticed me noticing her actions), and replied, "Well, I'm a nurse-in-training."
"So, like a healer of sorts?"
"I guess you could say that. How about you, Lance?"
I scratched the back of my head, "I don't think you'll believe me though."
And, oh, what do you know? We're here. I look back at Compa, and decided to go in first, checking for danger. (Sad to say that the dogoo I befriended already went on his way. Was hoping to have him help me with battles…)
And, what I saw… blew my mind away…
A girl stuck on the ground, her legs pointing up.
Under my breath, I remark, "This world is really different… literally…"