Welcome to Lescatie
As Sasha and Astramille made their way towards the king's castle, the scenery changed. The roads went from being poorly maintained to well looked after, with the stone slabs set in what appeared to be a form of cement. The road bore resemblance to the roads of the Roman Empire. The buildings, too, looked neater, cleaner and more colourful, giving off a Renaissance feel. Well-dressed people spoke to each other while children played around. The market bustled with activity as people advertised their wares to passing buyers.
The two passed a cathedral, an impressive structure with a distinctive gothic style. Various people entered and exited it, including clergy, nobles and regular citizens. A park is nearby, with a pristine pond and green grass. Statues of angels and Valkyries are seen.
"This isn't half bad," Astramille said as he looked around, "it's just like our world a few hundred years ago."
"Is that so?" asked Sasha as she continued leading Astramille to the castle.
"Yeah," Astramille explained, "it was only in the last three or four hundred years that we adopted modern ways of studying our world and within the last one hundred that we really progressed. You saw the Shanghai skyline - the city of many lights - right? Two or three generations ago, much of it was slums like the one we just left."
Sasha stopped, "Are you serious? So within my lifetime, I may see Lescatie turn into that?"
"Sorry, ma'am," Astramille shook his head, "the kind of knowledge needed for all that is going to take a thousand years for you to accumulate. Knowing everything in my books would shorten it by a century or two, three at most. They are but a drop in the ocean of knowledge accumulated by my people."
"That's unfortunate," Sasha said in a dejected voice as she continued walking, "because I am sure the smiles of the people in your would be as dazzling as your lights."
Astramille smiled and shook his head, "Oh, you are wrong about that. Happiness does not lie in material possessions. I mean, you're a nun. Shouldn't you know this?"
"Fair enough," Sasha nodded, "hey, you seem pretty smart for a young adult. Then and again, if you can read and write, that is great."
"General Sasha!" a voice called out.
Turning back, Sasha and Astramille see a young man with a head of red hair walking quickly to them. He is slightly taller than Astramille and built more heavily. He wore a military uniform of sorts, consisting of a jacket adorned with the cross of the Order and black trousers, which is secured by a belt with a buckle that glinted in the sunlight. Completing his outfit is a sheathed sword that hung from his belt.
"Hello, Elt," Sasha smiled warmly, "are you on break?"
"Yeah," the man smiled, "I was heading over to the orphanage. You know, to see if I can help."
"Oh, I will be fine," Sasha smiled, "I am a hero, after all. I am the pious disciple of God."
Elt said in a worried tone, "That does not make you immune to fatigue. You are working as a monster slaying hero, a nun and a caretaker of all those kids."
"The kid speaks wise words," Astramille added, "no amount of training or stimulants can overcome fatigue. Only rest can."
It was only then that Elt seemed to notice Astramille.
"Who is this man?" asked Elt suspiciously.
"I suppose I will introduce you," Sasha smiled warmly, "Astramille, this is Elt. He and I are good friends. Elt helps with my orphanage."
Astramille did a move that was a cross between a downwards nod and bow.
"Pleased to meet you," he said as he extended a hand, "soldier."
Both Elt and Sasha looked at him, the former with suspicion and the latter with curiosity.
"Oh," Astramille said, retracting his hand quickly, "I apologise. The handshake is universally accepted as an act of goodwill where I live. It represents hands that bear no arms."
"And Elt," Sasha said, "this is Astramille. Merse and Mimil dropped him off at my orphanage. They said he fell out of a portal and Mimil had to do a language spell so he can understand us. Astramille came from an incredible world, you know?"
"So this strange man who fell out the sky is living with you?" Elt said suspiciously, "Are you sure it is safe to do so? Don't you think he kind has a weird feel to him? It's like...there is a hole where his soul is meant to be."
"Yes, he lacks spiritual energy," Sasha said, "which I think is why monsters don't pay attention to him. Apparently a Wurm even caught him but lost interest after smelling and licking him. I am bringing him to the King and the High Priests to see if they know what he is."
Elt nodded, but Astramille can tell he isn't convinced. Perhaps this kid has something for Sasha? Well he doesn't need to worry. Astramille has no interest in the nun. He never liked religious fundamentalist types. In fact, prolonged contact with feminist university students killed his libido like David killed Goliath. It's not as much as they were feminist as much as they kept on bleating about how he was a privileged shitlord and whatever other stuff their twisted minds could come up with. Needless to say, a religious fundie would be equally annoying even if they had the complete opposite view on the world. Astramille did not like those who pointed fingers and judged before arrogantly telling him how to live his life.
"And I am not living with her," Astramille replied, "I was dropped off at the orphanage by Merse and Mimil, whoever they are. I will leave when I can. I would hate to be a burden."
"In that case," Elt said, "should I accompany you?"
Sasha flashed a smile, "Oh, sure. If you wish."
As Sasha turned around, Elt took one last look at Astramille before following her. The right edge of Astramille's mouth briefly twitched to form a smirk before he followed the two.
A short walk later, the trio stopped in front of the castle. Massive battlements rose up from the ground, connected by tall curtain walls. Both are built from stone that appear to be perfectly maintained, save for some erosion due to the weather. The gate house stood opposite to them, with the entrance covered by several knights in plate armour. A portion of a portcullis can be seen poking out from the top of the gateway.
"Come on," Sasha said, "no time for sightseeing. I have to get back to the orphanage as soon as possible."
"She sure is devoted," Astramille remarked as he stepped after Sasha, "a kind soul. I can see why you would be defensive of her."
"Who?" Elt asked, "Me?"
"Who else?" Astramille scoffed, "Yes, you, Elt."
"It is only natural," Elt replied, "when I was just a child, my parents died. She took me into the orphanage. We're like brothers and sisters."
"I'm sorry," Astramille said, "it must have been hard for you."
"Ha ha," Elt chuckled, "yeah, it was. But we did okay over the last decade. Except for that time...we had an epidemic of the black plague. We got quite a few orphans that time and lost a few as well."
"So even in a world with magic," Astramille said, "the bubonic plague is a menace. I guess magic can't solve everything."
"Your world had the black plague?" asked Elt, "You called it the bubonic plague, because of the boils on the skin right?"
"Yeah," Astramille nodded, "that plague hit the world multiple times. One nasty epidemic occurred a few hundred years ago. Hell, pandemic would be a better word as it swept across the European continent. It killed somewhere between seventy-five million and a hundred million in a decade. We're talking about a third of Europe's population."
"By the gods," Elt exclaimed, "that's the entire population of all Order controlled nations."
"Well the good news is," Astramille replied, "hundreds of years later we can cure it using a variety of compounds. Outbreaks are limited to poor countries."
"We?" asked Sasha.
"The doctors and pharmacists of my world," Astramille said, "but don't expect me to be able to recreate their medicine. It takes decades of training, a ton of specialised equipment and various substances that are beyond my abilities."
"That's unfortunate," Sasha continued as she led the duo into the castle, "I was hoping you would perform some miracles while you stayed in our world."
"There are no such things as miracles in my world," Astramille replied, "only the results of three centuries of studying the world using the scientific method."
The trio continued through the castle, meeting no resistance from soldiers standing guard. Sasha is a veteran hero, one who is widely respected by the people. Several nobles briefly spoke some greetings.
"Say," Elt joked, "you have any super weapons that could help us wipe out the monsters?"
"Oh, yes," Astramille said, "but like the medicine, they need specially trained people, dedicated machinery and special materials. Yet their power is beyond your wildest imagination. Some are so horrifying that international treaties were made to ban their use in war, for doing so will bring ruin to the world."
"Ah yes," Sasha said, "I saw the drawings. I was meaning to ask, why did your people turn such terrifying weapons on their fellow human beings?"
"Greed," Astramille said, "and hatred. Lacking an external enemy that unified mankind, it turned against each other. Only the dead have seen the end of war. Peace is merely a short break where the nations paused to reload for the next battle."
The group stopped talking, making the rest of their journey in silence. While Elt was curious about Astramille's super weapons, he could sense that Sasha became sad just talking about them. He imagined that the weapons would be a souped up version of Lescatie muzzle loaded cannons. Needless to say, he hadn't the slightest clue what Astramille's kin can inflict on each other.
The group stands in front of the oak door that led to the Council Chamber.
"Is anyone still inside?" Sasha asked the knight guarding the chamber.
"Yes, General Fullmoon," the knight said politely, "King Castor, the Order Elders and the Noscrim family are still inside. Apparently they are scolding Wilmarina for talking to a man."
"By the gods," Astramille said, "is it a crime to talk?"
"Wilmarina is the strongest hero in all of Lescatie," the knight said, "and her father a High Priest. She is our greatest hope in crusade against the monsters who rose from the shadows and seek to exterminate mankind. It is natural to hold her to high standard."
"So the line between discipline and oppression is blurred here," Astramille nodded, "I wonder if other Order nations are like this."
"Hey, listen up kid," the knight said, "if you don't like it here, you can pack up and leave."
"Sasha," Astramille turned to the hero, "do you know of any nations that are more open to knowledge and progress?"
"Well," Sasha said, "Welsple is a pretty good place for studying. Is that where you intend to go?"
Just then the door opened from the inside, pulled by a pair of priests, revealing a young girl with pale hair kneeling on a cushion. Even though Astramille cannot see her face, he can tell she is depressed by her slouched body language. Her attire is more Renaissance than Medieval, though that can be attributed to her being a noble.
Astramille looked around the room. It is fairly large, perhaps ten metres wide by twenty metres long. Pillars set halfway into the walls stretched twenty or so metres into the air supporting ribbed vaults that supported the roof in turn. Crusty old priests sat behind two massive tables that curved around the centre of the room.
Opposite to Astramille's group and the girl, a king dressed in rich robes sat in his throne. He is fairly young for a king, looking to be about forty years old.
"You are dismissed," a priest said, looking at Wilmarina with disdain, "and I will say this again. Do not go anywhere near the commoners."
"Yes, fath…high priest," the girl bowed her head, "I will remember."
She was about to stand up when a priest said, "General Fullmoon, what brings you here? With the man that seduced my daughter and that stranger?"
Wilmarina shot up and turned around.
"Elt?" she blurted, "General Fullmoon? Elt?"
"Hello, Wilmarina," Sasha smiled, "I am just here to report a stranger who was dropped off at my orphanage by Merse and Mimil. Apparently, he fell out of a magic portal along with a huge stash-."
"Don't talk about the books," Astramille said quickly and quietly, "I am keeping them a secret for now."
"Pardon?" the King raised an eyebrow.
"Well," Sasha wrung her hands, "Merse and Mimil said that soon after arriving in our world, he was captured by a Wurm. But it released him after a little while. Apparently it is because he has no spiritual energy or is hiding it very well. I had to lend him clothes and shoes."
"No spiritual energy," another priest said, "then why is he still alive?"
"I do not know," Sasha replied, "he said he came from another world where there are no gods, no angels, no demons and no monsters. I assume he also means no souls."
"I'd say he is lying," the priest that Wilmarina almost called father, "if only he showed a single speck of spiritual energy. But yes, you are right. He has none. A real freak of nature, though it might mean he is immune to the mana corruption of the monsters. You cannot corrupt something that does not exist."
"So, your holiness," Sasha asked, "what do we do with him?"
The priest scoffed before asking, "Why are you asking me? He is just another commoner. Do with him as you see fit. We are too busy to manage such trivial matters."
"Sounds like I am free," Astramille grinned, "well then, I am going to need a job. Anyone need help?"
"Well," Elt said, "since I can't help at the orphanage all the time, why don't you help Sasha? It must be difficult for her to look after all those children."
"Alright," Astramille nodded, "I am experienced in cleaning and I can cook food that is edible. Manual labour is within my abilities and so is basic renovating."
"Then you will be of great help," another priest said, "General Fullmoon is determined to live with the squatter kids despite repeated offers from the Order to live in this luxurious castle."
Probably because she is a kind person who is genuinely dedicated to helping others at ground level, instead of some elitist scumbag who sits in his ivory tower with a silver spoon so far up his ass that it comes out of his nose. But I digress.
Atramille thought this, but he certainly is smart enough to not say it.
The high priest pointed at Astramille, "I declare that you are her servant and shall follow her every order. She is a hero who also has the burden of looking after those unwanted children."
Wait, what? You condemned me to slavery just like that? Is that how you treat a person who just stepped into your world?
Once again, while Astramille thought that, there was no way he was going to say that in front of a king and a bunch of high priests. Not to mention two heroes who stomped around Lescatie handing out bitch slaps to monsters like a bartender handing out beers to high school graduates during schoolies week.
Instead he smiled and bowed like the people do in theatres.
"Thank you, your holiness," he said, "I am honoured to serve one with such prestige. I will strive to excel at tasks the General hands to me."
"Good," the King smiled, though it wasn't a nice one, "I don't know what world you came from, but, welcome to Lescatie."