"…What?" It didn't sound shocked or disgusted. Anna sounded genuinely confused.
"Y'know… …Porn. …Smut…?"
Her lips parted slightly. "…What?"
"M-masturbating."
"What?! Maxis, what the hell is wrong with you?!"
I winced. "It's… Erm…"
"No, hold on, I need a moment." Anna took a deep breath then another. "Maxis, why are you… Why?"
I sat down. "Because s'jus' so normal back where I'm from."
"It's normal to sit around all day?!"
"Yeah, it's everywhere! And it's so accessible! I first got addicted when I was thirteen!"
"Okay…" Anna took another deep breath. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I want help. Porn has made me someone I'm not. It's made me unhappy, unmotivated, and lazy."
Anna sighed but smiled. "I'm… glad you came to me with this. I'll be honest; I hate lazy people. And if you don't want to be lazy, then you are my favorite lazy person ever. However! You'll have to put in the effort to change. Do you understand?"
"Oh, absolutely! I've been trying to quit for so long! And another thing! Tell whoever you think can help with this."
Anna's mouth opened and closed. "Alright. I'll do that. In the meantime, you're dismissed."
"A'right then." I stood up and left properly this time. I looked around at the three other doors trying to remember which one was mine. I believed that it was supposed to be across the hall, so I opened the door and peeked inside. It looked about the same, so I walked in and headed for the bedroom. Then I realized that the layout was backward. Realizing that this wasn't my room, I stopped in my tracks, pivoted on my foot, and left quicker than I had entered. I moved over to the other door, and Sharena came up the stairs as I rested my hand on the metal ring that served as a doorknob.
"Ah, Maxis! Perfect, I was just about to tell you and the commander that lunch was ready!"
"Oh, okay. She's still in her room."
"Okay, thanks!"
As she entered, I started down the same stairs she came up. I kept descending staircases until I swung open a door revealing a dark, spooky basement. I closed the door, realizing that I didn't need to go down any more stairs, and started through more hallways that all looked more or less the same.
"Great Hero," I heard. I turned to the source to find Alfonse approaching. "Is something the matter? You appear to be confused."
"Yeah, jus' lost."
"Ah, I see. Yes, it can be quite easy to get lost in the castle. I take it you were trying to find the mess hall? I shall show you the way." We started to walk in the opposite direction that I was heading.
"Thanks. Might need a map for this place."
"That's an excellent idea. I shall make you one when I am able."
I frowned at his… formality, I suppose. "You don't haf to. An' you can jus' call me Max."
"Your name is not Maxis? Why did you not correct us?"
I shrugged a shoulder. "Wasn' much reason to. I's still Max, jus' a couple more letters on the end."
"I… suppose so. Although… are you sure you don't want to be called Great Hero?"
I shook my head slightly. "Call me what ya like."
"A-alright." We continued through the halls until Alfonse opened the door to the mess hall and gestured me through. I sat at the end of the table once more and waited. I looked across the room and saw Olivia, Azura, and Maria in the kitchen.
The young girl, kneeling on a stool, stirred the pot on the stove while the pink-haired woman added spices. Azura approached with a spoon, dipped it into the pot, blew on it, and tasted it. She nodded and smiled. The pot came off the stovetop and onto a few hot pads on the counter in the giant open window between the kitchen and the mess hall. "Lunch is ready, everyone!" the blue-haired woman spoke. Maria moved her stool back up to the pot as Olivia grabbed wooden bowls and spoons. The young girl took one of the bowls and began to pour the stew into it. I cocked an eyebrow at the meal as I stood up to retrieve a bowl. I was no stranger to having stew twice in a row, but it was usually as leftovers, not a freshly made pot.
I say back down, and Bartre sat down beside me. "Nothin' beats a good bowl of stew, huh, Maxis?"
"Mm-hm," I grunted.
"My wife would always make it during the colder months. No better time for it," he spoke fondly.
"Definitely."
Matthew sat down in front of the burly man. "Hey, Bartre, I knew a guy in our group with your name back before I joined the Order. Heck, he looked just like you, too."
"Actually, I've been wondering about that! 'Cause I knew someone named Matthew back when I was in Lord Eliwood's army."
Alfonse sat next to Matthew. "The Worlds of Blazing and Binding are one and the same, though the World of Binding's key events are after the World of Blazing's."
"Really?" Bartre asked.
"Yes. If I am remembering correctly, then you were following Lord Roy into battle, were you not?"
"Hm. Yeah, I was, but that's past now. I was about to open up my bar, but I don't mind helping out around here. I'd hate to let these muscles go to waste, too!"
"I see. Thank you for lending us your aid."
"Hey, it's no problem at all!" Bartre turned to me. "So, what's your story?"
"Me? Don' really have one."
"C'mon, there must be somethin'! How'd you join the Order of Heroes?"
I shrugged. "Jus' did."
"Huh?"
By now, everyone else had joined us at the table. "What he means is that he was summoned here like the rest of you," Anna supplied.
"Ah. But what about before that? You have a knack for strategy; where'd ya get it?"
I shrugged again. "I read the Art of War."
"Is that like a strategy book?"
"Sure."
"Hey!" Sharena interjected. "That's what you talked about when the commander was teaching us!"
"Mm-hm."
"Huh," Bartre grunted. "And what's in it?"
I shrugged a third time. "Stuff about numbers, spies, nature, I think… I dunno, it's been a while since I last read it. Especially 'cause I lost it."
"Oh, that's a shame. How d'ya think ya lost it?"
"I think I lent it to my dad, but I dunno."
"That is a shame," Sharena said. "I'm sure Alfonse would have loved to read it, right, Brother?"
"Um, yes," he replied. "Though, that's quite alright."
"It must have been a good book, though."
"Mm. It was fine enough."
"What's your world like, anyway?" the blonde asked.
I frowned. "Bad."
"Bad?"
"'M sure you don't want to hear about politics…"
"Th-that's okay, you can tell us whatever you want!"
I was silent, contemplating how much I wanted to rant about stuff I can't even say I knew anything about. "Jus' imagine a boot stomping on a face forever…"
"What…?"
"People are trying to take each others' rights away, the elite are doing illegal things, and everyone's ignoring it, and degeneracy is everywhere you look."
"That's horrible! Once we're done fighting Embla, we'll come to your world and help!" Sharena exclaimed.
I buried my face in my hands as my body began to tremble. A hand rested itself on my back. I rested my face on the table as I began to shake harder. My hand slapped against the table as I threw my head back. I couldn't breathe; I was laughing so hard. "Ahah, yeah, run at a cop swingin' a sword around, see where that gets ya!" I all but yelled.
"Pardon?" Alfonse spoke.
I waved a hand. "'S nothin'. Jus' not a good idea is all."
"What's a cop?"
"Y'know, law enforcement. I don't know what'd you'd call them here."
"We call them guards, though we don't have many in the town. There are not many crimes that can't be resolved quickly."
"Yep!" Sharena chirped. "Everyone's super friendly! Hey! I should introduce you to everyone! All of you!"
"Ah, S-Sharena, I don't think that's a… feasible idea."
Anna cleared her throat. "I agree with Alfonse, but I would like you to take Maxis into town to get him some clothes."
"Really?! Let's go!"
"Now?" I asked.
"I don't see why not," Anna replied. "Meet me in the main hall; I'll get you two some money."
"Spectacular!" Sharena cheered. "C'mon, Maxis!" She stood up and quickly left the dining hall.
I stood up, too, and grabbed my bowl. "Er, uh… Where should I put my bowl?"
Anna hummed questioningly before she swallowed her bite of stew. "Oh, you can bring to the kitchen, thanks."
"No prob'," I said as I grabbed Sharena's bowl as well. I headed out and immediately realized that I didn't know where to go.
There certainly weren't a whole lot of people in town. What people we did come across greeted us, and we greeted them back, but if they wanted to chat, we said we were busy, thankfully. We walked into the tailor's, and… Well, I don't know what I expected, but it reminded me of a JCPenny's. Clothes hung from hangers, rested neatly on shelves, or were displayed on more barebones versions of mannequins. Sharena greeted the woman behind the counter.
"Oh! Hello, Sharena! And Prince—! Er—"
"Oh, this is Maxis, the Great Hero," the blonde said as she gestured to me. "He's just wearing my brother's clothes for now. We're here to get some for him!"
"Great Hero? Truly? W-welcome, then," the woman spoke with a bow. "My apologies for not recognizing you! What can I do for you, Great Hero?"
"Could you show us what you have for everyday wear?"
"Of course," the woman said as she moved away from the counter and led us to a rack of clothes. "We have a fine collection of silk shirts and pants." She held out a blue long-sleeve shirt. "Many colors… Anything you need, really!"
"Great!" Sharena chirped. "Maxis, do you have anything in mind?"
"Nope, 'm good with whatever."
"Really? Well, what do you normally wear?"
"Whatever's in my closet."
"Er…" The clerk tilted her head slightly. "Is there a certain style or color you gravitate towards, Great Hero?"
"Uhh… Casual wear, I guess. Dark clothes, too."
"Alright, then… Do you have anything else in mind?"
I shook my head. "Nope."
"Okay. If you'll follow me, then, I'm sure I can find you something you'll like."
"'Lright."
"Great!"
We followed behind the woman, and I nodded along to whatever she had to say and said yes to all the clothes she picked out. The shirts were a bit light for my taste, not to mention a bit boring, but shirts is shirts. And pants is pants. They were all really more or less the same as what I would wear outside, except the longer sleeves and the drawstrings, which was a bit surprising, but I don't know what I expected. We went back to the front of the store, and Shaerna out the coin purse that she had gotten from Anna. "Oh, no," the clerk said suddenly. "That's okay, no charge at all!" She giggled. "Consider it a tribute to the Great Hero!" My brow furrowed. "I-is something wrong, Great Hero? I didn't mean to offend…!"
"Uh, no, jus'… used t'paying for things."
"Oh, of course! Well, don't worry about it, this time."
I shrugged a shoulder. "Sure."
"We'll be paying for it regardless. It's the commander's wishes, unfortunately—bad for our reputation, otherwise, is what she says."
"Ohh." The woman brought a finger to her lips. "Yes, I suppose it would be… I'm sorry, I hadn't thought about that."
"It's okay, thank you for the offer, at least!"
"You're absolutely welcome, Princess!"
Sharena pulled some coins from the small drawstring bag and handed them to the clerk. I took the clothes from her, and we started for the door. "That went well, don't you think," Sharena spoke.
I shrugged a shoulder. "Sure."
