Alternate Chapter title: Over-Analyzed

This feels like my back had a hangover that had a hangover.

It was dull, the pain. As though it had been painful, but had had plenty of time to heal. It was like I could feel every bit of my spine against the rest of my back, but it wasn't bothersome. Why did my back ache? Wait, where was I? This bed didn't feel familiar at all...why wasn't I home?

My eyes opened, and were surprising treated not to blinding light, but only slight discomfort from the light level. I didn't need to squeeze them shut, but I did raise my arm to block a little of the light.

From what I could see, it was definitely a castle, though it seemed pristine...and this room seemed especially clean. There were other beds nearby. It looked like...maybe an infirmary? It was lit by candlelight, which meant no electricity. Great, like I went back in time or something...wait.

Class. The headache. The bathroom. The portal. The voice.

The voice.

"Hey...voice? You there...what did you call yourself?"

Ah. You're awake. The water mages said you should be fine by the time you awoke, so don't be afraid to move around a little.

"The what?" I arched my eyebrow, even if it was pointless to do so. "Wait, no, forget that. What was your name again, why are you in my head, and where am I?"

Be quiet, I'm in class! I can't whisper to you like this the whole time, I'll be caught!

"So...a school. Got it." Well, the voice wasn't pulling at my head anymore. Like I was already here with her or something...right. Portal.

...meaning...I'm nowhere near home, and that was probably a one-way gate. Crap.

My head had lifted slightly as I spoke, but I let it drop again, processing the realization.

I was forever trapped here. Not home at all. I'd never see Joseph...Dad...again. I'd never see mom again either, but she was a working mom. Always distant. Always too stressed to be a true parent. My little brother was...gone from my life now...funny, I thought I'd celebrate the day.

I should be crying right now. I'm fully aware. Shed my tears to grieve the lost parts of my life. But...like usual, no tears would form. I'd been struck by the Tarot's Death. Not an actual loss of life, but a great change. Specifically a loss of what was.

...Dad would want me to move forward…

I got up, first sitting upright in the bed before turning to the side, letting my legs hit the floor...and standing again. That's right, me. Walk forward. You lost them, but their memory lives on, and they do too. At least they don't have to spend the parts of the income that were set aside for my food and allowance. They can be on a higher part of the middle class now...yeah. They'll be better off without me. I wasn't leading a healthy lifestyle anyway. Maybe they can sell some of my stuff. Too bad I won't be around for Nintendo Switch or Fire Emblem Heroes.

My distracted steps reached the window, where I gazed out to the sky...faintly, I could see 2 moons, one pink and one blue, the blue one much larger. Wonder that did to the tides, or even the land. Also, why did the moons have different color? Were they made of different material to my one moon? That would make sense, different materials reflect different colors of light. And the reason i could see it in clear daylight was also easily explained, as the moon's orbit didn't leave it on the dark side of Earth all the time. This might be the same.

...my family can go on without me. Now, I need to make sure I can go on without them. I suppose I'll have to work for my keep.

Class is over. I'm coming up now. Great, I'm going to get explanations out of this Whatsername soon enough. Seriously, what was it again? Louise...followed by a lot of French. France-wa le blank day la valley air? I gave up on French in middle school. I'll just refer to her as Maste-Louise! What!? What the heck was that? I...I did not just think that!

...I'll never admit it anywhere but here, but my face was a little red as I was correcting myself. Why did I…? That usually disgusts me. It still does, but...the thought felt natural until I realized what exactly what it was…

...it couldn't be natural. No way. I would never accept it being natural. I am not one of those...those...degenerates! My life is mine, dammit, and I don't care if I'm not ready to make all of my choices!

...when did I curl up on the floor? Embarrassedly, I got myself back up to sitting on the cot provided, letting my cheeks lose their red tint (hopefully) and scratching at my bandaged right hand...why was my right hand bandaged? Was it smart to tear off the bandages?

"Hello!? Any nurses?" I tried asking, specifically focusing on not talking to Louise. "Or doctors? Anyone qualified for healing?"

To this day, I'm still not entirely certain what was said. It sounded vaguely similar to French, but...it was distinctly not. But for the lack of another comparison, I'll call it French. Anyway, all I got was a French answer I couldn't understand...oh boy. This was...bad.

"Louise? Louise, I think I don't know the language around here."

Then what language are you speaking in? I understand you perfectly fine!

"This is a mental connection. This is different. I think I just got yelled at by a healer or something, but I couldn't understand a word."

...ugh. Why did I have to get a commoner?

"Judging by the fact that there was only one white moon where I came from, I'd say I'm anything but common."

Just shut up before your talking makes the situation worse, I can hear your gibberish from here.

Wait, what? "So, that means you're-" And slam goes the door, revealing...a short girl, probably 14 or so, with really long...strawberry pink hair. Strawberry pinks...this is just like one of Dad's Japanese animes, isn't it. Not even a good one with a serious story, this was one of those comedies, wasn't it? "...there is no way that hair color is natural."

"C-comment osez-vous dire ça!?" came out of her mouth.

H-How dare you say that!? Came into my head.

"...oh. Wait, hold on, that's not important, stop for a moment." Honestly, I said that more to myself than to her, but still, it applied to both of us. I'd held my hands up and away, trying to physically express my desire for a small amount of time to figure things out. "Wait, so...you just spoke something like French, yet I heard your words in my mind in a way I could understand. I'm assuming the same is happening on your end?"

"Français? Qu'est-ce que le français?" French? What is French?

By this point my eyes were closed. I was working my brain to understand this nonsense, really. "Just answer the question, Louise or whatever you said your name was. You understand me, but the words I'm speaking are nonsense, yes?"

From now on, unless it ends up as a bit of a humorous moment, I'm going to just write down what she was saying, and not the words from her mouth. In this instance, it was a simple affirmation.

I...yes? Nobody else would be able to understand that! In fact, I'm told you babbled in your sleep and nobody understood a syllable!

"So, we share some form of connection. Possible telepathy, but that theory's untested. Confirmed method of conversation is verbal, with the connection translating because...because...what the hell, that doesn't make sense unless...goddammit. Of course, this is a goddamn fantasy land, what else would it be? It's so unbearably cliche, a guy gets nabbed from the normal world into a world of magic, monsters, and any number of untold wonders or dangers. But why me? There has to be a reason. Am I special in some way I couldn't perceive? Was it even a choice? What are the parameters for the summons? It starts out as consensual, but you were able to force me through it. Force could be an anomaly or commonplace, not enough information."

...in hindsight...I think I was starting to enter something I like to call over-analysis mode. It doesn't always happen, but I don't enjoy it when it does…

"Force behind summons deemed irrelevant to query. Why me? I have exhibited few special and beneficial qualities. Over-analysis too taxing upon all senses to qualify as beneficial. Appearance? Assuming summons are chosen, my namesake, the character Alm, appears nearly identical to myself. Possible mistake? Perhaps summons are randomized, or based upon personality. Too many variables, not enough information."

F-familiar?

"Question of why impossible to answer with current answer. Next, foreign feelings detected in many locations." My eyes opened. They were bloodshot, I don't need to see that to know that. It always happens when I do this. At the moment, they were locked on my bandaged hand.

"Bandages questionable. Foreign feeling underneath, and hand within functioning at full capacity. Conclusion: more info needed." My other arm practically clawed the bandages off, to the by now irrelevant Louise's surprise. Don't get me wrong, she's a plot character. I just didn't pay attention to her. I hyper-focus on one thing at a time…

...under those bandages was the one thing that, rather stereotypically changed my life forever. Etched and/or burned into the back of my skin were some runes...which was strange in and of itself.

"Runes. Seemingly based upon old English. Due to not learning runes, unable to translate. Runes exuding foreign feeling, feeding it into myself while tying me to something with it." Once more to her shock, though I was unable to notice such, I began to scratch at my skin. I could feel every nerve that reacted to my actions, and my breathing had accelerated. A whole minute of this, and my hand was shaking badly, with no progress made on removing the runes and plenty of progress towards having me faint of blood loss...though again, I didn't notice. "Seemingly irremovable. Have yet to try dismemberment, as such would be too detrimental to self. What does it tie me to?"

F-familiar, what are you doing!?

"Foreign sensation similar to sensation felt nearby Master...hm. Title spoken subconsciously. Perhaps subconscious manipulation?" My eyes then locked on to her.

...like, really locked on. I didn't blink for, like...I don't even remember how long it took me to blink, but judging by her face.

"Subject shows confusion, discomfort, exasperation. Likely unaware of subconscious manipulation. No current sources of information. So far, subconscious manipulation not an issue. Deemed irrelevant. Inconclusive data, must presume summoning is random."

I think I passed out again soon after that, or at least blacked out for a few seconds. All I remember is my analysis concluding, a loud shout, a loud bang, air against my body, an impact, and Louise's voice calling out to her familiar...I'm guessing that's me. Next thing I saw was the ceiling of the infirmary again, with Louise looking down on me with something of a grumpy face. Judging by the softness below me, I was back on my cot. My throat didn't feel dry...perhaps someone gave me a drink while I was out? It couldn't have been long, it was still bright and candle-less.

"...did I do it again?" I managed to get out in my current state. Funny, no usual migraine...magic healing, maybe?

Again? You babble on like that as a common occurrence!? Her face...I think I let out a small laugh. It was absolutely horrified. Her mouth was gaping open, and her eyes were wide from surprise. Heh. Guess I still weird people out...that's not a good thing, but it's one of the few weapons I have. The strawberry blond turned away, gripping her face with exasperation. Uuugh! Why did I have to summon such a troublesome familiar?

"Hey, we all get unlucky sometimes." I felt my arms and legs. Not even sore anymore, I could jump out of this bed right now...but I just sat up instead. "I never introduced myself, did I? My name is Alm."

...why was I even smiling? That's not a moment I should have been smiling. I was in a completely unfamiliar world, the person who brought me here was immensely annoyed with my...quirks, as far as I knew my family would never see me again, and based on what I recall from over-analysis mode, I'm connected to Louise. She keeps calling me familiar, and that can't be good...but ironically enough...I felt free.

Back on Earth, most things were decided for me. Joseph...Dad...always chose my clothes, what games I was allowed to play, what classes I took, heck, he even chose my hair color for me. I didn't have a job, or a driver's license. I was limited to where I could walk. I didn't have many, if any, friends, either, so there wasn't really anywhere to go. And while I liked some of the decisions...I never really had the full freedom to make them.

Here, separated from all that, maybe I could...make decisions of my own, for once.

That's nice. If you can move, then follow me. You need to catch up on your duties.

Oh. Right. Familiar. And since I'm human...well, I guess the chores come before freedom.