Chapter 1: An Unfamiliar Place

A/N: This story will contain spoilers for Fire Emblem Three Houses and Fire Emblem Three Hopes. I highly recommend you play those two games before reading this story

A university—Tues; Nov 12—Morning

I always considered my life to be rather boring. Nothing very exciting ever happened. Every day was boring and predictable. Heck, sometimes I wish I lived in a far more interesting world, like maybe the Sonic the Hedgehog world. But, as they always say, "be careful what you wish for," which is what I should have heeded. You will find out more about this later.

Anyway, each day passed like the previous one. Wake up, attend class and sit through a boring two or one and a half hour lecture, simp over my fictional wifey online, maybe draw, write, play video games, whatever, eat dinner, go to sleep. Wash, rinse, repeat. And during the weekends, instead of doing schoolwork, I would procrastinate and maybe head home and just do nothing the entire weekend. Heck I was super bored besides just randomly going on YouTube every once in a while watching random creepypasta or iceberg videos. The biggest moments of excitement only came when my favorite fanfiction stories on FFN would be updated. Then once I would read those chapters, it was back to a boring life. The weekend would end, Monday would come, and the process would repeat.

Today was a Tuesday, so already I felt exhausted from university this week.

It's a wonder I did not drown myself in the lake on campus by this point considering how miserable I am. I thought.

I woke up at the crack of dawn for classes (as always), put on deodorant and cologne, brushed my teeth, yada yada. I also made sure not to wake up my two roommates whom I shared the room with. First, I threw on some sweats. Pretty comfortable and not caring if I looked like a lazy bum. I then threw on a black t-shirt then finally a blue sweater over it and I was feeling lucky today for whatever reason so I looked myself in the mirror and began doing what I do best.

Talking to myself. "Hello, I am Jay Valentini" I began, as a low yawn slipped from my lips. I stretched my arms over my head, "I am eighteen years old and I am not your typical kid or as is more appropriate, young adult." Another loud yawn escaped me, and I scratched the back of my head, "I don't really have any friends and the few friendships I tried forging didn't really work out well. I wonder how long I can go being a quiet introvert like this" I trailed off with a sigh and stared at my bored reflection. Right before I was about to say something else, I checked the time on my phone and saw the numbers on the lock screen read, 7:30.

Shit, I better get going or else my nearly perfect attendance record will be ruined. Not like that will matter much though considering all my professors think I am a goody two shoes. I thought.

But anyway, I grabbed my phone, my backpack, and AirPods off of the countertop, shoved my AirPods into my ears then looked at the mirror again. I flashed a smile at my reflection, "See y'all later folks."

With a final, despondent sigh, I resigned myself to my fate and marched to the door. I quickly snagged the old, black jacket I owned, zipped it up and stepped out of my room and into the hallway of the dormitory. It was still bmvery quiet so I marched over to the door leading to the staircase and walked down the four flight staircase before finally reaching the door at the bottom. I took a deep breath before opening the door only to be greeted with the cold air on the other side of the glass door.

God, I miss Florida. I thought.

I shuddered as a bitter wind hit me. I was shivering that I felt it was actually going to freeze.

"O-ok J-Jay." I began, "you just have to walk across the field, down the staircase, past the lake and to the main building to get to your class on time."

My breath misted in front of my face as I began slowly but surely walking in the direction of the main building.

My walking is slowed down by the strong chilly wind blowing in my direction but I still continue my endeavor.

Eventually after about four minutes of walking I reach the building but right before I can enter it, I drop to my knees as I feel a splitting headache. I yell out of pain but no one hears it because I am the only one where I am right now. Everything around me seems to warp and then I see a million flashing images right in front of my eyes. I am not able to make most of them out. But I am able to make the last three out which are respectively: a strange glowing green gemstone with many sides, me wearing medieval clothes and wielding a bow, and finally the last one is a floating masked figure. But before I can fully make out the last image, everything goes to black.

Somewhere—???—???

I woke up and slowly regained my consciousness, I felt all groggy as my senses still a little disoriented, slowly began to come back. I realized I was sitting on a cold hard surface with my back placed upright against another cold hard surface. When I tried to move my head, I became aware of the dull ache as it hurt like hell. Also when I tried moving my limbs they too felt dull. I feel like I just got hit by a truck or something like that. I now begin to think about what happened for me to end up like this.

Ok Jay, don't panic, think! Do a little mental backpedaling and try to remember what last happened to you prior to ending up like this. I thought.

I begin thinking about what I was last doing. I woke up, went to the building where my class was supposed to be, then all of a sudden there was a blank in between that and ending up here. I now begin to wonder if this is foul play or perhaps someone spiked something I drank. I mean the latter is likely true considering that I had a splitting headache. But those images felt so real as if they were actual images rather than just figments of my imagination.

Before I could think more though, my vision became unblurred and I could now fully make out my surroundings. I am in a cold dimly lit room only lit up by one lone torch placed above me. The walls all around me are made out of stone blocks and the ground is too made out of stone. There is also a metal door on the other side of the room facing me. I realize my backpack is missing, my coat is gone, and my clothes are all dirty. I begin wondering what the fuck is going on. Like by the looks of it, I appear to be in some medieval looking or at least very outdated looking castle by the looks of it. But how did I get here. Was I perhaps knocked out and placed on some super high budget hidden camera prank show? But I look around and I see no cameras anywhere.

I then wonder if I'm in a dream as that is probably the only other reasonable explanation for this.

Well, only one way to find out. I thought as I prepared to pinch myself.

"Ow, damnit" I mutter to myself as I pinch myself as then the disturbing realization hits me and my eyes go wide and my jaw drops.

Oh my god, this… this is all… legit. I thought.

I now begin to do what I do best… panic. I can feel my heart rate begin to quicken as I start to hyperventilate. Where am I? How did I get here? Out of all the places where I could be, a hospital, or even at home. I am here in whatever the hell this place is. Medieval dungeons or some shit like that. I also wonder why I feel like I've been thrown around as I can see a few faint bruises around my body so someone definitely did something to me likely out of ill intention.

I now try to calm myself down as I take a few breaths in and out and practice the breathing exercise I was taught by my parents in case things get too intense.

I now try to think of a way out of where till I decide on the perfect idea. I will try and call 911. So I pull out my phone which is miraculously still here with me but as soon as I turn it on, I look to the upper right hand corner of the screen to see that I have no service.

Am I really that far away from civilization? Like how on earth could anyone succeed with bringing me this far away from my university campus. I thought.

I check for any available wifi networks I can join but weirdly enough there are none. So I put my phone away and sit down hopelessly, hoping that someone will come to my rescue. Then I perk up when I hear voices outside the room. Hopefully they are here to rescue me. But by what they are talking about it does not sound like they are here to do that. Even though I can very faintly make them out thanks to the iron door. I can at least hear half of their conversation.

"So let me get this straight, Jerry," a male voice from outside of the room began. "You and our pals were on your way to raid some nearby abandoned military base then you stumbled upon this weird kid who, what did you say? Oh yeah! Wore some sort of long sleeve shirt with a hood attached to it and wore other unfamiliar clothes."

"Yes Pallardo" the other person replied as that name sounds very familiar as I've sworn I heard it somewhere before. "He also had a tan complexion like those Almyrans" the other person replied. "Also we looked through his bag and we found some strange yet valuable things such as this book full of strange diagrams and all sorts of unrecognizable terms and even these strange metal quill pens as well" the person replied. "Hmm, well I bet that with a foreigner as our captive. We can maybe fetch a good price if we sell him on the underground slave market" Pallardo replied.

I nearly shit myself. These guys, whoever they are, likely my captors are going to make a slave out of me. I am now aware of just how much danger I am. At any moment, I will become a victim of human trafficking. But that demonym they used, Almyran. Sounds awfully familiar as if I've heard it somewhere before.

I guess I took the Thirteenth Amendment for granted. I thought.

I drown out the rest of the conversation as I now begin to wonder if I am still on Earth, because I get a very strange feeling I am no longer on said planet. Perhaps I traveled back in time to the Medieval Era but these guys's English sounds perfect and not like old school English. Maybe this is a weird altered medieval world I assume

"Yeah well don't worry. If this kid tries to resist. I will rough them up if you know what I mean" the guy said laughing. "You better Jerry because Goddess forbid I don't want him to attack any of us like our previous captive" Pallardo said.

"Oh no, I wouldn't worry about that, I found the kid unconscious and he I am still sure he is that way" Jerry replied as I then heard the door to my cell if you could even call it that open. My heart immediately froze in my chest and I sat up straight frozen as I could not believe I was about to meet my captors.

In walks a medium height clean shaven man with a brown bowl cut wearing a dark green tunic with some patches of armor here. Following him is a tall bald man wearing a sleeveless tunic with a tomahawk at his side and a long black beard.

The former looks me up and down and I am now shitting myself wondering what the hell these guys plan on doing to me at the moment. "Wow, the guys outside were not kidding about this guy looking like an Almyran sand rat" the man who I assumed to be Pallardo said. "I was thinking the same exact thing" the other man, the one who I assumed to be Jerry said. "Hey kid, what's your name?" Pallardo demanded. I remain silent and scared to speak as I am frozen in fear. "Hey! My boss asked you a question" Jerry said as he then bent down to my level. "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Which will it be?" Jerry said once more. "I… I…" I begin but can barely get the words out. "It's ok Jerry, leave him. We have him here, that's all that matters" Pallardo said as Jerry got back up but now is giving me the side eye.

"Judging by his skin, one would think he is from Almyra but his clothes look pretty Dagdan if you ask me. So perhaps an Almyran merchant from Dagda" Pallardo guessed. "Huh, never thought of it that way. If that's the case then we will make quite a hefty amount of gold off this one once we sell him off to Lord Aegir in Adrestia. After al, he is one of our most loyal clients" Jerry said as he and Pallardo began to laugh as they coldly joked about everything this Lord Aegir guy whoever he is would do with me from cleaning his chamber pot to grooming him while they sit around in their gold acting like the Church of Seiros bishops. Ugh. I don't even want to think about those two possibilities.

I realize I can't have my fate resigned to whatever these two assholes are going to do with me. So I begin trying to formulate a plan to escape.

Eventually, the two bandits walk out of the room and I can hear arguing from outside. I can't quite make out what the two bandits from before along with other voices likely those of other bandits are saying but I can pick up a few tidbits of their conversation such as 'mercenaries' and 'Ashen Demon'. So now I begin to think about how to use this to my advantage and escape. I for the first time ever stand up on my feet. I have some balance issues at first but with a steady hand to the wall, I am able to maintain my balance and slowly but surely walk towards the door leading into the room. I open it (can't believe these idiots were dumb enough to leave the door unlocked) and I step outside into a cold hallway of metal doors with torches sparsely placed throughout the hallway.

I want to run but fear that it will only end badly for me. So I walk very slowly and quietly in the direction which I think the exit is in.

Alright Jay, like what they always said in school, slow and steady wins the race. I thought.

I walk like this for the next while, carefully checking behind my back every once in a while and at every intersecution I come across to make sure there are no bandits around.

But my chances of escaping from this wretched place are cut short when I spot Jerry, along with three other bandits, all tough looking big burly guys who all look like they could easily kick my ass sitting at a table playing cards by the looks of things. They also appeared to be gambling judging by the gold coins I saw sitting on the table. Another sign I was not on Earth.

"Goddess damnit Terry, I swear you are cheating" a man with nicely trimmed blonde hair said as he picked up a card from the deck in front of them. "I'm not. Now for the last time, shut up about the cheating before I shove these cards up your ass" Terry replied. I decide to use these guys' bickering to my advantage and tip toe away from them till one of them notices me and shouts "hey!" in my direction. The other men pulled out their weapons which varied from swords to tomahawks. I want to put up a fight but realize I can't because of what I said above about how strong these guys appear to be. So I just surrender as my arm is yanked by the guy who I remember as Jerry and I am pulled back to my cell.

After a period of tense silence, it's broken by what sounds like a commotion outside my room. I immediately perk up. Finally, is help on the way?

I try to listen closely and I hear swords clashing and people yelling. "What the hell is going on here!?" Pallardo asks. "Sir mercenaries and… aaugh!!!" Jerry could not even finish his sentence as something seemed to happen to him. But what?

"Shit, shit, shit. It's the Ashen Demon!" another mercenary yells before falling dead I assume. I hear footsteps coming toward my cell and then the door slams open and in walks in a figure who does not look like the other bandits I've seen so far. She is wearing a gray sort of revealing outfit with a long flowing gray cape, and she has short teal hair and teal eyes. She is also in high heels and is carrying a bloodied steel sword. I give her a look up and down and my mouth falls agape as I for whatever reason recognize this person.

Oh… oh shit…. Is-is this really happening!? I thought.

This character, no person. Is Byleth Eisner (female variant) from Fire Emblem Three Houses. It all now clicks together. Almyran, Lord Aegir, Ashen Demon, Pallardo. All of that clicks together. Am I in Fodlan or something? I can't believe it though I am in a fictional fucking universe. Quite a scary thought if you ask me.

"Hello" Byleth just says blankly. "Are you alright?" She asks. I still don't speak as I am shocked by what I am witnessing, my mouth hanging agape. Byleth then pulls out a small brown vial with a cork on it and hands it to me which I hesitantly take. "Drink" she instructs. I hesitantly uncork the bottle and sniff it to be greeted with a strong medicine smell. I assume this ine of those healing items from the game like vulneraries or concoctions. I drink the bottle and I just want to gag on it but no, I cannot in the state I'm in. Byleth cocks her head and she begins to speak once more. "First time having a concoction?" She asks and I just nod. "Alright we have no time for pleasantries" she says and throws me my backpack. I can't believe I did not notice this by her before.

She then hands me a dagger. "Take this" she instructs and I hesitantly take the dagger. "You'll need this" she says once more before turning to leave the room. "Follow me" she instructs before I run with her out of the room and into the hallway. We then head into the main corridor where the fighting is taking place, I can hear steel clashing all around me and I look around to see the mercenaries whom I assume to be Jeralt's mercenaries because that is the only mercenary company Byleth could be part of at the moment. But it seems that Jeralt's mercenaries have the upper hand at the moment. But this is no time to slack off as I need to get out of here before its too late.

I watch as Byleth cuts through bandit after bandit with precision and I can't help but be impressed. I feel a mix of awe and horror just watching her. But I am too focused on what Byleth is doing that I don't even have enough time to whirl around and see a bandit with an axe raised high charging towards me. My fight or flight mode activates and I instinctively hold up my dagger to block the bandit's incoming blow. I then do something I did not even know I could do. I plunge my dagger into his midsection and he crys out of pain and that is my cue to get far away from him.

Eventually, I escape with Byleth, the other mercenaries and Jeralt whom I did not notice prior and we mount the horses whom the mercenaries brought here (I mount Byleth's horse with her). Then we all take off for god knows where. Byleth rides next to Jeralt and he takes a look in my direction sizing me up and down. I instinctively look away. "Hey kid, are you alright?" Jeralt asks as Byleth just nods her head in response. "Who is this?" Jeralt asks. Before I could say anything. Byleth speaks up. "He was one of their prisoners" Byleth explains. "I found him in a cell and gave him my dagger to fight off the bandits," Byleth explains. "Hey kid" Jeralt says, looking in my direction. "What is your name?" He asks. Shit, wel the interrogation starts here doesn't it. "Um…" I begin trying to process my next words carefully. "I am Jay Valentini and um… I don't think I am from this world."

A/N: Well that wraps up the first chapter to my new Fire Emblem Three Houses SI fanfiction, Life in a Medieval Fantasy World. Don't worry, I oromise not to abandon this story like I do with most other stuff as I have a plan to start working on chapter 2 tomorrow. Also this is a story I originally wrote for myself back in 2021 that I decided to remake and share with the world. I have many exciting plans for this story but oh no spoilers. I plan to update this story every two weeks on Wednesdays but this is subject to change if anything comes up. Also for those of you wondering we are currently in the first arc which is the New World Phase and the current date is Pegasus Moon, 12. I was originally going to write Fire Emblem Fates SI fanfic in the place of this draft but I decidedbthat was too hard mainly because Fates's story to put it lightly... is a clusterfuck. So I found working with it to be very difficult. So I settled on Three Houses instead. A fun tradition at the end of every chapter will be to share a random worldbuilding fact and this chapter's fact is that:

Fodlan and the Fates continent which in my headcanon is called Draceria both exist in the same world. The reason why the people of Fodlan din't know about this continent is because it's too far away all the way on the other side of the world. Also the events of Fire Emblem Fates haven't happened yet.

Go follow my X account at SuperDuperWaffles for more updates on this story. Anyway, that's all I have to say here so, peace out gamers! :D