Chapter 3: Across Worlds

A/N: Sorry for the delay, finals were in the way that's all. Thank you to Zerodragonslayer, vladislav.99911999, nathanield2717, Perfectsnowdragon, demiwizard202, Igneel051, Niuzu0130, mercurycifer, Afruiz, Inperfect, and jdes for favoriting and following this story. That all really means a lot and thank you guys for all the support you are all giving me as of now. Now without further to do, let us move on to the chapter where Jay spends some time with Byleth under the stars.

Eisner Mercenary Company HQ—Thurs; Pegasus Moon 12—Night

I can't sleep.

I lie awake in my tent, twisting and turning. The thought of being in another world, heck in another universe is enough to not make me want to sleep as the thought is too unsettling. It does not help that I am not sleeping on a mattress or heck even on a cot.

But I know that I should've been expecting accommodations like this considering I am in a mercenary company not a five star resort.

I now feel out of place, worrying if I even belong here. Like why out of all people would Jeralt ever recruit me. Some random slightly overweight neurotic kid who says he is from another world.

I decided to do what I did back at my university campus. Whenever things got too intense, I went outside and I took a walk. So I decided to get up and leave my tent. When I get outside it is pretty chilly but nothing too intense where I need a jacket. I decide to walk for a little bit until I reach the outskirts of camp and I sit on the ground staring up at the stars.

God, there are so many stars. I thought.

This world's nighttime sky has more stars than Earth's sky. I figure this is because of how there is zero light pollution, the night sky is more visible. I look over towards the Moon, it is a full Moon but weirdly enough, it looks oddly identical to Earth's Moon. Now look, I am no expert in astronomy but I know Earth's Moon when I see it.

I now feel the ache of separation as I grit my teeth trying to keep myself from crying, though a few stray tears fall down my face. I just want to be home, not here, I want to be around my father, my mother, my dogs, and my—

Before I can think any further, I hear footsteps coming from behind me. I immediately stood up worrying if I was just busted. Would Jeralt scold me for staying up late? I turn around but when I do, I slightly relax as I see Byleth walking towards me and she does not look mad. Well that was to be expected considering she is well… Byleth.

"Oh h-hey Byleth" I stammer out. "Hello, may I ask what you are doing up this late" Byleth asks.

"Um well I hope you don't tell Jeralt but, um… I was just stargazing because I could not sleep. That's all" I reply.

Byleth just nods her head in understanding as she walks over to me and sits beside me, staring up at the night sky with me. I decide to spill the beans with Byleth as to why I am up this late, as hopefully that will help clear up my mind.

"So Byleth…" I begin trying to find my next words carefully. "I've been thinking and I um… can't feel like I belong here. Like I have zero combat experience and yet Jeralt still recruited me. Out of all people, he recruited some random slightly overweight kid (I gesture to my slightly doughy midsection) who says he is from another world" I explain as I feel a little bit of frustration boiling up inside of me and Byleth's silence gives me the courage to keep talking which I do.

"Like I… I never asked for this. To become part of some fucking medieval mercenary company" I say once more as Byleth cocks her head. "Medieval?" She asks.

"Christ, I forgot that term doesn't exist here. Look I will explain it another time" I say. "The point is that back home I had a life, or well a much simpler life. I had friends although I did not talk to them much, I had an education, and I had a life. Hell, back home after I was done with school which would've been in four years from now, I was planning on getting a job in the United States government doing important shit" I say, as I take a deep breath after that whole tirade calming myself.

"Look I am sorry that I unloaded all that on you, it's just I have had a lot on my mind since I arrived here in this world" I say. "All is good, I do not mind when people talk to me about their dilemmas. Many people here in camp even call me the Silent Listener" Byleth says as I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that she is not mad at me.

"Besides, I saw the way you struck at the bandit back in Fort Lionheart. You certainly have potential to become a powerful warrior" Byleth says to me as I raise my brow. "Fort Lionheart? That was the name of the fort I was in?" I ask as Byleth nods her head. "I don't know too much about it but Father says it is an old Kingdom army garrison used back during the War of the Eagle and Lion before it was abandoned after said war, falling into disrepair. Now it is nothing more than a base of operations for bandits from time to time" Byleth explains as we both just sit there in silence staring up at the night sky.

"You know," I begin, getting Byleth's attention. "This world's night sky looks oddly familiar to that of my own world" I say. "How so?" Byleth asks. "Well, even though I am not an expert in astronomy, before you ask, that is the study of stars, worlds, etc. I somehow recognize this sky. Heck even the moon looks the same. I guess it's just one of those things that don't change across worlds" I say as Byleth is just quiet, stargazing. Though I can tell that she heard me as I saw her interest peak in what we are talking about.

"May I ask, what other similarities do your world and this world share?" Byleth asks. I want to start going saying stuff such as how the Church of Seiros religion whatever it is called is similar to Christianity or how there are parallels between the Adrestian Empire and the Holy Roman Empire. But of course I do not want to betray what I already know about the world and risk looking suspicious. "Well in natural terms, this world looks pretty much the same as my own world and you guys even speak the same language" I say.

"I suppose that makes sense considering your Fodlanese sounded perfect when you came here. I'm surprised Father did not question that sooner" Byleth says. Huh so that is what the language of Fodlan is called.

"Anyway, I would go so far as to assume that this world is in a universe parallel to my own" I say as Byleth raises a brow. "Universe? Parallel?" Byleth asks. Right, I almost forgot that she is not too familiar with the world around her yet. "Basically a universe, it is hard to explain, but it is large collection of galaxies, each one full of stars and worlds like this one. I assume that with all the similarities between my word and this one, they are connected in a way which makes them parallel" I explain as best as I could as Byleyh just nods her head seeming to take in everything I said.

"Alright, I assume I will have to get going," Byleth says, standing up. "I have to travel with Father to the capital city of this county tomorrow morning. The last I want will be him to dock my pay" Byleth says as I nod in understanding, wishing her a good night which she acknowledges with a slight nod of her head before walking off. I stare back up at the night sky thinking some more.

Was this a one way trip? Will I ever get home? I thought.

Many memories from my time on Earth hit me like a tidal wave. They all involve similar scenarios all set at night. One such memory is back in sixth grade when I was having a sleepover at my friend's house and we played tag with flashlights outside in the dark, and another memory was even further back and it was that campout I did at my beach club with my father and my—, God I almost tear up thinking about the latter. Basically we stargazed that night while eating ice cream and oh boy was that fun. I once again grit my teeth trying to keep myself from crying but this time around, I do an even worse job at it.

I decide to go to bed or in this case, the dirt as just thinking about this won't do me any good. So I get up and walk back to my tent. Once I arrive, I lay back down and close my eyes.

Maybe… Now thinking about it… this world won't be so bad after all. I thought as after what felt like an eternity, I finally drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Hello everyone, once again sorry for the late upload. Finals were a bitch but at least they are finally over so I can get back to writing this story. Sorry about how short this chapter was as it was going to be longer. But I had to get out by the deadline as I did not want to keep you guys waiting. I was actually going to include part 1 of the training scene where Jay meets his instructor in this chapter but I will be saving that scene for the next chapter which will have the full training scene plus maybe a few extra scenes to make up for how short this chapter was.

Also guys if I make any mistakes, please point it out as it will help me improve as a writer. Without further ado, here is this chapter's worldbuilding fact:

Jay's ethnicity aside from being American is Italian/Spanish. His mom's side is originally from Spain while his father's side is originally from Italy. Although he is much closer with his father's side as he sees his relatives on said side of the family more often.

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