An Exchange of Worlds

Her facial expression conveys a tale I am all too familiar with. The delicate creases surrounding her eyes bear witness to a silent tragedy, a shadow of deep sadness that belies her youth. Despite the keen intelligence in her eyes, she must be aware that her own turn is just a few short years away, and she is well acquainted with the effects of forced marriage. I feel an unwanted reverberation from the concept, a ghost of the man I was when I had more visceral work. That man, free and unrestrained, could have provided her with a means of escape. However, I am now a prisoner in a new cage, in an other universe. She cannot see how my hands are bound.

Her forehead wrinkles, her critical eyes on me. Child, you dare not feel sorry for me. I should feel sorry for you, if anything.

"So, you possess some decency after all," she continues, her voice taking on a harsh, critical tone once more. "I had assumed you were nothing more than an ignorant savage."

It appears that my stock has increased. "What am I supposed to say? One of the good guys is me.

Her lips form a shadow of a smile. "I’m sure you are." She's already picking up on my sense of humor. What do you want to know now? I assume it's something about my world."

She responds, "That’s unimportant," and waves a hand dismissively. "I am more interested in discovering what kind of man the legendary hero truly is."

"Is that all? Do you simply wish to learn more about me?

"Yes. Although it might not seem like much to you, it is really important to me.

A tiny, sincere smile appears on my lips. A chance to create a new picture, one that might eventually turn a key in a lock. To what extent should I divulge?

"All right, where should I start? Axl is the name. I will shortly turn thirty-one. I'm a young adult by my world's standards, but I'm not sure what time system you employ here."

Her eyes scour my face as though looking for wrinkles that aren't there, and she gives me a look of utter disbelief. I guess I don't appear my age.

"I'm probably classified as mixed-race. Half Western, half Asian. I speak Spanish, Mandarin, English, and a few other dialects with ease. I hesitate as a sudden knowledge hits me like a punch to the gut. How do I interpret her? Even though she speaks English, her accent is so weak that it is unnoticeable. Now that I'm looking closely, I can see that her lip movements don't always match the noises I hear exactly. Better not to question it. I'm just thankful that the language barrier has been mysteriously removed for the time being.

Her eyes hone in. "I'm not familiar with these terms. Are you implying that your ancestry is a mix of many ethnicities? And how do you manage to speak our language so perfectly?

"You could say that," is my cautious response. "As for the language, I have no idea."

"I see." Her arms are crossed, and her face is turned inward in thoughtful reflection. "It must be a boon from the Deity."

The blessing of the Deity. Amid the confusion of the summons, that phrase sounds familiar. "What the devil? Was I meant to have been blessed in some way?

She looks at me like I just said the most heinous heresy. Did I say something wrong?

Her voice echoes with the intense emotion of a sincere believer as she exclaims, "The Deity oversees all our kin!" "The heavenly guardian and benefactor of our magnificent Aeridor Kingdom, Valeria! According to legend, heroes who are successfully called forth receive amazing boons! That's the difference between the heroes of our own world and a summoned hero. They possess a vast, unknown power that is sufficient to destroy evil and protect the faithful. She is so excited that her eyes are almost glowing. She is still a little girl, enthralled with heroic stories, despite her royal poise. At least we've seen this before.

"I get it. However, I feel the same. No faster, no smarter, no stronger. Regarding these boons, are you certain?

"There is no way it could be any other way! The legend is unmistakable: the hero who is called upon is always blessed! According to legend, one had the strength to break through castle walls, another could control the winds and soar, and a third had a charm so strong that no one could refuse his wishes. According to the documents, they even had the ability to request the authority they wanted.

"Then there have been others? I'm not the first. As a result, picking heroes from other worlds is commonplace here.

"The summoning ceremony is quite old. Numerous cases have been reported, and there are undoubtedly many more that were carried out behind closed doors.

"If you summon so many heroes, this demon lord you mentioned must be one hell of an opponent to have not been defeated yet."

She speaks softly, "The demon lord was defeated a long time ago. However, a new demon tribe constantly emerges from the ashes of the dispersed ones. The demon kin must therefore always be subdued by a hero.

A hateful cycle. This is not new to me. Different variables, but the same equation. Such never-ending wars were waged on Terra between governments and peoples on the basis of ideology, religion, or race. Most likely, this "demon lord" is just another people's leader.

I say, "Hold on a minute, missy," in a serious tone. "It sounds like an endless war. First of all, why are you battling the demon kin?

She recites the words, "It has always been this way," as if they were taken straight out of a textbook. "We must protect ourselves because history shows that the devils would stop at nothing to harm our family members. Eliminating them is the only way to put an end to the conflict.

"Harmed your family? Are they monsters? How do they appear?

"The texts depict them as mindless abominations with horns and claws, grotesque creatures that consume all in their path."

"Remain calm. History that, texts this. Have you seen one in person before?

She stumbles. She confesses, "Well, ah, I… I have not," as her poise finally breaks. "I have lived in the imperial capital all of my life. To the east, the demon kin mostly inhabit their own continent.

She feels her hands shake. It's time for me to take advantage.

"Then how can you be so certain they are mindless beasts?"

The tiny princess cannot speak. She looks down, unable to come up with a response. When she glances up again a moment later, a spark of exciting discovery has replaced the bewilderment in her eyes. She murmurs, "So it's true," more to herself than to me. "She was correct. You truly are unique.

What was the purpose of that?

"Now then, princess," I chop in, taking charge of the discussion. "Describe this universe to me. I need to know what I'm up against if you want me to do anything."

This place is stuck in a pseudo-medieval period, as far as I can tell. Plate mail in place of composite armor, swords and spears in place of guns. The lantern's shining stone is the lone example of technology that doesn't belong there. They must be centuries behind if they don't have electricity. Am I stuck here forever? Is it possible to return to Terra? My mind is racing with questions, a maddening hum of doubt.

She continues, "I suppose it is my duty to enlighten you," with the arrogant demeanor of a senior official introducing a fresh recruit. "Be grateful that the kind and generous me is willing to tell you of our world."

"My darling princess, you are a very kind young woman. In addition to being gorgeous, you're thoughtful and smart beyond your years. To see how she would respond, I used a calculated gambit and laid the flattery on thick. I might be able to gain the key to this cell with a little charm.

"…"

Quiet.

Her features twist in a look of complete scorn as she takes a half step back. "What do you think you're saying to a child?" Her voice is laced with hate as she hisses. "So you have those kinds of interests, do you?"

What on earth? "No, you've got it all wrong!" I sit bolt upright and protest. This has taken a disastrous detour. Does this represent the extent of her worldliness? I'm not a child molester. Big personalities appeal to me!

And she lets out a melodious laugh. "Hahaha, look at your face!" Is she able to read minds? "You assumed that I would be vulnerable to such cheesy flattery since I am young. You lecher, I can promise you that you will not succeed with me.

Oh no. It hurts to say that last word.

"What are you talking about?" I respond, arching an eyebrow and making hazy gestures toward the ceiling. "From every perspective, I am a man of unquestionable character. I'd never consider such a thing."

"So noble," she scoffs, her eyes still full of amusement. "I'm amazed. However, you must use the "magic word" to beg for my assistance.

My jaw muscle tenses up. I would be tempted to pinch her ear and pull her around if it weren't for these bars.

I answer, "All right then, Your Highness," with a tone of inflated respect. "Oh, paragon of grace, blessed with unparalleled beauty and kindness under these foreign skies, would you PLEASE deign to share a fragment of your boundless wisdom with this lowly, humble servant, as a pure act of aristocratic benevolence?"

"Tch." She snorts, a proud, smug little sound, unaffected by my mockery. "Anyway, I was going to inform you right away. Just make sure you reciprocate by telling me about your world.

She said she didn't care where I was from, didn't she?

The evening then came to pass. We sat apart by iron bars for hours, telling each other stories about our homes. I discovered that although the technology of this world was restricted, life was not at all like the archaic struggle I had thought it would be. They had another energy source, which she referred to as'mana,' which drove their culture in ways I was just starting to understand. And in spite of her previous denials, the little princess was completely enthralled with my world's technological wonders. I described buildings that touched the clouds and vehicles that flew without wings, and despite her pretense, she was unable to conceal the awe in her eyes. She had presented an impressive front, but beneath it lay a curious intellect.