Someone's Screaming

Mia and I sat on the floor, talking for a bit longer as the fire in the fireplace grew weaker as time went on.

“Tai, can I ask you something?” Mia asked, sitting in the fetal position.

“Yeah. What is it?”

“Why did you become an adventurer?”

“…”

I froze up.

Do I tell her the truth and say it was because an angel/goddess magically summoned me to this world?

No, Mia wouldn’t believe that. After all, she didn’t believe me when I said I was from California.

So what should I say…?

I thought about it before giving my answer.

“At first, I joined because I was told to.”

It wasn’t really the truth, but it was close enough.

“I was told to defeat the Lich Queen’s army.”

Mia chuckled.

“Really? Even though you’re level 6?”

I nodded.

“Wow. And you do know that the Lich Queen’s army has all died off, right?”

My eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s been almost 200 years since the great hero Kela and her party killed the Lich Queen and sealed her body. After that, adventurers all over the world were out hunting the Lich Queen’s army for 50 years until there were none left.”

“For real?”

Mia nodded.

“It’s in the history books, and even a common bedtime story about how Kela and her friends defeated the Lich Queen.”

Mia narrowed her eyes with her signature smirk.

“Are you some sort of country bumpkin? Did one of your grandparents tell you to ‘Join the good fight and defeat the Lich Queen’s army!’”

She raised her fist at the last part, mimicking an old man’s voice.

I sighed.

“It was something like that,” I said, knowing damn well it wasn’t.

Still, that’s news to me. Didn’t the angel or Goddess (geez, I really need to find out who she is) tell me that the Lich Queen’s army was expanding?

I asked Mia if there was any news about people supporting the Lich Queen as her followers, but she said she had heard nothing like that.

It was weird. I know the angel wasn’t lying to me.

My only theory was that since this world felt like something straight out of a video game, I was probably far away from any Lich Queen business going on in the world.

If that was the case, I’d have to work my way up until I was at a high enough level to take on the leader of the Lich Queen’s army.

Ugh, this is giving me a headache.

I’m thinking way too big for a level 6 adventurer. I've gotta focus on taking the small steps first.

“So, if the Lich Queen’s army was your initial goal, what’s your new goal now?” Mia asked.

I raised my head toward the ceiling to think about it.

“I guess it’s staying alive and getting enough money to stay afloat.”

Mia laughed.

“So you pretty much have the same goals as the rest of society,” she said.

I laughed.

“Yeah. Pretty much.”

We talked for a bit more until I yawned, causing Mia to do the same.

Mia got up, ready to head back to her room when she turned to me and waved.

“Goodnight, Tai.”

I waved back.

“Goodnight.”

When I was sure Mia was back in her room, I lay on the tough wood floor and tucked myself in.

The fire was completely out by this time, but it was fine.

I still felt warmth within my chest.

Mom. Dad. You may not believe me, but your son was summoned to another world. I miss you guys, and you two are probably freaking out over where I am, but don’t worry. I may not know if I can come back home, but right now, I’m safe, and I think I've made a couple of friends too.

Saying that to myself drew a little smile from me.

It was comforting to get that off my chest, and in a few moments, I drifted off…

Only to be woken up by the sound of windows breaking and a blood-curdling scream coming from a woman.

It was as if she were being eaten alive…