The Magic of Meeting People

Kyle took turns bumming rides on other people’s horses the rest of the day, unable to muster the strength to ride on his own. He thought he would have been fine if they’d just tied him to a saddle, but he’d quickly ended up upside down on the horse and hitting his head on the ground.

It didn’t explain why he kept getting passed around like a hot potato between Abagail, Kari, and Fiona. Except they were competing to see who got to keep him on their horse.

The rest of the trip went smoothly. After the excitement of the orc raid, they were almost certainly going to have to take the fourth day. And if they hadn’t before, they certainly were going to when the dragon made a pass overhead again.

Kyle stared up at the sky as they hid beneath the canopy of another forest. That dragon really liked flying through this area. “Is there anything here that would attract a dragon?”

York considered the question. “Well, I heard a rumor that there used’a be a gold mine somewhere on the road. It was abandoned years ago, supposedly because the mine ran dry.”

“You think they’re attracted to gold?”

“Well, there’s a reason their hoards are full of it!” York laughed. “Aye, I think they can smell gold. The more the gold, the stronger the scent. If a dragon gets a wee sniff of yer gold, the best thing fer yer wellbein’ is to part with it willingly. I bet they’re smart enough to respect ye for it.”

---

That night, all three of the women were absent. Nor hide nor hair of any of them. It was strange, having such quiet. He’d forgotten what it was like.

Or at least it would have been quiet if he could leave himself alone.

“This is it,” Office Kyle proclaimed. “Tomorrow, we reach Castle Zoroman. There we’ll settle the fate of our village.”

Real Kyle nodded. “That we will.”

“You know, we’ve been thinking. Are we sure this is going to work?” Office Kyle tapped his foot, nervous.

“It has to,” said Real Kyle.

Peasant Kyle was showing his doubts, too. “After all the stories we remembered about Prince Demerius, we’re not so sure. What if all he sees is a peasant?”

“We’re literally bringing him his fiancé,” Real Kyle pointed out. “That has to count for something.”

It better have counted for something, he didn’t add. Not that he needed to – he couldn’t hide that thought from himself.

-----

The next morning, the caravan finally came upon Castle Zoroman.

The castle itself rested on the top of a hill that oversaw its immediate surroundings, with a town three or four times larger than Trunsit built on the hill leading up to the castle proper. The buildings looked more built of stone or brick than what Kyle had seen before, with roofs made of clay tile.

Kyle felt like he had when he’d first entered Trunsit. A creature made entirely of clay was walking through the streets on two legs, holding a large container with its two arms full of heavy trade goods. He knew from video games that had to be a golem – an artificial man made from earthen materials.

Chimneys bellowing smoke dotted the skyline, with a few window displays showing neon signs powered by lightning crystals.

That confused Kyle. But not as much as seeing an armored man policing the streets inside a magical beast. It was a steel half-sphere with a ruby embedded in its center. Attached were a pair of arms and legs – the arms each holding a clawed hand at their end and steel boots for feet, with it all painted in a deep shade of purple.

Office Kyle gasped. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. That… that is… how?”

Peasant Kyle looked confused at Office Kyle’s confusion. “Have we seen this before?”

“Kind of?” Office Kyle got a closer look at the mechanoid contraption as the caravan continued. “Remember how we found out that this world isn’t based on a video game? Well, we’ve seen a bunch of those things in video games!”

“That can’t be possible,” Peasant Kyle exclaimed.

“It can’t,” agreed Office Kyle. “This is supposed to be an isekai. What’s this kind of magic tech doing here?”

----

The gates to the castle swung open, allowing the caravan to enter at last.

Kyle was lost in his thoughts, trying to make sense of what he’d seen. It didn’t make sense. How could something that similar to a video game he knew appear here, when he knew it this world wasn’t based on it?

He continued contemplating this dilemma long after the caravan came to a stop, interrupted only by the cacophony of a bugle announcing the arrival of their liege lord.

Prince Demerius looked much like he had when Kyle had seen him at Abagail’s house. His hair and thick mustache were still blonde, he still wore floofy purple and red clothes, and his gloves hands were still covered with rings.

The Prince had been talking with everyone else for some time, only belatedly getting around to Kyle. Kyle worried that the Prince might recognize him, only to remember that he’d been hidden behind a door – the one thing that hadn’t been exploded when things went wrong.

“And you, who are –”

Kyle’s eyes locked onto Demerius’s, and time stood still. There was an odd displacement in Kyle’s stomach, an intense feeling of déjà vu overwhelming him. The strength of such a feeling almost made him sick on the spot.

If Demerius felt anything similar, he didn’t show it. “Well. I think we all have much to discuss,” the Prince said at last. “Please, dismount your horses and enter my halls. My hospitality is available to all who escorted my betrothed to the safety of my castle. We have much to discuss.”

His eyes locked onto Kyle’s again. “Much to discuss.”