We moved to a couch that was placed nearby and she looked at me before saying: "Now that we got the introductions out of the way, do you mind telling me which world you come from?"
'Ai, what's the name of this world?'
[No idea. It is recorded with a code number in the database so I have no idea what the locals call it.]
Hearing Ai's answer and idea came to my mind and I replied
"The world I come from is called Earth."
She seem to ponder about something before saying: "This world, I never read about it in any of the summoning books inside the library. Can you tell me more about it?"
"There is not much to say. It's an overall peaceful world where people are more focused on technology than magic." I had to modify my story a bit to include the bits I told her about everything that happened inside the cave.
"Technology?" she asked with a curious look.
I started speaking about stuff on earth, about science, cars and other stuff. It felt kind of refreshing to have an excuse to speak about my original world with someone here and have to chance to reminiscence about stuff on earth. She looked completely amazed as I spoke about airplanes and flying through space. Of course, I added a few things about magic from games I used to play to be able to explain the fact that I knew about the contract and being teleported here.
Halfway through my storytelling she interrupted me by asking.
"Wait, if that world is to amazing, why are you dressed in those wolf pelts?"
"Erm.." I looked down at my clothes and continued "I have no idea, it must have to do with the teleportation." This explanation was so stupid that not even I believed it. Of course she didn't believed me and asked:
"Oh really? Then why are your clothes pierced right where you were stabbed?"
"I was stabbed right as the teleportation started, maybe it also changed my clothes? I don't know." I could only keep playing dumb and hope she will stop asking me about it.
"Fine, have it your way. I'm tired now and I want to go rest as my mana is almost fully depleted. We'll continue speaking tomorrow. You can sleep here in my laboratory. Don't go out now before I explain some things to you." Saying that, she stood up from the couch we were both sitting on left the room without saying anything else. Looking at her upset expression before she left the room I could tell that she thought that I was bullshitting her.
Being left alone, I also laid down on the couch and asked Ai.
'Ai, how come I'm not feeling hungry at all? I can't even remember the last time I ate.'
[The increase in level lets you function a longer time without gaining energy from food and the spell she used to heal you also reduced your hunger.]
'I see. Do you have any idea what I should do now? Also, do you know what happened to Anna?'
[When she was teleported, the device was undamaged so, unless the one who set up that device set it up to teleport people somewhere dangerous, she should be fine. For now I think you should find out as much information from that girl as you can.]
'I still don't understand how Anna knew about the device in the first place.'
[After analyzing the whole situation, I have some speculations. That skeleton inside the cave was male, meaning there is a high chance it was Anna's father. The device must have been on him. I don't know exactly what happened in the past but based on the fact that her father had the key to the teleportation device and that there was no female body inside, their situation should not have been too different from yours. Her mother managed to teleport but her father failed to follow and was killed by the golem. Anna found the key and must have noticed that it matched the indentation near the throne. She probably didn't know what it did exactly, but tried to place it there, hoping that it will help in the situation. She and her mother might even be in the same place right now, but all this is just conjecture.]
'It does make sense… I want to find her but I don't even know where to start…'
[You should try to find out where you are and find an opportunity to find out about the tallest mountain in this world. After that, you can go back and try to fix the device. You will also need some understanding in spacial magic to have any hope of fixing it.]
'We'll do that. I take back all the times I said you were useless. Thank you for your help.'
[No need to thank me. That is what I was programmed to do.]
'I know that, but I still feel grateful for all your help, so thank you, for everything.'
[You're welcome, Ethan.]
'By the way, what happened with my quest? Did I complete it?'
[Not yet, you will need to find out for sure what happened with Anna's parents.]
'I see… I'm going to sleep now, Ai. I feel like I hadn't really rested for an eternity. I'll start training again tomorrow.'
I tilted my head back and close my eyes on the sofa, waiting to fall asleep.
Next morning, I woke up pretty early and seeing that Anise was not here yet I started looking around. Her magic laboratory looked not that much different from a science laboratory. Noticing the bookshelf in the corner, I picked up a book, curious if I could understand anything. Too bad I couldn't, not even the letters. When I was preparing to put the book back Ai's voice sounded in my mind.
[Keep reading, this way I will be able to register the alphabet and words. It should make it easier for you to learn how to write in the future.]
I stopped my actions and started reading the book again. After Ai was done recording the entire book, I put it back and picked another one. This went on for a while, until Anise opened the room and entered the laboratory. She looked at me and said.
"I don't remember allowing you to read any of my books."
I carefully put the book down and replied: "I'm sorry, I was a little bored and tried to look through them. Too bad I can't read anything."
She raised an eyebrow at my words and said: "Then, how come you can speak the human language?"
"I don't know, I can somehow understand whenever you're speaking to me, but the writing just looks like nonsense."
"Weird, if the summoning allowed you to speak the common language it should have also allowed you to write or read in it." Seeing me shrug my shoulders she continued "Well, no matter. What do you plan to do now?"
"I don't know exactly. I was hopping you could teach me some things about the world we are in and decide after that."
"Fine." She nodded and continued: "Our world is called Serudia and it's split into two continents, the Northern Continent and the Southern one. You are now inside the Cloven Magic Academy, the biggest academy on the Southern Continent."
"Cloven Academy? Are you the owner or something?"
"My family built the academy a long time ago. I'm just a student here. Let me continue."
"This world was also peaceful, just like the one you came from, but six years ago demons climbed up from underground and attacked the Northern Continent, managing to conquer all the human cities. After they conquered the Northern Continent, they started marching south, trying to conquer the south as well. Worried that the demons might succeed, we destroyed the bridge that connected the two continents, making them have no choice but to move on the sea if they wanted to continue their conquest. This slowed down their advance and gave us time to prepare our defenses. Now, there are constant battles being fought at the northern border of the continent."
As soon as she finished her explanation a few lines of text appeared on my vision.
\\ End of conflict - quest \\
\\ Find a way to stop the war going on between the human and the demon race\\
\\ Reward 1000 points\\
'Ai?' I was a bit surprised by the sudden quest.
[Six years ago was the moment this world was abandoned by the fate system. This war is probably related to the world's imminent destruction.]
'So, will I need to fight the demons?'
[Probably, you should start by learning more about the reason they are attacking.]
"Anise, why are the demons attacking human cities?"
She shook her head before answering: "We don't know, demons used to live underground on the northern continent. There were some conflicts here and there between our races but nothing to big since they usually stayed underground and didn't get involved in matters of the human race. The attack six years ago was completely unexpected."
"Have you tried negotiating with them?"
"We sent requests for talk but they never answered and the people we sent were all killed."
"I see. Isn't the academy also participating in the war?"
"It is. The most powerful magicians all moved out of the academy and are staying at the border. Only the teachers and the students are left inside."
'Ai, I guess I can also learn magic, can't I?'
[Yes, your avatar is able of using mana, but you must first learn the way magic works in this world.]
"Anise, is it possible for me to study magic here as well?"
Anise fell silent for a moment and seemed to be thinking about something before she said: "It will be hard, as only noble families or geniuses are allowed to study in the Clover Academy."
"Is there a test or something?"
"Not really. Nobles that choose to enroll can do it anytime and geniuses are the ones that usually make a name for themselves and the academy extends an invitation to them."
'I am no noble and haven't used magic even once in my life. Seems like I can't study here…'
[You should consider joining the adventurer guild. Taking missions there will also help you increase your strength.]
"I understand." I replied to Anise. "But, I still need to find a way to live in this world, do you have any suggestions?" I decided to ask her, even tho I already planned to join the adventurer guild.
"You could try to join a smaller academy. Now that we are at war, most of the smaller academies accept pretty much anyone that wants to join. There is also the guild house."
"Guild house?"
"In this world, all professions have their own guilds. If there is anything you are good at, you can join a guild and complete work for them. The main ones are the adventurer guild, the blacksmith guild and the trading guild, but there are also a lot of smaller guilds."
"Can you help me reach this guild house?"
"I can lead you there, but that will have to wait until tomorrow because I will have to obtain permission from the academy before leaving. Also, try to avoid the adventurer guild. It's too dangerous for you."
"All right. Thank you for all the help."
She nodded towards me and continued: "I will go ask mother to let me visit the city tomorrow and also explain her about you and the summoning. I'll come back later and let you know how it goes."
She was about to leave the room when she remembered something, turned around and said: "Wait here for a moment, I'll send a friend here with some normal clothes and some food in a bit."
"Thank you." I replied and watched her exit the room.
[Ethan, judging by her expression when she spoke about the war, things aren't looking too good. You will need to hurry and increase your level as soon as possible.]
I nodded my head at her words and replied 'I noticed it too. Taking on quests for the adventurer guild seems like the best option.'
While I was taking with Ai about the fastest way for me to get stronger, the door to the laboratory opened again and an aged man dressed as a butler entered carrying some clothes and a few bowls of food. He placed the food on the table and handed me the clothes before saying.
"The young lady instructed me to give these to you. Is there anything else you I can help you with?"
"No, thank you."
"All right then, young master. I will be just outside the door if you need anything,"
"Call me Ethan, please."
He nodded at my words and left the room. I was a bit embarrassed by an old man acting so polite towards me, but the sight of food made me forget about it pretty quick. I started wolfing down on the food before changing in the new set of clothes.
"Ah, finally some decent clothes. I was getting tired of wearing those itchy wolf pelts."
After getting dressed, I called the butler to pick up the food and also asked him to throw away the wolf pelts. After I was left alone in the room again, I started looking through the books and let Ai record them all. Even if I couldn't read now, once I learn how to, they will probably be useful. A couple of hours later, Anise came back to let me know that she obtained permission and we'll be leaving the academy tomorrow morning at first light. After I spend some time answering questions she had about my old world, she went back to her room, leaving me alone to read through books again.
After I managed to flip through all the books there, I asked Ai to take me inside my soul space so I can get some practice. This time I basically fought an entire army of human shadows, each with their own fighting style implemented by Ai.
Once my spirit was almost depleted, I exited my soul space and went to sleep.
In the morning of the next day, Anise, followed by her butler, entered my room again. Seeing that I was already up, she nodded towards me before saying "Let's go. I managed to obtain a carriage to transport us towards the city. I need to return as I have classes in the afternoon so I will just drop you at the guild house and you'll be on your own after that."
I agreed and followed the two of them out of the laboratory for the first time. After we exited the laboratory, we came upon a small hallway with three other rooms. Seeing me look around curiously, Anise explained : "These are my quarters given by the academy. They include a personal room for me, one for my servants, a bathroom and one for magic practice."
Looking at the rooms, a random thought came into my mind and I decided to ask Ai about it.
'Ai, how come I never felt the need to relieve myself since coming here?'
[Your avatar can process food and water completely and has no need for that. You can still expel the food and water if you want to before the processing is completed. That's what happened when you got scared by the wolves a while back.]
'You didn't have to remind me about that. I was just curious. I wonder what Anna thought about me never going to the bathroom.'
[You were not together all the time so she probably didn't even notice it.]
After exiting the hallway, I found myself in a another one, but this one was huge, with doors on both sides with a distance of ten or so meters between them. Anise continued explaining.
"This is the academy's dormitory. It was meant to house over 1000 students."
I was amazed by the size of this academy as we made our way further down the hallway. After walking for ten minutes or so, we finally reached a big door in the middle. After passing through the door, I was able to see the entire academy, if you could even call it that. It was as big as a city, with buildings all around.
An elegant carriage was waiting for us right outside the dormitory. After we stepped inside, the carriage slowly started making it's way down the road.
On the way, Anise explained to me some things about the city.
"The city is called Clover City and was created initially by the students of the academy who finished their studies and wanted a place to live nearby. With the attraction of the biggest magic academy on the continent, the city slowly flourished and became the second biggest city, right after the royal capital."
After explaining a few more things, she passed me some money to buy an inn room for an entire month and dropped me right at the guild house's door before returning to the academy.
Sitting in the middle of the road, all alone with only a pouch of silver in my hand, I felt the same way I did when I entered college back on Earth. I started walking towards the entrance to the guild house while thinking to myself:
'I guess now my life in this new world will truly begin.'