Chapter 13: Road to the End of the World Part 2

"Chaos?" asks Daniel as the guards let him out so they can make camp. When they had first approached the kingdom of Bromlund, there were rumors of unrest, which prompted his escort to make a detour. There wasn't a crucial rush on them arriving at a specific time, so a delay won't be noticed unless he never arrives. 

However, as the guards just mentioned, they're way off course now thanks to that unrest, which, as their most recent town indicates, has descended into much more than unrest.

The elder guard nods as he replies, "That's what we heard in town. Apparently, merchants are fleeing Bromlund in droves, and it's gotten so bad the border's been completely closed."

The younger guard, who usually helps Daniel with the tents, scoffs. "Good thing we didn't end up crossing the border then. Good call, Sergeant."

The elder guard agrees warmly, "Couldn't agree more. Apparently, the kingdom tried to raise their taxes, which only made things worse, and the people have finally revolted. Don't know who would've been worse to run into, their military, or revolting commoners."

Daniel chuckles uneasily. "I'm glad you dodged that for us. Thank you. A shame it came to that…"

The younger guard replies warmly, "I'm glad we're members of Mornistae. King Regent Rikuto can lower taxes all he wants!"

The guards and Daniel all chuckle. While Daniel hasn't had to worry much about finances himself up to this point, he agrees on the principle that higher taxes rarely leads to a good place. Anytime they CAN be lowered is a win for everyone, generally. Well, except for the corrupt. Daniel and Rikuto don't really have the opportunity to be corrupt, since both of their respective roles were above where they were before in their world.

Daniel asks, "So, how long until Fort Twilight, then, with the detour?"

"Well…" remarks the navigator, who has yet to speak during this particular break. "Any way I figure it, we can't really get there now. Part of the mountain range touches Bromlund territory, and the other side connects to the gulf. If we continue this way, we'd have to find a border crossing and risk getting dragged into their internal affairs. If we try to return south and go around across the gulf, we'd have to get a ferry. And, with Bromlund distracted, piracy is likely to see a rise on the gulf."

The Sergeant leading them rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Such a pain. Do you think we could cross an open part of their border?"

"Off-road? It's possible. But, we'd have to do it entering and leaving, and if we're caught at any point, they could treat us as smugglers, even IF drafting was off the table."

"Kingdoms can draft other nations' soldiers in this world?"

With a nod, the sergeant confirms, "It's not much different than captured enemies, homeless, or poor farmers. We'd be lucky to be given sharpened sticks and cast to the front lines. 'Fight for your freedom or die.' Given that it's a revolution, they'd be more interested in taking our supplies and gear. In any case, if we came across anyone, we'd likely be better off fighting to the death and trying to flee. Odds of survival wouldn't be great either way. Refusing conscription just gives us better odds of going home, rather than remaining conscripted or slaves if they learn who we were in the aftermath."

The guards nod together. Daniel is left with a fair amount to think about for a bit, since he didn't realize, just for being capable of fighting, another military might try to conscript them in times of emergency. It makes sense, and it probably happens more than he realizes on Earth, but it seems like it could be self-defeating. But then, even Daniel knows why Rikuto's strategies to lower taxes worked and raising taxes failed Bromlund. Rikuto enticed more transactions to take place, increasing money in circulation. Bromlund simply tried milking a weary cow past its limits.

The navigator suggests, "We… COULD take Mister Daniel to Fort Peony, Sergeant. They'd be able to report his arrival, as well as the reasons for delivering him there. If and when the route to Fort Twilight opens up, they could see him shipped there in turn."

The Sergeant nods in agreement. "Yes, I think that may be our best and safest option, at this point. I think the intent is still met, and if they really, desperately need him at Twilight, they can send him across the west of the mountains."

Daniel smirks, "That's the demon side of the mountains, isn't it?"

The guards chuckle and nod, while the sergeant admits, "Yeah… Yeah, it is."

Daniel smirks, but he replies sincerely, "I know I'm just the lowly prisoner, but I think it sounds like a good plan. Definitely inspires me not to try to flee from you guys, at least."

The young guard jokes, "No more than before, anyways."

"Well, that goes without saying."

They all share a chuckle together and set about on their agreed tasks to make camp. Once more, Daniel doesn't actually want to flee. He has nowhere to go in this world. He still harbors some hope of returning home, so even though he was having fun working with Wenlianna and living with her family, he fears getting too attached to them. The timing may have been a little late for all of this to occur, even, as he suspects that Wenlianna was becoming more reliant on him than she needs to be. Fortunately, he left his phone for her after explaining how to use the things that are useful to her. She can sift through it for much of the knowledge that he has, and more, in addition to the sketches and notes he left behind for her. She'll figure it out and become one of the most legendary Magic Artisans in this world. Daniel was just a crutch in the grand scheme of things.

"So, how long to Fort Peony, then?"

The navigator replies as they work, "Should be around two more weeks. They're about the same distance away, just on different portions of the mountain range. Peony, though, is so strategically out of the way, it's probably the only fort that's never been attacked by demons. But, conversely, it's not easy to attack the demons from there, so the stalemate continues."

The sergeant jokes, "Those pesky mountains, keeping us all from killing each other. Darn rocks."

The sergeant uses his basic flame affinity to cast a spell and light the fire, while the young guard refills their canteens with his water affinity. Not everyone has a strong affinity for magic, but other than Daniel, there aren't any known people in the world who can't cast at least something. Daniel's used to it, but he still notices it every time. However, he was accustomed to having no special powers in his old world. He'll survive having no special powers in this world as well.

The days pass by similarly, though each town they pass through has increasingly dire news of Bromlund and the revolution tearing it apart. Now, the Empire has begun delegating refugees, while the nobility have seemingly fled -those that could escape- as anarchy claims a large swath of a once-stable nation.

As they're parked to resupply, Daniel overhears a conversation with the guards outside. "Oh! You're from Mornistae? Were you not sent to Bromlund?"

"Sent to Bromlund? Why would we be?"

"You haven't heard? Mornistae has dispatched troops, including the Stalvaltan Fourth Battalion to quell the uprising."

Daniel flinches. Stalvaltan? That's Wenlianna's family. Aren't their troops… commandos or something?

"This must've occurred after our departure. We're headed for Fort Peony."

"Oh… Fair enough. Sometimes, I forget we're even at war with the demons. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing."

"Better than people dying left and right."

"True that. Well then, blessings for you and yours back home."

"Same to you. Take care."

The second youngest guard hands Daniel his rations through the bars of his window, saying quietly, "I never would've guessed."

The sergeant replies, also keeping his voice low, "It might be a diplomatic action. King Rikuto strikes me as the sort to be helpful, but for a price."

Daniel murmurs, "If the Grand Duchess is sending troops, I suspect she's looking to gain as well. Our kingdom is landlocked, isn't it?"

"It is, excluding rivers. You think they're after the gulf?"

"Probably the biggest and only reason for a recently-recovering economy to aid a seafaring nation ripping itself apart."

The navigator replies, though the guards are pretending not to talk to Daniel specifically, "Annexation of territory would be impossible during the war with the demons. It was part of the neutrality doctrine the Empire made everyone sign. Those who didn't receive no protection, but those who did would be sanctioned for wasting resources."

"And which one is each kingdom?"

"Not sure for Bromlund. We're definitely part of the doctrine. If either you or King Rikuto had arrived with battle-favorable gifts from the gods, you'd likely be halfway to the Demon Tyrant's castle by now. I'd guess, anyways."

Daniel smirks to himself. The irony isn't lost on him of how much this world aligns with fiction from his world. It would be dreamy if he wasn't being carted off to the front lines with virtually nothing to protect himself. Especially because he's in a world of magic, but can't use any of his own.

That said, it could be worse of course. He magically got younger, but has all of his wisdom and knowledge from his life on Earth. Why, he's not sure. Clearly the gods made strange decisions when they summoned him and Rikuto.

The sergeant states, "We'll keep moving for now. We should probably meet with a garrison, though, and try to send a message. Though, at this point, it may be better to just wait until we get there. It should only be a couple more days."

"Is there any concern of the territory we're in drafting us for any reason?" asks Daniel softly.

The sergeant replies honestly, "I don't think so, since Mattarglos notoriously keeps to themselves. They got a bit of the bottom loaf in terms of land, and no one really desires to conquer them, while their people remain proud of their little domain."

"Mostly small folk anyways; gatonines, imps, and the like. Probably the only kingdom where humans are neither the majority nor the rulers."

"I see. So… probably a lot of warrior tribes here, then?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

Daniel chuckles. "If a country's rough to live in, at least in what I know from my world's history, typically, it's survival of the fittest, which naturally, breeds strong warriors. Only when technology can overcome those hardships do warrior ways tend to fade."

"Your world always sounds like something… I don't know… impossible."

"My world? Until I arrived here, magic was impossible. Guess not much has changed, huh?"

The guards chuckle, and they tap their fists on the cart, 'checking that it's solid'. For a bunch of fellow soldiers, even if Daniel's service was brief and in a different field, the solidarity is reassuring for all of them.

The last couple of days of the journey are mostly dark, as the carriage travels a winding and precarious valley through towering mountains, along cliff sides, and past a raging waterfall. The scenery is beautiful, and he could spend hours gazing on it. He asks the guards, since no one's around, "You guys think I'll be allowed to hike here from the fort?"

The sergeant chuckles, "Dunno. You play nice with the fortress guards like you have us, and anything's possible. Not like you'd be able to walk all the way out of the valley the way we came."

"True that."

The navigator adds, "I've heard receiving the mist of the waterfall is considered good luck. Don't worry, Daniel. It seems the gods are watching out for you, even when it doesn't feel like it."

Daniel nods as he listens to both the guards and the waterfall. "I was never particularly spiritual in my world, but hard to deny there must be some purpose for me here, right?"

The guards nod in agreement. "If nothing else, I'm waiting for the lady Artisan, Duchess Wenlianna, to start selling your mechanisms. My wife's been begging me to find out from the castle when these 'water pumps' will be available."

Daniel chuckles, "I'm sure they'll make them as quick as possible. Who knows? Maybe she's already got some being made as we speak."

The guards are quiet for a moment. Everyone present knows it was a little unfair, to Wenlianna most of all, to spirit away her assistant without warning. But, they also knew she'd put up the biggest fight and stir the ire of the other nobles. 

Daniel suddenly states quietly, "Thank you guys…"

"What?" asks the sergeant.

"Thank you. I know you're a long way from home, all for the sake of keeping the peace. Thanks for treating me so well all this way."

"Hey, it's our jobs, right?"

"Yeah, besides, it sounds like you know what it's like, am I right? We're kindred spirits, Mr. Daniel. That's why, you'll ride out whatever this nonsense with the nobles is, wait for the Second Princess to make a fuss, and for King Rikuto to realize your value outweighs that of the nobles."

Daniel laughs. "As always, I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm a tinkerer. I obviously can't turn water into gold."

"Are you sure? If you could…"

"I'm sure. It was fiction in my world. Magic. So, even if it were possible in this world, it's obviously not going to be me."

"Yeah, well, if you do figure it out anyways, Mister Daniel, you let me know first. I'll give you Ninety-nine percent of the profits."

The navigator glares at the sergeant, "Huhhh? Who decided your magic will work? What about the rest of us?"

"That insolence is why Mister Daniel and I will retire on our gold-making, and I'm gonna buy myself my own ship and sail the world."

"Hah! The dreams of an old man!"

The guards and Daniel all laugh once more. Daniel states warmly, "If I figure it out, you'll be the first ones to know. I'll make sure of it. So don't you die on me either."

"It's a deal then."

Daniel knows it isn't possible. If something like that could be done with magic, there are mages far smarter than he is that could figure it out.

He can tell by the footprints behind them as they travel just a little further that they're getting close to the fort itself. Hopefully, he can make a decent first impression.

**************

"Oh! Lady Frejtenjir! Hi! How are you!" Ryukana giddily waves at her senior, who is headed somewhere in the divine realm. All of the gods and goddesses use the location as a sort of base of operations, equating something to a capital, in terms of human systems. From the divine realm, they nurture and preserve the balance between order and chaos, so that life may exist throughout the universe. After all, like life itself, they are children of the bond between order and chaos, the perpetual dance the two ruling goddesses are ever-locked in.

Frejtenjir is sporting a fairly serious expression, but she waves at Ryukana briefly, and the happy-go-lucky young goddess continues on her way. It's been about a year since she sent a hero forth to answer a divine summons, and he seemed much more cautious and intelligent than a typical warrior type. He'll likely mobilize the world against the threat, rather than fight the threat head on, which is actually a preferable solution. Fortunately, the world wasn't in a precarious state, and caution is the better option, as the peculiar threat seems to similarly be moving slowly, marching its army towards the other living beings of that world, intent on destroying every last one of them. Normally, global wars aren't a reason for the divine realm to take action, but if the world itself performs the divine summoning, a tribute is offered, and so, a hero is sent in exchange.

Ryukana is a rather senior goddess herself, having performed hundreds of hero summonings through the course of her existence. While the divine summons can be a surprise, the chosen hero consents to being sent to the other world, or another chosen one is selected. The process is generally random, as the bulk of the work is done once a hero is chosen, and gifts are bestowed upon them to fit into the world, while also giving them a carefully calculated ability that will serve them well. 

In Ryukana's case, she long-ago learned that obsessive observation and checking in on heroes can create the illusion of security, 'Oh, the goddess is looking out for me, so I'm sure it'll be fine.' Unfortunately, the original design around the hero summons is something Chaos is said to have come up with, and Order agreed with her. 'Life can always restart. If something is worth existing, it must overcome destruction. That is the way of existence.' Ryukana's heard Chaos say such words dozens of times, and it makes her heart flutter. Chaos doesn't want life to exist for the mere entertainment of the divine, she wants life to exist for chaos and order; creation, destruction, life, death, war, peace, love, and disappointment; all things that have defined the nature of Chaos's relationship with Order since beginningless time. All things that she believes give meaning to existence.

Ryukana often tries to spoil her heroes, but she's been reprimanded before, so this last time, she stayed within the bounds of normal. If he searches well enough, though, he'll find the secret gift she left for him, which will make him have all the power he could ever possibly need.

As she's passing by a usual gathering place for mingling, her ears pick up her name, followed by, "Oof… remind me not to get on her bad side."

"Right? Can't imagine what the poor sap did. Must've been something heinous."

"Didn't he come from Earth? I didn't think anyone there even knew her name…"

Ryukana halted mid-step, certain now they're talking about her. She pivots with an icy and sinister smile, trying to hide her rage, and failing miserably.

She walks briskly over, trying her best to maintain her statue-like smile, and she engages them coldly, "Pardon. I couldn't help but overhear. What about my hero?"

"U-Uh, Lady Ryukana!" Both Stellarmine and Dram, junior goddess and god respectively, bow politely. "W-We… Uh…"

"I followed the rules this time. For once. Is there a PROBLEM with giving my hero void magic, fire magic, and magic healing? I'll gladly send him more. How much more do you think would be sufficient, with your experience, hmm?" Her smile is terrifying, since it was her pride and experience being questioned. What she just said is the whole truth. She'd gladly continue to spoil her heroes, even if it means some end up becoming a problem themselves down the road.

"F-Forgive us, Lady Ryukana!" pleads Stellarmine. "But, we weren't talking about Rikuto."

"Oh? I have no other active heroes at present. So, who could you possibly mean?"

"I-... Th-... The other man… Daniel, I think his name was?"

"Excuse me?"

Dram murmurs, trying to distract Ryukana's wrath briefly away from the faltering goddess, "You sent two heroes from Earth, didn't you? Or rather, Rikuto as a hero, and Daniel… everyone believes…"

She grips his collar snarling, "Believes what!? Spit it out!"

"Th-... That he earned your ire somehow…"

"My ire!?" Ryukana recoils. "How so!?"

"Y-... You sent him to that world without magic or skills…" Stellarmine is worried, watching the senior goddess's face.

How could anyone think that of her, Ryukana, the goddess most scolded for gifting her heroes with too much power? She doesn't require worship from any of the worlds she oversees. Most don't even know she exists. They worship their own gods and goddesses in their own way, and some even worship evil forces. She doesn't mind. But, she loves the peoples of her world in the way she so admires Chaos for. She has no hatred or ire for anybody. And, if she selected them to answer a summoning ritual in a different world, she certainly wouldn't send anyone she hates. Rikuto was a polite and respectful person, and the moment she began speaking to him, she could see the gears were turning. He was planning out how to tackle the challenge ahead of him.

But, if this 'Daniel' person, who was apparently also summoned from Earth, is known by everyone else…

Who the heck could he be? There's no way…

"I just remembered! I'm late for something! ByyyyEEEE!" She tries to make her voice friendly and song-like, but panic is setting in. Ryukana has sent hundreds of heroes forth over the eons, serving worlds that would be obliterated otherwise. Some succeeded. Some failed. Still others became problems requiring new heroes. All of them were granted immense magical power by Ryukana to save the worlds they were being sent to. What's more, if she sent someone from Earth to a world with magic and monsters without any boosts to level the playing field… She might as well have sent a toddler to an inevitable doom.

Ryukana dashes into the summoning hall, where a summoning is taking place. She feigns a patient and revered smile, watching and waiting for the process to complete. It takes longer than anything else in her life, including being scolded. She was fine with being scolded when she helped her heroes too much. It's why, every few heroes, she does the same again. But, in this case, there's potentially a life she ruined; a person she wasted, that is out there somewhere. She doesn't care about reprimand. If it's true, he's one of her heroes, and she owes him more than a simple apology.

She watches as the painfully slow ritual concludes, and the observers and the god performing the summoning makes his way out. No sooner is the room clear does she pounce on the control unit. She frantically scrolls through to find her last summoning, and Rikuto's image pops up, just as expected. She searches for a second entry, as well as an attachment. Rikuto is and always has been a man, so a second life in the form of a fetus is impossible. Could it be an absorbed twin-turned-teratogenous cystoma? It's one of the many things possible for a human, but it would be a stretch to assume that's what the others mean.

It's true she hadn't peeked in on Rikuto since sending him, as she wanted him to have time to adjust, and if he called for her, she would answer.

Ryukana finds a secluded place, and she calls out to the Observers; her archangels that serve as her eyes in the world.

Within moments, all twelve of the Observers appear before Ryukana, and they kneel. "My Lady."

"Faithful Observers, have you spoken to others about my most recent summoning?"

The leading archangel bows his head reverently, "It has come up in casual conversation, my Lady. We have spoken only what little facts we know. We make no assumptions on your wisdom."

"R-Right. Of course. But, I should have asked you; what are your thoughts on the matter? I wish to know if I overcorrected."

The archangels share a glance with each other, and Ryukana knows at once she's in trouble. He may not be in the record for some reason, but there is a person from Earth unaccounted for.

"My Lady, as mentioned, we do not make assumptions. And, we have not spoken of our own thoughts before now. Forgive me for saying so, but… Perhaps if we were made to understand, we could share this wisdom with others."

Ryukana asks nervously, "Wh-What wisdom would you like to know?"

"I wish I understood, so please help this humble archangel understand why you would summon two heroes; one with magic and the other without, to a world with magic, my Lady."

Ryukana freezes. She's ruined. Her heart is crumbling. She can't believe it. Is this the feeling of 'surreal' that humans experience? In all of the eons… In all of the hundreds of summonings… 

"Yes, that. Of course. Hahaha…" What do I say? Accident aside, what happens to the heroes? Will they be returned? Will that world be scrapped? What have I done? "You see, I was… trying something out. An experiment of sorts. Success is not always found in the wisdom of Order, but also within Chaos. Sometimes a… change of strategy is required to ensure a safe transition." Oh god! I'm making it worse! Please forgive me Lady Order! Lady Chaos! I'll make it right first! Please!

"I see, my Lady. That does make sense. If the enemy is prepared for the standard strategy, perhaps a seemingly illogical strategy will disorient them."

"Yes! That." NO! Are you nuts!? EVEN YOU know it's illogical! I've doomed them both! I've probably doomed that world! What if they fight each other!? What if they hate each other!?

She says as coolly as she can, "Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will be sure to explain my reasoning better in the future. Please continue your diligence, my loyal Observers."

"As you wish, my Lady." With a flash of light, the Observers vanish. Ryukana stands frozen in shock and horror for a moment, wearing her horrified smile.

I need to find him. Fast.

*************