Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Ryukana the violet-haired goddess is waiting for Daniel, specifically, as the shuttle touches down at the Citadel after passing through the perimeter checkpoint. He excuses himself for a moment from the three dragons who accompanied him, and they head towards Xyreko, who is waiting patiently nearby.

“Ryukana, you look like you need something.”

“I knew you were arriving soon, so I wanted to inform you that I am going to leave for a short time once more.”

“I understand. I appreciate you letting me know.”

“I’ll still be on Zenkon, so if you need anything…” She scrunches her face as she thinks. Once more, Daniel is completely devoid of magic, in spite of how long it has been since he was inflicted with the curse. Senn has retreated to her own mysterious hideaway to search for a means to dispel the curse, while Xyreko has been attempting various spells in the Citadel in preparations for trying to help Daniel as well. In Ryukana’s case, she can no longer detect him, as it was when he first arrived in the world. Ryuogriar and Reignleif have been insistently feeding Daniel milk every few minutes in order to try to restore his mana, but it’ll take time to see results either way.

“I will do my best to keep my gaze on you, Daniel. If you need me, I will be listening.”

Daniel nods. “As you know, I try not to bother you. I didn’t pray much before I came here, I don’t know if it’s fair to expect prayers to work now that I’ve peeked behind the curtain.”

She snickers softly. “Very funny, Daniel.” She ponders deeply as she studies Daniel for a long time. He cocks his head, and she adds, “This curse is peculiar.”

“You can… see it?” asks Daniel, curiously. He tries not to give away too much, since Kaeralegier is still trying to remain undetected by anyone associated with the Divine Realm, and he knows she was able to identify it and its effects with relative ease.

“I can. It’s very subtle, and it doesn’t work with mana the same way as usual. There shouldn’t be any beings in this world capable of such a twisting of energies…” She tries to think.

“I don’t know how it works, but could it be something that pre-dates your management of Zenkon?” Daniel can’t remember all of the details, but he has certainly learned enough about this world’s peculiarities to trust his gut. And, his gut says that the vision he had while he was ‘dead’ from the curse might be related.

“It’s… possible. It’s difficult to really quantify, because time flows differently for us than for mortals. There was a goddess that disappeared before I became the manager of Zenkon.”

Daniel is surprised. He’s not sure he does a great job of seeming genuinely innocent, but he tries his best. “Ohhh? Disappeared? How… How does a goddess disappear?”

“Why?” asks the goddess in front of him. “Are you planning on trying to make one disappear?”

He laughs. “Just curious.”

“I don’t know, honestly. As you probably guessed, Chaos and Order aren’t exactly beings that can be questioned easily.”

Daniel nods in agreement. “I see. Apologies for holding you up, though. Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Not at this time. I have been asked by my junior to speak to her summoned heroine. I expect they’re seeking advice.”

“I understand. If I can help, please do let me know.”

“I will. Thank you.” As she starts to walk away, and Daniel turns back to the others, she suddenly stops. “Daniel?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve wondered this for a while, but I supposed I hoped to understand without needing to ask.”

Daniel faces her again, replying sincerely, “What is it?”

“Have… you considered trying to negotiate with Rikuto?”

Daniel feels his hands tighten a little. It’s a completely reasonable question, and he knows she’s not the first one to have thought it. 

The problem is, he tried to keep his head in the sand, to deal only with the problems directly in front of him. Rikuto was far away, and his fears were fears that wouldn’t come true.

Daniel is not a moral paragon, but he understands the gravity of the thing he created in this world using its materials and adapting the principles as best as he could. He could easily become a tyrant, or simply sow destruction across the world. The hard part has already been completed.

But, he hoped that his inaction and lack of threats would serve as enough evidence that he had no such intentions.

That is, until Rikuto unleashed his own counter-weapon to Earth’s deadliest creations. All at once, Daniel’s goal to live and let live was shattered.

“I have been concerned with provoking him,” replies Daniel. “I hoped he would let it be since I made no threats or demands. Obviously, I was wrong.”

“Then, the invasion?”

“I didn’t intend for it to be a full invasion, but we needed to secure the Grand Duchy’s borders. If Rikuto is willing to negotiate, he hasn’t made any indications of such.”

Ryukana sighs. “I am painfully aware…”

Daniel is quiet for a moment. He can admit that a part of him didn’t care anymore about negotiating with Rikuto after his first rallied soldiers were wiped out, many of whom couldn’t be recovered at all due to the nature of the weapon annihilating everything in its effective radius. Neith aside -which was angering enough alone-, Daniel knew more than a few of the names of his soldiers from seeing them in town. He masks his pain around everyone else, but he has been carrying doubts and guilt since then.

Daniel takes a breath and exhales. “I’ll make an effort to reach out to him, if you think that’s best.”

“I’m not supposed to overtly guide the course of interaction on this world. The Devourer and the Demon invasion was one thing, because there was a real threat of the world’s complete destruction. Even the Strylak, the elven mage Senn, and your newest companion Yaulwembor are all beings that I had to keep my eye on because of their immense power. But… if… you and Rikuto could find a position of balance between you, whatever form that takes, it would put me at ease.”

Daniel nods. “Yeah… you’re right, of course. Very well, thank you for your guidance. I will do my best to make peace with Rikuto immediately.”

The goddess relaxes her shoulders. “I would appreciate that. But, you must also do what your heart commands. As you know,... I am not as omniscient or wise as Chaos or Order. And, together, they created free will, the most powerful force in all of creation.”

Daniel chuckles. “I don’t know. I’ve seen my fair share of turds.”

Ryukana scoffs. “And yet, you, ‘just some guy’, managed to save a whole world from one of its existential threats. I believe even Chaos and Order might be concerned if you were more than ‘just some guy’.”

This time, Daniel laughs at her joke. “As soon as I draw Excalibur, I should be maxed out.”

“Yes, yes. I’m sure you’ll find it.” She smiles and bows her head politely. “Now, please excuse me. I need to go speak with my junior.”

“Somehow, I don’t think you need my permission. Goddess and all…”

She grins and winks, disappearing in a modest flicker of the air.

Daniel returns to the group waiting on him, though his next challenge is right around the corner.

***

Zuzia looks at her fist as she works on summoning her courage. In the heat of the moment, she was able to act and save a lot of lives, as well as most of a town. However, she hasn’t really accepted her powers for what they are yet. She can’t test the magic resistance OR her ability to bypass magic negation without those things being present, but she can do her best to understand her gifted strength.

The young Polish woman looks behind the large boulder, scanning all around. There is a tall hill that forms a backdrop, and no signs of people or farms in the way. She takes a breath, facing the boulder once more. She’s quite certain that she can lift and throw the mass of stone, though that will be her next test.

The village could have been a fluke, just as the escape from the castle could have been.

Zuzia takes one more breath, trying to prepare herself. She acted without thinking before, but now, she has a strong sense of fear at the risk of breaking her hand. She flexes her fingers, which are still intact after punching a metal portcullis and then the ground.

The otherworlder balls her hand into a fist, standing so that the impact will be rather shallow. 

Zuzia punches her fist forward, withdrawing it just as quickly. A loud bang like a cannon thunders all around her, startling her, and the gigantic rock shifts deeper into the dirt. As it rolls towards her with the new position and different center of gravity, the top half slides forward. It rolls easily off of the bottom half thanks to the shards of smaller pieces between them serving as crude bearings, and the massive chunk of stone slams the ground. It’s not a smooth anime-style slice through the rock, but it sheared on its fault lines with a relatively small punch.

Zuzia looks at her hand.

Her knuckles have reddened a little, but she didn’t even break the skin. She shakes her hand, but it never hurts. She could tell she impacted the stone, but it was comparable to a simple tap with her knuckles normally.

“Well… That’s something. I should definitely avoid punching people like that…” She chuckles to herself, bending over to pick up one of the pieces of the massive rock that was ruined in an instant.

Of course, when she stands up, there is already a hooded person standing there, giving her a heart-stopping jolt. “Ojej! Holetta!” She leaps backwards in a stunning jump, and her back smacks into a tree. Thankfully, it doesn’t hurt, and she gained some distance from the newcomer.

“Please calm down. My apologies for startling you. This was the location Amalaskae provided.”

“H-H-How do you know that name!?” snaps Zuzia in her native tongue, even though the language she just heard is from this world.

Without missing a beat, the woman speaks in fluent Polish. “Yes, my apologies for the start. Amalaskae is… a colleague, and my junior in many ways.” The woman takes her hood off, which also nearly stops Zuzia’s heart.

However, it’s not a fearful moment. The woman is stunningly beautiful, with a visage that seems to glow without light, and her skin appears to be as soft as a perfect silk that doesn’t exist. Her hair seems to float on the wind without noticeably drifting out of control. If Zuzia were to believe in a goddess, this woman would definitely fit that image.

“I am Ryukana, the former manager of the world of Zenkon. Amalaskae asked me to come and speak to you and answer your questions. I will answer what I can, but please understand, I am bending the rules as it is. Since I am not responsible for you, I can’t give you specific guidance.”

“I understand. I just want to know the how and why. How are people like me chosen?”

“Normally, through observation. We don’t experience time in the same way you do. It’s relatively easy to see enough of a person to decide if they’re suitable. Though, part of it comes with the risk that the chosen candidate can make unexpected choices, often when the world summoning them doesn’t understand them.”

“I see… And, is it a problem if… I don’t really have a reason to be here?”

“Amalaskae informed me,” replies Ryukana while she places a hand on the upper half of the stone. “And, I had some suspicions. There is an argument to be made that perhaps you could stop the war between Daniel and Rikuto, though I’m honestly hoping one of them will be able to resolve it on their own. You might also go forward to establish your own country, or become the ruler of one that is present. These actions can lead to long-term stability as well. Since you were summoned in Mornistae, it’s fair to assume that they wanted you as additional military might against Daniel, which, of course, is your prerogative.”

Zuzia scoffs and waves her hands dismissively. “No. Absolutely not. I may have liked the idea of being a heroine, but I’m not being someone’s stooge. Certainly not a soldier-stooge. If that’s why they summoned me, they’re my enemy.”

“I-I only made assumptions, I don’t know their motivations. Regardless, the choice of how you live in this world is yours. While there is supposed to be a goal, if you have chosen to stay, even because Amalaskae will be punished if you return without accomplishing anything, then you are a member of the world of Zenkon now.”

Zuzia nods as she absorbs the information. “Fair enough. Then, I don’t have to fight Daniel or this Rikuto?”

“Not if you don’t want to. If you do wish to return to Earth, however, and can’t convince Amalaskae sooner, you will want to find a way to accomplish something important that will preserve the world’s existence.”

“Got it. My current plan is to meet with Daniel and see what kind of person he is. After that… I’ll figure something out, I guess.”

Ryukana smiles gently. “Yes, if that is your choice.”

Zuzia nods. “Then, can I contact you again?”

“I’d prefer it if you contact Amalaskae primarily, since she is the one responsible for you. However, I am also still responsible for this world, and if I can provide guidance to that point, I will.” She thinks for a moment, adding softly, “Daniel and Rikuto have each created weapons that can threaten this world, but also have ironically brought them into balance. There are no monsters that are an automatic doom for the world because of them. I am now charged with ensuring Daniel and Hekate refrain from becoming threats to the world.”

“Thank you. I’ll try not to become a threat myself.” Zuzia looks at the boulder she cracked with her bare hand and minimal effort. Amalaskae said she would and could get stronger if she puts in effort, but the young brunette isn’t sure how that is supposed to take place without her destroying half a country.

“Yes, you seem to have a very temperate personality. I believe Amalaskae chose well. Please do be patient with her. She means well, and she’ll do everything in her power to protect you.”

“I don’t dislike Amalaskae. I just… Isn’t she… as much of a threat to this world as any monster?”

Ryukana looks to the side, confirming Zuzia’s suspicions. The clumsy angel is extremely dangerous, even if it is unintentional.

“Will I… need to stop her?” asks Zuzia, looking at the angel before her.

Ryukana replies confidently, “She will never be your enemy. Though, just as I ask that you be patient with how she looks after you, I hope you will look after her as well.” Ryukana bows her head. “Please look after my junior until she can find her own way to be reliable, Zuzanna. In exchange, I will provide the second wish you asked for.”

This surprises Zuzia. She was skeptical of the wish being something she could get, but she wanted to push Amalaskae’s buttons, since she’s a bit ditsy and clumsy. But, she has done everything she can to ensure the young Polish woman gets whatever she wants out of this arrangement.

“Alright. Then, if you notice anything that needs a hero, be sure to make Amalaskae send me there. I don’t want to miss out because she’s not paying attention.” Zuzia smirks with one hand on her hip, and Ryukana smiles. “It’s a deal. I am confident Amalaskae will always be watching over you, but remember, she can’t do everything for you. If you find yourself in trouble, it’ll be more likely that she’ll send someone to help you, rather than help you herself. It is how the rules have been established.”

“I’m surprised there are so many rules. Why is that, if I’m allowed to know?”

Ryukana smiles gently. She faces the direction of the setting sun. In case she injured herself, Zuzia decided to perform her experiments in the evening so she could rest afterwards. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to have been necessary, but she’s content with the outcome either way.

The angel explains softly, “Do you know why gravity only pulls you towards the ground, rather than pushing you away?”

Zuzia cocks her head. “This isn’t going to be some stupid philosophical-sounding nonsense like that show with the elves, is it?”

“No. It’s actually quite simple. Our God created gravity as it is as a part of how the things that exist interact with each other. There is a boundless wisdom required in creation when we can observe something as simple. While I do not make a habit of questioning God, I can speculate on the reasons for some of the rules that are in place. If Amalaskae or I took direct intervention on every issue, there would be no need for people to use their free will and overcome the challenges of life. If God were to solve all problems, there would be no meaning to life and free will, both of which rely on a balance between order and chaos to progress forward. Our intervention comes in when something has transcended the boundaries of what should be possible, and could threaten the Realm of God and the other worlds tied to it. God can erase the problem, but we are afforded the opportunity to protect his precious creations through indirect means.”

Zuzia nods, having heard the explanation and it making enough sense. Many people question the existence of God on Earth because terrible things happen, but the strength and resolve that humans develop as a result of overcoming those hardships is part of finding the right path. God gave humans free will knowing they would make mistakes, and it is sometimes said that Lucifer’s intense love for and envy of humans, and the pride of his own vanity lead him to believe that he could do a better job at being god than God Himself. Many of the devil’s temptations involve the ‘easy’ route, most often at the expense of others. Perseverance and resolve are among the highest priorities that God looks for in His children. His angels are meant to give guidance when it is needed, but not to fight the battles of God’s children, lest the children become too weak to thrive on their own.

God saw fit to pair Zuzia with an angel who is not his most reliable, but He let her give Zuzia a great deal of power in this strange other world so that they could prove their worth and accomplish something of great value to benefit that world. It is both a test and lesson for Zuzia, from the patience and understanding needed to work with Amalaskae, and the humility to accept that Amalaskae really is likely to be her greatest ally in whatever challenges she faces.

Ryukana adds after Zuzia has had some time to process the first sentiment. “God is both a creator and a destroyer, and embodies order and chaos in everything we see or do. As I said, there is not a single soul that could truly and fully comprehend His mind and reason behind every little thing, because He had to foresee and create every little thing, from the atoms that make up each element to the largest of stars. Even the possibility of Earth’s most deadly weapons being created, and then somehow ending up on another world through unnatural means. God did not have to allow these strange things to take place, and yet He did. Only recently have I begun to truly appreciate the beauty in randomness and the comfort of certainty.” She gives a devious smirk. “Amalaskae will be afraid for a while, but I speak from experience when I say this…” The angel leans closer to Zuzia, whispering softly, “As long as they are not overtly broken, God often forgives the rules being bent a little. After all, what good is free will if we, His creations, aren’t allowed to exercise it?”

The young Polish woman stares at her in shock, and the angel smiles. “I’m not trying to tempt you into anything sinful or evil. I’m just saying… If push comes to shove, I might make an appearance, even when I probably shouldn’t.” She winks, adding sincerely, “And, the same goes for Amalaskae. Though, as I said, do everything in your power to overcome and endure on your own.”

This time, it’s Zuzia’s turn to bow. “Thank you so much for your guidance. I’ll take it to heart and go forth with courage and kindness in my heart.”

“I know you will.” Ryukana backs away a couple of steps. She adds, “Oh, and… You might not approve of Daniel fully, but try not to dislike him too much, either. He doesn’t share the same beliefs as you, but he has a good heart.”

“Thank you. I’ll observe him with an open mind, then. So long as he respects me as well, of course.”

Ryukana nods, “Then, I look forward to seeing what you achieve, Zuzanna.”

“Same, Ryukana. Thank you.”

With that, Ryukana vanishes just as quickly as she arrived. Zuzia finishes her strength experiment by lifting the parts of the boulder with ease, in spite of each half weighing at least as much as a pickup truck. She can even throw them further than she could throw a softball on Earth, even without much effort.

She restores the area to as close to original as she can, leaving the two halves near each other so they won’t randomly shift and crush anyone passing by.

The young brunette makes her camp to rest for the night. 

Little does she know what awaits her in the near future.

***

Daniel finds Geirahoel tending to the rooftop garden with her eggs nearby. She comes to a stop well before he gets close, but she refuses to face him. 

The human approaches to within a few paces, and he lowers himself to his knees. “Geira-Mukori, it’s me…”

She doesn’t respond, simply holding her watering can to her chest and seemingly ignoring him.

“I know I upset you greatly. I have been reckless because I don’t value myself enough. Even with everything I have, I was floating between my detachment from Earth and my own life and the family I have here. Those feelings… those habits of just trudging forward… They’re hard to break. So…” He slides himself a little closer to her, adding softly, “I’m going to marry Ryuo and Reina, and… if you’ll have me…”

These words finally elicit a response, and Geirahoel whirls to face him. Her eyes are watering a little, and she isn’t especially happy yet.

“What difference will it make!? You’ll still… You’ll still…!”

“I will die to protect any one of you, Mukori. That will never change. But, I know I have to fight harder and think smarter so that I become one of the most difficult beings to kill in this entire world. I don’t know what I’ll be up against, but… I’ll need the help of my favorite dragons. And,... obviously, or… hopefully it’s obvious… I love you, Mukori. I won’t go so easily anymore. Please continue to look after me. I’m a mess, so I need capable people.” He gives her a gentle smile.

Geirahoel’s jaw trembles a little, and she swiftly leans forward, kissing him. Daniel lets her do as she wants, but he hums in surprise as a sweet and chilling sensation washes across his tongue as hers dances with his.

He immediately recognizes the flavor as ignityal, the fire-producing fluid the dragons make naturally. She keeps leaning forward, forcing Daniel backwards until he falls, with the orange dragon pinning him down and feeding him more and more of her ignityal. The sweetness coupled with the kiss is rushing to his head, and he feels a little dizzy after a bit. 

When she pulls away, she has a strange look on her face, like she is pondering something.

With a flick of her tongue, a spark ignites intense flames in her mouth; her pilot flame for breathing fire.

For a moment, Daniel feels startled and briefly afraid for his life. She just filled his mouth with that very same fluid, a fluid that can burn hot enough to melt stone even at range from the source.

It is the very fuel of dragon fire, and he is the same normal human he had always been before coming to Zenkon.

Geirahoel says seriously, staring down at Daniel with an intense gaze, “I will not tolerate any more broken promises, Daniel. The very next time will lead to one final kiss.”

She leans closer and closer to him, and he can feel his heart racing. But, he grits his teeth and resists the urge to run. He knows he couldn’t escape if he wanted to, but more importantly, he isn’t afraid of Geirahoel. He trusts her.

Just as her mouth is about to reach his, the flames go out with a puff of black smoke, and a charcoal-like smell accompanies it. It’s the smell of dragon venom burning, which is one of the few substances that can extinguish burning ignityal.

She blows her breath on his nose, adding quietly, “You have given me the gift of love, Mukori. I won’t let anyone, not even you, take it away from me. If you are truly willing to marry me, then you will accept one more condition.”

“What is it?” asks Daniel, feeling like his own voice might leave him at any moment.

She cups his cheek with her hand. “You will pledge your soul to me to do whatever I wish with it after you perish.”

“I… that’s…” She narrows her eyes as he fumbles for words, and he adds, “I… don’t really object, but… I don’t know how to do that…”

“You will accept a cursed object from me, and you will never remove it from your person.”

Daniel cocks his head. “Alright… Do you have it now?”

“I will soon enough. And, if you take it off…” She kisses him again, intentionally licking more ignityal into his mouth. His heart beats faster once more, and she adds coldly, “I will track you down and give you a loving kiss.”

The mechanic tries to joke, “Well, now you’re just tempting me to…”

She pushes him down onto his back again, filling his mouth with the icy-sweet sensation. She then kisses his cheeks, leaving behind the same coldness that feels almost like ice. “You are weak, Mukori. If you want to escape me, you shouldn’t have stolen my heart. And, if you want to track down our enemies, you should be including your much stronger wives. You may be the Harbinger of Calamity, but I am a Valkyrie. I will choose when you die.”

Daniel smiles softly. “Very well. I accept, Mukori.”

She smiles, and this time, she kisses him more tenderly.

Of course, with them being alone, it’s only natural what their current position will lead to.

***