The Great Hero is a Schoolteacher

“What kind of compensation do you want?” asked Cherub. “As a Great Hero, you’ll be blessed with a gift for all common languages of your new world. If this isn’t enough…”

They looked me up and down again.

“Perhaps you would like a younger body. It might be deemed more suitable for your upcoming role.”

“Excuse me?”

I’m three days shy of forty, I have a healthy body and a face that looks much more interesting now than it did in my early twenties. I’m about to set foot in a world I know nothing of, so if everything looks alien to me, for the sake of my mental health, please let me recognize myself in the mirror!

“I don’t need to look younger,” I said. “I like myself as I am…”

I stopped mid-sentence, as an idea had popped into my mind. I raised a finger between the angels and me.

“However, remember you stole the rest of my life. I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to die so young. I’m about to set foot in a new world, and it’ll probably take me years to adjust. Can I get these years as a bonus?”

Cherub turned around me. I could swear their gaze was critical.

“A longer lifespan? As in, not age for a few years, to make up for the time you’ll be losing in the beginning?”

“Exactly! Can you do it?”

They nodded. The ball of glowing wings oscillated slightly.

“Freeze her aging process for the equivalent of five of her years,” they told their subordinate.

The other angel plucked one feather from their wings and used it to write something on the parchment.

By that time, Cherub was behind me. They gently pushed me forward, through the cloud of light, to a vertical glimmering surface.

“This is a magic portal. Now walk through it and meet your summoners in Brealia.”

Already?

“You mean, that’s it? You’re showing me the door? I know nothing yet! Tell me about the world I’m going to, the kingdom I’m supposed to save…”

“You’ll learn along the way. In order to fulfill your role, you can now speak and read all common languages in your world of destination. Besides, I’ll keep an eye on you.”

Sure. These angels have eyes to spare, after all.

“This portal was tailored to only let your body go through it,” said the other angel. “Nothing else can cross. Neither us, nor the people awaiting you on the other side.”

I squinted.

“I see.”

I’d seen most Terminator movies. I knew what this “body only” limitation implied and I wasn’t happy with the consequences, but at this point, it was too late for me to back away. The nondescript white clothes I was wearing wouldn’t follow.

“Once a day,” Cherub added, “you’ll be able to call me, either to ask me a question or to require a small miracle.”

“How small? And what do you mean by ‘once a day’? Does the counter reset at midnight? What if I change time zones?”

“You’re out of time, human! Now go, and meet your destiny!”

They pushed a little harder and I went through the portal.

I stepped into my new life with an intact body, the same one I’d had before the van hit me, and nothing to cover my skin save for a strategic placement of hair and hands.

There I was, feeling a cool breeze on my skin. There was a burgundy carpet under my bare feet, a smell of incense in the air, and as I looked up, I saw I was in a round hall topped by a golden dome, with high wooden panels separating it in two halves. The place where I stood was actually a portion of one half, set apart by a hunter green velvet screen embroidered with complex patterns. Daylight flowed in through high windows.

There were happy sounds of a crowd cheering not far away, possibly in the other half of the dome.

This is real. This is happening! I’m in a different world I know nothing about. Don’t panic, Alicia.

Five people in rich purple robes, three men and two women, were standing around me, forming a circle. They were just a little too far away from one another to touch hands.

The sorcerers who summoned me.

They kept their heads bowed and they gazed at the floor, probably in an effort to respect my dignity, or whatever was left of it.

Right in front of me were three ornate wooden seats that looked like mahogany. Not proper thrones, but still meant for people with power. A pale man in his mid-forties sat in the middle one, dressed in blue and red robes over a pearly white shirt. A big crown rested upon wavy brown hair that, like his well-trimmed beard, had a few grey streaks.

Boy, that crown looks heavy! I hope he doesn’t wear it every day.

On his right side, and on my left, was a slender teenage girl. Her light blue dress, heavy with ruffles and ribbons, seemed tailored to add structure to her delicate figure, but she mostly looked lost in it. She was about sixteen years old, with blond hair expertly styled around a silver tiara, and blue eyes that looked just like her father’s. A true princess, straight out of a fairy tale.

The seat on the king’s left was empty. Someone was obviously missing from the family picture.

A king, a crown princess, and someone who’s not there. Away? Or dead? Am I supposed to go looking for them? To avenge them?

There was nobody else around. Probably someone right behind the velvet screen, but my summoning was a private event only the king and princess witnessed. They must be absolute rulers. Otherwise, there’d be someone else here, a Prime Minister, a government of sorts.

Unlike the sorcerers, the royals didn’t look away from me while I detailed their appearances. They remained still and silent. Did they even notice that I was naked?

“Senior Magi!” said the king. “This woman needs clothes!”

It wasn’t English, but as Cherub had promised, I felt at ease with the language, as if I was a native speaker.

All right, he noticed.

At his command, one of the female sorcerers, a dark-skinned woman with silver hair in a bob, ran behind the screen and came back with a large white gown that she handed me without a word. I put it on swiftly. It was too large for me, but it came with a sash that allowed me to adjust it a little.

“Welcome to Carastra,” said the king once I was decent. “I am Esthar, sovereign of the Brealian kingdom. This is my daughter, Crown Princess Nigella. Who are you?”

I smiled.

“I am the Great Hero Al.”

The princess grinned in disbelief, and a murmur ran among the sorcerers. They had tried to summon Alberto, after all. They’d expected a big chunky guy to materialize in their circle, and I’d appeared instead. It’d take them some time to get used to me.

Now, Alicia, pretend it’s the first day of class and introduce yourself properly.

“I am Al, killed in my native world and reborn in yours to fulfill a prophecy. Would you be kind enough to tell me what it is, exactly? I heard about a Demon Lord.”

“Faur.” The name seemed to burn Esthar’s lips as he pronounced it. “For centuries, we had a prophecy saying that the Great Hero Al would be summoned from another world, defeat the Demon Lord and bring prosperity to Brealia. Faur is the current Demon Lord. Can you defeat him?”

That was blunt, to say the least. I’d just died and come to him across dimensions. I knew nothing of this world. How could I promise anything?

But this king was likely to have absolute power. He’d commissioned my summoning, and he could probably have me executed, too. Upsetting him moments into my new life was certainly not a good idea.

I ran a hand on my nape.

“Give me some time to analyze the situation, and I’m sure I can come up with the best solution for your kingdom, Your Majesty.”

Preferably one that doesn’t involve an actual fight. I can ride a horse if you like. Do you even have horses here?

Princess Nigella rose from her seat. She looked too shy to be crown princess.

“What are your abilities, Great Hero Al?” she asked. “Natural magic? Fighting skills?”

Drinking coffee, baking cakes, and asking a biblically accurate angel one question a day. I’m not sure it counts in her book.

I bowed my head.

“I only just arrived here, Princess. Please let me figure things out first.” I pointed to the empty seat. “Is anyone missing here?”

King Esthar gave a sad look to his left side. “The queen consort, my beloved wife Epona. She and Crown Prince Sorosiel joined the Almighty last year.”

“There was heavy rain that night,” added Princess Nigella. “Their carriage fell into a ditch. They were both dead by the time our men found them.”

Her voice was trembling. This is why she looks out of place. She wasn’t brought up as a future ruler. She only rose to this status by losing her mother and brother, and she still needs to grow into the part.

Esthar stood up, a solemn look on his face.

“Today is not a day for mourning. Thanks to the Senior Magi’s intercession with the Almighty, we finally summoned the Great Hero Al. Before we celebrate, the ceremony should take place.”

The Almighty? All I saw over there was a couple of subaltern angels who didn’t know what to do with me.

I smiled anyway. Esthar gestured at me.

“Please come and meet Archbishop Terru.”

I followed the king and princess behind the velvet screen, where an elderly man was praying before a marble column that I supposed was the local version of an altar. He stood up as we arrived. He was short and plump, and his ceremonial attire, high headdress, large robes and an overabundance of gold and embroideries, made him look like an expensive candy box.

He looked me up and down.

“Great Hero Al. Is that your name?”

I squinted. How was I supposed to address him?

Go for something simple, Alicia. If I get it wrong, someone will correct me.

“It is, Archbishop. I’m Al.”

No sign of surprise or anger. The little man only nodded solemnly.

“Do you swear to do good and to honor Brealia and the Almighty?”

So this is what they call their deity. Judging by the look of things, they must be monostheistic. The Almighty it is, then.

“Yes, Archbishop.”

“Then I shall anoint you. Kneel, please.”

Archbishop Terru prayed over my bowed head, in a melodious voice, then rubbed perfumed oil behind my ears. And then that was it. The religious ceremony was over and we could move on to the celebration.

One Senior Magus opened a hidden door in the wooden panel and let us in.

A crowd of richly dressed lords and ladies awaited us in the other half of the dome, in a flood of bold clothing and bright colors.

Most people would have been considered white in my native world, but not all of them, and unexpected hair colors coexisted with more common ones. Some guests had green or pink hair. Some even sported short horns or cat-like ears. Paired with their colorful outfits, the general feel wasn’t that far from a baroque-themed drag show.

Everyone applauded when I appeared, but I could hear exclamations of surprise.

Yes, I know I’m not quite the person you expected. Not all heroes are bulky. Get over it.

I was handed a glass of bubbly drink. It was purple, but it smelled and tasted like pineapple.

“Thank you! What is it called?”

Princess Nigella frowned.

“Fermented solael juice, of course. Do you not have them, where you come from?”

She sounded genuinely surprised, rather than annoyed. I smiled.

“Indeed, Princess. It looks like your world has many other things that don’t exist in mine.”

“Interesting.” She nodded and turned to other guests.

There were guards around, but they didn’t look too worried.

Is this kingdom really at war with a Demon Lord? If so, they should fear an attack on a day like this. No tyrant in their right mind lets an enemy summon a legendary hero without trying something. At least, not in my book.

I met hundreds of gazes, some doubtful, most just happy to see me. They must have placed high hopes in me. If only I knew what they really expected of me.

“Great Hero Al,” said King Esthar, “meet my younger brother, Irmel, Duke of Sottarn.”

I curtsied as best I could to a man who looked a lot like the king, minus the crown and the gray hair. His eyes were a darker shade of blue, almost navy. He wore a knee-length teal tunic with a month’s work of embroidery at the hems and all along the sleeves, over wide dark pants and black velvet shoes.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said in a pleasant, deep voice.

“The pleasure is shared, Duke Irmel.”

Esthar smiled. “The duke came all the way from Zerta to attend the celebration.”

Does he realize I’ve no idea where Zerta is? I suppose it’s in Sottarn, but I don’t know where Sottarn is either, and I’m too busy trying to remember names right now. I’ll focus on geography later.

I just drank another sip from my solael juice, and let the king lead me through the room. He had so many people to introduce me to! Men and women, nobles and scientists… Mostly nobles, though. I noticed some prominent names, Berg, Gimon, Torren, without remembering every face. Some were royal advisors.

Everyone looked happy to meet me, but I suspected some of them had come to this place – the royal chapel – mostly for the appetizers.

After I finished my glass and politely smiled to half the people in the room, we reached a massive verdigris double door. Guards opened it, and we walked outside.

It was spring, the same season as in my native world. The chapel stood next to a large white building that was probably the royal residence, with a courtyard, stables on my right, and a pleasant garden ahead, where the old fortifications used to stand. Two massive corner towers were still standing in front of me, marking the edges of the castle. In between them, a paved bridge led to the city, across a dry moat.

It looks like one of these medieval fortresses turned into comfortable palaces during the Renaissance, when the threat of war receded. I wish I could see what the other side of the main building looks like.

The grass felt cool under my bare feet. Below us, the old dry moat was covered in lawn, and accessible from the city by a number of straight stairways. Only a parapet kept us from falling into it. In the moat, and in the streets around, a compact crowd cheered as soon as they saw me. King Esthar raised both arms.

“People of Carastra, meet the Great Hero Al, future savior of the Brealian kingdom!”

The noise made me dizzy. Never before had I been acclaimed by so many people, let alone strangers who saw me for the first time. The smell of roasted meat floated in the air, as did distant music.

The celebration wasn’t just a buffet for the Brealian who’s who. Ordinary people were gathered too, enjoying what looked, sounded and smelled like a huge party. Were they really here for me? But then, where was the war I was supposed to save them from?

I walked along the parapet. The crowd filled the moat and the streets around it.

There must be thousands of people gathered here. This is unbelievable!

As I tried to wave at everyone, a guard pointed at the sky.

“Your Majesty, isn’t it Kossi?”

King Esthar and I both looked up. A majestic figure with huge wings and a long tail was flying above the city.

“Is it a dragon?” I asked.

“It is. We have a pact with Gold Dragons, and Kossi is the youngest to grace our kingdom. We had not seen him for some time, but I guess he wants to welcome you, too!”

A dragon. I was about to meet a dragon! I felt as overexcited as a little girl on Christmas day.

Until the beautiful creature plunged at us and breathed fire at the elegant garden.