David woke up flanked by men in uniform. Leather chest pieces bound over navy blue shirts with thick sleeves already seemed out of place, but most eye-catchingly each of the looming mens’ chest was emblazoned with a golden lion. He could make out what looked like a sword at the waist of the man in front of him. He had a thick white mustache and a furrowed forehead, it was filled with dense lines from stern, worried expressions and age. His eyes were trained on David, peering out at him from under the tousled white mane that grew on top of his head.

Christ, he’s scary. Are these soldiers?

David tried to gather his thoughts, he was woozy and on his knees, his arms lay against a cobblestone floor that looked like nothing used in modern construction.

Is this a dream? What the hell is going on?

David took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. This was impossible - or it could be a dream, it had to be a dream. This was like something that would happen in one of those books he read. It wasn’t the sort of thing that could happen in reality. I mean if this was real, and that’s a big if, that would mean he was something like a hero. Why would he be a hero? I mean he was just a normal guy from Pennsylvania, albeit a bit of a nerd. He hadn’t even been hit by a truck or stabbed saving someone like the characters in the fantasy novels he read online, he’d just fallen asleep in class the last he remembered. Yes, this must just be a nice dream caused by all the late nights in front of his computer screen. David’s thoughts were interrupted when the older looking soldier in front of him reached out with a leathery palm and said,

“Hello, my name is William. I know this is scary but we can help make this make sense.”

Confidence filled David’s chest as he gripped that hand. He felt stronger than he ever had and he realized quite suddenly that he had never really felt confident before. A boyish grin spread across his face and he said,

“This does make sense. I’m a hero, right?”

David sat in a room they’d prepared for him, sitting on the edge of a large luxurious bed with soft red sheets, swinging his legs and looking idly around the room. There was a dark wooden desk with a lit lamp sitting on its corner and two gorgeous but abstract stained glass windows that let in faint blue and pink and green light. He had been told it was one of the nicest guest rooms in the castle, reserved for important merchants and dignitaries.

Even keeping this room lit is so hard for these people. A candle, really? There’s so much I could teach them.

David’s mind raced with possibilities. Thoughts of modern technology and societal advancements flickered through his mind. The things he could share here to change society, the place he could take for himself in this world! He knew, in his bones, that he was worth more than just whatever combat ability he had been given as a hero. Just as he knew somehow that this was real. His dreams always had a mirage like quality: unfocused and blurry, jumping from moment to moment, only bound together by a raw feeling. Here, in this new fantasy world, he felt driven, burdened with purpose as if the world was opening up before him and waiting for him to explore it, improve it, develop it even. He had never felt this way in his old life, he had never felt like he had a purpose. He had read so many stories of heroes opening up fantasy worlds to new possibilities: reforming government, blazing a trail as a clever merchant and sure, sometimes fighting monsters and demons. The fighting was important, and it would happen, but this world - he would change it, he would forge it anew. David’s thoughts came to a halting stop as he heard a rap at the door.

“May I come in?”

It was a woman's voice, clear and bright but muffled by the door.

“Yes.”

She was wearing a maid uniform, but nothing like the type David had expected. Wrapped around her thin frame was a black dress with a white apron, cuffs and hood. There were large ruffles around the bottom that hid the woman's feet, her hands were thin but with long delicate fingers, nothing like the rough hand he had grabbed when he first arrived. Long black hair flowed out from the white hood that she was wearing, the curly locks framing her pale face. She had a slight smile and playful dark blue eyes. The crows feet that spread around her eyes were the only lines that marked her face, giving her a warm impression.

She looks like she smiles a lot. David thought.

“I’ve brought dinner, sir. I hope you’re hungry.”

It was only after hearing that, that David realized there was a silver platter with a domed metal lid on a cart she was pulling behind her, with a small bell next to it. She pulled off the lid to reveal a hefty portion of turkey, along with a stew that gave off a hearty meaty scent.

“Thanks.”

The woman looked at him, her eyes probing him, or drinking him in. He couldn’t be sure.

“If there’s anything else you want please just ring this bell. Or ask for Maria.” Her gaze seemed inviting.

Interesting. David’s eyes didn’t leave her until she was out the door. He was enjoying this new status, the attention. He knew that this could be fleeting though, there were so many stories of heroes who were betrayed, or abandoned. Heroes who trusted too easily. The first woman he met here being so blatantly interested in him - it could be because of his new status but more likely she was here to test him, or gather information. Who knows what his status within this kingdom or the broader context even really was. Hell, he was unsure he could even trust the food. Should he? But why would they summon him just to poison him? I mean who knows, there could be magic here. Maybe even some sort of magic mind-control food or something of that nature. He was excited to explore and even shape this new world but he had to be careful. Beyond that he had basically been kidnapped. Was he excited? Yes, of course, but that didn’t change the fact that he was picked up and dragged here without being asked. That he would be made to fight and essentially work for the kingdom. He would have to be guarded, and careful and most of all demand compensation. If he wanted this to be any fun, he would need to have people who would listen to him. He would need to be important. If he was going to fight for this country, this King who had kidnapped him, then he wanted the chance to shine and have a comfortable life.

He didn’t touch the food.

David marched through the halls of the castle, flanked on each side to his front by a set of soldiers. To his right was William, the older gentleman he’d first met in this world. On second inspection his outfit seemed somehow fancier than the others, white ruffles around his neck flowing out from beneath the leather marked him as somehow different.

“Thank you for coming with us, I’m happy you agreed to meet with our Lord.”

William had a furrowed brow, it was seemingly a fixture with the man, but he also had the wisp of a smile tugging at his lips under his white bushy mustache.

“No problem.”

“Also if you have any questions, I’m happy to help. This must all be… very sudden for you.”

David thought for a minute. He would have to gather information quickly. Was there some sort of demon army to fight? It seemed likely. If so, what was the current state of the war and were the human empires in different factions. Were there demi-humans races, was this a world of magic? He needed a history lesson, surely, but he wasn’t sure he could trust William. So he just asked,

“What’s your position here? You don’t seem like a regular guard.”

“I’m actually the head of the imperial guard. I may be old, but I’ve worked for our Lord for a long time.”

Pride clearly marked his voice. His shoulders seemed straighter for a moment, his frame larger. Clearly a loyal man then, thought David.

“I would, as soon as possible, like to visit the royal library. Would that be possible?”

“I’ll make the request to our Lord, but I see no reason why you wouldn’t be able to. We want the hero to be well prepared, of course.”

There was a thin smile under William’s mustache. Suspicious. David smiled anyway. If they were up to something he would find out. The two soldiers up front suddenly stopped their march and moved to the sides of a huge double door. The gold inlay of a lion pressed into the huge wooden frames loomed over the red carpet that filled the hall. One of the soldiers rapped his knuckles twice quickly against the door and they slowly began to swing open. A long room extended before David’s eyes, twin torches burned in front of a large golden gilded iron throne. The man sitting in it was large too. He wasn’t thin but not just fat either, his huge frame filled every inch of the throne, the height of which made him appear larger still. He had a flowing thick white beard and a bald head with a simple but heavy looking crown that matched the throne. Twelve iron pillars shooting up from the man's bald head, the whole thing inlaid with thin gold lines tracing the edges of the peaks.

He looks like a muscular, stern santa claus.

David’s eyes were suddenly pulled to the side, he saw Maria, kneeling to the side of the throne. She was wearing a blood red dress, fancy and frill laden. She no longer looked anything like a maid, as if she ever had. A short ruse. Her dark eyes seemed to gleam as she raised one finger in front of her mouth and winked. David couldn’t help but feel a small grin tug at his mouth, she was beautiful. Suddenly William kneeled beside him. David realized he was the only one in the room standing. Charles, Maria and even a set of three older men he hadn’t yet met stationed opposite Maria were kneeling before this massive man. The King’s voice was low and calm but seemed to fill the quiet room,

“Hello Hero. I am King Eric Leeuw. Thank you for meeting with me.”

Let the negotiations begin.