"Welcome, heroes." the princess said uncomfortably.

In front of her were a group of people holding a person hostage with a knife to his neck. Surrounding the group were a couple of dozen of men dressed in the same armor as the hostage. Even though they were ordered to stand down, many of them were still at the ready with a hand on the grip of their weapons.

The atmosphere in the throne room was heavy and grim. None of the candles and torches were burning and the only source of light was a magic light haphazardly created, by a now silent man, standing next to the princess.

It hovered low over the throne, casting a hard shadow on the princess and causing those looking at her to squint.

"We have summoned you to our world as we are in need of your help and I assure you we mean you no harm."

Five men surrounded her, and while the one who summoned the light was standing still, the other four were whispering amongst themselves.

"A terrible war has been raging for the past one hundred years and you are our last hope of survival. The beasts and monsters have been growing stronger and humanity is on the verge of being overtaken."

-She seems to have calmed down a little.- I thought. -Didn't expect her to go straight into a 'Vanquish the Demon Lord' monologue right after we demand an explanation though...-

"The savages assassinated my father!" she screamed. A tear glistened as it ran down her cheek. "And they show no signs that they will stop at that..."

The man in a black raincoat was easily visible in the group standing in the middle. While tall, he wasn't the tallest one amongst them, nor was he exceptionally good looking. He was, however, standing right in the middle, holding a knife in one hand and a person in the other.

Next to him was a police woman pointing a gun at the princess. Both were attracting the most gazes from the people in the hall.

-She just had to go and threaten the princess, didn’t she?- the man in the black raincoat thought. -Nice thinking, calling the gun a magic weapon... but if they accepted the existence of a magic weapon so easily that would mean they have some of their own. And if magic is involved, well, there's no guaranty that the gun will even work...-

A few minutes have passed by now and the situation seemed to calm down a little. However, the pair in the middle was still on edge, trying to listen to the princess while watching the crowd for suspicious movements.

While a few of the knights still had their arms on their weapons, they were now standing casually and listening. Most looked bored while others were visibly yawning.

Uncertain whisperings could be heard from the strangely dressed crowd in the middle of the hall. The princess seemed to start swallowing words as she again began to lose her composure.

-This seems rehearsed, like a play in the local theatre. Something feels weird...- was the general consensus.

As the whispers slowly turned into talking, a woman from the crowd finely spoke up and the rest went silent.

"Let me save you the time, princess... you've summoned us here to save your sorry asses. Personally I'm grateful for the chance and the reasons don't really matter..." She sighed and moved her fingers through her short, almost pixie, hair. "In wars... all sides think they are the good guys, but eventually only the winner will get to write down the history books. So..." she paused and looked around, " I think that what everyone wants to know right now is whether or not there is a way to return to our world? And what kind of prowess do we possess that can help turn the tide of battle?" She finished with a smile on her face.

-That is not what I want to know...why we understand each other no matter what language we speak would be higher on my priority list... but it's still better then listening to her useless speech.- the man in the black raincoat thought . -Mentioning names and events that show the righteousness of her side and trying to portray how evil the other is, is a great way to brainwash people...-

"My brave heroes, there is a way for you to return to your homes." the princess exclaimed .

-Okay... and the catch is...-

"But to complete the ritual a great magic power source is needed."

-Aha... and that power source is obviously...-

"One strong enough to allow your safe return, unfortunately, exists only in the hands of our enemies!"

Fifty pairs of eyes were rolled unanimously. -Of course it does. How convenient it is that for us to get home we need to complete the very same thing you summoned us here for...-

"Our last reserves were depleted by the summoning ritual which brought you here!" Her voice was growing louder, the tone of voice defensive.

-She’s making excuses. And as legit as they may be... something still feels off.- The man in the black raincoat shook his head in disbelief while some of the others next to him laughed out loud. -She looks twelve... her father is killed and she takes the throne. Where's the mother?-

"You hold unlimited potential!"

-Sounds too good to be true...-

"Not being part of this world you are not limited by it as we are. Very quickly, the weakest of you will become stronger than the strongest of ours."

-Hmm... I don't feel any different...-

"We shall do our best to provide you with the best instructors and help the royal army has at its disposal, and in a month from now you will be more than capable of joining the battle."

"A month?" I exclaimed in surprise.

People turned to look at me. Even the knight I was holding hostage was looking at me with wide open eyes.

"Fear not." the princess smiled gently. "We will not force you. If you rather not risk your life for a greater cause I shall not force you, and you will be free to do what you see fit."

-She's smiling, yet it sounds to me like a threat...- Thought the man in the black raincoat. His cheeks red from embarrassment now that he was the center of attention.

-This is insane!- I was looking around for people to share an understanding look at the craziness the princess has just spouted. -Really? No one? You just keep listening like she hasn’t just mentioned all willy-nilly that she'll be throwing us into battle in a month?-

I tightened my grip on the knife I was holding to my prisoner's throat.

-Humanity is at war for a hundred years, and the enemy is growing stronger with every year that passes. And now that you feel that the scales have turned against you... you summon us... Why? The king was assassinated, sure, but clearly he wasn't doing that good of a job of countering if this has been going on for so long.-

"Why summon us now?" I interrupted.

Eyes were dancing between me and the openmouthed princess.

"The magic power source that was used to bring you here was a major part of our defense system. It is what has kept us safe for so long. The beasts have no knowledge of magic and a barrier has kept them out of our cities. However, the demons that have aligned with the beasts showed them how to pass through it. And now we face their terror at our doorstep."

"And when did this alliance of theirs happen?" I asked with a bad feeling in my gut.

"Three months ago was the first recorded incident of an attack inside the barrier."

"But didn't you say that they've been attacking your villages for decades?"

"That is true. Countless have died to their claws and teeth."

"What about the barrier then? Did it fail?" -Shit... Not surprising... It's always the same-

"Of course not! Unfortunately it is not strong enough to cover the whole kingdom... troops are in charge of protecting those areas not inside the barrier."

-Really now... do I really need to make her say it...-

"So I ask again" in a tone used to address small children and idiots, "why is it, that you have summoned us, only now that the barrier has failed? Can't the troops protect you as well, princess?" I motion with my head to the large number of royal knights filling the hall.

"Obviously not!" She looks at me like I'm an imbecile while the pixie haired woman begins to laugh to herself.

"While some nobles have their own army the royal troops are not enough in number to protect those who do not. I will not risk the lives of my citizens recklessly by thinking I can protect them all."

"And so" she rises from her chair and stands up, back straight and head held high "I have decided that the best defense against such a dangerous enemy is offence!"

-Hahaha whoever put these words in her mouth is a smart man indeed. All she is missing are her hands on her hips to complete the righteous pose... too bad this wasn't the strategy a century ago when the enemy was still weak.'-

"Understood my lady." -It is the same in our world as well.- "A very wise strategy indeed."

-As long as the people in power are safe it doesn't matter how many die protecting them. A country is at war only when its politicians decide so...-

"I will be more than happy to help it succeed." I say as I release my prisoner and bow down as graciously as I can, imitating what I saw in movies.

"What are you doing?!" the police woman next to me barks, her gun still pointed at the princess.

"Playing along." I whisper to her as I straighten.

"Ahh, wonderful." She jumps back into her throne while the freed knight hurries to his companions.

"One last question, if I may, your highness?" -She sure looks smug now...-

The group surrounding me parts apart, leaving a free passage from me to the throne. Everyone even took a step back from me when I started asking my questions.

-'Really? Did you have to set it up for me so nicely?'- Half a smile creeps up on my face.

"Would you be so kind as to grant me a hand in solving this predicament I have found myself summoned into?"

"With haste, my hero. Everything in my power will be done to assist all of you. Weapons. Armor. Teachers. Trainers and the finest allies are at your disposal. Name what is it you require?"

"Undergarments." I lift my hands to the sides and smile innocently making my short coat rise and the small princess scream.

The pixie haired woman was laughing out loud, stronger than everyone else in the hall.

I could still hear her laugh as I was led, in a hurry, out of the gathering hall and to a small room a floor above. A short female servant was put in charge of dressing me.

-It's at these times I wish I were better at making small talk.- I think to myself as I stand awkwardly in the room while the servant waits for another to bring a set of clothes.

-Where did all my confidence from earlier go to?- I wonder to myself as I look around at the room.

-Two beds with two hammocks hung over them. A chair, five stools but no table. Scraps on the floor and a bucket in the corner. Ahh she just glanced at me thinking I wasn't looking. Did I pique her interest?- Again half of my mouth rises in a smile. -As this is a middle ages setting... I wonder how far she must serve.-

-She's not really my type but it doesn't really matter does it?- I look her up and down and then at the door. -A guard room without a lock? Really? Well, they should be away for a while dealing with the rest of us "heroes" and this shouldn't take too long..-

"It's taking awhile, huh?"

The girl looks at me with surprise in her eyes. "I apologize for making you wait, my Lord. She should be here any moment now." she says to the floor.

"It’s fine." I say in a deep, low, rumbling voice. -Did she just shudder?- "Don't be scared. I just..." -'Footsteps?'- "want to know your name? Where I come from there are no such things as servants." She looks at me at last. "Not for quite some time now."

"None at all?" -She's younger than she looks...-

"None at all." I smile, "The fat lords have to dress themselves! Can you believe?" I stagger away imitating an obese person and make an act of trying to bend down and put socks on my feet. When I turn around she is again looking at the floor, but for a different reason this time.

"Oops... I apologize. My situation slipped my mind." I quickly back away a few more steps. "I hope nothing was seen... scaring one young lady a day is enough for me."

The servant girl sniggered and began to fiddle with her clothes.

"Did you just laugh at me? Well... I think I would have rather scared you instead..."

"Don't fret my lord. You wouldn't even scare a virgin." she giggled.

-You little minx!-

"Really now?!" I take a few bold steps forward and lower myself to her eye level. "The princess seemed to have been utterly terrified!"

"I would not boast of that as an achievement." She grinned at me before making a bow. "My lord."

"And will it be one" I lower myself closer, "if I can scare you?" I whisper in her ear.

She froze in place.

-Now it dawns on you, you little brat.-

"But, alas, I don't think we will have enough time for this test of courage." I say as I back away. "However, if you may be so kind as to tell me your name, we may give it a try another time." I try to speak with the most innocent tone I can muster.

A short silence falls in the room. Interrupted only by a sound of running from the other side of the door.

The girl straightens and averts her gaze.

-'Should I push a bit more?'- I try to suppress the smile threatening to appear on my face.

She speaks before I smile.

-'What did she say? Was that supposed to be her name?'-

I was about to ask her to repeat herself just as the door blasted open and made me forget about everything, including my own name.

-'What the...?'- Shock and surprise are competing with my feeling of puzzlement as the one who opened the door rushes inside and begins spreading clothes on one of the beds.

The blushing servant girl joins her as well.

They seem to be conversing with each other, pointing at one set of clothes and then another.

My mind is blank and I can't seem to register any of their words.

-Huh...I thought I’d be more calm and collected about this. Who knew...- I shake my head quickly as my surprise seems to settle. -Well... It is another world after all. Just accept it.- I take a deep breath and sigh.

"The grey one is fine." I walk over to the pair.

"What about shoes?" I ask the rabbit girl that brought the clothes.

Her long, brown, fur covered ears flap about as she turns and points at what I presumed was a small leather bag. A small black spot is visible on the tips of both ears.

"Thank you." I pat her head and ruffle her hair a bit like I would my little sister. -They're probably the same age...-

Her small nose moves about as she smiles, showing a pair of abnormally large two front teeth.