“I’m dead. I’m definitely back to being dead. This is Earth, there is no doubt about that. I mean, I love looking up at the stars and feeling all small and shit, but this one is beyond fucked. Like, it was already a stretch me being in another world, but another Earth? With all the exact same star placements? It makes no fucking sense! So I have to be dead, it’s the only logical thing. That makes a lot more sense than being swept away to a different dimension where I just happen to land on Earth. It makes no sense!”

  I continue pacing back and forth, completely lost. Like, a whole other Earth.

  Just like I said aloud it doesn’t make any sense.

  While I’m sitting here suffering from an existential crisis, Avis has a little smirk on his face. He’s kicked back, a drink in hand, and just enjoying my suffering.

  “What’s going on?” Dardania asks as she walks up and sits down next to Avis in front of the fire.

  “He’s losing his mind, it’s quite comical. He’s somewhere lost between insane and crazy. I’m just waiting for the climax. I imagine it will be great.”

  I stop pacing back and forth and turn towards that man.

  “I may be suffering from an existential crisis, but my ears still work you know.”

  Dardania reaches out to hand me a drink. I take it, and look down at it.

  “It’s just coffee. Not other Earth coffee, but just regular coffee.” Avis says as he tries to not completely bust out laughing. I try to ignore him, and take the coffee from her.

  I’ll admit, none of this makes sense, but it is nice to know that coffee does exist here as well. Something familiar that makes sense helps.

  “You know, it’s okay to not understand.” Dardania takes a sip from her coffee. “If we understood everything, would that not make us gods? If we were gods, would we not have the obligation to right every wrong? Fix every problem that arose before us? Ensure that no person ever suffers? I don’t know about you, but that sounds like too much pressure.”

  “Wow, that just makes me sound like an ass.” Avis buries his face in his coffee.

  “You are an ass.” Dardania replies casually as she continues drinking her coffee. “Now, I know you are having an existential crisis and have a lot of questions, but the best thing you can do is not focus on it. So instead, let’s just get started on that whole adventure thing!”

  Dardania jumps up, downs the rest of her drink and cheerfully walks into the cabin. I just stare at the spot where she was several moments ago.

  I suppose she was right, I can’t dwell on the weirdness that is all of this. It would be better to just take this world by storm and go live the adventuring life. That’s the way to isekai properly, so I should just do that, because it’s not like I could return home even if I wanted to. Besides, there is nothing left to go back to.

  Just like that, I remembered I was alone. My dad is dead. A lump begins to form in my throat, threatening to choke me. I try swallowing it down, but nothing would make it go away. I try to take a deep breath, but the air feels like fire in my lungs, burning me from the inside out.

  It feels like someone was standing on my chest, jumping repeatedly, trying to crush me to death. I begin to claw at my chest, hoping to rip it open and pull the feeling out of me, but it’s not possible. No matter what I do, I can’t make any of it go away.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Adventure.” Avis says softly, snapping me out of my spiral. I turn towards him, and for the first time, his gaze felt soft. Rather than snark, his strong features felt soft. Inviting.

  “Focus on the adventure.” He says, his voice again soft. I nod slightly, letting him know I heard him.

  “The adventure.” I reply.

  * * * * *

  “This is miserable.” I say as I drag my feet. I’m drenched in sweat, my shirt around my head to prevent the sweat from running into my eyes, and I’m miserable.

  “I thought adventuring would be more adventure and less walking in the miserable heat.”

  “You’ve said miserable too many times.” Avis snaps at me. “Besides, what is the point of those muscles if not to do physical activity?”

  I look down at my body. Sure, my pecs were decently defined and I had some abs, but it was all for show. I never did any real physical activity outside of the gym prior to this.

  “It was just to attract people, just for show. I never did much outside of the gym.”

  “The gym?” Avis stops in front of me abruptly, I run into him. “What is a gym?”

  “A place where people go to exercise. You know, lift weights, work on their physique. It’s quite popular in my world.”

  “So rather than going outside and just, you know, doing physical activity people do it inside?”

  “Yeah… pretty much.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense. Why don’t they just go out into the world? You know, chop wood, farm, hike, I don’t know. I can’t fathom people staying inside with the intent to get fit.” Avis stares at me dumbfounded.

  “I don’t know what to tell you. It’s just the way we do things.” I walk around Avis and continue on.

  Though, I have to admit it is weird. Why didn’t we just go outside and do things in the world?

  I don’t know, not worried about that one now. It’s all in the past.

  “You dwell on the weirdest things.” Dardania says casually as she walks past a still dumbfounded Avis and quickly catches up to me.

  “You’re telling me I could have done all of this the lazy way if I was in your world?” Avis says, slowly raising his shirt exposing the best abs I’ve ever laid eyes on. Dardania and I both stop and turn back towards Avis who is staring at his own abs.

  “I—“ I begin and immediately shut my mouth.

  “Yeah, it’s best you didn’t say anything. He’s annoying enough without you telling him you like his abs.” Dardania spins on her heel and continues on her way.

  I just stare at his abs for a second before turning around and realizing she is probably right. Let’s not give the jerk any satisfaction.

  After walking mostly in silence for the next hour or so, a small town can finally be seen in the distance.

  “Electra.” Dardania points at the town.

  As we approach the city gate, we hear a rumble of footsteps behind us.

  “Step aside for the sinners.” A voice booms.

  Dardania grabs my arm and pulls me to the side of the road and out of the way.

  Avis turns away from the line of people and stares at the ground.

  I turn back around to see a line of people slowly walking towards the gate.

  They were dressed in rags and shackled to one another, each with red lettering over their heart.

  “It’s their sin.” Dardania whispers to me, as if knowing what I was about to ask.

  I stare at the line of people, entirely disgusted by the sight in front of me.

  Several of them were so thin that their muscles clung to their bones, holding on for dear life like they would be ripped away at a moments notice. Dirt seems to cover every inch of exposed skin, and they are forced to walk barefoot so their feet are covered in sores and blood.

  Each of them hang their heads in shame, though I’m not sure if it was for the proposed sin or for the way they were being treated like cattle.

  They area being ushered along by a man in a long white robe, similar to the religious leaders back in Maia, and they are flanked by two men on horseback clad in armor.

  “May you all feel shame among your fellow man for the sins you have committed against the Order of The Saint.” The man clad in white sang out to all within earshot.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Avis frantically reaching for Dardania’s hand without looking up. She quickly grabs a hold of it, and rubs her finger along the back of his hand in the attempt to soothe him.

  I figure it’s best to not question it.

  After a few moments, the group of sinners pass the gate and into town.

  I hear Avis exhale and Dardania sigh.

  “It’s best we get inside and get a room at the inn.” Dardania says as she approaches the gate.

  “Welcome to Electra, James.” Avis says, his voice low as he pushes past me and into the town.

  “Welcome to Electra.” I say to myself, still unsure what I just witnessed.