Welcome to Wintervale

At that sight appearing before him, Yuuji started inspecting the room he found himself in.

Wooden floor– in fact the entire room was made of wood like a basement. A sign hung on the wall behind the excited girl, who was so lost in her own happiness that she forgot Yuuji was even there. It was written in a language Yuuji never saw before yet could understand it well enough to know it said ‘Amilia’s lab’.

“Hey–” Yuuji said, but as soon as he did, the girl stared at him dead in the eye with a happy face.

“AH! I’M SORRY I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF–” coughing to compose herself, the girl spoke out diligently “My name is Amilia. I’m a witch who was tasked by the acting lord of this kingdom to summon a hero.”

Yuuji tilted his head at her words. Lord and kingdom seemed to him like something from medieval times that ended far too long ago.

“This is Wintervale, the nation of ice and snow.” Amilia ignored Yuuji’s confusion and continued.

“Wait a second, you said hero didn’t you? I’m sorry you probably got the wrong person.” Yuuji, finally comprehending the whole situation, declared “I really need to go back, the doctors would be worried if I suddenly disappeared.”

Amilia looked at Yuuji from top to bottom. Confused, she spoke casually “But, I don’t think this spell is prone to error. It’s 100% you, Mr?”

“I don’t need to tell you my name. Can you please return me, Weird looking witch ?!”

Yuuji’s reply was full of irritation and confusion. Amilia’s expression changed from happiness to anger at the nickname Yuuji gave her.

“My name is Amilia, excuse you?? Also, You can’t return home. At least, not until you’ve completed your work here.”

“Can’t.. go back? WHAT DO YOU MEAN CAN’T GO BACK! SURELY THERE’S A WAY–” as Yuuji’s voice started rising in anger Amilia’s expression clouded in sadness.

“I’m sorry, Mr Hero.. I can’t do anything for that matter at least currently.” Amilia replied in a low voice before continuing, “I need you to come with me tomorrow to visit the lord of the kingdom.. She’ll give you more information about your task.”

As Amilia finished she went to the other side of the room to grab her staff. At first sight, Amilia looked small compared to her staff. Yuuji estimated her to be around 160 centimeters. Her white hair tied in a braid and a hat befitting a witch stood at the top. She wore a white dress with a blue ribbon at her waist, white long stockings, and white boots to match. Her staff looked old, with an amethyst crystal that could mesmerize everyone at the top.

“Yuuji Wakana.” Yuuji declared in an apologetic tone. “Just call me Yuuji.. I guess.”

Amilia’s clouded face became brighter as Yuuji, seemingly, agreed to her proposal. Her amethyst eyes shone brighter than ever. Something that would make a man instantly fall in love with her upon exposure.

Of course, He could just refuse it at the mansion housing the lord of the nation. But for Amilia it felt like a start.

“We’ll head over there tomorrow morning. I.. kinda used up all my mana on this summoning.” Amilia nervously laughed, pointing to the circle underneath Yuuji.

“I see. So, I’ll just sleep down here?” Yuuji sighed then started looking around the room.

Amilia, who supposedly calmed down after this wild roller-coaster of emotions, got startled after hearing that question.

“AH NO YOU COULD SHLEEP ON ZE COUTS!”

Amilia was extremely startled; she bit her tongue while talking. A cute sight you’d rarely see from an adult.

“Another question.. How old is the white witch?”

“MY NAME IS AMILA NOT WHITE WITCH! AND I’M 19!” Amilia, who was red from embarrassment after biting her tongue, yelled out.

Cute would be an understatement. Although Yuuji didn’t really bother with thinking like that he nodded at Amilia’s response.

“Yuuji, 18, Japanese.”

While the rest of the sentence made sense for Amilia, the word ‘Japanese’ felt weird and something only out of fairy tales.

“Okay, I’m from the dragon species then.”

Amilia’s sarcastic reply, at first shocked but then somehow made sense to Yuuji.

Of course, Japan would not be known in another fantasy world with summoning circles and even if it did it’d be something like a fairytale that would be told in bedtime stories.

With that settled Yuuji puffed his cheeks a little and then stood up. Dusting himself off he followed the now leaving Amilia up stairs. Yuuji’s journey has now started in a new fantasy world.

As the next morning rolled around, Yuuji woke up from his sleep.

“Man.. I barely had a wink of sleep last night..” Yuuji slumped his shoulders as he looked back at the couch he was sleeping on “That’s definitely not made for sitting let alone sleeping..”

Yuuji’s complaints were followed by a yawn. Wobbling towards the kitchen to grab a cup of water, he saw Amilia up early and ready, sitting down while writing using a feather and ink.

“Oh, Looks like you’re awake.” Amilia exclaimed whilst writing. Completely immersed in what she was writing, she continued “We’ll head out shortly just gotta finish this report.”

A few minutes passed and Amilia’s report was complete with a loud “Done!”

“We should head out now.” Amilia smiled as she packed her report up.

Walking down the street side by side, Yuuji’s clothes looked out of place. So, Amilia decided to first head to the market with Yuuji to get him some other clothes worthy of a hero.

Whilst walking, Yuuji saw many vendors. Clothes, Food, Drinks, Gems, If you can think of it, you’ll probably find it. Yuuji found it astonishing how a place like this felt like a mall from his original world. Of course, a mall without security, air conditioning

or loud crying babies.

“So, can you tell me about the mansion we’re heading to?” Yuuji finally raised a question after their walk was mostly silent .

“I’m glad you asked! The place we’re heading to is the mansion of our kingdom’s leader, Miss Thoka Smith. The mansion was built way back when the kingdom was just established. Although what you’ll be seeing is just a renovation of it as it was destroyed some time back.” Amilia explained thoroughly

“The mansion is called the house of the Ford’s. Unfortunately, I don’t know why that name came to be but…” as Amilia’s words came to a pause, she stopped in front of a workshop “Rumors have it that Ford was an important person to Miss Thoka.”

Amilia turned around once again and pushed the workshop’s door open, there greeted by an old bald man with muscles that would be fitting on a weight lifter, Yuuji’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Ya! Felix’s daughter!” the man exclaimed with a smile on his face.

“Uncle Sam! I told you to not call me like that! Please, call me Amilia!” Amilia puffed out her cheeks in protest which was only met by a pat on the head .

“Got it. Got it.”

The old man, whose name is Sam, looked over at Yuuji. His brows furrowed and his tone immediately changed.

“Oy, You.” startling Yuuji, Sam continued “Are you her boyfriend?”

Amilia’s face turned red but not just Amilia, Yuuji’s face was almost as red if not more. Upon seeing their reactions, Sam laughed loudly with a big smile on his face. “I always wanted to do that,” he said while continuing to laugh.

“Uncle Sam.” Amilia’s irritated tone paused Sam’s laughter “We need some armor for our hero.”

Sam’s eyes started looking Yuuji top to bottom and he immediately grabbed something from underneath his counter.

“Well.. I knew this would be useful one day.”

Sam grabbed a furry coat and some plates which when combined together looked like an adventurer’s clothes.

Yuuji got into the dresser at the back and got changed. Coming out from there, fixing his dark bluish hair, he looked at the mirror.

“Not bad, boy.” Sam declared first, giving a thumbs up.

With that, they finished their mission at Sam’s armory. Amilia put forward an order for a sword to be made, of course on the kingdom’s tab.

It took another 15 minutes of walking before they arrived at a massive flawless white mansion. A big mansion, Japanese styled, stood in front of the awe-struck Yuuji.

Standing guard at the door was a little kid. Short purple hair, with a crop top, and some feline ears which stood out to Yuuji. With a sword hung on the kid’s short skirt’s side.

“Welcome, esteemed guests of the lord. My name is Boryana Rüdiger, The deputy commander for the knights of Wintervale.”

Bowing before Yuuji, the kid stated her name and her duty. Yuuji however couldn’t help but comment on the girl’s height.

“Umm.. Amilia– Do you guys let kids fight in wars?”

Yuuji’s sarcastic comment granted him a look of irritation from Boryana. The kid in front of him raised her head immediately and started quarreling with him.

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A LITTLE CHILD?!?”

“It’s ok to want to act like an adult. I get it, I get it. Now can you please call an adult over?” Yuuji’s sarcastic comments continued granting him a nudge from Amilia

“Yuuji, I think you’re going a little too far–”

“I’LL SHOW YOU WHO’S A KID YOU–”

“That is enough, Deputy commander.”

An elegant figure appeared at the stairs behind Boryana. A young lady with green hair, and an armor dress appeared behind.

“Lord, I’m sorry–”

Bowing down immediately was Boryana who only got met with a chuckle from Thoka.

“It’s ok..” she paused, then looked at Yuuji and Amilia “Looks like our guest has finally arrived.”