[A Fractured Song] - Chapter 2 - Fantasy, Isekai, Adventure

Link to Chapter 1

Frances managed to find a corner in the large hall they’d been gathered in. She was in a far too large dress that was too soft and scratchy. She guessed that clothes of this time couldn’t compare to that of the modern era, but they were of sufficiently high quality to make her feel unused to them.

It’d been the second day that they'd arrived in Durannon, in the human kingdom of Erisdale apparently. Their current instructor was Godfrey, a white-clad man with a limp. He’d introduced himself as a magician of the White Order, the stewards of the Summoning System.

Some of her classmates had chosen to return home already, but many had stayed and had listened, mostly curious about their world, and surroundings. They’d been bombarded with a lot of information, but probably due to experience, the White Order had provided them with crude notebooks and quills, and taught them how to use them.

That had been one of the many of their first lessons on the first day, where they’d learned that whatever magic had brought them here seemed to translate their language to “the Common tongue.” They’d learnt about where they were staying… which was at a training base in Erisdale, the capital of the Kingdom of Erisdale, one of the human kingdoms bordering the monster’s realm.

They’d also learned why they were summoned.

It turned out that for whatever reason, summoned Otherworlders had access to powerful abilities without consequences. Mages in Durannon could be just as powerful as Otherworlders but they’d always be born with some kind of disability, from as minor as a split lip, to as major as a twisted spine. Similarly, a paladin or warrior in Durannon could train to be stronger, but they’d never become as strong, as quickly, as a warrior trained and summoned from another world.

Godfrey coughed officiously, stroking the stubble on his chin. “Today, we are going to be assessing your aptitudes. Your magic, your strength, your intelligence and whatever talents you have. After we do that, we will be explaining to you what kind of heroes and heroines you are best suited to become and assigning you mentors that will train you. To that end, we’ll be putting you through trials. If you would put away your notebooks in your lockers and follow me, we’ll be heading outside.”

“It’s going to be like P.E,” giggled one of the girls.

Frances pursed her lips. If it was P.E then it wouldn’t be too bad. But something told her this wasn’t going to be like a typical physical education class.

[hr]

Sitting down behind a tree in the training field, away from the group, Frances’s forced down her whimpers and put her lunch, a bread roll, a hunk of cheese and salted beef, and an apple by the grass. Sweat covered her olive-toned skin and she had to wipe it from her eyes as it dripped down her bangs.

She tried to bend her legs and gasped as they seized up. Shaking, she managed to sit herself down, and grab her lunch, wolfing it down hungrily.

She’d been right. They’d been put through a trial. Running laps around the field until they collapsed, yelled on by female and male trainers. They’d climbed over small hills and obstacles built from wood or earth. And countless other means of testing their endurance.

Frances knew she hadn’t done well. The bruises on her arms and back still ached and were an ugly purple under her long-sleeved shirt. She’d tried her best, but she’d never been very strong. Still, at the very end, she and her classmates put their hands on a crystal, which would glow if they had magical talent.

The small green gem had looked so innocuous, but Frances had gingerly placed her hand on it, her breath caught in her throat. She hoped it would glow. She’d done so badly in the physical trials, she knew nobody would want her as a warrior, or archer. She knew that if the crystal didn’t glow, it’d confirm what she had known all along that she was useless.

The crystal had felt cool against her palm. The moment she touched it, a bright green glow emanated from the gem. Her trapped breath had escaped with a relieved wheeze that to her embarrassment had made the examiner arch an eyebrow. She’d scurried away, head bowed, hands tucked underneath her arms.

She didn’t know how strong she was, but that was what they were going to test next. Maybe, just maybe, she had a little talent for magic.

Having finished her sandwich, Frances reached for her apple and paused as her brown eyes took in the sight of an ant on it. Gingerly, and gently, Frances picked up the bug with her fingers and sat it back on the grass, noting how weird it was for a fantasy realm, with magic of all things to have such common animals as on earth.

“Hello.”

Frances started, glancing up. A woman in trademark White Order robes was standing by one of the trees. She had a twisted spine, but wasn’t bent over like Quasimodo, rather, her spine was tilted forward so her head seemed to stick out. She did seem to use the long staff she held to support herself. Yet, from what Frances could tell by the lack of white in her black hair, and only slight creases by her green eyes, she looked in her late thirties.

“H-Hi,” she stammered.

“I’m Edana. What’s your name?”

“Frances,” she stammered. She tried not to narrow her eyes. She really did! But she didn’t know this lady. Her smile seemed to be sincere as it made little dimples on her cheeks. Yet… Frances knew her mother always grinned before she hit her, so she wasn’t taking any chances.

“Frances… a very pretty name. I saw you did your very best out there, Frances.”

Putting her apple down, Frances struggled to her feet. Bemoaning her shaking legs, she managed a practiced curtsy. She wasn’t in a dress, and was thankfully wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants emblazoned with an identifying number ‘87,’ but she thought it was pretty good. “Thank you, miss.”

The unreadable look that seemed to flash over Edana’s features froze Frances, and she averted her gaze. Did she do something wrong? The White Order teachers seemed… stern, if relaxed. She knew modern etiquette wasn’t going to work necessarily, but she hoped the gesture meant well? Or did she make some kind of insult.

“Oh there’s no need to stand on such ceremony for me, Frances. Please, sit down. I just wanted to get to know some of the otherworlders and know how you seem to be doing,” said Edana. She sat down next to Frances, who… knowing it would be awkward to stand, sat down too.

“I’m doing well, miss Edana. I like the classes. I think the teachers are very nice, and the food is good.”

“I will let the chefs know about your compliments,” said Edana. Her smile faded, into a look of concern. Genuine concern, which Frances recognized from her favorite teacher back on Earth, Mr. Thomas. “How do you feel about staying here? About training to defeat the Demon King?”

“A little nervous,” said Frances honestly. It was vague enough to be true, but not enough to offend.

“A little?” Edana asked. The mage’s green eyes narrowed, just for a moment and Frances felt her skin crawl as they seemed to see right through her. The woman wasn’t satisfied with her answer, but what should Frances say? As always, she wished that her parents hadn’t shorn her hair so short. Then she could have hid her eyes behind her hair.

Edana didn’t do anything else, though. It was then that Frances realized the woman was simply waiting for her to speak. She was still smiling. She was really just being curious.

“Everything is very new, miss. And we don’t have magic in our world,” said Frances quietly.

“Ah. Would you like to become a mage, Frances?”

Frances paused. A mage was not simply someone that could wield magic. It was a prestigious position in Durannon. Mages were advisors to rulers, able to fix problems no ordinary person, or even a group of people could fix.

Honestly, Frances was simply enthralled by magic’s possibilities. If someone as worthless as she was had such a rare talent, perhaps she could be a little less useless.

“Yes, miss.” She swallowed. Was that the right answer? She wasn’t sure how many more questions she could take. Nobody had shown such an interest in what she wanted for as long as she could remember.

Thankfully, a ringing bell, signalling the end of the break saved her.

“I’m sorry, I got to go. It was nice meeting you!” Frances squeaked. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing her things.

“It was nice meeting you too, Frances,” said Edana. She sounded cheerful, but Frances still made sure to bow to her before she ran to the field.

She was halfway to the field when a thought occurred to her. She hadn’t been just lying when she said it was nice to meet Edana. The woman had been rather nice, though, Frances doubted she would see her again.

Author's Note: Glad you all seem to enjoying this. I haven't quite figured out an update schedule per see, but I do have a large backlog of chapters. Please do comment and let me know what you think.

Link to Chapter 3