Natham Layns

“IT’S MY LIFE!”

Layns was a soft-spoken boy. He rarely raised his voice.

But every once in a while, something in him, something just snapped. Perhaps it was a defensive mechanism, perhaps it was just his body’s way of telling, it had reached its limits.

Or perhaps-

“You get lost just finding the fresh market, and you think you can just go to another country and travel alone?” His mother stared very disapprovingly.

Layns and his mother were just in front of the door, leading out. Layns had his suitcase and things packed, he was about to go on a journey halfway across the globe.

His little lister meanwhile just sat on the couch, eating chips, minding her own business.

“But if I don’t go now, I’ll never be able to leave. I’ll never be-”

“Then go with someone! Where’s that quirky friend of yours? What was his name again, Dan? Sam?” His mother had her hands on her waist. She was not happy, no.

“This has nothing to do with him.” Layns tried his best to calm down. He didn’t want to scream again. “Besides, if I can’t even travel for a week on my own, how will I live once you’re gone?” He regretted the words just as they came out of his mouth.

His mother’s lips shut tight. Even just moments ago she was so furious and she was so concerned, now though, she just pursed her lips, unable to formulate a response. She was shaken, very shaken.

Layns lived with his mother and sister. His father was dead. And soon his mother would meet the same fate.

If he couldn’t get on his own two feet now, if he couldn’t become independent, how would he live the rest of his life? How would he take care of his middle school sister?

And yet- just after saying that- Layns himself found tears welling up, threatening to come out.

His mother didn’t say a word. She just stood there, eyes shimmering. She didn’t want to cry, she had to be strong. After all, her son had said the right thing; the truth.

“Mom… I- I’m sorry.” Layns dropped the suitcase on the floor and walked closer to his mother. He didn’t want to say goodbye like this.

He was an introvert. All his life he just played games and stuck to his room. But now, now that he knew just how hard his mother was trying to make him prepared, he took it upon himself to change.

And for that, he was going to do this.

“It’s-” It’s okay- she was about to say. She knew this had to happen. She knew her son had to grow up someday. But she wanted to be there. She wanted to see him grow up….

But before the words came out- patterns appeared before Layns’ feet. Intricate patterns and odd writings. Things he’d never seen before. Transparent hands grabbed his feet and they started pulling.

He looked at the pattern, then at his mother’s face.

Both were speechless and a second later- Layns was nowhere to be found.

Gone.

“Layns!” His mother rushed over and wrapped her arms around the air.

But he was already gone.

“Wait, what happened?” His sister finally came running and held her mother tight. “What happened!?”

***

With a groan Layns opened his eyes.

He couldn’t remember what happened. And why was it so bright?

Where was he?

Grass?

Flowers?

People?

Why was he outside?

As his eyes adjusted, he realized, there were a whole bunch of robed men just staring at him, or rather the group of people who were in similar state as him, on the ground.

They were speaking a different language?

There were about six-seven people? And most of them were in their underwear or some other light clothing. Layns himself was in a short of sorts but he had his shirt and some sort of a gemstone as a necklace. His body felt slightly bulkier.

But something else caught his eyes first thing. Or rather the sensation did.

That being, there was a naked woman right next to him and his hand was touching her arm: soft. She wasn’t conscious and moaned softly in her sleep as he felt her arm.

He quickly moved back with a shriek. “What the hell? Where am I?” And crashed into another man. Or another man’s thighs to be more precise.

“Another world?” the man said. On second glance, he seemed to be the same age as Layns or maybe a year older; slightly taller. Blue eyes, blonde.

With the man’s help, Layns got up. “Another world?” He was slightly jealous of the man’s long, dreamy hair.

His own hair was thinning lately, thanks to all his worries.

“Seems likely. Pointy hats, naked woman.” He looked around and at the girl on the ground. “Weird flowers and patterns.” He was in a speedo. His junk was pressing up, and yet, he was standing there with pride, showing off his well-maintained body, proud as he could be. “Maybe we were summoned or something? Happens a lot in games and anime and all that.” He yawned and started stretching. “The name’s Durandal Primus. Call me Duran.” He winked.

Layns meanwhile- though he understood the concept. “Are you kidding me!” His blood started boiling as adrenaline pumped. He looked around and sure enough, the flowers were different. The grass was different. And even the castle in the distance was-

Wait, castle?

Pointy ears…Elves?

And, dwarves and dragons and….

Confused excitement.

‘I really am in another world!’

The sound of birds, the smell of flowers. The sensation of his bare foot on grass.

Everything was different.

“Well, don’t worry. Durandal Primus will help you out.” He winked. “Come to think of it, you’re not too shabby yourself. Good face, nicely built. You can be my sidekick if you want!” Duran came closer to Layns. He was in a good mood. “And a big di…!!!” Suddenly his eyes and cheeks twitched slightly. His puffed-up chest flattened like a punctured balloon. “Just how big are you?” He mumbled in disbelief.

Layns’ couldn’t understand what the other guy just said. But as he traced the man’s gaze, his face immediately heated up. Apparently, all his excitement had gone to the wrong place and his wood had this misconception that it was still early morning. It was a wood no more, a mighty log it was!

***

No one really explained much else.

The few people who were near him, turned out were all from another world. And this was definitely not earth.

He was glad to realize, that this only happened to him, and not his family. They were fine on the other side.

Layns was taken to a meeting room of sorts. He was provided good clothing, a ring that could translate all the different languages, and a brief explanation on what happened.

Apparently, to combat a massive war, he and some others were summoned as heroes from another world. As a hero he had mystical powers and he was going to have to fight for the people and the world.

Of course, there’d be rewards included. Monetary, physical, sexual, anything they could desire.

But they had no right to refuse, after all, the humans could only summon them. For them to return to earth, they’d need the sacred technology of the demons. And to get that, they had to first defeat the demons.

But for the time being, ‘Then, aren’t we just their slaves?’- Layns decided to just go with the flow and not think too much of it. After all, who knew what they could do to him if he were to rebel right now.

This was another world.

Didn’t he want to travel and become better?

This was his best chance!

And this was another world! Another world! magic, swords, dragons and princesses! This world had it all!

‘But mom.’ However, as the adrenaline rush had finally left him, he just sat in a room of his own, staring outside the window. ‘Please be…’ His unbuttoned shirt just flowing with the wind. Sweat dripping.

‘Where’s an air conditioner when you need one?’

It didn’t take him half a day to feel homesick and not come out of the castle room.