Lys stared at Angga, her expression frozen in shock. The name didn't make sense to her—it was strange, unfamiliar.
"He's waking up," Lys whispered to Úlrey.
Úlrey, still clutching her knife, remained positioned protectively behind Lys.
"Angga… Sagara?"
Angga gave a faint nod, still dazed—like someone just waking from a dream. He looked at his hands and clothes, then at the surrounding room, utterly confused.
"This... isn't Stonehenge," he murmured, eyes wide with panic.
Úlrey and Lys exchanged bewildered glances.
"What's he saying? I don't understand a word," Úlrey said.
"Me neither," Lys replied.
"Where am I!? What place is this!?" Angga repeated, frantic.
"I just walked past a stone and then... I ended up here?!" The light from the magic circle on the floor began to fade, finally extinguishing completely.
"The circle… it's dead," Lys murmured, watching intently.
Úlrey, observing Angga, spoke. "Hey, who are you…? Where are you from?" He hand, still gripping her knife, remained vigilant against any sudden attack.
Angga, beginning to calm down, looked at Úlrey and Lys. He stared at the long-eared figures, bewildered. He initially thought they were cosplaying, but upon closer inspection, realized those were real ears.
With a bewildered expression, he asked, "Are you… actually Elves?"
Úlrey and Lys were slightly taken aback. It was obvious they were Elves. "Yes, so what? Don't like it?" Úlrey retorted, slightly provoked by the question.
Lys, beside her, calmed Úlrey, urging her not to react rashly.
Lys asked again, "Human, where are you from? How did you get here?"
Angga replied, "I just arrived. I don't know how I got here. The last thing I saw was a sudden flash of light that pulled me in."
Lys hesitated, then answered honestly, "If you came through that magic circle, then… for now… we don't know how to reactivate it."
Angga quickly raised his head. "Wait—what do you mean? I… I'm trapped here?"
Silence descended upon the underground chamber. Angga stood slowly, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "This place… it looks ancient. Like ruins… but not ordinary ruins."
"You're clearly not from around here," Úlrey said, her tone still guarded. Úlrey said, remaining wary. "Your clothes… hair… the way you speak… everything seems strange."
Angga sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Of course it's strange. I don't belong here. I'm just a regular guy..." A university student. I live in England, studying there. I was… I was just at Stonehenge for my final project research!"
Lys tilted her head, seemingly understanding Angga's meaning. "A university student… so you're an educated person?"
Angga simply nodded.
Úlrey let out a short breath. "Alright. Then let's be honest. You say you're from another world. First, you have to listen to us, and second, never tell anyone you emerged from a magic circle. That sort of thing… isn't something you can just casually mention."
Lys added, "And you appeared in the ruins of the Old Cathedral, on top of a First Age magic circle. You should realize how dangerous it would be if someone knew that?"
"All of our lives could be at risk."
Angga felt a chill run down his spine at this. He had thought that being in a world with magic meant freedom to use it. But here, it was forbidden.
"Why? Why are our lives at stake?" he asked, a shiver running down his spine; his current situation felt incredibly dangerous.
Lys then explained the history of the situation, detailing the human oppression of the Elves in this world.
Angga could only accept the realities of this alien world. It was vastly different from his expectations of another world. No system, no adventurer's guild, no heroes or demon kings like in isekai anime. Only fear, caution, and the taboo of magic.
—They had been in the cathedral for quite some time. Úlrey and Lys decided to move Angga away from the place.
"We need to get out of here, before something happens."
At Lys's signal, Úlrey and Angga readied themselves to leave the chamber.
They walked slowly, constantly watching their surroundings, Úlrey ready with her knife.
After navigating a rather dark staircase,—they emerged from the cathedral, stealthily avoiding the guards around it.
The guards looked more like 19th-century policemen than knights—dark uniforms, old-style pistols in their belts.
He felt the civilization here was very similar to the Victorian era, the only differences being the existence of magic and non-human races.
Angga followed Úlrey and Lys through the crumbling ruins of the almost time-forgotten cathedral. Cold air seeped through the cracks in their cloaks and jackets. The night was so dark, the shadows seemed to crawl on their own, causing Angga to constantly look behind him.
However, unlike before, his expression was now more stable. His breathing was calmer. He was still confused, but he understood what to do in this situation. His instincts were slowly kicking in.
The three of them traversed a narrow path bordered by crumbling old brick walls. Their footsteps were deliberately muffled. None of them spoke. Even Úlrey, usually vocal, was silent.
Suddenly, from around a corner, they heard heavy footsteps. The sharp clank of metal boots echoed on the stone floor.
Lys immediately signaled them to stop.
"The Captain of the Guard," she whispered softly. "They usually patrol at this hour."
Úlrey gripped her knife tighter. Her eyes flicked to Angga, silently asking a question—Ready?
Angga simply nodded. His hand slowly reached for something under his jacket—a thin leather belt with a small metal hook. He took a position behind a brick pillar, holding his breath.
Two uniformed officers passed directly in front of their hiding place. One of them glanced towards the alley where they were hiding, causing Lys to nearly gasp.
But the officer continued walking. They passed. Safe.
As soon as their footsteps faded, the three of them moved again.
Úlrey, Lys, and Angga moved quickly after the guards passed. The path led them out of the ruins of the Old Cathedral and into a small road filled with a light mist and trees. The scent of damp earth and old stone filled the air.
"East, into the forest," Lys whispered. "There's shelter there."
Úlrey only nodded, still vigilant. She didn't like walking at night, especially after seeing the active magic circle. Something else might happen.
Angga followed them, his gaze fixed ahead. His head was filled with unanswered questions. This world was so foreign, yet not entirely magical. There were no blinding lights or terrifying monsters like in games or anime. Only fear, caution, and the taboo of magic.
After a few minutes, they arrived at a small house with mossy stone walls and narrow windows. The house was nestled in a dense forest shrouded in mist, hidden from view.
Lys knocked three times, then twice more. A kind of code. Soon, the door opened slowly. An old man with long gray hair and long ears appeared in the doorway.
"...Lys? It's the middle of the night."
"We need shelter. It's urgent, Master Vaingard."
The old man's eyes narrowed, then he nodded. "Come in quickly, before anyone sees you."
Once they were inside, the door was locked securely.
The house was small but warm. An oil lamp in the corner provided a dim yellow light. Angga looked around. Thick leather-bound books filled the wooden shelves, while the faint scent of dried herbs and burning candles hung in the air.
Vaingard, the house's owner, looked Angga up and down. "A human from another world, yes?"
"How did you know?" Angga asked, slightly wary.
"First Age magic circles only activate for one reason: to create inter-reality links. "You're not the first."