AI: Artificial Isekai

I arrive at Elisa's house. Ania's marvelous creations are securely stored in a bag I'm carrying, awaiting to be worn with great anticipation.

The elf greets me, still in a casual outfit, "Hey." She motions at my own casual clothing. "With how much you've been gushing about your shopping trip and personal designers, I expected you to come ready."

"And risk damaging my precious attire?"

Elisa shakes her head with a grin. "It's adorable how you seem to enjoy the most mundane things so much."

"Coming from someone that thinks grinding is the pinnacle of game design."

"I stand by that belief," she says. We both chuckle.

"While the novelty might expire with time, what I enjoyed most was the company. And that will never lose its appeal."

She smiles at me, motioning at the bag I'm carrying. "Let's see it."

"How about a double reveal?"

Elisa looks surprised, but then nods, starting to head for her bedroom. And without turning back, she says, "No peeking."

Through a flustered frenzy, I somehow manage to change. After around twenty minutes, she comes back.

Alright. Okay. Oh boy. And etcetera. Do I keep stretching this single moment as far as my perception can allow, or do I let time resume its flow? Both options are suboptimal. A deep digital breath in. And... resume.

"Very handsome," Elisa says. "I see why you had such high praise."

"And you as well." 'And you as well'? Who says that... Doesn't even make sense as a reply.

"Thank you." She sits down and waits for me to join her. When I do, she continues, "Still some time left. Do you want to go over the plan for tonight?"

"We never made a plan."

"Exactly."

"Don't tell everyone I'm an AI from Earth, and we should be good."

Elisa leans against me with some force. "Hey. I've been to thousands of these. If anyone's going to be a problem, it's you." Then she continues in a much more serious tone, "Do you need me to do something?"

"Just enjoy yourself. It's too early for me to follow any major projections. Let them make the first move."

Elisa sighs, relaxing fully against me. "Has your opinion of Princess Khi'Na changed?"

"No. She'll... She'll make the right choices. I know it."

After a blissful stretch of time, Elisa glances at a clock on the wall out of habit. She stands up and smooths down any creases with a precise spell. When I stand up too, she uses the same spell on me.

"Thank you, Elisa."

"Ready?" she asks. I nod.

In the next instant, we are in the foyer of the fanciest restaurant in all of Harthes—The Allure. Pretentious names appear to cross dimensions. Food's amazing though so I can forgive the transgression.

One of the staff is already waiting for us. Our arrival does not faze her even a bit, prompting her to smile. She welcomes us and guides us deeper in.

The Allure, ever popular as it is, is entirely filled with patrons. A stone floor, covered with a soft black carpet, combined with crimson curtains covering the large windows and most of the walls, drink up the enchanted lights dotting the ceiling, and make the space not really dark itself, but rather, welcoming, like you can just plunge into the dim atmosphere and forget you are surrounded by people.

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Hardly anyone reacts to our presence, mostly glancing out of instinct than anything else, then quickly returning to their meals and their company.

Familiar beastfolk security are interspersed throughout, pretending to be statues and attempting to simply blend into the background. The ones outside the building have much more success by employing their stealth abilities.

We are guided to a somewhat isolated section of the dining floor. The person that welcomed us motions to a semi-occupied table and returns to her other duties.

Kor'To and Khi'Na stand at the same time. Kor'To is wearing Union formal wear. Pants, shirt, and a simple blazer. The dark blue fabric is durable and tough, inspired by more functional alternatives. While the lining is soft and comfortable, moving the clothing from mundane to luxurious. Khi is wearing the same type of outfit. Though hers is maroon, hugs her form a touch more, and the blazer is distinctly shorter. The clothing has also been modified to allow for a tail. The finishing touches are shiny leather shoes.

In contrast, my beastfolk-style attire is a lot more daring. Charcoal gray pants, embroidered with various designs using white thread. A deep orange shirt, partially unbuttoned and loose, covered by a charcoal gray vest, embroidered with even more designs. The most prominent shape is on the left side of my chest, right on top of my heart, where the traditional crest would stand. It's something I quickly sketched for Ania to add. Entirely meaningless to anyone else but those that carry the knowledge. Three eccentric circles. The biggest is yellow. The smallest is gray. The one in the middle is blue. A short scarf, made out of the same deep orange cloth, is tied around my neck. My shoes are light, crafted out of sturdy fabric.

Elisa has bound her fluffy hair in a short ponytail, tied together with a teal ribbon, while still leaving a few choice locks free. A teal dress, resembling a toga, is draped around her body. The fabric shimmers under the enchanted lights. Each individual glimmer is a tiny sparkling speck, creating the illusion of a nebula filled with bright stars. Flat teal shoes complete the outfit. As I observe every detail again, I find it difficult to even look away from her dazzling radiance.

Khi smiles widely at us. "It seems we had the same idea, Lucius." She extends a hand toward Elisa. "Archmage Elisa, thank you for indulging my invitation. And thank you for molding such a fine student." Kor'To simply bows at the end of his ward's greeting.

Elisa shakes the offered hand. "Your thanks are much appreciated, Your Highness. And how could I decline. It is a great honor to even be considered."

Khi smiles politely again but does not sit back down. As Kor'To starts to move away and joins the other security in pretending to be a statue, the pieces assemble themselves.

Right as I send a few paragraphs of text to Elisa, hoping she doesn't react with unnatural eye movement, electricity crackles next to the table, arcing from somewhere in the air to the floor, dispersing into another beastfolk. She is tall. The tallest beastfolk of those I've met personally. She is wearing just an embroidered white shirt and pants, the stretched fabric displaying her well-defined musculature. Golden hair falls down her back, twisting wildly, and appearing even longer as it connects to her golden-furred tail. On the left side of her chest is her crest, the bloodied claws of the Ruler.

After swiftly reorientating herself from the long-distance teleport, Sovereign Rak'Na turns to Elisa and me, her voice husky and playful. "Apologies for being late." She smiles happily "You must be Archmage Elisa of Deepgrove and Mr. Lucius Doe." While Elisa keeps a neutral expression, I've adopted quite the shocked one. "I hope my surprise addition is not a bother? I couldn't bear the thought of not meeting the brave adventurer that is helping keep my daughter safe. And his distinguished teacher."

Elisa replies, "Not a bother at all, Your Majesty. Quite the opposite actually."

"Good, good," Rak'Na says. "Please, sit." As we make ourselves comfortable, she turns to Khi, her gaze lingering for a few seconds. Then she quickly snaps back to Elisa and me. "My daughter tells me it is snowing outside, though you couldn't tell by how well this restaurant is heated. I always did hate the cold. But it has been a great motivator to improve my teleportation."

"Your reputation precedes you, Your Majesty," Elisa replies. "Your spell was a flawless display of magic."

Rak'Na laughs. "Oh my, an Archmage complimenting my spellcasting? Can this night get any better." She then raises her hand, getting the attention of one of the servers. "Let's order. I am absolutely famished."

While Elisa and the Sovereign are discussing the options with a server that looks completely unbothered by the monarch, I glance at Khi. The look I get in return attempts to remain neutral and polite, but I see a brief flash of regret. I give her a wink, earning myself a flash of an emotion I can't recognize. Choice number one will soon be made.

I join the menu discussion, "'Rain on a sunny day' does sound intriguing." It's like someone sat down and attempted to come up with the most confusing and entirely unrelated name for a course to have. And yet, I still have to begrudgingly relent that it indeed does sound intriguing.

Rak'Na asks the table, "Four, then?" Elisa affirms. Khi distractedly nods in acknowledgement. The Sovereign adds, addressing the server, "And a bottle of your finest wine, please. Whatever you think will pair best."

Our food ordered, it's time to see if Elisa's boasts hold true.