THE MOMENT
Ethan's new friends were quick to anger. He started his day in a new world without entirely understanding the mechanics of how he got there. He signed up for an 'Isekai Service' assuming it was a joke and, he was pleasantly surprised when he woke up in a field near a large castle. After a moment of panic, he calmed down and realized he had his wish; including his chosen Class. Ethan was a Wizard now and his first quest led him into the castle to learn more.
He was welcomed by strangers who happily took the time to answer his basic questions and help him along. He occasionally, accidentally, referred to his previous life and raised some eyebrows; but, for the most part, the group he fell in with seemed nice. But, like waking up in a new world, things changed quickly.
"Yeah, I hadn't thought about it, but I'm starving," Ethan nodded and smiled as he walked down the stone corridor with the group. They were leading him to the training hall to see what he could do, and discussing lunch for after. "...I haven't eaten since last night; I had Five Guys."
"YOU SCOUNDREL!" The Storm Wizard turned and faced Ethan; his face was red with anger and his lip quivering lip hinted at the man's overflowing emotions. The other three wizards also froze and surrounded Ethan; they cornered him against a dim corner with each one visibly upset. It wasn't that they didn't give him their names; but, he was so distracted by everything else, that their unwieldly names were difficult to keep straight. One of them was Waqirax Manaheart, another was Makkorax Rockhart, and the third was Ophelix Manastone. The group surrounding Ethan consisted of four mages; but, he did not know which one was missing a name, or what it was. It had been a full morning.
"Wait- I can explain!" he tried to defend himself without having to address any of them directly.
"What is there to explain, you said you ate Five Guys!" the Storm Wizard seemed to be the leader, and the angriest one. "Your kind is not welcome within these walls!" he added. "Perhaps we should make an example of you."
"No! Wait, you don't understand! It's fast food!" Ethan spewed out the words in a panic; but, it only made them angrier.
"CEASE YOUR YAMMERING!" the Storm Wizard yelled; this time his anger came with echoing thunder in the stone hallway. Ethan was suddenly very worried about what a Wizard could do to him; but, then another sound filled the hall. It was a fast, loud bark; deep like thunder but somehow more threatening. The four mages immediately stepped back and Ethan followed their gaze down the hall.
A large white wolf stood there next to a teenage girl with light brown hair. Her outfit was different than the mage robes surrounding Ethan. She wore contemporary blue jeans with a t-shirt. That was enough to get Ethan's attention; but, she also wore a holster on her hip with a visible, gleaming emerald gun.
"I'm just passing through, and so is he," the girl gestured at Ethan. "We'll be gone in a minute; go play somewhere else," she said.
"So be it...," the Storm Wizard mumbled and turned to walk the other way with his group. But, he gave Ethan some parting advice under his breath. "Do not return with your barbaric assertions on your lips; the Wizard's guild has no room for the unclean and unworthy." As they left, the wolf followed them out, as if herding them away. And, the girl approached Ethan.
"Hey, you good? I'm Astra," she smiled and offered him a handshake.
"Ethan...," he shook her hand; but, he focused on her gun. "Are you a Wizard?" he asked.
"Spellslinger," Astra nodded with her answer. "I can equip Wizard spells; what about you?"
"Trickster Wizard," he said.
"An unofficial spec, huh? That's cool," she nodded and Ethan wasn't sure what she meant. "Well, I promised those guys we're leaving so, where can I put you?" she asked.
"I guess... the nearest town, if you don't mind," he nodded.
"I don't, but they will," she giggled as she tilted her head down the hall. The wolf was on his way back. "They're gonna want you off this Earth."
"Huh?" that was a sentence he never expected to hear.
"Huh?" Astra tilted her head at him with her version of the same question.
"*BARK*" The wolf spoke up and sat next to Astra.
"Of course, he knows, he already made a character," she answered the wolf, then turned back to Ethan. "This is my buddy, Ben," she said.
"Hi, Ben," he nodded, "What do I know?" he asked the follow-up.
"You're on an AlterNet Server," she said. "You knew that, right?"
"Alternate what?" he asked. Ben gave a small, happy bark when he was proven right.
"Alter, as in 'alternative'," she paused. "Net, 'network'. How'd you make a character if you don't know what the AlterNet is?"
"I signed up for an Isekai service...," he answered. "I told them what character I wanted and here I am in a magical world....,"
"Ohhh, no wonder they were giving you a hard time," Astra nodded. "Still being jerks about it; but, it makes sense. Anyway, this is an alternate Earth; the whole world is a game server. There's a ton more to explain; but, we can do that somewhere else..," she made a dismissive gesture at the air and a tall black portal opened. It looked like a hole in reality. As soon as it was open, Ben walked through it.
"They were giving me a hard time because they think I'm a cannibal," he said. The moment was gone; but, Astra seemed nice. And, he still felt like he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding with someone.
"No they don't," she shook her head with a smile.
"Yes," he insisted. "I told them I ate Five Guys; but, I meant a restaurant chain in my past life... I guess on my Earth."
"THAT is why they were mad," she giggled. "This is what's known as an 'RP Server', and they take it a little too seriously sometimes. They're trying to play out their fantasy and they don't like to be reminded of modern conveniences like fast food. It breaks the immersion."