"I can't believe we're actually about to be in Alzaras!" exclaimed 13-year-old Ishaan Banerjee, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Bro, we must have spent all our luck honestly, like no way we just won tickets to a festival that is like a once… no, like never in a lifetime opportunity."
His older brother, 17-year-old Aaron Banerjee, gazed out the window with a calm demeanour. "Well, I'm hoping it lives up to all the hype," he replied, a hint of curiosity evident in his tone.
Alzaras, one of the last monarchies between Germany and France, was a country still home to small brick houses, cobblestone streets with street lamps that took one back to early 19th-century England, and chimneys that worked in winter — a true gem waiting to be discovered.
The moment the plane landed and the doors opened, Ishaan burst out like a tightly wound spring, his enthusiasm spilling over. "Holy cow!! The air is too clean, man —" he coughed, "— lungs not adjusting," he exclaimed, looking around as if enchanted by the mountains and greenery.
Aaron chuckled softly. "Bro, we can work out the air situation later. Right now, two others may need to adjust a bit more than just with the air," he remarked, nodding toward their parents.
Just behind them, Mr and Mrs Banerjee stumbled out of the plane looking pale and disoriented, as if they had encountered a ghost in broad daylight.
"Boys, before we do anything else, we need to get to our hotel. Fast," Mrs Banerjee said, her complexion as white as a dehydrated ghost, her hand pressed against her mouth as if staving off nausea.
"Uh… right now I feel like the entire world is spinning… Ughhhhhh!" Mr Banerjee groaned, doubling over.
Ishaan and Aaron shared a glance, and then, with a sigh, Aaron rushed to complete the formalities while Ishaan collected their baggage and parents.
After gathering their bags and hailing a taxi, they immersed themselves in the sights of Alzaras.
As Aaron looked out the window and saw cobblestone streets with street lamps that looked like gas light lamps but were electric, and digital billboards beside old brick facades, it struck him — "It is truly a world appearing to be stuck in medieval times and yet cleaner and smarter than many cities in India."
"Aaron, are you sure we haven't been isekaied? Because it sure feels like it," Ishaan exclaimed with the joy of a 5-year-old, excitement bubbling over as he pointed at a towering structure. "That building there! It looks just like an adventurer's guild from one of those anime! "
"True, but let's keep our focus on reaching the inn safely for now. And for god's sake, call me brother," Aaron replied, his voice steady with a hint of frustration as he sketched the scenery outside with his pencil.
"Ok, BROOO!!!!" Ishaan gave a huge grin, knowing it would annoy him.
As they entered the resort and completed the formalities, they looked at their parents, who, if anything, looked worse than when they'd landed. Which was saying something.
As they got their room keys, the parents rushed off much faster and more impatiently than the boys. Still, before vanishing, Mrs Banerjee looked around and, with her pale expression, said, "Since we might not be able to tour the city just yet, you can go enjoy the view, but please be careful," her voice echoing down the hall as she and Mr Banerjee retreated, murmuring a prayer to Durga Maa for strength and health.
As Aaron and Ishaan entered the small, cosy room — which recreated the feeling of a noble Englishman's mountain cabin, with a study table, a brick chimney, and firewood stacked beside it — and started unpacking, Ishaan came up to Aaron.
"WELLLLLLL…" Ishaan shot Aaron a side-eyed glance. It was so obvious what he wanted that a blind person could read his intentions.
"Fine, anyway, they've given their permission," Aaron sighed as if somebody had stolen his artwork. "But first, let's change into something comfy."
"Naaaa, we can change once we return," and as Ishaan finished his sentence, he grabbed Aaron's arm and pulled him straight to the gate of the resort.
"Well, Alzaras, here we come!" Ishaan screamed, swinging his arms as if trying to take off like a very free bird — or more like a hawk.
"God protect Alzaras," cried Aaron.