(Lex's POV)
"What a load of bullshit. You've been squatting here, haven't you?" Lex accused, pointing towards the mound of rubbish in the warehouse.
Herman pointed at himself.
"W-who, me? Nah, that was probably old John. He hangs around these streets, you see. Might've come in here a few nights..."
He kept the broom raised between them and gave Lex a clumsy feint with its handle.
"Couldn't have been me. I live, like, a couple of districts over?"
Lex sighed, then darted forwards and closed both hands around the broomstick.
"Give me that—put the bloody broom down!"
Herman bared his teeth.
"No!"
He wrenched the broom towards his chest. Lex planted his boots and pulled the other way, but the squatter's grip was absurdly strong. The wooden shaft flexed between them while its bristles scraped back and forth across the stone floor.
A grin crept across Herman's face.
He lifted one foot, planted it against Lex's hip and heaved with his entire body.
It might have worked if his other boot hadn't landed on an empty beer can.
The can shot away.
Herman toppled backwards, dragging Lex down with him. They struck the floor in a tangle of limbs with the broom trapped between their chests, rolled through a layer of dust and narrowly missed a patch of broken glass.
Neither man let go.
Herman tried to twist the shaft from Lex's grip. Lex hooked an elbow around it and used his weight to pin it down. Herman shoved him aside, and both men scrambled upright while remaining attached to the broom like two idiots fighting over the last weapon in the world.
They reached another standstill.
Lex's arms trembled. Herman's face had turned red. Neither had gained so much as an inch.
"Right," Lex panted. "We both let go on three. Agreed?"
Herman narrowed his eyes before nodding.
"Three..."
"Two..."
"One," they said together.
Silence.
The broom did not hit the floor.
Neither of them had released it.
"You were supposed to let go!" Herman snapped.
"So were you!"
"I'm older. I need the extra security."
Lex scoffed.
Yeah, right.
They were hardly evenly matched in strength or technique. The contest had lasted this long only because neither was willing to surrender.
Before Lex could think of another way to end the struggle, a muffled commotion reached them from beyond the shopfront.
Both men fell quiet.
The sounds were distant, but they carried a rhythm—several voices speaking over one another.
That sounds almost coherent... Are those people?
Then the terminal's words returned to him.
This is a different world.
Lex's grip loosened.
Herman immediately tore the broom free, tucked it beneath one arm and pushed Lex against the wall. His other hand clamped over Lex's mouth.
"Shh! You hear that? We're not alone."
His eyes remained fixed on the door leading to the shopfront.
Lex shook himself free.
"Get your filthy hand off my mouth, squatter," he whispered.
Herman glared at him.
"Filthy? I'll have you know—"
"That isn't the point—"
The system's voice cut through their argument.
[ Unknown entities are interacting with the mana barrier. ]
[ CCTV unavailable. Threat level cannot be confirmed. ]
Lex's gaze darted around the warehouse, searching for the source of the voice.
"Unknown entities? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You're the owner. You tell me!" Herman hissed.
Lex gave him a deadpan stare.
"Enough. Get off me. We have a bigger problem."
He pushed Herman away. The older man retreated a step, although he kept the broom at his side.
"Then I think it's time you explained what the fuck is happening," Herman said, waiting as though Lex owed him a full report.
"How about your name first?"
"Herman. Now tell me what's going on."
"Right, Herman. I'm Lex." He folded his arms. "And I don't know."
Herman raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know?"
"No!" Lex threw both hands into the air. "I have no idea what's happening."
He paced across the warehouse.
"My grandfather left this store to me. It was the only thing in my inheritance, and today was my first time setting foot inside it."
Herman crossed his arms and waited.
"I opened that metal door, found some kind of talking terminal and answered one question. The next thing I knew, the entire building was shaking."
Lex gestured helplessly towards the walls.
"Apparently, the store transported us to another world, and we're stuck here for nearly twenty-four hours."
Herman waved one hand dismissively.
"Of course. What next? You going to tell me magic exists?"
Lex stared at him without the slightest trace of amusement.
Herman's hand slowly fell.
He studied Lex's face, searching for any hint of a joke. When he found none, his mouth dropped open.
"What the hell? You're serious?"
"I've already told you I am. I don't know where we are, why the store brought us here or what those 'unknown entities' want. All I know is that they're touching something called a mana barrier."
Herman thought for a moment.
"Then we go and look. They might not be hostile. They could be every bit as curious as we are."
Lex grimaced.
"I'd rather stay in here until they leave."
It seemed like the sensible choice. There could have been anything—or anyone—waiting beyond the front door.
Herman did not share his caution.
"Pussy."
He turned and headed towards the shopfront.
"I'm going to have a look. You can hide here if you want."
Lex frowned and hurried after him.
"I'm the owner, damn it. I'm not letting some squatter inspect my store before I do."
Herman smirked.
"That's more like it."
* * *
(Lex's POV — Outside the Store)
"Huh," Lex said.
Herman slowly nodded.
"Huh."
They stood side by side on lush grass where a busy street had existed less than an hour ago, both with their arms folded and one hand pressed thoughtfully to their chins.
The ruined store sat beneath a vast translucent dome. Its surface was almost invisible until the light caught it, sending pale ripples across the air like sunlight over water.
Beyond the barrier waited a group of short, armed figures.
"People?" Herman asked.
Lex shook his head.
"Goblins."
"How do you know? I thought you had no idea what was happening. Don't tell me you were lying."
"I wasn't lying. Games and books, man. Have you never played an RPG?"
Herman shook his head.
Lex scratched his cheek.
"They're like larger, green, rough-looking garden gnomes with pointed ears."
He considered that description.
"They're usually depicted as violent, stupid and vulgar, but that comes from fiction."
Herman stared at the figures gathered beyond the dome.
"They don't look particularly vulgar. A bit confused, perhaps."
He was right. They neither looked nor behaved like the creatures Lex knew from games. Their green skin, pointed ears and small humanoid frames made the resemblance obvious, but there was nothing mindless about them.
Most stood between four and five feet tall. They wore proper clothing rather than the rags and loincloths Lex had expected, with padded gambesons beneath mismatched pieces of leather armour. Each carried a roughly made spear.
A scouting party, Lex guessed. Probably sent to investigate the enormous dome that just appeared in their forest.
"You know we can hear you, right?" one of the goblins called.
He stood at the centre of the group and was tall enough to tower over the others. His equipment was of noticeably finer quality: black lamellar armour edged in green, two dark-green sabres crossed over his back and several gold studs driven through his broad nose. A white mohawk ran over his scalp.
His small yellow eyes were fixed directly upon them.
Lex and Herman glanced at each other.
"They can understand us," they said together.
Herman took a step forwards, but Lex thrust an arm across his chest.
"Let me do the talking," he whispered. "You'll only piss them off."
Herman scoffed, yet reluctantly stepped back.
Lex moved closer to the barrier. Only then did it occur to him that he actually had to speak.
Brilliant. I stopped Herman from doing something stupid, and now I'm responsible for whatever comes next. Maybe I should have let him try.
The goblin cleared his throat.
"I am Head Scout Vargis of the honourable Tribe Guram. Under the orders of the great Chieftain Guram, we came to investigate the tremors originating from the heart of Durim Forest."
His voice was confident, although his gaze moved cautiously between the two humans and the magical barrier separating them.
"Explain your presence. What are your intentions within these lands?"
Lex rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well, Head Scout Vargis, I suppose the simplest answer is..."
Vargis's eyes narrowed. One subtle motion of his fingers brought every spear behind him into a ready position.
They're wary of us. Why did I phrase it like that?
"Go on," Vargis said, his voice dropping lower.
Lex let out an awkward laugh.
"We're setting up shop here."
Vargis's shoulders lowered.
"A shop? As in a store?"
"Y-yeah. We'll sell food, water, drinks, household supplies, alcohol, nicotine—the usual things. Maybe some unusual things too. I can't say for certain because we're still setting everything up."
They probably don't know what half of those things are.
Vargis stared at him.
"You mean to tell me that you intend to open a store in the middle of Durim Forest?"
The scouts behind him exchanged confused looks and began murmuring.
"Are these humans idiots?" one whispered.
"They are either ignorant or lunatics. Perhaps both."
Every word worsened the feeling in Lex's stomach.
"Um... yes? Is there something wrong with that?"
Vargis shook his head in disbelief.
"Something wrong with it? Do you even know where you are?"
Lex and Herman stared back blankly.
"You stand in the heart of Durim Forest: the home of monsters, surrounded by the territories of countless races. And you chose here to establish a shop?"
He gestured towards the trees.
"Your only customers will be monsters and the occasional adventurer foolish enough to enter this deep."
The colour drained from Lex's face.
So the terminal didn't just drag us into another world. It dropped us in the centre of a deadly forest filled with monsters. Did it malfunction?
Another, colder thought followed.
What happens if they realise we're nothing more than two ordinary humans?
Images from games and films flashed through his mind: goblins razing villages, dragging people from burning homes and grinning over the remains.
"A-ah... Well, you see—"
A hand settled upon his shoulder.
Herman leaned close.
"I don't think our problem was me pissing them off," he whispered. "It was you making us look like fools."
He stepped around Lex.
"Herman, wait—"
The older man ignored him and faced the goblins with both hands in his pockets.
"I assure you, Head Scout Vargis, we know exactly where we are," Herman said, his expression perfectly calm.
He opened his arms in welcome.
"Our company does not care for race. We will serve anyone, regardless of the colour of their skin, the length of their ears or the sharpness of their teeth. You and your people will be welcome here once the store is operational."
Vargis studied him, then turned his attention towards the barrier. His eyes traced its surface, narrowing as though he were trying to see something hidden inside it.
His head suddenly snapped back towards Herman.
"Wait. What did you just say?"
Herman raised an eyebrow.
"That we don't care whether you're green, white, black or anything else."
Vargis shook his head.
"Is that true? You would allow goblins to purchase your goods?"
"Of course. You've been more polite than the kid beside me, at least."
Lex glared at the back of his head.
"If you have money to spend and don't cause trouble, you're welcome. The same rule applies to everyone."
For the first time, Vargis appeared genuinely unsettled.
"I-interesting."
He cleared his throat and straightened his armour.
"I must discuss this with my tribe before offering any answer. However, I realise you have not yet given me your names."
"Herman Staul." Herman pointed towards Lex. "And this is the owner, Lex Peckham."
Vargis stood straighter.
"Herman and Lex, I look forward to seeing what becomes of your store."
He extended one hand towards the dome.
Lex expected his palm to strike an invisible wall. Instead, the barrier rippled around Vargis's fingers and admitted his hand while holding firm around his wrist.
Every goblin behind him stiffened.
Herman's grin widened. He stepped forwards and clasped the offered hand, giving it a vigorous shake.
The barrier released Vargis the moment they parted.
Vargis stared at the fading ripples for a heartbeat before turning to his scouts and whistling sharply.
"We move. If we leave now, we'll reach the tribe before sundown."
"Sir!"
The scouts saluted and followed their head scout into the forest.
* * *
(Vargis' POV)
As Vargis led his party through the glades of Durim Forest, he could not stop thinking about the humans, their store or the impossible magic surrounding it.
What merchant company openly sells to monsters? Are they fools?
His jaw tightened.
It would be the stupidest story I'd ever heard if not for those tremors and that barrier.
He had attempted to appraise the spell while speaking to the humans. His Magic Sight had revealed nothing. The barrier had been completely invisible to his senses, even while it resisted his touch and then somehow decided to admit his hand.
No ordinary spell behaved that way.
If the tremors had been caused by the same magic, no ordinary goblin could hope to stand against its owner.
I need Wraith's help with this.
Vargis stopped and looked back in the direction of the store.
The humans were reckless. Possibly mad.
But if their offer was genuine, Tribe Guram could gain access to goods no other tribe would dare approach humans to obtain.
If we earn their favour before anyone else, our tribe could flourish.