“I don’t think I introduced myself properly. I’m Zantar, First in Command. You must be Sir Krystal. I’ve heard about you from the king.” Zantar said, putting a heavy hand on my shoulder. 

The name felt familiar, but I didn’t have time to figure out why before he patted my shoulder, hard, and continued, “I could learn a thing or two from you.”

“Yeah you could,” I said and then remembered who I was supposed to be and who I was talking to. “I mean, thank you… Sir?” 

“I heard you had many innovative ideas. It’s quite informative to see them in action. You’re pretty good. I’m surprised you’re not the Commander here.”

“Honestly, that’s probably the publisher’s fault.” Was my instant reply, thinking of Tiara and how she was clearly the most badass character in the book before I caught myself, “I mean… yeah. I wouldn’t look as cool in that armor as you, though.”

He laughed. “You do look great in that armor. It really smoothes out your form.” His expression changed rapidly from a smile to panic. “Er—in that it makes you look more intimidating.”

What an odd comment. I could only say, “Thank you.”

But for some reason, it sounded very specific and familiar.

Somewhat like…

I pulled out Dawn or Knightfall and quickly skimmed through it.

Yes, there.

Knight Commander Zantar looked intimidating, but was a nice person at heart. “Your new armor looks great on you, Sir Tiara, it really smoothes out your curves,” he said, looking me up and down. 

“Thanks… I guess.” I told him, not knowing if it was a compliment or an insult.

Almost the exact same scene, word for word.

Wait…

Fuck.

Zantar was the love interest of the book! That’s why the name felt so familiar.

“Sir Krystal? What are you doing with your hands?” Zantar asked, looking at me weirdly.

“Oh, it’s just, uh, my fight diary. I like to note down strategies and such. Helps me improve,” I said, scrambling for any excuse. 

Would it create some kind of paradox, or wormhole, or something? If the characters read about themselves and realized they were in a book?

“Diary? But your hands are empty. Are you doing a mind diary? I’ve heard of that practice. I thought only the ancient mages could still study that technique,” He asked in awe, and looked at me like he was expecting me to… do something.

A magic trick, maybe?

And what was he talking about with my hands being empty? The book was right here.

“Yes, uhm, the mind book. That’s totally what I’m doing. A mage came to me in a dream or something.” My mind could not keep up with my mouth, or this world in general. I was clearly standing with an open book, so why couldn’t he see it?

 “So… uh… where’s our squad?” I asked, changing the subject. If I was going to question every single thing in this world, my blue hair would turn gray before I ever got past chapter six.

Zantar turned and pointed at a group of four knights, standing a bit off to the side and staring at us intently.

So these were the other side characters I would spend my time with, here.

The tallest one looked as normal as could be. Dark hair, dark eyes, and a face most people would consider conventionally attractive. He stood at perfect attention, back straight, like he was ready to march into battle, right here right now.

Next to him was a shorter fellow with a smile stretched from ear to ear. His hair was tight curls that were bouncing up and down with him in what I could only imagine was pure excitement. I didn’t know what was so amusing about going on a world-ending quest, but as long as he was having a good time with it.

The man to his right was… big. Not necessarily tall, but wide. Buff as all hell. I was surprised he fit into that armor without his arms popping through the metal. Damn, dude. I didn’t remember anyone from the book being described as a monstrous bodybuilder.

Lastly there was the most normal looking guy ever. Sorta skinny, sorta muscular. Not too tall, not too short. Pale complexion that practically matched the silver of his armor. I’d have hardly noticed him if he hadn’t been slowly sharpening a knife while he waited... and the fact that his hair was as red as blood.

This was them… I guess.

Without further ado, we went over to them. The smallest of them looked up at me with sparkles in his eyes “Wow, you fight real good, lady!”

“Thank you, kid,” I said, trying to be polite and not mention how the fucking commander just fought… Real bad… 

“I’m not a kid!” He said in a childish voice that did nothing to make his point. “I’m Pip. Nice to meet ya!” 

Another name that sounded familiar. He was the fun little brother-type for the group, right?. 

A hand came up and smacked Pip on the back of his head.

“You will address the second in command as Sir Krystal, not lady,” the tall, dark haired one said, and then turned to me, “And you can call me Vincent.”

Vincent, he was the one who was a stickler for rules, I think.

“And I’m tired of introductions. I’m Blaze, this is bla, that is ha, tadaa. Can we go murder something now?” the one with the knife cut in, shoving it into a holster on his thigh. He had that shit tied around the whole length of the armor on his leg.

Zantar? Blaze? The fuck was up with these names? Wasn’t this supposed to be the sixteenth century?

Blaze was a very… murderous character. Kill first, ask later kind of guy.

All right, well that left one last character. The sad, brooding one who—

“Now, now, Blaze, it’s a beautiful day and we’re meeting new and amazing people. You’re so pretty by the way. HI! I’m Leo,” the monster of a man said, taking my hand and shaking my arm so hard I was scared he would pull it clean off. 

Dude could not control his strength.

Just as I thought I knew what was going on, Leo shook my body as well as my mind. He was supposed to be shy and broody and not a ray of sunshine that could use my spine as a toothpick if he so wanted.

I looked to Zantar for help, but he was eyeing Vincent up and down. I could understand that. Vincent’s armor was the cleanest one amongst us, and looked very cool. Not that Zantar lost in that department, though I had messed his armor up a lot during our fight.

There might’ve been a dent…

“So now that everyone has been introduced, did you have any ideas for our training regime, Sir Krystal? You did promise to teach me a thing or two. Right men?” Zantar asked, making the group stand at attention. Even Blaze seemed like he made an effort, slouching as it might’ve been.

Wow, he sure had earned their respect.

“Yes! First of all, training swords are your friends, not killing people during training is a must, and communicating about who swings where in slow-motion so everyone is on the same page and don’t get hurt, but still learn the movements,” I started hopping my way over to the training swords on racks off to the side. “I could just show you right no—”

“Thank you. Sir Krystal. We will get back to that after the mission, as it is time sensitive and making sure the world isn’t ending seems a bit more important than training swords.” Zantar interjected, stopping all of my wonderful and necessary ideas.

“But killing people in training is my favorite part,” Blaze added.

“Being killed hurts!” Pip squeaked up, as if he had personal experience on the matter. “You don’t wanna hurt people, do you?”

“Yes. Yes I do,” Blaze answered with a happy undertone.

“Oh… Okay then…” Pip said, defeated.

“Thank you Pip, Blaze, can we get your attention for an actual meeting, now? Sir Krystal is looking put off by your behavior,” Zantar said, sending me a glance that told me to play along. I nodded in response but his glance lasted longer than it truly needed to, and I started to feel like there was a bit more hidden behind it.

I really had no interest in him looking at me like that.

When he finally broke the gaze, he turned to the others, “Great. Sir Krystal needs to be caught up on the task at hand. The details of this potentially gruesome and dangerous adventure are important. Shall we find a place to discuss this without risk of enemy ears?” 

The men stood at attention once more and agreed with a, “Yes, Knight Commander, Sir” and all began to march towards the castle.

Zantar lagged behind, his eyes on me once more… but not with anything particular in them. Just… waiting. Waiting… waiting.

Were we supposed to have a moment here? What did he want from me? Because whatever that was, I needed to give him the opposite.

“Should we, uh… join them?” I asked and nodded towards the men working their way back through the garden.

“If that is what you wish,” Zantar replied.

I nodded as fast as I could. “Yes. Absolutely. It is.”

He was perfectly nice… I guess. And he might’ve been the love interest in the book, but I had absolutely no interest in love, with him or otherwise.

If Tiara’s name could change, and Leo’s whole personality could change, it would stand to reason that the love story could change too, right?

With that goal in mind, we both set off towards the castle, but I stopped when I remembered a forgotten situation.

“Wait, what about the dead guy?” I couldn’t just leave him there after the huge commotion I made out of it.

“Oh, yes, thank you for reminding us!” a random knight off to the side said, and ran towards the corpse.

To my utter horror, he stripped the corpse of the armor, and then ran off, leaving a dead naked guy behind.

“Can’t let perfectly good armor go to waste!” I heard the knight say as he ran past me.

Maybe in the future I should just keep my mouth shut.