More than ordinary

You stumble a bit, and open your eyes. You find yourself in a much larger stone room, with a table off to one side. Seated at the table in a comfortable looking chair is a robed man, flipping through some papers. He looks up at you and smiles. “Ahh, you must be Greg! Welcome to the old world. Please, have a seat. My name is Gregor, and I’m the gatekeeper on this side of the portal. Did they check you for magic before you came through?”

A bit overwhelmed, you sit down across from Gregor. He appears to be about forty, but in good shape and alert. “Yeah, Rachel…scanned me, I guess. Apparently I have a small hidden talent.”

Gregor nods. “Good to know. Now that you’re here, that will grow, just from the ambient magic here.”

He picks up a pair of glasses and puts them on, looking at you. “These glasses give me a similar ability to Rachel, slightly more precise, however. It would appear you have a creation talent. Metal and stone shaping, to be precise.”

He reaches into a box on the table and pulls out a small cube of metal. Handing it to you, he nods. “Go ahead, concentrate on this block, and imagine it changing shape. It may take some time, so be patient.”

You do as he says, and after maybe a minute, the cube has changed to an orb. Gregor smiles. “Very good. Over time, this will grow stronger, as you’re in this world longer and practice more.”

You shake your head. “Incredible! A week ago I was working on an assembly line, now I’m shaping metal with my mind!”

Gregor laughs. “Believe me, it’ll get stranger than that. So, did you have a destination in mind, or do you want my advice?”

“Well, I heard that heading north was a good idea, that the dwarven kingdom might appreciate me.”

He nods. “I agree, especially with your newfound ability. I received a message from them a few weeks ago saying that they were open to more immigrants. I think that’s a good start. Now, it is about a two week journey, so we need to set you up with a horse and some supplies.”

You nod. “Yeah, all I have is the clothes on my back.”

Gregor chuckles. “Don’t worry, we’ll set you up. We have a sword, a horse, some clothes, and plenty of supplies. I will say, though, if you’re headed north, you probably will run into some…well, not trouble, but let’s say harassment.”

You look at him curiously, and he smiles. “We’re not exactly a secret here. A lot of nomadic monster groups send their women to prowl the area when they come of age, to…hunt.”

“Hunt? Is it dangerous to travel?”

Gregor laughs. “Quite the opposite. They’re hunting for a mate. I’d be quite surprised if you’re still single by the time you reach the dwarves. It’s all harmless, but there’s a lot of competition to be the first girl of a new immigrants’ harem. It’s a prestigious position among monster girls.”

You chuckle. “Well, it’s nice to feel wanted.”

Gregor looks you up and down. “Yes, it is. You’re going to be very popular, I think. Old enough to be a good mate, but young enough to be a good MATE, if you know what I’m saying.”

You both laugh, and he stands up. “Well, I’m sure you’re eager to get going, especially after what you’ve learned. Remember to keep training your new magic, it’ll be very useful. Follow me and we’ll get you geared up and on your way.”

You stand and follow Gregor, a spring in your step now.