Chapter 1. Part 3. 

 

A Doorway to Another World.

Based on several anime tv shows of the isekai type.

By MJM 2025

Back to Reality

Although he has been back to his home several times, Mark has spent most of his summer in the other world, training and hunting. Now he tells Bob that he will be spending a lot more time back home, because of school. Bob, as always, seems to have no worries. “Do whatever you need to do. I will be here.” But Mark does have worries, he dreads going back to school, because it was always so much torment. “Iv changed, but how much have I really changed?” he asks his mentor.

“You are who you make yourself be. That is true in any world.” Bob assures him.

New School Year.

Mark begins his first year of high school. Many of the kids from his junior high are there, but no one seems to recognize him. In the past they would avoid him, the way you ignore a creep who is beneath contempt. But that wasn't it today. People glanced at him, the way you look at a stranger who is ever so slightly intimidating. But that was just silly. He knew he was not intimidating at all.

Although he had strengthened his body and sharpened his fighting skills, he had not worked on his people skills at all. He was nervous and it had taken every ounce of willpower just to show up that morning.

When attendance is held and everyone answers to their names, then several old classmates clue in. There are even a couple of quiet gasps and muttered “no-ways”. So it no surprise that a few kids come over to confront him after class is over.

“You sure have changed, but I bet you are still a worthless shithead.” one of them says.

“I guess you haven't changed.” Mark mutters in a low voice.

After a bit of verbal bullying the guy challenges him to a fight after school, “if your not chicken.”

“Your really just a monster in a skin suit.” Mark mumbels then says “Fine I'll be there.”

Backing down was not an option. If he chickened out now, he knew his entire high school time would be just as miserable as junior high had been.
But what did he know about fighting people? He spent all his time learning to kill monsters. He couldn't apply much of that to this situation, could he?

What he could do was use a magic item.

Mark had nothing in mind when he first asked Bob “Does magic work in my world?” So he just filed away the answer “Yes, but it seems to only be half as powerful.” for later use.

Now he always wore a ring of protection. In the other world it was strong enough to prevent injury from all but the hardest sword swing. So here even if it was only half as powerful, it should do fine to prevent the damage from a kid his own age.

After School Rumble.

Mark faces off against the bully, who taunts and insults him, Summoning his courage, he clenches his fists and says “Lets do this.” Unknown to him, the girl he helped by the metro, about two months ago, is there watching.

The fight is not very fancy. A lot of punches fly but not many land. Mark gets hit a lot and didn't do much in return. But he stood his ground. Then an attempt at wrestling, but the bully fails to get Mark to the ground. Then a few more punches, ending in a good solid spin kick to the stomach. Which surprises everyone, because it does not knock Mark down.

The bully declared he had proven his point and warns Mark to “know your place”. He walked away as if he had won. Most people followed the bully. A few walked away in other directions. Mark wanted to say something, but could not bring out any words. So he stood there breathing heavy for a few minutes, fists still clenched, heart beating fast.

This is when Gwen Hellen Singer, the girl he saved by the metro station, walks over.

She is dressed in a different school uniform, very prim and proper. Long hair tied up with a pin in it. The kind of beautiful girl he would never even look at for fear of being ridiculed. She moved with confidence and grace. Clearly the queen bee of her hive.

Gwen walks over after the fight and asked “Are you Mark Claymoor?”

He says “Yes, what can I do for you?” not having recognized who she was. Trying his best to be polite and not babble nervously.
She introduces herself, and explains that she was the girl being harassed by the metro, who he helped. Now she wants to thank him, by offering him entry into her fancy school. “It is people with the kind of courage you showed that we want at the academy.”

He is hesitant about the entire thing, “Well I don't think Id be a good fit, my marks aren't that great...”

She is insistent, “Just give me a chance to show you around and convince you its a good opportunity.”

He reluctantly agrees.

“Great Iv got a letter for your principal that will excuse you from class tomorrow so you can visit the academy. Come with me and we can drop it off right now.” She takes him by the arm and drags him back into the school.

“What? I mean how did you manage that?” he asks.

“My dad is on the school board. When I told him about this idea, he said, I better get the paperwork done up before kidnapping you.” she laughs about it.

As they walk, she says, “You sure have changed a lot this summer.”

“Yea, thanks. Iv been trying to improve myself, so I can really help, if something like that ever happens again.” it was not till he says it out loud to her that Mark realized this was his motivation all along. He wants to be strong enough so that he can, not only stand up to bullies and bad guys, but to stop them from doing harm.

Avanti Academy

Mark arrives at the Academy, it is fancy, he feels out of place.

Gwen meets him at the front gate and gives him the short tour before class starts.

The place is exactly what you expect for a rich kids high school.

The teacher is polite. The students are friendly. A few of them come over to say hello.

He feels uncomfortable at all the questions, but also kind of happy. Some of the guys who talk with him are real science nerds, not intimidating at all.

A few others are dismissive of him as “a low class, pet project of the princess.”

But nobody gets in his face about anything.

Mark has quite an enjoyable day. The subjects are advanced but not ridiculously hard.

The food in the cafeteria is good, but the prices are high. Fortunately the trust fund allowance grandpa left him means he is not short of cash.

After school, Gwen asks “So are you interested in transferring here?”

He quickly agrees.

She drags him up to the staff room to sign some papers.

On his way home Mark thinks how it would be nice to tell someone about the other world.

But they would think he was crazy, no doubt. And if they believed him, what then? Grandpa had written “Be very careful about telling anyone of the door. In fact, its best not to tell anyone. But if you really feel it is necessary, if you really feel you can trust the person, take one more night to sleep on the idea. The worst thing is not that they think you are crazy. The worst thing is if they believe you and get the government involved.”

So when he gets home, Mark goes to the cabin to talk with Bob.

“Yes master Cane did bring several people over from his world to this one. They formed an adventuring party. A few were killed in various battles. One went home to your world. One retired, to a small island in the west. And one became a bitter enemy. “ Bob explained.

Then Bob gave some advice, similar to what grandpa had written, “Dont be in a hurry to tell anyone about the door. Not people in your world or people in this one. Be sure you can trust a person before even hinting at it.”