Introducing Yourself

'About this magical keyboard—it seems like a telegraph, or maybe a fax.' An odd comparison was forming in my mind.

I glanced around, realizing that the idea of communication, though seemingly straightforward, carried an inevitable sense of distance.

As tension lingered in the room, there was a palpable wave of relief when Oswald, sensing the need for some space, made a move to leave.

"I think it's best if I give you some time alone," he said, his voice soft but laced with understanding, as if he had picked up on the unspoken need for a break. "I'll see you all shortly."

The sound of the door closing behind him brought a brief silence—a moment of shared reflection. It was Elizabeth who broke it, her voice attempting to bring a hint of levity to the atmosphere.

"How about we introduce ourselves, since everyone seems so confused by our new appearances?" She looked around, her gaze searching for a way to ease the tension, and it was hard not to feel slightly more at ease in the presence of her firm yet reassuring demeanor.

She stepped forward, as if to set an example, and said, "I'll start. I'm Elizabeth, but now I'm Alice Roseta Van Allytharion, the 3rd princess of the kingdom of Allytheon." She smiled as she spoke, almost as though she found comfort in the idea of being someone else.

"Wow, so you're a princess now. Fancy," Carlos remarked with a sarcastic grin. His light, teasing tone earned a few chuckles from the group.

"I'm Carlos, but now I'm Alistair Tzanetos Duskweld, heir to the Marquessate of Duskweld," he announced, sounding slightly displeased with the title as if he'd hoped for something grander.

"Oh, so you're my vassal?" came a voice from a sturdy-looking boy to our left. I immediately recognized it—it belonged to the same boy who had questioned me when I'd woken up.

"I'm Benjamin, but now I'm Lucian Bjornsson Le Magnum, heir to the Principality of Magnum. So, I'm a prince now. Imagine that—the glutton would end up working under me," he said with a playful tone, clearly amused by the strange turn of events.

Benjamin, drawing from his new memories, recognized the name Duskweld as a marquessate within his family's territory—a vassal state.

"Huh, work for you? Only in your dreams," Carlos shot back quickly, matching the playful tone.

"Pfft." A soft, amused laugh escaped from the blue-eyed girl, unable to hold it back. "I'm Midori, but now I'm Seraphina Elara Cromwell, the only daughter of the Archduchy of Cromwell. Although now, I have an older brother and a younger one," she said, trying to focus on the bright side. "At least I'm not alone anymore—I have siblings now, and I never had that back on Earth."

"I guess we all have a new beginning," I murmured, trying to find some peace in her words.

"I'm Dalton, and my new name is Alexander Wolfgang The Dracknum," I continued, feeling the awkwardness of saying the full name out loud. The mix of a new title and a new identity stirred strange emotions in me, though it brought some relief. "I'm the 7th son of the Archduchy of Dracknum."

"Pfft! Wolfgang?" Benjamin burst into laughter, the kind that was contagious. "So, you're a gang leader now? Wolfgang the mob boss. Imagine that—the future lawyer turned mafioso," he teased, but his tone made it clear he wasn't being mean-spirited.

"Look who's talking, Bjornsson," I shot back with a grin, countering his jab. "What are you, a Nordic warrior? Your middle name is basically your dad's nickname: 'Son of the Bear.'"

Benjamin's laughter was quick, but it soon shifted into a mischievous smirk. "Oh, coming from you, Wolfgang! They nailed your style perfectly."

"Totally suits both of you," chimed in a girl with crimson hair and eyes tinged with gold. Her laugh mingled with the conversation, and we all recognized her as Nicole.

"Oh, really? And what's your name?" Benjamin and I asked simultaneously.

She smirked confidently. "Diana Aurelius Del Phoenix. Way better than your names," she teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Aurelius? Sounds like a soap opera villain," Benjamin quipped, his tone mock-critical.

I nodded in agreement. "It does, actually," I said, going along with the joke.

"Hey, don't skip my turn," a familiar and laid-back voice drew everyone's attention to the last person who hadn't introduced themselves—Luca Moreti. His brown hair and green eyes carried a calm demeanor, and the lightness in his tone suggested he had already made peace with the situation.

"My new name is Elijah Valerius Di Snaken," he declared, puffing out his chest with exaggerated pride. "I'm the second son of the Grand Duchy of Snaken."

"Di Snaken?" I commented, smiling playfully. "They really nailed your personality with that one!"

Benjamin and Carlos burst into laughter, but Luca wasn't fazed. He shot back with a sarcastic look, "Tzanetos, don't you dare laugh."

"Look who's talking, Valerius," Carlos countered. "They basically took a girl's name and slapped a '-ius' on the end."

"Come on, guys, let's stop picking apart each other's names," Elizabeth interjected, attempting to rein in the teasing. Her tone was firm, but a light chuckle escaped her lips despite her efforts to stay composed.

"Roseta, but it's yellow," Midori quipped shyly, taking a playful jab at Elizabeth, perhaps as a little revenge for the teasing she'd endured over her pink hair back in their teenage years.

"I'm not the one who looks like a box of colored pencils," Elizabeth shot back, laughing along with the others.

The conversation continued for several more minutes, filled with friendly jabs and genuine laughter. I allowed myself to join in, feeling a warmth settle over me. Somehow, amidst the banter and humor, a sense of acceptance was beginning to take root.