Heroes In Cards

I was humming a random tune as I leaned against the wall, standing right next to the door that leads into the Madam’s office. Which was located on the third floor.

The head of the brothel had taken Zesta into her office first wanting to speak to the probably young Anthro-Zebra alone first.

I really didn’t care, and it was probably a smart thing to do to get the story from her first, so that she could call out any lies if I didn’t tell the truth.

Not that is was going to lie, at least for the time being at least.

And I had learned a long time ago that complaining about something never got you anywhere. Actions were all that mattered not words.

That’s why I wasn’t yelling at the heavens how unfair it was for me to be separated from my family and taken from my world.

I had read enough Isekai, to know that unfortunate bastards like me never got home after we got sent to another world. That’s why I didn’t think about home so that I wouldn’t devolve into a ball of angst, like Ichigo post-Aizen fight. So I just needed to deal with my current situation and get on with it.

Still, this was very different kind of Isekai world than what I was used to, as it seemed to be filled with Anthros.

Well, at least I’m not defenseless. I thought as I patted the box on my hips where my Class Cards were.

I hummed for at least another five minutes, and during that time, a few other employees walked past me. Though as they did, they hurried a bit up, almost if they were scared of me. I didn’t think I looked that threatening.

Still, though the craziest thing about my current situation wasn’t the fact that is was in another world or had mafic in the form the Class Cards. It was the fact that I was inside a brothel, I had never been in one before, and I felt kinda uncomfortable. While I couldn’t hear it, I knew that an outrageous amount of sex was taking place in the building.

And those thoughts didn’t help the half-erection in my pants.

I was brought about my thoughts about sex as the door to the office opened up, and Zesta stepped outside into the hallway where I was.

She no longer wore my jacket. Instead, she was wearing a shirt, but no bra, as I could see her breasts cling to the white fabric, highlighting her nipples and areola. But she was holding my jacket in my arms.

“The Madam wants to talk to you now my Lord,” Zesta relayed to me. “And here is your clothing thank you for allowing me to wear it.” I took my jacket back and put it on.

“It was my pleasure Zesta. I will talk to you later.” I said, as entered the office through the door Zesta had just gone through.

Xxx

The Madam’s office was like the rest of the Brothel high class, heck I would even say more so. There was large window inside that allowed one to see most of the city from it.

The office was decorated in the same style as the entrance and what we had walked past getting to the office. Very Victorian England styled, the dominant color was mostly red, the furniture inside the office was a large wooden desk. I didn’t know what type of wood it was, but I guessed it was mahogany. There were paintings on the walls of various landscapes from deserts to forests. There was also a painting with the Madam on it along with a male zebra and two young looking female zebras. I guessed that had to be her husband and children.

The office also contained four bookshelves that were filled to the brim with books and scrolls.

Now I was sitting in a chair in front of the desk with the Madam sitting in her own chair behind it.

“Now that we have some privacy could you tell me how a human came to arrive here in Zebanda?” The Madam spoke with a voice of authority, and I felt compelled to answer her. The woman certainly had a high rank of Charisma. One wouldn’t have expected of a Madam of a Brothel, so that meant that was more to the zebra in front of me than meets the eye.

Yay, for terrible Transformers reference brain.

“I’m guessing that Zebanda is the name of the city?” I asked for clarification.

“Yes, it I’m also guessing that you don’t know where you are?” I just nodded. “As I said, the city you’re currently in is Zebanda located in the nation of Zebrica. Now I ask again how did you get here human. Roman was it?” Damn the Zebra could give a hard look. Which I could understand she probably was trying to determine if I was a threat towards her girls. Zesta had probably been praising my name, and the Madam just wanted to see if what she said had been true. And I would bet on the fact he some magic tricks up her sleeves.

“Yes, my name is Roman Solomon. And for how I got here, to be honest, I don’t know how.” I answered her.

“Truly?”

“Yep, I was just leaving a restroom, and I found myself, in an alleyway and when I heard Zesta screaming, which lead to our current conversation.”

“I can see that you're telling the truth, Mr. Roman.”

“I have no reason to lie to you Madam, but might I ask one thing?”

“You already did, but go ahead.”

UGH

“I thought that you knew that I was a human because Zesta told you, but the way you asked your question about how I arrived, makes me think you knew that I was a human from the moment you saw me?” It was a wild, guess on my part but something told it was true.

“Yes, that is true, but I wasn’t quite sure until Zesta said you were one.”

“So, if that is true can you tell me where the other humans in this world are so that I can find them?” For I wanted a little bit of familiarity, in my new life. I had nothing against the apparent anthros that lived here, but I wanted to see something that looked more like me.

“That is going to be a problem as your probably the only living human on the surface of Equus.” She stated, but before I could say anything in response, she continued to talk. “The only reason I know what I human looks like is because there was a detailed description of one in ancient scripture. And that account was over two thousand years old. And that was depicting a female human.”

“Great, the only human in existence on… Equus was it?”

“Yes. Now I have to change this conversation to something more serious.” The Madam’s face turned serious. At least I thought so, as her face was in a scowl.

“Eh, why?” I asked. But I had an inkling of an idea as to why that was.

“Because of the group the men that assaulted Zesta and that you killed.” She stated.

And I was right.

“Tell me did you hear the name of the group they belonged to and did you see their insignia?” She asked.

It took me a few moments to remember, but the word and symbol came to my mind.” Yeah, it was blood dripping into an ocean, and they called themselves Igazi. But I have no idea what that means.”

“Okay, so a quick modern history lesson. Zebrica is currently in a Civil War against a Warlord, that seeks to take the place of the Chief Empress that is currently ruling. The name of the Warlord is Zelu, he who is one who leads the Igazi. Which is old Zebrican for Blood in modern Equus.”

“But let me guess, he has been winning and has conquered most of the country?” I guessed.

“Yes, right on the Bit. In the last ten years, Zelu has managed to take over half the nation, though that is only because Zelu has the Empress, daughter as his hostage. And so the army hasn’t been as effective as it could be.”

“Because she is afraid that he will kill her if she presses the offensive?”

“And because she is the only one that can inherit the royal throne, and that is also why the Empress hasn’t called our Neighbors for help.”

“Ah, doomed if you don’t and doomed if you do situation when?” As that was the phrase that came to my mind as I thought the situation over. “But, what does have to do with the three I killed weren’t they just foot soldiers, Zelu doesn’t sound like a man who cares about such a thing happening?” I asked.

“Yes, that is true, but only two of them were the third you killed were one of his sons, he had put in charge of the city as it’s Chief. His children now those he cares about greatly, and he is probably going to burn Zebanda to the ground when he finds out his son is dead.”

Well, fuck no good deed goes unpunished, does it?

“But if he was the Chief, why were there so few guards with him?”

“Zenan was an arrogant brat that thought himself invincible and didn’t need a regiment of guards to protect him. You caught him in one of his walkabouts to see if curfew is being held.”

“I’m guessing that Zesta isn’t the first girl he has forced himself on.” Her silence was all I needed as an answer. “When I have no regrets in what I did.”

“And I would call you an idiot if you did.” I saw a smile appear on her face. “I have to thank you for saving my girl.”

“You welcome Madam.”

“Please Roman, only my workers, and customers call me Madam. My real name is Zesvia.”

“Good to meet you Zesvia. Though since we are talking, I would like to ask if you could provide me with the book with the human girl described in it, along with information about the various races of this World, along with Geography.” I requested as I was in desperate need of knowledge.

“I shall have them for you in the morning. It’s the least I can do to repay you for what you have done.”

Well, it seemed that she had come around, to be less antagonistic towards me. Which I appreciated a great deal. Guess she had finally judged my character and found me in good standing.

“Also can I ask why Zesta keeps calling me Lord?” I hadn’t managed to ask the working girl, so I hoped that now that knew her actual name Zesvia could tell.

“You’re able to use magic are you not. Zesta told me you used a card to summon a bow that didn’t shoot wooden arrows, but ones of sound instead.”

“Yeah, I got magical cards that allow me to do various things.”

“And there is your answer Roman. To be a magic user, or rather a Shaman, do you know what Shaman is Roman?”

“It’s a magic user that specialize in nature magic, relying on the world around them to accomplish spells and rituals. Along with communicating with spirits and practicing potion making.” I said the generic things that Shamans normally did in a fantasy setting.

“Broad, but very accurate. In Zebrica society being is the highest status one can have without being in politics. And most Shamans work side by side with the Chiefs and teaching new ones.” Zesvia exposited. “So, she probably you are of the same rank within your species and shows you the proper level of respect a man of such station deserves. And there is also the fact that your clothes are of high quality.”

“Well, I figured the last part out, but thankfully for telling me about the first.” I thanked her. “Now are we done talking for the night?”

“Yes, it is getting rather late, and I would like to get some sleep, so I’m able to educate my girls. No no in that way, I saw your eyes. I teach them how to read and write. Along with the kids that can’t afford school, now because of what Zenan did to the city.”

I just smiled at Zesvia, she really had a heart of gold.

“So, do you have a place for me to sleep?”

“Yes, I have a few private guestrooms, you can use one of them.” She proposed.

“I take you up on it.”

“I have Zesta escort you to one of them.”

Xxx

And Zesta did.

The room she had taken me to was decently sized with a double bed, a night table, and desk with a chair.

“Hope you have good nights sleep, my Lord,” Zesta said as she handed me the gas lantern that was the only source of light within the room. And the room to my surprise was not ice cold, but that made sense as I was in a tropical climate, somewhat close to this worlds equator.

“And you sleep well Zesta,” I responded back.

I think saw her blush as she left and closed the door to my knew room behind me.

After that, I walked over to the bed and placed the lamp on the night table. As sit down I took the box of me and took my Class Cards out it giving them another look. I could feel a connection to all of them, and through it, I could tell which of them I could use at the moment. I could tell that I had a small source of Od available at the moment to fuel them while Included and Installed. With how even Including Tristan for a few seconds had drained me of energy, a drain I was fighting against so I wouldn’t collapse from exhaustion. And from that and my connection with the cards I could tell that, I could only Include Medusa, Tristan, Fuuma, and Paracelsus and he was only one I could Instal. If I did the others like Karna, I would die almost immediately.

Bu that problem could wait for later, I was tired and wanted to sleep. I would deal with this world and its problems tomorrow.

I took my clothes of striping down to the underwear.

I was out like a light, the moment my head hit the pillow.

“My King you cant understand human Emotions.”