Liam Ryder’s day started like any other: wake up late, spill cereal on his shirt, and mutter something sarcastic at his cat who stared judgmentally from the windowsill. Then, during his lunch break, he tried to microwave leftover spaghetti in a metal container despite the office warnings.

The explosion was... impressive. A shower of sparks, a loud pop, and then darkness as the fire alarm blared.

When the smoke cleared, Liam wasn’t in the breakroom anymore. Instead, he was standing on a glowing blue summoning circle in the middle of a massive marble hall. The air smelled of incense and polished stone as he took in the chanting wizards in flowing robes, a suspiciously muscular court jester with biceps larger than Liam’s head, and one very confused llama wearing a monocle that caught the light as it tilted its head.

“Behold!” cried the High Mage, his voice echoing off the marble walls. “We have summoned the prophesied warrior from another realm!”

Liam looked down at himself—still wearing a stained hoodie and one sock—and then back up at the expectant faces surrounding him. “You sure you got the right guy?”

Just then, massive oak doors burst open with a resounding crash, and in stomped Princess Elena—battle-hardened, sword-wielding, and definitely not a fan of frilly dresses. The scent of pine and steel clung to her armor as she squinted at Liam, marched directly up to him, and promptly smacked him upside the head.

“You're the one I’m supposed to marry?!” Her voice was equal parts disbelief and outrage, her hand still poised from delivering the blow.

“...Excuse me what now?” Liam rubbed the back of his head, already feeling a headache forming to join his lingering heartburn.

Apparently, some ancient scroll said the hero must wed the royal heir to unlock his powers. Liam’s only power at the moment was mild heartburn from his unfinished lunch, but hey, at least there were dragons. Probably. He could only hope they took credit cards.