Alistair gets Isekai'd
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It's a sort of story that's fashionable in certain places, lately.

An ordinary teen from a rich and well-developed country is suddenly struck and killed by a truck, in a tragic and unfortunate accident. Sometimes it's even a sort of self-sacrifice, like jumping in to keep a dog or small child from the same fate. This unfortunate soul then finds themselves somewhere... Else.

That is what happens to Alistair. One moment, walking to school. The next, a large SUV's horn blares. And then- 

There's no sensation of bones cracking and blood flying. There's no pain. There is just a smash cut to black emptiness. Time might be passing, or it might not, and nothing can be felt or heard. There's no room for thoughts. There is simply a sense of vastness and eternity. It's peaceful.

Suddenly enough that one might blink in surprise, he is sitting in a comfortable chair on an elaborate and comfortable rug which is resting on some kind of tower. The landscape all around is bucolic - rolling green hills, pastoral rivers, and friendly-looking forests. An old woman in a bright floral dress smiles warmly and gestures to a fancy porcelain tea set on a round table between them.

"What kind of tea would you like, dearie?"

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Alistair blinks and looks around in confusion.  Wasn't he just hit by a car? Isn't that supposed to hurt? Why isn't he injured?

"Uh, green tea? Where am I? What just happened?"

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She starts pouring tea. It's green tea, hot and ready, even though she hasn't taken any action to prepare it.

"Unfortunately, you have died. You are a bit of an unusual case. I am here to explain things a bit and help you prepare for what comes next."

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"Well, this is not how I would have expected dying to go.  Why am I an unusual case?"

If there's someone here to explain things to him, he's certainly going to take advantage of that.

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"You have been drawn towards another world. It's how things work around here - occasionally souls not of this world, generally young and clever or driven souls who have met an untimely death, will be pulled here instead of wherever they were going before. You see, some worlds are less orderly than others, and this can result in curious problems. In this case the Winds of Dark have grown too strong, and a Demon Lord will soon appear to threaten the world. They bring war and destroy whole kingdoms. Luckily, the Demon Lord's coming allows for the summoning of a counterpart, a Hero with mighty powers who, with skill and effort and cleverness, is surely capable of preventing the end of the world." She peers at him over the lip of her tea cup. "That's you."

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"I'm...being sent to another world to save it from a Demon Lord??  What is this world like? What does "less orderly" mean?"

So far, getting answers is just making him more confused.

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"I'm afraid so. The Demon Lord is not all powerful, and may not even be here yet, but you should not tarry if you wish for success. The Winds of Magic blow through the world, and the rules of the world are more mutable than you may be used to. It makes many things possible, both good and bad."

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He's not gonna get a straight answer on what the worlds like, huh. 

"Is there transformation magic? What things can't magic do?"

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"Transformation magic is not easy or simple, but with time and effort one could learn it. There is very little that is truly impossible with magic, with enough time and power. Infinite energy or time-unlimited resurrection would be such things. Though complex and powerful magic will take quite a lot of practice or struggle to achieve. I'm able to nudge your Unique Skill, a special power that summoned heroes receive. If you'd prefer I can just choose something you'd find useful, or give you a few options, but I like to ask people what they want their special power to be."

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Sweet, he'll be able to figure out a magical version of medical transition!

"Can you do something that'll help me learn self-transformation sooner? If not, just list a few options you think I'll find useful and I'll choose one."

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"Well, I can't pick specific powers, merely nudge the one you're going to get anyway into just the right spot as it were. I could aim specifically for self-transformation, in fact, though it would be relatively limited at first. Many heroes find great use in Unique Skills that enhance their affinity for physical combat or magic, or if you're a planner, one that gathers and collates information. Or mimicry of things you encounter, perhaps - that would make you highly adaptable."

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Well.  It's incredibly tempting to choose self-transformation, but he'll be able to do that eventually anyway, it sounds like, and it's kind of the selfish option.  Physical combat sounds useful, magic sounds both useful and good for the goal of learning self-transformation.  A skill that gathers and collates information....he wonders if this unique skill could be used to give him really good memory, that would help him pick everything up faster.

"Can you nudge it towards supernaturally good memory?"

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"Supernaturally good memory and learning skills is well within the realm of Unique Skills, yes. Is that what you'd like, then?"

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"Yes please!" He will learn all the things.  This will be so useful towards all of his goals.  He is thrilled.

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"Good, that's settled then. It won't come into effect until we're done here, mind you."

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"Alright.  Why was I chosen, as opposed to someone else?"

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"I can't say. It's not always entirely clear. All I can say is something about you makes you suitable - a clever mode of thought, an unusual viewpoint, or perhaps determination."

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He finishes his tea. 
"Well, unless there's anything else you think I need to know, I think I'm ready to go start...hero-ing"

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