I can Summon anything from toasters to AR-15s.

chapter 7: morning

Ivan finally gathered himself, pushing away from the table with a sigh and turning to his friends, his voice steady despite the annoying headache he got last night. "I need to step outside for a moment," he announced, feeling the weight of their curious gazes.

"Take your time, Ivan," Cassandra acknowledged, sitting in the table along with Eldarion and Gareth, knowing that Ivan needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

With a slight nod, Ivan made his way to the tavern's exit. The sunlight hit him with the force of a hammer as he stepped outside, causing him to flinch and instinctively shield his eyes with his hand. The brightness was almost blinding after the dim lighting inside, and it took a moment for his vision to adjust.

women and children could be seen going about their chores at last night's feast. And he can still smell the faint scent of ale lingering in the air. Despite his wobbly legs, Ivan managed to navigate the cobblestone streets, checking for his truck. The vehicle was an unusual sight in this world; it was tucked away in a shady alley beside the tavern where he spent the night. he then approached the vehicle, and for a moment, a slight frown slowly creased his brow.

Ivan placed a palm on his forehead and sighed, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement. "Jesus," he muttered to himself. Memories of his own childhood antics resurfaced in his head, bringing a reluctant smile to his face. He could hardly blame the local children for their curiosity. After all, he had been just as mischievous when he was their age.

He chuckled softly, his sound echoing in the quiet alley. He carefully removed the twigs and leaves from the exhaust pipe, ensuring no damage was done. Once the pipe was clear, he stood back, admiring the truck with a sense of pride. The truck was in pristine condition, with no visible scratch or dent in sight. He just summoned this vehicle a day ago, and he also knew he only wanted to use it temporarily. The truck had served its purpose well, getting him to where he needed to go, and it was his first vehicle that he had owned. However, as he took one last look at the truck, he realized that disposing of it would be a problem. The thought of igniting a bag of thermite in the engine and driving it into the nearby sea or lake crossed his mind. He knew it was a drastic move, but he couldn't bear the thought of someone else or something else driving his truck, or worse, someone reverse-engineering his truck.

He opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat, checking the interior, the leather creaking beneath him. He left the door of the vehicle unlocked, mindful that his party members might be waiting for him. Looking in the back seat, he found Tanya peacefully sleeping, using her cloak as a makeshift blanket, with her short gold hair falling in loose waves around her face. She sleeps more like a cat curled up in a ball than an elf, which Ivan finds adorable.

He sighed and scratched his head. "Did she decide to sleep here after the celebration? And why didn't she stay at the tavern like the rest of us?" Ivan wondered, feeling a mix of concern at Tanya's random choice to sleep in the car. "Maybe my car's seats were just too comfortable for her," he mused, deciding to let her sleep and check on her later as he observed the elf for a moment.

"I'm not gonna to lie; this elf kind of looks cute," Ivan thought to himself. Tanya looked so innocent as she slept; just like a cat, he had no thought of disturbing her peaceful slumber. For now, he left the car window open, allowing the cool air to keep the car from heating up inside while Tanya slept. Ivan chuckled again, this time with a richer, more casual sound. Here, in this strange world full of magic and mythical creatures, his trusty truck was more than just a vehicle; it was a comical anomaly. The idea of someone trying to steal his truck was absurd. Here, horses were the primary mode of transport, and even the most mechanically inclined villager wouldn't know the first thing about a double-cab Toyota. The complex network of gears and wires, plus the internal combustion engine, were as foreign to them as a smartphone would be to a caveman.