"It's all about plants!" Nick squeals.
'Fascinating,' I reply sarcastically.
"Look at this!" The young boy grabs the book which was sitting on the night stand and opens it on the bed. As soon as the I see the page a multifold of colors pour out.
'Wow!' I can't help but exclaim. It's as if the many plants and flowers are bursting out of the page; or are they?
I try to get a closer look from my position behind the boy's eyes and it does seem as if the pictures are substantial. A deep red flower with purple vines seems to wrap around our hand while an Indigo blossom hangs over the binding, cleft by a shining silver channel.
The image further reinforces the reality that I'm on a different planet because I've spent hundreds of hours watching nature videos and documentaries but I've never seen anything like this.
"Isn't it awesome? These are some of the plants people have found in the nearby forest!"
'Yeah but how are they coming out of the book?'
"It's an Illusory Book so they just look like that. Someone cast a spell on it it a long time ago, it's starting to fade a little bit." Nick says as he motions toward the corner where the image appears much flatter.
'I see. Well, it's really cool even if it's a little worn out.'
This also implies the existence of magic if someone is supposedly casting spells; I'm starting to get a little excited. Maybe things will be different here.
Though I still felt a dull pain in my chest, I can't help but hold out a little hope for the future.
"Yeah, Dad can't get anymore funding so a lot of our books are getting pretty worn out."
'Funding?'
The door to the room opens slowly and Carroll peeks her head around the corner. My breath catches in my throat as I think how long she may have been there.
"I asked you this earlier but who exactly are you talking to?" She says as she steps around to the boy's side of the bed.
"He's my friend!" Nick replies. "I was just showing him one of my books."
"I see." Carroll says without affirming or denying him. I can feel her eyes burrowing into our skull, almost as if she can see me behind his eyes.
"He's sad cuz his Mom is dead and he doesn't have anywhere to go."
"Right, tell your friend he's welcome to stay as long as he doesn't cause any trouble."
"Okay! thanks, Mom!" Nick says as he reaches for another book from a nearby shelf.
I watch Carroll leave out of the corner of the kid's eye. She seems weary of her son's sudden new imaginary friend.
"I suppose I shouldn't be too concerned about further attention now, though I'm sure she'd feel relieved if I suddenly disappeared."
It felt like I was back to hiding in my room again trying not to make any noise. I was just a nuisance, a burden. Everyone would be better off if I was dead.
"Look at this!" Nick said as he opened the next book. "This is the history of the Murusade Confederation! Here you can see the war against the raiders from the Verdant Desert."
The book this time wasn't illusory but was still quite elegant. I listened quietly as the young boy explained one battle after the next until Carroll called him down for dinner.
"It's either 'Foundations and Functions of Cities' or 'Elixirs and Other Useful Concoctions.'" I hear Vincent say as we walk into the kitchen. "We need money to prepare for the storm, we don't have a choice."
"If we keep selling books then soon enough we won't have a library!" Carroll replies.
I feel Nick haunch his shoulders as he slides past his heated parents. They stop as soon as they notice the boy and go back to what they were doing.
'Money's tight, huh?'
Nick nods as he quickly ladles broth into his mouth. It seems to be a thick lentil soup filled with onions and potatoes. My mouth would be watering if I had one.
I decide helping this family with their money problems will relieve some of the burden I feel for infecting their child. Nick knows more about this world than I do so I'll ask him about possible options.
'What do you think?' I ask Nick as he sits down on his bed again.
"Make money to help my parents? How are we going to do that?"
'I don't know anything about this world, how do people make money around here?'
"I don't know." He replies softly as he curls up under the covers.
'Why don't we walk around outside tomorrow and see what we can figure out?'
"But, it's scary outside and the other kids are mean to me."
'Don't worry, you've got me to help you now.'
"Really?"
'Yes, really.'
"Really, really?"
'Yes, really, really, so what do you say?' I can already feel myself regretting my rash decision but it's a bit too late to back out now.
"Okay, I normally just stay inside and read or work in the library, but I'll ask my Mom tomorrow." Nick says as he lays his head down to sleep. Although he agreed, I still hear some reservations in his voice.
"Really?"
"Yup." Nick nods.
"Really, really?" Carroll asks again. I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree on this one.
"Yeah, I want to take a look around town."
"But you normally come back crying, that's why I have Vincent do most of the errands around town."
"It's about time Nick gets out of the house. I've kept my mouth shut since his little incident after the seal ceremony but he should be spending more time around the other kids."
"Vincent! He was unconscious for almost two weeks!"
"And now he's awake and we all need to move on with our lives. You can't keep hiding him away forever."
Carroll opens her mouth to respond but no words come out. Vincent throws his son a quick nod and we bolt out the door before anyone has a chance to change their mind.
The sun blind us as we step outside. Nick blocks the light with his hands and I notice how pale his skin is. The chaotic sounds of the street then fill our ears.
As our eyes adjust, I see a medieval town of cobbled stone houses stretched along a dusty dirt road. Slate roofs create a horizon between the clear blue sky and the dreary residents. I can't help but notice that most people walked with their heads down, like they may be arrested just for smiling at a neighbor.
A strange sight catches my attention, a carriage pulled by a giant spider rides past us without drawing any attention from the people on the streets or the young boy I inhabit. What's even more confusing is the pile of white fluff the horse sized arachnid carries on it's back.
'I guess I really am in another world.'
Some part of me was still in disbelief; that this was just a weird dream or delusion and that I would wake up in my bed the next morning, but the sight before me shatters those fantasies.
"Where should we go?" Nick asks, breaking me out of my stupification.
'Um, I don't know, why don't you just start walking and we'll see where we end up.'
Seemingly convinced, Nick starts walking along the street. I ask him to move his head around so I can get a better look at things to which he happily complies.
A lot of the buildings we pass are clearly abandoned. What was even more confusing is how well maintained most houses are and how it appears that a well developed sewage system runs beneath our feet. Each corner has a storm drain and a number of manholes are visible on the walkways. Nick even confirms that his house has running water.
We walk for several minutes until we come across a market square with a rather elaborate fountain flowing at its center.
"We should leave." Nick says as he turns back.
'Wait, where are you going? Let's look around. If we're looking for a way to make money, then there's no better to place to start than the place where everyone is selling things.'
There's a Blacksmith shop across from a butcher, a fruit stand that sells variety's of fruit that I've never seen before and man carrying several pelts out of a large building that has a huge sign on its front.
"Hey look, it's Nick! What's that loser doing out of the house."
A woman with long brunette hair was talking with a man who appeared to be a merchant while discussing the quality of the contents of several barrels, A young girl was haggling with a very disinterested man at the fruit stand and a young man who couldn't be older than twenty-five was swinging a glowing sword back and forth.
"Hey! Nick, you deaf? What are you doing here?
An old man with a white beard was walking along while a couple of youngsters were writing down his every word, a fat man with an apron laughed as he patted a number of still steaming loaves carefully placed upon a long counter in front of his shop, a young woman in leather armor walked toward the large building at the edge of the square while holding a staff that-
"Nick! I'm talking to you!" A short boy, with a little gang behind him, pokes us in the chest several times.
"I'll go, sorry." Nick says as he crumples at the boy's touch.
'Don't go, we just got here. Besides you didn't do anything wrong.
Nick hesitates, unsure of what to do.
'Here, give me the wheel.'
"What?"
'Give me control. I'll handle this.'
I felt myself fly forward and the numbness that has pervaded me for the last day is replaced with a cacophony of sensation; the warm wind ruffles my hair and the tight shoes I'm wearing force my toes together uncomfortably. I take a deep breath and look up at the group of children harassing us.
"Excuse me." I say in a flat tone and the boy noticeably falters. I take a step forward to take advantage of his uncertainty and look at the group of children that is now surrounding me.
The leader appears to be the short kid in front, which is saying something. Nick wasn't particularly tall but he's well over a head taller than his tormentor. The kid has black hair, a clean robe and shoes that actually fit. Most of the gang are relatively well dressed, but a couple at the back are wearing clothes that arwn't much better than rags. Directly behind the leader is the tallest kid in the group; he doesn't look concerned by my change in attitude and only stares at me with his dark, unyielding eyes.
"I said, are you deaf?" The short kid tries to gather himself to maintain his tough facade.
"Clearly not."
"Then why didn't you say something when I was talking to you."
"I'm sorry."
"Next time I say something to you, you'd better pipe the fuck up!"
"Will do."
"Are you gettin' smart with me?"
At this point it was clear he was trying to start a fight, so I stop responding. He could hit me if he wants, but I don't want to say anything more that he might try to use against me.
"Huh? Are you?"
"..."
"Hey Kyle, I think we should go." The tall kid interjects, clearly aware of where the situation us headed.
"Shut up! You don't tell me what to do." Kyle rages as he spins back to me. "Well?"
"..."
I watch his face turn red as he slowly loses control of the situation. If only I had this much wherewithal when I was younger, dealing with bullies would have been much more amusing.
"Say something!" Kyle growls.
Seeing that I have no intention of responding, Kyle wheels back and slugs me in the face. My blood runs cold. I make sure not to flinch. My older brother always hit me more if I flinched.
My hands unconsciously ball themselves into fists. My eyes lock on the boy's exposed neck.