Dawn arrived, and the sprawling skyline of a modern city stretched before Clara's eyes. The towering skyscrapers, the hum of distant traffic, the symphony of sirens, and the intoxicating scent of exhaust fumes mixed with street food - it was all so foreign yet curiously familiar.
Clara had found shelter in an old library. It wasn't the place of magic scrolls and prophecies she remembered, but rather a haven of computers, eBooks, and knowledge displayed in pixels. As she skimmed through an electronic newspaper, trying to make sense of her new reality, she marveled at how this world's "magic" was technology.
Attempting to blend in, she adopted contemporary attire – jeans, a tee, and sneakers. Navigating public transport was a task in itself. The first time she boarded a subway, the rush of speed left her dizzy, reminiscent of a fast broomstick ride. But instead of the open sky, she was surrounded by steel and strangers engrossed in their devices.
Her first visit to a café was a blend of wonder and confusion. She curiously observed as people around her ordered drinks with names she could hardly pronounce. Taking a deep breath, she mustered the courage to ask the barista for a recommendation. The warmth of the latte and the sweet bite of a croissant became her new comfort.
The city nights were unlike the calm starry skies of Erisia. Neon lights painted the streets, and the cacophony never ceased. Clara found solace in a rooftop garden she'd discovered, where she'd spend hours staring at the stars, seeking any semblance of her old world.
One evening, as she was lost in thought, a voice interrupted her reverie. "Lost or found?" the voice inquired. Turning around, Clara met the gaze of a young woman with raven-black hair and piercing green eyes.
"I'm still trying to decide," Clara replied cautiously.
The woman smiled, introducing herself as Selene, a fellow wanderer between worlds. Sensing a kinship and perhaps the beginning of a new chapter, the two began to share their tales.
However, as the evening progressed, Clara felt an odd sensation. She looked down to see her hands shimmering faintly. Panic set in as she realized that her connection to her original realm was not entirely severed.This was the exact moment when across the realm touched the stone.
Selene's eyes widening in realization and concern. "You're not just from another time... you're from another reality altogether, aren't you?" she whispered.
The bustling streets of the modern world presented Clara with endless opportunities, yet she felt out of place. Everywhere she looked, people were immersed in their own worlds, headphones plugged in, lost in conversations on devices, or hurrying to destinations unknown. Clara longed for connection, for touch, for an opportunity to help others in the way she once did.
Walking past a hospital, she saw a group of nurses attending to patients, their faces a mix of concern, patience, and determination. A memory resurfaced, one of her time as a healer in Erisia. The gentle caress of her hands, the murmured incantations, the glimmer of hope in a patient's eyes when they felt better – she missed it all.
With renewed purpose, Clara decided to pursue a career in nursing. The road wasn't easy. Adapting to the modern ways of healing, understanding the machinery, the drugs, and the protocols was overwhelming. But her inherent ability to connect with patients, to understand their pain both physical and emotional, made her stand out.
During her training, she encountered several patients, each with a unique story. An elderly man, reminiscent of a wise mage she once knew, suffering from dementia but with sparks of clarity where he'd recall tales of wars and loves lost. A young girl with a terminal illness, her spirit unbreakable, reminding Clara of her own battles and the importance of hope.
One evening, while Clara was on duty, a particularly challenging case came in. A young man in a critical condition, having met with an accident. The medical team was doing everything they could, but Clara felt an instinctual pull towards him. With permission, she held his hand and whispered words of comfort, words that felt eerily similar to her old healing incantations. Slowly, his vitals began to stabilize.
As the days turned into weeks, Clara grew more comfortable in her new role. The patients loved her, and her colleagues respected her. The once-foreign hospital corridors now felt like home.
One day, as she was attending to her patients, she found a peculiar old pendant under a patient's pillow. It bore the insignia of Erisia. Shocked, Clara wondered how it had found its way here and what it signified. Was it a mere coincidence or a sign that her two worlds were more connected than she had realized?