"Three blocks south... Three blocks south..." Sirius mumbles to himself. He rolls the seven purple gems around in his palm.
-This place is like a maze. I hope I'm going south...
No, he does not know his cardinal directions.
He rests his throbbing arm at his side. The mangled limb is like a beacon, begging for people to stare. Shoving the gems in his pocket, Sirius tries to ignore their blatant staring, directing his gaze to the ground.
Glancing up, a mother covers her daughter's eyes.
-You could at least try to be subtle... Or offer help. That'd be nice too.
...
His thoughts cycle back to her.
Aureole.
She resides at the forefront of his mind. Refusing to vacate.
-"Are you okay?"... "We match."... "Please, let me thank you! You got me my requisite back... I don't think I can thank you enough."... "Thank you... Thank you so much..."
...
She almost makes him forget how badly it hurts.
A shot of pain spreads across his arm. He attempts to hold the limb, but his grip instantly makes it worse. His veins bulge as he bottles in a scream.
Crumbling to his knees, he vents heavy breaths. It burns so badly, he finds himself sweating.
He peers up at everyone passing by. Their expressions wear on him further. They look so... disgusted by him. As if he's some kind of insect in need of swatting.
"Witch Spawn..."
"Gross."
"Why does it look like that?"
"Don't look at it."
"Filthy Witch Spawn..."
...
...
-Witch Spawn, huh... Why... Why won't you just help me?
...
He starts wishing he had followed that girl. Maybe then he wouldn't feel so alone.
...Yet another regret added to the list.
...
Pulling himself up, Sirius continues hauling himself down the street.
-I've walked at least five blocks now... Where is this place?
Three main concerns cross his mind.
One: He passed the clinic without realizing it.
Two: He is not heading south.
Three: She was lying.
...
He prays it's not the third.
...
The medieval style buildings and atmosphere drift away the further along he goes.
Distant voices slowly shrink until they cannot be heard, giving him a small sense of relief.
The gray structures trickle out as the city bleeds into a field of green. An open metal gate with a white symbol of a tree stands before him. It appears to be a park.
A short gray wall stretches across the perimeter of a vast, grassy field. Gentle hills and small trees are scattered about, shaping a relaxing image. Rustic benches are dotted throughout, with very few people to accompany them. It's a peaceful little area, tame when compared to the market.
It's a tranquil sight. Only the subtle sounds of nature and bugs present. While the buildings of the city loom on the horizon, they all feel so distant. Unsurprisingly, there is no clinic in sight...
His beating arm carries on its cry for help. With such insatiable discomfort, he can't help but wonder...
-What was that thing? She called it a wailian, but... Why did it attack her? What use would it have for a bracelet?
A grotesque horror masquerading as a bat... Something like that shouldn't exist. The inhabitants of this strange land may be different from humans, but at least they are... domestic.
The sight of that monster alone should have driven Sirius to haul himself away. To abandon the girl and save himself. Logically, it would have been the best option. Morally, not so much, but at least it wouldn't be risking two lives. So...
-Why did I do that?
For as long as he remembers, Sirius has never once done something so bold.
Don't stand out. Don't be different. Stay in line and act as you should.
Be perfect.
This is how he's always lived.
Never doing what he wants. Never deciding on anything. Doing as he's told. Doing what he must to meet others' expectations.
Why did you do something so stupid? So sporadic? Were you trying to be a hero? That isn't who you are... This isn't who you should be...
...
-Who do I think I am?
...
Lumbering through the park, he spots a familiar figure.
The old man.
-He's the guy who gave me the watch...
Deviating from his false path, he pushes aside the need for a clinic. Maybe he can get some answers...
The senior faces off in the opposite direction, stalking something unseen.
He's settled in the shade of a large, twisting tree. Its oval leaves are a mix of green and white. Taking a closer look at the grass, white blades also stand along with the green. The vegetation here, while subtle, is checkered.
Sirius stealthily sneaks up on the elder.
"Man, how are you wearing that coat? I'm dying out here..."
He stops at the man's side, his jest grabbing his attention.
Glancing down at his arm, the elder speaks.
"I leave you alone for five seconds, and you're already getting into fights? I didn't take you for a violent type."
-That's all you have to say??
"Well, everyone's full of surprises."
"May I ask what transpired? I imagine you've experienced quite the culture shock."
"Ha... You could say that. As for the arm, a wailian or whatever it's called attacked me."
"A wailian? That's rare..." The old man ponders a moment. "Also troublesome..."
His gaze returns to the distance.
"...What are you looking at? Just looks like a whole lot of grass."
It indeed does look like a lot of grass. It sort of resembles an old computer background.
"I'm just waiting..."
They share a brief moment of silence.
"Oh-" Sirius grabs the golden watch from his pocket. "I know you were trying to be all mysterious and everything, but could you tell me what this is counting down to? I-"
The man places a finger in front of Sirius' lips.
"Shh... Watch."
Sirius aligns his vision with the old man's... It's just grass. Nothing and no one in sight.
...
-Is this guy sleeping while standing up?
"I don't-"
Suddenly, on the side of a low hill, a small patch of grass hitches.
The blades sway as if they were blown by the wind. But there is no breeze.
Then again, the grass shifts and the ground jerks upward.
A small bulge is forming on the side of the hill. The mound enlarges rhythmically, only ever stopping for a second or two. It's like the ground is being dented from the inside out. The lump of soil grows taller and wider, small chunks of compacted dirt breaking off.
-Something is coming out of the ground.
A faint grunting can be heard. The sound is synced with each rise of dirt, escalating, and getting louder with each tremor.
Then, with a final propulsion, the jagged spikes of soil cave in on each other.
-
With a tiny click, a withered hand starts the countdown.
22926510 seconds remain.
-
The old man presses the side buttons of a golden pocket watch. One identical to that of Sirius's.
-Is that...?
A boy explodes from the ground, reaching towards the sky.
"ZORA!"
Sunlight sinks into his skin as he's welcomed to his new world.
His breath is heavy, and he stares up at the sky.
...
-It's... a human. Is he... like me?
The boy bends over and coughs forcefully. Dirt expels itself from his throat, tears welling in his eyes.
Once the hacking fit concludes, he frantically places his hands over vital body points. Shoveling air into his lungs, he grabs his neck, stomach, and limbs as if checking that they're still there.
The boy wears very comfortable clothing. Loose-fitting pants and an oversized hoodie. Apart from them being covered in grime, it seems like something one could sleep in.
Controlling his breathing, he gazes out into the world.
Taking in his surroundings, he continues patting himself down. Dust clouds puff off his clothes.
His movements are slow as he takes it all in. It's not a particularly beautiful sight, it's just a park, but his honey-hued eyes don't avert.
The boy's mouth hangs open. His fear seems to have subsided, as he doesn't seem alarmed. He seems to be more in disbelief, almost happily so.
Spotting Sirius and the old man, he stares at them. His awestruck expression morphs into a straight and tense one. His eyes nervously dart from side to side.
The boy swallows and prepares himself for the encounter.
He attempts to walk towards them but trips over the hole he's dug. He faceplants into the soil and slowly slides down the hill.
Sirius bites his lip, resisting the urge to laugh.
Embarrassed, the boy stands up and brushes off his muddy beige hoodie. He pats down his dark pajama pants and ruffles his hand through his dirty blonde, somewhat orange, hair.
He approaches cautiously. Honey irises dash side to side, looking for anyone else around.
The old man advances forward, stopping the boy in his tracks. He freezes in place, turning into a statue.
"Uh- Oh shit... H-hi..."
"..."
The boy is panicking. He sounds and appears to be the same age as Sirius, though his voice is slightly higher-pitched.
"Look, man, I don't know what's going on here! I was just talking to this really nice, pretty lady, so if you could send me back to her, that'd be really great-"
"Welcome, Witch Spawn."
The old man repeats the same words he had said to Sirius.
"...Witch Spawn? What is this...? Why am I in a park?"
All sense of nervousness is gone.
"Eat this," the man extends his hand, revealing a pastel red gummy.
...
The boy's face deforms in disgust.
"You're trying to drug me?! Seriously?! Man, I was just buried alive! And now you're trying to drug me!?"
"Perhaps I need a new approach to this..."
"You!" The boy points at Sirius. "Are you in on this?"
Sirius points to himself, still confused.
"Me?"
"Noooo, the person behind you. Yes, you!" The boy speaks as if he's known Sirius his entire life. Very condescending.
"Right," Sirius walks over to them. "Uh, no, I'm not really in on this." Sirius faces the old man. "Look, man, I think you need to stop being so vague. It really does sound like you're trying to drug people."
"So... he's not trying to drug me?"
Sirius leans over towards the boy.
"I thought the same thing when he offered me this thing."
"What even is this thing...?"
"It's called a 'linguistic'."
An appalled expression twists the boy's face.
"...A linguistic??! What kind of bowel movement drug name is that?!"
"That's exactly what I thought!"
"The hell... So, what does it do exactly?"
"I don't really know how it works, but it makes you able to speak and understand the language here."
"Huh?" The boy looks concerned for Sirius' well-being. "Pardon me... Eating this will make me understand a language?"
"Yes," The old man butts in, obviously feeling left out. "Consuming this very legal substance will allow you to speak the most common language in this world."
...
The boy completely freezes.
An excited smile spreads across his face. His eyes sparkle with light not thought possible.
"Did... you just say... this world?"
"Yes, I believe I did-"
"Like- I'm in a different world? Other than Earth?" His words are fast, containing overwhelming excitement.
"Correct. Is that witch not explaining herself as well as she used to..?"
The boy's mouth gapes open.
He closes his eyes and bends down, his entire body trembling.
"You... okay man?" Sirius asks. "I know you probably don't believe it, but-"
"YESSSSSS!!!!!!!"
The boy flings his body backward, arching his back into the shape of a lowercase r. He yells at the top of his lungs, pure joy radiating from the scream. His demeanor beams with childlike wonder.
Then, in a complete tonal shift, he sinks to his knees and presses his palms together.
"My prayers have been answered. Thank you, God. Truly. Thank you..." He sounds like he could cry from happiness at any moment. He perks up and pops back onto his feet. "Wait, if I'm in another world... Does that mean I have powers?! Have I awakened?! Can I shoot fireballs?!"
He swings his arms around, trying to expel fire from his hands.
Sirius contains a chuckle with a grin. Never has he seen such unrestrained positivity and joy. He wishes he could have reacted like this.
Unfortunately, the old man interrupts the boy's magic training.
"You're getting a little too ahead of yourself... For now, would you mind eating this?"
He once again offers the gummy.
The boy stops flailing his arms and purses his lips, unsure of what to do. He looks at Sirius for approval. Sirius gives a quick nod, confirming that it's probably alright.
The boy sighs and steps up to the elder.
"If I die from this, I will be extremely upset."
Grabbing the gummy from the man's palm, he instantly pops it into his mouth. Hardly any hesitation.
He swallows swiftly, then looks around.
"...Nothing happened," he says, disappointed.
"Well, we would need to go into town to find out if it worked," Sirius replies.
"Alright then, let's go!"
The boy immediately attempts to run off.
"Wait!" The old man grabs his shoulder. "Before you go, take this."
The man opens the boy's hand and gently places the pocket watch inside.
"Hm? What's this?" He immediately starts fiddling with the buttons.
"You'll find out in time."
And with that, the old man turns and begins to saunter off.
"HUH?! Oh, come on! You can't just say something all mysterious and walk away!"
The boy's plea proves deaf to the man. He continues his forward retreat, drifting off into the field.
...
"He did the same thing to me," Sirius mentions. "Not sure what it does, but it's counting down to something."
Sirius pulls out his watch and turns it over. They both examine the backs of their watches.
Sirius: 22921149 seconds remain.
The boy: 22926321 seconds remain.
"Huh... So cool... Anyway, can we go explore town now?"
-We, huh... He wants to come with me...? Why?
Excitement returns to his voice as he stuffs the watch into one of his pockets. They could easily catch up with the old man, but the boy decides to let him be mysterious.
"Uh, yeah... Sure, but do you mind if I lead the way? I should probably go find a clinic."
Sirius raises his disfigured arm.
The boy's face flushes and repulses.
"What the fuck happened to your arm!?"
"Did you not notice it the whole time we were talking??"
"No!? That thing is disgusting!" After examining it for a moment, the boy shakes off his surprise. He pats Sirius on the back. "Let's go."
"Yeah..."
The pair begins walking south toward the other side of town. Supposedly, begin to walk south.
The boy has accepted his situation so fast, Sirius is both impressed and concerned. In a matter of seconds, he had accepted he was in a different world, and now, has grouped together with Sirius like they've been doing so their whole lives.
Sirius isn't used to having company, but he welcomes the boy's presence. Things might be more interesting with him around.
"How did that even happen?? Don't tell me some secret organization kidnapped and tried to torture you, but before they could hurt you any further... You escaped. Managing to flee into the park with a mangled arm, you arrived just in time to witness my rebirth."
"...N-No, not quite..."
-
As the boy twirls in circles, admiring the scenery, Sirius briefly explains his tale of the girl and Wailian.
-
"Wait, so there are monsters in this world, too?!"
He seems to have forgotten what a monster did to Sirius's arm. His face somehow beams even happier.
"I guess so. Though I only got here like an hour or two ago. So, I'm not really sure if they're classified as monsters."
"Wait, really?! So, did you come out of the ground too??"
"Yes, it was horrible. I thought I was going to suffocate..."
-Again...
Flashes of his death in that hospital room cross his mind.
The boy gives an unsteady look.
"Did you... die, by chance? Then wake up here?"
"...Yes."
"I see..." A melancholic air grabs hold of the boy. He almost seems disappointed by his answer. Quickly shaking it off, he refuels himself on wondrous bliss. "Did you meet with a pretty lady?"
Sirius tries to match the boy's energy.
"I did! I'd love to speak with her again..."
"Yeah..." The boy gleefully shuts his eyes, likely dreaming about her. "By the way, what's your name?"
"Oh, right... I'm Sirius. You?"
"Korlin. Happy to meet ya."
...
They meet the end of the park and enter a teeming market.
Korlin's jaw drops as he views the scene. His eyes explode with an overflow of light. He's quivering; it looks like he could piss himself at any second.
Winged creatures and people whiz above the plaza. Anthropoids, small and large, roam the market, wearing animal traits and abilities. Vendors line the streets, selling and buying products not seen anywhere on Earth. Beasts with massive fangs and tails enter and exit the shops and tents.
Everyone is vibrantly colored, either with clothing or paint on their skin. Some people are blue, some purple, and some even have pink fur and/or scales. Most anatomy is bizarre yet somehow still makes perfect sense. While everyone looks different, no one feels out of place.
This really is a different world...
Korlin cannot control his enthusiasm. Glee is practically leaking from every pore on his body. He looks over at Sirius, who mundanely stares at the sight.
"Dude, how are you not flipping out at this?!"
"Hm, I don't think it's fully hit me yet... It still feels like I'm dreaming."
"It really does..."
Korlin is utterly awestruck. But, instead of idly admiring, he frolics into the market.
He greets every person he passes; some return the greeting, and others ignore him. He runs up to stalls, picking up every weird item and examining it. He chats with the vendors, asking about prices and what each item is. When the vendors hear he's broke, they shoo him away.
Sirius loosely follows him, beholding from afar. He lures the hostile gazes of others onto himself, away from the jovial boy.
Minutes pass, and not once does Korlin's eagerness waver. It still looks like he could explode from happiness at any moment.
"Is it alright if I touch your tail?" Korlin asks a random lady.
-Alright, it's time to step in.
Sirius places his good arm on Korlin's shoulder and throws on a friendly grin.
"Hey, sorry about him, he's a little... unique."
The woman nods her head, pitying Sirius' situation, and hurries off
-...
"Man, I was about to get to touch her tail..." He is genuinely disappointed.
"Sorry to get in the way of your fetish, but could we try and find the clinic? My arm is pulsating." Sirius tries not to sound rude.
Korlin's eyes expand as if snapping out of a trance.
"Oh! Yeah, I'm so sorry, I got a little carried away there..."
"A little bit..."
The two boys resume their search for a clinic. They ask around, but don't have much luck getting an answer. Though a few kind souls continue to lead them south.
Korlin repeatedly gets sidetracked and wanders off. Sirius continuously retrieves him.
Korlin learns that he can no longer read. It doesn't seem to bother him.
"Hehe, I'll have to learn a new language... This is awesome."
"Are you always this... energetic?" Sirius asks, dragging Korlin by the wrist. He looks to the sun for direction. It doesn't help him.
Korlin peers at the pavement.
"No, not usually... I haven't felt this alive for a while. I can't remember the last time I was this happy."
His words hit Sirius.
He's been enjoying himself... Despite the arm thing, of course.
When was the last time he's done that?
...Their paces slow, and Sirius releases Korlin's arm.
"Yeah, me too..." Sirius' voice is drowned out by the crowd.
They continue walking, and Korlin's enthusiasm fades.
"I really hope this isn't a dream."
*****
Eventually, they arrive in front of a gray, stone building.
The clinic. Or at least what they hope to be. A sign out front has a white symbol picturing an actual heart.
It was much further than three blocks down. Aureole isn't the best with directions, it seems.
Sirius enters, leaving Korlin to entertain himself. Which is very easy to do.
He passes through the arched doorway into a bright interior. Sunlight combined with candles gives the waiting room a rich white glow.
He approaches a counter made of the same brick as the walls. Almost everything in the capital seems to be built from the same gray blocks.
A woman with blue, droopy, dog-like ears sits behind the counter. Her eyes also seem to droop, though they're mostly covered by her bangs.
"H-hello, is this a clinic?"
The woman perks up and smiles politely.
"It is! What can I..." She peers at his arm. "Actually, I have a pretty good idea. I'll notify one of our healers." Sirius thanks her civilly, and she strolls over into a hallway out of view.
-Healers? Are they not called doctors?
"I really hope this is a clinic..."
"Right this way, please!" She pops her head around the corner. Sirius follows the lady, and she leads him to a room with a wooden bed in the center. A brick is removed from the wall to let in natural light. Potted plants are spread throughout the floor. "Please wait here for just a moment."
Sirius nods and sits on the loosely sheeted bed. The lady leaves him alone.
-This better not be another "inn" situation...
This is nothing like any hospital he's been to before. There are no monitors, no medical supplies, no casts, no buzzing, no beeping, no tubes, no machines...
Alone with only his thoughts, a memory comes tumbling back to him. About the last time he was in a clinic.
-...
His hand wraps itself around his throat. The air feels heavier.
Images of his little brother, standing next to his hospital bed, flash across his mind. His brother's anger... His disgust... His hatred...
The sound of a cord being unplugged... The sound of his heart rate monitor racing before falling to a flatline... The sound of his brother's last words to him...
-"Sorry."
The word was so faint that Sirius can't tell if there was any emotion behind it.
While he struggled in his bed to breathe, his brother walked out of the door... pretending nothing had happened. What happened after...?
-Does anyone care?
The depressing thought is followed by a stream of memories.
His mother's financial issues. His father's never-ending disappointment. His brother's loathing toward him. His... friends at school ignoring him...
-They're probably thankful.
A crushing pain in his chest emerges. He hasn't realized he's holding his breath.
A swirl of negative thoughts bombards his meek brain. The grasp on his own throat is tightened.
-Nobody cares. They all hate you. No one has ever-
HACK
A violent expulsion of coughs escapes his throat, reminding him to breathe.
Bending down, he sucks in all the air he can. After a minute, his breathing steadies out, and he regains his composure.
...
A hand knocks on the doorway.
A young man walks through the arch. He carries himself with dignity, though he appears relaxed and kind. A long robe drapes around him, stretching to the floor. He places glasses over his pointed ears and enters the room.
"The arm, is it?"
Sirius fixes his posture. The man has the same color hair and wings as Aureole. Though most humanoids in the city do. Still, it subconsciously straightens his back.
"Oh, yeah... Is there anything you can do for it?" In truth, Sirius almost forgot about his arm.
The man simpers and raises an eyebrow.
"That's an odd question. I am a blessed healer after all."
-A what...?
He kneels beside Sirius. Removing a white glove from his hand, he lifts his palm to Sirius' arm. The man closes his eyes in deep concentration.
Suddenly, a greenish-gold light emits from the man's palm.
-...No way. Is this-?
The soft light envelops Sirius' mutilated arm. The limb feels fuzzy and warm... almost numb. Its scratches and scars begin to fade away. Its twisted skin and muscles unravel into the shape an arm should be...
After only a couple of seconds, any trace of the wailian's inflicted wounds is gone.
His arm is healed.
The light dissipates from his arm and the man's palm. The fuzzy feeling leaves, and only a slight hint of numbness lingers. It's as if nothing ever happened...
Sirius goggles at his healed arm, awed.
-That was magic. Magic exists here. I've got to tell Korlin about this...
"Is there anything else you need healed?"
The man knocks Sirius off his daze.
"Oh- Huh? N-No, that was all. Thank you..."
"Of course. Well, I'll be off then."
The man walks out of the room as if it were a casual, everyday occurrence.
Sirius stares at his reformed arm a little longer before getting up. He checks the functions of his fingers and joints, and everything works as it should. Amazing. Still in a state of wonder, he returns to the lady at the counter.
"I take it all is well?"
"Oh- Yes."
She smiles again and writes something down on a piece of paper. She doesn't use a pen or pencil; instead, she writes with a large claw.
"Alright then," she starts mumbling to herself. "Four hundred plus tax is..." She looks up at Sirius. "That'll be four hundred and sixteen nem, please."
She outstretches her hand. He's supposed to give her something.
-Nem? Is that money? Four hundred??
The only thing he can think to do is pull out the purple gems.
Four hundred and sixteen... Purely guessing, he hands her five of the gems.
She accepts the stones and rummages around behind the counter. After a moment, she places an orange gem, three red gems, and four green gems into his palm.
"Alright, you're all set."
Sirius glances between the woman and the gems. That worked?! The gems are all in the relative shapes of coins, though some are more jagged than others. He clutches them tightly.
"Uh- Right. Thank you!"
Sirius gives a small wave and exits the building. That was the easiest doctor visit ever. Not even any paperwork...
Korlin is sitting on a bench right outside the clinic. He's watching a type of bug fly by. Sirius trots down the small set of stairs and sits on the bench next to him.
"Look at this, my arm is all better." He waves his arm around.
"What kind of doctor was in there!?"
"That's the crazy thing, there wasn't one. He called himself a healer, and I'm pretty sure he used-"
"MAGIC!"
Korlin's face suddenly beams, but he isn't looking at Sirius...
Turning around, Sirius discovers a blazing ball of fire barreling toward them.
-WHAT THE-
FWOOOOOOOOOOSH
The flaming orb rips past them, streaking red and orange across the air. Igniting nearby plants, its heat could almost singe their skin. Thankfully, it only feels warm.
The singing sphere disperses as it rams into a nearby building.
A strand of Korlin's hair is caught aflame, and he doesn't even notice. A massive grin is in place of where fear should be. Sirius pats the fire out and finds the source of the assault.
A rampant, six-legged canine is scuttling down the street. It has tiny, white horns protruding out of its head. An older woman trails behind the dog, she's trying to catch up with it.
"Someone!" the lady screams. "Please stop him!"
Upon sight of the animal, or maybe its bark, Korlin freezes.
...
He's petrified.
Not a bone in his body moves. His eyes are stuck on the creature, as if they're glued. His mouth gapes, begging to say something...
It's as if the sight of the dog brought back disturbing memories.
...
"We should probably get out of here-" Sirius hits Korlin's shoulder, signalling for them to run. Sirius stands up, but realizes the boy isn't following. "Hey... What's wrong? We should probably-"
Abruptly, Korlin's expression stiffens, and he launches off the bench.
His eyebrows furrow as he rushes head-on toward the beast.
"What are you doing-!?" Sirius shouts, but it doesn't reach his ears.
Determination emanates from Korlin, gone is that cheerful child. It's like a switch suddenly flipped inside him.
Seeing the boy rapidly approach, the dog charges another ball of fire. Sparks igniting from its jowls, the beast unleashes another blazing sphere directly at the boy.
Fully focused, Korlin evades the flames by sliding under.
About to collide with the boy, the canine attempts to step off to the side. Before it can, Korlin springs off the pavement, managing to grab the fur on the creature's back.
The dog scrambles, trying to maintain balance, but refuses to cease its charge. Korlin, using all his strength, doesn't release his grip and gets dragged by the dog's chaotic movement.
"You're not getting away..." Korlin mutters in the creature's ear as he manages to mount it.
Korlin tugs on the rough fur of its nape, but it only makes the dog cry. It releases a spray of fire, singeing Korlin's skin. Frustrated, he sticks one of his legs in between the dog's six.
While painful, the dog trips over Korlin's foot and topples over. It skids across the stone road, and Korlin, his grip releasing, naturally does the same.
...
Sirius and the old woman rush over to them.
"Humprey!" The woman is furious; her wrinkled forehead somehow gains more wrinkles. "This is outrageous behavior!"
smack
She barehand slaps the dog.
"Damn..." Sirius mumbles."
"We are going home this instant, and you will think about what you've done!"
Pinching the beast by its ear, she starts dragging it along the street. She curses under her breath the whole way. The flaming dog whines in defeat... Its once frightening appearance being reduced to a pathetic mutt.
...
Sirius and Korlin stare in complete befuddlement.
The fallen boy stands himself up and brushes of the soot.
"You're welcome... I guess..." A regretful tone holds his voice.
"I don't know... I feel kind of bad for that dog thing."
"Hm... I don't. I'm not too fond of dogs..."
"Cat person?"
"Something like that..."
...
"That was crazy... What made you do that?"
"I don't know..." Korlin studies his fists. "I saw magic and got excited, but then..."
"..."
"Magic!" He shuts down his previous thought process, replacing it with the usual happy-go-lucky one. Whatever he was about to say is lost... "Magic! It actually exists! This is amazing! I've always wished magic were real, and now it is! Do you think I could use magic? I hope so. If I get to use magic, my life will be complete. Simple as that. I could die happy."
Korlin rambles on about magic for about ten minutes. All Sirius can do is listen to the boy's endless enthusiasm. The whole time, Sirius can't shake the feeling that something is weighing on the boy. But Sirius has only just met him; what reason would he have to care? Besides, if he's burying something, it's probably for a reason...
Sirius eventually tells him about the healer and his arm. It refuels the boy's fire for another ten minutes.
"Do you think there are different classes? Like fighting, healing, defense? Or is it like an elemental thing? Do you need to be born with magic or can you gain it throughout your life?"
And so on.
*****
-I think I've figured out how the currency system works. The currency here is called nem. They come in different colored gems, each with a different set value. The shape of the gem doesn't really matter; it's all color. A green gem is worth one nem. Blue worth five. Red worth ten. Orange worth fifty. The purple ones Aureole gave me are worth one hundred each. Then, from what I gathered, there are pink gems worth one thousand nem. I believe they keep increasing like this, though I'm not sure of the highest value nem. It's a fairly simple currency system; I don't believe anything equivalent to "cents" exists.
The two boys sit on the ground beside a bench. They originally planned on sitting on the bench, but the built-in butt scratcher made them a little uncomfortable.
Sirius explains his findings to Korlin, who devours every bit of it. Korlin scrambles around the littered floor and finds a discarded piece of paper.
There are lots of random and interesting things lying around, not just garbage and trash. Korlin pulls a black dipped feather from somewhere and begins writing the information.
"The feather is a little much," Sirius jokes.
"I know... I feel like a scribe back in the Middle Ages."
"What are you even writing with?"
"I don't know. It was already on the feather when I picked it up."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The two of them hold a long, silent session of eye contact.
Korlin sniffs the feather.
"Yeah, it's shit."
Sirius nods in acceptance.
"Of course it is..."
"Gross." Korlin tosses both the feather and paper into what they assume is a trash bin. "Anyway... We can write that down later. We should focus on finding a place to crash for the night. The sun is getting lower."
"That's true..."
"I wonder if there's an inn or something around here..."
"Ehhh, I wouldn't count on it..."
"Should we go ask around? Maybe they got magic beds around here!"
"I guess we could try. Man, you're really into all this."
"I'm more surprised you're not! We are literally in a fantasy world with magic and fire-breathing dogs. It's awesome."
"I thought you weren't a dog person?"
"I think you're missing my point."
"Don't get me wrong, this is all really cool. This is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm just... not sure how to act at the moment. Or why I'm alive at all... You seem perfectly content with everything. It's like you've prepared for this."
"Well, I've watched a lot of anime. Like... a lot."
He holds himself with pride.
"Ah, I never really got into any of that stuff. I watched one, but it wasn't really my thing."
"Let me tell you, you were missing out..." His words trail off as he realizes something devastating. He puts his palms to his face. "Dang it! If I'm in another world, I can't finish any of my shows..."
His proud demeanor turns defeated.
"No offense, but I don't think that's our biggest concern right now..."
Korlin composes himself.
"You're right... you're right," he is still clearly wrecked.
They set off to find an approachable person. As they walk, Korlin continues to strike up conversation.
"What was that one anime you watched called?"
"Uhh, let me think... pardon my French-"
"It's Japanese..."
"Same thing, anyway, I think it was called boku no... piku? Something like that."
...
Korlin stalls every single muscle.
A look of raw horror and devastation morphs his face.
"Why. In the ever-loving fuck. Would you watch BOKU NO PICO!?"
"Uh... S-someone at school recommended it. They said I would love it and that it had a good story..."
Korlin is dumbfounded by the words spilling out of Sirius's mouth. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Korlin suppresses tears of pity.
"Come. Let me tell you something..."
The two boys have a nice, long discussion about anime.
*****
Scouring the streets, they come across a lone baby turtle.
"TURTLE!"
Korlin rushes over and scoops it off the ground. He spins in circles, giggling with the turtlet in hand.
"You a big turtle fan?" Sirius asks.
"I've just never seen one in person before." With a final ballerina twirl, the boy stops.
"Ah..." Upon further inspection, Sirius finds concerns in the boy's handling. "Why are you holding it like that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're holding it like it's a burger."
"Is that wrong? Are you a turtle handler or something?"
"No, it just looks uncomfortable... If you press too hard, you'll snap it."
Korlin inspects the baby's facial expression and deduces that...
"It looks fine to me."
"Stop holding it like it's a burger!"
"Well, then it shouldn't be shaped like one!"
"What kind of logic is that?!"
The turtle could easily sit inside Korlin's palm, but instead, the boy holds it with a two-handed grip.
"If burger-shaped, it should be held like one!"
"It's a living being!"
"It's not like it cares-"
Thudding footsteps disrupt the two's bickering. A shadow casts over the boys, blocking the setting sun's light.
"What do you two think you're doing?"
Their eyes direct themselves onto the towering creature in front of them. What lies before them is neither comprehensible nor possible...
It's an anthropomorphic turtle.
"Shit..."
The turtle's expression is hard to read, but it's pretty clearly upset.
"Aha... is this cute little guy yours by chance?" Korlin smiles stupidly, asking in a sing-song manner.
"Give me my son."
The standing turtle's voice booms and rattles each of their bones.
"C-Certainly..." Korlin drops the baby into the father's hand.
The man-turtle leans in close.
"Never mess with my son again, you got that?"
"Of course."
"Absolutely."
"...Good." The turtle backs off and leaves along with his son. "Handling a man's turtle... filthy Witch Spawn..." he mutters to himself.
Korlin turns to Sirius, his mouth gaping open.
"Sirius... a ninja turtle just threatened me."
"You got what you deserved."
"What's next?! SpongeBob?!"
"Come on, let's go find a place to sleep..."
"Winnie the Pooh?!"
...
Eventually, Korlin's worries subside.
Asking strangers for a place to stay, unsurprisingly, they are met with disappointment. The sky welcomes a lovely shade of yellow.
"Please, it doesn't have to have a bed, a spare room would be perfectly-" Sirius is cut off by the woman he's pleading to.
"Unfortunately, I share no hospitality with you, Witch Spawns." She grimaces at the boys as she strides away.
Korlin attempts to bargain with a man.
"I will literally sleep on the floor of a shed."
"Look, boy," the man pities him. "I apologize, but if my wife catches me bringing home two Witch Spawns, she'll kill me. I don't personally mind your kind, but she has a... not-so-good relationship with the witch." The man apologizes once more before disappearing amidst the crowd.
The boys regroup and share their outcomes.
"Witch Spawn..." Sirius mutters. "Some people don't call us that, but some act like we're rabid animals."
"Witch... do you think they mean the lady who sent us to this world?"
"Maybe, but I don't see why people would hate her..."
"True..." They dig through their brains for an answer, but to no avail. "When I think of the word witch, I think of a green ugly hag riding a broomstick. Or a mommy with purple eyes and silver hair. Not that angel in the void..."
"I'm sorry... Did you say mommy?!"
"I've got to tell you more about anime, man." Korlin shakes his head in disappointment at his pupil.
"I don't think I'm the weird one here."
They bicker and laugh together through the twilight city.
...
It's been there the entire time, but as they saunter, Sirius admires the distant, looming castle. A massive, medieval era castle, only more refined and impressive.
It towers atop a giant mound near the center of the city. Lightly stained bricks contrast with the rest of the gray city. Sinking in the hazy horizon, the fortress feels surreal, almost magical.
The pair enters a large sect of town with lots of carriages.
Wooden wagons with cloth roofing, spacious but compact. Some hold people, others carry goods and food. The carriages are being pulled by massive, hairy beasts. Four-legged, gorilla-esque beasts with tusks. You can't even see their eyes through the white fur.
It seems to be a trading hub.
People load and haul crates onto and off the carriages. Winged animals and people fly with boxes over and around the hub. Some shady characters in the corner use fire magic to cook raw meat and then place it in containers for trade.
A narrow vein of water flows through the center of the area, under a tiny arched bridge. The stream laps the perimeter into a small mill built into the ground. An amphibious man conducts threads of water into the air and transfers them into large glass jars.
One of the massive gorillas floats over the two boys' heads. A shrimpy girl off to their right is extending her arm and drawing a path in the sky. The hovering beast follows the girl's trail until it gently lands in front of a carriage.
Korlin is practically frothing at the mouth. You can basically hear his thoughts.
Every part of this town is alive.
It smells musty here, but not overbearing.
A chill now runs through the air. They are nearing dusk.
Sirius unties his dirty, finally dry, hoodie from around his waist and slips it over his head.
Out of nowhere, a middle-aged man runs up to Sirius and firmly grasps his hoodie sleeve.
"Where did you get this!?"
"Huh?"
The bearded man is wide-eyed. He has two thick horns sticking out from his skull.
"Wh-what is this material I'm feeling?!" The strange man caresses the hoodie.
Sirius looks to Korlin for help.
"Uh- What material do you think this is? I have no idea. Cotton? Polyester? Wool?" Sirius is desperate to get this guy off of him.
He smells like a lumberjack. It would probably be a nice scent if not for the strange circumstances.
Korlin is also panicking.
"Uh..." He grabs Sirius's hood and rubs his fingers across it. "It's pretty soft and fluffy, so I'd probably say cotton... Hold on, let me check the tag..." Korlin ruffles his hand in the hood and manages to nab the tag. "Uh... No! Wool. It's made of wool."
Sirius nods in desperate approval and looks the man in his eyes.
"Uh- wool, I believe."
-Please get off me.
"Hmm..." The man continues to knead his fingers in the sleeve. He seems to be in deep thought. "Wool... Wool... Where did you get this wool?"
"Uhh... Sheep? I guess..."
-Is this guy for real right now?
"Hmm, what is a sheep exactly?
-No way.
"Is this guy serious?" Korlin whispers to Sirius.
"They might not have sheep in this world," Sirius whispers back. He turns back to the overly interested man. "Sheep are these animals with big, usually white, uh... fluff surrounding them."
Korlin is motioning with his hands what a sheep looks like. Or at least he's trying to. It's not helping.
The man seems to have hit a revelation.
"Huh... So they're kind of like a lambie?" He releases Sirius' sleeve.
Korlin facepalms.
"A lambie? What, like a LAMB!? A BABY SHEEP!?"
"What are you talking about? A lambie- Oh! Here, those are lambies."
The man points behind the two of them. Turning around, a pack of sheep-like animals is being herded along. But, instead of wool, the backs of the animals are covered in a mountain of bubbles.
Bubbles completely absorb the creature; it looks like a massive ball of soap with a stubby sheep's face. A shepherd leads the animals along, popping a bubble or two to keep them in line.
Korlin takes an overly exaggerated deep breath.
"That is not a lambie. That is an abomination."
"Those are lambies! Look, there are even baby lambres!"
"LAMBRES!? What are you saying right now!? You are uttering absolute nonsense right now!"
Korlin and the man continue to bicker. Sirius holds in his laugh.
...
Eventually, in exchange for Korlin admitting he's wrong, the man agrees to let them stay in his nearby stable.
"Only on one condition."
"That being?"
"Let me study this clothing tonight. I want to see if I can end up mass-producing. I've never seen anything like it before."
"Oh, sure," Sirius takes off his hoodie and hands it to the man. "Sorry, it's a little dirty."
"Ah, that's no bother. Is it waterproof? Would it be alright if I wash it?"
"Go ahead, it should dry rather quickly."
The man grins, revealing small fangs, and gleefully leads them to his stable.
It's just around the corner of the trading hub, seemingly near the edge of the city. Towering brick walls block the view of the outside, their only exit being a massive wooden gate.
Guards in suits of armor patrol the gate and the top of the wall. The guards aren't human, but rather humanoid reptiles, namely lizards. The armor mostly conceals that fact, but the lack of gloves reveals scaly, green, webbed hands. And, of course, there are some not wearing any helmets, showing off their reptilian heads. Small tails also stick out from their back plating.
The guards group together and tug on a clamoring chain, which shuts the giant gate. It produces a booming noise, and they return to their patrolling. Maybe they close it at night?
The bearded man twists a key in the door and motions them inside. Sirius never thought the sight of a door would surprise him so much. They enter the stable and find hay layered all over the floor.
One of the giant, hairy carriage carriers rests on a stack of straw.
"Is it safe to sleep with that thing?"
"With ol' Gary? Of course, he doesn't bite! His fur should warm you right up if it gets cold."
"What species even is that?"
"What? Never seen a manfi before?"
"Of course I have, I've just never seen one... that... fluffy."
They once again thank the man, and he locks them in for the night.
...
The pale moon's light floods through an opening in the roof. Crisp air swallows the stable, sending shivers down Sirius's spine. He buries himself under a heap of fodder.
Korlin is snuggled under the shaggy arm of Gary.
Neither of them can rest their eyes. Too much has happened today.
Both stargaze at their new night sky, a looming silence hanging over the stable. The only noise is Gary's occasional grunts and murmurs.
"Hey, Sirius? You awake...?"
"Mm."
"You sound tired. You have all day actually."
"...Really?" He presses his fingers under his left eye. "My eyes do feel heavy..."
"That's not the kind of tired I meant." Silence once again swaddles the stable. "Are you... alright?"
There is a shakiness to his words.
Sirius stares at his palm, pent-up emotions threatening to spill. He takes a deep breath and swallows those feelings.
"I'm alright. I just... don't know how to feel. I've lived what feels like the same day for so long, I don't know what to do... I can't tell if I'm scared or excited. Everything changed so quickly..." He pauses, taking in every aspect of this first day. "And... I can't stop thinking about..."
He doesn't finish his sentence. Painful memories creep into his thoughts.
"...I get it. I don't know what your life was like before you died... But, that doesn't matter anymore... We just... need to take it one day at a time."
There is a blatant lack of confidence in his words.
"You seem so content with everything that's happened. I think I'm a little envious..." Sirius embeds himself once more.
"Are you kidding?" He sounds as if he could laugh or cry at any second. "I'm terrified..."
He tucks in closer to Gary's arm.
"..."
...
...
"I don't want to wake up."