Cassian let Lila sleep for a bit against his chest. Efila stood a bit awkwardly, cold sweat on her back. Fei stood beside her, bowing in apology. "Please forgive me, my dear acquaintances. I wasn't able to foresee this happening."
"So what happened earlier wasn't actually supposed to happen?"
"It's still a prototype, but I've tested this, and the most severe side effect was rashes and ear tingling — and that only happened to a very small portion of the sample. It's the first time anything like this has happened, and — I'm really sorry."
"Well, nobody could've known something this bad would happen, right?"
"I did." Lila pinched Cassian's arm until it turned red.
"Ah! Hahaha, right, right. Can you stand?"
She stood up herself, regaining her balance. "I got this." She stumbled a bit before steadying. She walked toward Efila and Fei. Guilt washed over their faces. They expected a reprimand, but what came was a warm smile.
"I just want to say thank you for saving us. What's with the guilty faces? I know you didn't mean for that to happen, even before you told us. Want to know how?"
Confused, the sisters looked at each other before turning back to Lila.
"Miss Fei, you supported me when I was rolling in pain. And Miss Efila, I remember your guidance back in that vision. As I felt myself heating up from all the information I was getting, I felt cool water wash over me. That was you, right, Miss Efila?"
Lila clasped Efila's hand. "That's how I know. Why else would you go through so much trouble if it was intentional? So — thank you for helping us out. If you keep blaming yourselves, then I forgive you, okay? So don't keep blaming yourselves. You too, Miss Fei."
Tears welled in Efila's eyes. "Awww, you're such a sweetheart!" Efila and Fei both hugged her tight. Oh my Lord, no wonder both the boys are stunned. They're absolutely stunning! Lila's cheeks flushed red as she got sandwiched between the sisters.
"Bet you wish that was you, Cassy," Elio remarked.
"How'd you know?"
They both laughed. "I heard you too, back then in that realm. I heard you screaming at me to snap out of it, but there was just too much going on. It felt like having a conversation with a hundred people and shifting between each of them so fast it was like talking to them all at once."
That might explain the moon convulsing, Cassian thought. "Lila said she heard my heartbeat. Did you too?"
"No, I didn't, but I did see a vision in between the shifting conversations. I was high above you, and you were standing on a beach. There were violent waves, and the sun was out too, right beside me, bursting violently. Then I felt your presence, and your image kept appearing more and more between the shifts, until I was locked into that vision myself. That's when I was able to hear your breath, and I followed it until I woke up."
"I guess different people have different reactions, but why did you two react so extreme? I was just a little high when I drank it."
"I don't know... I was really careless back there. I should've listened to Lila. This place, Cassy — it still feels like a dream to me, and all these wonders just made me want to jump in headfirst. I'm sorry I dragged you guys into this mess."
"To be honest, it got to me too — all the wonders and magic, I mean. We could've been more cautious, but just remember you're not the only one who made that decision, so don't blame yourself alone." Cassian patted Elio on the back. The knot in Elio's chest loosened. Thanks, Cassy, Elio thought, and was about to say it aloud when Cassian spoke first.
"It was rough, but that liquid did work, didn't it?"
Right! It did work! So much happened I almost forgot! Cassian had spoken with Miss Fei earlier in their tongue, and so had Lila! Realizing this, Elio turned toward the three women.
"Miss Efila..." Anticipation welled up in Elio's throat as he recalled the words he wanted to say.
"T-Thank you! For helping us out — and you too, Miss Fei!" he said, in their tongue.
There was a slight pause before a soft chuckle. "With pleasure!" Efila answered.
Only then did Lila realize that she herself had spoken to them in their language. "T-THE FLASK REALLY WORKED!? M-Miss Efila, you're amazing! Cassy, can you speak it too!?"
"Yup," he answered, in this world's tongue.
Lila slapped Cassian's arm in awe. "A drink that lets you speak a whole different language exists in this world. Imagine if we had something like this back home!"
"That would put a lot of translators out of work."
"Or maybe there is, and the translators are keeping it a secret to avoid unemployment!" added Elio.
Fei watched over them with a smile. "This day's been full of surprises, thanks to those three."
Her sister nodded. "I still can't believe what just happened."
"What exactly happened, Efila?"
"...I have a theory, but maybe we should find a better time to discuss it. We should let them rest for now. They're welcome to stay here if they want — it's the least I can do to make up for the incident."
Knowing her sister's habits, Fei figured the rooms and storage space upstairs were surely not suitable for guests. "Don't worry about it. I have just the place."
Fei walked toward the trio. "Now that we can easily talk to each other, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Fei — a seamstress for the Merchants Cohort, and a part-time adventurer. It's nice meeting you! I'm sure you all have a lot of questions right now, but I reckon a good rest should be the top priority. I know a good place we could go."
"T-Thank you, but we don't really have money right now. I don't think they'll accept our currency here." Lila took out their remaining cash. Seeing the paper, Efila's eyes lit up.
"I'll buy it!" Efila shouted.
"You will?"
"It's currency from another world — this could be considered a historical artifact. Don't listen to my sister; sell it at the academy or the museum and you'll be rich enough to buy a house here."
"U-ugh, that's true. I'd... recommend that too."
Miss Fei and Miss Efila have a more casual tone in their language than ours, Cassian thought.
Lila turned toward the boys, glancing at their pocket money. She paused, thinking. "That's a pretty good idea. Where's this museum? Let's go there!"
"The museum's not bad, but—" Elio interjected. "I say we go to the Academy! I mean, it's an academy, right? They might have a library filled with this world's history!"
"So does a museum, Elio."
"But they won't just have history — they'll have other things too! Like today's society."
"If it's just books, we can visit another time. We can even learn about today's society by talking to people here."
As the two continued to argue, the sisters started to worry among themselves. "Look, Fei! Look what you did! Now they're fighting!"
"I was just trying to help!"
"Some help that was!"
As Fei tried to come up with a retort, she noticed Cassian mindlessly staring at them. "U-um—"
"Alright, I got it," Cassian whispered to himself.
While Elio and Lila argued, Cassian stepped behind Elio and danced in a way that mimicked what Elio was saying, like someone translating for birds through body language. He did the same behind Lila. Even trying to ignore him, they couldn't help laughing at Cassian's horrible, horrible coordination.
"STOP IT! HAHAHAHA" Lila shouted, bursting into laughter.
Elio was laughing too, until he noticed the sisters staring at them, dumbfounded, and got embarrassed. "You really don't have any shame left in your body."
"As you can see, I danced it all off," Cassian replied.
They all had a good laugh — until Cassian's face suddenly went blank.
"Cassian? I know that look."
"I say we sell the money to Miss Efila here."
Everyone went silent. Even the sisters were shocked.
"We'd be losing a lot of profit here, Cassy. Explain." Lila broke the silence.
"There's a matter of identity. Say we sell them — how do we prove it's from another world?"
"We have our phones! We could show them the insides — this world runs on a different system. That campfire in the woods earlier had engravings almost like the lamp posts here. They might use magic for everyday living. Our phone's circuits might look like magic to them, just like their magic looks like magic to us." Elio answered. The word identity stuck with Lila.
"But then, they'll only really be convinced once they get to know us more. And once people realize we're from another world, we'll draw more attention — especially given how we're somehow connected to Midas. Do you want to keep a low profile, Cassy?"
Cassian smiled. "I just want us to have that freedom."
Lila sighed. "Alright, Cassy."
"J-Just like that?" Efila was stunned by how quickly Lila gave in. She looked to Elio, who simply shrugged.
"We're still losing profit, Cassy. How do we make up for it?"
"We could ask for favors. Maybe two. First, we ask them to teach us."
"About this world?" Elio asked.
"Mostly. Let's ask if they could teach us history, economy, this town — but let's also see if they'd teach us the magic they use."
Magic. The word resonated with the two. Lila frowned as a sudden thought crossed her mind, while Elio nodded in agreement. "You're not planning to use the second favor to set up a date, are you?" She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
Cassian stepped aside, giving a clear view of the sisters — their statuesque figures, smooth skin, and sharp facial features, the kind that captivated anyone who saw them.
"You think I have a chance?"
"No."
"That's what I thought."
Lila snickered. Elio raised his head, meeting Cassian's eyes.
"Cassian," Elio's voice shook slightly. "Do you really think we could learn it? What Miss Fei and Miss Efila did?"
"I'm not sure about me. Miss Efila said the worst reaction to the liquid was tingling ears and rashes, which means the average experience is probably like mine — but you two reacted very strongly. If you have special reactions to magic in this world, then you must be carrying something special too. If we learn magic, we might find out more about that — and a lot more, honestly — but we'll understand better once we hear the full story from them."
"I-I don't know about magic, Cassy. We really haven't had the best experience with it since coming here." Lila recalled the crushing headache from earlier and shook her head, trying to dismiss the memory. Cassian scratched the back of his head. What Lila said was fair, but in the back of his mind, if the way they'd been transported to this world was through magic, then the way back home might be through magic too. Regardless, they'd all have to be involved eventually.
"Allow me to make it up to you." Efila stepped closer to the group. "I-I know I don't have the best record of trustworthiness, but! I'm confident in my knowledge!"
Fei nodded in agreement. Cassian looked to Lila and Elio. Seeing approval on their faces, he answered, "We'll sell our currency to you, Miss Efila. And as a way to make up for the lost profit, please grant us two favors."
Cassian offered his hand. Efila chuckled softly, and they shook on it. Her hand was a bit calloused, but soft still, Cassian thought.
"With pleasure, sir..."
"Oh wait — we never actually introduced ourselves."
It had somehow slipped everyone's mind. Lila was the first to speak up. "Sorry for the late introductions. I'm Lila Hearth. This is Elio Von Vinci—"
"Helloooo!"
"—and this lamp post here is Cassian Rook."
"I'm the lamp post."
Efila and Fei both chuckled. "Once again, I'm Efila, and this beautiful lady here is my sister, Fei. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
Lila handed over the peso bills they had, while Efila passed them a bundle of paper currency made from a special material in exchange. Engraved on the bills were intricate patterns and a handsome face. The three studied the money curiously.
Elio took one of the bills and turned it over in his hands. The material felt almost like a hybrid of thick parchment and woven silk — durable, water-resistant, entirely untearable by hand. The ink didn't just sit on top; it seemed embedded into the fibers themselves, shifting color slightly as the light hit the intricate linework. Back home, anti-counterfeiting meant watermark threads, microprinting, color-shifting ink. Here, they'd layered physical craftsmanship with actual arcane geometry. It was an economic system built entirely around magic.
"This guy's handsome. Who is this?" Lila asked, staring at the face on the bill.
"That's Midas," Efila answered. "Quite dashing, isn't he? He created this currency, back when there was conflict between the dwarves and humanity. Mining silver and gold would've eventually drained the natural resources of the White Draped Mountains, so as a solution, we now use bills made from a special material with carefully crafted patterns to prevent counterfeiting."
Dwarf? Are there really dwarves here? Like the short, stocky, muscled, happy alcoholic kind? Elio blinked a few times, processing.
"How much is this worth, Miss Efila?"
"Fifty Midan! That's almost three months' rent at a nice inn!"
"A-Are you sure, Efila?" Her sister looked a bit panicked.
"Of course," Efila said, pounding her chest with pride. Fei sighed at her sister's display. Seeing how worried Fei looked, Lila wanted to make sure the price was fair.
"It's okay, Miss Efila, if it's too much — we're already planning to make up the difference with favors."
"I'm not that broke! Don't let Fei get to you. It takes a financially responsible woman to run a shop, you know."
"A shop that's nearly gone bankrupt a couple of times," Fei muttered under her breath. Efila shot her a sharp look, which Fei carefully avoided.
"Right — what about those favors? If it's within my capabilities, I'll be sure to provide."
"Cassy?"
Cassian straightened his back. "We have two we'd like to ask. First, we'd like you to teach us about this world's history, society, and economy — maybe even some etiquette — and especially magic. Second, we'd like you to introduce us to people: where we could learn specific skills, find jobs, and buy and sell our things. Is that alright?"
The room went quiet for a moment.
Was that too much? Cassian thought. Elio gulped silently. He and Lila glanced around awkwardly. Just as Cassian was about to say something else, Efila beamed.
"That's an interesting favor, but of course! I'll teach you everything you need to know about this world. For your second favor, I think Fei would do better than me — she's had a lot more adventures, so she knows more people."
Fei nodded in agreement. "I'll take you all around tomorrow. Don't worry — some might be a little rowdy, but I guarantee they're all good people."
"Thank you so much." A breath of relief escaped Cassian's lungs. Lila's smile widened, and she jumped in celebration.
They kept chatting for a while before Fei prepared to leave. Standing in the shop's open doorway, Efila leaned on the frame, waving them goodbye. "I'll see you all tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow, Miss Efila!" Lila waved back enthusiastically.
"See you!" Elio added, with the same energy.
Lila held onto the money for their journey. "It's not far from here — we could just walk," Fei suggested.
Elio felt a lot more excited than Cassian and Lila. Each step he took had a bit of a bounce to it. Lila walked more casually, occasionally pointing out things that caught her eye. Cassian fell a few steps behind, watching his three companions. He recalled the events of the day and wondered how they'd fare going forward. He worried for a moment, but then he looked at Lila's and Elio's faces. Elio was drinking in the magical side of the town — the people, the inscriptions on the buildings, the shops full of bizarre wares.
Lila was getting a feel for the town's atmosphere, taking in the shops, the flower stalls, the salons. She watched a couple walking down the street arm in arm. The flutter of birds' wings caught her attention — an elderly man feeding pigeons on a bench by the river, a group of kids running around. One girl tripped and scraped her knee. Lila went over and helped her up, wiping the girl's tears with her sleeve and brushing the dirt off her clothes. Seeing Lila's face, the girl was starstruck.
"Thank you, pretty lady!"
"Ahaha~ You're welcome. Are you okay?"
The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Mommy said I'm pretty tough!"
Lila patted her on the head. "Here, pretty lady! Thanks for helping me!" The girl handed Lila a piece of paper. "What's this? A ticket to the Spider Carnival?"
"You could bring your friends! It's at the north park, past Yellow Vile Street — you can't miss it!"
"Thank you, but are you sure you want to give this to me? Don't you want to go with friends?"
"I have school that day, and if Mom catches me cutting classes again, I'm doomed!"
Cutting classes already, at this age? Lila thought, a hint of worry beneath her smile. "Thanks — I'll be sure to put it to good use. Be careful, okay?"
The girl ran off, waving goodbye. Cassian looked over her shoulder at the ticket.
"Looks like we can't just talk — we can even read the language."
"Huh? Wait, you're right! How can we even— Where are Elio and Miss Fei?"
"Elio's having a blast over there, asking a bunch of questions."
"Isn't that bothering Miss Fei?"
"Miss Fei seems to like him."
"Ooooooh~ The power of handsome men, is it?"
"That's our harem protagonist. Come on, let's catch up."
As they walked, Lila looked over the ticket. It still baffled her how a single drink could let her not only speak but read a language fluently, as if she'd known it all her life. It irked her in a strange way — how foreign and surreal everything still felt. Her face clouded over, shadowed by her bangs.
"Let's check it out," Cassian said, keeping pace.
"You sure?" Lila lifted her face.
"I'm sure. Let's bring Elio too, of course."
"Cassy, it's a Spider Carnival. Spiders and Elio are not the best match — unless you want him ending up in a coma."
"Which is exactly why we have to come along. So we can join him in the coma."
"AHAHAHA. Don't tell me you're scared of spiders too?"
"I would be if the spider were the same size as my back!"
"I thought geckos liked spiders — a tasty snack for them."
"Don't insult my kin. I have standards."
They kept talking about spiders until they finally reached Elio and Fei, who were studying a lamppost.
"Cassy, Lila! Take a look at this!" Elio said, pointing to a nearby display of charms and bracelets. Each was made from a different gem, engraved with unique markings on the back of the stone or across the surface of the charm.
Cassian went along with Elio's window shopping, while Lila slipped over to Fei just as the conversation turned to the magical properties of each charm.
"Sorry for the delay, Miss Fei."
"It's alright, sweetheart. It was pretty cute seeing him get so excited over everyday things. Honestly, I think most people don't even appreciate the technology we use. It took people from a whole different world to appreciate the effort behind making daily life comfortable."
Lila let out a soft, awkward chuckle. The words different world struck a melancholic chord in her heart. Cassian overheard them talking and noticed the gloom returning to Lila's face. He looked up at the sky — the moment they'd arrived in this world, the sun had been high at noon; now it hung low over the horizon.
"We should find a place to stay before night comes."
Fei noticed the sky too, its blue fading.
"You're right, we're getting close. Come on — the nights here are safe, some even say pretty, but we shouldn't keep Bors and the others waiting."
They all followed her. Perhaps the late-afternoon light made the group feel the weight of the day's events. Lila's face clouded over again, lost in thought. Elio grew solemn, quietly turning over everything he'd learned. The walk to the tavern was quiet.
The surrounding streets were still busy, but one building in particular was louder and brighter than the rest. It had two birch wooden doors, warm yellow light spilling from inside, and a signboard above the entrance with a painted beer mug and large cursive letters reading TAVERNHOLD.
"We're here," said Fei, taking hold of the door handle. She opened it, and the voices and light immediately drew the group's attention.
Inside, the tavern was a roaring sanctuary of life. Blazing hearths warmed the spacious room, filled with polished oak tables, clinking tankards, and the rich scent of roasted meat and spiced ale. Adventurers, merchants, and locals packed the benches, their boisterous conversation rising like a lively symphony.
A voice called out from the far end of the room — loud enough to cut through the crowd. Since arriving in this world, they knew only one person who could do that: Bors. Sheva sat beside him, and Hadeen sat across from them.
"Fei! Over here!"
The tavern was full of drinking, dancing, and laughter. Both Lila and Elio felt a little overwhelmed by the energy. Lila bumped into one of the patrons; panicked, she apologized quickly, but he just laughed it off and took a big gulp of his drink. Lila stood there a moment, stunned by his sheer cheerfulness.
"They seem to be enjoying themselves," Cassian muttered.
Lila glanced around — at the patrons, the waiters, the bartender, the food and drink. The unease she'd felt earlier began to fade under the booming laughter and the satisfying thud of mugs hitting the table. A tingling warmth rose in her chest, like a chord struck on her heartstrings, playing something cheerful.
"Man, I can't do this — I'm getting dizzy." Elio, still overwhelmed by the noise, wobbled and grabbed Cassian's shoulder for support. Cassian steadied him.
"Maybe we need a drink?"
"Maybe."
Lila spun around immediately. "Wait, no drinking! We still have to meet Miss Fei's party! And we can't waste any money!"
"It's fine to have a drink or two, no?" Bors suggested with a big grin as the group approached the table. Before Lila could come up with an excuse, Sheva cut in.
"Bors, no. They're tired and probably have a lot on their minds. They should rest as soon as possible."
"A good drink is best drunk after a long journey, no?"
"That only applies to adults, Bors."
"Bah! I had my first mug of ale when I was ten!"
Sheva sighed, then took Bors' mug and downed it in one go. His eyes went wide. "You're drinking, my love!?"
"It's been a long journey, after all." Delighted, Sheva and Bors leaned into each other. Hadeen scooted over to make room for Fei and the three newcomers. Once everyone had settled, Hadeen snapped his fingers, and the tavern's noise seemed to fall away, as if a wall now stood between their table and the rest of the room.
"Handy for stealth, but it's also nice for a bit of quiet," he said. Elio's mouth fell open. Every spell he encountered in this world seemed to surprise him more than the last.
Beside him sat Fei. "Don't mind him — he just likes to show off."
Hadeen and Fei bickered for a bit while Lila sat there smiling, even though she felt a little left out and tired. Cassian leaned back against the bench, testing the barrier — the tavern noise rushing in when he leaned forward, fading when he leaned back. He whispered his discovery to Elio, sparking a fresh wave of quiet awe.
Once the bickering settled, Fei turned to the three of them.
"Sorry about that — let's get on with introductions. This shady-looking fellow is Hadeen. The man you helped is Bors, and beside him is his very adorable wife, Sheva."
"Is the 'very adorable' part necessary, Fei?" Sheva retorted.
"Sheva's right, Fei — just look at her! You'll see my wife is adorable!"
Sheva pinched Bors' cheeks in embarrassment.
"Sir Bors really loves his wife," Lila remarked.
Bors laughed and nodded — then his mood shifted from cheerful to composed. "I guess now we can really talk. I wanted to say thank you, for helping me get back to them. And for helping with the ogre — that took some courage and wit." Bors bowed his head. "Thank you."
His genuine tone flustered the three of them. They tried to shrug it off but weren't sure what to say. Lila spoke up first. "I-It's nothing, sir Bors. We really didn't do much."
Sheva shook her head gently. "Don't dismiss what you did. You were scared, weren't you? And still, you got Bors back to us and came up with a plan to distract the ogre, even while shaking. That takes courage."
"U-um, well, thank you, but—"
"No need to be modest. We're grateful to you," Hadeen added. "We also have a rough idea that you're not from this world. We'll help you adjust here. By the way — here."
Hadeen handed over a small pouch of coins. "Your share of the ogre bounty."
Lila hesitated for a second, glancing at Elio and Cassian. They both nodded.
"Thank you," was all Lila could say as she took the pouch and tucked it into her pocket.
"Well, now! Let's eat and drink! Our treat — a welcome party for you, in this new world!"
Lila wasn't sure how to respond to the sudden shift in energy. She looked to Cassian and Elio, then to Bors' party, then let her eyes wander through the tavern — the cheer, the laughter. She smiled through the unease still sitting in her chest every time she heard the words another world.
"Thank you for having us!" she said.
"Bring two more oxen here, and three more bottles of ale!"
Sheva looked at them, worried. "Can you three hold your drinks? Ale's pretty strong."
Lila flashed a smug smile. "I'll have you know, I'm always the last woman standing at drinking parties!"
Bors cheered her on. Sheva glanced at the boys, silently asking for confirmation.
"I can't really back that up — I'm usually the first one knocked out," Cassian said, shrugging. Both Lila and Elio laughed and patted his back.
"I'll drink your half, Cassy," Elio offered.
"I'll drink your half too, Cassy," Lila added.
"Thanks, guys. You're such go—" Cassian paused. "Wait, does that mean I don't get any drink?"
They both burst out laughing. Soon the food and drinks arrived, the scent of roasted meat filling their stomachs with hunger. Cassian divided the portions among the three of them before they dug in like there was no tomorrow.
Elio downed his mug of ale. "That was refreshing! We haven't eaten anything since we got here, have we?"
Lila downed hers too and looked around for a refill.
"We might put this tavern out of business."
Bors laughed. "Don't underestimate TavernHold! Almost every night here is a party! It'd take the Sky's Senate to shut this place down!"
The Sky's Senate. The name stuck with Elio. There were still a lot of questions he wanted to ask, and more to see in this world — but for now, he just wanted this moment with his friends. "Include me in that refill, Lila!"
The night wound down. In a room upstairs at TavernHold, the three of them settled in for the night. Elio sprawled across the bed, limbs stretched out, already asleep. Cassian walked in carrying two cups of hot chocolate. He set them down, draped a blanket over Elio, then picked the cups back up and headed for the balcony.
Leaning over the balcony's edge, her red hair loose and drifting in the night air like kindled flame, Lila quietly watched the lit streets below. She wore white pajamas, given to her by the tavern's owner.
"Lila."
"Oh, Cassy. I thought you were asleep?"
"I was, for a bit. Here." Cassian handed her a cup of hot chocolate. "Thank you. You sure you're not sleepy? You didn't sleep long."
"For some reason, I feel pretty refreshed. Weird, since I usually sleep eight to ten hours."
"Just one weird thing after another, huh?" Lila took a small sip of her chocolate. Silence settled between them as the cold night wind moved through her hair, flickering like flame. A single drop fell into her cup — a tear, sliding down her chin. Cassian's eyes softened. The noise from the townsfolk below drowned out the sound of her crying.
"Cassy, I miss my dad..."
Cassian reached out with a handkerchief — the same one Lila had given him as a farewell gift before he left for Manila. Lila paused at the sight of it before taking it to wipe her tears. She looked at it again, then spoke.
"Cassy, I... I want to go home. I can't leave my family alone. I can't leave my responsibilities at school. I can't miss the chance to live up to their expectations. I still want to become a chef, Cassy! I know you and Elio are both having the time of your lives here, and honestly, so did I — but we can't forget about our world! I can't leave my old life behind!"
Lila caught her breath, and as it slowed, she spoke again, voice trembling.
"Can we really go back home?"
"..."
Cassian's hot chocolate had cooled just enough for him to drink it in one go. He took a deep breath and stood up straight, facing her.
"We can. I promise — we'll all get home safe."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I have you."
Lila turned to face him, eyes widening slightly.
"We have Elio too," Cassian added. "We're going to face a lot of problems, Lila, but we won't be facing them alone. Not just us — we have Miss Fei, Miss Efila, Sir Bors, Miss Sheva, and Sir Hadeen too. Tomorrow we'll meet even more people, learn even more about this place."
A lump rose in Lila's throat, holding back her agreement. Part of her still doubted. The memory of the day was full of sweet moments, but also pain and fear. How could she know for sure? How could she stop thinking about the future — about home, and what if she never made it back?
"Lila," Cassian said. "It's going to be okay."
His eyes were steady, his expression calm. Lila knew that beneath that easy exterior was a boy just as scared as she was — and yet she found herself believing the words he'd said to her so many times before: when he was about to fail his test, when his father passed away, when he was about to leave for Manila, and now, here. Those words had always stayed true.
"You promise?" Lila asked.
"I promise. I'll keep on trying till we do."
Lila paused, looked down at her cup, then drained it in one go. Its warmth melted away her doubts and worries. She handed the cup back to Cassian and leaned over the balcony railing, a faint smile finally breaking through.
"I'm gonna stay out here for a bit."
"Got it. I'll bring these back down."
Lila nodded. As Cassian opened the door to the room, he glanced back over his shoulder. The figure of that woman — silent, dressed in white, red hair drifting in the wind — looked like a lone candle flickering under the night sky. I just have to believe what I said, right? Cassian thought. He burnt the scenery into his memory before stepping inside.
Elio lay on the bed, blanket over him, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Didn't know you were awake."
"Just woke up."
Cassian sat down on the edge of the bed and let out a sigh of relief.
"You getting old or something?"
"Elio, you're almost two weeks older than me."
They both chuckled, and the silence returned. Elio held his breath for a moment before letting it out.
"Cassian, I'm sorry — for not considering how Lila felt, or how you might've felt. I never really thought about home until I heard her earlier. I got too distracted by all the wonders here. I never really thought about the other things. The important things."
Cassian set the cups down and lay back on the bed, arms stretched out. Elio continued. "What if we wake up and this is all just a dream? Maybe we got knocked out, or breathed in some gas that made us hallucinate."
"This would be the most realistic dream in human history, if it were one."
"Haha, yeah, I guess that wouldn't make much sense. It all just feels surreal — like it's actually happening. This is reality, not a fantasy, but I've been treating it like one."
Elio let out an exasperated sigh. Cassian sat up and picked up the cups.
"Even if it is reality, we still can't deny the fantasy of this place. Honestly, I think that fantasy might be our ticket home."
"Yeah, maybe."
"We're going to need to learn a lot about this world if we want to survive here."
"Yeah, you're right."
"We're going to need a really good analyst for that."
"Oh, really now?"
"Someone who's really into mythology, history, and the environment."
Cassian and Elio locked eyes before bursting into laughter again. "What are you even trying to do, Cassy?"
"Since this is our reality now, the more we blend with the fantasy of this place, the better. Out of the three of us, you're the best fit for that, Elio. How we get back, how we survive here — we'll figure those out eventually. So let's learn about this world, and enjoy it while we're at it, right?"
Elio nodded. "Whatever you say, man." He rolled onto his side, wrapping himself in his blanket. "Thanks, Cassy. I'll get some sleep now. Lots to do tomorrow."
"Night, Elio. Tell Lila not to stay up too late."
"Mhm."
Cassian stretched his shoulders and left the room. Even out in the corridor, faint noise from downstairs still drifted up. Following the sound of cheer and laughter, Cassian made his way down to the tavern owner, who stood behind the bar counter peacefully wiping a mug clean.
"Sir, I'm bringing these down."
"Just set them there, Cassian. Let Barley handle it."
A figure half a foot taller than Cassian emerged from the shadow of the kitchen entrance — a crocodile in chef's attire, standing upright on its hind legs. Cassian froze, staring, his eyes darting from the crocodile's eyes to its scaled surface to the gloved hands, one of which bore a small emblem on the palm.
"Cassian? Barley can't wash the dishes if you're standing in the way."
Still frozen in shock, Cassian set the cups down in the sink and stepped aside. The crocodile pointed the emblem on its glove forward, and the dishes began cleaning themselves — water swirling, a sponge scrubbing on its own. Cassian watched in silent wonder.
Seeing how blank his expression had gone, the owner asked, concerned, "Cassian, you alright? Something happen?"
Cassian imagined how Lila and Elio would react when they saw this, and laughed — startling the owner. He caught himself and smiled. "S-Sorry for laughing all of a sudden, sir."
"...You sure you didn't have one too many?"
"I-I'm pretty sure, haha."
You know what? I think we'll be alright, Cassian thought.