Kurt was staring at the clock in his work's kitchen, It was almost time. Please, please, please don't let another order come in. We can just walk out if no one…the clock finally ticked.
"That's it guys," said the manager. "this kitchen is closed."
Kurt and the other two cooks gave a relieved shout. The whole place was cleaned up, there was a symphony of clangs of every utensil going back into their place, the last bit lasting no more than five seconds. Lights off, out the door. Kurt was not some chef, he was just a line cook for a simple bar and grill, a little hole in the wall. Easy comfort food mostly. There was little passion in the place. It was just a job.
Leaving his work Kurt was walking home, or rather jogging home. In this world, or well another world, there are springs of mana water that can imbue a person with powers. Kurt, about two years ago, made a pilgrimage to one of these gates. When they say the water is otherworldly, they mean you walk through a gateway to another world and drink.
It was a cheap spring, a superficial improvement of strength but a good improvement on your stamina, which meant Kurt could jog for a really long time, and punch a bit harder. But that was about it. And he felt that was waning, he would have to go back soon, and drink more.
Jogging home from work would normally tire someone out long before they stopped jogging, especially with Kurt's brisk pace, Kurt lived with two friends Sara, and Jacob. Jacob owned the house, at least Jacob's family did. And Jacob dad was a Guardian of the Fire Clan.
Not like any of that mattered to Kurt, he met Jacob and Sara as school friends, they were trying to get their life started, out of school — what to do? Get a job right, not like you can take over the world from nothing. So they decided to get a house, and Jacob procured the arrangement. The reality was Kurt and Sara were paying rent and Jacob…was getting his house, paid off from their rent. And everyone knew it, but it was cheaper than anywhere else.
It worked out, Kurt wasn't anything special really. Honestly, having a rich friend like Jacob was one of the best things a guy like him could hope for. At least that what Kurt thought sometimes, yet…if he had just one ounce of that privilege…I guess that's what they all say.
The clans maintained their control over the populace by controlling access to this power, once magic entered the world, the balance of power shifted drastically to those who had them. There are only three gates in the world, and two of them are fairly close to each other. Power corrupts, and if you're one of the few dozen people with full access to the mana springs, it is simple for you to overwhelm larger numbers. Conventional warfare also started to fail as some of the well would grant you enough toughness that your mundane weapons became ineffective. Add the strength of twenty men you can become practically invincible on the battlefield.
Kurt didn't know much more, how the gates were even made, why these springs gave power, must have been guarded secrets, or unknown to everyone. All he knew is the weakest of the springs were something an average person could afford, with a bit of saving, to purchase. This was basically free money to the people in control of the springs. He also knew they weren't going to be giving anything particularly powerful to anyone not in the clan. Even the extent or nature of the powers was not fully shared to the public. There was no way to determine how strong a clan leader, or a high ranking member actually was, well unless you tested them. Kurt had no intentions of testing it, as that would mean combat. Sure because of the spring he drank from he was a little better in terms of strength, but really anyone with any skills, or weapon, would easily overcome it, it's not like the little spring made him immune to anything, he'd be cut like anyone else.
Turning towards a short cut through a patch of woods Kurt headed home, jogging at a decent pace, until a weird dark object caught his eye. What was…is that a squirrel?
The squirrel seemed rabid and was lounging directly into his path, Kurt tried to duck out the way but was a little too late, as soon as they touched there wasn't a forest but a barren wasteland.
It was just cracked earth, to his right there was a canyon, and in front of him was what seemed like a bunch of children. Though, that was only because of their size, they were short but had faces that looked older, and only one of them was hovering…was that a pixie? Pixies were short lived creatures they like to toy with people because of it. They were like magical flies, or so Kurt was told. They were on the other side of the gate, so not much was actually known.
"Umm…hello….Miss Pixie"
"Pixie!l" said one of the children that didn't look like children, "you call our Lady, a mere pixie."
"Who are you?"
"I am —" the child was interrupted.
"I'm sorry, umm, human, I'm not a pixie," said the floating girl, "I'm actually a Faye"
"No you're not," Kurt said immediately, "Fairies are the size of humans, you are definitely a pixie."
"Well, I'm a wild Faye who hasn't made a well. Pixies have long tails, and I clearly do not."
"So you're a child."
"I'm older than you," she responded quickly and a bit aggressively, but stopped herself, "but yes I guess you could say that"
"Well, send me back the way I came, however that was possible,I don't wanna play some games here."
"I…I can't," she turned away looking annoyed.
"What do you mean you can't?" said Kurt.
"Well, not right now…it took a lot to get you here," said the Faye, turning her head, her long red hair seeming flowing around in a light breeze. She wore a simple off white, dirty. dress. Though even in the state she seemed ethereal when you met her gaze.
"And why did you want to get me here?"
"Why?", she paused, "well to help us obviously."
"Why would I do that?"
"Ummm…" said the Faye.
"I mean I don't even understand what happened."
"I was trying to explain that."
There was an awkward moment of silence between them, then the Faye said, "I'm Layla, of the Faye. And I guess I should start with saying that we are running away, my kind here, are sometimes hunted."
"By whom?" Said Kurt.
"That's hard to answer…there are many dangers in this world."
"Huh…"
"Well my existence is different from yours, I'm a source of power, or rather will be, when I grow up. Don't your kind know about us?"
"My kind?"
"Humans…umm apes…homo…sap…sap..I..en, what you call yourselves..."
"Kurt would be fine"
"Kurt," she repeated, looking a little confused, "ohh your name is Kurt, nice to meet you Kurt."
Kurt looked around and thought, not like I'm going anywhere. "So explain it to me, Miss Layla."