Further than the ocean - part 4

The town they arrived at was for the lack of better words - interesting. There was not much going on in the design or even the technological aspect of things. It looked like any of your modern-day towns.

Well, if they had magic incorporated with modern-day technology. It looked much more like the utopian world that they would result in if the hunter technology was not so much marginalized and actually available for everyone to use.

The fact that it was so widely used in every aspect of life there just highlighted the difference between their own words and this new one.

But there were marginal differences to which while were not glaring in the face, were pretty unavoidable if you look at it closely.

The ability to wield magic was not universal in this world either. In fact, much like their own world only a fraction of people looked capable of wielding magic.

Another similar yet dissimilar fact originated from the fact this world also housed various other races. But while the one in their own world preferred the solitude of their own company and hiding from the others, this world had a broader idea of species equality.

Most of the species donned their characters as a symbol of pride. It felt weird to Xiao to see all this since as long as he could remember, it had always been a point of discrimination in their own setting.

Maybe it was the difference in the attitude of the power governing this world. There was still no clear indication about the rules this world followed fully. For all he knew, it was nothing more than a fashion statement here.

Even in their original world, there had been unique people like that. So, it would really not surprise him that much.

“By the way, back there you commented that you would compensate them for the damage. How would you exactly do that? It’s not like we have anything valuable or the currency of this world?” Kei was to some extent right about that.

They did not know how this world worked and what system it operated on.

But some things were universally accepted and Xiao knew that a system of exchange was exactly that.

Every world had to have one for sustenance, be it barter or a solid one. So, he had taken a gamble with his abilities and services. If they would not accept his money, he would have used his body and powers.

That was however something he would keep to himself for the time being. There was no need to inform Kei of the same.

“I would have managed. You see, being in business for such a long time gives an acute insight on such topics” Xiao was making it our as he went, and he was sure even Kei knew what he was saying was made up.

No one could prepare you for weird and unique situations in life. No cheat code could help you succeed if you did not help yourself.

But Kie was polite enough to not comment about the topic at hand and Xiao really favoured him for the same.

“Whatever you say. So, what is our next step?” That was a good question. What they needed was some time to formulate a plan that would work.

They had left Kei’s small butterflies back at the palace to keep a watch on the situation but it could take some time before they had what they needed.

In the meantime, they would need a place to camp out.

But before he could actually formulate a reply to Kei, something tugged at Xiao’s senses. It felt very much like a feeling he got in his own world and hence he decided to follow his instincts toward it.

“Xiao?” Kei called out as he followed behind him. For a second he thought to turn back toward him and explain the situation to him, but then the tugging at his senses sharpened almost violently.

His senses led him into an alley where a small figure was crouching down into itself. The slight frame made it look even more delicate than it actually was.

“A male elf? Here?” The male elf was a rarity due to a genetic effect not unlike haemophilia in human beings. Their blood level was obnoxiously low and hence once a serious injury occurred, they were gone.

Most didn’t survive long enough to reach adulthood and this looked like another victim of the same if the situation of the growing red below him was any indication.

Then there was another tug at his senses and he realized that it was not the child which was causing it, but the very air around them. It was pulsing with energy and he realized with a jolt that this was a wish being asked.

Should he do it? The world was not under his authority and hence the success of it was not something he had to take into account.

But then the pressing got stronger and he knew he had to carter to it now or he would not be able to do it later.

“Kei, stand back. The vortex represents someone’s wish. I need to grant it” Xiao’s voice was a little shaky which caused Kei to doubt his words. However, his maintained confidence in Xiao really reassured him.

“Are you sure it will be alright to do?” no he was not sure he would be able to do it.

But he had to at least try and do it right. That was his only chance to try it out. Besides, this type of situation resulted in two scenarios, one where they would liberate the child from his suffering and the one where they would save him.

The closer he got to the child, the heavier the air got around him. It was not all-consuming like the whirlpool to get here had been, but it was more cutting.

It was like a warning to keep himself in line.

When he felt he had covered enough distance he was allowed to cover, he focused his attention toward the feeling all around him. Finding the thread of it, he allowed his own energy to mix with his surroundings.

It caught the entity’s attention and he could feel it gathering around him. In return, Xiao bowed to it.

“I’m the wish granter who has travelled across the dimension. I’m here to grant you your wish in exchange for a price” there was no hesitation in his voice. If he had thought about how to breach the conversation, it didn’t show on his face at all.

He could feel the entity’s wariness and hopefulness as it reached toward his senses.

He decided to open up and the entity vibrated more. Then it calmed down before there was a smooth burst of power and it disappeared into the elf’s body.

“Kei, pick the elf up. I’ll open the arrays” the wish had been registered in his senses. But he needed to work fast if he was going to fulfil it.

He was not able to get the full thing out of it, but the impression left behind told him enough of it. The first step was to make sure the elf stayed alive.

“Part of the wish? I’m on it” Kei hurried as he picked up the elf child. It was very familiar to the nix familiar they had met before. Almost identical in frame and features, just a different gender.

“Yes, keep him up and tilt his head to a side to get the blood out of the windpipe” Xiao adjusted the child in Kie’s arms as he himself began regulating his magic into the right array.

Since this was a delicate condition that affected the genetic makeup of one’s being, to cure it would require external features to be used.

It did surprise him that this aspect of this world was identical to his own and it made him wonder if the basic concepts were something that every world created by the 7 shared.

It won’t be stupid to think so since the origin of the 7 was pretty much the same.

“That reminds me, are the elves in your world the same as these?” Xiao asked, shifting his attention to Kei. The child had pretty much stabilized so that left him enough concentration to talk around.

The purple eyes that turned to his were really pretty. Almost like jewels with their glitter and shine.

“My world doesn’t have such things as far as my knowledge goes. It’s more desolate than anything. I much prefer your world with your warmth and presence there” Xiao could feel his face heat up at those words.

Kei’s words were really smooth and really flattering. They caused something to buzz inside him making him almost lose concentration.

“I also prefer Kei to be in my world” Xiao let out and a bright smile greeted him. Yeah, it was nice to have Kei here.

The child in Kei’s arm pulsed for a few seconds before settling down, but it did enough to attract the attention of the two concerned parties.

When the eyes opened, they were the same grey shades they had seen before. This child really looked to be moulded from the same mould as the other nix had been.

“You alright?” Xiao softened his voice as much as he could. He didn’t want to startle the child, but he didn’t quite manage it as the small frame still flinched violently before the scared grey eyes turned toward him.

“W-Who?” The voice was soft and melodic, typically elvish in nature. But it also betrayed the young age of the elf. Most elves looked young by their nature but this one was actually young in age too.

“Just a wish granter. I’m here to grant someone’s wish for them” he did not know what that entity was, so he purposely left it hanging. He did not want to exit the child too much without being able to answer him.

“Hey settle down or the array would be a waste” Kei tightened his hold on the child who seemed to be getting up and the sudden realization on the child’s face was comical to see.

There was panic and the eyes seemed to be getting a little teary. It was too close to Ray's eyes in panic and it was an automatic impression to take the child in his arms and soothe him. He ignored Kei’s protest and pulled the child.

He could take over a body, but he could not suppress its habits. Before his death, Xiao had too strong an attachment to his sister and he had inherited it all. While he could not bring himself to stop what his body had inherited, he could not bring himself to feel particularly attached to her either.

He could not even pretend in front of her because of unique circumstances. It had caused some issues before, but the recent attitude seemed much more manageable.

It should have been that, but something in his body had decided to treat this child with the same treatment as Xiao had for his sister.

“Xiao, what’s wrong? Your magic seemed disturbed” Kei’s words made him aware of another possibility.

The child in his arms was docile, almost as if something was compelling him to stay here but every time Kei made a move to touch him he tensed till Kei’s hands withdrew. At Kei’s words, Xiao realized that it was not only the child that showed this pattern visibly.

He himself seemed to mirror the situation.

It was much more than instincts, it was the result of magic. Somewhere in the wish, he had just received this seemed to be a solution or at least a part of it all.

“I think it’s part of the wish. Hello there little one, I’m Xiao and that’s Kei. Should we help you go back home?” The first part was directed at Kei, but seeing the soft grey eyes turn toward him, Xiao made his voice as soft and comforting as possible.

He could see the child softening up and relaxing in his hug.

“I’m Abraxas. I would like to go home now please” that was not a wish, but Xiao decided to treat it as such. After all, something was compelling him to follow the course of actions as they were.