Arrival

A breathtaking sight greeted us as we stepped through the gate.

I gazed up at the vast blue sky, feeling the gentle warmth of the sun against my skin and the cool breeze brushing past me. As we traveled forward, I remained quiet, taking in the stunning scenery that surrounded us.

We were walking along a cobblestone path, flanked by trees unlike any I had ever seen before. Their forms were strange yet beautiful, their leaves shimmering like crystal under the sunlight.

"Those are Mireour trees," Marreanne explained in an informative tone. "They never stop sparkling until they shed all their leaves. And their kind does not bear any fruit."

I couldn't help but marvel at everything around me.

A bird suddenly perched on my shoulder—its wings a vibrant shade of red, while the rest of its body was covered in sleek black feathers. It chirped softly before fluttering away.

Up ahead, I noticed houses lining the end of the road. More travelers passed by, some heading in the same direction, others going the opposite way. Here, at last, I began to see more familiar sights—horses, carabaos, and other animals one would typically find in a rural town.

The streets bustled with activity. Vendors lined not just the roadsides but every corner, selling fruits, vegetables, and all sorts of goods. Children ran about, their laughter filling the air, while some helped their parents tend to their stalls. The town was alive with chatter, movement, and energy.

I glanced around, fascinated by the architecture. The houses were made of bricks and limestone, each structure meticulously crafted with remarkable detail. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I still hadn't let go of Quilya's hand. With how distracted I was by my surroundings, I was afraid I might get left behind.

"Quilya, where exactly are we?" I asked.

"I have no idea. Let's ask the people around here. They don't seem to know where they are either," she answered calmly.

Wait—what? Isn't this their world? These people are giving me a headache.

Before I could react, she pulled me toward a street vendor. I stepped forward, ready to ask a question, but she suddenly stopped me.

"What? I thought we were asking for directions?" I scowled at her as we moved a little away from the stall.

"Think, Aeriah. Do you even know if they speak our language? We don't know what they speak here," she reasoned.

Huh? Oh… right. Why didn't I think of that? Good thing Quilya caught on fast. Otherwise, we would've just made fools of ourselves.

"We should have Marreanne ask them for us," I suggested. She nodded in agreement.

We returned to the others, and once again, Quilya grabbed Marreanne and dragged her toward the same vendor.

"What are you two up to?" Marreanne asked, raising an eyebrow at us.

"We want to ask where we are, but we're not sure if they'd understand us. So you do it," I whispered.

To my horror, she just laughed at me.

"Silly. Just ask them," she said.

"How?"

With an exasperated sigh, she stepped forward. "Sir, may I ask what place this is?"

Quilya and I instantly facepalmed.

"Ah, travelers, are you? This is the town of Karirana, located in the city of Niphillis. Niphillis is well known for the unique trees that grow here," the vendor replied.

Quilya and I turned to each other, jaws dropping in shock.

They can understand our language?!

"How long would it take to reach Maurgriann by carriage?" Marreanne asked.

"Two days."

Is this for real? How come Quilya isn't aware?

"Thank you, sir. By the way, how much are your goods?" she asked, as if the revelation hadn't just shaken us.

Now she wants to shop?

The vendor smiled. "You're welcome. What would you like to buy?"

Marreanne flashed a mischievous grin. "I'd like to buy everything."

What?!

Quilya and I smacked our foreheads in unison at Marreanne's ridiculous stunt. The vendor, on the other hand, looked utterly baffled. Who in their right mind would buy an entire stall's worth of goods without a second thought? Of course, it had to be Marreanne.

"Consider it a token of gratitude, sir. I truly appreciate your help," she said with a smile.

And just like that, we found ourselves on the road, riding a carriage pulled by two sturdy horses. Quilya and I sat side by side on the right, while Marreanne sat across from us, her newly purchased goods stacked beside her. I had no idea what she planned to do with all of it. There was no way we could finish that much food on our own.

A simple "thank you" would have sufficed, but then again… this was Marreanne. Her pockets were just—what's the word? Insane? No, that would be an understatement. The Riessevilles weren't just mages; they were also one of the wealthiest families I knew.

From the town of Karirana, it would take us more than two days to reach the city of Maurgriann. It seemed cars didn't exist in this world, and no one was willing to take us there, no matter how much we offered. Understandable. Who would want to endure a two-day trip just to travel back another two days?

In the end, we had no choice but to buy our own means of transport. It cost a fortune, but to them, it was probably nothing. After all, they were Riessevilles. And I… I was just their adopted companion.

For now, our journey remained quiet, the sun slowly sinking beyond the horizon. I absentmindedly reached for my small bag when something caught my eye—a faint glimmer from within. Curious, I fished it out and examined it closely.

Quilya noticed as well, leaning in slightly.

It was a necklace, adorned with a crescent moon pendant.

Whose necklace was this? And why was it in my bag?

I didn't remember putting anything like this inside. Was it Quilya's? I glanced at her, only to see a slight furrow in her brows as she followed my gaze—down to the necklace she was already wearing around her neck.

"So, it's not yours," I murmured, turning my attention back to the pendant.

This time, I looked at Marreanne. But, just like Quilya, she also had a necklace on.

Then whose was this?

Could it belong to Miss Kreziana?

It couldn't be mine—I didn't wear jewelry.

I sighed and slipped the necklace back into my bag. I'd return it when we arrived. Krein and Miss Kreziana were driving the carriage since none of us had any choice in the matter. I didn't want to disturb them now.

Even now, I still don't understand what's happening. I don't know about Quilya, but just a while ago, she seemed hesitant to speak. Then suddenly, she turned serious, as if she had confirmed something.

Quilya would never lie about who she is. I know she wasn't lying when she said she lost her parents at a young age. It's just that… we all have secrets we don't want others to know. Quilya and I are no exception. I just never thought this was the secret she—and the others—had been keeping from me.

A part of me still refuses to believe this is real. We're in another world now. But my mind and soul feel like they're still stuck in the place we left behind. My brain refuses to absorb everything, as if I could wake up at any moment and find myself back home.

That feeling when everything around you feels so surreal, like a dream you're bound to wake up from. I mean, who would believe that the people who adopted me were actually mages from another world?

As for Quilya, I have a feeling she knows something—something about this place, about this world that's so different from the one we came from. But if that's the case… then how? We grew up together in the same orphanage. When the Riessevilles took me in as their adopted daughter, they also brought Quilya along and assigned her as my personal attendant.

Coincidence? I think not.

I've always wondered about it. I never really understood why they adopted me when they already had a daughter—Marreanne.

But then again, we all keep secrets from each other. That's just how people are. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, yet I still find it hard to believe. Who would have thought that the words of that strange being I met that night were true? That there really is another world beyond my own?

And if that's true, then… the realm guardians exist.

According to The Rhapsody of Everspring, there are thirteen realm guardians in the universe. Two of my favorites were the Guardian of Tranquility and the Guardian of Dimensions.

As for the Beast of Singularity… I wonder who it is.

"I've already sent a letter to the kingdom," Krein announced. "I requested them to send transport to pick us up. The town of Lashevierr will be our rendezvous point. We'll stop there tomorrow morning and wait. I don't want these horses traveling that long."

That's exactly what I was worried about. The weight of the carriage was one thing; the journey itself was another. The horses would be exhausted long before we reached Maurgriann. It was a two-day trip, and pushing them beyond their limit would be cruel. None of us hesitated to agree with Krein's decision.

But there was one thing that didn't quite make sense to me.

"Wait… how did you send a letter?" I asked, puzzled. "There's no way emails or texts work here, right?" Not that we even had our phones with us. Were emails even a thing in this world?

Marreanne chuckled. "Father owns a pet bird. Quite handy, ain't it?"

It took me a few seconds to fully grasp what she meant.

Right. Some birds are excellent messengers if trained properly. I should've known. Well, that makes sense. What else should I expect? They are mages, after all.

Evening had already fallen. The only sources of light along the road were torches lining the sidewalk, their flames flickering in the gentle night breeze. The sky looked different from the one I was used to. In the distance, I spotted a cluster of glowing objects scattered across the field.

As we got closer, I realized they were flowers—radiant blooms that glowed in the dark, resembling stars when viewed from afar. Each one was unique in color and size, their soft luminance mesmerizing to the eye. Combined with the silence of the night, the scene felt almost unreal, like something straight out of a painting.

If only I could get down and pick just one.

Few hours has passed. Everyone was asleep except for the one driving the carriage. Quilya was curled up on my lap, fast asleep, while Marreanne leaned against the wooden wall, lightly drooling in her sleep. She must have been exhausted. I could hear Krein and Miss Kreziana conversing in hushed voices, but I didn't bother listening to their discussion. They were deliberately keeping their voices low to avoid disturbing anyone.

I couldn't sleep. My mind was still tangled in the whirlwind of everything that had happened. I simply couldn't process it all. My gaze drifted back to Quilya. Just this morning, this woman was snapping at me at every opportunity. And now… this?

It's just too surreal. Me? In this dreamlike world?

If I were someone else, I might have freaked out. But for some reason, I didn't. In fact, I didn't even know what I was supposed to feel. Should I be shocked? Probably. But wasn't it a bit too late for that?

I didn't know how to process any of this, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't make sense of it.

But if this was a dream, I'd rather stay asleep than wake up.

We hadn't passed by a single house. The landscape was nothing but open fields, with only fireflies illuminating the darkness. Midnight was fast approaching, yet sleep continued to elude me.

A night as peaceful as this… who wouldn't want to bask in its beauty?

If only these two weren't asleep, we could've watched the scenery together.

"Aeriah?"

My thoughts shattered at the sound of Miss Kreziana's voice.

"You're still awake?"

"Yes. I can't sleep," I admitted. I thought she wouldn't notice. "Are we still far?"

"What do you mean, far? I was about to wake you all up. Since you're awake, can you wake Marreanne and Quilya as well?" she asked in a gentle voice.

Wait. Is it morning already?

Was I so lost in thought that I stayed up all night without realizing it?

"Why?" I asked, unable to stop myself. Her response had been too vague.

"Oh, silly me. I almost forgot to tell you—we're here."

What?

I shot up in surprise, completely forgetting that Quilya was still lying on my lap. With nothing supporting her, her body landed on the wooden floor with a loud thud, jerking her awake.

She glared at me, her expression promising a slow and painful demise.

"You could've just woken me up normally, Aeriah," she said in a dangerously cold voice. "How dare you disturb my sleep?"

Oh no. I'm going to die.

"Wait! Quilya, I'm sorry! I was going to wake you, but I got startled when I found out we were in—" I hesitated. What was this place called again? "L-Las Vegas!"

I squeezed my eyes shut in terror and raised my hands defensively, anticipating whatever wrath she was about to unleash upon me. I didn't mean to disturb your sleep! I'm terribly sorry! I screamed internally.

"What Las Vegas?"

Before I could react, she smacked the back of my head—hard.

"It's Lashevierr, idiot."

Oh.

"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to, I was just surprised," I mumbled, pouting as I rubbed the sore spot.

"You almost knocked the life out of me," she snapped.

Marreanne, still half-asleep in the corner, was dying of laughter. Clutching her stomach, she barely managed to wheeze out a single word between giggles—"Stupid"—before doubling over in laughter again.

A small smirk tugged at Quilya's lips before she turned her attention to the front of the carriage. "So, we're here? I thought we wouldn't arrive until tomorrow morning," she said, giving Kreziana a questioning look.

Kreziana responded with a simple nod.

"I see," Quilya muttered.

Dawn was approaching. The stars dimmed as the sun slowly peeked over the horizon. We had arrived exactly in the morning—and I hadn't slept a wink.

Three figures stood by the roadside, waiting for us. They were dressed in white robes, each carrying a bow with a quiver of arrows slung across their backs.

"Welcome, visitors," one of them spoke. "This is the town of Lashevierr. The Chief Commander of the Vulpine Legion wishes to meet you."

"Then lead the way," Krein commanded.