We start following Diablo to his house. I was nervous with anticipation of what could happen next. We have found a big lead, maybe things will get clearer after this. Maybe the purpose of us being here and where to follow next becomes clear!
I... just wanna rest. My social batter is too low. Actually, I don't think this is the case. To be honest, I really miss my parents, my mom especially.
I wonder what she must be doing right now. Would she be troubled because I am not there? I know that Felix said that time is flexible and there won't be inconsistencies but.... I just want to see her face again.
I don't know how long it will be till I see her again, I am really grateful for her in my life. The sacrifices she made to make me the person I am today. Oh gosh, I feel like I will cry. Damn, no wait till you get back home, K. Lock yourself in a bathroom and then cry alone but not now! Not in the middle of the road!
I hug myself, Autumn notices my discomfort and rubs my shoulder. She looks at me. I can read the question in her eyes. I answer with a small nod and a smile. "I am fine". She understood and didn't pry further. I ponder if she also feels homesick at some point. Of course, she would too.
Anyways I get my focus back and we reach Diablo's house. It's on the west side of the city. The house is mediocre with a really pretty garden. We enter his house and he leads us to the living room. He asks us to feel comfortable and goes to get Sarah here.
As soon as he leaves, Autumn grips my hand.
"This room... it's layout reminds me of my house. Just like here, we had two couches and a TV at the front of the room. A window at the side...."
Then I see it. The sorrowful look in her eyes that mirrors my own.
"I wonder what my parents and my little brother must be doing right now? I know, they must be playing with Oreo, my dog."
Then she sucks in her lip and says" I miss them."
I hug her tight and say nothing cause I have nothing to say. I just hug her, trying to silently console her. I know even if I say anything comforting, I myself would not believe those words. We hear footsteps approaching so we get apart.
In comes an old lady. She was in some nightgown thing and her hair was white with slight traces of black left. She had the grandma vibe. She looks at us and smiles.
"Hi, Diablo told me that two young ladies out there want to have a chat with me. I didn't believe him at first. I mean what would two young ladies have to do with an old hag like me." She laughs at that last part.
Her laugh made me smile, it was contagious. Seems like Diablo didn't tell her where we are from. Ok then time to blast!
"Um.. before I begin, I will give you a disclaimer. Brace yourself, this might be the most shocking thing you will hear all day." I say. I was getting uneasy myself in trying to approach this topic.. conveniently. Not to get her overloading information at once! Before I could say anything, Autumn begins.
"We are from Earth." Just that. She stops right after saying that. I look at her first surprised and then I let out a smile. Looks like roles are reversed. She is the impulsive one right now.
Sarah looked..... calm. That is from the outside but her eyes showed turbulence.
"I know you might not believe us but we aren't lying. We really are-"
"I am not doubting you. I know you are from Earth. There is no reason for someone to lie about something like this. How did you get here? You found the portal? How come you two young kids did that?" She very calmly asks. I have to say Srah was level-headed. She seemed like a person who would always remain cautious.
"No, we didn't find it. Heck, we didn't know if any alternate dimension even exists. Somebody opened the portal for us." I say.
"What do you mean?" She asks. I don't know how to communicate the fallen angel theme of the story. More so the part of being 'given a chance. I don't yet understand what it means but if Kwangya people don't like us and if we really are the superior race here, then they can suspect us of ulterior motives here. What kind of chance? Do you want to exploit our world for your own gain? Why are you here? We can be on the receiving end of hostility.
I will have to hide this information.
"It was a.... dream. I remember going to sleep. There I found myself at some place. It was panoramic. I don't remember it vividly. Then I was suddenly inside an ice cave. You know... how places switch suddenly in your dreams. Inside that ice cave was a beautiful, clear ice lake! That lake emitted bluish-whitish rays. Something like an aurora but not from the sky. Then..." I make that 'trying to remember' face.
"Then I heard it, someone calling me towards it. I don't know what I did. I guess I followed that voice 'cause when I woke up I was here." I finish. I mixed my 'hole opening in my bed' fantasy at night with this story. I hope they buy it.
"Something similar happened to me too. I don't remember much tho. We didn't go on looking for the portal. It is as if, someone opened it for us." Autumn says.
The only speck of truth we spoke in the last 5 mins.
Sarah looks at us unbelieving. "Is that possible? I have never known for any such thing to happen." She says.
"How did you get here? What do you know of this world? Please tell us, Sarah." I say, desperate to know and also to digress on the topic.
She looks down at her hands and starts fidgeting.
"This world, Kwangya as we call it was made.... by our ancestors.
Thousands of years ago, suddenly the portal connecting the two worlds opened and some of our people got here. This place was untouched, non-resided, and full of opportunities and resources. Nature thrived! They decided to settle here and make a space for themselves. Create a new society here. Rebirth of humanity in a different world! " We carefully listen!
"At first Kwangya looks just like another Earth, however, you must have started noticing the visible differences already. The wildlife and unusual creatures. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Our bodies' anatomies are different too." Sarah says.
"Huh?" We give her a confused look.
" How long have you been here?" She asks us.
"Two days". I say.
"Come here," Sarah calls me. I am confused but nonetheless, I go near her.
She touches my neck and slowly rubs an area.
"I can already see it forming. It is really light but it is there."
"What are you talking about?" Diablo quips. I toootallyyy forgot about him!
"This mark!" Sarah points.
Autumn and Diablo gather around me and look at the supposed mark.
'There is indeed something here." Autumn remarks.
"What sort of mark?" I calmly ask, intrigued.
"You must have it too". Sarah says referring to Autumn. She shows me the mark on her neck. There was a really faded purple, that looked like an X. Tho it was really light, you will only see it if you look for it.
"What does it mean?"
"There is a fluid locked inside our human bodies called Elixir.
You know.... like those organs of your body that have lost their function after evolution like an appendix. Elixir has always been inside us, however, there was not much use for it. Hence it kind of got extinct in use. It is still there but it has to get activated."
"What is the use of this fluid."? I ask.
"Elixir has exceptional healing effects. When activated it flows like blood in your body. Like blood, it forms in your body's bone marrow. If you injure yourself, with a healthy elixir, your wound can heal within seconds. It could not get activated back on Earth, but for some reason in Kwangya, it gets activated without much effort. It is suggested that it is the change of environment, water and food, whatever the reason be, human bodies are to some extent invincible here. Those who possess elixir, get this mark on their neck."
"Woah, but why couldn't it get activated on Earth? It is life-changing. Why did it get extinct? Unlike the appendix, it isn't a useless organ." Autumn questions.
"Well, it could be when human beings' lifestyle shifted from that of the prehistoric population to today's modern lifestyle. We were much more prone to danger when we were predators and wanderers. As civilisations flourished and modernity hit, our lifestyles got less intensive and dangerous." Sarah answers.
"Is there no way to activate it on Earth?" I ask.
"I don't know. I doubt if people on Earth even know about this because it got extinct in our bodies way earlier. We only discover it when we come to Kwangya and notice an upgrade in our bodies' physical capabilities." She answers.
"In order to have a healthy elixir, a proper nutrient-rich diet is important. To hone your elixir to its maximum potential, you need to train it." She adds.
"What do you mean?''
"When you injure yourself, your brain controls the Elixir flow and sends it to all parts of your body. If it is a minor cut, it is no problem, but if it is a severe injury, this process is time-consuming. How do you think can this process be done faster?" She asks us.
"If all of that Elixir is concentrated in one place together". I answer.
"Correct." She says.
"You need to learn to manipulate your brain cause it controls the flow. Have full control over how your brain directs. Make it believe that only the injured place requires Elixir and prevent it from sending to every body part by default. It comes from focus, concentration and training."
"Wowww...."
"Um... Sarah, How did you know about Kwangya? How did you get here and why did you get here?" Autumn asks.
She takes a deep sigh.
"To meet my mother."