"I still remember our last mission together… Cipher."
"That code name hasn't crossed my ears in a while, Specter. You've changed since I last saw you. I heard you were caught up in a major situation right before we were abruptly brought here."
"Yeah, well, you haven't changed a bit, Volkner. My last mission? It went south fast. There I was, waiting for the cold to take me, hallucinations kicking in, when suddenly, I'm surrounded by these... fox people. Next thing I know, I've got ears and a tail to match. Passed out right there. Woke up in this madness. Been trying to make sense of it for a week and a few days."
"How did you get here?"
"I dunno, teleportation, I guess. It just piles on, doesn't it? Every new piece of this world's puzzle makes the picture stranger."
Riya interrupted, stating, "The cosmos has presented an unexpected turn of events with the two of you. Two from the same world, knowing each other? This is unprecedented. This might just be the anomaly that we didn't realize was necessary."
"An anomaly? Is that what we are now?"
Riya grinned. "The best kind. A cosmic fluke."
Elara leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "And how does our 'anomaly' feel about all this?"
Struggling to keep up, I replied, "Overwhelmed. And out of depth."
"Figures," Elara sighed, the energy of our earlier conversations dimming. "Give it time. We're all out of our depth here."
"You always were the one to dive into the unknown headfirst. Guess it's my turn to follow your lead."
Elara nonchalantly shared some information with us.
"Actually, I've been temporarily assigned to the military police here," undermining its significance.
I couldn't help but say something. "Uniform and all?"
Mock saluting, she quipped, "At your service, sir."
"Should've known you'd land on your feet."
"Volkner, let's bring your friend. We can skip the line with this," Elara suggested, pointing to the carriage.
She made a fast stride to the gate, flowing through the crowd like the wind. Her tail was wagging faster than ever now that I could see it. Her conversation with the guards was full of energy, laughter even. She eventually received a paper from them. Making her way back, as if she was almost one with nature. Flowing through the crowd again, getting quite close to me.
"Just waved us through," she chuckled, presenting the papers. "Consider us the VIPs of unofficial entries."
Her words, her ease, brought momentary relief to the weird events that endlessly piled on.
Shaking my head in mock disapproval, I teased, "Could charm the stars from the sky, couldn't you?"
She flashed a cheeky grin. "All in a day's work. But let's not forget Mr. Rapid Promotion over here. CW4 in eight years? That's the real magic trick."
It was a comfort in this strange world, having the ever so cheeky Elara by my side. It might not last, but it was good enough for now. Our carriage made straight to the front while ignoring the long line that would have lasted all day.
Walking through the gate, I could see the city on the other side. It was a sprawling metropolis, cradled by the distant mountains. Its bustling economy showcased itself, with skyscrapers drawing into the skyline. Aether filled the air, emitting an almost sweet smell. Different from the earthy smell of the Rugiet Fulgur nation. The sunlight bathed everything in a golden light, casting long shadows across the land. The impact of one hero on a nation intrigued me, leaving me overwhelmed but curious.
"There are some stalls this way."
Riya interupted.
"It is fine, Sparky. You should introduce yourself."
My eyes widened in shock. This was the same small man that was with us in the carriage that blew up. I never paid attention to him, especially since he was so unassuming.
"Yup, sparky's the name. Just call the king if you need a ride anytime."
Without a single explanation, he left. He left me perplexed with thoughts. My eyes darted back and forth, thinking about it.
"That actually solves some things. One of the other heroes today is going for a tussle in the Arcane arena."
"You meant they actually have a battle arena here?"
This expansive world left me in nothing but a perpetual feeling of being lost. I wanted nothing but to go home. Back home, I am the lead engineer of the latest project. However, our missile system has proven ineffective against their advanced anti-air defenses, requiring the development of a new design. I am concerned that we will be left lagging. We have already suffered the loss of my mentor in the ongoing war. And now, I find myself trapped in an entirely different realm. Elara interrupted my thought process.
"Thalen is one of the other heroes. He comes from a world that was quite underdeveloped. He comes from the Zephyr dragon race now. A race known for control over the winds and healing magic. Their physical strength is leaps above any human like race of the nations."
Taking her words into consideration, it seems to be a few races that don't take human form. The wonders that lay beyond what I can imagine, I couldn't hope to explore it all, even if I was an adventurer setting his hopes to do so… I definitely need to get some answers and explore, but I doubt the academy will let us get so much free time once I am there.