William had learned a valuable lesson in his time since first waking up.
Emotions are weird. He had never before felt as terrified and hopeless as he was at the sight of the creature, and he had never been as confused as he was when first glancing at the two suns.
And now, he experienced a relief unlike anything he had felt before.
A clearing within which many huts and small wooden buildings were spread around. Paths interwoven between them, with young children and hunchbacked elders walking along.
A few men in worn leather armor laughed at the gate of the village walls, their swords safely sheathed at their sides.
William smiled at the peace beyond the gate.
"Excuse me!" he yelled.
The men quieted down, though still smiling and red from the influence of their mead. The eldest of them, apparent with his greying hair, stood up and approached.
"Aye, what's the problem young lad? Never seen you 'round here before…" he said.
"We're lost. Could you help us with some information, please?" William continued.
The man's face scrunched up for a second, but with a sigh he asked, "What's it you need to know, lad?"
William inwardly smiled, though he was confused by the fact that the man spoke English.
"Where are we exactly? Me and my family encountered a strange beast, it leveled our home—but we made it out alive, it's strange power causing us to wake up near here."
The old guard froze, hurriedly asking, "What did it do, exactly? And how did the beast look?"
William pretended to think for a second, before he answered, "I couldn't get a good look at the thing, none of us did —one second it was there, the next it wasn't."
"All I saw was a shadow cover the land, before the attack came…and well, it twisted the light around us, knocking us unconscious before we woke up in the nearby plains."
The guard thought for a few seconds, but he visibly calmed down after.
"You four are probably foreigners, yer clothes make it obvious. It sent you far, far away—you're safe now," he explained.
"Right, your question," he paused before explaining, "we're in the outskirts of Criweth Kingdom, nearest city is Millwind. Recognize the names?"
William shook his head.
"You at least know of our continent's name, right?"
Once more, William shook his head.
"By the white sun, you're from another land! Powerful beast that was, sending you here…" the guard exclaimed.
"Aye, there's too much to explain. Follow me, the old hag'll teach you," the man turned around to usher them in, but he facepalmed his head before moving.
"Excuse my manners, I'm Reynald, what's your names?" he asked.
"I'm William" William decided to only say his first name, following the example of the guard.
"I'm James" His father swiftly followed.
"Emily."
"Julie."
The guard smiled, before saying, "Nice to meet you all, though I pity you having to meet the mage," he said with a laugh.
Reynald passed the gate, the family following behind him.
They were noticeably absorbed at the sight of the medieval land, used to the Earth's massive cities and artificial landscapes.
Reynald had a small smirk at their child-like fascination, recalling his past.
The village wasn't large by any standard, there being only a couple huts and some small structures. The only noticeable building was a decently sized stone tower at the village's end.
Arriving at the tower's base, the guard knocked at its doors.
"Rheala, we have visitors!" he yelled.
The two large doors opened, no one behind them.
"She'll be at the top, probably working on some project. You are free to head up and ask, I'll return to my duty" He explained, bidding a short farewell.
The four entered the tower, a small spiral staircase at the center—a bookshelf surrounding it at all sides.
The tower had a few openings placed around, providing natural light.
"A mage…what do you think she can do, Will?" Emily asked, intrigue visibly glowing in her eyes.
"Who knows, maybe we'll find out," he responded.
James and Julie smiled at their children's words, though they too were greatly curious.
The group made their way up the stairs, reaching the third and final floor within a few seconds.
The floor was wide and open, the sight of the mage entering their eyes immediately. She sat behind an old wooden table, writing with a quill on a small tattered book.
Stacks of paper littered her desk, though the many objects and trinkets around the room distracted from the sight.
Noticing their presence, she returned her quill and faced them with a wise and kind smile.
"Have a seat," she said, before four small chairs appeared from seemingly nowhere.
Making themselves comfortable, she asked, "How may I help you?"
"We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are short on basic information," James said.
The mage had a puzzled look on her face, however William soon cleared things up.
"We were sent here by a creature's magic," he explained.
"Ah. A powerful one it must have been, sending you so far as to lack common knowledge," she remarked.
"Well, would you mind telling me what it is that you do know—so that I may fill in the blanks?" Rheala asked.
"Nothing. We are from another continent entirely, recognizing neither the name of this kingdom nor the continent," William swiftly said.
Rheala thought for a few seconds, mumbling a few incoherent words. "Very well then, I shall say as much as I can."
"You are within the western outskirts of the Criweth Kingdom, home of the Royal Criweth Family, and land of his majesty King Leopold the Second."
"Our nation is but one of six within the Western Continent, ours being the second most influential following the Aurelian Empire."
"The hierarchies of which you should keep in mind are what follows, first—the civilian hierarchy. First come the Royal Family, then the Dukes, followed by the Earls, and then the Barons, with the common peasantry being last."
"Second, the mage hierarchy. The High Mage Council come first, followed by Master Mages, then Special Mages, under which are Novice Mages, and finally Apprentices."
"Finally, the true hierarchy—the hierarchy of power. Your individual ability will always dictate how you are perceived, regardless of governmental titles and hierarchies. I assume you all know of your traits?" She asked.
Noticing the family's confusion, Rheala was visibly shocked, before explaining, "Every living being with a soul is born with a trait, and so we humans have them as well. Traits are generally classified based on their use, and are ranked based on the potential of the ability."
"Since none of you have heard of traits, I shall test you for them now."
The old mage brought her right palm forward, facing the group. "The moment I stop talking, I want you all to reach out to the closest feeling you can find within yourselves—it'll make sense once you feel it."
Immediately, a sudden cold assaulted William's body. He tried to ignore the cold, and focused on the mage's instructions.
'Is that…' William could feel a strange warmth within his chest, it didn't feel like heat of any kind—yet that was the easiest way to describe it.
He tried to reach out for it, to feel it. Suddenly, a series of information found itself in his mind—as if it were always there.
'So that's what it is,' William now knew why it was that time reset with his every death, it was his trait.
Realizing the ability of his trait, William opened his eyes which he hadn't noticed being closed, and brought his attention to the rest of his family.
Emily had also opened her eyes, strangely confused. Soon after James did as well, followed by Julie.
"Now I will warn you not to do this commonly in the future, however I hope you can trust me and share your traits—a small price for my efforts, and it will ease further help," Rheala asked.
James was the first to speak out.
"I can glean information on things I sense. The more I sense, the more information I get," he explained.
Julie followed after him.
"I can…improve things. I think it works with touch."
Emily then explained hers.
"Mine is a bit weird. It isn't an ability, really, more so a title."
Rheala had an intrigued look on her face, waiting further explanation.
"Apostle of the Soul Star. That is my trait."
A cold air filled the room. The mage immediately waved her right hand, a bubble forming around the party.
"Young girl. Do not jest, I will cast a confirmation spell—repeat your words," she instructed.
"My trait is Apostle of the Soul Star," Emily reaffirmed.
The old women was silent, shock coloring her face for a moment—before a harsh seriousness replaced it.
"I apologize for doubting your words. It is now clear to me that you all are truly from a foreign land, allow me to explain myself."
"The two suns, the white and red stars, are considered holy in their nature. Although I mentioned the basic hierarchies, I left a few out. Of them, there exists the Two Star Religion, and their individual churches."
"The religion is separated into two branches, the Red Sun, and the Soul Star."
"The branch of the Red Sun is centered in the Eastern Continent, and the Soul Star here in the west. As you can imagine, this makes this situation quite difficult."
"The church is structured as so, the Red and White Popes run each branch. Under them are the Saints, then the Lords, and finally the Soldiers."
"Your trait, Apostle of the Soul Star—is unique. There exists a special position within each branch, one that is free from the rule of the Popes and the whole system—the Apostles."
"There can only ever be one apostle of a sun at any given time. You are the current apostle of the white sun."
"You are destined for a long and difficult life. As the one who first discovered your trait, I am obliged by the Church of the Soul Star to report your presence."
"Do not worry, however. I must still wait until a member of the church passes by our village, since they do not provide meetings with ease. That won't be until at least a month or so from now, when the Bear Merchants pass by, and with them a Soldier of the Soul Star," Rheala explained, reassuring the group—even if only a little.
"I realize this may not be ideal considering your unfortunate circumstances, but I have no choice in the matter. This is under the decree of the Pope, and they have their tools to find out—whether I tell the truth or not."
The family went silent for a while, each with their own thoughts. Emily, as the subject of the discussion, experienced the most turmoil.
Attempting to push away from the issue, Emily asked, "What about you Will, what's your trait?"
The attempt worked, as everyone's focus was now on William—expectations forming in their minds.
William had thought about whether or not to say anything about his ability, and if so—what to say. As such, he was prepared for the question.
"I can sense danger. That's pretty much it," he said, scratching his head awkwardly.
Rheala chuckled for a second, before reassuring him. "That's a fine trait, young man. I know of many who would be alive today had they had you by their side. Do not take it lightly."
A brief period of silence took the room, within which everyone appeared to be in deep thought. Rheala broke the silence, bringing an important matter up to mind.
"Well, I suppose all of you will need a place to stay. You may rest at the second floor, I'll clear it out for you," she said, standing up and leaving the room.
After a few seconds, she returned and informed them that the room was ready.
"Thank you for your hospitality and kindness, we really do appreciate it," Julie said, receiving a nod in reply.
The family headed downstairs to check the floor, surprised to see a clean and empty space with four beds ready for them to rest.
They didn't know how long the day might last, and whether night even existed—so they simply supposed it had some time left, leaving the tower to explore the village.
James and Julie went to a small tavern, making friends with the locals. Emily sat by the tower's entrance, staring at the sky.
William, taking into mind everyone's whereabouts, left to the village's gate.
"Hmm?" One of the guards noticed William, before nudging Reynald.
"What are you doing out here, boy?" the old guard asked, returning the nudge with a soft jab. The younger guard swallowed his complains, placing his attention elsewhere.
William planned to experiment with a few things, and for that he needed a private space. That was why he came here, since the forest was a suitable candidate.
"I'd like to take a short walk in the forest. Take my mind off things for the time being," he replied.
Reynald had an understanding look, sighing. "Do be careful out there, lad. You may not encounter a beast as dangerous as the one that brought you here, but others exist. Yell for help if you're ever in danger."
William nodded, reassuring the guard, before heading out.
As the village disappeared into the woods, William felt more and more comfortable with his position.
'This place is good enough,' he thought, finding a small clearing.
Then, opening his right palm, William imagined a small burning flame.
What recovered of his magical energy, after the teleporting incident, was swiftly drained. A single flame the size of his hand enveloped it.
William noticed how the flame didn't burn him, nor harm him in any way. Bringing his hand to the ground, a small fire broke out.
William then willed the energy away, ending the magic. The flame on his hand was gone, though the fire on the ground remained—and so he stomped it out.
William then attempted to create another flame, despite feeling no more energy, and a headache welcomed him in turn.
'Magic does not harm its source, though it can still harm others. It also recovers with time. Attempting to perform magic with no energy ends in a headache and complete failure' He deduced.
Sitting down, he turned his head to the sky—particularly a small white star.
Despite his age, William was not ignorant. He considered the many possibilities of what might happen after the soldier of the church arrives. He may never see his sister again.
He knew that everyone else also considered this, and that they were all dealing with it in their own ways. His parents were socializing, his sister was contemplating, and he was experimenting.
A month was a long time, but in this context it was not. William had to take advantage of every second, every factor. If it turned out that there was a way to avoid the worst possible situation, and that he missed it, he could never forgive himself.
And so, he returned to the village.
"Back already?" Reynald said.
With a relaxed smile, William replied "That's all, just wanted a change of atmosphere"
The guard returned the smile, and let him through.
'Rheala didn't even ask for our names. Did she overhear Reynald?' William thought, walking towards the mage's tower.
Arriving at the tower's entrance, William sat down next to Emily.
The two remained in silence for some time, each deep in their own thoughts.
"William…am I in a dream?" Emily asked.
'So that's why…' William now believed that his family's strange behavior after hearing Emily's fate was due to a mixture of disbelief, and coping. They had not yet accepted the fact that they were, truly, in another world.
"Maybe. Though I couldn't say anything to convince you otherwise if you were," he replied.
Emily laughed.
"What will they do, Will?" She asked.
William's expression turned grim, his demeanor cold and tense. An unusual chill permeated the space.
"You're doing it again," Emily commented, with slight discomfort. She was used to this side of him, though it still…disturbed her, nearly every time.
With a quick shake, William apologized, his attitude normal again. He then thought on her question.
"I don't know, Emily. But I promise you this: if they harm you in any way, any way at all…" Emily then interrupted "Thank you. But…please, don't risk yourself, or mom and dad, for me. I can take care of myself, and whatever happens will be my responsibility to repay"
William took a few breaths to calm himself, before grudgingly agreeing. "Seriously, Will" she reiterated, fake anger evident on her face.
William sighed, and replied, "Alright, I understand. I'll leave most things to you, but don't expect me to forsake my own responsibility as your older brother."
Emily gave up, and nodded in understanding. She knew her brother, and that nothing could change his mind on the matter.
"I have a few things to ask, so I'll go inside now. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," William assured, as he opened the tower's doors.
Arriving at the final steps before the third floor, he asked, "May I come up?"
"You may," the old mage answered.
William approached the mage, and found himself a seat.
Scribbling a few notes, Rheala placed her quill down, and put her focus on her guest. "How may I help you?" she asked.
"I would like to borrow a few books, if that's alright."
Rheala raised her eyebrows in interest. "What books, in particular?" she asked.
"As I am a foreigner in these lands, better understanding the geography and history of the continent would be great."
The mage snapped her fingers, and a book flew onto her desk.
'Rowan Blackwood; Records of the West,' William read.
"Anything else?" the mage asked.
"If I may, I would like to understand magic. I never had the opportunity to study the topic back home, as there was nothing on the subject," he said.
The mage smiled. Another book flew upon her desk.
'Maelis Valtara; Basics of Magic,' William read once more.
"Anything else? Do not shy from asking," Rheala said.
"No, that's all. Thank you," William replied, gently taking the books.
"Do be careful; books are quite expensive you know," the mage said, receiving a reassuring comment in return.
William, having obtained the books, returned downstairs and stopped at the second floor—picking a bed before laying down.
William was beyond exhausted at what he had gone through today, however he pulled himself together and opened the first book.
Hours passed, and the night arrived—concluding William's curiosity regarding the existence of a night. His father, mother, and sister had all entered the room, each collapsing onto a bed.
William only just realized that he hadn't eaten anything today, however he was too exhausted to care. He placed the books under his bed, and, unable to focus on the conversation his family was having, fell asleep.