The interior of the carriage appeared more spacious than its exterior suggested. Constructed from sturdy brown metal sheets, it was secured with large metal bolts. Each side featured four doors and one door at both the front and back. To access the carriage, a set of stairs emerged from a trapdoor at the base. A prominent viewing window, resembling a half-bubble, adorned the far side and included a cozy enclosed balcony. Centrally located next to the stairs was a round metal furnace, its top adorned with several pipes that snaked along the ceiling. Inside the furnace, a floating blue flame with expressive eyes and a tiny mouth danced playfully. An outer transparent layer encased the fire, extending upward like an antenna. Surrounding the furnace was a comfortable seating area, with two chairs positioned to face the window.
"The bathroom is right through the front door, the kitchen and dining area are at the back, and the bedrooms are through the other doors. Each of you can pick a bedroom for yourselves. The bedrooms are numbered from one to six, while seven and eight are for the rest of us since they can fit more people. If you feel like making your bedroom bigger, you can buy an expansion orb later. Come to me or Inga if you have any questions, we had to read up on enough for this event," said Elek
"I can sense a piece of the Subjugation Stone nearby!" exclaimed Pyr, the Will-o-wisp. "I need to let Solal know we have to switch our path!" With that, he zoomed up the pipe leading to the rooftop room.
The heroes gathered in the chairs and couches surrounding the warm glow of the furnace, listening intently as Assistant Elek shared the dire challenges facing their world. He explained that they could return to Earth, but only after gathering the scattered fragments. Unfortunately, the only way to summon new heroes would be if they all perished first.
"Oh sure, we totally look like heroes, right?" Hero Amy said.
"It's finished, and there's no turning back—only moving ahead. We're all in this mess together, including me," Elek said.
They felt the carriage shifting course, prompting Elek to glance out the window. "We're going East now, and before long, we'll hit the island's edge and cross the water. Your magical abilities are about to kick in, so pick a room and get some sleep. We'll swing by a town to grab supplies, clothes, tools, spell scrolls, and weapons or conduits once we figure out what kind of magic each of you has. We'll assist you with your shopping since you're from Earth."
Elek distributed sizable brown drawstring bags, and when they peered inside, they discovered small, transparent gems that shimmered with a rainbow hue, resembling tiny crystal prisms.
"This is the currency of Incantra. For now, we'll assist you with your purchases, but you'll eventually grasp the value of money here. We also need to visit a healer to check you for any foreign illnesses. But first, we have to swing by a shop that sells translator jewelry to get you sorted. Speaking in English is exhausting," Elek said before walking off.
Olivia stepped out of the bathroom, showcasing a striking dark cranberry short dress with a front lace-up design and charming white cap sleeves. The outfit was complemented by a bold chunky belt featuring straps, perfect for hanging various tools.
She settled into the chair in front of the window next to Magi Inga, who had at last pulled back her hood. Inga was striking, with long, fiery red hair cascading into a relaxed single braid, and adorable little white cat ears perched atop her head. Her light green eyes, resembling those of a feline, were accentuated by dark eyeliner and framed by lush red lashes.
Olivia took a deep breath, her eyes wide as she looked at Inga. "Wait, you're a cat woman? This can't be Earth anymore."
"Oh, really? My very being is what sways you? That must mean my kind doesn't exist on your world! I'm a Felis Beastkin, but shh, keep it under wraps—my kind don't always get the warmest welcome. You see, many Beastkin end up as overworked second-class citizens or worse, taken as slaves."
"That's absolutely dreadful!" said Olivia.
"Well, that's just how it goes; not everyone is keen on having an android as their helper," Inga said.
"Are there really androids as well?"
"Absolutely, we're probably going to snag a cooking android from a shop, unless one of you happens to be amazing in the kitchen, because I'm definitely not!"
"I have some basic cooking skills, but I really dislike it. I would gladly spend exorbitant prices just to avoid cooking altogether. For me, dining out or using the microwave is the only way," said Olivia
The legs on the carriage crouched down.
"Whoa there! Hold onto your armrests, or you might get a little queasy! Solal is about to put on a show," Inga said.
"What's wrong?" said Olivia.
Then the legs forcefully pushed off and the ground rapidly left them behind.
"Wait! Are we actually flying? This is way too high!" said Olivia.
"All is well! This carriage zooms along almost as gracefully as a spider, thanks to a spirited will-o-wisp fueling its journey. Inside, there's a nifty gravity spell that keeps us snug and secure, even if the carriage flips upside down. Or if our driver feels adventurous and wants to leap over water, no worries—this carriage can swim too!"
Amy walked to stand beside them and stared down. "What...are those sparkling lights in the water below us?"
The depths beneath them shimmered in a deep midnight blue, speckled with countless tiny yellow and blue lights flickering just beneath the water's surface, resembling a galaxy of stars ensnared in an immense, tranquil pool.
"That's the star-filled sea, called the Sea of Forgotten Dreams," said Inga.
"I assumed it was merely a charming name for the water. Does it really contain stars?" said Olivia
"In a way, the Sea of Forgotten Dreams is like a magical nursery with tons of mana, making it the perfect spot for baby will-o-wisps to come to life," Inga said.
"It's beautiful," said Olivia.
"There are definitely some terrible things in the world, but there are beauty and wonders too! "I've been exploring since I was a kid, and even now, some sights still leave me breathless," Inga said.
"Aren't they adorable? We should adopt one and raise them!," said Pyr who popped down to the furnace in the sitting room.
"We're beginning to tumble down, and we'll splash into the other half of the water. Sure thing, we can choose one," said Inga.
"This is great! I'm going to tell Solal and Elek," he said and shot back up the pipes.
We're off to snag ourselves an ice will-o-wisp, but shh, keep it under wraps from Pyr! Those two types rarely play nice together. I mean, who wants to sweat it out in this big ol' metal beast without a way to chill things down? Ice will-o-wisps are all about that frosty white vibe, while Pyr flaunts those fiery shades of light blue, orange, yellow, and red. You know, just your typical hotshot fire wisp! So, as we descend, we'll pop open the hatch and hunt for that elusive Ice wisp before Pyr gets cozy with another wisp. And trust me, if we don't hustle, we'll be sizzling in here all summer long!" said Inga.
"I can get behind that," said Amy.
"Sure, I'll pitch in as well; I'd rather not spend the entire summer feeling like I'm melting," Olivia said.
"Let's scoot on over to the hatch! We'll pop it open the moment we touch down. No worries about the water sneaking in; there's a nifty little spell keeping it at bay. Now, let's hustle and pick a wisp before Pyr returns, alright?" Inga grinned.
Inga strolled over to a closet and stepped inside. The space was much more expansive than it appeared from the outside. Olivia and Amy peered into the room, which measured roughly twenty by twenty feet. Inga made her way to a corner where she found three transparent masks along with canisters that were about the size of her hand.
"Come give me a hand with these watercraft," She said as she picked up an object resembling a handle with a seat affixed to it, complete with a storage compartment at the rear. In addition, she collected three nets with short handles.
"What's all of this stuff for?" said Amy.
"These little gadgets are our secret weapons in case a wisp decides to play hard to get and swims off. So, let's get those masks on and twist those canisters right up front, but don't activate them until you're ready to dive in! Just give that red button a press where the canister meets the mask before you take the plunge. This should be fun!"
"What about our clothes?" said Olivia.
"You've got a few fun options! You can dive in au naturel, rock your favorite undies, or keep your clothes on and change later. We can grab some swimwear later!" Inga began stripping until she was left in her underwear, then she opened the hatch. The other two women joined her, keeping their bras on, just as Paul entered the room.
"Hey, Brian! Get in here, man! You're not gonna believe what I've got to show you!" said Paul.
"Stuff it, Paul!" said Amy.
"Hey there! What in the world is happening right now?" Brian exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. "Whoa, it's a cat girl! A real-life cat girl! I've dreamed of seeing one IRL!"
"Whoa, check out that red hair! What a knockout! Those clothes? They just can't handle all that gorgeousness. Look at those curves and that fluffy tail, absolutely stunning! Mind if I get a little hands-on?" said Paul.
Inga's eyes grew wide at the sight of the two drooling men. She quickly retreated toward the hatch, pulled her mask down over her face, pressed the button, seized the watercraft, and leapt into the water.
"I'm not getting left behind," said Amy, quickly snatching up two nets so she could hand one over to Inga.
"Cougars are absolutely sizzling too," Paul said, his eyes glued to Olivia.
"Absolutely not interested," Olivia said, her voice laced with disdain, before snatching up the remaining equipment and plunging into the water too.
"Hey there! Can someone tell me how to strap on that gear?" Paul asked.
"I do, and I'll tell you how to do it, but I want you to capture me a cute little fire wisp that I can lord over...um train," said Pyr.
"Deal! You in for the ride?" said Paul.
"I'm not entirely sure," Brian said, his brow furrowing in contemplation.
"Maybe there are mermaids out there," Paul said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Could that actually be a thing?" Brian said.
"Who knows, you won't find out unless you come with me. If I see some without you, you'll have to hear about all the sordid details secondhand."
Brian looked down into the water and bit his lower lip. "Sure, yeah, I'll come with you."
"Make sure that the wisp you find is orange or yellow, I don't want another light blue wisp," said Pyr.
Coming Next Time: Splat or Survival!