The room was eerily quiet as Aetterus began to prepare the spell. His patchwork robes fluttered unnaturally in the still air, and his hazel eyes gleamed with unrestrained excitement. He drew an intricate circle around Changra's unconscious form, the lines glowing faintly with a crimson hue as he worked.
"Now then," Aetterus said, his voice laced with amusement as he dusted his hands off theatrically. "There's one small detail I neglected to mention. For the spell to work, those entering dear Changra's mind must maintain physical contact—skin to skin. A delightful requirement, no?"
Jane hesitated, her gaze flickering to Changra's motionless body. His face was pale, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding. Skin contact?
Aria crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a tight line. "You couldn't have mentioned this earlier?"
"Oh, it's much more fun this way," Aetterus replied, flashing her a toothy grin. "Besides, you would've agreed anyway, wouldn't you? For the greater good and all that."
Thorne tilted his head, scratching the back of his neck. "Skin contact, huh? Sounds… weird. But whatever gets us in there, I guess."
Jane stepped forward, her jaw set. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
"Ah, that's the spirit!" Aetterus said, clapping his hands together. "Now, everyone, take your positions. The spell requires a clear connection between you all, so hands, arms, shoulders—just make sure there's contact. And, of course, someone will need to touch our dear sleeping prince."
Jane knelt beside Changra without hesitation, her trembling hand brushing against his. His skin was cold, and the sensation sent a shiver through her. She glanced at his face, the faint traces of pain etched into his expression even in unconsciousness. You're still in there, she thought. I know you are.
Thorne sat down next to Jane, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "Weirdest thing I've done all week," he muttered, his usual humor barely masking his nervousness.
Aria sighed heavily, kneeling beside Thorne and placing her hand lightly on his arm. "This better work," she said, her voice low.
Aetterus stood just outside the circle, his hands hovering over the glowing runes. "Oh, it will," he said, his tone dripping with self-assuredness. "Now, close your eyes. Relax. And trust me to guide you into the chaos that is dear Changra's mind."
Jane tightened her grip on Changra's hand, a surge of determination rising within her. We'll find you. No matter what it takes.
Aetterus began to chant, his voice low and melodic, the words twisting and echoing unnaturally in the room. The crimson light of the runes flared brighter, illuminating the anxious faces of the group. The air grew heavy, crackling with energy, as the spell began to take hold.
Slowly, the room around them began to fade, replaced by an otherworldly void of swirling colors and shadows. Jane's heart raced as the ground seemed to vanish beneath her, and for a fleeting moment, she felt as though she were falling.
And then, with a sudden jolt, they landed.
The group stumbled as they landed, the scorching sun beating down on them mercilessly. The landscape that unfolded before them was like nothing they had ever encountered in Elakia. The air was dry and oppressive, carrying the faint tang of minerals and dust. A vast, barren desert stretched endlessly in every direction, its surface cracked and uneven, as though the earth itself had been scorched and left to crumble under the relentless heat.
Jane squinted against the brightness, her gaze drifting to the horizon where jagged red-rock formations jutted into the sky like the remnants of a forgotten world. The stones were layered in hues of rust and ochre, their weathered surfaces carved by millennia of wind and sand. The colors seemed almost unnatural, vibrant in their harshness, unlike the muted, magical hues of Elakia.
"What… what is this place?" Aria whispered, her voice barely audible as she took a cautious step forward. Her boots crunched against the coarse, sandy ground, sending small clouds of dust into the air.
Thorne tilted his head back, shielding his eyes with his hand as he stared at the endless blue sky. It was stark and cloudless, an expanse of emptiness that seemed to press down on them. "Feels like the sun's trying to cook us alive," he muttered, wiping beads of sweat from his brow.
The vegetation was sparse and foreign, scattered clusters of spiky plants with long, needle-like leaves and twisted branches that seemed to claw at the air. Some bore small, vibrant flowers or strange fruits, their survival in this harsh environment a testament to resilience the group couldn't comprehend.
Jane knelt, running her fingers across the brittle, sunbaked ground. It felt lifeless, devoid of the energy and magic that pulsed through the soil of Elakia. Yet, there was a strange allure to the stark beauty of the place—a raw, untamed majesty that hinted at an ancient story written in the sands.
"Is this… Earth?" she murmured, her voice trembling with uncertainty. Her thoughts raced as she looked around, trying to make sense of the alien environment. Changra's memories. This is his world. This is where he's from.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the desert, carrying with it a faint whisper of sound—an eerie, distant hum that seemed to rise from the earth itself. Jane shivered, despite the oppressive heat, and exchanged a nervous glance with Aria and Thorne.
"Where's the water? The trees? Anything alive?" Aria asked, her tone edged with unease as she turned in a slow circle, scanning the desolation around them.
Thorne shrugged, his usual bravado tempered by the strangeness of their surroundings. "Guess people don't live here. Too empty. Too hot."
Jane rose to her feet, brushing the dust from her knees as she fixed her gaze on the distant rock formations. "We're not here to sightsee," she said, her voice firm despite the knot of anxiety in her chest. "We have to find him. He's here somewhere."
The three stood in silence for a moment, their figures small and fragile against the vast, unforgiving expanse of the desert. The journey ahead was daunting, but Jane's resolve burned brighter than the sun overhead.
"Let's move," she said, leading the way toward the jagged rocks in the distance, where the faint hum seemed to grow stronger. "We don't have time to waste."
As they trudged through the arid expanse, Jane extended her hand, a faint shimmer of determination in her eyes. She murmured an incantation under her breath, summoning the words that had become second nature to her. A faint light flickered in her palm, but it sputtered out almost instantly, as if the very air of this place snuffed out her efforts.
"What…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crunch of their footsteps on the coarse sand. She tried again, her voice louder, firmer, but the result was the same. The magic she had wielded so effortlessly in Elakia seemed to vanish before it could fully manifest.
Aria noticed her struggle and frowned, pausing mid-step. She too raised her hands, her fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air. Sparks danced briefly at her fingertips, but they fizzled into nothingness, leaving only the faintest trace of heat. "It's not working," she said, a tinge of panic creeping into her voice.
Jane clenched her fists, frustration bubbling within her. "Why? Why isn't it working? This doesn't make sense."
Thorne, trudging slightly ahead of them, stopped and turned back, his brow furrowed. "What's the big deal? Can't you just… I dunno, try harder or something?"
"It doesn't work like that, Thorne," Jane snapped, the tension in her voice evident. She glanced down at her hands, flexing them as if willing the magic to return. "Magic isn't supposed to just… stop. It's a part of us."
Aria stepped closer to Jane, her expression mirroring her unease. "Maybe it's this place. There's something… off here. I can feel it. It's like the magic isn't just suppressed—it's gone, like it never existed."
Thorne scratched his head, his confusion evident. "You mean, like, all your fancy sparkles are just… poof? Gone?"
Jane shot him a look that could have withered a tree, if only her magic worked. "Yes, Thorne. Poof. Gone."
Thorne shrugged, seemingly unfazed. "Guess that means we're stuck doin' things the old-fashioned way."
Jane turned her gaze back toward the distant rock formations, the oppressive heat blurring the edges of the horizon. "This is Earth," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "Magic doesn't exist here. At least… not like it does in Elakia."
Aria's eyes widened as realization dawned. "This is his world. Changra's. If magic doesn't exist here, then…" Her voice trailed off as she looked at Jane.
"Then we're completely on our own," Jane finished, her tone heavy with resignation. She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder and started walking again, her determination outweighing her frustration. "We don't have time to figure this out. We need to find him."
Thorne sighed and followed after her, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust with each step. "Well, this just keeps gettin' better and better, don't it?"
Aria lingered for a moment, glancing back at the endless expanse of desert behind them. The weight of their situation settled heavily on her shoulders, but she pushed it aside and hurried to catch up with the others.
The journey ahead was daunting, and without their magic, the three of them felt exposed and vulnerable. Yet Jane's resolve burned brighter than ever, fueled by the thought of Changra, somewhere out there, waiting to be found.
As the trio trudged through the sweltering desert, the terrain gradually began to shift. The endless stretches of sand gave way to cracked asphalt roads and sparse vegetation, and in the distance, shapes began to emerge—buildings, signs, and what appeared to be a small town.
Jane squinted at the structures ahead, shielding her eyes from the glaring sun. "Is that… civilization?" she asked, her voice tinged with cautious hope.
"Looks like it," Aria replied, her gaze fixed on the town. "But something feels… odd."
As they approached the outskirts, the first thing they noticed was the signs. Large boards displayed bold letters and symbols that seemed entirely alien to them. Jane stared at one of the signs, her brows furrowing. The letters appeared jumbled, nonsensical—she couldn't make heads or tails of them.
"What in the name of Elakia is this?" Thorne said, scratching his head. He pointed to one of the signs, a bright red rectangle with stark white text. "It's just… random lines. And what's with the tiny pictures?"
Aria stepped closer to the sign, tilting her head as if a different angle might reveal its meaning. "This is their language," she murmured, realization dawning. "It must be. But it's completely different from anything we've seen before."
Jane sighed, her hand brushing against the coarse surface of the sign. "We're not going to get much help if we can't even read," she muttered.
They continued walking into the town, passing more signs and advertisements plastered on the sides of buildings. A particular sign above a long, low building caught Jane's attention. It had the same unintelligible letters and a symbol of a steaming cup. The faint scent of something warm and inviting wafted through the air.
"What do you think this place is?" Jane asked, pointing to the building.
Thorne sniffed the air and shrugged. "Smells like food or drink to me. Maybe we should check it out?"
Jane hesitated but nodded. "It's a start. Let's see if we can find someone who can help."
They pushed open the glass door, a small bell jingling overhead. The inside was cooler, and the scent of coffee and baked goods was overwhelming. A handful of people sat at tables, chatting softly or staring at glowing rectangular devices in their hands. No one seemed to notice the trio as they stood awkwardly near the entrance.
"This place is so… strange," Aria whispered, her eyes darting around. "What are those glowing things they're holding?"
Jane shrugged, her focus shifting to the counter where a woman in a green apron stood. The woman glanced up, her expression briefly puzzled before she smiled warmly.
"Hi there! What can I get for you?" she asked.
The trio froze, exchanging panicked looks. The woman's words were incomprehensible, the sounds entirely foreign to their ears.
"What's she saying?" Thorne hissed, leaning closer to Jane.
"I don't know!" Jane whispered back, her face reddening. "Just… just smile or something."
Thorne flashed an awkward grin at the woman, who tilted her head, clearly confused. Jane stepped forward, trying to mimic the gesture of someone holding a cup. The woman's smile returned, and she nodded, saying something else they didn't understand before turning away to prepare… something.
"Did that work?" Aria asked, glancing nervously around the room.
"I think so," Jane replied, though she wasn't entirely sure. She looked down at her hands, frustration bubbling within her. How are we supposed to find Changra in this world if we can't even communicate with anyone?
A moment later, the woman returned with three steaming cups, setting them down on the counter. Jane fumbled for the small pouch of Elakian coins she carried, but the woman shook her head, speaking again in the strange language. Jane hesitated before bowing her head slightly in thanks.
They took the cups to a small table by the window, each of them staring warily at the contents. The liquid was dark and steaming, with an aroma unlike anything they had encountered before.
"What do you think this is?" Thorne asked, lifting his cup and sniffing it. "Doesn't smell bad."
Jane took a cautious sip, her eyes widening. It was bitter but oddly invigorating. "It's… not terrible," she admitted.
Aria followed suit, her lips curling into a tentative smile. "Maybe this world isn't all bad."
For a moment, the three of them sat in silence, sipping their drinks and taking in their surroundings. Outside the window, the town of Kingman seemed quiet and unassuming, but the strangeness of it all weighed heavily on their minds.
"We need to figure out how to communicate," Jane said finally, breaking the silence. "If we're going to find him, we can't afford to waste time guessing what everyone's saying."
Aria nodded. "Agreed. But how?"
Jane's grip on her cup tightened. "We'll figure it out," she said firmly, determination hardening her voice. We have to.
As the trio stepped out of the building, still holding their steaming cups, they were met by the sound of hurried footsteps and an exasperated voice behind them. Jane turned to see the woman in the green apron running after them, waving her hands and shouting words they couldn't understand.
"What's she saying?" Thorne asked, glancing nervously between the woman and Jane.
"No idea, but she doesn't look happy," Jane muttered, her eyes narrowing. She motioned for the group to keep walking, but the woman only sped up, continuing to shout.
"I think we're supposed to… pay?" Aria guessed, holding up her cup as though it explained everything.
"Well, we don't exactly have their currency!" Thorne said, his tone defensive.
The woman reached them, still gesturing animatedly. Jane gave her an awkward smile, then turned to Thorne and Aria. "Run."
"What?" Thorne asked, bewildered.
"Run!" Jane repeated, grabbing both of their arms and bolting down the street. The trio sprinted through the unfamiliar town, the woman's shouts fading behind them. They dodged bewildered pedestrians, their strange appearances drawing more than a few curious stares.
After several frantic minutes, they rounded a corner and stopped to catch their breath in front of a large building. Jane leaned against a wall, her chest heaving. "I think… we lost her."
Thorne looked at the building, squinting at the letters on a sign near the entrance. "What do you think this says?" he asked, pointing at the bold text: Lee Williams High School.
Jane stared at the sign, the unfamiliar symbols only deepening her frustration. "No clue. It could say anything."
Aria tilted her head, studying the building. "It looks important, though. Maybe someone here can help us."
They approached the doors cautiously, their footsteps echoing on the pavement. Just as Jane reached for the handle, the door swung open, and a man stepped out. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with a friendly smile and a slightly confused expression as he looked at the trio.
"Hey there!" the man said, his tone cheerful. He paused, taking in their odd clothing and unusual features. "You three look… different. Exchange students?"
The group exchanged nervous glances. The man's words were completely incomprehensible to them, and they had no idea how to respond.
"What's he saying?" Thorne whispered, standing slightly behind Jane.
"I don't know!" Jane hissed back, her gaze fixed on the man.
The man seemed to notice their confusion and raised a hand in a placating gesture. "Don't worry," he said, his voice slower now, as if that would help them understand. "You're probably lost, right?"
Jane forced a smile, unsure of what else to do. The man pointed to their clothes, gesturing at Jane's tunic and Thorne's mismatched attire. "Cool outfits," he said with a chuckle. "Definitely not from around here."
Aria leaned closer to Jane and whispered, "What do we do?"
Jane hesitated, then nodded slightly at the man, hoping it would convey something useful. The man smiled again, though his confusion was evident. He stepped aside and motioned toward the building's entrance.
"Come on in," he said. "Let's figure this out."
Jane exchanged a wary glance with Aria and Thorne. They couldn't understand him, but his tone seemed friendly enough. She stepped forward cautiously, leading the way inside, her heart pounding with uncertainty. We need to figure out what's going on here… fast.