The sun was shining when Xander woke up. He was propped up behind a dumpster.
"What the hell happened..?" Xander tried to move but he was too sore from the confrontation with the man earlier.
Images of the little skirmish from the night before rushed through Xander's head. Had he really made the wind pick up on his own? And how, at that. Too many answerless questions danced about in his head.
"You're awake. Good!" A voice came from just out of sight around the corner of the dumpster.
Xander wasn't really paying attention, so the voice startled him. He tried to poke his head around the corner and eventually got to where he could barely see. The person he saw walked toward him. Before Xander knew it, he saw a face he didn't expect: Kylo Bolt's.
"Good morning, Xander!" Kylo beamed.
"Hi?" Xander said back
"You don't sound too enthusiastic. Good to know you're still you," Kylo said. "Last night was rough, huh?"
Xander nodded as he remembered the man with wind magic, and how he had used the same powers against him, even if for just a small fraction of time.
"I did some awesome stuff last night. Too bad you passed out and saw almost none of it.." Kylo whined.
"Actually, I saw it happen," Xander said as he quickly went quiet again, trying to not think about witnessing a literal death. It was an appalling sight to behold and it made him want to puke.
"I am pretty cool," Kylo said confidently. "I had to save you. You looked so pathetic." Kylo was laughing in an attempt to make light of everything now that it was over and everyone was okay.
Even though Xander was exhausted, in pain, and scared about what was happening, he felt… free. Like some of his problems were lifted off of his chest. He felt happy, or, at least happier than he has been. Almost like there was a shift in his personality. He was still extremely confused, however, so he thought nothing of it and went back to talking with Kylo.
"Yeah, sure. I think I used magic, too," Xander said in his usual tone of voice.
Kylo paused. "You what?" Kylo was in a state of slight disbelief.
"I think I did, anyway. But yeah, I felt the wind being harnessed on my end."
"Well.." Kylo didn't know what to say. "Supposing that is true, let me give you a rundown of magic, just to clear up any misconceptions you may have, as well as to introduce you to it."
Xander sat and listened.
"There are countless types of magic, and they all branch from some unknown magic. Think of magic as a skill set in a video game, where you can upgrade your own magic skills as you get stronger and learn how to use them better. You usually only get one type of magic, but in my case, I got two. Speed and Strength. They sound like they go hand in hand, but most of the tankier mages are slow, and fast ones are usually average strength. They don't sound like magic, but magic doesn't have to be limited to casting a spell or conjuring a beast. Anyway, you can 'unlock' new skills by practicing, too. However, unlocked skills are always under the same type that you have. Let's say you have a small fireball ability and you gain a new, longer range ability, a fire blast, let's say. That's the general rundown of that. Any questions so far?"
Xander stayed silent.
"Taking that as a no. Continuing: Magic awakens within everyone at different points in their life. It most commonly happens at a young age just because they're maturing and their bodies are developing, but it can happen at any moment in time. Like last night, for instance. You apparently awakened your magic, which looks like wind. Your criteria must have been a life-or-death situation, or seeing someone you care about in peril and having a strong interest in saving them."
Xander let that last bit sink in. Someone he actually cared about? He looked towards his sleeping sister.
"So… is everyone here magic? Or just a few?" Xander inquired, still looking at his sister.
Kylo chuckled and said in a proud-like tone of voice, "Not here, no. On the other side everyone is magic in some form, though."
Xander gasped. "So, is anyone here magic?"
"Nope. Only those who come from the other side, or what you might as well just call 'Magic Earth,' have magic."
This didn't make any sense. Xander was born on "regular earth," right?
"Kylo.. I was born here. How can I have magic?"
"That's not a question for me, I'm about your age. Ask the one who might know something."
"And that is…?" Xander started to feel nervous. Was his life a lie? Why was he magic if he was born into a normal family? Unless his family was hiding something from him, like their own magic power.
"The strongest mage in all of Stargazer's Retreat: Maximilian Lacuna." Kylo looked and sounded even more prideful to spill that information.
However, Xander was still confused beyond comparison. "What is Stargazer's Retreat? And who is… Maximilian Lacuna, was it?" This was probably the most Xander had ever asked anything, let alone spoken anything in months, maybe even years..
"I should've assumed you didn't know. I mean, how could you. Haha," Kylo laughed, trying to make a positive situation as always, "Stargazer's Retreat is the name of the town our school is in. And Maximilian Lacuna is who I just said he is. He's the strongest guy there."
Xander only had a little more light on the situation now. He nodded as if he knew everything Kylo was talking about, though.
"Why don't we go see him? He should be somewhere nearby. I signaled for him earlier."
"..." Xander was back to not talking. He just wanted to figure out what was going on so he could go back to not caring about much. He suddenly stopped and looked behind him on his way to stand up. "What about Naomi?"
"Oh, yeah. We'll have a spatial mage move her back to her room so nobody will be seen, and this whole event will have never happened," Kylo replied.
They both started walking out of the alleyway and into the vibrant rays of sunlight, the rays making their way through trees rustling in the wind and buildings nearby. The morning seemed so fresh. It's hard to believe that a fight went down in the same spot just about twelve hours ago. Xander breathed in through his nostrils and let out a long, deep exhale, taking in the scenery. Kylo stared at him and said nothing, but kept walking.
They continued down the sidewalk and rounded a corner, children playing on the playground within the park the duo was walking by.
Again, Xander wondered how there were powers, such as the ones he had witnessed, and Kylo had talked about, that exist. Xander's nonchalant mindset was tearing at the seams as more and more desires for answers he couldn't even begin to try to figure out on his own began to emerge.
"..hey, Kylo," Xander started to speak.
"What's up?" Kylo responded.
"I know you said this Maximilian Lacuna guy was the strongest there is in this… Stargazer's Retreat place, was it? What exactly makes him the strongest?"
"Haha," Kylo chuckled a bit at the question. "I don't know. His abilities are all kept secret, so nobody except for the higher-ups and people who have fought alongside him know."
Xander went quiet again, wondering what this man's powers were.
"Teleportation? Speed? Precognition?" He could think all he wanted, but there was nothing to base any actual guesses off of. Dumbfounded, Xander quit asking questions and picked up his pace.
"Let's get something to eat," Kylo said, and took off before Xander could respond.
Xander sighed and tried to keep up, as a short smile appeared on his face.
"Maaaaan that was good." Kylo stretched as he let out a burp.
Xander curled his nose a little. "Excuse you.." he mumbled.
They got up from their table and went up to pay. Well, Kylo did. Xander was still broke.
"Thank you for the food," Xander thanked Kylo. He didn't actually know when he would eat again, ever since he got kicked out of the house yesterday.
"Not a problem," Kylo responded, smiling. "By the way, Xander. If you don't mind my asking, why did you hit Damian yesterday? You wouldn't have been expelled if you hadn't."
Xander played the scene from the bathroom in his head.
"Why had I gotten mad? I didn't even know the kid. I don't really get mad, either," Xander pondered the possibilities. "I guess it was just the buildup from all the years past, just stuff we didn't know I had going on inside."
"Fair," Kylo stated, not really having much to say after asking.
Orange and yellow leaves were on the ground, crunching underneath their feet as they continued walking.
"When will we find this Maximilian guy?"
"He should be nearby, if I remember correctly."
Just as he had said it, a taller man with really ruffled jet-black hair, wearing a white shirt with a dark gray robe over it, started walking towards the two.
"Hey Kylo! How was the unexpected development?" The man asked.
"It was a breeze. Honestly I thought the guy I dropped would be much better at fighting, referencing how easily he took control over the fight between himself and Xander here."
Xander sighed and looked down at the ground out of embarrassment.
"Is this guy Maxmillian?"
The man stuck out his hand for a handshake, smiling a smile similar to Kylo's. "I'm Maxmillian Lacuna. Call me Max if you want. I don't care." He spoke super casually.
Xander stared at the hand before Kylo grabbed Xander's wrist and forced them to shake hands.
Xander tried to pull away to no avail.
"I'm Xander Gray."
"I know," Max laughed. "We were sent here to watch over you."
Xander stopped. "What?" There was a long pause. "What do you mean?"
Max laughed again. "I mean what I said. When you were born, your parents went off to fight the Fallen Goddess and wanted me to send you here to this earth to protect you," Max said like it was an everyday occurrence.
"F-f-fallen Goddess?" Xander couldn't process those words. "The actual hell does that mean?"
"As I'm sure you're well-aware of by now, there is an alternate earth where magic exists, blah blah blah. Just as magic exists, there are also more intelligent beings than just humans. Elves, goblins, gods and goddesses, et cetera." Max's tone still hadn't changed.
"Oh." Xander was at a loss for words, completely bewildered. "Well..- Enough about that. You mean to tell me that the parents I've been tormented by aren't even my real parents?! What the hell dude! Why couldn't I have gone back to the other side, as Kylo called it?!" Within a second, Xander switched back to his inquisitive side, only this time fueled by a little spark of rage.
"Your parents wanted you away from our realm for the sole purpose of protecting you. They were targeted by the Fallen Goddess and wanted you out of her sight so you would be safe, too. So, they entrusted you to me and I sent you here."
"Then why couldn't you have take-"
"I couldn't have fulfilled their wishes on this earth and also stayed in Stargazer's Retreat to protect it from harm concurrently. So I had to make a compromise. I sent Kylo over here to watch over you. I would have him call for me if anything got out of hand," Max interrupted.
"Why couldn't you or Kylo have taken me back to the other side, then?"
"Safety reasons. You had grown roots here and we didn't want to uproot you 'prematurely', if you will. Allowing you a peaceful life is what I promised to your parents."
"Then why am I here and not back at my house with my fake parents?"
"First of all, you got expelled from school. That wasn't planned on. You were always a laid-back, wake-up-then-go-to-sleep kid. Then, you got kicked out of your house. I should've picked better parents for you."
Kylo stood by, staring all around him at nature, not really paying too much attention to the conversation happening between Max and Xander.
"This makes no sense, man. There is absolutely zero logic to any of this. I couldn't have learned about magic from Kylo so I'd have at least been prepared in case anything did happen? Where's the reasoning in that?!" Xander snapped.
"Easy now, kiddo. I guess you have a fair point. Well, you know now, so it's ok, yeah?" Max tried to calm Xander while also giving a half-assed answer because not even he knew.
Xander took a deep breath and calmed down. "Now that I know, can I just go back to my house now? I want to sleep." He was back to the normal Xander everyone knew now.
"No."
"Why not?"
"You were kicked out, right?"
"Wait, how did you even know about-"
"Kylo and I watched over you, remember? So of course we had magic items in your house to monitor your condition."
"What-," Xander exclaimed, his voice squeaking, with an uneasy and embarrassed look on his face.
"Well, it falls in line with your parent's wishes. Anyway, we're here now. Let's get going to the school. I don't want to be standing here for too long, and besides, the quicker we get you enrolled the easier it will be for you, and me." Max mumbled the last part as to not let anyone else hear him. However, it didn't work.
"What did you say?" Xander asked.
"Uh, nothing…" Max said while avoiding eye contact. Kylo laughed.
Kylo finally joined back into the conversation with his fullest attention. "Want me to signal for the Gate?"
"What's a.. 'Gate'?" Xander asked, sounding just as curious as he did before.
"Ah, yes. I should have expected you to ask that," Max said, turning back towards Xander. "A Gate is what mages use to travel between worlds. There is a theory that there are more worlds than just these two earths, but until that theory is confirmed by someone with strong enough Worldgate magic, we have easy travel through these two."
"I see…" Xander was taking in this new load of information, having an apparent inability to fully comprehend any of it just yet.
"Let's go to a more private area so people don't see the Gate open," Kylo suggested, laughing.
Xander was a little annoyed with how jolly everyone was being, with him left in the dark not from their inability to explain but from his inability to wrap his head around it. He was great at school, but this was out of this world to him. Literally.
"Come on, guys. Let's go," Max beckoned for the two to follow him.
The trio found themselves under a bridge after walking quite a distance. Exhausted, they all sat down on the concrete in the dark space underneath the bridge, except for Xander. Xander was tired and just wanted to sleep, so he curled up on the hard concrete and closed his eyes. It wasn't the best bed by any means, but he didn't care. He just wanted to rest.
"I'm sure that's bad for your back," Kylo laughed as he scooted closer to Xander.
"Tch," went Xander, annoyed that Kylo was disturbing his "sleep."
"He should be here," Max said, checking the time on his phone.
Xander was a little confused about why Max had a phone if he lived in a fantasy world full of mages and mythical creatures. "Why do you have a phone?"
"Funny enough, we have our own internet, too. Albeit it's not the same as this earth's, but we have our own way of communicating on similar devices. But yeah, I have a phone here, too." Max said this with a hint of flexing, like some kid at school who would brag about having the newest model.
Xander just signed and closed his eyes again. It was quiet again. The water rushed against the pillars of the bridge, creating a beautiful noise. It was a tranquil candy for the ears. Birds chirped as the faint sound of cars passing over the bridge came and went, a slight breeze picking up. Life was so peaceful. Xander had no desire to leave it for another world, another life. He just wanted to live in this world and make sure his sister remained ok. He began to drift off to sleep with the ambience of nature within a manmade town in the background when Max jabbed his shoulder.
"Xander wake up, the Gate should be here."
Xander began to groan, but stopped entirely once he saw a blue rip in the air in front of him. Air came rushing out of it, the gust becoming more powerful until it became a breeze as it expanded. It became a size big enough for people to fit through. Max stood next to it and pointed to it.
"That, my friend, is a Gate."
Xander was awestruck, completely forgetting that he was tired. He began to stretch his hand out to it when Kylo stopped him with a serious look on his face.
"Please wait, Xander. There is something everyone who uses a Gate follows when they use it. It's important."
"And that is…?" Xander asked with an undertone of fear, sudden shakiness in his voice.
"A damn good attitude." Max and Kylo roared laughing. Xander rolled his eyes at the joke as he sighed to himself. He just wanted rest and nothing more.
"I guess I won't be getting rest anytime soon. Not as long as these two idiots are around." Xander sighed. The other two stopped laughing and looked at him.
"Are you ready to go through and go to the other side?" Kylo asked.
Xander shook his head.
"I know you want to stay here. But it's optimal that you come with us." Kylo held out his hand to Xander, who was staring at the ground.
"Can I sleep once we get there?"
"Depends," Kylo chuckled. "That's your usual Xander question."
Xander slowly took Kylo's hand and they all faced the Gate.
Max began to head through, and so did Kylo. Kylo was stopped by Xander. He stood facing away from the Gate, looking back at the serenity of the world, a breeze blowing through his hair, before turning back around and slowly starting for the Gate himself.
"I hope Naomi will be ok without me for a while. I'm sure she will be," and with that final though, Xander Gray placed one foot through the Gate.
Chapter 2 END