Another cold morning greeted me. Breezing winds lightly rattled the window from time to time as I reviewed my notes on Prestidigitation. The sky was dark with cloud cover this morning, darker than usual before the sun was to rise. I sat below the orange light of the lamp while I looked back upon the work I had done on my first spell. Today was going to be a long lesson with Sekvi, and keeping my process fresh in my mind felt like the bare minimum of due diligence. It all looked simpler in hindsight than it had during my intensely focused hours of study. Changing the order of components' application had stumped me, but I was determined to learn from this mistake, as it would likely save me hours of headache when learning more advanced spells than cantrips. I set my notes aside once I was satisfied and engaged in a different method of study: practical application. My pajamas, the oversized Star Wars shirt and green sweatpants, hadn't yet been cleaned as my green dress had. I was lucky that Prestidigitation included an effect that let me clean my clothing, so I killed two metaphorical birds with one metaphorical stone. Practice would make perfect, after all.
I pondered what time I should meet Sekvi over my breakfast of tea, a sparkdrop fruit and something akin to cornbread. They were the busy type, so I couldn't arrive too late, but they also tended to stay up some hours past sundown, which meant I couldn't arrive too early. I decided that I would play my meeting safe and head over closer to mid morning; this would give them time to tend to their needs before I showed up to swallow the majority of their day. Speaking of swallowing, I was very much enjoying my sparkdrop fruit. The combination of flavors and texture felt almost energizing to me, and I mused what I could do with a sauce made from the fruit. I realized that once I were equipped to do so, I would have to learn to cook all over again. My talents were nothing to write home about and thus the notion didn't feel as daunting as it would to someone with more actual culinary experience. Taco Bell hardly counted in that arena, in my mind. I paid for my room in advance once more, now nearly out of money, and ventured outside to find a way to kill some time before I was due for my magic lesson. The umbrella I purchased yesterday was a wise choice in this weather.
The offer to stay with Sekvi during my early studies was heavy on my mind. I didn't enjoy living with other people. The social obligations felt nebulous and one-sided, encounters were awkward, and people didn't seem to enjoy my introverted nature. I had received derisive comments about being 'shut up in my room all day' and other such barbs. That was on Earth, however, and the Cradle was different. I knew my teacher to be someone that took pride in their work. They probably wouldn't bother me while they were busy conducting themself in matters entirely unrelated to me. Sharing a kitchen was a concern, too, as I was determined to keep my dietary choices my own, and people on Earth always took exception. Perhaps that would be another difference between the two worlds I had inhabited thus far. I decided that voicing these concerns before anything was made official would be the responsible thing to do. The allure of potential acceleration of my studies and not having to pay for housing every night was great, a very nice compliment to the fact that I no longer had to pay to have my clothes washed.
I took a moment to consider the anxieties I had undergone while attempting to keep myself clean and presentable. A silver a day, as well, was likely out of reach of some people. Spending hours manually washing clothes every week while others could simply pay others to do it for them... there had to be a way to ease that burden on those less lucky than I had been. Prestidigitation could cover a decent area with a single cast; it hadn't taken me more than a minute to magically clean my pajamas earlier. An idea came together in my mind: a magical dry-cleaning service. I could keep my prices low enough to give me adequate money from which to live on while ensuring that those most in need of my services could retain access to them. A variable price model based on the complexity and layers of the respective garments would also allow me to charge wealthy individuals more than the blue collar people of the town. It was genius! I felt substance to this idea, and decided that I would ask Keff for advice on starting a business tomorrow.
My feet carried me toward the South end of town. I found the 5th Spoke to be decorated in a lively and colorful manner for a reason I was unable to discern, but I found myself enjoying the pleasant air of the area. The day was just beginning for Karthos Bend and the activity of the residents was especially felt the closer one ventured to the river. I didn't recognize any of the people that I saw yet, though one of the guards gave me a nod when I passed by her. Betiara or the guards that had seen me at the smithy earlier in the week must have spread positive word about me. A smile and a wave were offered in return as I walked along my wayward path to nowhere. I could see to my right that there were several large, taller buildings made of brick that towered over the structures that were closer to me. They spoke of some sort of organized production; I noted the possibility that Spokes 6 and 7 could be the industrial district of town. Closer to me, however, was a farmer's market, which ran all the way to the river bank. I lamented that I had no equipment or space with which to cook, but decided to browse regardless to understand what my choices could soon become.
It was within the farmer's market that I met the local growers of the lovely, invigorating, puzzling sparkdrop fruit. I lauded their work, repeatedly and enthusiastically thanking them for providing such amazing fruits for my breakfasts at the hotel. They informed me that not many shared my taste, and offered me two recipes of their own creation with which to explore the flavorful potential of the fruit. Sparkdrop tarts and slather, a type of sauce, were both titillating prospects. As tight as I was on money, I spent a copper on a fruit to eat while I bid them good luck and good weather. I simply couldn't get enough of this fruit; I had to eat as many as I could before Summer stole them away from me. My post-breakfast snack kept me occupied while I investigated the various fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and fungi that stocked myriad stalls. The valley was apparently known for its rain, which easily supported many different varieties of water-thirsty crops, though it made grains slightly harder to come by. I found an oat farmer that was in the midst of gathering support for a political motion to provide all the grain farmers in the area free awnings to place over their crops during the wet season. As a firm believer in food availability, I donated a copper to their cause.
My sparkdrop was long gone by the time I decided to watch the birds along the river. What a delectable snack, rapturously savored and sorely missed. If my hypothetical laundromat service took off, I told myself I would single-handedly keep that kind collective of farmers in business. Pleasant-smelling blue and purple spring blooms adorned some of the nearby trees. It provided a pleasant little space in which to relax and people watch, fulfilling the role I expected of a town park. I took mental note of the longer grasses that grew along the edge of the water as they occasionally bent with the wind. The chill of the early spring weather was beginning to get to me; I couldn't spend too much more time in the park without risking difficulties worse than discomfort. As I stood to leave, I noticed something odd. Across the way to my left, tucked in between an alley between two buildings, was a trio of serious-looking individuals that were currently addressing a short man wearing a woven straw hat. The short man was similar in stature to Keff, but not as thickly built, and he lacked the typical dwarvish beard. He was shaking... I decided to get a little closer to see what I could overhear.
An adjacent alleyway was going to be the closest I could get without suspicion. I casually walked into said alleyway as if I were ducking into one of the residences there, took several steps in, and quietly made my way back to the edge of the building to listen in. My tail was held as closely against me as I could while I lightly pressed my back to the wall. This was a quiet part of town, so I was able to overhear some of the conversation. I took out my notes and traced my finger along them for plausible deniability in case I got caught. "...room for more than one in the business?"
"...not about how many... how much."
"...anything to offer. I'm... buy seeds."
"...think about that next time." I heard footsteps approaching my position. The three men -- two humans, one elf -- passed me, but the elf began to look up and around until he noticed me with my nose buried in my notes. "Enjoyed the show, did you?" I lowered my notes, looking over to the elf with feigned surprise.
"Show...? Sorry, I was-"
"What do you have there?" I tensed up; I had to think of something smart to say. I thought of what Betiara had told me yesterday, about people giving me trouble.
"A very unhelpful map. I'm new here, could you point me to the guards' barracks? We're having some trouble in the village." The elf narrowed his eyes at me, then withdrew, seeming to think better of getting involved with me.
"Watch your back, lady," he insisted. The strangers departed. I was a little worried about what this could bode for the future, as I was very recognizable in a town of this size. I retreated into the alley while packing my notes away and took the long way around to meet the shorter man out of sight.
"Hey, sir, are you okay? Those guys looked like trouble."
"Oh, it's not worth getting into. Thank you. Just rival farmers," he assured me, though he was still clearly worried. I had no idea the farming business was so cutthroat.
"Sure. Um, best of luck with them, they seem rough."
"Don't worry, I can handle those kids. You have a nice day now, miss."
"You too." I so badly wanted to ask him what he was, as it seemed clear to me that he wasn't a dwarf, but I wasn't sure of how to ask that question without potentially causing offense. I didn't need to know that badly. Instead, as the man walked off with his eyes cast down, I cast mine up. The sky was still very much gray, the wind still gusting between through the trees. Rain seemed likely, but the lack of a wet smell in the air told me that I likely wouldn't be soaked any time soon. I had only killed around 90 minutes or so, which told me I had time to explore some more. The riverside area featured several bushes that had yet to bloom. They drew my attention; the more attention I can give local flora, the better. The plants within the park were likely all safe to consume, as no responsible groundskeeper would plant something dangerous to children. I found myself missing my cell phone. An educational documentary from YouTube would easily soak up my spare time without leaving me feeling like I hadn't been especially productive. Meandering the rows of plants occupied me for another half hour or so. I decided to save the industrial district for another day and made my way to the nearby wizard's tower in a cut of my losses. I was excited to show Sekvi the progress I had made.
Sekvi received me in high spirits. They were nearly ready for the day's gauntlet of a lesson, and though they informed me that their diplomatic mission hadn't gone as well as they'd hoped, they assured me that they were excited to get started. "I always appreciate the process of magic unfolding in new ways. So, Madison, have you made progress with Prestidigitation?" I felt absolutely ready to provide my teacher with an emotional boost. A nearby cup of tea caught my eye, gone cold with inattention. It was given new vigor as I used my cantrip to warm it up to an appetizing temperature.
"Chalupus maximus," I said with practiced confidence, and offered Sekvi the renewed beverage. They smile as they accepted the cup and used it to warm their hands.
"New magic unfolds before us. I can't help but wonder if you possessed some natural aptitude for magic before your dream, or if your string of possibility offered you a new ability. What are your thoughts?"
"Well, I can confidently say that this is the first spell I've ever cast, and I didn't learn it until I got here. I mean... you said I might have cast something by accident with the string, but I don't know enough to conclusively say one way or the other." I rubbed my upper arms in an effort to warm myself up; the only heat I could detect was coming from what I expected to be Sekvi's sleeping quarters.
"Fair," they offered, and gestured to the fireplaces located within the central room of the tower. "I believe your new spell can come in handy. I actually left it cold on purpose as a way to let necessity drive you forward, but here you are! I'd like to watch you cast a few more times."
"No problem." I approached each fireplace and used Prestidigitation to light them with the same approach I had used last night. Each sprung to life without an issue, and the air of the room was more tolerable within minutes.
"Very good, very good. You have a unique flair to your style. It's, honestly endearing, if you don't mind me saying so."
"Haha, thank you."
"Your words of power, chalupus maximus, I imagine they have some meaning to you?"
"They do," I explained as I migrated over to my study station for the day. "A chalupa is a type of food that I frequently made at Taco Bell, and maximus means, to maximize, I think, in Latin. Chalupa became chalupus for a cohesive phrase to help me focus my intent. It's silly, but it works." Sekvi drummed their hands on the cover of a book to share their approval.
"I hope you're ready for a gauntlet, because I aim to teach you two more cantrips today. What do you say?"
"Um, which ones will I be learning?"
"I've made up a short list of offensive cantrips for you to choose from; you'll need some self-defense utility over the course of your time here. The other is entirely up to you." We consulted the list of damaging cantrips together and decided upon Fire Bolt. I expressed interest in learning more about Transmutation as quickly as I could, so I chose Mending as my third cantrip. I was already buzzing with ideas for how I could use it. Sekvi was not kidding; they all but literally threw the book at me in challenge of what I had learned in my study thus far. Fire Bolt had a very simple construction, as it was purely intended to perform one function, so much that it had no built-in safeties to prevent objects from catching on fire if my aim wasn't careful. I expected it to be intimidating enough to discourage combat if I couldn't win it outright. Hopefully I would never be put in a position that would require me to find out. Mending was a very helpful cantrip in that it could quickly repair small areas of damage to a variety of materials. It was more complex, as it involved changing the state of matter, but Sekvi and I saw the potential it had for teaching me a very focused example of typical processes involved in casting Transmutation magic.
Fire Bolt indeed came easily to me. The ability to fling a gout of fire at a target within an impressive range was sure to be useful. I was able to cast it within two hours, and testing the cantrip scattered the wood within one of the fireplaces so thoroughly we nearly lit a table on fire. Prestidigitation quickly handled the situation. Sekvi and I shared a pleasant laugh about it once I had calmed enough to forgive myself. We decided to break for lunch together before I tackled Mending. I found their kitchen to be well-equipped, and I was sure to praise my teacher for their shared enjoyment of sparkdrop. "This is so good," I sighed as I sat back in my chair to savor a bite of my sparkdrop tart.
"Isn't it? Would you mind if I made a copy of the recipe?"
"No, go ahead. I'm pretty sure it's okay, they gave it to me and they know I want to spread the word."
"We do important work Madison, today and always," Sekvi assured me with a chuckle. The blotted light that passed through the windows left a nearby fire to warm their gentle features in an aesthetically pleasant light. "Today is the end of your first week in the Cradle. You seem to be doing well for yourself."
"I think so, but I had a lot of help. I know, that doesn't cheapen my accomplishments... but I've been thinking about how things could have gone if Keff hadn't needed help at the forge so badly."
"As long as you don't get too lost in hypotheticals. If you did, you'd become a Divination wizard instead," they joked.
"Hah! That wouldn't be so bad. I guess I just feel lucky. Too lucky."
"Maybe you have been, but you're paying returns and then some. I may be the first wizard to learn of Earth, and Keff hasn't complained about his workload since you started. Beyond that, it seems like you're integrating well."
"I guess so. The people here have made it easy." I took another bite of my tart, and Sekvi did the same. Their eyes remained fixed on me with the same curiosity they always seemed to hold. Having this amount of interest being showed in me was a little intimidating. "Is there anything you want to know about Earth?"
"Any and everything you deem fit to share," they replied as they quickly summoned a stack of paper and an ink pen. "First, how do your societies function with only one sapient specie? I imagine things are very harmonious."
"They're... not," I began. I didn't hold back my various displeasures of my time on Earth. There were lighter points that I covered within the next hour, of course, including the Internet. All in all, I gave Sekvi the beginnings of a very mixed bag.
"Wow." They were unsure of how to react after everything I told them. Their numerous pages of notes were stacked in neat order. "It's no wonder you're feeling conflicted. The Cradle has its ills, of course, but one doesn't become abreast of them within a single week." Conflicted was putting it lightly. The idea of wanting to either stay here or return to Earth felt far too dangerous to my current focus to entertain anytime soon. I would have to see more of this world first.
"It's hard to say I don't like this place when most of the difficulty comes from myself... I worry. Eventually something bad will happen. I don't want to take a Fire Bolt as much as anyone else does, or get eaten by volgs." I fidgeted with my tail only to find out I'd neglected to place a fresh bandage on it after my bath yesterday. My fingers carefully parted the affected scales. While tender, the wound didn't feel as if it was still open. I decided to count that as another stroke of luck. "And who knows what kinds of diseases I could catch and have no immunity toward."
"Magic is known to aid one's health in such circumstances, if it's any consolation. There is a reason why the most notable wizards are all elderly." I had never thought of it that way. I assumed it simply took decades of study to become a notable wizard; both factors were probably true to an extent.
"I have you, Keff and Betiara looking out for me, too. I'll probably be okay, at least for a while."
"You do, and you will be. Are you ready to get back to it?"
"Definitely." The remainder of my sparkdrop tart was consumed as quickly as I dared to part from the exquisite flavor. My study of Mending immediately challenged me. I had picked two Transmutation cantrips to study, and they were both giving me reason to think that I'd picked the most difficult path forward. Discouragement was always waiting for me in the wings. Sekvi refused to let me stay from my focus, however. I felt that they could easily tell what my emotional state was like, and was beginning to learn how to poke and prod me into avoiding the black holes I had stumbled into countless times before. Their skill and their concern were legendary in caliber. The basic premise of Mending was to mend minor damage to an object, which required its constructive parts to be open-ended to account for its variety of applications, much like Prestidigitation. This cantrip was complicated enough without the inclusion of a material component: two lodestones, which were not easy to find outside of areas with plentiful mines. I was grateful that Sevki had a beginner's component pouch available with two lodestones within, so we were able to avoid a shopping trip.
The cantrip began to take shape after a handful of hours. Sekvi eventually had to perform some work of their own, and left me to my own devices while they retreated into their study for the time being. The anxiety in me entertained the thought that I was taking too long to master the cantrip. I used my expedient mastery of Prestidigitation to silence the thought as I continued to butt my head against the meticulous nature of the spell's construction. Finally, at long last, hours past sundown, I managed to draw the two lodestones together across a damaged section of curtain. The material appeared to melt together between the two magnetic stones and form an intact section of cloth that matched the rest. I flopped back in my chair and heaved a sigh, pumping my fists into the air in victory. "I did it! All fixed. Jeez, that was hard."
"It only gets harder from here," Sekvi assured me with far more enthusiasm than the statement seemed to warrant. I couldn't help but wonder if they thrived in the masochism of all this rigorous study. "Excellent work, truly excellent work. You can leave that there; we have a lot to talk about."
"It's late, are you sure?" I stood, grateful to have another break, and joined my teacher in their study.
"It's never too late for this. Congratulations, Madison, you've completed the first section of your training! You have become a spellcaster, and soon you will be a fully-fledged wizard. I have some things I'd like to make you aware of." My teacher stood from their chair and retreated back into the central room. They rummaged through one of their cabinets and returned with a box filled with various books and an unopened bottle of what I imagined to be alcohol. "Are you familiar with alcohol?"
"Is that wine?"
"It is! I've been saving this bottle of Silver Sundown's Sparkdrop Dry for a special occasion, and I believe that occasion is now!" Sekvi set the box upon their desk and quickly located two glasses and a corker. "While I pour this, have your pick of any of the books inside this box. Choose one that resonates with you, and then I'll explain its significance."
"Wow, oh, sure, alright," I stammered. If I was choosing a book... "You're giving me a Spell Tome?"
"There goes the surprise," they huffed into a chuckle, "but yes, you're going to choose a Spell Tome. You'll want to keep this on your person at all times, as well as your components. I'll be finding funds to provide you a proper set of robes and an Arcane Focus if you'd like one. Carrying components around is costly and you're going to be spending quite a lot of money on maintaining your spells to begin with; it's a great long-term investment. Some spells will require consumable or specific material components, however, so be aware that a Focus can't cover every such expense." I had no idea what to say. This was enormous, the generosity, the patience, the amount of money that was going to go into this... it was simply staggering.
"Thank you, Sekvi, so much. Wow... of all the things I thought would happen in my life, this was not one of them." I peered into the box to review all the different books before me. There were two dozen choices I could make. Glittering gold, shining silver, even wood; all sorts of materials adorned these tomes. The choice was so staggering that I welcomed wine in the hopes of making the process easier. "That is a flavor." The wine was far drier than I had anticipated. It lacked the sweet taste that the raw fruit had, and leaned heavily into a broadened spice that still made it taste like a dessert wine. The sour notes were mild, but present, and inspired a very unusual mix of sensations. It was an acquired taste.
"That is why sparkdrop is underestimated as a fruit: many are only exposed to it through wines like these, since the fruit is seasonal and requires lots of water in Winter." Sekvi took a sip of their wine without so much as a shiver. "The taste will grow on you!"
"You're yet to be wrong," I acknowledged, and raised my glass in a toast. A pleasant ring of our glasses brought smiles to our faces, and the second sip indeed went down more easily than the first. "I don't know which one to choose. They're all so interesting," I confessed, finding something to appreciate in each one.
"What does magic mean to you, Madison?"
"...something new. Something different. Possibility, impossibility. Change."
"And what do you need from magic?" This question stumped me. I looked inward to find the answer, searching for something only magic could provide me. My hands caught my attention. The scales on my left hand were gently stroked by my right thumb as I pondered my relationship with magic in total. "Belonging." It was the first word that came to mind.
"Possibility. Belonging. Mm... what else?"
"Certainty." My hands drew closer to my chest; I felt deeply vulnerable in investigating these matters, let alone sharing them with someone else. Alone... I had been alone for so long. "Trust." As I said that word, I heard Sekvi's glass gently come to rest upon their desk. I looked up to see a solemn look on their face as they approached me and gingerly embraced me in a hug. Why? I hesitated to return the gesture, but I needed it. They knew that I needed it. My eyes quickly became wet.
"I understand." Those two words held unquantifiable power. I realized what it was that I needed. It was too painful to say, so instead, I wilted against Sekvi and held them tightly. Tears flowed freely and silently. I felt as if I was bearing witness to the awe and pain of eternity in one long moment of blistering emotion. Everything fell away from me, including myself, as my walls were shattered under the weight of magic. My stomach wrenched within me, the apparent engine that expelled my withheld sorrow and fear. I hadn't ever felt like this before. I realized only in its absence that there had been a great deal of pressurized existence living in me for so long. The words had been spoken and couldn't be taken back now: what I needed was a family.
"It hurts so bad! It hurts so bad."
"Too many in this world feel the same way you do. I know. I know." Did they? It didn't matter to me right now. I had to focus on getting myself back under control, but nothing I tried worked. Waiting it out, going through this experience, and letting it happen was the only way forward. In the past, I had run from doing such things. I had to face it now; this was what it meant to be a wizard. Sekvi gently sat me down in the chair I had sat in and set the box down next to me so that I could choose a Tome when I was ready. They also refilled my wine. My breathing eventually began to settle into something manageable. "Something I feel too many mages discount is how emotional of an experience magic is. Many are afraid to confront that, and it causes them to stagnate. You... you're already showing me that you're going to go much further."
"I dunno. I don't blame them. It feels like I'm dying."
"You are, in a way. The dead parts are leaving you, little by little."
"To make way... more growth."
"Precisely, Madison.”
“Transmutation.”
“In a nutshell.”
“Fuck.” I sat forward and held my head in my hands. Being shunted into another existence in a new body was a harrowing experience in itself. It was not something I had signed up for. This, however, was. Learning magic was an offer I had accepted. I wanted to see how deep the rabbit hole went as much as Sekvi did. “Fuck,” I breathed again, and took a deep breath. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I was a mess before I got here and now it’s all falling out of me and my bluh is getting all over you.”
“I knew what to expect. It was clear that you were holding back an explosion of emotion. I hoped this would be good for you.”
“It is.”
“I’m glad. You don’t have to choose a Tome tonight. It can wait.”
“If you have a little longer, I want to. And I want more of that wine, please.” A chuckle and a wave of Sekvi’s hand toward the box of books showed their acceptance of these terms. I drank the full glass down and resumed looking through the books for something that stood out to me. It took several minutes for it to happen, but happen it did: I found it. This would be my Spell Tome. I raised the book into my lap and drew my hand over its cover. It was very gently finished in a sealed and aged orange-brown wood. The cover depicted a circle with seasonal motifs in each corner, beginning with Spring in the top left and Winter in the bottom left, following the trajectory of a clock. In the center of the book, a motif of day and night bled together with a sun and full moon as its origin points. It spoke deeply to me of change. I felt its herald of a new beginning amid the inevitable cycle of time. I was astounded at how soft the material was. “This is it. This is the book.”
“An unparalleled choice,” Sekvi readily affirmed. A capped inkwell, an ink pen a stack of note paper, and finally a leather rigging of some sort were provided to me from within their desk. “You’ll need these. The book’s pages are waterproof, but will accept this enchanted ink. These are for notes and hypothetical theorems, and this will be your holster. I noticed that you make a point to avoid using or consuming anything made from animals, so I thought mushroom leather would suit you.”
“You noticed that?”
“I did! I expected you to be a monk of some kind, an observant of some ascetic lifestyle. Since that wasn’t the case, I assume it’s an independent choice you make?”
“That’s... wow. You don’t miss a thing.” I was stunned as I carefully collected the materials offered to me. “Yeah. It’s a philosophical, ethical thing. People usually give me a lot of shit for it.”
“Why? It’s not theirs to evaluate.”
“If only Earth saw it that way,” I shared with a chuckle. “I was worried it would be impractical here, but I’m managing so far. ...oh, we should talk about rooming together.”
“We should, but we should do that tomorrow. It’s been a long day, and you have practicing to do before we begin more advanced spells. There is also sleep,” they asserted with a laugh.
“Got it. Alright.” I began to get up and place my gifts in my bag, pausing as I took what was to be my Spell Tome. “I wonder if I should leave this here, so it doesn’t get damaged at work.”
“It’s magically resilient, it’ll be fine. The holster isn’t... you can leave your materials here if you’d like. They’ll be reunited with you tomorrow evening.”
“Okay. Thank you, Sekvi, for everything.” My eyes lingered upon them. I recalled what Betiara had said of them, how they were of note in the local area, how busy they were, and how I was likely worthwhile if I had their attention. My feelings of worthlessness weren’t enough to overcome me this time, not after the way they had shown me so much understanding.
“Of course, Madison. Rest well, for tomorrow, we venture into proper spellcraft. Goodnight,” They said with a trailing sigh of satisfaction. I felt they very much deserved that feeling.
“Goodnight.” It was raining by the time I stepped outside. It wasn’t a heavy rain, but a thick mist. My umbrella provided me some solace amid the halo glows of street lamps as I made my way back to the inn. The 3rd Spoke had a gentle air to it in this light; visibility was reduced by the mist and the street lamps’ light was cast softer than it usually was. It almost felt creepy. I continued my pace without interruption, observing safe practices by sticking as close to the lights as I could while still keeping space between myself and the buildings along the road. Throughout my life, my gut had never once led me astray. It was a reliable source of important information, and I trusted it completely. That fact had not changed with my arrival in the Cradle. My gut told me now that I was being watched from behind. I turned and continued my pace backward, holding my tail out behind me to sway into a potential ambush. It touched nothing but humid air, and I couldn’t see anyone or anything too far ahead of me. My breaths were consistently measured in exertion while my eyes darted around me. Fire Bolt was waiting in my fingertips in the case of a hostile encounter, but the feeling dissipated once I was around halfway to my destination. I stared intently in the direction from which I’d come for any signs of movement, but it was too dark to see anything definite. Sekvi was a saint for making sure I had a way to defend myself.
I was only too relieved to rest in my room with my food. Studying Mending had worked up quite an appetite. A vegetable soup with spiced millet ensured that I was easily full and comfortably warm by the time. After my encounter this morning and being briefly followed tonight, I offered myself peace of mind in the form of bracing my door with the chair and ensuring that the curtains over the window were drawn. I wouldn’t be able to see any starlight through the thick cloud cover, anyway. Letting these events eclipse the rest of my day felt like it would be a waste, so I attempted to focus on other matters as I settled in for bed. I traced my hand over my pajamas as I imagined my dragonborn self sitting on my bed back home, and my human body resting on the bed I currently occupied. Had this happened to anyone else? Has anyone from this world ended up on Earth? I had glimpsed the nature of change and was now eating it whole with my mind, body and spirit. I was a cold, frightened, lonely lizard-thing at the beginning of this week. Now I was a dragonborn, a spellcaster, and I had people looking out for me. I had come so far in so little time; it was incomprehensible to think something like this could happen on Earth.
The memory of embracing Sekvi felt larger than life to me. What else were my emotions hiding within their depths? I felt ashamed of it all coming out like that, but they had accepted me. They had welcomed me, and even more, they had understood me. I felt that Keff understood me, too. Was my pain so obvious that those around me could all sense what lay within? Could my new, far more aesthetically enjoyable body be nothing more than a transparent farce of a shell in the eyes of others? I wondered what they had been through to inspire such empathy for my experiences. Loss was inevitable in life, but mine had been something different. It was hard to miss what I never had. It was all so puzzling. Still, it was welcome. I was finding what I needed through magic whether or not I had cast myself into this world to begin with. These people I had met cared enough to give me these things, or inspire me to find them myself. This all begged another question in my mind: what else would I find while I was here? I wondered what the others had found in me. What Sekvi saw in me was obvious, as they had explained themself very clearly. Betiara likely saw me as part of her job, and Keff likely saw shades of his late mother. I think he wanted to prevent history from repeating itself in that way. Sleep eventually claimed me in the midst of my pondering.