Chapter 2 - The Unexpected

My head spun, and a heavy pressure gripped my body. Stumbling back toward my chair, I tried to sit, but instead, I crashed to the ground. When I opened my eyes, my house was gone. Willow and Yuna—my companions—were nowhere in sight. The familiar streets of my neighborhood had vanished, replaced by a dense tangle of trees and underbrush stretching in every direction. No roads, no signs of civilization—just wilderness. Confusion churned in my mind as I pulled myself together and stood, brushing off the dirt.

That’s when I noticed it: the gem, lying on the ground beside me. I bent down and picked it up, turning it over in my hand. The runes that once engraved on the inside was gone, leaving behind nothing but an ordinary stone. Shrugging, I slipped it into my pocket and scanned my surroundings. A faint glow flickered in the distance, barely visible through the trees. Could it be other wizards? With no clear path to follow, I started toward it, pushing through the thick brush.

As I drew closer, the glow sharpened into the light of a fire. Figures moved around it—not wizards, as I’d hoped, but people dressed in strange clothing that seemed woven from the forest itself. They danced in eerie silence, their wooden staffs clacking together rhythmically, sending sparks spiraling into the night. The flames illuminated something—or someone—tied up nearby. I squinted, catching a glimpse of a dark face and green armor, but I couldn’t make out more. My foot caught on a root, I stumbled forward, crashing into the undergrowth. Instantly, the dancing stopped. Every head turned toward me.

I froze, sprawled on the ground, too terrified to move or breathe. Their stares bore into me, and the sight of that figure tied to a stake made it clear they weren’t friendly. After a tense pause, they resumed their dance as if I hadn’t interrupted. I stayed low, watching as time crept by. Eventually, the dancing ceased. The figures retreated to huts I hadn’t noticed before, and the fires dimmed to embers, being still bound in the fading light. I waited, heart pounding, until I was sure they were asleep. Then, cautiously, I crept forward. As I neared, It was a warrior, I talked to them a lot back home.

“Are you okay?” I whispered.

He lifted his head, his eyes widening. “You speak the wizard tongue?”

“I am a wizard,” I replied.

He blinked in astonishment. “I don’t know how I got here. I was at home, and this decoration on my wall—a gem—started glowing. I reached for it, and there was a flash of light. Next thing I knew, I was lying a few feet from this spot. These tribesmen panicked, grabbed their torches, and tied me up. Now I’m here. Please, untie me” His story mirrored mine so closely it sent a chill down my spine. I hesitated, then decided we could help each other. Quickly, I freed him, and we bolted into the forest, putting as much distance as possible between us and the camp. After a frantic sprint, I stopped to catch my breath and turned to him. “Do you have a gem on you? trying to make the words out, being winded. One with a rune inside?”

He frowned, then nodded. “How did you know?”

He reached into his pocket. Unlike my blue gem, his was a deep ruby red. I leaned closer—no rune marked its center.

“Was there a rune in it before?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, his voice tinged with unease. “It’s strange that it’s gone now.” That sealed it. We’d come from the same place, transported by the same mysterious force. “I’m Sondra, by the way,” I said, offering a small smile.

“Hi, Sondra. I’m Tad Looter of the Grass #8611,” he replied. “Let’s find somewhere to rest for the night.”

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