Another World

Before them stretched a valley unlike anything they had ever seen.

Giant trees grew with spiral-shaped branches, bearing leaves as big as sails. 

A river delta wound through the valley, glittering like liquid crystal in the bright sunlight. 

Somewhere not far off, a faint salty breeze hinted at an unseen ocean with wisps of mist floating skyward.

On the broad meadows, huge lizard-like creatures grazed, their muscular bodies covered in shimmering scales shifting from green to turquoise. 

And far in the distance, snow-capped mountains loomed, from whose rocky slopes white steam billowed.

Beneath Lucius and Melissa’s feet, the ground was soft and blanketed in lush grass. 

Ahead, nestled in a hollow of the valley, lay a village, a narrow cobblestone road leading toward it.

Smoke curled lazily from crooked rooftops covered in wooden shingles and narrow alleys wound among timber-framed houses. 

Towering above them all was a single stone building with two great towers, each topped by fluttering banners bearing a symbol: 

A gauntleted fist flanked by two crossed swords on a white field.

Where the road split toward the village, wooden carts trundled past, drawn by all manner of creatures.

Humans in simple clothing, lizardfolk in shining armor, elven people with sharp ears, and even beastfolk covered head to toe in fur, reminiscent of Melissa but with more fully animal features.

Lucius and Melissa looked at each other in astonishment.

That’s when he noticed that she had returned to her original form, and her eyes were once again those same amber jewels he had fallen in love with.

“What?” she asked when she caught his gaze.

“Could you always do that? I mean… transform yourself?” he asked curiously.

Her expression grew thoughtful, almost embarrassed, as she stared down at her hands.

“Yes…” she sighed. “I just would have preferred to decide for myself when to show you that side of me.”

“I think you’ve already shown me all the sides of you that matter,” Lucius said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Melissa looked up at him, her eyes shimmering. A quiet, uncertain smile played around her lips.

“You’re honestly the strangest human I’ve ever met.” 

She turned and pointed toward the village. “So… what do you think?” she asked. “Shall we go check it out? Maybe there’s an inn. A bath. Or food that doesn’t taste like honey. I swear, if I have to taste honey one more time, I’ll scream.” 

She stuck her tongue out dramatically. 

The village looked small, but bustling with life, as Lucius followed her gaze.

“Besides,” he said, “we should probably find out where we even are… and whether there are any obsessive gods lurking around here, like in our worlds.”

Melissa giggled softly, tossing her hair back. Then she slung an arm around his shoulders, grinning widely.

“I’ve got no clue, Lucius. But I figure… it’ll be fun finding out together.”

And so, the two of them started down the gentle slope, following the road toward the unknown village.

They strolled through the town, their eyes darting around, brimming with curiosity.

Everywhere they looked, something caught their attention.

Market stalls displayed wares of every kind.

Clothes, jewelry, exotic ingredients, potions in dazzling colors, wooden crafts, fine fabrics, and even armor and weapons.

Lucius paused in front of a stall filled with colorful vials, instantly reminded of his very first summoning in his basement. 

A vendor was demonstrating a formula right at that moment. 

He took a sip from a tiny flask, raised his hand, and shouted:

“Animor Ignar!”

A fist-sized orb of pure light formed above his palm, humming and glowing so brightly that Lucius had to squint.

“Incredible…” he murmured. “They actually have real magic here.”

But Melissa waved it off. 

“Pffft, just cheap parlor tricks. I used to borrow a few potions from Dionysus’s chamber. That was real magic! You should’ve seen Silenos’s face when I ...”

Suddenly, she froze. Her nose twitched, sniffing the air, and her eyes flew open.

“What is that scent?!”

Before Lucius could say a word, she bounced away between the market stalls, coming to a sudden halt at a crossroads.

Lucius hurried after her.

“What did you smell that made you run off like that? Is there...”

“A FOOD MARKET!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands and rubbing them together, a devilish glint in her eyes. 

“Ohhh, I’m gonna eat my way through this entire new world!” 

She whirled to face him. 

“And just imagine how the wine might taste here! Come on, we can’t waste time!”

But just as she lunged toward the nearest food stall, Lucius grabbed her shoulder.

“Hold up! How exactly do you plan to pay for all that? We literally just arrived in this world. The first thing we shouldn’t do is become famous as thieves.”

Melissa’s ears drooped in dismay as she held her stomach.

“…But I haven’t eaten in forever.”

Her stomach growled loudly and Lucius’s promptly joined in, rumbling in sympathy. 

He gave a sheepish smile.

“Okay… I could use some food too. But I’m sure there’s a way without stealing. Maybe the inn needs someone to wash dishes or something?”

Melissa’s look of disappointment turned to utter horror at his suggestion.

“Dishwashing?! Maybe I need to remind you what I told you when we first met: I’m a satyr, a maenad! I’m not made for things like that!”

Lucius lifted his hands placatingly. 

“Hey, relax. I’ll do the job. We’ll figure out something else for you.”

She lifted a skeptical eyebrow, crossing her arms, tapping one hoof impatiently on the cobblestones. 

“Oh really? And what exactly am I supposed to do in the meantime? Tie myself to a tree and chew leaves while you scrub plates?”

Lucius shrugged. 

“Well… you could, uh… perform music? Or dance? Maenads are famous for their dances, right? Maybe people would toss you some coins.”

Melissa’s eyes went wide. 

“I’m not some jester! I’m a daughter of revelry and ecstasy!”

Lucius grinned. 

“Right now, you’re mostly very hungry.”

Melissa pulled a face, but then thoughtfully ran her fingers along her chin. 

Her ears flicked slightly as she considered.

But before they could settle on a plan, a voice cleared its throat behind them.

“Hey, you.“

When they turned around, a tall man stood there. 

Weathered face, piercing grey-blue eyes that somehow managed to look both steely and kind. 

His dark, slightly wavy hair fell in loose strands past his shoulders, and a rugged beard framed his striking features.

“You two got lost?“, he asked in a serious voice.

Lucius and Melissa exchanged a worried glance, wondering who that man was and what he wanted from them.