4. Anima Mundi

Richard woke up as the sunlight invaded his room. Much to his surprise the ceiling was familiar, it was the same ceiling in which he slept the other day. So, he was really transported to another world and would probably remain there. He stood up and dressed the clothes given to him. They were a white long sleeved shirt, a black leather vest, blue sturdy pants, black boots and a scarlet belt.

He went downstairs to have breakfast. He sat down by the table with Isabella and greeted her:
- "Good morning, Lady Isabella" - she responded:
- "Please Richard, just Isabella. I don't really care about titles and formalities"
- "As you prefer" - he slightly bowed - "good morning, Isabella" - she simply smiled.

They stood there for a few moments, until, out of the blue, a girl dressed in a frilled mint colored dress, wearing brown boots and long white socks. She had a mint hat, brown hair and a wood staff, sporting a mint jewel on top. She spread her arms and said:
- "Richard and Lady Isabella, meet me, the best mage of the entire world of Omega Magus, Caoilainn of Kitatik, the Blessed". Richard's eyes went all the way to the left to meet Isabella's eyes doing the same and he whispered:
- "Is that usual?" - she answered:
- "Yes, please don't take it seriously" - oblivious of their talk, Caoilainn sat on the table with the posture of a lady.

After she sat, two servants brought coffee, milk, tea, bread, butter, a corn cake and cheese puffs. Isabella ate with extraordinary elegance and remained stern and silent. Richard soon noticed that Caoilainn would be much louder and livelier:
- "Sooooo Richard, tell us about that world of yours, what is there to like?" - she closed her eyes and pointed to herself - "are there any magical girls as fair and amazing as me?" - he adjusted his collar, cleaned his throat and said:
- "Well, there aren't any magical girls as fair as you" - her eyes shone - "because there isn't any magic in my world" - she looked down and he paused - "Also, my world seems to have a much more advanced technology than yours, as you saw with the watch" - he pointed at the watch she was proudly using - "I feel my world was also more populous and hurried, but I believe human nature is unchanging, so, our worlds are probably not that different" - he stopped to take a bite - "and where I come from there are delicious cheese puffs just like these which are simply amazing" - he took another bite.
- "Hmmmmm, boring!" - Caoilainn said while supporting her head with her hands - "nothing else of interest... well... and you? What did you do? Do you have anyone back there?" - Isabella intervened:
- "Please do answer her questions, but we also need to know if you are anxious to return. If so, we will have to discover a way."- Richard took another bite and a sip of his coffee with milk before answering:
- "To be honest, there was nothing special back there. I didn't have family anymore, no friends that mattered, and nothing particular that drew me there. So" - he stopped to think - "actually I'm not interested in returning for now, I have nothing I'm looking for there." - Isabella and Caoilainn stood stunned for a minute, not knowing how to react to his coldness. Caoilainn preferred to ignore that and continued the subject:
- "Well, at least this makes things easier on us." - she smiled and looked upwards - "so that means we will have to find a place for you here!" - she pointed at him - "Richard, what did you do there?"
- "I was a science researcher. More specifically I was an astronomer, I spent my time observing and analyzing data regarding the sky and trying to discover the secrets of the world, or at least find more information on how to comprehend the stars" - he was absorbed in his explanation, not noticing that Caoilainn had gotten up from her chair and started shouting:
- "Isabella, did you hear that?"
- "Yes I did" - she replied - "And what about it?"
- "I will emphasize the key part. Researcher"
- "And?"
- "Researcher! R-E-S-E-A-R-C-H-E-R! That means an academic, someone who studies the world, a scholar if you will." - before Isabella could say anything, Richard replied:
- "Well, I don't understand the excitement, but I like to be called scholar" - Caoilainn continued:
- "Seeeee! This is the man we were looking for" - Isabella sighed and replied:
- "I was afraid you were gonna say that and no, no, no, this is absurd!" - Isabella said that gesturing.
- "But Isa! The legend talks about a scholar and a key from another world! That's all we've been looking for these years!"
- "No! We barely know him, he is estranged here and this is but a legend. We cannot, should not and will not drag him into this!"
- "But we won't drag him, he will choose" - she pointed at him - "Richard, would like to join an adventure with magic, action, mysteries and me?!" - she of course pointed at her. Richard had to collect his thoughts before saying:
- "Well, you two got me thinking, what is that all about?" - Isabella facepalmed. Caoilainn wore a smug face and Isabella said:
- "You shouldn't even have asked anything to this crazy friend of mine" - Caoilainn was going to speak, yet Isabella continued - "but ok, it is only fair after all this. Caoilainn, please be brief"
- "Okey dokey!" - she saluted Isabella. "So, I will be short Richard! Are you ready?" - she took some glasses out of nowhere and put then on.
- "Sure" - Caoilainn opened her arms and started:
- "So, there is something in this world we call Anima Mundi, it is the heart of the world, the root of it. It is source of the arche, the basis of all, as created by the gods. It contains all the power and knowledge one can dream of." - Richard noticed how she loved to put up that show - "There is a legend saying there is a place in this land which connects to Anima Mundi which would put it at the grasp of a human. Another legend says of one who tried to find it, called Jacques. He died before reaching it, but left a message for the adventurers of the future:"

Oh intrepid seekers of the truth
Believe in it as would a youth

Master the magical mysteries
Study the science and histories
Strain your body, make it loyal
Live with honor, be bloodily royal

Then, with a key from another world
Watch in awe as Anima Mundi unfolds

- "So" - she continued - "we have royal blood, your Lady Isabella" - she pointed at Isabella then at her - "a true master of the magic here" - she paused - "we also have a friend who is a great warrior. We were looking for a scholar and hoped the key would show itself up" - she smiled radiantly - "and both happened at the same time, isn't it marvelous?" - she spread her arms and lowered her head. After a moment she looked at Richard an asked - "So what do you say?" - he drank his coffee and said:
- "That story is fascinating, and I fancy enigmas and mysteries. Just tell me one thing. This Anima Mundi, this source, would you say that through it someone would be able to find out about the most guarded secrets about what the world is and how it works?" - she lifted her right thumb, and ran it in her mouth.
- "I am certain of that" - making a dramatic face. He copied her and said:
- "No more questions, I'm in." - he paused - "it is a dream of mine to know, to know everything, I have nothing else, so I might as well chase it" - he looked at Isabella with a serious face - "Do you have anything against it Isabella?"
- "Well" - Isabella replied and opened her arms - "It is too sudden and too fast, but what can I do? This chaotic friend of mine is way too convincing" - Caoilainn leaped with her victory - "so, we finish our breakfast and head to Steeleets to meet Mazanlold!"

The three finished their breakfast and left for the city.