A leap through worlds

Six years had passed since I was handed the eyepatch—a gift, a curse, and occasionally, a conversation piece for nosy adults. I was six now, and finally, finally, Fren and Roseline had agreed to take me to a nearby town. No more staring at endless grass fields and wondering what the rest of the world looked like.

“Are you ready, Raizen?” Fren asked kindly as he tightened the strap on his sword. His calm smile was enough to keep my excitement from boiling over… barely.

“Ready!” I nodded enthusiastically, practically vibrating.

“Make sure you stay close to us,” Roseline chimed in, wagging a finger at me like a stern but affectionate teacher. Her silver hair shimmered as she twirled her staff dramatically. I’d watched them head out countless times before, leaving me with Celine—but now, I finally got to go with them.

Teleportation, Roseline explained, wasn’t just a fast way to travel—it was an art. An art she executed with all the flair and theatricality of someone who had absolutely planned to show off.

“Teleportation isn’t scary, Raizen,” she assured me, though her grin suggested otherwise. “It’s just like skipping a stone across a pond. Only… instead of a stone, it’s us. And instead of a pond, it’s reality.”

“That’s not comforting,” I muttered, glancing nervously at Fren. “If you don’t throw it hard enough, it falls… who knows where.”

Fren crouched to my level, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’ll feel strange, but it’s perfectly safe,” he said with genuine warmth. “Roseline just likes to make it sound complicated.”

“Excuse me,” Roseline interjected, mock-offended. “I don’t like to make it sound complicated—it is complicated. I’m practically rewriting the rules of existence here. And Raizen, dear, please have more faith in your mother. Also, don’t you think you’re using words a little too far from your age?” She sighed, and I grinned, not pursuing further.

Despite her over-the-top antics, I trusted her. Mostly.

The air around us grew thick with energy as Roseline raised her staff. A soft, silver light glowed from its tip, spreading outward in shimmering waves that made the ground beneath us ripple. And then, the world exploded into color.

Blues, golds, and purples swirled together like a cosmic whirlpool, enveloping us in an infinite, kaleidoscopic dance of light. It was beautiful, breathtaking… and just a little disorienting.

“Hold on to Fren,” Roseline’s voice echoed, strangely calm despite the visual chaos around us.

I clung to Fren’s arm as we became weightless, suspended in the magic. Everything felt warm and alive, like the universe itself had paused to carry us to our destination.

“It feels weird,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of magic.

“It’s supposed to,” Fren replied, his tone as steady as ever.

With a soft pop, the colors faded, and the world reassembled itself.

We arrived at the edge of a cobblestone street, the town stretching out before us in all its bustling glory. Merchants lined the roads with colorful stalls, their voices a lively chorus as they called out to customers. The scent of freshly baked bread, sizzling meat, and exotic spices wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of townsfolk.

“This is amazing,” I breathed, taking it all in.

“Isn’t it?” Roseline said brightly, spinning her staff like a showy baton twirler. “Look at all the people, the food, the everything! Oh, I’m starving already.”

“We just got here,” Fren reminded her with a patient chuckle.

Roseline pouted dramatically. “Fine. Let’s save the snacks for later. What’s the plan?”

Fren glanced at the road ahead, his kind smile shifting into something more serious. “We need to stop by the guild first,” he said.

“The guild?” I asked, my curiosity immediately piqued.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Fren replied cryptically, ruffling my hair.

Roseline gave me an exaggerated wink. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing scary. Probably.”

As we made our way through the lively streets, I couldn’t help but wonder what awaited us at the guild. My excitement grew with every step, the possibilities spinning through my mind like a whirlwind.