The Butterfly

"Alright. My first question is, what is this place?" I said.

Serric grinned.

"This is my cottage. Alright, two questions left—oh calm down, I'm just playing with you." He chuckled, after seeing the expression on my face.

"Well my boy, this is Reverie. The Other Side. The Butterfly. All adequate names for your new home."

"Don't just tell me the name. Explain more. How am I here? What is this place?" I pressed.

"I believe you already have enough information to deduce the answer to the first question yourself. I suppose you woke up here after falling asleep, correct? And when you woke up last night, you were in your world again for a day, and then upon falling asleep, came back here in the morning as if no time at all had passed, assuming in both cases that the other side was a dream. Am I missing anything?"

"Uh nope, that about covers it. So, again, how am I here?"

He smiled.

"When you were in your previous world, did you feel at home? Did you feel like you belonged there? Did you ever wish for something more?"

I was shocked. Those were feelings I was all too familiar with.

"Does that mean..."

"Indeed. Welcome to Reverie, the adoption center of those who abandon their origins and their world in search of what they lack. It is the dream they want to live in. It is the hope they seek. It is the world that awaits within a shard of the Amaranthine Fractal."

"What is that?"

He shrugged.

"I don't really know. It's just a saying that's been passed down. Do you have any more questions?"

"So... I'm here because I didn't like my old world, so this world 'Reverie' took me?"

"That is correct."

"But I went back to my world for a full day last night—or yesterday I guess... Either way, what's up with that?" I protested.

"I won't answer that question. It's better if you come to understand through experiencing it in person. Only that way can you make the decision you need to make."

I wasn't certain what he meant, but it sounded to me like I should get used to this place, since I might end up spending half of my life here.

"So what is this world like? Is there magic? Can I go on adventures?"

Upon hearing those words, Serric's eyes seemed to contain a long life's worth of emotions. He sat silent for a few seconds.

"I suppose I should start with the basics. In Reverie, you'll find everything you could ever imagine. Dungeons hidden deep within unnavigable labyrinths. Magical libraries hidden underneath sunken cities. Stairways to the stars and beyond. There are endless races of beings here: elves, dwarves, ogres, demons, dragons, fairies, and more. There are countless different environments spread all across Reverie. Many are almost impossible to survive in. Even more are enchanted to make traveling difficult or impossible. Take the fields we are in right now, for example. Across the year, the length of the fields surrounding this cottage ranges from a few dozen meters to a virtually infinite distance. At this time of the year, the distance is almost at it's peak, which should make accessing this place entirely impossible. Which is why we found it so alarming hearing a knock upon our door last night. So how exactly did you reach us?"

"Uh, I just woke up in the fields and walked in one direction until I found the river, then followed it." I responded, still thinking about the things he had said about dungeons and fairies.

"Absurd. No matter how close you were when you woke up here, finding anything should've been impossible. The compression of space would be nearly limitless."

I didn't really have an answer for him. I was more interested in what else he had to tell me.

"So is there magic here? Can I learn it?" I asked, brimming with excitement.

He nodded.

"There is. Whether or not you can learn it depends on you. Nearly everyone has some level of ability, but very few can utilize it to a great degree. People from your world tend to excel at it. Of course, there are no guarantees. Rowan, for example, has nearly no talent in any form of magic, except for her exclusive aspect."

I glanced at her. She had been silent throughout our discussion, but she looked to be listening curiously now.

"Hey Serric, why don't you show him how to find his aspect? I wanna know what his is." She said.

Serric nodded.

"Perhaps that's a good idea. I'm sure Asher here would like to know what his aspect is as well. You see, everyone has an individual magic type that cannot be learned, that exists separately from the teachable magics. Even if you have no talent whatsoever, you will be able to use your own magic type, because it is determined from your very essence, and will naturally suit you perfectly. Rowan, tell him about your aspect. If you don't mind, of course."

She looked a little surprised, but didn't protest. Meanwhile, Serric got up from his chair and walked over to a small cabinet sitting against the wall, and began sifting through it's contents.

"My aspect is 'Render of Karma.' I can use a sword really well. That's about it."

"That doesn't sound like magic."

"Shut up! You saw it earlier, right? Did that not seem magical to you? And that was just a warmup. You haven't seen anything yet."

I grinned.

"Do you mind showing me again later? I was just messing around. It was really cool. I've never seen anything like it."

She smiled.

"Sure, but I'm not showing you the really cool stuff. Not yet. Maybe after you learn some manners."

"Oh by the way, Rowan. Are you also from Earth? I noticed your clothes are just like mine."

She nodded.

"Probably. I don't really—"

"Alright you two, come with me." Serric interrupted. He was holding something in his hand.

It was a small black key, and he held it very carefully. He motioned for us to get up and follow him.

We walked over to the front door, but instead of opening it, Serric inserted the key into a small hole I hadn't noticed before. After that he opened the door. But it didn't lead outside, as it should've. Instead, a dimly lit staircase had appeared instead, leading down farther than I could see.

"Follow me."