The massive gates of Mystvir loomed ahead, their intricate carvings visible even through the fading light of the setting sun. The siblings stumbled forward, their bodies battered and near breaking. Ziraiah, her face streaked with dirt and sweat, barely lifted her head as they crossed into safety. Behind them, the magic cannons roared one final time, decimating the last of the pursuing beasts.
Ziraiah collapsed onto her knees, panting heavily. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaky but sincere.
Eryndor knelt beside her, his massive frame casting a shadow over her as he rested a hand on her shoulder. "You can rest now, Ziraiah," he said softly, his voice as elegant and steady as always.
Valerius, still catching his breath, turned to one of the guards stationed near the gates. "What the heck were those things that shot the beasts down?" he asked, gesturing toward the towering structures lining the walls.
The guard, a burly man with a stern face, smirked. "You've never seen magic cannons before? Where've you been living, under a rock?"
Valerius crossed his arms, a lopsided grin forming on his face. "Something like that. So, they're magic?"
The guard nodded, motioning toward the cannon towers. "Aye. Powered by runes. Each one's etched by the best inscriptionists in Mystvir. They can take down just about anything short of a full-scale stampede."
Ziraiah, still catching her breath, managed to glance up at the cannons. "Magic cannons…" she murmured, awe creeping into her voice.
Val chuckled, shaking his head. "Magic exists here too, huh? Guess this place is full of surprises."
The guard gave them a wary look. "You lot are smaller than most folks around here. You're Earthers, aren't you?"
Eryndor's gaze sharpened. "And if we are?"
The guard shrugged, leaning on his spear. "Nothing personal. Just a word of caution. There's old legends about people like you—Earthers, they called them. A bunch of small folks appeared centuries ago and wreaked havoc before vanishing. So don't expect everyone to trust you right away."
Ziraiah frowned. "Wait… so people from Earth came here before?"
Valerius raised an eyebrow, clearly as surprised as his sister. "How am I supposed to know?"
The guard grunted. "Earth? Is that what you call your world? Whatever the case, just don't cause trouble. Mystvir's not as welcoming as it looks."
As the siblings exchanged uneasy glances, a familiar voice cut through the tension. "Congrats, you survived."
Valerius spun around to see Kaelan leaning casually against the inn's entrance. His towering frame was hard to miss, even among the other imposing figures of Mystvir.
"Kaelan," Ziraiah said, her voice tinged with surprise and relief.
Kaelan smirked. "I figured you'd make it. Barely."
Valerius narrowed his eyes, his grin returning. "You couldn't have stuck around to help us out?"
Kaelan shrugged, pushing off the wall. "You didn't need it. Besides, the strongest survive here, and the strongest always have something… special about them." He gave Valerius a knowing look before stepping aside.
Eryndor's tone was calm but direct. "Might I inquire as to the precise meaning behind your words?"
Kaelan's expression turned serious. "There's more to this world than you can yet perceive. Stick around long enough, and you'll see for yourselves."
Before the siblings could press further, the innkeeper, a stout man with a thick beard, waved them over. "You lot look like you've been through hell. Come in, get some rest. But don't think I'm running a charity here."
Valerius glanced around the inn as they entered, his eyes catching on a glowing orb mounted on the wall. "What the heck? You have TVs here?"
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow. "TVs? What's that?"
Valerius pointed at the orb. "That thing. You're telling me it's not a TV?"
The innkeeper chuckled. "Oh, you mean the seer? It's powered by some complicated runes I don't fully understand, but it lets us see things happening in different parts of the world. Handy, ain't it?"
Ziraiah wandered over to the orb, staring at the flickering images. "This place just keeps getting weirder."
As they settled into a corner of the inn, a fox-like woman with orange skin, white fur, orange tail and golden eyes approached their table. Standing at an impressive 10'3", she towered over Ziraiah, her movements graceful yet intimidating.
"You must be the new earthers," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "The whole town's talking about you. Your small stature gives it away."
The woman bent down to Ziraiah's height, her golden eyes narrowing playfully. "You're a really small girl, aren't you?"
Ziraiah crossed her arms, her cheeks flushing. "Small? I'm perfectly fine, thank you."
The woman laughed, straightening up. "I'm Elsa. Welcome to Mystvir. Let me guess—you're fascinated by all the magic here?"
Valerius leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "You could say that. Is it true everything here runs on magic?"
Elsa nodded, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Magic, yes. But it's all powered by runes. Every object, every building, even the seer you were gawking at—it all relies on the inscription of runes."
She waved a hand, and a small flame danced above her palm. With a flick of her wrist, it transformed into a swirling gust of wind.
Ziraiah's eyes widened. "That's incredible…"
Eryndor's expression remained calm, but his gaze was sharp. "What fate, then, awaits those incapable of wielding magic?"
Elsa's smile faded slightly. "They survive by other means. But survival here always comes at a cost."
Before the conversation could deepen, Kaelan returned, leaning casually against their table. "I see you're entertaining the new kids, huh, Elsa?"
Elsa grinned. "They're an interesting bunch. You know them?"
Kaelan nodded. "We crossed paths. They might me like me, even if they don't know it yet. So they've got potential"
Valerius smirked. "That's high praise coming from you."
Kaelan's expression softened. "Don't let it go to your head. This world doesn't care about potential—it cares about results. Stay sharp, Lerius."
As the siblings exchanged glances, Ziraiah leaned back in her chair, a mix of exhaustion and intrigue on her face. Mystvir was unlike anything they'd ever seen, and they were only beginning to scratch the surface of its secrets.
The siblings slept through the night. The soft morning light streamed through the wooden shutters of the inn, bathing the room in a warm glow. Valerius stirred first, blinking sleepily as the scent of fresh bread wafted in from the inn's kitchen. He nudged Ziraiah, who was still snuggled beneath the thin but warm blanket.
"Zaraiah, time to wake up," he said, his voice gentle but insistent.
Ziraiah groaned, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. "Five more minutes, Val," she muttered.
Eryndor's voice, calm and resolute, broke the stillness. "Ziraiah, we've lingered long enough. Mystvir has much to reveal, and we must not squander our time."
Ziraiah peeked out from under the blanket, frowning. "Do you ever take a break from sounding like a philosopher, Eryndor?"
Eryndor raised an eyebrow, his stood already fully dressed and ready. "It was kind of Kaelan to provide for us and procure new garments. I shall have you know, dear sister, wisdom is never untimely. Shall we proceed?"
With a resigned sigh, Ziraiah swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Alright, alright. I'm up."
Eryndor looked his siblings clothes on the table kaelan had gotten them. "He even went so far as to have custom-made garments prepared for the two of you, given the absence of anything remotely suited to your dimensions. See that you thank him upon our next encounter."
The trio descended the creaky staircase to the inn's common room, where the morning bustle was in full swing. Kaelan stood near the entrance, his imposing frame unmistakable even among the taller inhabitants of Mystvir. His green eyes met theirs, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Good to see you survived the night without falling off the beds," he teased.
Ziraiah shot him a playful glare. "Funny. What are you doing here so early? Thanks for the clothes by the way."
Kaelan shrugged. "No problem. I figured you'd want a tour. There's a lot you need to know if you're going to last here."
Valerius grinned, his curiosity already piqued. "Lead the way, then."
Kaelan motioned for them to follow, leading them out into the bustling streets of Mystvir. The town was alive with activity—merchants peddling exotic wares, children laughing as they chased each other, and craftsmen skilfully engraving glowing runes onto various objects.
Kaelan stopped near a quiet alley and turned to face them. "Alright, let's get to the point. Last night, you saw Elsa conjure fire, right?"
Ziraiah nodded eagerly. "Yeah, that was insane. How did she do that?"
"Magic," Kaelan said simply. "Here in Yilheim, most people rely on magic for everything—combat, crafting, even cooking. Magicians like Elsa pull in Vitalis from the air and use it to cast spells or inscribe runes. That's why you see so many glowing symbols around town—they're runes powered by magic."
Valerius tilted his head, his brows furrowing. "So, magic is all about using this… Vitalis stuff?"
Kaelan nodded. "Exactly. Vitalis is everywhere in Yilheim—it's in the air, the soil, the plants. Magicians absorb it, store it in their bodies, and refine it to create spells or power objects. But magic has its limits, and not everyone can use it."
Eryndor's expression remained stoic, but his voice carried a hint of intrigue. "And what of those who cannot wield magic? Are they left defenceless?"
"Yes, they are," Kaelan said, his tone calm yet firm. "In this world, not everyone is born with the ability to use Vitalis. It's a gift—innate, not learned. Those who cannot wield it will never use magic. But those who can?" He offered a small smile. "They are the fortunate ones."
Valerius huffed. "Tch… this world is so not fair."
Kaelan glanced at him thoughtfully, then shifted the subject. "I've been meaning to ask… are you Elvheins?"
Ziraiah blinked. "Elv-what now?"
"It's the race I belong to," Kaelan explained. "Most Elvheins do not look like me... but those who do—those with the old blood—they are the lucky ones."
Valerius frowned. "How could we be Elvheins? We're not even from here."
Kaelan's sharp green eyes studied them with renewed intensity. "Your complexion. Your brother's size. The resemblance is undeniable. I'd wager you are."
Eryndor, standing tall beside his siblings, nodded thoughtfully. "That would, perhaps, offer an explanation for our mother's extraordinary stature."
Kaelan raised a brow. "Your mother is also like you?"
"But of course. Why should she not be?" Eryndor replied, his voice composed. "Though I must confess—her stature exceeds even yours."
A beat of silence.
Then Kaelan let out a short laugh, not mocking but awed. "You're serious?"
Eryndor gave a slight nod. "Indeed."
Kaelan turned to him, his voice steady. "You asked how those without magic manage to survive."
He paused for a moment, then continued,
"They go out… in search of Awakening Seeds."
Valerius raised an eyebrow. "Awakening Seeds?"
Kaelan's voice dropped even lower. "Legends say the Awakening Seeds are mythical sources of power in Yilheim. These seeds grant incredible abilities—things beyond imagination. Some are said to enhance Bravo, while others awaken unique powers. But they're almost impossible to find."
Ziraiah's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "So, these seeds… they're real?"
Kaelan smirked. "Oh, they're real, alright. But finding one? That's another story. People spend their entire lives searching for them and come up empty-handed. But for those who do find one…" He paused, his gaze turning distant. "Let's just say they change everything."
Eryndor's voice was calm but resolute. "And you? Have you sought these seeds?"
Kaelan shook his head. "Not yet. I've heard rumors, but I'm not ready to chase legends. My focus is survival—for now."
Valerius leaned back against the wall, his mind racing. "So, Bravo, Awakening Seeds, magic… This place keeps getting more complicated."
Kaelan chuckled. "Welcome to Yilheim. It's a world of endless possibilities, but it's also unforgiving. If you want to thrive here, you'll need to adapt—and fast."
Ziraiah's voice softened, a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Do you think we can do it?"
Kaelan's green eyes met hers, filled with quiet confidence. "You've got the potential, Zaraiah. Whether you make it or not depends on your will."
The siblings exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. Mystvir was just the beginning, and their journey was only getting started. As they followed Kaelan back into the bustling streets, their minds buzzed with possibilities, questions, and a newfound determination.
---
To Be Continued...