I don’t know what I expected when I stepped out of the portal on the other side, but this felt normal. I’ve been to the non-magical realm before, but I was always with at least one of my parents. Wasn’t this supposed to feel different? Independent somehow? Nope, just felt the same as before.
I must have paused because the people behind me stumbled into me.
“Sorry!” I heard a gnome say behind me.
“Oh, it’s alright. I apologize for pausing.” I apologized and moved quickly to keep the flow going.
The gnome hurried as well, looking shocked and confused at me. We both made our way down the walkway to the customs area. I want to get all paperwork done first before looking around.
From behind, I heard an annoyed voice “Dammed midget, one more second, and I would have punted him to customs.”
I turned angry but saw the gnome shaking his frantically, warding me away from intervening. I looked at a pair of ancient-looking men in very expensive-looking clothing. I bit my tongue and kept moving to get in line. I stared daggers at the two relics as they walked to the officer, flashed their sigils, and kept walking.
I heard the same squeaky voice behind me. “Thank you for wanting to stand up to them for me. And many more thanks for not. It would have been worse if you did.”
I turned to look down at the know. “You’re welcome, but it’s wrong that they would joke about assaulting you.”
The gnome smiled up at me and sighed sadly with a shrug. “Those with power are not obligated to give respect.”
I hated that phrase. Sharper than I meant to, I responded, “Those who don’t show respect to the weak don’t deserve their power.”
The shocked gnome stared at me slack-jawed. But before he could respond, I heard an annoyed bleating call, “Next!” Turning, I realized I was that next and hurried to the counter. Officer Sayter officer looked like he should have retired the previous decade. Before I could approach his counter, he demanded, “Papers, purpose, declarations!”
Shocked, I pulled out my passport and stammered, “I’m doing my saltatum.”
The sayter squinted his goat eyes. “Oh, it’s one of you...” And roughly ripped the passport out of my hand. “Show me your wand. I see you are...” he paused momentarily, re-reading my information. “Are you related to the Bailey’s in from the Capitol Realm? Zepher in particular?”
I was shocked. “Um, yes. That’s my Dad.”
The old sayter sighed with the pent-up exhaustion of too many years. He muttered something that sounded like, “Good people.” Glancing up and a bit softer, he said, “I see you are licensed. Please show me your wand.”
I produced my wand, and he flicked his own at mine. Then he tapped my passport. A new magic circle appeared next to my license number. “Update this if you get new or additional wands while in the mundane.” My lips went tight reflexively at the slur. “I’m sure you know the rules, but I have to say that I read them to you: You are licensed, so you can use magic, but cause a problem with your magic, commit a crime with your magic, or harm ANY one with your magic and you can and will be investigated. Please sign with your magical imprint.” He said, placing a piece of paper on my passport and sliding it to me. I activated my wand with my imprint. “Give me a second.”
He then used another wand, tapped my passport with my magical imprint, and tapped a paper on his desk. All my information was transferred to the paper. He flipped to the stamp page and tapped his wand to make the first stamp.
Handing me my passport, “Thank you, welcome and enjoy your saltatum.”
Taking my passport, I asked, “Do you know my dad?”
He smirked and said, “Not personally.” looking past me to the gnome he bleated, “NEXT!”
I went to one of the seating areas and plopped down in a chair, pulling out the new cell phone my parents had given me. I had never used a cellphone before since we didn’t have the reception in the magical realms. We used different ways of communication-based on magical technology.
I fumbled with the device and pressed the buttons one after the other until something happened. After the screen glowed and an animation played, I turned on the device. Nothing happened for a second, and I just stared at the screen, trying to figure out what to do. To my annoyance, the screen started to dim and black again.
I was about to press more buttons when I heard a ding from the phone, and the screen lit up again. It was a string of numbers followed by a message “Sorry for running late. Be there...” I assumed it was my aunt who was supposed to pick me up.
Guess I had time to kill, even if I didn’t know how much time. Guess I could look around.
I looked around the enclave. It went down from where I was on a few levels. The one we were on was by far the smallest. It looked like the enclave went down 2 floors. I was surprised by the various people and creatures who were walking around. There were humans, gnomes, centaurs sayters, even an arachnoid, elves, and dwarves. What shocked me were some of the other races, like trolls, harpies, fairies, demi-humans, and even a merefolk in a special wheelchair.
I stood up from the bench and walked over to the railing to better view the levels. From above was a large window allowing some light to flow freely down, but several sun-stones provided additional light around that. Looking down, I saw I was wrong about the number of floors. It had 4 levels down, making me on the fifth and ground floor. The level right below us had a lot of stores that looked interesting. Some signs read things like “Guild” and “Hire-a-mercenary.”
I had nothing better to do, so I made my way down the ramp to the next level of the enclave. As I descended, I felt amazed at the sheer size. The last time I was here, we always just went out. This was my first time exploring this place. And I didn’t have to ask anyone for permission to go anywhere.
The first store that caught my eye was a wand shop. The display window was filled with colorful, glittering wands of different shapes and sizes. I stepped inside and was greeted by a warm, pleasant smell of sandalwood and fresh parchment. The walls were lined with shelves of wands, each with a unique design and purpose.
This would be a greater temptation if my parents did not give me a wand. But as it stood, I was totally window shopping.
Next, I wandered into a potion shop. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and spices, and I could see bubbling cauldrons behind the counter. The potions on the shelves ranged from simple healing tonics to complex, dangerous elixirs. I spotted a bottle of iridescent blue liquid labeled “Dream Weaver” and “Manna Supplement.” I wasn’t about to get caught with potential contraband, so I quickly left the store before realizing I was an adult.
But the next store grabbed my attention: a familiar accessories shop. I didn’t have a familiar or even a pet, but I was curious. Wandering in, I found grooming tools, clothing accessories, and chew toys for every possible size, shape, and imaginable species. Wandering about, I noticed a self-repairing reindeer antler with a large label “Guaranteed to last a year.” That was definitely something I would get my Dad on my way home.
On the back wall were some interesting boxes promising a trainer pet. These were magical constructs that acted like miniature familiars. I had one growing up, and this seemed like the best gift I could give my cousin for his birthday. I selected a war-forged model, but I realized the younger cousin might also want something before I paid, so I picked out an owl cat model for her. When I was paying, it surprised me that I could pay in gold or non-magical cash.
The last store I visited was a bookstore filled with tomes and spellbooks. The shelves were lined with leather-bound books, scrolls, and blank grimoires. Most of these were textbooks I’d already gone through, but some were new. A few magical creatures and advanced spell crafting were very tempting.
I was lost in this store when I heard my phone chime again. This time the same numbers had a new message “I just pulled up come...” I assumed again there was more message hidden from me. Still, it sounded like she was here, so I reluctantly left the bookstore and headed toward the waiting area to wait for her.
I slowly made my way up the ramp. I had no idea how much longer I had to wait. Just as I took the first step on the ground level, I saw a frazzled and agitated woman burst through the door. The enforcers and I jumped with surprise at her entrance.
Suddenly she turned to me, her face spread in a broad smile, and she bolted towards me. Only when she was a few steps away from me did I realize it was my aunt Fraya running towards me, her blonde hair bouncing with each step. I had barely registered her presence when she smothered me in a bear hug, her strong arms wrapping tightly around my shoulders, causing me to drop my bag.
“John! Oh, John! I’ve missed you so much! I’m so sorry I’m late. I can never guess how much traffic there will be on any given day or at any particular time. I left almost on time, too.” she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine emotion. I couldn’t help but laugh at her exuberance, grateful for her presence.
“I missed you too, Aunt Fraya,” I replied, hugging her back. “Thank you for picking me up. But I’m struggling to breathe.”
She finally realized she was about to choke me out. “Oh, sorry dear, do you need me to grab anything? Or are you using dimension bags for all your things?”
I nodded as I leaned down to pick up my bag that fell. I checked to ensure the box my Dad entrusted me didn’t get shaken loose and slung it back over my shoulder. “All I need is in these two bags. Plus, a bunch of things I don’t.”
She smiled warmly at me as a centaur enforcer walked up to us, “Ma’am, is everything OK? I’m not sure you know where you are.” He asked us, holding a shield glif in one hand and a combat wand in the other, thankfully both lowered.
She waved a hand. “Of course I do! I’m just here to pick up my nephew. I’m not entering the enclave, so I didn’t show my paperwork.”
The centaur nodded and eyed me suspiciously but left without another word.
My aunt looked at me and asked, “Ready to go?” and pointed to the door. She lead me out of the back door of the building towards a number of parked cars.
She approached a sleek, black SUV with tinted windows as we approached her car. Not the ancient mini-van she used to drive. My aunt unlocked the trunk, and I quickly lifted my bag and backpack into it, grateful that I had opted for the dimension bags my Dad had recommended. They made carrying my belongings around so much easier.
Before my aunt closed the trunk, I pointed to the box from my Dad and said, “That one is from Dad to you guys. I’m not sure what it is.”
My aunt squealed in delight with a bright smile and a little dance before she slammed the trunk shut and walked to the driver’s door.
As I settled into the passenger seat, I couldn’t help but notice the high-tech screens on the dashboard. They were unlike anything I had seen before. As my aunt turned on the ignition, I was amazed by their clarity and resolution. And that there were so many options.
“Wow, these screens are amazing!” I exclaimed, staring in awe at the dashboard.
My aunt smiled, clearly pleased by my reaction. “Yes, we just got this car last year. The previous car finally died to the point that my husband couldn’t fix it anymore. He certainly tried. But he agreed to upgrade when he figured it would cost ten times the value of the mini-van just in parts. So, we decided to upgrade to this beauty. Got a really nice two-antler discount on it too.”
I nodded, impressed by the car’s features but confused by the reference, “Two antler discount?”
She laughed while putting the car into drive. “It’s a used car. We bought it after the previous owner hit a dear. The repairs would have been a lot, so the owner chose to sell the car and get a new one. Uncle Paul fixed it up himself, so it didn’t cost that much.”
As we drove away from the enclave, I looked back and realized that the outside was just a simple hotel. It was decently lovely, but it looked like ordinary people were walking in and out of the front door like a normal hotel.
Aunt Fraya turned onto the busy street, navigating the traffic with ease. “Are you hungry, John? It’s going to be a long drive, mostly ’cause of traffic,” she asked, glancing over at me.
I thought about it briefly before answering, “Actually, I could go for a cheeseburger. From Ron’s Burgers!”
“A cheeseburger? And from that place of all options?!” she repeated with a hint of surprise. “But you get to eat all sorts of fancy food at home, and both your parents are great cooks. Why would you want a garbage burger?”
I shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed and childish. “It’s just... it’s the food I always looked forward to eating when I would visit as a kid and a teen. And I haven’t visited in like 3 or 4 years. And I guess I would love to eat it now as well.”
Aunt Fraya smiled understandingly. “I get it. Sometimes it’s the simple things that bring us the most joy. Nostalgia is also a good advertisement. Don’t worry. On the way, we’ll find you a cheeseburger from Ron’s Burgers.”
We snaked our way through the streets, and before hitting the highway, she pulled into a drive-thru and delivered on her promise. She got herself one, too, and repeatedly commented on how bad it was as I enjoyed every bite.
When she finished her burger, I said, “You ate the whole thing even though you complained after every bite!”
She scowled playfully. “Hey, you cheeky... it’s addictive OK! There’s more than magical ways of making something addictive.”
I laughed at her response and answered her question: How did I graduate. Did I have plans? Where was I going to travel to? Did I have a girlfriend?
I did my best to answer her questions mostly honestly. I mean, I wasn’t going to admit that I crushed hard on a girl I wouldn’t see for many years and never even admitted to her that I liked her. I was also vague about my future plans. Mostly because I didn’t have any.
After answering Aunt Freya’s questions, I asked her about my cousins. She happily told me how Jake, always interested in technology, worked part-time at Uncle Paul’s mechanic auto-body shop. He was applying to university to go into robotics, but he hasn’t gotten a response yet. Since they broke up, he didn’t have a girlfriend anymore because she was going to college in a different state.
Her daughter Julie was my younger cousin. She just turned 12 and was somewhat rebellious. Nothing like Aunt Fraya and My Dad used to do, but still a hand full. She was getting into every sport possible, and half the time had to play on the boys’ teams because there weren’t enough girls available to play. My aunt expressed her worry about that.
The conversation flowed with my aunt easily as we drove. The traffic started to thin out, and the cityscape gradually gave way to suburban areas. The houses, yards, and shopping centers whizzed past us as we finally started driving at speed limits. After a few more minutes, the suburban homes and stores slowly gave way to more rural scenery. The man-made scenery gave way to natural landscapes with fields of crops and trees and nature areas on both sides of the highway.
The highway eventually turned into a two-lane road that wound through fields and nature. This peaceful scenery was periodically interrupted by a small town, which we drove 35 miles an hour through and then back to full highway speeds.
I must have become very silent because Aunt Freya asked, “What’s on your mind, John?”
That startled me out of my peaceful thought and aw of the non-magical world. “Oh, I was just thinking of how big the non-magical world was. You know, the realm I grew up in. It was a town I could walk across and fields around it a few miles further before I ran into the border. They may have made it look like mountains, but come up close, and it was just a painting.”
Aunt Freya sighed. “Yeah. I grew up in the capitol with your Dad. That place was way bigger. But it is nothing compared to the real world. That’s a big reason I moved to the non-magical realm. And thank you for not using the slur for my home.”
I blinked and then realized what she meant. “Of course. Dad always hated that expression.”
She smiled without looking at me, “Yeah, he raised you well. That being said, I had more good reasons for moving here. Biggest one being Paul.”
I silently rolled my eyes, listening to her gush over her husband. I wasn’t going to interrupt her.
As we drove through another small town, I noticed Aunt Fraya turn onto one of the side streets. We went for a few minutes before pulling into a decent-sized house on the outskirts of the town.
It was a typical farmhouse would with a simple and functional design. It has two-story with a steep-pitched roof to keep the snow off during the winter and a large central chimney. The exterior facade was a combination of wood and brick, the parts not brick painted a neutral cream-colored which was accented gorgeously by the red bricks.
The front of the house would have a welcoming front porch, with a few steps leading up to the front door. The patio had a swing on one side of the porch and a pair of rocking chairs on the other. The front yard was well-manicured with a neatly trimmed lawn, flower beds or shrubs, and maybe a few fruit trees.
As we drove up the driveway, I noticed a giant dog house on the side of the stairs. It was big enough to house even my Dad’s familiar Cerberus with ease and space to spare. I wondered if they had a dog and made a mental note to ask Aunt Fraya about it later.
I didn’t need to.
As my aunt turned off the car, the loud barking of two giant dogs filled the air, causing me to jump in surprise. I saw two massive dogs running toward us from the colossal dog house I had noticed earlier. One was black, and the other was a light color.
Aunt Fraya walked confidently towards the dogs, who had now stopped barking and were sniffing her curiously. “Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you,” she said proudly. “These are our guard dogs, Jax the Cane Corso and Apollo the Anatolian Shepherd.”
I couldn’t help but be impressed and nervous by the sheer size of these animals. I was used to my Dad’s Cerberus, but these were not much smaller.
As we exited the car, they approached me and sniffed me cautiously. My aunt called them by name, pointed to me, and said, “Friend.” Their calm demeanor amazed me, and I involuntarily said. “Wow! They’re huge. And beautiful. And Calm. And big.”
Aunt Fraya chuckled. “Yes, they are. And we have one more dog, a little terrier named Sparky. He’s probably inside the house right now. He’s a bit more of a hellion.”
Aunt Fraya opened the trunk and petted the over-sized dogs, scratching them in all the right places. I retrieved my bags and the box from Dad and followed my aunt to the front door as the dogs walked behind me. The drive was a good two and a half hours, tiring me out thoroughly. Not to mention I was now in a different time zone.