《The Secret World of Vapers》


 Chapter 1 - Beginnings

    Black was all I could see. Was it night? Why is it so dark. And then I heard the loudest noise ever. This incredible booming all around me. I thought my eardrums would explode. Overtime it started to recede, but an annoying buzz began to replace it. Like a really muffled voice, and then I realised it was a really muffled voice. Straining to hear the words, make something out, to no avail. I resigned myself to this world of black, which was exactly when I realised not everything was black. Some parts were lighter than others; was it morning, or was I waking from whatever strange dream this was. Wait it couldn''t be a dream if I was thinking like this right?


    "Dude," someone drawled, past the murky curtain of greys, "Yo dude, it''s been ages can you like, uh, wake or sum''."


    Because it''s that easy, I swear I could feel my eyes roll somehow.


    "Haha, yo you''re wakin'' about time," he drawled out.


    Sweet fuck he actually said haha instead of chuckling and why does he sound like the one guy who could prove smoking too much weed would make you retarde - ah I promised Violet I wouldn''t say bad words. And then it hit me, I should be with Violet, in my room at home and instead some idiot was standing over me to wake up. Fuck. Then the colours and everything hit me, the sounds and smells. I was in a small black walled room that was plastered in colourful inscriptions? Of pentagrams, magic circles - at least those were my guesses - and a lot of completely incomprehensible stuff that made my head pound when I looked at them for too long. Okay, this was definitely not my room.


    And then I saw the guy. Dressed up in leathers, kind of like what I imagined medieval archers might wear. He didn''t look any bit as dopey as he sounded, sharp features with sharp blue eyes to match. They bore into me, like a hawk that had spotted its prey. I could feel my hands clamming up; what the fuck should I do. I looked at the floor, like some schoolkid that had done something wrong, I couldn''t think straight and my heart was slowly picking up speed, beating my chest like it wanted to escape.


    Weird, he was all chatty before I woke and now I''m awake he says nothing? Just stares at me? Weird. I decided to stare at his shoes as a way of retaliating against his stare. He had a really nice pair of leather shoes too, seemed like all he wore was tanned and browned leather. I guess they weren''t really shoes, because upon closer inspection I noticed they were more of a boot-shoe hybrid.


    My heart started beating quicker. I eventually came to the conclusion I''d need to speak before I died of heart failure. Speaking of which, why was my heart going insane. Looking at my hands I noticed they were slightly shakey, and covered in sweat. I felt weird; bad weird.


    Why?


    I glanced around. I was alone, bar the guy staring at me like someone was giving him a free blunt. Like, free? Me? Hmm... and then glare. Wait; I''m alone.


    "Where''s Violet!?" I shouted far louder than I had meant to, I hadn''t meant to shout at all, actually.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Yo chill dude," he grinned like someone who''d just done so much cocaine they had to reboot their brain, "so you speak, haha."


    There was that annoying spoken haha again; in that drawling way only a really high and simple guy can speak. This guy was really getting on my nerves. The worst thing was I couldn''t tell if he was putting it on or actually spoke like that. Annoying because it didn''t match his appearance which screamed, ''I''m roleplaying a rogue but I''ll actually stab you,'' and also had eyes that made my soul squirm. Regardless of his scary apearance though, he was the only other person I could see and I had no fucking clue what was going on. Which brought back a strong wave of anxiety and sweaty hands; kinda surprised there weren''t two little puddles either side of me at this point.


    "Where am I?" I asked, a bit too tentatively.


    "Haha, come on dude, let''s go walkin'' and talkin'' I got a lot," and he really dragged that lot out, "to tell you."


    He turned and started walking - I swear I could hear him humming a Bob Marley tune - to the only entrance to the enchanted room. I didn''t care if it wasn''t real magic, this was gonna be the Enchanted room from now on.


    "This room is called The Link by the way," of course the fucker had to ruin my dreams straight away. "and those really are enchantments if you''re wondering," dreams unruined; magic? I started to feel a little less terrible that Violet was gone, but then it came back almost immediately. Maybe I could learn magic and find her though..?


    Out of the room we came into a long dark corridor with openings every few metres, the corridor was also plastered in enchantments and as we passed by the openings I realised they led into rooms like the one I was just in, black and covered all over in colourful enchantments. I was so engrossed I only realised I had missed some of what stonerbro said, yeah I was gonna call him that; he never introduced himself anyway so his fault.


    "Yo dude, you listening? Names Rogue and you better start paying attention or you''re gonna be fucked haha."


    Yeah yeah, Rogue, I thought sarcastically, because you''re clearly going to be so helpful.


    "Yeah so I''m an information broker dude," he announced as we stepped into sunlight, "I''ll teach you all about this world in exchange for some information on yourself hehe," Did he actually change from haha to hehe? A bit ominous no? And then it hit me he''d actually be helpful and I''d misjudged him already a total of, well, many times. And then it actually hit me, holy shit. This is not Earth.


    Colours hit me. The blue sky. A shining sun, nothing like what you''d see in Ireland unless it were the peak of summer, and to top it all off, a fuckton of people masquerading in fantasy clothing in a fantasy town. There were no roads, at least not like roads I was used to. Worn dirt roads led in three directions, to the front, right and left. There was a mix of shabby houses and shops, like old craft shops. I could hear the ringing metal of a smithy, or maybe more than one. The knock of hammer on wood; I could smell baked goods and dirt, like forest dirt. I could smell the dry earth, wafts from forest trees somewhere.


    I glanced over my shoulder and saw the sleek and beautifully carved black rock building I had just stepped from, The Link. What did it link? Earth and this world? Where even was this. The unease in me grew stronger and I started to feel really really weak.


    All I wanted right now was Violet, but she was nowhere to be seen.


    "Welcome to Beginnings, haha, ya like? You''re gonna be here a while," And my stomach sank like a stone.

 Chapter 2 - WHERES VIOLET

    "Where''s Violet?" I ask rather meakly. He''s an information broker so maybe he''d know? Stupid logic but I was getting really worried and I really wasn''t enjoying this sinking, nauseous, feeling in my stomach.


    "Ohhhh, you mean Vialait," he drawled, as per usual. "Your girl buddy is here don''t you worry, haha."


    My heart jumped, "So, where is she? and have you never heard of a girlfriend? Who says girl buddy and you''re saying her name wrong too," I figured I was giving off a vibe of desperation and ''I''m a little bitch'' but I suppose I kind of was. He completely ignored me and put his hand to his chin and started to ponder, which worried me for two reasons. The first being he was actually thinking and the second being why did he have to think about where she was.


    "Yeah, so dude, I think you should wait until I''ve told you about the world," he did a broad gesture at the three streets filled with people, "no point in you running off into that and getting both of you hurt, and anyways I''ll help ya find her, free of charge."


    How kind. I felt a lot better though, this town seemed pretty safe; like a newbie town in a game or something and now I had help. I glanced out at the town with its three streets and masses of buildings seperating the streets and took a deep breath. And almost instantly felt the panic rising a little. This didn''t feel like a dream, it felt too real, so where the fuck was I.


    "Dude!" Rogue woke me up from my reverie, waving like a complete spoon from across the road. He was standing in front of a building named Ye Olde Inne. What a stupid name; the inner nerd in me absolutely loved it. I stepped down the black stone steps of The Link onto the dirt road of Beginnings. The beginning of an adventure maybe? What a corny name but at least it made sense.


    "Let''s get some food dude and talk, I''ll tell ya all you need to know and the food''s on me haha," Rogue grinned. I stared at the building and it stared back, this behemoth of wood that resembles the drawings of medieval inns from history books, even the door was a thick chunk of carved wood. Strolling in I notice the bare stone floors, a roaring fire in the hearth and sunlight streaming in the windows bouncing off the wood. It felt kind of cosy, at least for now but I could imagine how dark it got at night; adorning the walls were sticks that I presume were lit on fire at night, and places for candles in every nook and cranny of the place. What I admired the most was the fact the place hadn''t gone up in flames yet, wood and fire didn''t mix so well from my knowledge.


    Rogue and I both took a seat at one of the smaller tables at the wall, because the windows were too high to see out of really. A woman came to serve us, I assumed she was the inn owner because I didn''t see any other staff, but then again bar myself and Rogue there was nobody else here. It was only then I realised how all I could hear was the roaring fire and not much else, bar Rogue and the woman arguing about the price of food or something. I wasn''t really paying attention. My mind was still on Violet, or Vialait as Rogue had called her. My heart clenched up and my hands got all clammy, what if I couldn''t find her. I felt so lonely and useless. The hard wood dug into my legs, and my feet were already feeling sore from the rough ground here. So pathetic, can''t even deal with some petty discomfort. I always wondered: if Violet saw this hopeless part of me would she leave. Ahh now I''m worrying, and worrying doesn''t help shit. But it''s so hard not to worry. What if she runs into feral dogs or like a tiger. Ok, so I doubt there''d be vicious animals running around the streets but it''s possible..? I kept wiping my hands on my jeans and worrying about Violet until Rogue eventually settled a deal with inn woman and turned back to me with a stupid grin on his face, finally, I might be able to get answers.


    "How''re ya feelin'' dude?" He questioned with a stupid grin.


    "Where is this place? Where''s Earth in relation to here? Where''s Violet? Is there a way home?" My voice started wobbling, "Why am I here. How did I get here. Why is everyone dressed like they just walked off the set of Game of Thrones, what the fuck is going on?" I could hear the panic rising a little each time but I started to finally realised how freaked I was about the situation. Took my everything to not breakdown and hyperventilate on the floor.


    Rogue raised his hands, "Chill dude, chill. I''ll give you answers, just relax. Man I hate when you guys freak out like that it makes me all antsy, haha," he shifted a bit, and then turned to the left, coincidentally facing to where the fire was, and then started coughing up one of his lungs, I stared at the wall; I hate germs kind of. Next I hear a "Woops" and I turn back thinking for fuck sake what now, and stall. I could feel the goosebumps ripple up my whole body in a wave. I was fucking freaked. Rogue literally waved his hand and the fire went out without a sound, along with a massive chunk of the wall. What the fuck, what the fuck. Like a chunk of the wall completely gone. I could feel my eyes turn into saucers, like holy fuck he just waved his hand. Poof. What in the... Should I try and run away?


    "Sorry about that, haha," he scratched the back of his head, embarassed. "Think I got some, like uh, swamp in my lung or something, haha, yeah some water or something haha."


    I just shook my head. I was kind of proud how much calmer I was, but maybe my brain figured it was a dream afterall, considering what just happened. So I pinched my arm really hard and yep it was definitely not a dream; the blossoming pain on my arm a clear indicator of that.


    "Anyways let''s start at the beginning. You''re in a world called High Fantasy Land." Holy fuck it''s amazing how he could sound like a normal person when he got down to business; split personalities maybe?


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.He waved his hand, "This place is called Beginnings, mabye you remember that from earlier, maybe not; regardless this will be home your home for a while. Now I''ve a question for you, is there something you''ve always wanted to be? Since forever. Think of a superpower or something you''ve always wanted to be able to do, got anything in mind?"


    "You''re so differe-"


    "Shut the fuck up," he stared at me. "Just answer the question." I could feel sweat gathering all over me, what changed? Why''d he just turn into a different person, and then I caught the wall out of the corner of my eye and was reminded this guy could literally disintegrate my head in a second if he wanted to.


    "Uh, well, I''ve always wanted to be able to do magic, like be a magician or wizard?"


    Before I could continue anymore he raised his hand - I flinched - and scratched his chin, "Worth it then. Okay great thanks sorry about that I got a little impatient." Without waiting for me to accept the apology he continued, "Basically you can probably do that now. Why the probably? Well, I bet you got here by vaping some special juice you got from some random vendor from who knows where, correct?" I nodded. "Right well basically some time ago, nobody really knows when, someone invented a special vaping juice that gives people powers based off of what they''ve always wanted to be able to do deep down. So for example you''ve always wanted to do magic, and assuming you haven''t lied to yourself about that then you''ll be able to do magic now." He sat back in his chair and stretched. Interesting, I can do magic holy shit I felt like screaming with excitement.


    "There''s one class system we use to rate someones strength and there are two different kinds of powers, limitless and limited. The difference is important, they both will grow to an extent but one has no limit, supposedly, while the other does. What I mean is, imagine you''ve always wanted to be strong enough you could punch through steel; you''ll get the power to be able to train to get that strong, but never stronger. So in other words, with training you can eventually grow strong enough to punch through steel as you know it, but never strong enough to punch through pure titanium, for example. However someone who just wants to be super strong, can potentially grow infinitely strong. Do you follow?"


    "Yeah that''s pretty straight forward, and the class system?" This was interesting. I would clearly belong to the no limit portion of people. I''ve always wanted to be able to magic, with no restriction on what kind, simply able to achieve with magic what I think is possible. Which means my potential should be endless if I''m understanding this correctly, I was literally bursting to go and experiment what was possible. What was this about training though? That''s not how superpowers work right.


    "The class system goes like this, F is the weakest and then moves up in strength. F - E - D - C - B - A - S. Above S there''s supposedly a G rank, G standing for gods. It''s a myth really. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the history of this place. So basically time passes a lot differently here than it does on Earth. Thirty years here in High Fantasy Land is equal to about one year on Earth. The world was created by the seven Writers, or at least that''s how the story goes. Vapers with the ability to write things into the world, create laws for it and so on. So any questions so far?"


    I had a million and I kept forgetting ones just after I thought of them, man I hate when that happens. I always thought I was pretty smart, maybe it was shock, but this was starting to become a bit much to follow.


    "Yeah, so does that mean everyone here has supernatural abilities? And what''s yours?"


    He laughed and pointed in my face exclaiming, "You think I''d just tell you my superpower? What do you think I''m retarded or something?"


    "But you made me tell you, ohhhhhh," then it dawned on me, information broker, "I bet you''ve a lot of enemies."


    "I do indeed," he said with a smug look on his face, why would you be smug about having lots of people who want to hurt and maim you? Odd.


    "Also in answer to your first question, not everyone here has a superpower. Well technically they do, but if you don''t know what you''ve always wanted you won''t know what it is and as a result you won''t be able to develop it. The people you see working in shops that seem ordinary are generally still trying to figure out what their power is, or they''re convinced it''s to do with the line of work they applied for. All of the people you see other than them working in shops and crafts and so on, they''re there because their abilities are directly related to their work. Some people have, unsurprisingly, always wanted to be blacksmiths, or magical blacksmiths, crafters and the list goes on."


    "Ok, makes sense," What did I want to ask now? I guess the second biggest question I wanted answered. "Why are you helping me?"


    "Well hooo weeee, that one''s a doozy because firstly, I get information from you. Secondly I might make a new enemy," I''m a hundred percent certain I saw his eyes SHINE. "Not to mention the biggest reason is I think you''re interesting, or at least your ability will be, any more questions? I kind of have things to do. But first!" He exclaimed and clapped his hands, "you need a new name. A fantasy name, you can''t rethink or change it so don''t go for anything hastily, it''s just part of the rules. Accept it. And remember you must always obey this rule, or you''ll have foul luck. Don''t test it. Just accept it." This seemed pretty serious.


    "Pendragon," I spurted. I always liked that name, it''s cool. I didn''t even second-think it.


    "Uh, interesting. Definitely not an impulsive decision." He nodded. "Your girlfriend," emphasis on the girlfriend, "changed her name to Vialait, the Irish of Violet, apparently. Pretty smart if you ask me. Your name is well... so any final questions?"


    "Where''s Vialait?" My heart was pounding, he said he''d help. Maybe I could finally see Vialait again.


    He waved his hand, like he was miming sliding his hand along a wall in the air. And then sunlight streamed in. My jaw dropped, there was a man sized chunk gone from the wall of the Inn. He pointed through the opening and my eyes followed where he was pointing. Across the road and stream of people, occasionally glancing at the gaping hole in the Inn, was another Inn called Ye Newe Inne and in one of the small windows of bubbled glass I caught a glimpse of silver hair that I knew far too well.


    "Vialait is right there, buddy. Hehe." This fucker did this on purpose.


    A short time after Rogue and Pendragon had left the inn owner came back into the main room with food, "That fucker Rogue did it again," she shook her head and dropped all of the food. It floated apart into dust before it could hit the ground and slowly dispersed into the air while the inn owner raised her hands, and the floor where the gap was raised in answer. It slowly filled the void from Rogues roguish antics, and took shape exactly as it had been before. The fire began roaring and all the marks in the walls were filled in.

 Chapter 3 - Oh, youre here

    I ran through the hole in the wall, stumbled from the change of terrain and proceeded to barrel across the dirt road. I was fixed on the silver hair, glinting in the sun. I could feel the heat of the sun against the shirt on my back as I ran. I was maybe ten steps from the window when I barrelled straight into someone''s chubby belly.


    "Oi, why don''t you watch where you''re going little rat. You look new, don''t you know the rules around here?"


    "Oh sorry, are there no running in the hallways?" I sniggered a little, and only then noticed to the left and right of the fatty were two pretty well developed guys. They both had swords that I''m certain would qualify as two-handed swords, but also round shields strapped at their thigh. My hands started pouring sweat.


    The fatty sneered at me, "Take your clothes off and give them to me."


    "The fuck?" I involuntarily said. "No. Piss off." I put both my shaking hands behind my back and stood tall. I felt stupid as fuck.


    The fatty squared up to me, "So the skinny rat has some backbone has he? Looks like we''ll have to beat this rule into you."


    I glanced to the left and right, there were still tons of people streaming by, they were hardly going to commit daylight robbery? After a few awkward seconds where we played a four-way staring game the fatty started laughing and raised his hand, I flinched back a step, and he dropped it on my shoulder.


    "Just fucking with you skinny rat,"the fatty huffed and continued walking down the road, "If I see you again you''re fucked though," he said as he walked off with his goons, not glancing back once, the sun glancing off their leather armour as they left. So cool.


    I started a brisk walk towards the window with the silver hair, a little more mindful of people this time. I was a little surprised Vialait hadn''t seen me through the window, but then that guy was pretty robust and I was kind of not. My hands slowly stilled as I walked up to the window. All I could think about was the fact that I was about to see Vialait.


    As I came up to the bubbled glass of the window and saw more silver I started to get so excited, so many thoughts ran through my head about what to say. I finally found myself standing directly in front of the inn. Sunlight streamed in through the window, bouncing off her silver hair, and then face as she glanced up. Her innocent blue-grey eyes staring at me, a smile starting to bloom on her face. I could feel myself grinning like a complete idiot, all my worries about where we were evaporated with that smile.


    "I missed you so much," which was answered with a facepalm from her and a point towards the door.


    Uh, oops?


    I heaved open the wooden door and my heart skipped a beat, as I saw Vialait again. She was seated on one of the many couches that adorned the edge of the room., still wearing the blue jeans and cute pink top she had on before we ended up in Beginnings. I felt warmth blossom through my chest. I couldn''t believe how much comfort one person could offer me, it was kind of insane.


    "You''re so stupid sometimes," she giggled leaping into my arms and burrying her head into my chest. "I missed you."


    "I missed you too," I croak back. I really meant it. We were only seperated an hour tops, but that hour felt like forever. I felt back to normal with Vialait in my arms. I could feel a lump in my throat and tears edging towards my eyes, but held them back as hard as I could. I wanted to seem strong, like her knight in shining armour.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I hear a muffled "What''s your name now? You picked a new one, right?"


    "Uhhhhh, it''s Pendragon," I try not to sound embarassed. Which is really hard when the love of your life starts snorting with laughter. I just hug her tighter, Vialait and Pendragon. Which reminds me. "What power did you get, err, do you have now?"


    Is there a politically correct way to phrase that?


    "Ah," she pulls back and pouts, my heart tugs at the sight.


    "I don''t know. Stupid Rogue says if I''m not sure then I don''t have one. Also, he told me when the bell tower in the center of town rings we should go to the base of the tower and meet him there, I think we have an hour or two until then."


    Should we meet him? I guess there can''t be any harm.


    "We have just enough time to find somewhere quiet and try and some magic! Which is what I can do now," I couldn''t help but be a little smug about it.


    "Hah, nerd," although she clearly didn''t mean it because I could see the excitement in her eyes too.


    I couldn''t wait to try do magic. What to start with first though. Hmm.. I glanced down and caught Vialait''s frowning face and leaned in and kissed her, breathing deeply. I felt her finally relax. We drift apart, look into each others eyes and say I love you at the exact same time, and both burst into stupid giggling laughter.


    "I like how relaxed we are, but maybe we should take a walk around the town and try understand where we are a little better?"


    "A proper idea captain," she says in her best or worst english accent, with a salute that was just plain wrong.


    So adorable though.


    So off we stroll, through a door this time and not a gaping hole in the wall. The door is also a giant chunk of carved wood and weighs so fucking much I have to drop the cool guy act a little and heave. We make it out into the searing sun though, hand in hand and start strolling through the street.


    Hammer on metal rings through the air. There''s a constant stream of people wandering the streets adding to the din. There''s so much to take in. Vialait spends half her time staring at me and the other half trying her hardest not to bump into anyone else, looking so cute doing it.


    She could probably stab me and I''d think it''s cute.


    I see the bell tower we''ll eventually have to make our way towards, to the left. It looks like the town is in a diamond shape with a street running straight through.


    So that means we''re on the east street?


    Ah it doesn''t really matter anyway.


    I get a whiff of a delicious smelling pineapple, orange and mango vape and whip my head towards Vialait who''s desperately trying to blow Os and failing miserably. I can''t help but chuckle a little, until I realise she has her vape?


    I check all my pockets but no dice,


    "Where''d you get that?"


    She glances up, "Rogue didn''t show you how to get your vape? How are you gonna practice magic then. Pfft," she bursts out laughing.


    "Okay," I sigh, "I may have forgotten to ask a few questions. Can you show me what to do?"


    "Okey, hehe," she giggles the hehe like a normal fucking person, "you just will your vape to be in your hand and poof!" She happily demonstrates and poof, the rainbow covered stick appears in her hand in a gentle cushion of light.


    "So I just.." I focus hard on my hand and visualise my vape being there and feel the strangest sensation pulse through my body, and there in my hand is my black vape. "Wild," I whisper. I could feel chills running through my body. Double-checking it''s really there by clenching my hand around my vape a few times and decide to try it, blueberry slush swirls through my mouth and throat. It hadn''t been long, but man I missed vaping.


    "Uh, Pendragon," she emphasised the name, "I''m guessing Rogue didn''t teach you the basics of how to like use your power then?"


    "Uh, no, no he didn''t." I felt cheated. I guess no magic yet.


    "Maybe that''s why he wants to meet us later! Don''t be sad, pleaseeee." I look up and smile, it''s kind of hard to be down for long with a bundle of joy by your side.


    "Oi, newcomers!" We both jump, and look to the shop up a bit to our right where an old man is waving from the entrance to an armour and weapons store. We both glance at each other, "he''s hardly talking to us right?"


    "Right?" she echoes.


    "Come here, I''ll suit you up in the finest Beginnings gear you can find, free! There''s just one condition, at least hear me out."


    We both shrug; it can''t hurt to hear him out right?


    So we both walk to the giant wooden store that reads, ''The Normal Armour Store'', and get ushered in with a smile and a million words.


    Maybe this is the beginning of something great.

 Chapter 4 - FREE STUFF?

    We walk into the store. The wooden mammoth of a store. Walls are lined with every kind of medieval weapon you could think of.


    I can only half listen to the owner, because the other half of my brain is busy fangirling over the swords and knives and pointy things.


    I don''t know why I have a fixation with blades, nor does Vialait understand why she does. Maybe it''s built in human nature?


    "So do we have a deal?" The owner asks.


    I shrug, "Sure?" I vaguely understood he wanted our clothes and any earth possesions we had, and he''d kit us out completely in return. It seemed kind of weird but we didn''t have any use for them.


    I look to my left as Vialait tugs on my sleeve repeatedly,


    "We''ll need our clothes going back to Low Fantasy Land you know," she eyes me curiously.


    "Uhhh, Low Fantasy Land?" I ask confused.


    "Earth you dummy, didn''t you get any information off Rogue?" she says frowning, "No, of course you didn''t you were probably obsessing about magic instead of the fact we''re trapped in a magical fucking world."


    The cute pants came off; flying off. I couldn''t help but recoil a tad, I was mostly thinking about her. It kinda stung.


    "Ah ah, I''m sowwiiii. I was kidding," she tugs at my sleeves, cute mode instantly back.


    "It''s okay, you''re kind of right I guess I didn''t ask many questions. Anyway we''ll need this equipment to, uh, survive?"


    I felt goosebumps crawling up my whole body again. I just realised as far as I knew there was essentially no law here.


    Every day here might be a fight to live, and where pretty much every person has the ability to crush my head a hundred different ways it was a very scary, very possible reality. If Vialait wasn''t here I''m certain I''d have vomitted everywhere.


    She nods at me, "You''re right actually," and then whispers to herself, "I need to keep you safe, or who''ll call me cute."


    I had to control the urge to roll my eyes. I''m pretty sure everyone who saw her would call her cute. And what''s the point of whispering if everyone can hear you.


    There was a clearing of a throat to my right, "I''m Bran by the way." I snorted a little, his name reminded me of Bran the dog. I couldn''t help but think how amazingly patient this guy was, maybe he had an extreme patience superpower.


    "I''m Pendragon," he snorts back at my name; sigh. "And this is Vialait, also sorry about that," I apologise, "we''ll do the trade." Vialait clasps my hand and we walk into the changing room he waves us into, with a bundle of simple clothing that''ll go under our leathers.


    Changing together was another wonderful reminder how lucky I got with Vialait; kind of couldn''t wait until we got a room in an inn or something.


    We dressed in the underclothes, they were really soft material in the shape of trousers and a top and that was about it.


    Literally no shape to them. Vialait somehow looked cute as fuck in them though, while I looked homeless.


    After changing we went out of the changing room and into the main room where Bran told showed us how to wear the leather armour correctly and how to care for it to make sure it didn''t turn to shit quickly. It turns out there''s a lot you need to know and long story short it''s a pain in the ass.


    After getting our armour it was weapon time, which was good because I could barely digest what he was saying due to the distraction of all the weapons.


    Bran gestured at all the weapons adorning the walls and the racks, "Take any you want, as many you want. I''ll help you choose what if you''re unsure, however a friendly reminder that being greedy here is more likely to kill you than help you. That being said it''s up to you."


    "Thank you. What would you recommend for us both?" I ask. There was no point not taking very valuable help. Especially if it was free.


    "Do either you have any expertise with weapons of any kind?" He asked kindly.


    To which we both answered no in sync and then Vialait turns, flustered, "Hey you can do lots of things."


    I shake my head turning to Bran, "The bare basics, you should treat us both like complete beginners," then turning back to Vialait I retort, "I can do things? You''re better with a bow than I am."


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.To which she giggles to herself. Honestly if I wasn''t so in love with Vialait there''s a chance I''d think she''s strange, maybe.


    Bran grinned back at me, ignoring us both, "Well this is why we call it Beginnings after all," he burst into hearty laughter.


    I resist rolling my eyes and glance at Vialait, only to find her looking at me trying just as hard no to roll hers.


    I feel a smile growing on my face, but turn back to Bran, listening closely.


    "Now, if you''ve never used a weapon before I recommend a longsword or anything shorter. Ah yes, a shield too." Bran tells us, waving wildly at some swords.


    "I want something small," I tell him, "a shortsword or long dagger. And no shields." I add. "And I was wondering if you could tell us why we''ll need weapons, and why everyone has weapons?"


    I only realised this wasn''t something I''d thought about yet. Why did everyone have cold steel weapons, bows and more.


    Bran turned away from the weapons, looking grim.


    "I''m afraid the world of High Fantasy Land lives up to its name. Have you ever read a fantasy book where the world wasn''t frought with danger? This world is no different. If you care for your life you will need to arm yourself, and you will need to learn to protect yourself. Even if not for you then for each other." He was dead serious, eyes looked a bit pained.


    He turned back to the weapons, the lightness in his voice lost, "Back to choosing."


    With a heavy heart from Bran''s reminder I add seven throwing knives to my shopping list - seven was one of my lucky numbers, alongside three but I thought three might be too few - and a second dagger, also the same length as the first. The blade on each of them is about an inch shorter than my forearm and deadly sharp. The throwing knives are standard, not very different from what I had at home on Earth but a hell of a lot sharper. All of the weapons get dumped onto a table in front of me, after which Bran took Vialait around the shop helping her choose her own weapons.


    I practice swinging one of the daggers through the air slowly, going through the drills for shortswords I learned from HEMA. I was never good and quit within a year, although that wasn''t because I wasn''t enjoying it; it was mostly because the people that went were so incredibly awkward the whole thing started giving me anxiety.


    After a while Vialait walks towards me, a bow slung on her shoulder and a dagger like mine strapped to her right thigh.


    I was debating taking a bow too, although I was a little worse at archery than Vialait. Then again that was on stopped targets, the amount of practice it would take to get good would probably make it pointless. I was actually good at throwing knives anyway, plus I would have magic to use eventually, at least I hoped.


    "Thank you Bran," Vialait turns to Bran, "I feel a lot safer, I guess this is how Americans feel," she giggles.


    "Yeah, thank you," I mimic.


    He turns to both of us, a smile that doesn''t quite reach his eyes as he looks us over once.


    "Wait a moment," he says as he goes behind his counter, "here," he hands us both packs.


    They fasten tightly around the torso, made of tough hide that''s very flexible.


    "You''ve both been respectful and kind," he says, eyes glimmering. "You quite remind me of when I arrived here. Me and my friends." He pauses, his face a mix of sadness and seriousness.


    "The world here is dangerous. Dangerous but also far more rewarding than life on Earth. My friends and I arrived here, excited. I didn''t know what ability I had at first, but that didn''t matter. Myself and my three friends Jake, Paul and Logan went off adventuring." He smiled.


    "There wasn''t a store at the time like mine here, you took a quest from the Adventurer''s Guild and with advance payment bought what you needed and off you went. And off we did go. We had probably been adventuring around for at least six months when we took a quest for some damned forest. Apparently the dead had been found wandering and there was a necromancer that needed removing, an F ranked one. Misranked rather," his smile dropped and he sounded angry and sad.


    "I couldn''t do anything. We found a dead body and tried to inspect it. Jake, Paul and Logan payed for our mistake with their lives, fighting to keep me alive. I felt so useless, had I my ability I know for certain we would have all survived. We would probably all be drinking fine mead in the capital. Laughing." His eyes watered, voice trembling.


    "It was at their deaths I realised I wanted to save. To heal and save people, and so I got my wish. I''m a healer." He croaked the last word.


    My heart ripped itself apart for the poor guy, but neither Vialait or I moved. We didn''t really know what to say or do.


    "So eventually I started up this store with the money from healing. I trade the perfect starting kit to newcomers for their earthly possesions, holding onto them until the day the come to visit Earth and need them back. And then we have a long chat about their adventures. The adventures I wish I could have with my dead friends." His voice was a mix of warmth and hard sadness.


    I didn''t really know what to say, but I felt bad. I couldn''t imagine what it''d be like to lose my closest friends, and I knew I''d literally go insane if I lost Vialait.


    Vialait took a step forward, wiping her tears, "Thank you. We''ll be back someday with lots of stories, and a barrel of the best mead to talk over."


    I offer my hand, "This is a promise from both of us," and we shake.


    "Thank you for listening to the story of a broken man," Bran shakes his head, "I''ve kept you long enough, I have more newcomers to bargain with," he grinned, back to the same person that sweet talked us in originally.


    And so we step back into the world, fully feeling like we belong.


    I was absolutely pumped to meet Rogue and start practicing magic. I glanced at Vialait, oh so cute Vialait who was busy fangirling over her bow, my heart melted a little.


    I was determined to keep her safe.


    Out of the store we walked, hand in hand, to the clock tower.