The journey back to their starting point seemed to take far longer than their initial journey away, but Jess was unable to tell whether this was due to her reduced patience for this new land and its increasingly ridiculous inhabitants… or her aching feet. Definitely blistered by now. Definitely.

At the very least, the peaceful walk through the woodlands back had calmed her somewhat, despite the frequent slapping to rid herself of biting insects. At least those annoying gnats had cause to bite her. Her thoughts of the druidess were suddenly struck from her mind as she followed Nevin over the crest of a small knoll and saw the city, presumably Steelvale, sprawling beyond.

Words escaped her as she came to a stop. It was far beyond what she had expected. Plumes of soft white smoke lolled over different districts in the town, hinting at industries and livelihoods aplenty. Hundreds, if not thousands of pale-yellow buildings languished in the sun, haphazardly organised into unruly rows and streets. At the centre of the city, a large castle of similar stonework dominated the buildings around it boasting high turrets and several flags flying proudly above. All this was encircled lovingly by a protective outer wall that seemed to have only two entrance points, of which, one was thankfully nearby. She whistled appreciatively.

“Huge, isn’t it,” murmured Nevin in a reverent tone.

“It’s more than I expected,” agreed Jess.

“We can enter through the East gate,” said Nevin, pointing to a hulking structure that marked their entrance point on the nearest side of the outer wall. Jess merely nodded before being led towards the city.

It didn’t take them long to reach the gate itself and Jess was relieved to find that the city seemed much more welcoming than the heavy buttresses and portcullis suggested. Even the armed guards that were on duty were warm and friendly, waving greetings to them as they walked by, albeit with a confused look on their face when Jess copied Nevin and sheepishly waved back.

The city inside was staggeringly beautiful. Statues and figures graced the walkways whilst carvings of animals sat guarding rooftops. Even the mottled brickwork of the buildings themselves had been carved in places to show intricate designs of blossoming flowers, vines, and trees. Even the pale golden and grey hues of the stone added a richness to the area. The wish to see the city aglow in the golden light of the sunset swelled in her heart, unbidden.

The colours reminded her of the quaint, picturesque villages that could be found in rural England. Mostly limestone, she surmised, not as orange as sandstone can be. Not that it made much difference, the softness of both sedimentary stones made excellent building material and the city seemed to be revelling in the artistry that it allowed.

“I imagine that you don’t get much acid rain here,” Jess commented as she admired the delicate beauty of a squirrel family carved to look as though they were climbing up the edge of a shop front. They were perfectly distanced to look real enough that they might turn around at any moment to look back at her as they climbed.

“Why would anyone cast something like that on the city?” Nevin replied, unconcerned.

“No, not casting. Just natural rain,” Jess answered. She glanced over to Nevin who now stood staring at her, horrified. Note to self, probably best not to mention global warming effects either, she thought to herself.

Nevin gave himself a shake. “No wonder the adventurers from your world are so tough,” he commented with a touch of wonder.

Jess’s thoughts returned to her aching feet. A pity that I don’t feel so tough now.

“Right,” said Jess with a sigh, “Tell me again what this Master of yours wants.”

“Master Darkhault requires six unmarked boar livers, Miss,” Nevin informed her.

Again, with the Miss, thought Jess. She had noticed it at first but then, she was so used to students calling her Miss that the honorific had slipped under her radar for a while. “Please, just call me Jess,” she told Nevin with a warm smile.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Uh… Are you sure, Miss?” asked Nevin.

“Very sure,” she replied in a stern tone before softening her voice. “You’re the closest thing I have to a friend in this bizarro world of yours… and I think you’re probably more reliable than you realise.” Or at least I hope you are… she added internally.

The statement was enough to stop Nevin in his tracks. Jess stopped and turned, concerned by her companion coming to a halt but then relieved when she saw his embarrassed smile.

“Thank you, Mi- uh, I mean Jess,” he stuttered, trying, and failing to hide his beaming smile. It winked out of existence quickly as it was replaced by his usual concerned frown. “Master Darkhault wouldn’t agree with you.”

“Oh?”

“He says I’m a nuisance,” Nevin said with a grimace, “among other things that I won’t repeat in front of a lady.”

“Does he now?” replied Jess thoughtfully. “Perhaps I ought to have a word with Master Darkhault. Teacher to teacher.”

Nevin chose to stay silent, his paled face a tacit response to the suggestion. Unperturbed, Jess continued. She had a bone to pick with this new world and this Master Darkhault seemed like a good enough place to start.

They continued walking at a steady pace for some time longer, but Jess slowly registered that Nevin seemed to be getting increasingly antsy. She chose to ignore the issue, assuming that he was nervous about her upcoming meeting with his mentor. She realised that she was also clomping her way towards the Mage Wing with all the subtlety of an impending hurricane. Townspeople were actively dodging out of their path, and she could feel their stares prickling the hairs on the back of her neck.

She forced herself to slow down a little, much to the relief of her feet. The cobblestones underfoot were murder on the arches. Though, hopefully, she would be able to leave this world shortly, she didn’t wish to leave Nevin with more issues than she might have already caused. Upsetting the general city folk probably wouldn’t be helpful to anyone in the long run.

When at last, they did find the correct building before them, Nevin came to a halt and looked to Jess expectantly. He said nothing but pointed towards the large open door. The building itself looked like it had been put together by a toddler. Blocky outcrops underneath windows may have been balconies or may just have been poorly designed. The whole thing seemed to be tilting to one side drunkenly, without the flair or grace that the leaning tower of Pisa seemed to possess. Jess wrinkled her nose in distaste.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to come here without the livers though, Miss, I mean, uh, Jess,” reflected Nevin. Jess looked to him, hoping that he might divulge a reason, but he refused to make eye contact and instead, remained fixated on the doorway ahead.

“Too late now!” said Jess, resolute. She strode towards the door… and… was unable to walk through it.

“What the frick is this bull?” she exclaimed. She pummelled her fists on the invisible barrier that blocked her path. It was like a solid layer of gas was preventing her from entering. There was no sound when she hit it, but it refused to give under any pressure. She hit it with her shoulder for good measure, hoping that a little extra force might indicate that it could be broken or bent to her will. Despite her efforts, there was no entry to the building.

“Explanation. Please,” she demanded of Nevin, jabbing an accusing finger at the open but inaccessible doorway.

“I did say that it was a bad idea to come here without the livers,” was his meek reply.

“You didn’t say anything about magical, liver sensing barriers though!” she retorted, hands moving to sit on her hips in a display of frustration.

“It’s just the way it works,” he said with a small shrug.

Jess steepled her fingers and brought them to her face. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and resisted the urge to scream her bitter exasperation at the sky. What now? How the hell am I supposed to get livers? I can’t fight a damn boar.

She sighed deeply. One hand dropped to her side whilst the other moved to rub the back of her neck. Her fingers made contact with her lanyard first, but then the silver chain she wore beneath her shirt. Eureka, she thought, and a small smile began to grow to match the increasing hope within her.

“Could I ask you a little question, Nevin?” she asked in a honeyed tone.

“About what?” he answered, with a wary look in his eyes.

“If I bought the livers… can I still use them to enter the…” she broke off, pointing a thumb behind her towards the barrier.

Nevin’s eyes flittered between Jess and the doorway as a frown grew deeper on his face. “I’m not sure it’s ever been done,” he answered slowly before appearing a little startled. It was almost as though a small lizard had run up his trouser leg. “I thought you told the druidess that you had no gold or silver?” he exclaimed, confused.

“I don’t… yet,” admitted Jess cryptically. “We’re going to need a shop and a kindly merchant first. Know any that might fit the bill?”

“Mr. Toleron’s a nice merchant,” Nevin offered, his curiously piqued, “It’s not too far away.”

“Lead on then, faithful guide,” said Jess with a nod. This goose isn’t cooked just yet.