Aric awoke to rays of sunlight filtering through the window. For a moment he kept his eyes closed, clinging to the last threads of a dream full of familiar faces and places. But reality crept in as his mind cleared. The creatures, the magic, the portal - it hadn't been a nightmare. All of it was real.

With a groan, he sat up on the plush bed and looked around the cozy yet unfamiliar room. After yesterday's shocking events, part of him had hoped it was all some strange fantasy. But the lingering soreness in his muscles and the soft linen sheets against his skin were undeniable reminders this was his life now.

After washing his face with a rag and a small bowl of water that had been left by the door, Aric made his way to the courtyard. The tranquil atmosphere instantly calmed his nerves, as he watched the koi fish circle lazily in the pond. A light mist clinging to its surface, causing beautiful refractions of the fishes' scales.

Elara sat poised in a meditative position beside the water, eyes closed and oblivious to his presence. Her serene beauty made his heart skip a beat, the petite sorcerer had her hair tied up in a high bun, while she wore a similar pair of form fitting robes to what she had on yesterday.

Unsure what to do, Aric lingered awkwardly until her eyelids fluttered open.

"Good morning," she said brightly, rising to her feet in a single fluid motion. "I hope you slept well. We have much to discuss."

Aric shuffled his feet, still feeling out of place. "Well enough, I suppose. It's a lot to process, everything that's happened."

Elara laid a hand on his shoulder, her emerald eyes filled with empathy. "I understand. Being thrust into a new world is no small thing. But know you are not alone in this."

Her reassurance lifted some of the weight from his chest. They talked as the morning mist burned away, Elara patiently answering his torrent of questions about magic, portals, and the shadowy beasts that had pursued him. Though much remained uncertain, speaking with her gave him a sense of direction.

"While you were sleeping, I took the liberty of having some new clothes made for you," she said, indicating a pile of neatly folded garments. "We have a busy day ahead, so you should bathe and change before breakfast. Seraphine will show you to the bathing chamber."

As if summoned by Elara's words, Seraphine walked into the courtyard and gestured for Aric to follow her. The bathing chamber, as it turned out, was rather lavish by his home's standards. The tub had two separate pipes that fed into it, one producing cold water, and the other producing hot water via a series of complex enchantments. This was far and away the most relaxing bath Aric had experienced since he began his exile into The Wilds back home.

After washing up, Aric donned the new outfit - fitted black pants and tunic, leather boots, and a hooded gray cloak. The clothes were comfortable and allowed freedom of movement. Elara nodded approvingly when he emerged, a small smile touching her lips, as she said, "I'm glad to see the clothes fit you so well. Now shall we eat?"

Breakfast was light but nutritious - mixed fruits, warm bread with honey, and fragrant tea. The casual domesticity made everything seem more normal. But their coming excursion reminded him how extraordinary his circumstances were.

"So where exactly are we going today?" Aric asked between bites of bread.

"Into town. Finding you a proper focus is a priority," Elara replied. Noticing his blank look, she elaborated, "A focus is an object that channels and directs magical energy. My tome, for example. Without one, your abilities will remain...unrefined."

Aric nodded. After the explosive results of his test, some way to control his magic seemed wise.

Soon they were strolling down the bustling main thoroughfare, past merchants hawking wares, travelers headed out on quests, guildsfolk going about daily tasks. For all its wonders, the city felt lived-in, familiar.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

As they walked, Elara lectured him on magical theory. "Now, the color of one's aura indicates innate affinities," she explained. "Yours, an absolute black, is incredibly rare. It means your magic has no set disposition - you can potentially wield any type equally."

Aric pondered this. "So, my options aren't limited like other mages?"

"Precisely! No restraints based on an innate affinity." Her eyes were practically sparking with excitement. "With the proper focus, you may be able to achieve feats few have dared to dream of."

That idea was ludicrous to Aric, he'd only ever shown promise with his swordsmanship before, and even that was a skill hard-earned with countless hours of training and blood. Now he was being told he had some innate magical ability. Not just that, but that it was nearly unmatched within this realm's magical knowledge! If it weren't for Elara's clear faith in him, he simply wouldn't have believed it.

Eventually Elara led the pair onto a dim side street lined with dusty shops selling curios and antiques. Stopping before the most decrepit storefront, Elara rapped sharply on the weathered wooden door. The intensity of her knocks was such that Aric was surprised that the door didn't simply shatter in its old age.

After a few heartbeats, a stooped old man with tufts of white hair emerging from improbably large ears and a long scraggly beard opened the door. "Elara! To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked in a gravelly voice.

"Tanius, we require your services," she answered breezily, ushering Aric inside and past the old man.

The cluttered shop was stuffed to the rafters with strange objects - skulls, vials of luminescent liquid, orb-shaped relics, masks with exaggerated expressions. The collection of strange antiquities was enough to put Aric instantly on guard.

Despite his unsettling wares, Tanius' eyes held a twinkle of kindness. "New in town, eh lad?" he chuckled, sizing up Aric. "Now, what manner of arcane implement might I assist you with?"

Elara leaned in close to the old man, and sharply began whispering something that vaguely sounded like threats to Aric's ears. Once Tanius' eyes had widened to the point that Aric was afraid they may pop out, Elara stepped back seemingly satisfied before she began recounting the test results from yesterday, Tanius listening intently and nodding along to her words. "Incredible, simply incredible," he murmured after she finished. "Wait here, I may have just the thing."

He shambled away into a back room that had previously been obscured by some kind of drapery that seemed to just hang oddly in the air. Soon after the old man disappeared behind the curtain, the pair began hearing crashes, punctuated by muffled curses, each more concerning then the last as he rummaged around. After several more minutes, Tanius emerged from the curtain, panting lightly. His elderly hands clutched tightly around an ancient wooden box. Intricate symbols decorated nearly every spot along the surface.

"A very rare artifact, this is," Tanius remarked as he approached the pair. "Records are sparse on this particular beauty's uses, other than it seems to be very particular about its wielder. But something tells me you may be the match it's been waiting for."

He placed the box in Aric's hands. The energy pulsing from the box immediately began thrumming through Aric, almost like a heartbeat emanating from the box. "Open it only once you've left the city," Tanius warned gravely. "And heed my words - this is no mere trinket. Guard it well, for many have sought it out in the past."

Between the ominous warning from Tanius, and the strange pulsating energy coming from the box Aric was suddenly feeling even more nervous about this than when they had entered the shop. He was quickly distracted from his thoughts Elara thanked the old man and dragged Aric with her towards the exit. Once outside, she shot Aric a conspiratorial grin. "Eccentric he may be, but Tanius is discreet, and his wares have always been top-notch. Now then, shall we take this somewhere more open and see what's inside?"

Aric couldn't bring himself to voice his concerns over the strange warnings from Tanius, or the ominous feeling coming from the box, but he was starting to trust Elara, and if she thought everything would be fine, then he would have to believe that as well.

After taking a deep, steadying breath, Aric finally replied. "Lead the way."

As Elara led the way out of the city, Aric began recognizing buildings that they had passed on the way in, including that weird floating stall he'd seen. He'd definitely have to remember to ask Elara about how that works at some point. Preferably when he wasn't holding a box that was freaking him out more and more by the second.

As it turned out, the pair ended up heading back into the forest, near the spot where they had fought the Shadowbeasts just yesterday. And Aric could admit that without the rotting carcasses of the wolves here, it was a beautiful clearing. The trees formed a near-perfect circle, letting sunlight stream in, warming the otherwise still chilled morning air. The tranquility of his surroundings seemed to settle even the ominous feelings coming from the box down to some degree.

Finally, he turned his gaze to Elara, and found her staring expectantly at him, "Well? Are you going to find out what's in that box that had the old man so worried?"

With Elara giving him a gentle smile, Aric finally cracked open the lid of the box, unsure of what he could possibly be expecting.