After a very long hour a man accompanied by some guards approaches, as we stand he arrives and asks us to come with him. We look between the three of us, armed guards for just us? Who do they think we are?

After being directed into a small carpeted room with some chairs and a table one of the guards presses a glass orb on the wall and fills it with Mana, once it is filled the room starts to move upward. We’re in a room sized elevator powered by magic! Ok, that's cool. As we move up Malter leans next to me “Whatever happens, only speak when asked to. It’ll make things easier.”

Once we reach the right floor we are greeted with a grand room, it is long with blue columns moving down the room, at the end of which is a large elevated seating platform. The entire room, chairs, platforms, facades, paintings and general feel to it is water, ocean, movement, the blue of the sea and the white spray of the ocean waters are prevalent around the room.

As we get closer I notice that the seating platform is occupied with an elderly man who has several younger men sitting nearby, though not at the same height. The younger heads that are next in line perhaps?

Once we arrive near the end of the room the guards behind us stop and we are prompted to walk forward a bit more, bow and sit on some nicely decorated wooden chairs carved to look like crashing waves from a large piece of driftwood.

Illiard Coan is seated in one of the lesser platforms to the right, each platform is a different height showing their status as next in line as Head. He stands up and turns to address the Head.

“Lord Head, here is the Alien. The OutWorlder. The new Muahaix Aiwatito. He has been brought before you for a single reason, he is dangerous. A new Muahaix Aiwatito would surely draw the attention of the continent and the kingdoms. If the Casupan Kingdom hears of this, they would surely use this as an excuse for invasion to finally gain our family territory!”

Oh come on! What are you gonna do next, accuse me of killing your dog? This guys making me out to be a devil! Actually, what does he get out of this?

I keep those thoughts to myself when Malter stands, “I protest Lord Head, only speculation is being said here. This is all assumption that Michael is a bad person, an OutWorlder? Yes. A new Muahaix Aiwatito? Maybe, but he has lived with us for over two months by this point, you would think in that time we would have learned for ourselves that?”

A guard starts to say something but a raised hand from the Head stops him, all turn toward him and he opens one eye. The Head is dressed in an vibrantly blue robe, it looks like it was pulled straight from the ocean when I notice that the images of the ocean spray is moving. His robe is moving with the tides, a living robe.

“That's enough from both of you. Aikoki, what is your assessment of this OutWorlder” he asks, voice gravely like he's been smoking for a few years. Standing Aikoki replies, “Sir, after Michael arrived on the 17th of Triloth I was made aware of him. By that point Abcier of Knowledge and Dr Rath had arrived to see to his injuries from the Crossing. I was asked and took on his training.”

“And his Powers? Does he really possess a Power like Muahaix Aiwatito?” “Yes sir, a Creation Power. His and his alone. ”

“His Character?” With a short pause to collect his thoughts Aikoki answers “He’s not a bad person or seeks to do us wrong. He can be annoying to run with but otherwise a normal person.”

“Thank you Aikoki, that’ll be all.” A short bow later Aikoki sits down again.

All eyes are on me now, are they looking to really see if I am human or not? I’ve only met humans here so far. It's not uncommon for OutWorlders to appear human or another of the races, are they just curious?

Looking me right in the eye, the Head waves his hand ”Stand up boy” I’m feeling nervous with all this, i’ve met high profile people before but this is getting heavy. “Is what Illiard says correct?”

“Correct that I am an OutWorlder and with a Power that's similar to Muahaix Aiwatito, yes. Other than that, no. He’s never met me before yesterday and I have never met any of the people he approached us with yesterday.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“I had undertaken a careful investigation, Lord Head! This Alien is a definite threat to us!” Exclaimed Illiard, pointing at me. “Be silent” says another man, 2nd in line for the title of Head in a voice that could poison an elephant.

Looking embarrassed, Illiard sits and I wait for the Head to respond. After a few seconds of staring he waves his hand again “tell me, what is your world like?”

Over the last two months I have told the Coans, Abcier, Dr Rath and Aikoki about Earth, the lack of magic, Powers and Domains, the differences in our gods, the shape of the world and many stories from home. But nothing beyond that, and nothing that I think Knowledge might consider sensitive. Like how nukes work.

“It is a large world, two-thirds of its surface is water with the rest being land. The land is not connected in many places, leaving land spread out over large islands we call continents. I myself am from one of these islands called Australia. Its east coast is the most populated with almost all of its interior a hot desert.”

“This world we call Earth, has no magic other than simple tricks that contain no Mana or Power. It is populated with nearly 8 Billion people across all the land.”

At the mention of no Magic they appear astounded, and the mention of 8 billion people is an uproar! “8 Billion! There's no way a civilization with no Mana or Powers can survive with those numbers!” Many others are muttering, I definitely hear some “He must be mad!” from the guards behind us.

“Silence” the Head rebukes, seems 2nd in line also has lost his composure for a bit there. “Continue” he says once the room quiets down.

“Our gods are different from yours, in manner and presence but I have no wish to spark a religious debate today. We also have no Domains, with no Wells and Mana Networks to limit us, our explorers have travelled to the deepest depths of the ocean and the highest heights of the air. Air travel is actually one of the most popular forms of transport.”

Many raised eyebrows at that! I should nip that in the bub before they ask. “I will say that knowledge of such methods are not fully available to the public at large and so I cannot provide you any information aside from our achievements in these fields.” A little white lie, I do know how it's done but don’t want to contaminate things before confirming with Knowledge.

The Head is about to say something before the door we entered from is opened, its Abcier! I hope he can get me out of this, hearts beating so fast I think it's audible.

Abcier walks up next to us and places a hand on my shoulder, slightly pushing down. I understand and sit down again. Abcier looks up to the Head and pulls out a document from his robes.

A nod of the Head’s head and a guard takes the document and brings it up to the Head. All jokes aside, Abcier’s document has got to be important, I wonder what it says? Lord Head is reading over it and then looks over to us. A slight smile appears directed at us for a moment before moving back to neutral.

“Illiard, this matter is now settled. You are not to approach Michael or the Coans farmland until Michael begins his journey.” “Sir?” “Do I need to repeat myself?” A shocked look from Illiard and a quick “No Sir” makes him seated again.

“Malter, Aikoki, Abcier and Michael. You are free to go. However, at the end of the two year time frame you were given at your arrival you must leave this island. You may return at a later date but we will now allow the Institute to start a man-hunt in our homes.”

Standing we deliver a low bow and reply with a “Yes, Lord Head.” A nod and a “Begone” from him later we are soon standing outside the gate, wagon and beast waiting.

“Well, that was easy.” I say, with looks of craziness from the others excluding Abcier. Looking at the man I ask “I think we would all like to know what you gave to Lord Head at the 11th hour?”

“We have two sets of 10 hours in a day here Michael?” says Malter confused. “It’s an expression from home, don’t worry about it. Abcier?”

“You were lucky, if you had lied earlier to Lord Head there would not have been much I could have done.” “You lied to the Head!” both Malter and Aikoki whisper at the same time, grabbing me by the arms and shoulders, more from shock than anything.

“Yes, it doesn't matter. What do you mean Abcier?” Shocked and exasperated looks from Malter and Aikoki ignored, Abcier explains. “In short my letter was an official letter from Knowledge that the claims brought against you were incorrect. Lord Head has a device that can detect lies, top of the line. It had detected your “little white lie” as you call it and he was about to ask some very awkward questions. The letter sorted them out.”

Looking on in awe we hop onto the wagon and start heading back, we ended up stopping at a bar later down the road. I think we could all use a couple of drinks.

As we leave, from the top rooms of the mansion atop a large mountain an old man watches from a grand window, normally used to look over the island and sea. His eye is on a small wagon leaving the mansion and flicking to a letter.