It was strange, not that I hadn’t noticed it before, nor that I wasn’t expecting it, but it was strange anyway. The entire world that surrounded me screamed to defy everything I knew, and for a moment I reconsidered the Fae’s earlier words. He said that this world had rules like mine, but somehow from what I was seeing now, I very very much doubted that.

I knew my mouth was hanging as I stepped through the door, though I did my best not to show it. Sullivan’s chuckles were not encouraging. The sun shone an iridescent blue, of all colors, and the trees were almost orange, a very vibrant color that might have been out of place in any other environment.

The very landscape itself seemed to try its very best to defy all sense of reality or… comprehension. Rocks floated through the air as though they were weightless, even the dark grass bore a stark contrast to the vibrancy of the trees, and the air practically hummed with life. Breathtaking, strange, dangerous and otherworldly, all at once.

“Not used to such a view?” Sullivan asked, his voice overflowing with pride and smugness. I scoffed but continued my walk, diligently acclimating myself to my surroundings and the local fauna, as any good soldier would, regardless of his mission or position.

“I just needed to get my bearings,” I denied nonchalantly, but I could tell the Fae wasn’t buying it, not that he thought it important enough to question. The grass was soft and welcoming to my feet, as though I were stepping on moss or freshly mown lawn. Both sensations I had not experienced in… decades.

For just a moment, I swear my dead heart beats before becoming dormant once more. My world was on the verge of death, global wars, a forced economy upon all people, and the rulers of digital currency threatened to completely overturn the financial state of everyone. There was little greenery, and the planet itself experienced earthquakes and natural disasters constantly, as though it were desperately trying to remove humanity from its surface.

And then there were the rumors of HIM. I shook my head in an attempt to regather my thoughts and continued forward, taking in my environment and lightly pushing a rock. I watched as it flew through the air as though it were in space, the only hint to the contrary being its slow deceleration.

Admiring my surroundings for a moment more, I closed my eyes and sat down before deciding to get on with it, I had more questions, and I most certainly needed answers, but if I wanted to survive, I would have to learn how the world worked. Therefore, I had one choice.

“Sullivan… Teach me.” I asked, letting out a resigned sigh as I roughly flicked my hand off to the side in a gesture of impatience and annoyance. Sullivan said nothing, but a small light blossomed from my chest, and soon enough he had materialized once more in front of me.

“There is much to know about this world,” Sullivan began, “but for the most part it hardly differs in base from any other. The only difference is the existence of magic, and perhaps the addition or subtraction of a few forms of life.” Sullivan continued, and to his credit his voice was quick to grab my attention.

“That’s a rather light way of putting it,” I said, gesturing to the wild landscape around me, wild and unkempt to the point of wondering how it would ever be possible for any human to live in such harsh wilderness.

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“We make do, us elves. We do not alter our landscape, we learn to live with it. Unlike the human kingdoms… but regardless, you are here to understand something more important, something that will help guide you through all of your journey. I need to teach you magic.” Sullivan said in finality. I shook my head at his lengthy monologue but sat down and tried my best to pay attention to what he had to say next.

“Magic is native only to this world, and we do not know why, but after many years of summoning many warriors from all planes of existence, we have never encountered another species capable of magic.” Sullivan began. That was curious, what were the odds this was the only place to have magic? Little. Very little. The idea that something else was at play behind the scenes nagged at me, but I pushed it away and forced myself to focus.

“It is a form of energy, but it cannot be treated like any other, it adheres to its own laws, and its own physics, we only know one thing stays constant with this energy that other energy also adheres to.” Sullivan continued, “Magic, like any other energy cannot be created or destroyed, only moved, or changed. You can absorb the heat of a fire and turn it into magic, just as you can turn magic into fire, but you cannot create magic from nothing.”

So the laws of conservation apply, even to magic? Curious… “No one actually knows how we convert energy into magic, but there are theories, not that they would be helpful in any way.” Sullivan said, oblivious to my newfound discovery. “More importantly is our ability to use that energy, to call upon it and give it form and purpose.” Sullivan finished with finality. “That is magic.”

“Alright, so magic is a form of energy we can exert direct control over?” I said, but I could almost feel Sullivan shake his head, despite not being physically present. “We do not exert direct control over it, we request it’s assistance, we shape our desire and call upon magic to fulfill that desire. The act can be done both consciously and unconsciously, if one practices enough that is.” Sullivan explained dutifully.

“Ok then, but how does magic become solid?” I asked, the final question plaguing me. It was curious how I had managed to call upon my old revolver, I recognised the fact that it was not a replica, but how could a pure energy take form? I hadn’t summoned the weapon, I had created it.

“It doesn’t. If you are wondering how you were able to form your weapon, it was because you called upon the magic to create it, that magic did not become it. Rather, it gathered surrounding materials, whether it be the air we breathe, or the water we drink, or even… other substances, it will use what you either intend for it to use, or what is most abundant.” Sullivan finished. Obviously, he was withholding information from me, but whatever it was could wait, or was dangerous, I trusted Sullivan enough to know that he wanted my survival just as much as I did. Otherwise he would not have relented when I refused to pursue his path earlier.

“Anything else I should know?” I ask, preparing myself to… do something. What would I do? What should I do? I have no ties to this world, but perhaps I could leave to my old one? No, I do not wish to return there either…

“Nothing we cannot talk about when we get to it. Perhaps instead, it might be best to hone your skills? I understand that you do not wish to take my path, but you will need to gain approval from the council to stay, or you will be forced into the human kingdoms.” I could hear the worry in his voice, he was afraid that I would die, or worse join the human kingdoms. Perhaps it had happened before.

I let a wry smirk creep upon my face. I would not return to a human kingdom for a long, long time.

“So, honing my skills. How would I go about that?” I questioned, already standing and dusting myself off in preparation.

“Your control is already outstanding, as is your focus. Instead, you should focus on power.” Sullivan suggested slowly, “When you fought the wolf you put far too much energy into the strike, you were lucky to even survive.” I slowly nodded my head as I recalled the fight, Sullivan was right.

“How do you suggest I go about doing that?” I asked, already having an idea as to what the answer might be.

“Hunting.” Sullivan finished simply.