It’s quiet when we arrive at the inn. I’m glad we avoided the rush. It should still take a few hours before the market closes. With any luck, we’ll be gone by the time it gets really rowdy. I look around the room for a spot where we can talk freely, when I spot Alicia sitting at the big center table. Or more accurately, I notice her hurdy-gurdy, and then connect the dots. I was not expecting to see another familiar face today. As I walk towards her, I almost trip as I recognize a woman sitting in a dark corner of the room as well. Dhargana’s slightly blue tinted skin and horns are quite recognizable. And while I’ve only met her once before, the fun afternoon we spent in the forest is still vivid in my mind. I smile, thinking back to the scene of the small tiefling, holding on for dear life on the back of a boar almost her size, screaming the most genuine laugh I had heard since arriving in this world.

When I greet her, Alicia is as surprised to see me here as I was. After I quickly introduce her to Kathy, I sneak off while they are talking to invite Dhargana to our table as well. She isn’t very keen on leaving her dark corner of the room. But as I sense that she too would like to chat, I decide to give her a little push and whisper that Alicia is from our world as well. That shifts her mood instantly, as her curiosity takes over. She calls out to a waitress that she’s going to move tables. I do my best not to laugh. She’s probably the only horned humanoid in town. Not being noticed is not likely to be a problem for her.

When we both return to the big table, there is an awkward atmosphere between Kathy and Alicia. I realize too late that it wasn’t the best idea to drop those two together, with no further notice. But their feelings shift to curiosity as they notice the small tiefling standing next to me. Kathy looks at me with a knowing smirk. Already convinced that I’m an infernal, she’s not surprised that I know someone with an obvious infernal bloodline. I sigh, but decide to humor her on this one. “Yes, we all grew up in the same place”, I tell her. And her eyes grow large as she turns her head to look at Alicia. My stomach drops and I feel like hitting myself on the head. Dammit, I shouldn’t have implied that Alicia is an infernal as well. Hopefully, she doesn’t mind too much. Despite my strong space/time affinity, asking the spirit of time to let me change what I did would have a significant cost and risk. I focus on her feelings, and thank divinity when I feel mostly curiosity. Kathy turns back to me and asks sweetly: “And where would that be?”. I smile, recalling how I’ve always held off telling her the exact details. Maybe now is a good time to come clean.

“From the country of Belgium,” I say cheerfully. “And where is this country exactly?” she asks. “On the planet earth.” I reply. She doesn’t respond right away, and just looks at the 3 of us thinking deeply. “You all come from the elemental plane of earth?” she asks seriously. I laugh and explain that while there is definitely a lot of earth there, there’s also water and air, just like there is here. Earth is just the name we’ve given to our world. The biggest differences are that there is no magic; If there are any divinities, they haven’t shown themselves for millennia; and humans are the only species we know of that are intelligent to the point of self awareness. Kathy looks at me in disbelief. The concept of such a place seems hard for her to grasp. But after a while, something changes in her eyes. And she returns to her sweet voice, asking if we know how to return to there.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I answer her honestly that it’s in the milky way, and that I do not know how to get back there. My trip here was harrowing enough. I do not want to go through that again. I also do not want to give up this world’s magic. So even if I could go back, I wouldn’t. I would like to exchange messages with my daughter. But as I’m sure she has already mourned my death over the past year and moved on. I think it might be better not to, even if I could. Alicia and Dhargana both agree as well. They wouldn’t go back even if they could, which leaves Kathy at a loss for worth. “But … Just imagine if your magic would work there, you’d be unstoppable.” She says. All at once, it clicks in my head. She wants to go to earth and conquer it. At first I’m appalled by the idea, but my thoughts quickly turn in another direction. Would it be that bad if a greedy, murderous dragon took control of the earth? Compared to the humans in power there right now, she’s actually less greedy and murderous. She just has never had to hide it behind politics and sweet words, and took what she wanted openly. Her so-called hoard is nothing compared to the wealth the richest have accumulated. Even when there was nothing stopping her from gaining more, she just stopped at some point and was happy with it. While the wealthy back on earth stop for nothing and will never feel satisfied.

Yeah, fuck this. How often have I dreamed of having the power to destroy our cancerous society while living in it? If Kathy wants to have a go at it when her power has returned to her, I won’t stop her. “If I ever find a way back, I don’t mind sharing it with you”, I tell her. “I’m warning you though, if you want to make the place yours. It’s not because there is no magic that they are weak. The strongest forces can obliterate an area the size of a small country in one huge fireball. And even weak children can use weapons that can kill a bear.” Kathy stares at me. “You wouldn’t stop me?” she asks, bewildered. I smile, knowing that she won’t be able to grasp my true feelings. So instead, I tell her that for some concessions that will not impact the way she wants to live, I’d even help her. She readily agrees to this, saying we can discuss the details if I ever find a way to return there. I nod, looking forward to twisting the dragon’s sense of propriety. From taking care of its herd, into getting all humans on the planet access to free food, healthcare and shelter. When I turn back and see the faces Alicia and Dhargana are making, however. I realise once again that I should have been more discrete. And lament the cost of turning back time once more. This is going to be an interesting conversation.