A moment of silence sat between D.S. and me. I was in my bed, and he sat in a chair against the wall. It felt awkward. I was unsure if he was technically an intruder since I did want to talk to him.

"Yes, it's true, I am the one who wrote you the letter. Jonathan is a good friend of mine. He explained to me what he had already told you. My name is Daniel, by the way. Daniel Sonnet," he said.

"Jonathan didn't really tell me a lot," I replied. "Something about you liking visionaries? I am trying to remember exactly what he said.

"Yes, I do take quotes from visionaries with a degree of seriousness that most do not. But when you're someone like me, who has big plans for their future, you need as much consulting as you can get your hands on."

"And these visionaries you talk to said I was part of your future? That I was a piece to the puzzle? What does that even mean?"

"I know it might sound frustrating to you because it is to me, but I don't really know what it means. A visionary said a young boy from the other world would cross over to where he belonged. A boy from the Lementum region, wearing a particular hairstyle, a mohawk. This boy would start school in the fall and be a piece of my future puzzle. I had never received such a specific visionary reading, but when I told my good friend Jonathan to let me know if any transfer students were coming in from the other world, he said he would keep his eyes peeled for that description. Then he found you, and he wrote to me immediately. Can you understand why I would want to meet with you?"

My skin tingled with goosebumps. "Yeah, I guess. It's just weird. I'm not a very good student, and I still don't have the fire bolt all figured out. I don't even know who you are, either. I don't know where you grew up, what you do for a living, how you know Jonathan, what you could possibly want from me regarding your future, or if you're even allowed here on campus. I'm still trying to figure out how you sent me a letter."

"Yes, I understand, that's a lot of questions. Fortunately, I have some more answers that might provide you clarity. The letter was nothing too elaborate. I just sent that to a student I mentored and had them pass it along until it got to you. As for your other concerns." Daniel pressed his fingers together, forming a triangle to support his chin. "How I entered campus is not allowed, so no, I'm not supposed to be here right now. I'm truly sorry for that violation, but it wouldn't be possible any other way for me to visit you on campus. So, I am taking a risk by meeting you here tonight." Daniel took a deep breath. "I didn't grow up with a lot of money or privileges others have in their lives. In fact, my upbringing was difficult, and I didn't really fit in here on campus. It took me a while before I befriended Jonathan. I never had the kindest family, but I never let it bother me. When I was younger, I may have been mean to other students, but I recognize the folly of my ways. I became one of the top students here at Attleton, which isn't very easy to do, but there was a class that changed my life. It was the class that focused on your home world."

I was confused. "What did they focus on? Ohio? The United States? The whole globe?"

"We focused on the most populated countries but took smaller lessons about other countries. There's a lot to learn, and there's a lot of history that you would know more than I, but there's one thing that always fascinated me about the other world where you're from."

I raised my eyebrow. There wasn't anything remotely fascinating about my home world compared to this one.

"You might not realize it, but there's so much space. So much land and far more people. It's hard to conceptualize all of it. But it's a safe world, too. You don't have to worry about gargoyles wanting to go to war, or hellions flying around the ocean, or dragons, not that we see many dragons here nowadays, but your home world has so much more land waiting to be discovered or built up."

"Well, that might be great, but the idea of seeing a dragon fascinates me. Same with being able to use elemental magic. There's an expression back in my home world, the grass is always greener on the other side. Have you heard that before?"

"Yes, because it's also a common expression here." Daniel politely laughed. "But I get what you're saying."

"And truthfully, sir, even though I was attacked by a hellion, I really enjoy this place more than my home world. I didn't fit in there, and I don't fit in here yet, but it feels more like where I should belong.

"Right, right, I understand that. My fascination lies with exploring more of the world without making any concessions. For example, I've found a way where I could possibly go into your home world and be able to use elemental magic as if I was in this world."

"But why would you want to do that? And how can you even do that?"

"There are many precious minerals in your world that translate to currency in this one. You could easily become powerful and wealthy if you were to get your hands on such materials. The problem is, to create those minerals, you need to be able to use elemental magic. Right now, if I were to go there, my elemental abilities would turn into nothing. My hand might glow green, but that's it."

"How would you be able to use elemental powers in my home world?"

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"There's a lot you still don't know about this world. Our mythology is rooted in actual events. That's where people think I might be a little crazy, but everything I've come across seems to suggest it."

"Can you explain a little bit? Maybe in a condensed way that I might be able to understand?"

Daniel stared at me for a moment and took a deep breath. "I don't know. How far along are you in your studies? You said you can barely shoot out a fire bolt, correct?"

"Yes. I'm still working on it."

"It may be best to save this discussion for another time once you've learned more about this world. We can reconnect once again."

"But what would you want from me? I still can't understand why I would have to do anything with your future."

Daniel paused. "I guess the visionary had meant that you may become one of the people I take on to mentor. Ultimately, I plan on finding a way to use elemental magic in your world. And to do that, I think I might need all types of mages, as in each one of the six, to help me with this quest. I'm guessing that you might be one of those six."

I wasn't sure if I should feel flattered or frightened. Something about the entire conversation felt too bizarre. "I see. Considering I'm just a first year and still learning a lot about this place, I will have to focus on my studies and Dragonstryke abilities."

"Yes, and I totally understand, and that's what I would expect you to say. I guess what I wanted to see was your interest in some of the things I spoke with you about tonight."

"I mean, it's interesting to be able to use elemental magic in my home world the way it can be used in this world, but I'm not so sure that's a good idea. It just doesn't seem right, you know?"

"Well, it's not like we would just be using elemental magic in your home world for the sake of destruction. We would cultivate minerals that can only be made with elemental magic and bring us immense riches in Lementum. An amount of wealth most people dream of but only get to experience if they fall into a tremendous amount of luck. That's the goal."

"A get-rich-quick scheme?"

Daniel exhaled, but it sounded like a puff of laughter. "I wouldn't call it that. It's a good breakthrough discovery. We could be pioneers, bringing elemental magic into the place we don't belong. The way I see it, the innovation alone leads to mass riches."

"It kind of sounds corrupt, a little greedy too."

"You certainly have no filter. Either that, or you just don't understand. What you said just now was incredibly rude," Daniel said. His voice was calm but cold.

"Help me understand then."

"Many corrupt people hoard all of the wealth. I noticed that you could work forever and have a decent life or maybe even a horrible life, even with one of the careers they teach here at Attleton. But you will likely never experience the riches that the big business owners enjoy. And those people don't have to work anymore. They simply live, have families, and enjoy whatever they want, while the rest of us have to work just to survive. I've grown tired of that dynamic, and I've grown tired of people doubting my abilities and underestimating me. When I didn't have a career lined up upon graduating from Attleton, many professors were disappointed in me. After I turned down the offer to join the honora track program, they said it was such a waste of talent that I wasn't going on to become at least a Mage Force Officer or medic. But it just wasn't what I wanted to do. Sure, I wanted to learn the ways of that power, but I found something better. Still, it hurt when they said I could do anything, but I was wasting my talent. But that's where they're wrong. I did do something. I pursued what I wanted to learn and learned a lot. It may have taken a while, but I'm approaching the precipice of something monumental with my research and discoveries. Already, I am more powerful than they could have ever imagined."

Something about it felt off. I could understand his struggles with a challenging financial situation. That part appealed to me, but the way he finished the last few sentences sounded vengeful. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off as rude earlier. I guess you're right, I didn't understand, and I still don't. I don't even know what an honora track program is."

There was a pause and silence between us.

"And that's why we should talk again after you've spent more time here and have grown older. We can revisit this conversation, and things will make more sense. How does that sound to you?" Daniel said.

"Uh, sure. I can't say I'll change my mind because I want to do things right now. You know, like, go to school here, keep learning about how this magic works and give things some time to settle in."

"Exactly, which is why it's best we meet later. My apologies for rushing into things here. You can imagine my curiosity once I spoke with the visionary."

"Yeah, I understand."

Even through the dark room, I could see Daniel smile in the moonlight. "Well then, we will be in touch. By the way, how are you feeling? I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you on campus. That's extremely unfortunate. I've never heard of anything like that happening before."

The entire time my brain was focused on the conversation. But when I thought about my physical health, I moved around in place a little more. Everything felt completely normal. No movement was restricted. Nothing was remotely sore. "I'm actually feeling a lot better. The medical care of this place is incredible. I'd probably be in the hospital for a few days if I had this injury back in my home world."

"Ah, yes, the magic from a mage devoted to medical practice is precious. And Susan here is one of the best in all of Lementum. Glad you're feeling better." Daniel stood up and walked towards the door. "I just have one other thing to tell you, Rollie. I mustn't forget."

"Yeah?"

"Do not tell a soul of my visit with you tonight. Nor should you ask anyone for any information about me. Unless you want to talk to the Head Counselor, Jonathan, about anything we discussed, that would be acceptable. However, do not tell anyone else."

"Why?"

"I already told you it was against school protocol for me to visit you tonight. You don't want to be in any more trouble."

"Any more trouble? What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, there was no ulterior meaning to what I said. It's true. You don't want to be in trouble if you're on campus. And I fear if you tell anyone I was here, you would be seen as an accomplice in helping me get on campus, and then who knows what would happen after that."

I nodded. Even though it was dark, he could see me move. "Got it. I won't tell anyone."

"It's for your benefit. Have a good night, Rollie. I'll reach back out to you at a later date. In the meantime, enjoy your studies and your time as much as possible while you're here. It's a wonderful place, and I do miss it." Daniel bowed his head and walked out of the room.

I sat in bed, watching the door for a little while before laying back down. I didn't know how to feel. Scared? Worried? Should I actually tell anyone what happened?