Rufus told me to sit on my cozy bed and I was glad that no one else was home to hear about the Mirror Worlds. I had snuck home from school for what was the first time ever, just to listen to his cautionary tale. Instead, Rufus told me first about Causality but I think a little went over my head:

“The Mirror Worlds are connected in order of distance by rules we don’t understand, that makes sure that similar events happen alongside each other in each world even though the locale and history of each Earth is different.

For example, have you ever wondered how I could be from a distant place and still my name sounds like a human name, and my language is eerily like English? Because we never call it that but the same words happen to form the most popular language on each Earth.

For that reason, I’m certain that you’ve heard of Devilin. It was synthesized in a lab for the first time recently so that means that it was also invented here, in Luminaire City. That’s how things work.”

“Yes,” I scrambled in place, “I remember an urban rumor. I think Blake told it to me once. I guess I never scrutinized it, because a lot of weird things happen on the outer fringes of our living space.”

The outer edges of Luminaire City where mainly put aside for agriculture, I remember my Geography teacher telling me. (Geography has become a rather easy subject.)

It was a scary story always told among middle schoolers, who mostly believe everything. Someone had created a drug, the ultimate taboo to my age group, that supposedly brings great euphoria, but causes deep and painful transformations to the body. Rather, I don’t dare recall the story, but I told Rufus about a nightmare I had after I heard the story.

Somewhere in the last wooded areas, anywhere, I always ran into the drug users, covered in the black of night and with nasty talons, claws and horns. It made them so hungry and violent, I could remember.

I felt the same fear again when Rufus told me that the real effects of Devilin were, while not so extreme, virtually the same in MW3 humans, or he had learned in his long service from the few of those who had latent magic abilities.

Instead, most of the other ‘races’ could use them instead to power their magic and did not have the side effects. That was why I didn’t even notice when Josten was using some herself.

“Well, I would hate to run into them at night,” I laughed, “So, what would happen to me if some happened to splash on me.”

“Well, we don’t know how exactly people on this world possibly got the highly magical salve that doesn’t follow the conventions of regular drugs. But then I would have to stay with you and I hope you know that neither of us wants that,” he paused for a moment, “Since you’re still so small, Lilian, a small splash would metabolize a little by little, and then bam, then you’d feel it all at once. Anyway, Goodnight.”

That night I didn’t sleep very much, but I remembered dreaming about raw meat and violence. So, by tommorow I got the chance to see my friends ago, but I also had to tell Rufus that something had to be done. It was an ingenious plan. I would get Rose to act like an adult and create an excuse for my parents, and Rufus could take me wherever I needed to go, though, at the time, I didn’t understand exactly what this foretold.

Next weekend, I forced myself to focus on what I would say and act like in front of my parents, for when Rose would arrived. When she came, she was in very nice clothes and Blake tugged behind her. I had coordinated with her so Rose would have more credibility as a stranger.

She was but one of the friends I could trust, someone who had no concern that really, I was going on a weekend trip with strangers, and one that trusted me in return in my choice of travel companions. Of course, the plan was that after acting in front of my parents she would go back home, no questions asked.

Father answered the door, “Why hello, Blake. I think Lily is home so who don’t you come in. Oh, who are you, young lady?”

“My name is um, Rose. And I’m a youth mentor for Lily and Blake. Actually I wanted to talk to you about a weekend camp for Lily."

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I’ve heard that she’s had some trouble with her grades so far, and I hope she goes into high school on a high note.”

So, not only did she sound like she had never planned to say those words, she also had to bring that up.

“Oh. She would never need something like that. Lily! Is that someplace you want go,” he yelled.

I walked up to the door meekly, already with luggage in tow, “Ahem, my grades aren’t anything to worry about Dad, but I really want to go to that camp. I want to see what the outer city edges look like. Please? I’m sure they’d be something they can teach me.”

“Well, aren’t I proud. Anyway, the problem is that it’d be hard to contact you so far out. I know, you’ll have Blake with you, but have you told Mom yet? And what about the kids, well they’re old enough to play by themselves now. You know what, I’ll tell them. You need to get going right?”

It was surprising how easily people budge when you ask them a favor. Of course, it was not five minutes out the door that Rose said, “I’m coming too. I want to see the other worlds.”

“Hmm, but do you really have the time to spare?”

Blake added meekly, “Me too. I’ve already made arrangements with my parents.”

But for her to know about that, she would have first known about the realms of magic.

“Rose?” I couldn’t contain myself.

“She already knew.”