Spires of splendid stone loomed over palisades, with fountains of cascading springs.

Castles of crystal glimmered and shimmered in the distance.

Gates of ornamented silver and gold encapsulated the entire perimeter.

As if announcing to mother nature that this is where civilization and sophistication begin.

Magic was in the air.

It crackled and sparked and made everything else shine.

The world before this had been devoid of color compared to this mural of advancement.

Carts did not rattle, they floated.

People did not live, they thrived.

Stolen story; please report.

Everything and everyone seemed to have a purpose.

I felt out of place.

“Holy, bracers, you really sold the place short on this one Ronald.”

To, Robert and my surprise, Ronald, the shy and silent, was surrounded by a group of robe-toting gentlemen, talking up a storm.

Ronald Descarte…

You don’t say, young Ronald is back

Descarte’s fine-blooded prodigy.

Robert’s thick dwarven accent broke through the crowd.

“Ronald, I think you better explain to me and the boy what in Forges Heaven is going on here, who are ya, lad?”

Sitting in a machination that seemed technological and magical, Ronald explained his family history.

Explained his endeavors and accomplishments as a youth.

And finally, explained his self-given journey of traveling the realm, exploring and experiencing, everything that he had only ever read in study.

As the wagon, cart, and floating device came to a stop.

Our eyes rested on a mansion of marble.

An estate of the utmost opulence.

A fairy tale come to life.

Well, this is home.

Let's go inside.

I'll introduce you to the family.

Suddenly, as if noticing for the first time

My clothes seemed rags.

My breath a horrid smell

Myself unworthy….

Uhh, Ronald, this...

I motioned to our current traveling gear.

He smiled, his gypsy smile, now with a sparkle of nobility

Oh God no. The house tailor will have us fitted up before we enter the main house.

Robert and I grinned nervously and followed, Ronald Descartes, our traveling companion, the future of the house of magic, into his domain.