As I look out the doorway, I don't really know what I was expecting. I think something along the path of either a dark and dreary world that literally reeks of technology, or a world of sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns grazing in the nearby field. Neither of these fantasies are the case though.

  There are these black, locomotive-like cars that chug down the street with a trail of white puffs of smoke coming from the exhaust pipe; and there are people, some completely black from head to toe, walking briskly up and down the streets. This whole scene reminds me of the industrial revolution, almost like I stepped into one of my old history books and was now standing in the polluted streets.

  One thing catches me by surprise as I look to the sky, it's blue. It's not the gray color of a polluted city or covered in thick clouds of smog a city like this would traditionally have. It's a clear sky with little wisps of white clouds sprinkling the sky. I smile as I feel the sun's warmth seem to sink into my skin.

  Addie looks at me and with a smile, she says, "Not what you were thinking, were you?"

  "No," I whisper in surprise, "not really."

  She winks at me and replies, "Come on, there is more in this world to see than just my front lawn." Addie then grabs my arm and starts walking down the road. I stare in awe and curiosity, wondering where in the world I am. That's right, I'm in Teiphriam.

  I look at Addie and then look back down at my feet, which I suddenly realise is covered in a worn brown boot that I don't recognise. Addie notices, stops, and looks at me with one eyebrow raised, "What's on your mind?"

  "Uhhh...well, ummm...I don't really know...I mean...I..."

  She rolls her eyes and speaks in a sarcastic tone, "Have you even talked to another human being before? I mean, no offense, but you should be able to form a single sentence."

  "Sorry...I didn't mean..."

  "I'm teasing," she looks at me with a look bordering on disbelief, "really, you don't have to apologise. I understand." I must be looking at her with a question written with permanent marker on my face because she goes on to saying, "You're in a new place that you don't recognise and you really don't know anyone. I don't know where my mind has gone because you probably want to know the history or at least what this place is," Addie looks at me for a look of conformation, "right?"

  I'm nodding my head and open my mouth to say something, but Addie doesn't catch it.

  "Okay, so the world you're in is Tiephriam. Tiephriam, unlike your strange world, is solely dependent on steam and cogs. That's what's in our cars, homes, and basically everything that is here. Steam is pretty efficient considering that all you need is water. We're much more efficient than earth ever will be. Anyways, another aspect of Tiephriam are people's names. Ummm..." she has a look of consideration painted onto her face, "let me explain this in a way you understand.

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  "Our names here are kind of the reverse of what they would be on Earth. For example, say I was...I don't know...Sadie on earth. If I were to travel through the portal and go to Tiephriam, my name would now be Eidas. Does that make sense?"

  "Yeah, kind of..."

  "Why? What's up?"

  "Ummm," I look at her, a little worried about what her reaction might be, "why do you call me Riley instead of...you know..."

  "Yelir?"

  "Yeah." I look back at the ground, feeling the unwelcome warmth of a blush spreading across my face.

  "Don't worry," Addie lifts my head with both hands, "we just didn't want you to, you know, freak when you got here. Even though you kind of did. But that doesn't matter, I can call you by Yelir if you want me to."

  I look at Addie's determined yet sympathetic gaze, "Ummm, I don't...uh...really care...ummm..."

  A look of decision flashes across her face, "Nevermind, I'll just call you Riley," she grabs my arm and starts walking again down the street, "anyways, where did I leave off?"

  I look at her and mutter softly, "You mentioned something...umm...about...ummm...a portal?"

  Addie looks at me with a look of an older sister who has run out of patience, "I swear Riley, if you say 'ummm' one more time, I will smack you!" She looks dead serious too.

  "Okay, I won't say...uh," she raises her eyebrow, "that again. Sorry."

  "Eeesh...anyways, where were we? Ah, the portal.

  "The reason why at the portal I had to call you Yelir is because you have to call yourself what your name is in the world you're going to. Does that make sense?" I shook my head in disagreement. "Okay, so for example, when I was going to Tiephriam from earth, I had to call myself Adleremse because it's my earth name but spelled backwards. Now, if I were going to earth, I would have to say 'Earth. And my name is'," a look of repulsion crosses her face, "'Esmerelda.' Since that's my name on earth."

  Addie looks at me and says, "I know I've probably boiled the frog for too long, but do you get my point?"

  I look at her with my face in utter confusion, "Boiled the frog?"

  "Yeah, boiled the frog. When you talk about something for more time than needs be?" I just look at her and give Addie a shrug of the shoulder. "Anyways, then the portal opens up to the other world, you walk in and boom, you're there. Any questions?"

  I start to open my mouth to ask a question about the logistics about the portal until I see that we reached a plaza with booths bordering the perimeter. Banners were lifted into the air advertising different goods, people were squished together like a pack of sardines walking from stand to stand, and children were running around laughing, blowing bubbles for entertainment.

  I stare in amazement around the scene, taking it all in, when my eyes are suddenly drawn to a figure in a nearby stall. He has dark brown hair worn in almost a messy fashion, freckles peppering his skin like snowflakes on a winter's day, a smile that seems to greet anybody who comes to meet him, and these bright green brilliant eyes that seem to smile along with his mouth at any person who passes by. He wears a black flour stained shirt that seems to add contrast to his tanned muscular arms with brown pants with holes in the knees.

  I feel my jaw drop and Addie's smile widen as I stare at this holy figure. I turn to look into her blue and gold eyes as I ask, unintentionally, in the most daydreamy voice, "Who is he?"

  "That," she turns to look at the boy who is now selling bread to a mother with two active children racing around her figure, laughing as they show him how fast they can go, "is Semaj."