World Between: Chapter 1 part 2

Most everyone had elected to take a few days off to collect themselves. And if Jen and Aaron were being honest, to get away from Jared for a bit. Jen was waiting to hear from her sister, which gave Aaron an excuse for his walk.

“You.” Talmo stated having answered the door for Sofia. “Want to learn magic?”

“Look, I’d… I think we should know about this world before we-” To his surprise Aaron heard a familiar voice yell at him.

“Oh, now he wants to learn before he acts!?” Sofia shouted from a room pretty close to the door. Despite Talmo’s impressive protest, Aaron eventually made it into where Sofia was laying on a bed.

“I couldn’t teach you even if I wanted to.” Sofia stated before yawning. “I’ve wasted far too much dark magic hunting you down.”

“So there’s a cost?” Aaron questioned.

“Something like that.” Sofia half grumbled as she turned away from him. Aaron walked over looking at her. “Jeez, it’s not that serious...” While the gesture briefly got her attention she still insisted on looking away, which left her unprepared when he touched her shoulder. There was a small yip before she planted a small book into his chest as he backed off. “Two days.” She stated firmly. “Have your two picked out by then, and we can try to teach you some basics.” Arron looked at Talmo

“She’d be more than ready by then, lad.” Talmo stated. “She just has mixed feelings on teaching the enemy better means of survival.”

“Where did you get that?” Meisa questioned as Aaron walked in. “More importantly…” She paused unsure of how to ask her next question.

“I requested to stay with just Aaron after Jared and Cindy both yelled at us. Cain was opposed to that, but Anna made them cave in.” Jen summarized.

“I see…” Meisa stated with a bit of curiosity. “And the book?”

“I… kind of wanted to learn… Maybe it-” There were swirls of color, and a storm of wild magic as Aaron opened the book briefly before Meisa managed to close it.

“That being the case. Jill would like Jen to join you.” Meisa stated. “She’ll cover the basics when they meet.” Meisa took a bow, and walked out before anyone could ask any further questions. Jen got up, and she and Aaron walked towards each other. Once again opening the book.

The walls around them slowly collapsed before the pieces climb up themselves forming into mountains and towers. Seeming unbreakable objects stood here. Barring a weight that even they found hard to move. Standing on top of the world as they did made it difficult not to feel in charge until something with wings swooshed straight past them. The bird held a speed that made Aaron and Jen think it could teleport before it landed on Jen's arm greeting them eagerly. “Quite the curious one aren’t you?” Jen asked, noting the many stains in the bird's feathers. The bird eagerly replied with an affirmative sounding cheep.

“Don’t make fun of him.” Aaron replied as Jen lightly chuckled. “I’d explore everything too, if I could go that fast.”

“God you’d be worse than my sister, both of you.” Jen stated as it started to rain all around them. The droplets seem to hold some command of the future as they came down. Their reflections showing an image of what would happen seconds later. Some shifted into bubbles while others ripped into the air itself, but all of them worked together to make a masterpiece before vanishing.

“Ugh, does it have to be this hot?” Jen stated as fire began to rise and crackle before ascending into a roaring burst of flame.

“You could pull off something pretty strong stuff with some of these.” Aaron stated before watching as the biggest flames went out.

“Sure if you like leaving yourself defendless after.” Jen stated just before a flash of light temporarily blinded both. When they could see again they stood in a temple. Its walls flawlessly structured radiating order and purity. The only changes coming when the ground shook as a twisted looking breast marched through. While the temple contained some impressive weapons, the endless assault of incredibly powerful attacks faded upon reaching the beast. The creature marched forward using no magic, and paying no mind to anything around it. It simply walked into the open sand and stone where Jen and Aaron now stood. A blatantly harsh landscape seemed to offer little. But where the canyons had lost their usual charm, the wildlife had gained a majesty. A squirrel made of grass left a trail when its tail dragged. A fearsome wolf zigzagged into several rocks breaking through them for the fruit that had found a way to grow within. The wolf yawned as the vast world around him passed by before the ground once again shocked around Aaron and Jen once again. From the stones vaguely humanoid creatures emerged before wandering mindlessly around this new land. The air around the plains had a light calming feel to it. And like the green light the creatures around them used for eyes, it held an acceptance of the world around it. A lack of concern for the impurity it could create. Then with large puffs of smoke happening all around them the plains turned to swamp. The experiences were as unquestionably real as the reality causing them was unquestionably not. Impossible things could be. Unimaginable things could be felt. But no matter how long it lasted, its effects faded with it. Including the illusions of the book.

“I suppose that’s one way to teach someone.” Jen stated. “Though I’m sure what i’m supposed to do with that.”

“Oh, come on, it was pretty cool.” Aaron stated. “Sofia said something about having two picked out.”

“That’s it?” Jen questioned. “What a waste of time and resources” Jen stated getting her stuff ready. “At least I’ll still be on time, I guess.” She stated before walking out, and leaving a confused Aaron behind.

Jen walked up to the rather intimidating guard slowly. “I...um…. My name is Jennifer Prior.” The guard nodded before answering.

“Any attempts to-” A bird-like figure nosedived into the lake behind him before he finished.

“She wouldn’t dream of it.” Jill’s voice answered through the body of a soaking wet harpy that had just resurfaced. “Just settle down, and let a couple sisters talk, would ya?”

“Jill…” Jen stated as the harpy planted her talons on to dry land. The face was almost a perfect match, and a water loving harpy was fitting for her sister.

“Jen.” Jill responded, approaching her sister. “Look I… I thought you would’ve wanted to come, but…” Jill jumped back slightly as Jen hugged her before hugging back. Jill looked at the guard behind Jen. “Are you… You’re actually trying to undo this?”

“You’re not a Harpy, Jill.” Jen stated. “You’re not supposed to fly!”

“We weren’t supposed to be a lot of things.” Jill replied causing Jen to look down and away. There was a long pause from Jill who regretted her words almost as she spoke them, but quickly finished her thought  “But i’m happy here… ” It would be a long, awkward, talk for the reunited sisters, and days before anyone would see them again. But something gave Sofia some hope as she looked out towards where they would be, which made life seem a little calmer even when Aaron came in.

“So.” Sofia stated pushing herself up from the balcony she was leaning on as she turned to look at Aaron. “Shall we?”