Jake stared at her, the realization sinking in. How had he missed it? He blinked, searching for any missed signs in his memory that he might have overlooked. She had navigated the hallways of the manor with such ease through the pitch-black darkness that the thought had never even had a chance to settle in.

  How do I even respond to that.

  “I… Uhhh,” he stammered, unsure how to respond. His first instinct had been to say something like, “I’m sorry to hear that,” but he held back, realizing how insensitive it would have sounded. Instead, he instinctively covered his face, wishing he could turn into dust.

  God, kill me already.

  Ella laughed hysterically. “This is so much fun,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Brother and Joshua always feel the need to tell everyone about it before I get to meet them, so I never get to hear an honest reaction.” She smiled slyly. “But hah! I’ve finally found one untouched by their evil spells. I can almost visually sense your uneasiness!”

  Jake sank deeper into his own arms, utterly embarrassed. Ella regained composure, and tapped the palm of her hand, signaling for him to place his in hers.

  “Back on track,” she said reassuringly. “I’ll show you how to read like I do.”

  “I’m not sure I’ll be any good at this… hell, I’ve never even used magic before.” Jake said, while finally lifting his head.

  “Trust me,” Ella responded simply, to which Jake felt like he had no choice but to put his hand atop of hers. He had expected her skin to be roughened by constant use, but instead, it was soft, astonishingly delicate. Ella reached for a random book off the nearest shelf. The book’s cover hinted at it being an encyclopedia. She flipped it open to a random page containing a majestically hand-drawn winged lion with a description underneath.

  She held onto Jake’s hand and guided it across the foreign characters on the yellowed sheet. “Close your eyes.” she said. “Channel your aura towards the tip of your fingers.”

  Jake breathed in deeply, trying to follow her instructions. It felt strange, as if he were trying to control his blood-flow, but slowly, it began to make sense. He could feel the faint tingling sensation at his fingertips.

  “So?” Ella asked, her face lit with anticipation. “What does it say?”

  The words whispered directly into his mind. “The last Griffin,” he read aloud, “The revered and feared guardians of the sacred.”

  “Woohoo!” Ella cheered, raising her hand for a high-five.

  I guess high-fives are universal throughout worlds.

  The normally reserved and lackadaisical Jake felt compelled to match her infectious energy as their hands eagerly met with a loud slap. The bruises from his earlier spar, however, weren’t as eager.

  “But… where do I even start?” Jake asked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of books surrounding them.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Ella shrugged, “Whatever catches your eye.”

  sigh.

  Jake nodded, glancing at the rows upon rows of books. He wandered, scanning the endless shelves filled with books of all shapes and sizes. He began to gather books that either caught his interest or that he believed could aid him in knowing more about the world. In the end, he had assembled a collection of: Encyclopedias, they were sure to provide an immense amount of data on nearly any subject; Volumes on Magic Theory & Principles, offering insights into the arcane concepts of magic that was so foreign to him; History books, lined with information on the Adwae and Nodine war, it’s rulers and etc; Atlas of the Kingdom, filled with intricately drawn maps and notes on it’s lands.

  By the time he was done, he had collected a diverse array of books, making him feel like a high school student preparing to cram the night before their final exams. He laid them out on the long wooden table.

  Here goes nothing.

  ***

  Lynn walked through the automatic doors of Saint L?we Hospital. She had been worried sick about Jake ever since he went unconscious in his apartment during the hurricane two days earlier. The hospital brimmed with the sterile smell of disinfectant and the hushed voices of medical staff as she approached the reception desk.

  “I’m here to see Jake?” Lynn said in an unsure manner, realizing she was unaware of his last name. “He was admitted two days ago due to a concussion.” She added, hoping the added information would aid the receptionist.

  The receptionist tapped away at her computer, “Jacob Olseen,” She said. Her brow furrowed slightly. “I’m sorry, but it looks like Jacob was just discharged a few moments ago. You must have just missed him.”

  Lynn blinked in surprise. “Oh, really? That’s… good, right?” A wave of relief washed over her. If Jake had been discharged, it meant he was well enough to go home. She thanked the receptionist and turned to leave, with her mind already moving on.

  However, as she stepped out of the hospital and into the bright sunlight, Lynn’s moment of relief evaporated just as quickly as it came. The scene before her was nothing short of insanity. In the middle of the street, surrounded by a sea of honking cars and gawking pedestrians, stood Jake. He looked utterly lost and stared wide-eyed at the vehicles encircling him.

  “Jake!” Lynn shouted, her heart leaping. Without a second thought, she dashed into the street. She grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the sidewalk. “What are you doing? Are you suicidal!”

  Jake’s eyes met hers, filled with a mixture of confusion and defiance. “Unhand me, woman! I do not belong in your strange realm.”

  Lynn’s grip tightened as she tugged him towards the hospital entrance. “What are you talking about? You just got out of the hospital. You need to go back inside before you hurt yourself, or even worse, hurt others.”

  “You wench!” Jake protested vehemently, his voice rising. “Release me at once!”

  As they neared the hospital doors, Jake suddenly wrenched his arm free from her grasp. She whirled around, ready to grab him again, but the look in his eyes stopped her short. The determination and intensity made her pause. The Jake from work she had known was nowhere to be seen. She felt troubled thinking about how badly the concussion might have injured him.

  “You doubt my words?” Jake challenged, taking a step back. with dozens of on-lookers still spectating. “Then I shall prove to you my claims!”

  Before Lynn could react, Jake thrust his right arm out, supporting it with his left. His teeth gritted and face contorted with concentration. The air around them thickened, growing heavy and charged with what appeared to be an unseen energy. Lynn and the many on-lookers watched in disbelief as a swirling vortex of wind began to form around Jake’s outstretched hand. The miniature tornado grew in intensity, whipping at their clothes and hair. With a grunt of effort, Jake released the swirling energy. It shot forward like a cannonball, striking the street with a billowing cloud of dust obscuring their view for a moment. As the dust settled, the small crater where the energy ball had struck became visible.

  Lynn stood frozen, her mind struggling to process what she had just witnessed. The street was in chaos, with car alarms blaring and people shouting in panic. But all she could focus on was Jake, standing there with a look of grim satisfaction on his face.