“I've been in another world,” I blurt out without preamble as soon as I enter the apartment. “Another fucking world, can you believe it? Look, I'm still shaking,” I say, showing her one of my hands.
“What are you talking about?” she asks, confused, taking me by the hand toward the living room. “Sit down, you look about to pass out any moment.”
I let myself fall onto the couch and place the book on the table. I don't even know where to begin telling what happened.
“Try to calm down and start from the beginning!” she suggests, sitting next to me.
“Okay, let's see... Colt sold the magic book,” I explain, though the words come out of my mouth confusedly. “I went to an old store to buy it back, but the owner, some guy named Pearshield, tricked me. There was a portal, and suddenly I fell through a tunnel and appeared in a strange forest... oh, and there was a woman, someone named Maris Brightcrown, very pretty, but I think a little crazy. Sheinsisted the book belonged to her family and that I had to stay there with her and I... Don't look at me like that, damn it, I'm not making it up, even if it seems like it.”
“Wait,” Althea interrupts me, turning the obsidian stone between her fingers. “Did you say Maris Brightcrown?”
“Yes, that one, do you know her?”
Althea pales, something I didn't think possible in a Kobold.
“Oh, fuck,” she sighs.
“Is that bad?”
“It's worse. She's the daughter of the current Fae king. How did you manage to escape from her?”
“I used my magic,” I respond, surprising myself with how naturally I say those words. “I don't know, I got very nervous and created a gust of wind that pushed her backward, and then I jumped back through the portal before she could stop me.”
Althea hides her face in her hands, and just at that moment, the apartment door opens and Sylara enters. Her expression changes slightly when she sees us, and she approaches without making the slightest noise, as is usual for her.
“What's happening?” she asks, crouching in front of me.
“She's been to Aifshara.”
“What?”
Althea quickly summarizes what I just told her. The elf listens in silence, as if reflecting, though she manages not to show emotions.
“This is a serious setback,” she finally whispers.
“Yeah, no shit, the word serious falls way short,” the Kobold growls.
“Okay, can you explain to me once and for all what's going on?”
“If the Brightcrowns know of your existence and that you have the book, they won't stop until they recover it.”
“Why is that book so important?” I ask. “I mean, I know it contains spells and all that shit, but it seems like there's something more.”
Sylara and Althea exchange a look.
“It's one of the foundational texts of elemental magic,” Sylara explains. “It contains secrets that were thought lost since the fragmentation of the realms. I don't know how Kaelisar managed to steal it from Aifshara's forbidden library, but if he gave it to you, he must have a motive beyond simply helping you control your powers.”
“Do you think there's something hidden in it?” Althea asks.
“It's possible,” Sylara nods. “The Fae are masters at hiding information in plain sight.”
The apartment door opens again, and Sabina enters. She has her cell phone glued to her ear and seems very agitated.
“Desi, listen to me, please,” she begs in an almost desperate tone. “It doesn't matter what Kaelisar told you, it's not safe. I'm going to get you out of there, do you hear me? I'm going to come for you and...”
She stops, frowning as she grunts something in a language I don't understand.
“Desi? Are you there?”
