The morning sun slowly crept over the horizon as the Angelic Sea Hare neared its destination. Above, angler gulls soared high in the sky, circling as they searched for their next meal.
Along the channel's edge, Blubberbeasts lay sound asleep, their massive forms rising and falling with each slow breath. Women and children leaned over the rails, eyes wide with wonder, gasping at their sheer cuteness.
Lucien had to admit—they were way cuter than the seals back on Earth.
"Master, I want one!" Clorinde turned to Petronilla, pleading with wide eyes.
Petronilla chuckled, gently placing a hand on her head. "Maybe one day… I'll get you something even better than that."
Lucien crossed his arms, a chill running down his spine. Why do I get the feeling that 'something better' is going to be something dangerous?
Also, why was the blue water gradually shifting into such a vibrant green? Was it because they were in shallow waters?
Lucien shifted his gaze toward Petronilla.
"Master, why does the water look so different here?" he asked, curiosity lighting up his eyes.
"Not sure," Petronilla replied casually. "Maybe it's because these waters are blessed."
"Blessed?" Lucien asked, curiosity piqued by her words.
"Those who possess Visions can breathe underwater in this part of Fontaine," Petronilla explained.
"No way! I want my Vision now more than ever!" Lucien exclaimed.
"I'm sure the gods will grant you one, seeing how brilliant you are," Petronilla replied with genuine warmth.
Before he could ask another question, something ahead caught his eye—massive blue cubes hovering in the air like suspended water, with structures embedded within them.
"Mesdames et messieurs, we are now approaching the Fontaine Research Institute," the Captain spoke through the intercom.
"We are currently passing through an area affected by kinetic energy research. The floating cubes you see above are remnants of a failed experiment. An explosion destroyed the original laboratory, so the new facility has been relocated—just to your right."
Lucien turned and spotted a stone building with its roof partially blown off.
What in the hell are they doing in there to blow half the place apart? he wondered.
The captain's voice returned over the intercom, calm and formal.
"Our journey together is nearing its end. Please prepare to disembark shortly. It has been an honor to have you aboard the Angelic Sea Hare. We thank you for sailing with us, and wish you well in the days to come."
The ship's horn roared, sending birds scattering into the sky as it soared overhead.
Children ran along the shoreline, pointing and waving excitedly at the passengers aboard.
Their laughter carried across the waters to the ship as they splashed in the water, cooling off beneath the warm sun.
The ship slowly docked, its hull groaning against the harbor.
On the pier, numerous Gardes stood on alert, their sharp eyes scanning the area—each one flanked by imposing dogs that resembled German Shepherds, alert and disciplined.
"Finally, get me off this boat," Lucien grumbled under his breath. The journey had been nothing but a blur of his sister constantly pestering him for something to do.
Eventually, they ended up playing this world's version of Dungeons & Dragons—thanks to their master, who somehow roped them into a fully scripted roleplay session.
Lucien had found it painfully cringe, especially the part where he had to act out scenes.
But Clorinde had enjoyed every second of it.
Well… he had to admit, even if it was cringe, it was kind of fun. His acting skills, however, were absolutely terrible—so bad that even their master couldn't help but chuckle at him.
That remaining him, his friends back on Earth, loved playing D&D. They'd invited him to plenty of sessions, but he always refused.
He sighed. I hope everything's okay back there…
They'd been good friends to him. Shaking the thought away, he followed along with the rest of the passengers.
A small ramp on the side of the ship lowered, and one by one, everyone began to carefully make their way onto the dock.
Lucien and Clorinde had gotten a bit distracted, their eyes darting between the crowds and the vibrant stalls lining the path.
Vendors called out,showcasing everything from food and clothing to curious trinkets—each one trying to grab the attention of those walking by.
"C'mon, you two! The aquabus is going to leave without us," Petronilla called out, glancing back at them.
Back on Earth:
Andrew's head was ringing—he didn't know what had happened. One moment, he was chatting with his friends, and the next, everything was pain and chaos.
He gasped as he touched his forehead, feeling the warm trickle of blood. His vision blurred, but it slowly began to make sense—they had been in a car accident.
He was in the driver's seat. The car was upside down. And then he saw it—a body lying motionless on the pavement, twisted unnaturally.
Dead.
He knew who it was.
"Alex!" he shouted, panic flooding his voice. He fumbled with the seatbelt, finally freeing himself and falling onto the car's roof, now the floor.
Before he could even process what to do next, hands reached in and grabbed him—civilians, rushing to help.
"Easy, kid. The ambulance is on its way," a middle-aged man said, helping Andrew lie down gently.
Nearby, others were pulling his friends from the wreckage—shaken, but alive.
It was just Alex…
Andrew couldn't even look at the body. His stomach twisted, and he felt like he was going to throw up.
"Easy, kid. The ambulance is on its way," a middle-aged man said, helping Andrew lie down gently.
Others had also pulled his friends from the wreckage—shaken, bruised, but alive.
Even the driver from the truck had been dragged out of their vehicle, still breathing.
But Alex…
Andrew couldn't even look at his body. His stomach twisted, and he felt like he was going to throw up.
Not long after, the sound of sirens—blue and red—rushed to the scene, but in that moment, everything felt wrong.
The air was thick with unease, and those gathered around couldn't shake the feeling. People stood frozen, recording the scene on their phones, exchanging uneasy glances, wondering if anyone else felt it.
Then, Andrew saw something that defied all logic. Alex's body began to glow with a golden light, a steady, pulsing radiance.
Slowly, the body rose from the asphalt, and before anyone could react, his body started to fade away.
The bystanders, including police, firemen, and EMTs, were paralyzed in stunned silence, unable to comprehend what was happening.
No one had time to process what had just happened before the ground suddenly shook—an unnatural tremor that rippled through the city. A wave of energy surged outward, knocking out power and plunging everything into darkness.
Andrew stood in shock, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed. But something snapped him out of it—the spot where his friend's body had vanished began to distort. The very air shattered, splitting open as if reality itself was being torn apart.
From the breach, a claw slowly emerged, its presence foreign and menacing, freezing every onlooker in place with sheer disbelief.
Unknown to the people of Earth, the moment Alex's soul crossed into another world, their own had already begun to change—whether for better or worse, only time would tell.