A Little Teleportation for your Trip

“So…. you read my aura,” Arasine said, still a bit baffled by it. “What…. What did you see?”

Khaalida smiled slightly. “Your colors showed truth, and promise. It shows you are pure of heart, and your quest is with noble intent.”

“...Oh,” Arasine said, still not quite getting it but letting the subject drop. “So… any advice on where to go next?”

Khaalida smiled, thinking about all the various places she had gone before. “First things first, come with me.”

Arasine felt like he needed to trot to keep up with Khaalida’s excited gait. Thalor followed close behind, and admittedly Arasine kept glancing back at his friend with baffled looks as Khaalida led them through twisting halls.

“You are in luck, my brother is here today!” Khaalida said, as they took dizzying turns around and around, climbing a high tower.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Arasine murmured, mostly to himself, but he heard Thalor snort out a laugh.

As they reached the top, Arasine was breathing a bit heavy, and looked around in surprise. They were in some…. Tower? Surrounding them was a whole bunch of strange contraptions that really had Arasine questioning what went on up here.

“Ilkay, where did you go?”

A crash was heard, and a slightly frazzled looking black stallion appeared from behind the large contraptions.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Ilkay said, shaking the dust off his back.

“Is everything ready?” Khaalida asked.

“Yes, and oh, you brought friends?” Ilkay said, looking over Arasine and Thalor.

“Uh, Hi,” Arasine said with a half grin.

“Awesome, are you ready?” Khaalida asked.

Ilkay nodded, then looked around the crowded tower room. “Let’s head outside, everything is ready to go.”

“What is going on?” Arasine muttered to Thalor as they followed Khaalida and Ilkay back down the dizzying staircase, out of the city, and to where a large archway stood.

“Not certain,” Thalor admitted. “But I’m sure it will be interesting.”

The kirin had a twinkle to his eyes that made Arasine grimace.

“Alright, are you ready to go to the next region?” Khaalida asked, and Arasine blinked.

“Uhm, what?” Arasine asked.

“It’s a teleportation device!” Khaalida grinned.

“Uh….. What?”

Khaalida grinned. “Off to the Plains! Good luck!”

Strange swirling light formed in the archway and Khaalida ushered Arasine forward, half shoving him through the archway.

As Arasine stepped forward, he felt like his body was tingling and electrified, but lo and behold, he was indeed in the Plains, and it was night.

Thalor and Ilkay followed soon after, and Ilkay frowned slightly.

“Hm, more work to do on it, there seems to be a time slip,” the stallion said. “Besides the point, follow me!”

“Do we go with the weird dude who made a portal happen?” Arasine said, watching as Ilkay moved toward a neat looking city with two towers rising high above it.

“We are in the Plains, after all,” Thalor said with a shrug, the kirin looking a bit baffled.

“These Quirlicorns are strange,” Arasine said as they hurried after the black stallion.

“Maybe they are strange because you have only hung out with Kirin,” Thalor pointed out.

“I dunno about that,” Arasine said. “The couple townsfolk we met didn’t seem this strange. Does the power just… go to your head?”

“I guess we are going to find out,” Thalor chuckled, as they caught up to Ilkay.

“Welcome to Arcanum, uh… what did you say your names were?” Ilkay said.

“We, uh, didn’t. I’m Arasine, and this is Thalor,” Arasine said.

“Ah, good, good. You can rest here for the night, but I’m sure Sirona has some use for you down in Torre,” Ilkay said, leading them to the outside what looked like a tavern.

“Thanks?” Arasine said, but Ilkay was already walking away.

“No, I really just think these people are strange,” Arasine said with a sigh, watching him go.

“Made our travel quicker though, didn’t it?” Thalor pointed out.

“I guess so,” Arasine admitted. ”Let’s head inside.”