The Threshold Of The Wandering Star

The silence after that presence departed was far more deafening than I had expected. Three entrances stood before me, each emitting faint glimmers that barely revealed what lay on the other side.

As I approached, I heard a faint but deep sound, as though a thick liquid was dragging something within. It was an unsettling noise that echoed in the stillness. Alongside the glimmers, there were rippling movements, like shadows gliding beneath the surface of dark water.

I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of what I was seeing and hearing. To the left, empty meadows with a few humble houses; in the center, structures of various kinds suggesting a more advanced civilization; and to the right, a dark sky speckled with black smudges I couldn't identify.

There were no certainties, only intuitions. And those intuitions made me hesitate. I looked at my pendant, a gift from her—the only tie I had left to what once was. On the back, the phrase she had whispered before leaving:

"We will meet again under the same star."

I clenched it tightly, searching for guidance in those words.

Finally, I chose the central entrance. If what I thought I was seeing was real, a more developed civilization could provide the answers I needed.

The transition was abrupt. I opened my eyes with difficulty, feeling the cold stones beneath my body. It took me a moment to realize I was lying in an alley. In the distance, a constant bustle indicated there was life beyond.

I stood up shakily and noticed I was wearing clothes that weren't mine: tight pants, a shirt that felt strange, a wide belt holding up a long coat, and tall boots. Over all this, a hooded cape that made me feel like a character from some medieval tale. It was disconcerting but not entirely unpleasant.

I instinctively reached for my neck, searching for my pendant. Feeling it there, as always, brought a wave of relief. For a moment, I closed my eyes and remembered how Selene used to play with it when we sat together, gazing at the stars. She'd frown every time I insisted on staying just a little longer. I opened my eyes and pushed the memory aside—this wasn't the time.

With more composure, I ventured out of the alley. I walked slowly, still dizzy, leaning against the wall until I reached the end.

What I saw when I stepped out left me speechless. In front of me stretched a market, but not just any market. Among the humans moving from one place to another, there were also creatures with human bodies and animal faces. It was such a surreal sight that I wondered if I was still dreaming.

Was this real? Was the deal I accepted in that dream more than just a fantasy?

Questions swirled in my mind, but with the fresh air of the day and the sun shining overhead, I felt confident enough to explore. If this was the new world, I had to find out what it had to offer.

I walked slowly toward the market, observing my surroundings with a mix of curiosity and distrust. The hustle and bustle and the variety of creatures around me were overwhelming, but I tried to keep my composure. I stopped in front of a merchant selling unfamiliar fruits and vegetables, trying to decide how to approach the situation.

"Excuse me, could you tell me what day it is today?" I asked with a mix of caution and anxiety.

The merchant looked at me strangely, as if he didn't understand the question.

"What day?" he repeated, frowning.

A knot formed in my stomach.

"Yes, is it Monday, Tuesday? What month and year are we in?"

The merchant's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, and I could see it clearly. He observed me for a moment before responding in a tone that implied the answer was obvious.

"Are you asking what era we're in? It's the Era of the Wandering Star."

I tried to process that information, but before I could ask more questions, the merchant waved me away brusquely.

"Get out of here! It's way too early to be drunk."

Frustrated, I moved away but didn't go far. The merchant's comment gave me an idea, though not the brightest one. I turned back to him, trying to act casual.

"Alright, alright, I admit it. Maybe I drank a bit too much last night, but I'm not some hopeless drunk," I said, shrugging. "I'm just a little confused and trying to get my bearings. Is there anyone here who could tell me more about this... Era?"

The merchant snorted, visibly more relaxed but still suspicious.

"If you're looking for trouble or answers, they're in the same place. Go to the bar and ask for Grimmor. But I warn you, that man is dangerous. Those who bother him don't fare well."

I nodded, thanking him with a slight bow. If this Grimmor had power here, then he must know something useful. Before I could move forward, a small old man appeared out of nowhere, stopping right next to me.

His small, bright eyes fixed on me. He was hunched over, leaning on a staff that seemed more fragile than he was.

"You... are out of your time," he murmured in a drawn-out voice, laden with an enigmatic air.

I stared at him, confused, unsure whether to take him seriously. Was he another lunatic from the market or just a senile old man? I decided it wasn't worth it. With an impatient gesture, I let him pass as he continued muttering incomprehensible things and disappeared into the crowd. I barely gave it any importance. Crazy old folks seem to exist in every world, I thought.

Meanwhile, the market's commotion intensified. Not far away, a disturbance caught my attention. A giant lizard walked upright, dressed in light armor, demanding money from a terrified merchant. The crowd backed away in fear.

The name Grimmor echoed in my head as I watched that thing. "This definitely can't be real," I thought.

Without overthinking, I headed toward the bar the merchant had pointed out. I didn't have a clear plan, just a desperate need for answers, even if it meant getting into trouble.

I opened the bar door with such force that the noise turned several heads toward me. My entrance was anything but discreet, but I didn't stop. If this was the man with power, I needed him, even though my mind was as clouded as the day I accepted that cursed deal.

All eyes turned to me. I scanned the room, looking for someone who fit the description of Grimmor. On the second floor, I spotted a man guarded by another lizard similar to the one outside. That had to be him.

The bar's customers watched expectantly after my abrupt entrance.

Without thinking, I hurried up the stairs, driven by my need for answers. As I ascended, the voices around me grew louder—no longer just murmurs but clear comments.

"Who does this guy think he is?" one said, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Is he looking for a fight or what?" added a gruff voice.

"If he keeps this up, Grimmor won't be so lenient," someone else muttered, loud enough for me to hear.

My steps slowed immediately. The adrenaline subsided as I realized my eagerness could come across as anything but friendly. I tried to compose myself, walking more calmly, but by the time I reached the second floor, it was too late.

As soon as I set foot on the landing, the lizard, its eyes filled with suspicion, wasted no time. Without waiting for any command, it lunged at me. Its strike was brutal—direct and packed with force. I barely had time to raise my hands to protect my face.

The blow sent me crashing into the wall like a rag doll. The impact echoed in the narrow hallway, and pain shot through my body as I tried to catch my breath. All of this because I hadn't thought things through.

I slumped to the wooden floor, my arms throbbing.

Looking up, I realized just how massive the lizard was. I'm over six feet tall, but its imposing figure made me feel small in comparison.

Grimmor, meanwhile, observed the scene from his table with unsettling calm, a beer in one hand and what seemed like tobacco in the other.

I couldn't stop there. Slowly, I pushed myself to my feet, raising my hands in a gesture of surrender.

"I just want to talk to Grimmor," I said, trying to de-escalate the situation.

The lizard, seeing me stand, interpreted it as a sign that I wanted to keep fighting. My mind shifted into survival mode. I remembered some martial arts moves I had practiced in my childhood, though I had never used them in a real fight. I would soon realize they were utterly useless.

I dodged its attacks, moving around it, covering myself, and trying to create some distance. But eventually, I found myself with nowhere to go. The lizard grabbed me with both arms, lifting me off the ground and squeezing me with a force that felt like it would split me in half.

The pain was unbearable. I clenched my eyes shut, struggling not to scream. But finally, with my voice strained from the agony, I shouted to Grimmor:

"I just want to talk!"

Grimmor let out a small chuckle, clearly enjoying the spectacle, before finally ordering his lackey to release me.

The lizard obeyed reluctantly, but before letting me go, it tied my wrists behind my back and left me kneeling before Grimmor. He looked at me with a mix of interest and amusement.

"You've got guts, kid," he said, calling me "kid" in a condescending tone.

Still aching and out of breath from the fight, I couldn't respond. Grimmor noticed this and gave me a subtle smile that didn't escape my attention. Before I could say anything, he took the lead.

"Talking to me isn't free," he said, his tone suggesting he was about to propose something that would change my situation.

"If you want to talk, you'll have to work for me. You've shown some skill—enough to face one of my lackeys. I can help you refine those skills. If you succeed within a short period, I'll give you the chance to have a conversation with me."

Confused, I hadn't expected any of this to happen. In my mind, I told myself that the deal I had made with that presence in my dream had to pay off. And maybe, by working for this idiot, I could get the information I needed while figuring out how this world worked.