The Transcendent

Each broad path between the sturdy-looking stands held a small number of people chatting and bickering with the stall owners. Let's see, what do I need to buy for dinner? Some vegetables and maybe some meat, but what would I season with? Perhaps I'll find some spices around here.

'Hey Renny, do you know where I could get my hands on some spices?'

His eyes grew in shock, I could make out every individual artery bulging on its surface. Did I say something wrong?

'Casper asking for spices?? That has got to be the funniest thing I've ever heard. Hahaha'

He slapped my back with enough strength to bruise it, just how strong is this guy? Or is Casper just that weak?? Why do I have to be stuck with such a loser, at least give me an athlete!

'Alright alright, let's get you the usual. Chicken, beans and some radish.'

'Ah y-yes, the usual.' Chicken, beans and radish? I mean the protein is there but he is not shaping it up properly. If one of my students said that I'd slap them right across the face. A balanced diet should also have some dairy along with carbs, not just protein and a little bit of calcium. Wait no, they have antioxidants too, maybe I shouldn't underestimate him just yet.

'Here take these. Pay me back later.'

'Oh, o-ok.'

Renny just dropped off a massive load of vegetables into my bag, more than what I was supposed to buy. In the bunch, I could make out other vegetables like carrots and aubergines. He quickly hurried off to a stall further down the path, leaving me to carry the weighty bag all alone. Son of a gun.

I tried my best to catch up to him but he vanished behind a small stall with its walls draped in purple fabric. Inside was a woman wearing some strange get-up with a funny-looking set of jewellery draped from the middle of her forehead.

'Hello, young man, would you like to have your fortune read? I can tell you all about future employment, money, food-'

'Sorry, ma'am I'm not interested in things like that-'

'-Even relationships.'

'You should've started with that.'

'Take a seat.'

She gestured to the small stool that was standing opposite her. I patted it down for a second, and dust erupted into a cloud that could cover the very heavens themselves. The stuffing of the chair was bursting from the seams as I sat down.

'You need to get a new chair miss-'

'Shhh child, your annoying voice will disturb the connection to the mirror world.'

Did she just tell me to shush? What kind of terrible service is this, no wonder she can't afford a proper chair.

A glass globe sat between us, purple mist swirling slowly in circles as she moved her hands like a magician. Her mouth opened but quickly shut, I could swear her eyes widen in shock…but there was something about her…Her eyes were in the shape of stars, similar to Casper's. She mentioned to catch her if I ever see her, I'm sure that star-shaped eyes aren't that common.

'Casper, open your mind's eye and stare into the mist. Let your emotions be one with the violet rage inside of this globe. Be one with the stars.'

The light before me dimmed before flashing back in a wave of violet seas. It was like an alternative world, every minute detail was the exact same with the lack of people and eight towers reaching higher than the misty violet heavens.

I found myself side-by-side with the fortune teller from before, though our forms seemed to be no more than the fog surrounding us. Below a few individuals seemed to be scurrying around, wait no…they are fighting! Flashes of fire erupted in the air with every clang of metal. And it wasn't just two people, it was several with unique hair colours and outfits.

A single girl found herself in the very middle with a pair of wings sprouting from her back though they were folded over compactly. She wielded an axe bloodied with several corpses among the other stalls lifelessly limp. Her gaze flew directly towards us as a petrifying smile formed across her face, one of her small hands flew forward, grabbing onto the neck of…Lunese!

All that followed was a single pop, her head rolling on the ground, eyes spread wide with fear as she stared directly into me.

The colours shifted back into reality along with the roar of the passing crowd. A burning wave of liquid rose in my mouth but I managed to barely suppress it, but who the fuck is this woman?

'What the fuck was that?! Who are you?!'

'You should know that Casper~'

'And how do you know my name??'

'You can call me Stela Starlight, I think the real Casper told you to get a hold of me when you catch me. But running is boring so before I leave I will give you one important piece of information. Reach the final Buc of a Londra and come find me in the Land of Mirrors.'

What the fuck is this woman spewing? Wait, I have to remember that name. Stela Starlight.

'What the hell was that you crazy quack, why was my sister there? You said it was about relationships!'

'I see you aren't too bright, I guess I should've seen that coming considering you were a sports professor. A relationship isn't always the lover, there are familial and friends, even with your boss.'

H-how the hell does she know my name? And how does she know about my past life?

'Don't get your panties in a twist, I'm not here to harm you..yet. You are my precious pawn, if you want more information then reach the highest levels of a Londra and I'll tell you everything. That's also the only way to protect your sister. And please take care of her properly, the old Casper was a bit of a goofball.

'Wha-'

'Well please excuse me I've got to leave for today, I don't like this realm very much. Till next time!'

'Heyyy~ Casper there you are, I've been looking for you all over!'

'Renny? What are you doing here?'

'You seem a little shaken there did something happen to you?'

'Yeah, something did! This lady here just-'

As I turned my head back towards the stall, Stela had long vanished along with her crystal ball and violet drapes. Yet, I still felt her star-shaped gaze cast upon me, staring at me from the shadows of the buildings, or maybe even the Land of Mirrors.

'I don't think you are right in the head Casper. But anyway, I grabbed the meat, they were selling full chickens instead of just separate cuts for cheaper so I got it for you.'

'Oh thank you, Renny. I'm glad to have a friend like you.' I tried my best to flash a smile, I'm sure he caught on the sentiment as he smiled back at me.

'Let's get going, it's time for your surprise!'