Portal

I feel the familiar sensation of magic as it pulls me down then up. When I land, I use my magic to land on the ground lightly. I frown and turn to see that the water that we came through is a freaking puddle!

This is so not good... if it was a normal water source, we could come back at any given time and return home but it was a freaking puddle! As soon as it dries up, it's forever gone! I quickly look around for Mango but I soon realize that I'm between two buildings.

Like a small alleyway... When I see people walking, I start walking towards the street and instantly come to a stop. In the past, Mango and I have gone to other worlds with monster-like beings, futuristic worlds, and even smaller, weaker civilizations so I pause to check out this new world.

When I see the people all walking and chatting in elegant gowns while gazing at the shops, I quickly realize that they're very much human and very much... Asian. I've been to earth a few times with my mother so I know just how diverse the world really is but I don't see anyone other than Asian.

Also, I quickly realize that the shops don't have electricity but instead use candles. I look down at my own white dress and frown. After watching the women and their dresses, I quickly use my magic to alter my dress a bit.

It's just a plain, but elegant white dress that goes with my hair. It's currently half up, half down with a few pieces of white cloth braided into it. It was the hairstyle I chose this morning but it seems to work.

I don't really look Asian though... I mean, my hair is long and pitch-black like my Dad's so that kinda works but... my eye color. I bite my lip with worry but there's nothing I can do about that. I can't magically change my face or eye color.

I turn back to look at the water puddle before internally cursing Mango once again. Where has that little turd run off to!? I try to calm my racing heart and step out into the crowd. No one seems to pay attention to me as I walk down the street and look for signs of Mango.

When I realize they're speaking another language, I use my magic and activate my language rune my father gifted me when I was younger. Instantly, their words made sense and something catches my ears.

A pretty girl surrounded by a few others says "Old man Fang says that the new spiritual beast is of top quality. Unlike anything, anyone's ever seen and he's holding it just for me." Spiritual beast? Could that Mango?

I decide to silently follow behind them but when we reach a large shop, I quickly realize I made the right choice. On top of a wooden table sits a cage with thick metal bars and inside that cage, is none other than Mango.

He strains against the metal bars, struggling to break free but he obviously doesn't have the strength to break free. I'll give him an A for effort... The pretty young girl steps up and says "Old man Fang, you surely didn't disappoint this time. It is indeed cute!"

I wanted to just grab Mango and quickly go back before anyone has a chance to see us but it looks like it's past that point now. I take a calming breath and slowly step forward, causing several people to turn and look at me.

Their faces all look at me in shock and slight fear as I softly say "That animal is mine." The old man Fang, looks up to me, ready to argue until he sees me. He instantly freezes as everyone around us turns to look at me in open shock.

Mango's eyes light up with joy as he suddenly calms down. We have an unspoken rule, whenever we go to another world or when we go to the human world, he doesn't speak. When the old man continues to stare at me with wide eyes, I gently clear my throat and say "He belongs to me, release him."

Instantly, the entire crowd breaks out in whispers of excitement

"Do you see her eyes! It's so strange!"

"She's a rare beauty but her eyes...."

"Is she human?"

"I can't detect any spiritual essence from her!"

"Is she trash?"

"Can she not cultivate?"

"What if it's so high, we just can't detect it?"

The young girl scoffs and says "This beast is old man Fang's! How dare you try and claim it as yours!" The crowd around us continues to grow, instantly drawing the attention of everyone around us but I slightly turn to the girl and say "How dare old man Fang take what belongs to me."

I slowly turn back to look at old man Fang and instantly see him flinch. He awkwardly laughs as he says "Young Miss, I found this animal. It was all alone with no owner and no owner mark." The young girl huffs out in annoyance as she says "That's right! It now belongs to old man Fang and he's selling it to me."

I feel my irritation grow as Mango begins to start panicking once again. Suddenly, a deep voice is heard "If what the Young Miss says is true and this Spiritual Beast does indeed belong to her, this other Young Miss won't be able to bind the animal to her."

I turn to my right to see a very handsome man dressed in a solid white cloak, much like my own dress. When our eyes lock, I see the momentary surprise before it's quickly hidden. The crowd quickly moves away from the man and gives way.

"It's Master Yin Zhelan!"

"That's really Master Yin Zhelan!"

The shop owner and the young women all bow to the man named Master Yin Zhelan as he slowly walks over but I remain standing straight. I see the hidden humor in his dark eyes but when he faces the others, it's quickly hidden.