On a field of green grass stretching endlessly, Derek’s eyes flew open beneath the scorching sun.
He found himself laying on the grass and instantly sat upright. "Where am I?" He wondered as his eyes scanned his surroundings.
All he could see was nothing but a field of endless grass. No tree was in sight neither was there any sign of life around him. It was as if he had appeared in a place of pure loneliness.
The sun was scorching, the heat unbearable. Derek’s hand was on the ground, and feeling the intense heat, he quickly removed it.
"Such temperature..." The words left his lips as his eyes diverted to a glowing object reflecting the rays of the sunlight. It was the amulet that his grandmother had given him.
He stretched his hands to where his feet were and grabbed the amulet while pulling away some grass alongside it.
The amulet had the design of a phoenix’s head, finely rendered in silver in his hand. Derek dusted away the grass that followed.
Holding the amulet, his eyes flashed with memories of those last seconds with his grandmother, tearing nearly falling from his eyes.
"I hope Grandmother is going to be alright!"
After staying quiet for a while, he put his hands over his neck and wore the amulet, placing the pendant into his shirt.
"Now... where are we?" Spoken barely above a whisper, Derek rose to his feet and surveyed the area.
"Where in the world am I? Did grandmother send me here?" He could remember the act that she had displayed with the blood in her hands, and the words which she had spoken.
Those were not words that I could understand. What language was that in? It was as if she was chanting ancient language. Well, it isn’t as if I know what ancient language sounds like... Derek placed his right palm above his forehead, blocking the sun from hitting his face.
Here, he turned to his left staring into the distance. There was nothing. Likewise, he turned to his right. There was nothing. He did the same to both his front and back and found nothing but endless green grass.
"Tsk... What’s going on?"
Derek felt a little puzzled within as he couldn’t find what he was looking for.
Before coming here, his grandmother had told him to find a building with the sigil of a bird with four wings, however...
"Does that place even exists in this nowhere land?" Nowhere in the sense that nothing was in sight.
Derek, obviously knowing that his grandmother would never lie to him. He knew that whatever he was searching for was indeed out there.
"Well, there’s no point standing in one place. It’s better to begin the journey on time."
Derek placed his hands down. He was wearing a white casual oversized t-shirt. It was decent and presentable. And below was a black tract suit trouser with white strips at the side.
On his feet, he still has his sandals on, which he forgot to remove because of his hurry when entering his house in an attempt to avoid the two men in black.
Facing the North, Derek began his journey of a long walk. He didn’t know where he was going, but somewhere in his heart, he felt as though he would reach a certain destination.
After about three hours of walking non-stop under the hot sun, sweat dripping from his body, there was a building in sight.
"Is that it? The building? It is still far away, I need to get close."
Derek let out a sigh of relief as he wiped the sweat from his face. He had begun to think there was no end to this horror of walking, but had finally found hope.
After a couple minutes, he finally reached the building.
"Huh? This is...?"
Before him an old building with weathered timber beams and pale plaster walls stood. It had a steep slate roof and shuttered windows, with a big painted sign that read "Hall’s Tavern". The whole place was sitting on a rough stone-base looking solid and well used.
"Hall’s Tavern. Not a sigil?" Derek was disenchanted.
The thought of seeing a building and thinking it was what he had thought it to be, then turned out to be a bar, struck him hard.
Well it doesn’t matter. If it is a tavern and people are inside, then I’m in luck. Where else than a place where drunks are could you gather information?... Derek was amazed as his lips curved into a smile.
He walked to the low arched doorway that leads inside and was about to open the door when it suddenly cracked open on its own and two short men with full grown beards came out.
Seeing them, Derek immediately gave way so they could pass freely. Yet even after he did that, one of them shouted.
"Hey!... watch it boy!"
Both men held themselves over the shoulder, laughing as they walked away. They were drunk as it showed in their movements.
Hm? Their dressing. Why does it look like the medieval times? Am I really...?
As both men walked out of sight, Derek knew there was no way he was going to get an answer by just standing. He placed his hand on the handle, and opened the door.
The door cracked open and before him was a lively and chaotic place brimming with diverse individuals, holding wooden cups with strange drinks.
The air was thick with the scent of spiced ale and roasted meat as dozens of conversations layered over one another.
It is a bar alright...
Derek stood at the door, looking around. He was amazed by the scene, then murmured, his voice inaudibly.
"Judging from how quiet it was outside, how come none of these noises could be heard from out there?"
"That would be because the whole building is enhanced with a special type of spell, unique only to the owner." A cold, yet calm feminine voice echoed inside Derek’s ears.
For a split second the men in black who had used fire magic flashed before him.
"What?"
Derek turned to his right and saw a young lady standing opposite him, holding a tray in one hand while the other rested on her hip.
The lady, who had red hair and brown eyes and appeared to be about his age graced him with a gorgeous smile.
She wore a deep brown tavern dress drawn in at the waist with a laced corset. A white blouse with a ruffled edge framing her neck frame and an embroidered apron over it. On her hands were fingerless gloves and a tied kerchief on her hair that gave her a rugged yet graceful charm.
Was I too loud?... Derek looked at the young lady before him and utter. "Spell? Like magic?"
For a moment, the young lady went into a daze. She had an expression that wondered what kind of question he was asking. Then she replied.
"That’s right, magic. The most common and useful things in this world?"
Upon hearing this, Derek went into deep thoughts.
As I expected. I really am no longer on earth. Was I transported into another world? Grandmother, what did you do?... Derek raised his head and looked into the lady’s brown eyes.
"Oh! Where are my manners? I am Roselle... Roselle Hall!"
Roselle stretched her hands for a hand shake, while Derek did the same, returning the greeting. "Nice to meet you Roselle. I am Derek... Derek Jones!"