It's a casual, Friday evening. The sky is painted in hues of oranges and pinks as the glowing Sun slowly but surely begins to set, casting a gentle and golden light upon the wide, blue sea and the yellow sand. The sea sparkles as it reflects the sunbeams, the air you are breathing in feels fresh, with hints of salt and moisture in it. The cries of seagulls, the distant laughter and chatter of whoever was left at the beach, the sea crashing against the shore... It all creates a soothing cacophony of noises. [[...]]And there you are - slowly walking along the shore, allowing the warm and (surprisingly) clean water to lick at your bare ankles. It's moments such as these that remind you that you are alive, that you can breathe and simply... be. All thoughts are forced away and all that is left is the cacophony of sounds filling your ears, all that is left is the feeling of the salty and moist air invading and leaving your lungs. Despite the hotness of the yellow grains that your feet were sinking into with each step, it made you feel.... Relaxed. You needed this. Lately, you have been too buried in your work and if it kept going, you would surely drown under all that pressure and stress. You could feel your shoulders beginning to slump with exhaustion, your lungs deeply expanding and shrinking with each breath. [[?!]] That was until your eardrums were penetrated by a brand new sound - an old music box playing nearby. The peacefulness was interrupted by an eerie French-like tune emanating from it. In spite of the eeriness of it all, you'd be lying if you were to say it didn't make an odd sense of tranquility wash over your body; a soothing balm to your weary soul. Amidst it all, you feel a burst of confusion, forcing you stop dead in your tracks, straining your ears as you listen in closely. It might be someone in the far, far distance - perhaps they have gotten the music box as a gift and are trying it out. Perhaps someone is trying to play a prank. [[Or...]]... or perhaps it could be tied to the rumours going around lately - people have been disappearing and before they did so, they heard the same thing as you... some have returned, talking about a place that seemed to have come from a different dimension, while the less fortunate are still gone without a trace - or maybe, just maybe, they decided to stay. [[Ignore the sound and keep on walking]] [[Attempt to locate the source of the music]]Not feeling like taking any more risks today, you... shrug. Life has been hectic lately - there was no need to add more craziness to it. Some questions are better left unanswered, after all. Taking a deep breath in, allowing the saltiness of the nearby sea burn through your lungs, you move forward. A couple steps forward and the music comes to an end abruptly. In spite of the hint of unease settling deep in your gut, you push on forward. Not today. Nothing is going to ruin your much-needed moment of respite. The rest of the walk is.. uneventful, to say the least - a fact you are joyous about. The previously vibrant sky is turning into a deep blue, the first twinkling circles kissing the previously-blank canvas. The tempareture is starting to drop a tad. The sensation makes you shiver at first, but it soon turns comforting - the gentle blowing of the wind caressing your heated skin from the unforgiving, summer sun. It's time to return home, kick back as much as possible over the weekend, and do it all over again. --ENDING: Ignorance Is Bliss-- [[Play again.->A Brand New World]]As you walk toward the sound of the music, your gaze roams around the scene surrounding you. The colorfoul sky has begun shifting from a mixture of oranges and vibrant pinks to a darker shade of blue, the horizon painted in a hot pink colour as the last bits of sunlight embrace it. The folks around you seem unaware of the beautiful, haunting melody coming from somewhere nearby, the distant laughter and chatter mixing in with the screeching of seagulls, and the steady rhythm of the music. A gentle breeze is picking up, causing the soft, silken fabric of your clothes to billow in it. A shiver runs down your spine at the sensation, as the sudden and barely-there windchill hits your overheated skin. [[..]]As the first freckles of circular, shining lights of white and yellow begin their dance across the night sky, it is then that the haunting melody grows louder, drowning out the distant echoes of people who seem to be getting ready to leave the beach (some even calling out to their children, considering the raised voices and chidlike yelps of protest). As you take a couple more steps forward, the sand turning into sun-burnt grass, your gaze lands upon a bizarre sight. [[..?]]The next steps forward feel heavy, your eyes firmly fixed on the hole. You gaze into it, your hands balling up into tight fists as a sense of unease washes over you. There's no going back now, your mind's made up. The determination coursing through your veins seems to be far, far stronger than the little voice at the back of your head telling you not to do it. [[Take a step forward]]A deep, dark hole in the shape of a perfectly dug-out 'o' and a sign that reaches up to your waist, portraying an arrow pointing to the ominous orifice, appears before you. The arrow is outlined by flashing, bright orange lights, as if it is trying to attract as much attention as possible. The opening seems to be beckoning you to step toward it, to brace yourself and allow the darkness of it to swallow you whole as you fall down, down, down, winding up dead. Or somewhere else maybe. Who knows? [[Heed its call]] [[Turn on your heel, retrace your footsteps]]You dismiss the allure with a shake of your head. Life has been hectic enough already and you sure as heck won't be taking any unneccessary risks. You retrace your steps, leaving behind new shoe-imprints in the sand. Not too far away, the tires of a car screech as it takes off from the beach's parking lot. The sky darkens, more stars appear. The breeze picks up, its chill more noticeable as it prickles your skin. Still, you keep walking. [[....]]The bright lights of the sign have long stopped casting shadows over the ground. The sea continues its dance of push-and-pull with the sandy shores, the gentle waves reflecting the moonlight and the universe above you. In the distance, light seeps in through the shut blinds of houses built near the beach that became your anchor tonight. Maybe a brief walk before returning home won't hurt. You can feel the weight of your responsibilities lifting off your shoulders once more. You'd be a liar if you said the evening walk doesn't hit harder than the sunset does. [[That is until...]]You spot a bunny plush, its lower half submerged underwater. With an arched brow, you kneel down, inspecting it. Accidental? Deliberate? Your gaze snaps up, scanning the ground. All that follows is the distant rustle of leaves, the hoot of an owl, the town in front of you going from wakefulness to slumber. With a shrug, you rise to your feet. Accidental. For sure. A kid must've dropped it. [[...accidental...]] The word repeats in your head until it loses its meaning. Your expression morphes into a grimace. The adjective tastes like a lie. Your legs move anyway, carrying you toward your car. Toward the promise of a comfortable bed and - hopefully - good sleep. The imaginary promise shatters like a glass bottle being smashed against a hard surface as your ears pick up on the footsteps echoing like gunshots behind you in spite of the yellow grains beneath your feet muffling it. You whip around, the hairs at the nape of your neck standing up. [[!!]]You expected everything and anything. Not... a child. The kid's hands are clasped over her heaving chest, fright clear as day on her little face. She can't be any older than 10. She skids to a halt in front of you, looking up. 'Excuse me,' she whispers, voice cracking on the first syllable. She is too young to be alone out here. [[Respond]] [[Walk away]]With a soft huff, you sit back on your haunches, mimicking the girl's height. 'Hey, what are you doing out here?' You ask, gentleness bleeding into your whispered words. 'I... I was playing hide and seek with my siblings and...well.. I got.. lost,' she explains, looking down at her feet. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, petite fingers picking at her fingernails. [[Inhale sharply]] You look down at her as if she were a ghost. Your brain shuts down at the sight of her. No way you're about to play guardian for a lost kid. She should've known better. Thus...you turn around. You ignore the hitch in her breath, the strangled noise that comes out of her parted lips a second later. Her breathing quickens, but you.... you keep walking. Not looking back. Never looking back. [[Vroom...]]A blank expression dances upon your face as you drive home. What was that? Why did you do that? Before you know it, the key to your house is in your hand, its weight familiar and comforting. With a snap of your wrist, the door opens, the walls to your humble abode greeting you. [[Enter]]Although at home, unease twists your gut. Or maybe it's just the sketchy takeout you've eaten for lunch. Either way, you shut whatever it is that you are feeling out, deciding not to dwell on it. Tomorrow is a new day. And hopefully you'll make better decisions. --ENDING: Who Hurt You?-- [[Play again->A Brand New World]]You suck air through your teeth, cogs frantically turning inside your head. No one is left on the beach - save for that distant couple, swallowed by the darkness of the night. Maybe there's someone left in the parking lot. Standing up, you extend a hand toward the little girl. She looks up, eyes wide, before her gaze moves to the right, just behind you. It lands on the purple bunny plushie. [[.....]]Her hand - trembling, freezing - slips into yours and she drags you toward the bunny, crouching down to pick it up, making you lean down with her as she didn't let go of your hand. She straightens up, a small, toothy grin dancing on her features. And thus, you walk to the parking lot, anxiety and hope coiling tight in your gut. You ask her about her day and she happily tells you about it in spite of the shyness curling around her words. The parking lot comes into view. A man stands near the car, phone raised to his ear as he mutters into it. The woman has her hands on their two children, talking to them in a hushed tone. Silence washes over them as the two of you come out of the shadows. The man lowers his phone, ending the call with a swipe of his thumb. The woman's eyes suddenly turn too bright. [[Clomp, clomp!]]The little girl slips from your hand, her legs eating up the distance between herself and the two adults. She wraps her slim arms around the woman's waist, muttering apologies and incoherent words. Despite yourself, your lips twitch upwards. --ENDING: The Origin Of The Submerged Bunny-- [[Play again->A Brand New World]]With a deep breath that expands your lungs deliciously, the scent of salt and moisture filling your nostrils for what feels like the very last time, you step forward. Darkness engulfs your vision, panic and adrenaline seize you. Your heart sinks like a heavy rock. The deep breath you've just taken punches out of your lungs. [[Panic]]Your limbs flail. All you feel is the skin on your hands splitting open. The dirt and gravel gathers under your fingernails as you claw at the circular wall surrounding you as if you were a caged animal attempting to break free of its confines. The metallic tang of your own blood and moist dirt assaults your nostrils. The fall feels endless - until a white, blinding light appears at the end of the tunnel, threatening to swallow you whole. And it did. [[!!!]]As you pass through the light, nature's carpet appears before you. A scream is threatening to tear out of your throat as your body gets closer and closer to colliding with the bright green grass. However, nothing comes out. Just a strangled noise. You brace yourself for impact, expecting that whoever is nearby will get to hear a wet, sickening CRUNCH! [[CRUNCH! ...or not?]]Fortunately, the crunch never came. Your form hovers an inch or two above ground, the dancing blades of grass tickling your nose. THUMP! Whatever magic barrier was holding you up - it let go, planting you face-first into the ground. The sun embraces you - a pleasant sensation on your back. So does a soft, warm breeze. [[Look up]]Your hands ache for a beat or two, the pain dispelling as the torn flesh of your hands knits together before your very own eyes. You lift your head up, certain that your eyes comically widen further at the sight in front of you. An open space in the middle of a dense forest. Colorfoul stalls stand before you, tall and proud, the scent of exotic - utterly unknown foods filling your nostrils. Amidst all the food stalls, you notice the bizarre objects placed on little displays - herbs, gems, typical goods one can find at a fair, and items you have never seen before. Golden, tear-shaped jewels laid out on a red pillow, vials filled with glittering liquids (some even formed into shapes). [[...?!]] That's when you take a good look at the people standing behind the stalls. Your eyes practically pop out of your sockets. Some have human-coloured skin. Others - green. Blue. Light red. The colours of the dang rainbow. Elven-like ears. Animal ears. Heck! Some people (if you can even call them that) look more animal-like than human. Horns and tails you usually see in children's fairytales which star a devil or two as the villains. And their garments? A couple of them are clad in full-body steel armour. Others in modern-day civilian clothes. Medieval dresses and suits. [[......]]Arched brows, concerned and amused looks are thrown your way. A realisation dawns on you - you have been lying flat on your stomach for far too long, your head flailing around like a fish out of water. Embarrassment replaces bewilderment, and with a fluid pump of your arms, you [[Stand up]]You stagger to your feet, pupils darting around. Well, this is... not how you expected Friday to go. Where are you? What time is it? How far away are you from // home//? The air here feels crisper, cleaner, ''//magical//''. Energy crackles around you, laughter fills your ears. Normalcy. Normalcy in a world that seems far too different to yours. And yet, people that fit into your world are here, too. In your peripheral, you catch a wind of a tall figure. You turn your head, suppressing a gasp at the sight of them. [[!]]Their hair is a wild, spiky mess, the black locks curling around their collarbones. Their ears - elongated, pointed, peeking out of their fluffy mane - twitch as a gentle gust of air rustles the neon green leaves. A sharp grin splits their face, animal-like canines catching the rays of the sun, as their ruby-coloured eyes meet yours. They are built like a tank, muscles bulging under their uniform that's stretched taut across their figure. Female or male? You can't tell; the person's body is a contradiction of itself. They arch a dark brow as you stare. You turn away, suddenly engrossed in a lone fly passing by. They chuckle, the gravelly noise carried by the breeze. They take a step forward. You freeze. [[BOOM!]] Your head snaps toward the sound - as does everyone else's - and what you see are four tall, thick rocks buried into the ground horizontally, each a meter or two apart. Two figures stand atop them, a single rock seperating them. The pair - two women - are clad in robes, one gold and the other red. Their stances scream 'battle', their knuckles white from how tight they're gripping wooden staffs, sparks with their respective robe colours spilling forth from the tip. The folk surround them with mouths agape, eyes sparkling with fascination. In the distance, you hear the flapping of wings, too huge for a regular bird, followed by a gruff snort. Nobody seems to care - save for a couple who flinched... [[Stay and watch]] [[Follow the sound of the wings]]The staff of the woman clad in a red robe rises as she brings her hands up, chanting a spell in a foreign language. You can't pinpoint the words. It's not Latin. Sounds more ... devilish. Sparks and embers crack around the staff as it travels up to the tip. The taller woman slams hers down, an act followed by a shout of more foreign words. A gleaming sphere of gold swallows the whole of her, protecting her from whatever the other witch was casting. The other woman finishes the spell anyway. CRACK! The shield cracks, emitting a sharp sound like shattering glass. Golden petals rain down before dispelling onto the ground, the impact of it breaking shoves both women back, their bodies landing on the rocks with a rustle of their robes and a nasty thump. They rise to their feet with a quiet grunt. You watch, wholly transfixed, [[until--]]You glance at the show one last time before scurrying off. The beating of wings continues, taunting you, //calling// you. You run toward, ignoring the burn in your lungs as you pant for air. Another clearing, a lake nestled in the middle. The water reflects the sun beams, the trees in the background sway to the song of the wind. A shadow engulfs you - a mountain-sized, bird-like shadow with a long neck and curved horns. You look up, your heart thudding against your ribcage. [[Thud-Thud-Thud]]'Quite a show, isn't it?' a deep voice drawls behind you as a large hand lands on your shoulder. You nearly jump out of your skin, the smell of gun oil and herbs cutting through the ozone tang of magic. You peer over your shoulder, your neck craning up. It's the person from before, the smirk splitting their face still, the tip of their top canine protruding through their lip. Another crack fills the air between you two and the woman in gold conjures up a spell before her body can hit the ground, the chant drowned out by a round of boo's and applause. Their elven ears twitch at the pointed tips in response to the sound. 'Remy. General of the Armies,' they swiftly add, their hand leaving your shoulder. They extend it toward you. Out of politeness, you reach out and introduce yourself as you squeeze their hand in return. Their hand feels.. rough. The title explains it all, though - from their stiff posture, the medals on their pristine uniform to the way they keep an eye on everything. 'Never seen you before, Soldier. First time visiting our little universe?' Your eyebrows shoot up. Universe? //''Their''// universe? [[???]]'Ah.. the hole you jumped into in your world? It´s a gateway to this one. It always opens when the fair starts. Good for our economy. Harmless. Your government knows about it, don't you worry.' They wave their hand in the air, as if dismissing whatever worries were - or weren't - in your head. And suddenly, the puzzles fall into place. Your head fills with the reports you've read online - civilians disappearing without a trace only to appear a couple hours later as if nothing had happened. Sometimes a day or two. They arch a dark brow at you, the smirk not faltering from their face. They step closer, invading your personal space. You take a step back - they stay rooted to the ground, respecting your unspoken boundary. The crowd around you scatters as the witch in red teleports to the ground and chats up the other witch in the background. 'Question is... to stay or not to stay?' [[Don't stay]] [[Stay]]Remy hums, clasping their hands behind their too-straight back. 'Very well,' they drawl, cocking their head toward the enormous trees - a silent gesture of 'follow'. Without waiting for your response, Remy is already walking, forcing you to match their stride - confident, quick steps. It feels like they are floating as they walk. The scent of sap, blooming flowers and the undeniable sickly sweet aroma of magic surrounds you. It's... suffocating. Almost. The General drags you deeper into the forest, humming a haunting tune - you could swear it's the same one you heard at the beach. Your gaze lingers on their ears, watching as the pointed tips perk up and twitch at distant noises - the howl of a wolf, the crack of a twig under someone's foot or paw, the rustle of the leaves. Their hearing must be sensitive. The view gradually switches from the lush greenery of a forest to a forest painted in pastel purples, blues and pinks. You catch wind of many unknown, gorgeous creatures - all pulled straight out of mythology - Griffins, Unicorns, little flecks of lights that giggle mischeviously... 'Soldier,' the deep voice jolts you, dispersing your observations and thoughts. They flick their eyes to yours for a fraction before fixating on a hole surrounded by glowing vines and flowers. Their chin jerk toward it, a silent 'go on'. You feel it again - the hole calls you, beckoning you to step closer and jump. [[Jump]]'Wonderful!' Remy exclaims, beaming. Their hand hovers above your shoulder, their thick fingers twitching as if considering to settle on your shoulder again. Instead, they make a 'come-hither' motion with two digits, silently asking you to follow them. By the time the sun dips low in the horizon, you're sure your feet are about to detach from your body and run off. You visit each stall, eat foods out of this world (quite literally and figuratively), see - and participate - in supernatural tricks that many people in your homeland have dreamt of doing. Remy is pleasant company through it all, answering your questions without judgement (obvious ones included) and showing you around. The tear-shaped, golden jewel digs into your thigh, hidden in the pocket of your pants. Remy suggested you buy it, saying it's a gemstone filled with a calming charm. So far, their words ring true, for the aurora radiating from it relaxes you. Remy obnoxiously clears their throat, drawing attention to themselves, 'Everyone that's //Not// from here and wishes to go home, please--' -- a mountain-sized shadow swallows everyone. Remy's head snaps up, a loud 'oh' leaving their red lips as a Dragon - albino, its scales reflecting the last rays of the sun - flies over everyone's head, its flapping wings ruffling everyone's hair and clothes. [[Oh?!]]With their palm up, Remy gestures toward opening. Their voice lowers an octave, the words coming out as a husky whisper, 'Return home. We shall meet again someday. Until then...' they turn away, their hands clasped behind their back. They peer at you over their shoulder, a warm smirk dancing upon their lips. 'Stay safe.' The sound of retreating footsteps follow, accompanied by the occassional crunch of dried leaves and snapping twigs. The fall back to your universe wasn't bad. You didn't panic, didn't paw at the gravel and dirt. The way back home was over before you knew it. That night, you dreamt of what could have been if you had stayed... --ENDING: Endless What If's-- [[Play again->A Brand New World]]Gasps. Murmurs, horrified and excited. Remy hums, an affectionate smile tugs at their lips. Their red irises dart to the crowd, arms extended in a stance that screams 'remain calm.' 'That's my boy. Mikhail,' they say casually, as if talking about a normal pet, before their gaze flicks to descending Beast once again. His magnificent wings spread out, sunlight filtering through thin membranes, before folding. The creature sniffs the air, his horns - three pairs of them, the largest two on each side of his head are curved, the rest straight and dangerously pointed, shrinking in size with each pair and casting long shadows across nature's carpet. Mikhail huffs in disdain, his eyes - as red as Remy's, the pupils vertical slits - scan over each person. His muscular frame, however, remains relaxed. Remy follows their Beast's gaze, a thoughtful hum leaving their lips. 'Not a lot of you who want to go home....' they walk over to Mikhail, a hand brushing his sternum. 'Looks like we just hitched a ride. Mikhail can handle us.' Mikhail dips his head, allowing Remy to stroke his strong jaw. The creature leans into their touch, closing his eyes. Mikhail sighs - a sound that could be mistaken for a purr. 'Isn't that right, my beautiful boy?' And what a ride it was. Not many people can boast that they've ridden a dragon - though if you were to tell that to anyone who hadn't visited their universe, they might just call you insane. Whilst you didn't expect the Friday to go this way, you can't complain. It was refreshing. Maybe the next week won't be so bad. And if the faiyre opens next week, well, you might as well spend a weekend here. --ENDING: Unforgettable Ride Home-- [[Play again->A Brand New World]]The dragon settles near the lake, its white scales glittering under the sunlight more than the water. A flap of its wings - once, twice - before the magnificent creature folds them. Its pupils are vertical slits, the colour of its irises - a rich crimson. The colour matches the eyes of the person that watched you get your bearings. Its head is thick, adorned with two curved horns where its ears should be, the remaining four horns below the two as spiky as a spear, each one smaller than the last - but no less intimidating. A breath hitches in your throat as its gaze lands on you. The creature's nostrils flare, multiple huffs fill your ears. It tilts its head toward you, studying you. //Judging// you? You don't know what made you do it, but you take a step forward, raising your hands in a futile show of 'I mean no harm' - or rather 'I surrender'. The myth before you snorts in warning, its vertical slits narrowing dangerously at your form. Its muscular body tenses, bracing for an attack. [[Take a step back]] [[Step closer]]Before you can do so, an enormous hand grabs your elbow, thick fingers curling around it. The contact startles you, a high-pitched 'Eek!' leaving your mouth., But hey - the beast isn't staring daggers at you anymore. 'Easy, Soldier,' a deep, raspy voice drawls behind you, their breath stirring the hair at the back of your head. You stiffen, your muscles coiled as tight as the dragon's mere seconds ago. A gravelly chuckle leaves the person and you instantly recognise it. You slowly turn around and the person takes a step back, the grin from minutes before re-appearing on their face. Up-close, you can see--no, count--the freckles adorning their aquiline nose and high cheekbones. Thwack! The dragon takes off, its shadow covering you both as it soars the sky. Crisis averted? [[?]]Regardless of its warning, you take a step forward, hands raised to your head. The creature stares down at you, unamused. You can't help yourself. You've only read about such creatures in books - who wouldn't want to take a closer look? The beast open its strong jaw, a deafening roar spilling from its throat, shaking the entire forest. Birds flee from trees, animals yelp at the loud noise. ''//CLOMP-CLOMP-CLOMP!//'' The heavy footfall of animals fleeing mixes in with the earsplitting howl. The dragon's scaly wings spread out, the warm sun streams through the thin membranes between its clawed wings. Before you can react, a cone of fire splurts from its gaping maw, swallowing you whole. What you feel next is ''//heat//''. Immense heat. Even more intense pain that goes away as soon as it appears. The stench of burning hair and clothing fills your lungs first, a guttural scream of agony leaving your lips. You can feel your muscles bubbling with blisters - popping - before the pain stops. Skin and muscle alike melt off your bones, leaving behind charred remains. --ENDING: Turned To Ashes-- [[Play again.->A Brand New World]]'C'mon, let's go back,' the person doesn't wait for your answer. They tighten their grip around your elbow as they drag you back to the fair. They don't question anything. Don't fill the walk back with chatter. Should you say something? Should you keep quiet? Should you question why the dragon took to the skies the moment they showed up? The fair came into view, the magic show long over. The person turns to you, parting with a salute and a wink. But before they could leave, your hand shoots out and wraps around their wrist, stopping them. The corners of their mouth twitch as they turn to face you and for a second you think they're going to flash you one of their grins. Except they don't. They arch up a dark brow at you, their sharp facial features morphing into something akin to... playfulness? You then freeze, unsure where to start. There are so many questions - where am I? How do I get back? Why did the Dragon soar to the skies the second you showed up? [[...........]] 'You have many questions, don't you?' the person //actually// grins this time, their freakishly long and sharp canines on full display. The crimson of their eyes reflect the sunbeams, making them appear a shade lighter. You nod. They continue, their bizarre accent wrapping around each syllable like sweet honey, 'First of all, welcome to my universe. The hole you fell through? Yeah, that's the gateway. Oh, excuse me, where are my manners?' They extended their hand - large, battle-rough - toward you, the damned grin still plastered across their face. Their ears twitched at some distant sound you can't hear. 'My name's Remy. General of the Armies. The albino dragon? 'Twas my feral beast. You're lucky he didn't fry you alive. A jumpy cat when alone, that one.' Affection seeps into their voice as they speak. You take their hand, the texture of their callouses against your skin sending a shiver down your spine. Their mouth continues running miles in a minute, 'I assure you, I ''//do//'' keep an eye on him. Sometimes he just.... slips away. For your information, his name is Mikhail. He's still a baby.' Your eyes nearly fall out of their sockets. A baby? He is as large as a mountain. Remy's stifled chuckles fill the air, as raspy as their voice. They shake your hand firmly, their shoulders heaving with barely-concealed laughter. They stop the moment you open your mouth, your name spilling forth from your lips. Remy nods in acknowledgment, letting go of your hand. They clasp their hands behind their broad back, posture straight as a ruler, 'So. This universe. The humans from yours would call this place supernatural. Magical. Something straight out of a fairytale. The gateway opens whenever our fairs start. We have to keep our economy afloat somehow, you see.' They circle you like an animal eyeing its prey, their eagle-like vision scanning you head-to-toe. Another smirk splits their face, the tip of their top canine protruding through their lip. 'Buut, of course, you could... return. Or stick around. Your choice.' [[Stick around]] [[Return to your homeland]]Remy's toothy grin returns full-force - though you cannot see it as they are standing directly behind you - and they clap your shoulders with a force that nearly buckles your knees. The tall General wraps an arm around your neck as their side presses against yours. Your heat seeps into theirs, their scent - gun oil, herbal - penetrates your nostrils. Their head tilts down, crimson staring directly into your irises. 'Come on, then,' Remy sing-songs, already pushing you toward a stall. By the time the sun dips low in the horizon, you're sure your feet are about to detach from your body and run off. You visit each stall, eat foods out of this world (quite literally and figuratively), see - and participate - in supernatural tricks that many people in your homeland dreamt of. Remy is a pleasant company through it all, answering your questions without judgement (obvious ones included) and showing you around. Now, it's time for you to return - as it is for everyone else that doesn't belong in this universe. The bulky person leads you, and a dozens of others, deeper into the forest, the scenery gradually switching from the lush greenery of the forest to a forest painted in pastel purples, blues and pinks. People talk, the dragon owner hums the same haunting tune that brought all of you here, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Remy halts all followers by raising their hand near their spiky hair, palm pointed toward the opening on the floor. 'Your way home, ladies and gentlemen,' they rasp a charming smirk adorning their face. 'Until we meet again.' And thus, people jump in one by one, each one safely landing at the spot they found the orifice at. The way home was over before you knew it, exhaustion seeping into your bones - but beneath it, you feel... satisfied. Relaxed. A Friday well-spent. Maybe next week won't be so bad. And the tear-shaped, golden jewel you saw earlier? It's perched on your bedside table. Remy explained it's a gemstone filled with a calming charm. So far, their words ring true, for the aurora radiating from it relaxes you. --ENDING: Adventure Out Of This World-- [[Play again->A Brand New World]]Remy hums, the sound reverberating through their chest. They straighten up once again, tilting their head down to look at your face. Your neck has been craned up for so long it aches. 'Very well,' Remy rasps as their hand shoots out, settling on your shoulder. Without giving you a single chance to protest, they push you forward, forcing you to match their stride - confident, quick steps. It feels like they are floating as they walk. The scent of sap, blooming flowers and the undeniable sickly sweet aroma of magic surrounds you. It's... suffocating. Almost. The General drags you deeper into the forest, humming a haunting tune - you swear it's the same one you heard at the beach. Your gaze lingers on their ears, watching as the pointed tips perk up and twitch at distant noises - the howl of a wolf, the crack of a twig under someone's foot or paw, the rustle of the leaves. Their hearing must be sensitive. The scenery gradually switches from the lush greenery of a forest to a forest painted in pastel purples, blues and pinks. You caught wind of many unknown, gorgeous creatures - all pulled straight out of mythology - Griffins, Unicorns, little flecks of lights that giggled mischeviously,... 'Soldier,' the deep voice jolts you, dispelling your observations and thoughts. They flick their scarlet to yours for a fraction before darting away, their chin jerks toward a hole in the ground, surrounded by glowing vines and flowers. You feel it again - the hole calls for you, beckoning you to step closer and jump. Remy's hand leaves your shoulder, leaving behind a damp imprint. The loss of heat, the loss of the weight of their hand on your shoulder sends an (un)wanted bolt of longing through your system. With their palm-up, Remy gestures toward opening. Their voice lowers an octave, the words coming out as a husky whisper, 'Return home. Shall we meet again someday. Until then...' they turn away, their hands clasped behind their back. They peer at you over their shoulder, a warm smirk dancing upon their lips. 'Stay safe.' The sound of retreating footsteps follow, accompanied by the occassional crunch of dried leaves. The fall back to your universe wasn't bad. You didn't panic, didn't paw at the gravel and dirt. The way back home was over before you knew it, the ghost of Remy's hand on your shoulder lingering. That night, you dreamt of what could have been if you had stayed... --ENDING: Endless What If's-- (variation) [[Play again->A Brand New World]]''A Brand New World'' /by Raiden/ [[Credits]] [[About]] [[Guild Master´s Note->Note]] [[Play->Start]]Title: A Brand New World Author: Raiden (19), EctoComp´24 participant (link:"(At The Strike of Twelve)")[(gotoURL:"https://sif-gamebook.webnode.sk/ectocomp-2024/")] Playtime: 10 minutes (50 passages, 7 endings) Game Type: CYOA Genre: Fantasy, (link: "ProBlue")[(gotoURL:"https://weareatthesameboat.webnode.sk/micro-game/")] Country: Slovakia Set Topic: /Found on the Riverbank/ Antology: As I Sat On A Sunny Bank SENICA THING 2025 (link:"SIF website")[(gotoURL:"https://sif-gamebook.webnode.sk/")] [[Back->A Brand New World]]This antology of interactive games was designed as an answer to the "Clean Banks" Micro Gamebook Challenge which champions responsibility for our oceans, lakes and rivers. In this challenge the authors were asked to design a non-linear story around "an object found on the riverbank/or a sea shore". /The games were written by students from Senica (Slovakia), from Bohinjska Bistrica (Slovenia) and by a new "grown-up" guild member from Italy as a joint entry to the Back Garden at the Spring Thing Festival of Interactive Fiction 2025./ [[Back->A Brand New World]]''Guildmaster´s note'' This gamebook author already has had some previous authoring experience. They tried to incorporate the gathered reviewers´ feedback to what they are presenting now. They will benefit from straightforward and constructive feedback to learn and grow some more. //(This year the SIF Guild decided to offer "local only" public appearance to unfinished games designed by authors who already have had the honor of receiving feedback from Spring Thing reviewers and need some more time now for it to sink in. These games can reach their reader (link:"here.")[(gotoURL:"https://sif-gamebook.webnode.sk/senica-thing")])// Raiden has shown promissing output and needs guidance as to how far their game stands from entering the Main Festival sometime in the following years. [[Back->A Brand New World]]