Leaning on my shoulder, he walked with me to the plaza. He still looked rather weak, but there was nothing else I could do to help him with.

“The name is Hansel, what’s yours?”

“Ahm… Leonard? Is there time for introductions? I’m sorry, really nervous over here.”

He laughed again.

“We’re just fine.”

He looked to the battlefield. The small woman was still holding her ground with the caped guy, and the Knight from before was just running from the woman, not actually fighting. I would do the same if I’m completely honest. There were no other townsfolks to be seen, so probably everybody is in the tunnel right now.

“Guys!” screamed Hansel. And it was just enough.

The sand soldiers hurried to our direction, as well as the woman’s and the knight’s. They then turned to a mass of sand, surrounding us, merging in some sort of armor.

“Your turn, Hansel,” replied the knight, still avoiding Nancy.

“Reimagined Sand: Gates of the Coliseum.”

The sand on us shone, covering the rest of our bodies. It just took a second, but the magic devoured us, sending us to the darkness. I felt nothing bad, I was actually surprised by the warmth in this magic. It reminded me… of the beach! What a beautiful magic.

After a few moments, I felt the sand retreat from my face. Suddenly, the light of the day blinded my eyes. I heard a multitude too, perhaps the townsfolks? Recovering my vision, we were in an endless field, just near an enormous wall. This most be some other city by the looks of it.

He did say Queendom.

Everybody was here, talking with each other, happy that they survived. I’m letting all of this mesmerize me. I never noticed how tired I was until I got here. I couldn’t hold my feet, and felt to the ground, exhausted. Hansel, unfortunately, felt with me.

“I’m…” I couldn’t even catch my breath. “I’m so happy to be alive!”

“Isn’t that fantastic?” said Hansel… I bet he must be really tired too. “I didn’t have the moment before. I’m thankful you took the time to heal me. If it weren’t for you, things would have gone south.”

“I healed you, you saved me. We’re even.”

“I don’t think we are that even. I almost died back there. What is the name of that healing skill again?”

I was having a nice time with the knight, but the question unsettled me. They are supposed to know the magic in this world, and this man seemed highly skilled to teleport us from that city to this place. I answered with caution.

“It’s… it’s just a restoration skill.”

“What element? I’m pretty sure I heard light.”

Should I trust him? He doesn’t look like a bad person, and I have an ever growing list of questions I’d like to ask.

“Yeah, it was a light skill… is… is there a problem with that?” I’m panicking!

“Oh, no. Not at all. It’s just unusual. People like to use Water-based heal skills because it is easier. For you to be so attuned to light to even cast a light heal… It’s quite impressive.”

Why, thank you, but that just confuses me more than before. Fortunately, the woman and knight from before arrived just to save me from being pinned down with Hansel’s questions.

“Hey, Hansel. I see you got yourself a hero,” said the sand man. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I’m Sir Wallace Castle.”

This is so formal and awkward…

“The pleasure is mine, Sir. My name is Leonard Sica.”

“Ah, what a strange surname. Are you perhaps not a noble from Flonctus?”

“Shut up, Wally, you talk too much. Can’t you see that the poor guy is tired of all of this? Bet you’d like to take a long a hot shower. Doncha?”

What kind of presentation is that? This woman is like the opposite side of Wallace. I think I’m more uncomfortable around her.

“I am rather tired, yes. I’d love to take a nap after a shower.”

“Told ya,” said the short woman. “The name’s Athress. So, what’s the big deal? I thought you were a goner, Hansel.”

“I, also, am quite confused, to tell you the truth. Leonard here happens to know Light Heal type of magic. I was uncertain, but it looks like this magic is good against Nancy’s Devour.”

Honestly, this conversation makes less sense the more I’m into it.

A nearing neigh caught the group attention. An old mand holding what looks to be a staff stared at us, sizing up perhaps. His lips were pressing in a fine line when he spoke, and sound quite upset.

“Prince Hansel, Sir Wallace, Lady Athress, the King would like to have a word with you.”

Hold on, did he just say PRINCE?!