There were strange plants potted around some of the shops and a giant floating tree far in the distance—so far I knew it couldn’t have been part of the fair but just a visual construct for ambiance. Even knowing that a significant portion of what I saw only existed digitally, the integration was done so well that at least visually I couldn’t tell the real from the fake.

“This is beyond cool!” Mirina declared.

“Yea, we should definitely come back.” I agreed, feeling a thrill of excitement course through my veins.

We walked along the main street until we reached a large tent at the end of a row. The sign read: DRAGON RIDING EXPERIENCE. In smaller print it read: cost 5 gold coins.

I knew Mirina would be disappointed, but we already knew none of us had any money. At least now we knew how much we needed.

“Five gold coins…” she said.

“Mimi,” mom began, her tone soft as she placed a hand on my sister's back. “We—”

“…We’ll have that in no time!”

“Uhm, yea.” Mom agreed.

From the left, someone was approaching, a man wearing a blue tunic with iron pauldrons and a cuirass over his clothes. The name above his head was Quasi

“You must be the new recruits,” he said.

“Not me,” I answered, “but Mimi’s quite excited for this job.”

“Right then, come on young lady. And miss Silvia, I’ve a post for you too.”

“We’ll see you later, Silvon.” my mother smiled warmly, as she and Mimi followed Quasi into the dragon stable.

I waved back then moved further down the road toward another group being led inside a pub by their guide. Next to the entrance, a dwarf, a human woman, and two elves stood together as they talked animatedly with a man I assumed to be their leader.

They looked like a hunting party, and their weapons were well worn, leaving me to wonder if there were monsters to fight as well.

One of the elves must’ve noticed me staring because he made eye contact with me. Something in his gaze was unsettling—not in the embarrassing I just got caught staring kind of way. It was more like an internal alarm went off, warning me to stay away, so I turned right and hurried along down a new street.

There were shops on the right, most selling weapons and amulets. On the left there was one large building set back and blocked off by an iron gate—it ran the length of the block, ending at the next cross street.

I browsed in some of the shops, wondering what the things they sold could be used for and trying to decide what sort of job might fit me. 

After exiting a bookstore—Marvelous Tomes, according to the sign—A pale bony hand wrapped around my arm, yanking me into an alley beside the building. I tried to pull away, but even twisting my arm toward their thumb, I couldn’t get free.

Drug by a man wearing a brown robe, my mind went blank. My instincts told me to fight, but I hesitated when I considered this might be part of the experience. Maybe he was like the man at the entrance. His approach was alarming, but perhaps it was meant to be?

Unable to get free, I couldn’t help but notice his arms. He had limbs so thin I wondered where he got the strength to move, let alone his yanking me around.

At the end of the narrow alley, he stopped and turned to face me. A hood completely shrouded his face and his name was written in characters I didn’t recognize.

Pulling away from him—and finally breaking free—I shouted, “Who are you?”

“There isn’t time. Soon everything will change for you. You won’t be Sam anymore… I need you to know the truth before then.”

Immediately I backed away further. The voice was unmistakable, it was my—no, Silvon’s uncle.

“You were in my dream.” I said as I continued to creep backward. “This… this isn’t real, it can’t be.”

He chuckled darkly. "It is, Silvon; and there are more lives at stake than mine if you don’t listen to me now.”

“No, get away from me!” I shouted, pivoting on my heel to race out of the alley.

I heard his steps pounding behind mine. He nearly caught me, but I stopped abruptly and ducked down.

The old man collided into me, tumbling over me and crashing to the ground. Without a moment’s hesitation, I sprang up, jumped and kicked off the wall for extra height as I hurtled over him and out of the alley.

Back on the main street, I broke left toward the tavern. I needed to get to the dragon stable, to alert my mom, but as I ran, I realized I didn’t know how to explain the situation. I’d have to figure that out later.

As I turned onto the street with the stable, a long serpent-like tongue wrapped under my arms and lifted me off the ground.

I panicked, flailing my way free only to be grabbed again—this time more firmly.

“Relax,” Clair said as I was lifted higher. “This beast is called a gruffle, and it won’t hurt you,” she added.

I looked up, both shocked and confused, to see her riding a strange creature somewhat bigger than a horse and covered with thick brown fur. Its body resembled that of a wolf, but its legs ended abruptly in hooves, making it look much like a pony. From its long snout, four curved horns jutted upward, like the horns of a rhino. It boasted thick feathered wings that would put an eagle to shame, and around its neck hung a collar of pure gold, studded with sparkling jewels. 

With its disturbingly long tongue, the creature lifted me onto its back and soared even higher, into the clouds. We flew higher still until we were completely enveloped in a serene white atmosphere. The beast’s wings stopped flapping and we drifted, peacefully, among fluffy white poofs, like giant snowflakes floating past our faces. There was no sun, and yet a warm glow filled the space. 

“Hold on,” Clair said as we flew through a rotating light that seemed to break apart like glass when we passed through it. We emerged on the other side above a field of flowers sprawled out like a carpet beneath us. 

At its center there stood a single lonely tree, the same one from Clair’s drawing. “It’s beautiful,” I said, “and exactly as you drew it.”

She nodded.

There wasn't a single building in sight, no roads, cars, utility poles, not a single sign of human civilization; and the air was crisp and fresh, lacking that city smell I was used to. The meadow was surrounded on all sides by lush forests; there was no fair.

There were two stars; one burned bright overhead casting a warm glow over everything below; while the other, set high in the distance, blazed with reserved brilliance, saved only for those deserving few that took time to notice.

I’d have sworn this was only a dream, but I was absolutely certain I hadn’t gone to sleep, so how could it be?

The presence of a second sun led me to conclude that we’d traveled to another world, though that seemed more improbable than this being a dream.

Then I remembered I was wearing a virtual reality helmet. Clair didn’t have a name above her head; digital effects couldn’t emulate the feel of fur in my hands or the heat of not one but two suns. This couldn’t all be digital, but just to confirm, I ripped off my helmet.

The scene didn’t change. Everything was real—I was really riding on a magical creature with a girl from my class. The meadow from Clair’s picture—and my dream—the two suns bearing down on us, the…gruffle—everything was real.

The VR helmet rolled out of my hands and crashed against the treetops below, startling dozens of birds from their nests. 

“What the hell is going on?”