No amount of Elias patting him on the back could get Andrew to open his eyes during their flight. The wind rushing by his ears and messing up his hair was enough adventure for him as it was, he didn’t need to also see how high up they were. Even after landing, Andrew took some time to breathe before he opened his eyes.

“I apologize, I didn’t think our flight would frighten you. Have you never flown before?” Elias stood calm and collected, his hair and clothes still perfectly all in place.

“I have, but in an airplane! You know, how normal people do it!” Andrew shook out his limbs, fixing his jacket and tussling his hands through his hair to try and flatten it again. “How did you even do that? Wires? A jetpack?” He looked behind Elias, only seeing his wings, which the prince wiggled a few times.

“My wings, of course. All dragons know how to fly, some before they know how to walk.”

Andrew rolled his eyes. “I thought we came to your castle so you could finally break character and get me home.”

They had landed on the front steps of the place, and thankfully, they had landed on the top of them because there were more steps than Andrew had ever seen in his entire life. The grand staircase led up from a massive road lined by guards, each standing so still he could have mistaken them for statues. At the top, a few more stood, though they didn’t interest Andrew as much as the castle itself did.

Massive stone walls towered over him, some coming to pointed roofs with flags on the tops, and some turning into archways that led to more roads. It had to have been a design ripped straight from a rich person’s fairy tale because Andrew didn’t think any sane architect would do all of that without a big paycheck.

“So you’re rich rich,” he mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “No wonder all these people are so into this. I bet they paid an arm and a leg to get into here and play this big game.”

Elias sighed, placing his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Firstly, we do not barter with body parts here, that’s barbaric. And secondly, Andrew, I think it would be best that you understand now that this isn’t a game of some sort. I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I need you to work with me if you want to get home.”

Andrew stepped away from his grasp. “You’re still not going to let this go, huh? You want me to believe I got knocked out and zapped into some medieval world? Fine. I’ll play your stupid pretend game if it helps you get me out of here.” There was only so much of the game he was going to play, but if it was the only way to get help from those people, it would have to be done. “So, Your Majesty, how do I get out of your kingdom? And are there neighboring kingdoms I can know the name of so that I have an idea of where I’m at? Maybe you have some giant round table with a map I can look at?”

“You don’t have to call me that, Andrew. You are not from here, so I am not your ruler, and I can tell that right now you need a friend more than anything else. So, please, just call me Elias.” The prince gestured to the large doors, which opened as soon as he looked at them. “Follow me and I will do whatever I can to answer your questions and get you home.”

“Lead the way then, Elias.”

Just inside the doors, red and golden tapestries lined the walls. They had what Andrew assumed to be writing on it, but the language wasn’t familiar to him. What he did recognize, though, was a dragon symbol, one that had horns just like Elias. Every tapestry had them, however, the dragon itself on each one looked slightly different from the last.

“Those are my elders,” Elias said, tucking his hands and wings behind his back. He looked over at Andrew, offering a small smile. “Once we get some answers, I can give you a small tour of the castle. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s possible that we’ll have to keep you here for a night or two. Hopefully no more than that, though.”

“A night or two?” Andrew groaned, using the heels of his hands to rub his eyes. “Great, okay, sure. I’ll just hope my boss lets me keep my damn job after this.” His shoulders slumped, and his arms fell to his side. At least he had a place to stay. Things could have ended up a lot worse. Hell, he could still be lost in the woods with no food or water. “If… If you’re really sure that it’s fine for me to stay here, then that’s alright. Just know I’m pretty much useless right now. My phone and wallet were taken from me, so I have no money, and you can’t expect me to work much for this in return. I’ve sat at a desk my whole life, so physical labor ain’t gonna happen.”

Elias laughed, louder than he thought a composed prince like him would. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at your situation. I just think some of the things you say are funny, Andrew. I don’t understand a lot of the words you say, and I would never ask something in return for helping you. Think of it as a welcome gift for visiting our kingdom.”

“Well, I’m glad someone can find humor in this.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Where are we going, anyway? These halls look endless.”

“Oh, we’re going to the Court of Mages. It’s just around the corner up this way. There should be a few of them there this time of day, and they’ll be able to tell us something.”

Andrew sighed. Maybe someone in there would see how serious he was about getting home and break the facade long enough to tell him how to get out of there. There had to be at least one sane person there.

Their walk didn’t last much longer, and soon enough the two stood before a large door. Gems and strange runes littered it, and there didn’t seem to be any kind of handle. Elias didn’t look concerned with that, simply knocking a tune against it and having it open with ease.

A stone table covered in mountains of books and scrolls sat in the middle of the massive, well-lit room, a group of older people surrounding it. All of them had dark red cloaks on, some with the hoods up and some with a golden sash around their waist.

“Ah, great. This doesn’t seem like a cult at all,” Andrew mumbled to himself. “Are these the guys that are supposed to know how to get me home?”

“Your majesty,” one of the mages stepped forward, bowing his head. “You’re back so early from the festival.” He looked at Andrew, his expression blank. “I take it you’re here because of him?”

Elias nodded. “Andrew, this is Greaned, one of my best mages. If there’s anyone here that will have answers for you, it’s him.”

“Okay, uh, nice to meet you. What do I have to tell you to get myself out of here?” The blank stare from the mage made Andrew’s skin crawl. “Please tell me you’re willing to just give me a phone so I can find my own way home.”

Greaned looked to Elias, his expression finally cracking into something more confused. “I can see why you brought him here.” He held his hand out to Andrew. “Let me see your hand. I would like to see if I can get an initial read on you.”

“Fine. But don’t make this any weirder than it already is.” Andrew placed his hand in the older man’s, shivering from the contact. More of the blue particles that had been pulsing through the buildings began to float around their hands, dusting his skin with a thin layer of it.

Even though he thought it would burn or hurt him, the glowing dust did nothing but cling to him.

At first, anyway.

After a moment of quiet, the blue stuff lit up, a quick flash nearly as bright as the sun that made Andrew close his eyes and yank his hand back to cover them. He swore loudly and waved his hand around, trying to get whatever that stuff was off. Thankfully, it had disappeared, and he was only left with spots in his eyes that would soon fade away.

“That’s… Not good,” the mage said. “I will have to find another way to find information. But, first, I would like to speak to you alone, your majesty. Andrew can wait out in the hallway.”

“Alright, thank you, Greaned.” Elias nudged Andrew out of the room, gently guiding him to the hall and against a wall. “I’m sorry if that hurt you, Andrew. I don’t want you to be in any pain, and I will make it up to you shortly, okay? I just need to speak with Greaned alone for a moment, and then I will come back and get you somewhere comfortable to rest until we can find out more.”

Andrew was still rubbing his eyes, trying not to trip over his damn slippers. If he ever got home, he was going to throw the things out. “Fine, fine, I’ll just wait here.”

Elias left him in the hall, closing the door behind him.

“I hate this,” Andrew huffed. “I just want to go home.” He spoke softly, not wanting Elias to hear him. The whole nice prince act he was doing didn’t make him feel any better about the situation. In fact, it was making it worse. At that point, Andrew just wanted to be left alone for a while, not listening to promises from some delusional rich guy.

His eyes wandered the hall for something to look at and keep himself entertained while he waited, but all he could see were more tapestries with words and pictures he didn’t understand. Maybe, after some rest, he could ask Elias about them. If playing along with his little story made him more helpful, then that was what Andrew would have to do. Anything to get home to his own bed.