Haze felt a pressure on his chest and, to his horror, he felt himself falling. He slammed onto the ground, winded. Feeling something on his chest, he looked down, seeing a hand. He then glanced up, seeing a shock-stricken Rowan. Realizing what he was doing, Rowan stumbled until he stood.

“I am so, so sorry! I tripped and fell and that…”

Rowan offered a hand and Haze took it hesitantly. He stood up slowly and winced. Examining his new scrapes, he sighed. Haze then felt himself get red. 

“I-It’s alright. M-mistakes happen," he mumbled and turned to walk in the direction where they needed to go. Haze still couldn’t slow his racing heart and started to shake. Taking deep breaths, he swallowed. Before he knew it, they reached where Haze made camp.

“Make yourself at home, or at least try to replicate it to the best of your abilities.” Haze said, giving Rowan a small, polite smile. Rowan nodded, returning the gesture. The small space was littered with dust and a couple of crates filled with small food rations and two full cases of bottled water. There was a small sleeping bag in the corner, and that usually where Haze slept. He gave Rowan a bottle of water, not bothering to open one for himself.

Haze took a glance at Rowan. He was quite tall, with deep brown eyes and black hair. He had beautifully clear, almond colored skin. Clearing his throat lightly, he spoke.

“So, you’re a... fire... elemental?" Haze inquired, catching Rowan’s attention. The way people used magic, in simple terms, worked like this: the spellweaver can practice and cast many different spells, but there is only one element that they specialize in. That is assigned at birth, based on the parents of the child; two people of different elements rarely get together. He had recalled some of what he had learned a while back by his old caretaker. His eyes panned to his ankle, knowing there was a mark of fire underneath those expensive socks and even more expensive trousers.

“Uhm, yeah. I’m actually a prince, if you didn’t know already," Rowan responded, laughing a little. Rowan touched the back of his neck, and Haze assumed he was referring to when he yelled that he was a prince. A wave of secondhand embarrassment engulfed Haze, imagining himself in that situation. His quiet self couldn't ever bring himself to shout in front of anyone, let alone an entire group of armed people.

“Oh… alright," Haze said quietly, rubbing eyes. Rowan tilted his head. 

"How do you know of the mark..? And of powers, for that matter? I'm from a different dimension, not of yours. I know dimension hopping exists, as I had just done it, but how could word reach this part of... whatever this place is?" Rowan asked, but quickly backpedaled. "I-I mean I didn't mean it in an insulting manner- this is actually a pretty nice dimension, but I don't think such a guarded secret would find itself here, of all places, right?"

Haze stiffened, and Rowan seemed full of regret when asking the question. Haze thought for a moment, picking his words wisely. He began to speak.

"You have many questions, some I'm not willing to answer yet. But I will answer a few. It was always a rumor here, of magic-bearers, but it hadn't been proven. Our corrupt "government" doesn't communicate with its own people. I always believed something was strange here, as if it was... radiating, per say, an energy. When you jump dimensions, you rarely ever get control of where you want to go," he paused, "but out of all of the seemingly more energy-filled dimensions, why was this one chosen for your hop to have you arrive to?"

Rowan thought for a moment. He tapped his chin.

"I suppose you're right. It is odd that this dump- I mean- great dimension was chosen for my hop. Do you think that maybe it wasn't more of a random pick, but more like this place had more magic or energy that attracted mine to it?" Rowan asked Haze, and he agreed.

"I, uhm, also have more to discuss, though it is against my better judgment to keep talking. B-before I had met up with you, I was walking home from work and was ambushed. It was by two creatures... one was ghastly white. It resembled a human but it didn't... feel... human...? And the other was this horrific bird-like," Haze caught his breath, trying to calm down as he recalled how disgusting and upsetting that situation was, "...thing. It had a hooked beak, bulging but intelligent eyes, and legs that were of a bird's. I noticed that they were both wearing clothing with a symbol that looked like a lock to a door. I hated every second of that encounter." He finished and felt his heart palpitate.

Rowan looked shocked. He began to recount his encounter with his attackers and noted that they also wore clothes identical to the ones Haze described. The two guys looked at each other warily, both scared for their safety.

"They also said something of a master..I don't like the situation we've stumbled in to," Haze added with a sigh.

There was a long quietness after that. Uncharacteristically, Haze broke the silence.

“I have work tomorrow and then I have a day off. I can tour you around, but you have to dress… differently," Haze motioned towards Rowan, fitted in his shiny prince-wear. It was a top with gold embroidered into the clothes itself. His pants were of the highest quality fabrics and had tiny designs on it.

“Right! Right, yeah. You have a point.”