"This place surpasses our wildest dreams, almost as if a fantasy novel has come to life," Alex remarks, taking in the view.

"I see your point!" Miranda chuckles warmly.

Alex and the twins stroll through the streets. They notice the townspeople: some are humans, while others are elves and dwarves. Noticing their attention, Alex observes they are wearing different outfits, so he keeps walking past his grandma.

"Uh, Grandma, how are we going to cover all the expenses I'll have for college?" Alex asks, concerned about how the financial system operates.

"That's easy. We're going there first, see," Miranda replies, pointing to their destination.

Alex and the twins spot a five-story white building with a sign resembling a pot of gold and a rainbow magically emerging from it.

"Welcome to the Pot o' Luck, one of Etheria's bank branches," Miranda says.

Once they walk into the back, Alex notices the familiar ambiance of a typical bank. However, the bank tellers stand out to Alex and his brother. They are five inches high with curly red-orange hair, and they are wearing complete green outfits decorated with a leaf pattern.

"Grandma, is it just my imagination, or are those really who I think they are?" Alex questions, amazed as he recognizes them.

"You figured it out? Yes, they are Leprechauns," Miranda replies with a smile.

Leprechauns are enchanting figures from Irish folklore. They are known for hiding their pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Alex recalls hearing stories about them from his mother, and nowadays, countless people don their attire during St. Patrick's Day festivities. However, Alex never imagined seeing them guarding a bank, particularly one of its branches. 

Alex expected to encounter creatures like goblins, dwarves, or gnomes, as they seemed more suited to a money manager role than leprechauns. Upon reaching the front desk, the boys spotted a leprechaun busy with paperwork.

"Top of the Morning! How can I assist you today?" the Leprechaun says warmly, his Irish accent adding a joyful touch.

"Yes, I would be grateful to withdraw money from the Griffin Family Vault if you don't mind," Miranda replies with a smile.

"Of course, lassie, please follow me," the Leprechaun says, hopping off his deck.

While following the Leprechaun, he opens yet another portal. Curious, Alex wonders where it might lead. After they pass through, Alex discovers vaults dispersed across a mysterious mountain.

***

Alex and his family continue to follow him. Alex surveys the surroundings and sees vault doors lining the walls. He briefly looks down and recognizes how far off the ground they are.

When Alex's grandma witnessed the Leprechaun on a platform, she approached and extended her hand to help the boys aboard. After they stepped on, the platform rose magically, like an elevator or something similar.

Suddenly, the platform halted, arriving at a vault door. Grandma and the Leprechaun disembarked effortlessly while Alex and his brother struggled to step off, their legs trembling.

"Here we are, Vault 897, owned by the Griffin Family," the Leprechaun says.

Alex's Grandma and the Leprechaun magically unlock the vault, revealing a treasure trove of dazzling gems and coins. The gems sparkle like stars in the night sky, and the coins gleam in the soft light, reflecting their metallic hues throughout the room.

"Are you surprised by how much money our family got?" Miranda playfully teases her grandsons, her laughter echoing warmly through the vault.

The boys nod in agreement as they watch their grandma take out some money. Noticing her smile, they get ready to explore the town.

 ***

Sweet Harvest Valley's marketplace acts as a bazaar where merchants can sell their goods, including those from fishermen and farmers. Although signs are being installed, the boys cannot read them, so they follow their grandma, who knows which shops to visit and what Alex needs to get ready for college.

The first store they visited was a quaint little shop brimming with quills and vibrant inks. Alex was captivated by how the inks sparkled, shimmering enticingly in their bottles. A sign caught his eye, displaying prices ranging from 19 coppers to 3 silvers. Alex observed his grandma purchasing a quill and ink set at the counter and handing over 10 silver coins to the clerk.

At the next store, Alex notices books that seem like books. They probably have a magical book for spell learning and related subjects. Alex watches as his grandma selects several copies of the book he requires for his lessons, and he's surprised to see the prices vary from 15 silver coins to 30 gold coins.

"Wow, that's a hefty price for this world," Alex thinks, anxious about the costs.

Once they've finished shopping, they stroll through the main square in Sweet Harvest Valley. Alex then sees a statue depicting a young man with curved horns atop his head and a tail whose fins flare at the end. The statue shows scales along its shirtless frame, and its feet aren't human; they are dragon paws with talons. When Alex sees a nameplate, he cannot decipher it since the language is unfamiliar.

"It's in Draconic," Miranda says.

"D-Draconic, like *an image of a roaring dragon in Alex's head*! Dragons!" Alex exclaims in shock.

"Then who is he?" Alex asks, glancing at the statue once more.

"Meet Xikad Bilzarg, the Golden Dragon. He founded the Magic Council and leads the Dragon Council, and he is also honored as the Dragon God of Creation," Miranda states, admiring the statue.

Alex's eyes widen as he gazes at their grandma, contemplating what Xikad represents (A god) before turning his attention to the statue. The twins, too, are captivated by the conversation surrounding him. Alex looks back at his grandma, intrigued by the mention of gods.

"Are there gods present here?" Alex inquires, his gaze fixed on the statue.

"Yes, there are! Come along, boys," Miranda replies.

The boys trail their grandma, and after walking a few miles, Alex spots a church-like building. In front of it, there are nine statues; one represents Xikard, while the eight behind him are other gods. One is clad in a one-sleeve kimono and boasts six pairs of wings, while the other dons a toga with stag-like antlers adorning his head.

One wearing the exact one-sleeve kimono with wings looking like dragonflies. Two who look like twins; one looks masculine, the other feminine. One looks like a devil, and next to him are two angels, one in a dress and the other in armor.

"These are the gods and goddesses of Etheria," Miranda explains, like a teacher giving a lesson to her students.

"The figure adorned with wings is Ybus, the God of Species, Magic Rituals, and the Moon," Miranda explains, gesturing towards the statue of Ybus.

"So, when you say 'by species,' you mean," Nate interjects.

"Yes, Ybus creates wildlife and all creatures of his world," Miranda says, "and this one (pointing to the statue with the antlers), this is Khygdite, the God of Life, Magic, and the Sun."

"Life, as in he gives life?" Kevin adds.

"In a sense, Khygdite brings Ybus's creations to life by breathing into them," Miranda replies.

"The Twins, Colo and Bolo, were human once 1,000 years ago. Xikad blessed them to be gods. Colo, the God of Dreams, and Bolo, the God of Love."

Alex looks at the statue of Bolo, noting his stance and femininity, and wonders how a man became the god of love. Besides, on Earth, there is Cupid, who is one.

"This one with dragonfly wings is Xades, he is the God of Nature and Harvest," Miranda says.

"Guess that means every greenery here is under his protection," Nate says, looking at the statue.

"Yes, Dear, that is right. The angel in armor is Uena, the Goddess of War and Wisdom," Miranda says.

"Wow, does that mean fights happen here, too?" Kevin asks, looking nervous at his grandma.

"And the last two are Alexis, the Goddess of Light and Healing, while her twin Xarzos, the God of Darkness and Death," Miranda finishes showing the gods.

The last two are both shocking and amazing, but he is also shocked to see that the demon one is the god of death, and his twin sister is the goddess of healing. Both Kevin and Nate are amazed to see all the gods, and even Alex is astonished.

"Okay, they are amazing," Alex remarks to himself.

"Are you three feeling hungry? I know the perfect spot to grab a bite!" Miranda says with a warm smile.

The boys walk behind their grandma, wondering where they will eat. Alex suddenly smells the ocean approaching from the corner.

***

Once they turn the corner, the sun shines so brightly, and they see the ocean. Suddenly, Alex can smell something warm and something delicious too. They notice a vibrant building nearby, filled with cheering from inside.

"Boy, welcome to a tavern," Miranda says.

Upon entering the tavern, Alex observes that it has the charm of a restaurant and a bar. The diverse crowd enjoying themselves is impressive, and he notices his grandma arriving as the boys spot her taking a seat.

"Adventurers visit taverns like this to unwind after finishing quests from the board at the guild hall," Miranda says.

"Seriously?" Alex inquires, leaning in, eager to discover more.

"Absolutely! You'll soon learn more about it in your college class," Miranda says with a warm smile.

Suddenly, a waiter passes by, resembling an elf. Alex can hardly contain his excitement at having an elf standing across from the table.

"Hello, what can I get for you today?" the waiter asks as he takes their orders.

"We'll have four Terrabull Burgers, a glass of wine for me, and three juices for my grandsons," Miranda replies, taking their orders.

"Four Terrabull Burgers are on the way," the waiter says as he heads toward the kitchen.

After a brief silence, Alex gazed at his grandma, his eyes sparkling excitedly.

"I can't believe I saw an elf; I'm so happy!" Alex exclaims excitedly.

Alex's grandma smiles at the sight of him, so excited. Suddenly, a group of adventurers arrives, hearing their happy laughter and seeing them drink to their hearts' content. Just then, the elf waiter returns with our orders, and Alex is amazed to see a "hamburger" right before him.

"Alright, boys, I hope you enjoy your Terrabull Burgers!" Miranda says, beaming with a warm smile.

Though nervous to try it, the aroma is delightful, reminiscent of a genuine "hamburger." Once Alex took a large bite, it tasted incredible; the earthy spices used to season the meat were exceptional, and the sauce had just the right amount of coolness. After sipping the juice, which also tasted fantastic, Alex felt a refreshing burst that cleansed his palate, making him eager for another bite.

The two suns dip below the horizon of Sweet Harvest Valley, and Alex watches his grandma pay for their meal before they leave town. She'll use her magic to transport them home, and Alex is excited to begin his college journey in Etheria over the next three weeks.

***

Three weeks later, the night before his departure, Alex is fully packed. He feels exceptionally excited to explore what Etheria has in store, but is concerned about not getting enough sleep while gazing at the night sky. The stars sparkle like gems, and under the moonlight, everything appears tranquil. As Alex's eyes grow heavy, he drifts into a serene sleep, ready for his journey to start tomorrow.