Ray tried to distract Káel with random tidbits of information on whatever they passed, but Káel was more interested in the fact Ray had shrugged off diving from a large cliff, and mentally debilitated by the shock still spiking through his brain. The panic hadn't kicked in, allowing mind to focus on the new cache of questions racing through his mind, including Ray's successful jaunt at destroying the laws of physics, and reasons for kidnapping him of all people.

          The two had been walking along the edge of the forest for what felt like hours, taking into account the two stars' abilities to elongate the passage of time with the scorching energy they produced. Ray had been humming 'It's a Small World After All' to himself for the past hour, and the constant repetition of it was wearing Káel's patience dangerously thin. He couldn't believe how long the forest was and why they couldn't just walk through it, rather than looping around the thing, but Ray was content on avoiding doing so for reasons Káel didn't feel like questioning. 

          The walk was doing an excellent job in draining Káel's energy, so he nearly walked right into Ray when he stopped short a few inches from a large white stone. Káel snapped out of his day dreamy state and looked over at the smooth, glossy white rock.

          "Ahah!" Ray knelt down and picked up a random stick. He brushed off the specks of dirt clinging to it and presented it to Káel. "Make it disappear."

          "Make it what?" Káel grabbed the scraggly piece of wood, it had a tinge of purple to it's bark and the few leaves that clung to its tiny arms were transparent silver teardrops. It's uniqueness was captivating, but the source of the beautiful branch was nowhere to be seen.

          "Turn it invisible." He touched the tip of the stick and muttered. The stick instantly melded with the scenery around it, turning into a transparent distortion, like a crystal clear icicle was now sitting in Káel's grasp. Ray withdrew his hand and the stick regained its color. "Just think about turning it invisible and say spindrell, it should work after a bit."

          Káel beheld the stick, it couldn't hurt to try, he thought, picturing the invisible stick in his mind. He focused on the stick like it was a bullseye. "Spindrell." He stared at it for a bit, but nothing happened.

          Hesitant as to if he'd pronounced it right, Káel repeated himself, the stick wavered slightly, but to his disappointment it didn't take on a transparent form. He commanded it yet again, and a chunk of fatigue weighed down his senses, draining the stick of its rich brown and leaving a hazy white translucent cloud.

          When Ray viewed the outcome of Káel's attempts he laughed. "Wow, you suck at focusing."

          "I'm surprised something happened," Káel said, inspecting the blurred images through the stick. Jeremiah looked at the stick impassively then rubbed his head against Káel's pant leg, sending a burst of energy that crawled through him, instantly turning the stick invisible. He eyed his cat questionably, and Jeremiah chirped. "So how exactly is this possible?"

          "Lumience. It's a substance that takes energy in exchange for doing your bidding to the best of its abilities." He picked up a rock and levitated it in the air. "Except different people can specialize in different functions it holds, like you suck at illusionary skills, but you might be good at gravitational."

          "So it's basically magic."

          Ray made an iffy motion with his hand. "Not quite. Lumience is like the air around us... comes out of the ground sometimes. It's psychologically prgrammable if you're indigenous. Magic comes out of certain people and creatures like blood, and it's a lot more potent. They're only similar because they can both use a language, kind of like programming, for better control. Earthlings think they're the same because it's earth. Boring." He let out a heavy sigh from the long explanation, then looked at his floating pebble and dropped it. "Some creatures can use magic, but it's best to avoid those ones." He poked Káel's hazy branch so it faded back to its original state. "Don't use it for too long or it'll sap you dry, and make a hangover seem like a vacation."

          He walked over to the glossy white stone and put his hand on it, whispering a small phrase, and the stone gave off a soft illuminating light. Loud snaps and rustles erupted from the forest as the trees and shrubs came to life, shuffling away to create a broad path paved with mossy green stones.

          Káel looked down the seemingly endless path that formed, cautiously approaching it, but Ray stopped him before he could step in. He gave Káel a serious look, "No matter what happens, do NOT step off the path, the forest can get a little grumpy when its trails aren't followed."

          Káel acknowledged Ray's warning and followed him into the forest. After they entered the plants moved until they regained their previous placement, blotting out their exit with a mass of towering trees.

    —————    

          The forest creatures stared at the group of peculiar things travelling through their domain. Some recognized Ray and his companion Ragdoll, but Káel and Jeremiah struck them as new faces, and they couldn't help but weigh their judging eyes on the foreigners. The friendlier creatures took this chance to become acquainted with what they saw as a new batch of friends, scurrying to meet Káel. A mass of curious creatures quickly formed, and Káel became especially nervous about the large scaled stag stalking them down the path with unknown intent.

          The animals were overly friendly around them, and this wasn't something Káel was accustomed to. Ray explained their welcoming behaviour was caused by the forest, since it only allowed safe passage to those carrying good intentions, but it didn't make Káel any more relaxed as he looked down at the golden lizards circling his feet.

          The stag caught up and squeezed between the two, flaunting a coat of glistening emerald scales, and a thick set of white branching antlers rested on its strong brow. Ray dipped his head respectfully to the beast and rubbed its snout.

          It turned its golden eyes to Káel and snorted, sending a puff of hot air into his face. Káel copied Ray's actions and inclined his head. A large pink scar running across its black nose caught his gaze, but it was only for a moment until the beast turned its head and purposely clocked him on the side of the face.

          "He's a Vidaean, they're caretakers of the forest." Ray said, picking up a large silver spider before it crawled down his shirt. He was being hoarded by an entourage of welcoming creatures as well. "I hope you're good with handling large vicious beasties by the way."

          "What?" Káel replied, contemplating if he'd caught Ray's mutter properly. Vicious beasts? Who in their right mind is okay with handling vicious beasts? He thought, the stabbing concern blooming in his stomach again. Ray kicked him off a cliff but Káel was still following him around, maybe he wasn't currently in his right mind. Be it the enchanting forest, or a strange case of Hollywood Stockholm Syndrome, Káel knew his reaction was weird, but couldn't bring himself to act differently.

          Ray pointed ahead to the end of the path where the forest cleared out. "We're almost there, just remember lumience can sometimes work if you imagine what you want it to do, but... Be careful," He waved goodbye to the Vidaean as they approached the end. "and if you don't like it here, I can just brainwash you and send you back like nothing happened."

          Káel gave him a weird look. "Here? What exactly is here?"

          Ray smiled and walked on silently until they were released from the shady clutches of the forest, and it cleared out into a flat landscape of short, well kept grass.

          In the middle of the clearing was a grand palace, made of lucent metals and stones that curved and arched to create a glimmering building of pure aesthetic beauty. No walls surrounded the structure, giving it an open armed appeal, and the blue sky dancing upon its reflective surface leaked a mellow blue that pleased the eyes. The forest made a large ring around its perimeter and some of the ancient trees stood higher than even the tallest peak of the structure. Káel couldn't keep his eyes off the masterpiece, it beamed like a succulent candy being dangled in front of his face. It was astonishing.

          "Welcome to Cobalt." Ray said, as he strolled towards the building.

          After taking in the appearance of the castle, the idea of the situation being from Káel's tricky imagination haunted him yet again, and slowly, with every ludicrous event that occurred, it was taking over the reality he was now experiencing. This time Káel found himself hoping it was reality, for he knew all too well the torture even the sweetest dream brought, enticing one with its irresistible opportunities that all seem to be real while sleeping, until waking you moments before the revealing ending you sought so hard to experience.

          But Káel could feel the breeze blowing on his face, and smell the crisp outdoor air. He could hear the sounds of the forest, filled with the calls of unimaginably unique creatures, and most of all, he could see it all. The trees, the strange sky, the soft grass, the wicked amazing building, his suspicious cat, and his crazy guide Ray. He felt the aura of reality around him, resting his rampant thoughts. He wanted to see it for himself, the end this path lead to; and it all started here.

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3/26/2018