Dariel’s Salt Bar and Eatery.

  Calyx looked up at the rusty metal sign, confused. He had never heard of a salt bar before, so it must have been something only this world had.

  Most of the bar was outdoors, with tables and chairs set up beneath a wooden canopy. The actual bar counter was attached to a small building where Calyx assumed they prepared the drinks and food.

  All the wood was a natural shade of deep purple, giving the bar a more formal feel than the rowdy customers would suggest. It was crowded, and Calyx felt slightly custrophobic as he followed Tharon and Lania into the cramped space.

  “Hello, good morning. Take a table.” An older man working at the bar said in a deep accent that Calyx thought sounded somewhat Scottish. Lania went over to an empty table and sat down, the others following suit.

  “Are you the Dariel the sign is talking about?” Calyx asked, looking up at the tall man.

  “Oh, no.” The bartender said. “Dariel was my boss. Died a few years back to hypernatremia. I inherited the shop but didn’t change the name, since Parosomn’s Salt Bar doesn’t have the same ring to it.”

  “Oh.”

  “It is all good.” The bartender ughed. “What can I get you guys today?”

  “Three of the meat specials and three shots of seawater.” Lania said.

  “Alright. Just wait here.”

  As the bartender went to the back, Calyx turned to Lania, confused.

  “Seawater?” He asked in a hushed tone, wondering if he was missing something.

  “Oh right, you guys are new to this… country.” Lania sighed, annoyed to always have to expin things to Calyx. “Basically, Everthea is a ndmass sandwiched between two rger continents. There is a ‘sea’ around it, but it’s all freshwater. You have to go a long way to get any form of salt, so here it’s a rarity.”

  That didn’t answer the question the way Calyx hoped, but he didn’t want to pry into the angry servant dy any more than he had to.

  “Here you go.” The bartender said, bringing three ptes of unfamiliar meat and three shots of seawater, which Lania then paid for.

  Calyx looked down at the meat, surprised. He had only been eating raw food for his time in this world, but this seemed seasoned and well prepared, and he could see a bit of salt sprinkled on.

  “I thought this world didn’t know how to cook.” Calyx muttered to Tharon under his breath. “I assumed we’d have to introduce that at some point.”

  “Most food is eaten pin around here due to ck of ingredients.” Lania said, having overheard him. “Only about five different edible crops grow in Everthea, since it’s too cold.”

  Calyx had only been hot since coming here, so he doubted it was too cold for most pnts to grow. Maybe it had cold winters?

  Calyx looked down at the seasoning, and recognized bits of the green berries he had eaten before. He supposed they did taste like garlic.

  He forked a piece of the meat into his mouth, and he felt like he was in heaven, as if he had forgotten all about what good food tasted like. Maybe it was just because of the salt. Either way, it was amazing compared to everything else he had eaten in this world.

  The small chunks of berry made it taste garlicky, and the meat was soft and tender. It reminded him of chicken, but was much more fatty. He might have mistaken it for duck if it wasn’t so white.

  It wasn’t long before the three of them finished their food, and he saw both Lania and Tharon take their shots of seawater. He decided to drink his own.

  It tasted like saltwater, all right. Not only that, but it seemed like it was just water with salt added to it rather than actual seawater.

  Calyx couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed after how much the seawater was hyped up. It was nice to have the strong taste of salt in his mouth, but it wasn’t anything special.

  He looked at Tharon’s face to see if he felt the same, but he didn’t give any sort of reaction.

  Calyx supposed people here were just weird.

  Lania stood up and cleared her throat after she was done with her food. "Well, if we’re all finished we should get going.”

  “Alright.” Tharon stretched as he stood up.

  They went back to the wagon and set off immediately, so they’d make it back before morning.

  The atmosphere was much quieter with Calyx still tired from purifying the farmnd, the journey accompanied only by the bumps of the wagon wheels over the rugged dirt road. Calyx began to space out as the travel stretched on.

  Being in this world was definitely a contrast to being on Earth, but Calyx still didn’t know exactly what to think of it. He still thought being in a fantasy world was cool, and magic moreso. But was Tharon right? Was he taking all of this too lightly just because he wanted to believe this was some fairytale fantasy?

  So far things have worked out, but he knew there was a chance he was being too optimistic. After all, all fire is alluring until it burns you.

  He pushed the thought aside. He didn’t need to worry about things that were out of his control.

  “So.” Tharon broke the silence, snapping Calyx out of his thoughts. “What’s going to happen after we’re done testing?”

  “You two will be fully fledged members of Profectus once we get back.” Lania told them. “At least, until you inevitably get kicked out.”

  Calyx rolled his eyes.

  He had already gotten used to Lania making empty threats, so he didn’t even consider that she might have guessed right.

  ~=~=~=~=~=~

  “Such a shame to see such talent wasted.”

  Lady Hiva was already waiting for them once they had arrived at Profectus headquarters. Calyx hadn’t expected her there in the first pce, much less the ominous greeting. She maintained her calm demeanor, but her words carried a certain edge.

  “What do you mean?” Calyx said, freezing up.

  Lady Hiva hadn’t shown much emotion in all the times Calyx had seen her, so he wasn’t sure what to do when she looked ticked off.

  “Well, it seems the royal army has taken an interest in you two.” Lady Hiva put on an eerily convincing gentle smile as she pulled out a letter. “I have no choice but to send you over to the capital to have you questioned.”

  “Huh?” Calyx went from slightly scared to confused. “Why would they be interested in us?”

  “Word seems to have gotten out about two boys who share the same condition our dear old general did. She revolutionized war with knowledge that was unknown to this world. They hope you might also bring in new knowledge.”

  She looked completely calm as usual, but she still had a bitter edge to her voice.

  “I am required to send you two off to the capital within a week. By orders of the General herself.”

  Calyx and Tharon had only been at Profectus for a week, and now they were already leaving? Calyx wasn’t against the idea of going to the capital, but they’d already had their world quickly turn on its head enough for a few lifetimes.

  “Don’t worry if you’re nervous.” Lady Hiva said. “Lania will be going with you as a servant.”

  “What?” Lania half-shouted. She was usually a bit aggressive, but this time she looked genuinely upset.

  “Well, you are the reason the capital knows about those two, are you not?” Lady Hiva said with faux sweetness. “And I wanted to be the one to test them and study them myself. So if I can’t keep them around, I need to send one of my subordinates to do that job for me.”

  Calyx didn’t like the idea of being studied by anyone.

  “I have far too many duties here to-” Lania began to protest, but she was hushed. She bit her lip as she complied with Hiva’s order.

  “All of your duties can be done by other high-ranked members.” Lady Hiva said, denying Lania of her argument. “But this is something that I can’t repce quickly. I’m not letting this opportunity slip away like it did with Ana.”

  Calyx wasn’t sure whether to feel fttered or worried at how people were talking about him and his brother like they were some kind of commodity.

  Lania looked like she still wanted to protest, but decided it would be pointless. She sighed and sank back, choking down her anger.

  “I’m sorry about her behavior.” Lady Hiva said as she turned her focus back to the brothers. “Don’t take it personally. She dislikes almost all recruits as much as she dislikes you two.”

  “I’m told that I’m an acquired taste.” Calyx joked, needing to do something to stave off his confusion.

  “Well.” Lady Hiva sighed. “You won’t be able to remain a member of Profectus if the royal army takes you, but I will still let you keep some vitei. You might need it.”

  Calyx felt cold as he felt a part of his vitei be taken back, maybe around half of it.

  “Anyway, you three should begin packing. The capital sent out a wagon that will arrive in the morning to Ragon Fortress.” Lady Hiva began to leave. “If the army ever lets you go, know that you can return anytime.”

  When she left, all three of them were dumbfounded. Not long after Lania slipped away without a word, with a dark expression on her face.

  “So…” Calyx said. “This feels too fast.”

  Tharon nodded. “We did just become full members of Profectus and have the title stripped from us at a moment's notice. I suppose it would make sense the general would want us if we are in a simir situation to what she was in.”

  “Miss instructor over there didn’t take it too nicely.” Calyx noted.

  “Apparently she’s why we were on the army’s radar.” Tharon said. “I wonder why. Maybe she wanted to get rid of us?”

  “I don’t think anyone could hate me that bad.” Calyx scratched his head.

  “In that case, maybe I need to be more transparent.”

  Calyx rolled his eyes.

  “Well, regardless.” Tharon said after a moment passed. “It seems we’ll be stuck with Lania watching us for the foreseeable future. I don’t know if we should be worried about the interest multiple sides are taking in us, but we should be wary.”

  Calyx and Tharon went to start packing, not that they really had anything to pack. It didn’t take long before they had gotten ready, so Calyx decided it might be best to get some extra sleep in.

  He closed his eyes, but his mind still stirred. Everything that had happened was going too fast for his liking. As his mind slowed down, he wondered if it would get more peaceful soon. He doubted it.

  This is what he wanted though, right?

  Tired as he was of being tossed around, it wasn’t like trying to save the world was supposed to be easy. Back in his old world he despised shows where the main character was too powerful for any foe to pose a real threat, but here he wouldn’t mind being granted some free cosmic power.

  He sighed as he felt aftershocks from having half his vitei stripped from him. Hopefully the royal army had some cool gear. He wouldn’t mind a love interest either. Or a prophecy telling him what to do.

  Who am I kidding?

  The thought rang in his head for a moment before he snuffed it. There was no pusible expnation for magic anyway, so it wouldn’t be a stretch, wouldn’t it?

  He lied down for a few more minutes in vain. He was too preoccupied with wondering about what might happen to let himself shut down.

  They’d soon meet someone else from earth. Maybe they’d finally get some cooler powers.

  Calyx couldn’t wait for the real journey to begin.