Destination Everywhere

Part 2

"What are you doing out there? Get yourself out of the open!" A voice calls out.

Xander looks over his shoulder and spots a blue-haired somebody waving him towards the trees. His head is spinning as he's sitting in a flower field dotted with beautiful wildflowers. The warning had made his heart skip a beat so he gets to his feet and jogs over to the stranger whom he is blindly trusting.

"What were you thinking?" hissed the blue-haired teen with ivory white hands poking out of his unruly hair.

"I.... don't know," Xander admitted. "I'm not entirely sure how I got there."

The blue-haired teen nodded as if understanding what Xander was talking about. "You must be a recruit. My name is Tannen. What about yourself?"

"Xander," he replied quickly. "What's going on? Who's recruiting who; and for what?

Tannen clicks his tongue. "You'll see in due time. Actually, probably tomorrow. But it's getting late and the hunters will be out soon." Tannen waves his hand, a signal for Xander to follow him.

The boys walk for some time before Tanner casts a spell and they are magically allowed into a small fairy-like village. The village glows like some kind of magic with person-like creatures roaming around. Some have horns like Tannen, while others have long ears and still more have animal legs, wings, or hair.

"Wow," Xander gasps in awe. "This is so amazing."

"It sure is," Tannen agrees. "We collectively call ourselves the forest nymphs.  But, we are a simple collection of creatures who don't have much anywhere else to go. But, we're happy here."

There is a small commotion before villagers move aside. An old, crippled woman steps forward with two others at her sides. When she stops walking, Tannen drops to a knee with a bow along with others who are nearby. Wanting to be respectful, Xander bows to the old lady.

"Arise, paladin Xander. For you have come to this land on a mighty quest!" Announces the woman.

Xander scrambled to his feet and looks at the woman, who is now holding a tall, wooden staff with a glowing orb at the top. Some people around them had gasped and grown excited at the news.

"You are to speak to the forbidden leadership and receive your position as a paladin. Your task may not be an easy one, but the rewards will challenge everything you thought you knew."

"I accept this challenge," Xander responds without hesitation. Something about this world feels familiar yet so very different from everything he normally understands. Possibly taking over this task would help him to understand his place, or what this all means.

The elder woman taps both of Xander's shoulders with the staff and then smiled at him. "Enjoy your journey," she says before turning around and leaving. She returns to wherever she'd come from.

"Congratulations! I knew you were a recruit! Aren't you glad I brought you here?" Tannen is extremely excited.

Xander chuckled. He is somewhat nervous about whatever he'd wrapped himself into but honestly excited about it. "Yeah," he agreed. "Thanks for bringing me."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It's a long time after nightfall before Tannen brings Xander to his tent for the night. The villagers had thrown an exciting and humble party for their new paladin and Xander had enjoyed getting to spend some time with these magical creatures. In the tent, there are two sleeping bags so Tannen and Xander get separate ones. Tannon is sleeping soundly but Xander is left wide awake.

Xander had begun to get nervous about all of this. What kind of quest would this turn out to be? What forbidden leadership is he supposed to find? It is all a lot to take in and it is preventing him from falling asleep.