The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 23: Refrain Of The Two Seas

Alastor stiffened upon hearing his name from the stranger; and felt a bizarre vulnerability, despite the other fellow being about half a head shorter. "Can I help you, chum?" he asked.

"I think I'm more in a position to help you, young man," the man in white grinned. "I dare say you're lost!"

Lost?

"Not quite, friend. My boat's just over there," Alastor motioned to the group a little ways away, still waiting to board the vessel. "I presume you're here for the same reason?"

"Not quite, friend," the stranger echoed, and Alastor didn't appreciate the smug rumble in his voice.

"But, then... why are you here?"

"You seem to be in a bit of a dilemma. I've come to offer you perspective."

Alastor had no idea what that meant, but had no intention of finding out, turning to leave. "I'm quite certain there's nothing you have that I need."

"Oh, so sure, are you? Then tell me," the blonde man grinned, and his blue eyes flashed knowingly. "Have you already crossed the sea?"

What a foolish question, of course he hadn't!

Alastor went to snap back but his tongue caught as he recalled fiercely hating sea travel, swearing it off after his first and only trip. His stomach had been in knots for the first half of the voyage, as he'd been slow to get his sea-legs. The second half he'd been bored out of his mind, with only the open water to watch (though the sunrises and sunsets had been pleasant enough).

But... how could he have such a memory? He'd never been across the ocean before.

"Is that a no, Alastor?"

The world shuddered, as though time and space itself was shivering. "I don't... think so?" he ground out, feeling sweat on his palms.

"Then you must indeed be lost if you can't answer such a basic question! Next, you'll tell me you have no idea how you wound up on this very shore!"

There had been a car, of course. A taxi, most certainly, but he couldn't recall the details.

The waves in the harbor trembled, and not just from the tide.

"Pardon me, but I can't help but feel a little rude, seeing as how you know my name but I don't know yours," Alastor replied, trying to keep his composure. "Mind if I have your name?"

"I do mind, in fact!" the blonde man chuckled darkly. "My name is my own."

Alastor wanted to reply with a snide comment, but he sensed something dangerous about the other man, and held his retort.

He needed to leave, get back to the crowd. The flock might be annoying but it was better than this strange man and the bizarre sense of oblivion that he carried with him.

The younger man turned away, but the people nearby had vanished.

Alastor's first thought was that he had somehow missed the boat, but that was quickly shoved aside by how ludicrous the idea was.

His second thought was that he was somehow hallucinating, which made sense considering the dock was now completely empty, save the two of them.

"Something amiss, Alastor?" The blonde man's teeth were practically gleaming. "Can you even tell me what sea this is?"

He couldn't.

The world was churning, swaying like the ocean. The waves were thunderous, pounding against the dock and the sides of the ships nearby, sending their towering shadows riding across the dock.