Rune Guardians

Chapter 4: New World, New Friends

"Where... where are we?" I said as Petunia and I exited the bush.

"Samson Felípe, welcome to Mysticopia!" Said Petunia as I stared at the magic landscape with a strange, sudden sense of awe.

It didn't make sense. I was supposed to hate magic, though I'm not sure why. However, I kept looking with awe and wonder as I followed Petunia. There was already something I liked about the place. I didn't know what it was but it would take me some time before I figured it out. I was amazed.

"Every hundred years, the Mystics come together to chant their thanks to the almighty Runes of Merlin."

"Runes of Merlin? Like, the Merlin who once knew King Arthur?" I asked Petunia.

"It depends on how you look at it," replied Petunia as she giggled whilst flying.

I smiled at her. In spite of my hate of magic, she was the only friend I made that knows how to use it wisely. Maybe I was wrong about my hatred of magic and if that's true, I'm glad it is. I looked at the sign of the magic town that read WELCOME TO THE TOWN OF SKULLHEART. POPULATION: 30,000, then as I entered, I looked at every part of town. Mystic merchants selling their goods, children playing with their magic spells, and some of the people greeting me as if I were one of them.

You know, maybe magic isn't so bad after all, I thought to myself. Maybe Steve was right about this.

"Do you like it here?" Asked Petunia.

"Eh... I guess it's okay," I said looking down.

Petunia softly flapped her wings and landed on my shoulder. She noticed I felt ashamed of something. I sighed as I kept looking down. Petunia gently pressed her hand on my head and felt what I was thinking.

Oh you poor thing, she thought to herself.

"I understand why you hate magic. It did something to you, and you never forgave it for it," she said.

"How do you know what I was thinking?"

"I touched your mind and read it. That's why I sympathized with you. I'm sorry about what happened."

"It's okay Petunia. At least you're the reason I'm getting used to magic."

"Awww. Thanks Sam," Petunia said, feeling flattered as she kissed my cheek. I blushed a soft pink as I smiled.

We kept on walking through the streets of town to have a good look at our surroundings. I looked at the many shops that were selling magic artifacts, like wands, scepters, and rings. Some of the other shops were even selling books, but not all of them were about using magic. They were normal books like the ones from my world. I kept looking with curiosity and amazement as I noticed what else they were selling: electronics like phones and tablets, entertainment stores which had DVDs and surprisingly VHS tapes. The candy stores looked like miniature temples of the gods from Greek mythology. Everywhere I looked, I started realizing that this world isn't so different from my own. Maybe Petunia was just messing with me, but I wasn't complaining.I wasn't exactly calling her a liar.

"Hey Petunia, you said this world is different from my own. Right?" I asked Petunia.

"It is, but it looks and feels like yours. The only difference is that it's maintained by not what you humans call "oxygen", but by something we magic folk call Mysticio," she explained with sincerity.

"Mysticio? What's that?"

"It is the very energy that fuels our magic. Like I mentioned before, it comes from the Runes of Merlin; six magic runes that serve as a symbol of our gratitude for being under Margaret's protection. For centuries, the legendary Rune Guardians have protected the runes and made sure all magic was safe and sound. The only fear they had is that if the runes' magic was absorbed, then all magic could be lost. Possibly forever."