'If we do this, there's no turning back,' I said, looking at the cracked and shabby mirror adorning my ramshackled room. I still couldn't believe that all this time it was a portal. I had wondered why my parents had left it to me.
'What?' said a squeaky, high-pitched voice below. 'I won't turn back into an elf? But I like being an elf. I've always been an elf. Ever since I was a baby.'
I glanced down at my partner in crime and huffed in annoyance. 'I already told you this, Bells. You'll turn back into an elf once we get to the other side, silly. What I meant was once we're through the portal, we won't be able to come back through it again.'
'What?' Bells was pouting. 'We won't be able to come back home? But I like home. It's the only home I've ever know. Ever since --'
'I was a baby,' I finished, rolling my eyes. 'Don't worry. Once we find the Black Stone and destroy it, we'll be sent back home.'
'Are you sure?'
'When have I ever not told you the truth?'
Bells crossed her arms. 'Uh . . . when we were getting the magic-portal-crossing potion. You said it wouldn't take long to get through the maze but we walked on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on --'
'Please stop,' I snapped. Then shaking my head, I said, 'Tell me why I bring you along on anything. You really test my patience, you know.'
'Because you are my friend. You are my sidekick. It's only fair that I help you on your quests, for you help me on mine.'
Shock graced my face. 'Wait, wait, wait. What? I'm your sidekick? No, no, no. You're my sidekick.'
'But I have magic. So that makes me more powerful than you. Which makes you my sidekick.'
'Well, you're smaller than me and the smaller one is always the sidekick.'
'Tell that to the dragon riders of Abledom. You could say the dragons are their sidekicks and they are a lot bigger than the riders.'
Bells did have a point. I wasn't going to say anything, though.
'And by the way, I ride on your back all the time,' Bells continued, smirking.
'That's because I can't stand hearing you complain about walking, which you do constantly. And the whole magic thing? You know one spell. One spell. I have this massive sword, the thing that will destroy the Black Stone.' I lifted the weapon in my hand, the blade etched with an ancient orcish language.
Bells grumbled under her breath as I took out the sparkling red vial of magic-portal-crossing potion from my tunic. I uncorked it, sending its aroma wafting into my nose. I almost puked. 'This smells worse than forest troll farts.' I closed my eyes and exhaled, bucking up the courage. 'Here we go.'
