Fear the Light

The Other Side

The look on his face made it obvious that this question had caught him off guard, but after a few moments he composed himself and calmly said to me.

"I really don't see why not, and it'd be better to go with me than it would be to go alone...people might get afraid if you went alone." A rush of excitement surged through me, I was actually going to the other side, I couldn't believe that this was happening.

"Well come on let's go!" I exclaimed giddily.

"Hold up! I am not exactly about to leave my sword here." He went and grabbed it off the ground, securing it to his side as he walked back. I stood there tapping my foot, already I was getting impatient. He noticed my expression and laughed.

"Alright, alright, we're going." As we approached the portal he turned to me with a worried look. "I'm not sure how you're body will react to the light energy, your skin and eyes being sensitive to light and all..." I looked down at my exceedingly pale arms.

"I-I'm sure I'll b-be fine." I said shakily, actually a bit worried. He looks at me, deep concern plainly written across his face.

"Alright..." He sighed. "If you say so." He turned back toward the portal and casually walked through it, again creating the whoosh and blue flash, as I stood there I hesitated briefly, then walked through, as I did I found myself in what seemed like a short corridor, a tunnel of light, the moment I entered, I felt a burning sensation all over my body that started out tolerable, but quickly grew, I ran to the other side and by the time I burst through the portal at the end and into the Other Side, I felt as though I was on fire. I stumbled through and was greeted by light, dim by comparison to the tunnel, and the burning was instantly gone.

After regaining my balance, I look up to see Castrian standing in front of me, a horrified look on his face. "Holy shit...Are you okay?" He asked me frantically.

"Yeah, why would you as-" I saw him staring at my arms and so I looked down at them, only to discover large red blotches covering my arms, I had physically been burned...by light? "It must of just been how my skin reacted to the massive amount of light...that was pure light energy right?" He nodded, then reached for my arm, accidentally grabbing a burn. I let out a small yelp and quickly pulled my arm back, the burns were incredibly sensitive.

"S-Sorry! Are you alright?" The apology was obviously deep, he even had a touch of sadness in his eyes and voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine, they just really burn to the touch." He nodded slightly.

"Yeah, I guess they would." He paused for a moment then said "We should have somebody look at them..." Another pause as a thoughtful look spread about his face. "But who? I am not sure how people will react to seeing an othersider walking about." Yet another thoughtful pause as he looked me over, then in a distant voice "Especially one that looks like you..." I snap my head toward him, jaw clenched.

"What do you mean 'one that looks like me'?" I ask angrily through clenched teeth, he looked startled, and had obviously forgot I was right here. He starts stuttering and blushes lightly.

"I-I didn't mean a-anything bad by that, it's just..." He looks away from me and blushes a bit more. "It's just, you are...really...well...pretty." He got quieter with every word and as he uttered the last one a look of surprise came over me and I felt my cheeks heat up a bit, though this time not from anger.

"Oh...well...th-thank you Castrian." My face must have been red enough to match the burns covering it. No one had ever called me pretty before, I never would have expected anyone to do so, especially not him, I'm so different than him...how could he find me attractive? He straightened up then casually said.

"Please, call me Cass, everybody else does." A brief pause and then. "Might as well show you the town, and consequently, show the town you." I looked at him puzzled.

"But you just said that..."

"I know what I said, but they've gotta see you eventually, and it would probably be worse to keep you a secret." I looked past him to see the majestic city looming in front of me, and a wave of dread washed over me.