David's both eyes gaped. Perhaps twenty paces before him, a young man, wearing a dark robe at ankle length aimed a crossbow at him. He carried a knapsack on his back, where a few arrows protruding from its inside.

"Who are you?" the young man yelled. His voice trembled a little at the attempt to sound authoritative.

As shock turned into confusion, David raised his empty hands. "Hang on, I'm not a threat; I haven't got any weapons."

"I'm not asking what you wield. This weapon is pathetic when magic is involved. All I'm giving you is a chance or else I'll set you on fire," the boy shot back.

The line on David's forehead deepened. What was he up to? He mentioned magic and threatened he could burn him alive. Not to mention he had a crossbow, ready to shoot him anytime.

He considered his appearance. 

His clothes and weapon all looked very realistic but his voice carried hesitation. Was he trying to mimic the figures who were only portrayed in the movies or comic books? Like wizards? Magicians? He knew this type of kid who liked to spend the whole day playing video games. David could've burst out laughing if he wasn't going to feel bad for him after that. He was clearly part of an act, and he just had to get along.

"This is your last chance. Who are you and what are you doing here?" the robed boy demanded once more.

"I'm David," he answered back. "I don't know what I am doing here. I just woke up and..." David looked around, looking for the hidden cameras. "I think I'm lost."

The young man lowered his bow, revealing a narrow face, dark eyes, and thin lips. David assumed the young guy could not be older than him. He stared at David for a moment. It felt like he was being x-rayed. A breath later, the boy immediately clasped his weapon and pulled the string wider to point at him.

"Who are you really?"

David was left with no words. Was the arrow even real? The strange-looking boy in his robe didn't seem to be faking. If it had to be all for a prank, then he was clearly doing his job well.

"Is this a joke?" David asked, looking around. He dimly hoped someone would suddenly show up and admit that the joke had failed but no one revealed themselves. He thought about running to the nearest tree with a trunk wide enough to shield his body from a potential onslaught. It was just four strides away and he could definitely get—

An arrow fired without a warning, almost hitting him in the shoulder.

"Hey!" David shouted in surprise. His veins throbbed in his forehead.

"Real enough? Tell me now or I'll shoot you. Are you one of the spies of the emperor?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," David spatted.

"Don't play fool. The emperor's spies are everywhere. And you even look like one," the boy scoffed.

David drew a deep breath. He had to consider his situation. Right now, he was clearly at the disadvantage, and the most reasonable thing to do was to remain calm. This was what he had been told to do during a couple of orientation classes in his school. He couldn't believe those sessions he thought were boring would be so much relevant now. "You are confusing me. I don't know what you are talking about. I'm lost and I'm weaponless as you can see." 

David could not see his facial reaction, but it took a few seconds before the boy spoke again.

"What kind of mage are you?"

He looked down to his shirt and pants, unsure how he was going to respond. "Well, I'm not wearing a robe. And I don't intend to set people on fire so..."

"Stop it, you liar. Your power is hard to miss. It's very clear to me.”

David's face furrowed again. This kid was really up to something. What power was he talking about? He had surely lost his mind. Instead of arguing back, David casually asked, "What do you mean?"

"I mean I have talent."

"What's with your talent then?"

"Never you mind. Is that your style of luring your enemy into your traps? Lulling them in a conversation until you stab them from behind?" the young man challenged.

"Is that how you treat innocent people? Aiming an arrow and scare them to death?" David shot back, losing a little of his temper.

"This is how I treat a suspect."

"Why am I being a suspect? And for what? For lying around?"

"Coming here is suspicious to begin with."

"What are you a police? Do you even own the place?"

The young weirdo paused for a moment. "No."

David sat down heavily. He hoped he had him confused enough with his own logic. "Are you going to shoot me now?"

"Not yet. Not if you tell me the truth."

"I speak the truth," David promised.

The young boy engaged the safety on his crossbow. "Do you promise you are not a spy?"

"I promise, I'm not a spy," he answered and raised empty hands again.

"You have an essence inside. I can perceive it. Do you exert more complicated types of magic?"

"I don't feel a thing with me. Are you sure you can see it?" David asked curiously.

"Not really that I can see it with my eyes, but it's more like I can feel it within your body," he said. "That's the basic thing you can learn from our discipline—sense the power from the others. I am a mage."

"A mage? You're teasing right? Do you mean wizard? Wizard and mage do magic. So you can do magic?” David asked, trying to get along.

The young man approached. He was shorter than David by a few inches. "You promise I can trust you?" he asked before sitting down in front of him.

David nodded. "Sure but I don't know you either."

"My name is Talim," he introduced. "I shouldn't say more in case you really are my enemy."

"Fair enough," David said. "So are you really a mage?"

"A mage is a general term for people with talents or powers. People who manipulate space are considered mage so do people who conjure energy. I'm a mage but specifically categorized as Elemental like those who use existing force from four elements," Talim explained.

"Can you show me?" David asked with excitement.

He plucked a healthy moss from the ground and held it out on his palm in front of David. Talim looked intently for a second before the whole of it was eaten by fire, and only ashes left of where the green plant had once been. He blew the burnt remnants away, and the breeze carried them for a moment until they disappeared. It took time before it had registered in David's mind that left him speechless. Did he just witness how he summoned fire out of nothing? This was all crazy! What kind of place was this?!

Understanding his reaction, Talim went on, "Mages are not even close to wizards. Such names are only given to a few. Apparently, there's only one left here."

"Who?"

Talim looked away. "He proclaimed himself as an emperor of this world."

"What exactly can he do?" David asked.

Talim stared at him. "You're good at making people talk. To remind you, I only allow you to speak because I might need information too. I'm scouting this place for five days.”

"What information are you after? Maybe I can help." David pressed, hoping to prolong the conversation.

"I escaped out of our place to find my father. I overheard the conversation of our aldermen that he was supposed to—" he gasped and covered his mouth with both hands. "I told you I shouldn't say more."

David raised one arm. "I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Well, it's just good to see people again," Talim said, standing up. "I miss the interaction. After all, you look friendly."

"I'm not supposed to be here," David said, looking around again as he panicked. "I don't know this place."

Talim scrunched his face. "What do you mean?"

"Do you know what this place is?" David queried. He desperately hoped he would tell him that he was still in America or even on Earth.

"You don't know anything about Atlantia?"

"I told you I just woke up here. I don't know exactly how."

"That's weird. But that could also be part of your pretense."

"Which also means I could be telling the truth," David said. "Do you know a place called Mississippi? America?"

Straightening his robe, Talim eyed him warily. "Now you're telling me nonsense."

"No, please, I need help. I don't know how to get back," David begged.

"You're asking the wrong person. I can't help you. But if you are really a spy, then you should play your role better than that."

David stood upright. Now that they were both so close to each other, he felt the urge to start a physical fight.

Talim was walking away. And he needed help!

"Aren't you going to ask me if I see someone else... maybe your father?"

Talim stopped. "Is that blackmail?"

"I just need information too. I was really lost. I know nothing about this place. I was from... another universe," David said.

Talim searched him with his gaze. "I see sincerity in your eyes. But looks can be deceiving. I don't want to gamble my own safety, and the secret I protect with my instinct. I'm really sorry I can't help you."

He started to walk away again.