Location: San Francisco, California, world of Earth
"This is quite the déjà vu moment. Are you sure he hasn't planted a tracking device on you?"
Ben, looking incredulous, responded, "No need. Vivian told me she would be meeting with you. I was just concerned when her phone seemed to be turned off."
"Well, as you can see, Mr. Orwell, Vivian is quite safe," Alex said in a professional, yet antagonistic tone.
Not taking the bait, Ben said, "Then I thank you, Mr. Greyson, for your continued attention to my best friend. But I do have a question."
"Why do we keep running into each other at this cafe?" Alex pretended to guess.
"Not exactly. I was wondering why GIG headquarters currently looks like a giant cement block devoid of any signs of life," Ben responded, his genuine curiosity mixed with concern following his recent update regarding Vivian's visit to the other world.
Vivian felt a flush of red on her cheeks and tried to cover it up by pretending to rub her sore neck. But Ben knew this was the signal that he should shut up so they could leave.
"Very good question. I hope to find out soon, as well. It seems to have also even impacted Vivian's phone and every car in the garage," Alex responded, already considering scenarios. "It's almost like a very local, very directed EMP was set off, if that were actually possible."
Vivian, who was quietly listening to their exchange, looked at Ben, hoping he would get the hint to make an excuse for them to leave. "But your phone is still working?"
Alex nodded. "This is… some new piggyback-power tech I'm dogfooding for my engineers. Perhaps it's because my office was at the edge of whatever happened and the tech kicked in as it was supposed to."
"Meaning…" Vivian started.
"Meaning, it may have originated in the lower part of the building, such as the parking garage and only made it as high as my office floor," Alex said, finishing her thought. "I'll have some of my engineers see if they can estimate the origin. It will be a fun challenge and possibly a thought experiment on what it could have been." Alex turned to Vivian, "If you contact me once your phone is working again, may I keep you updated?"
"I would like that…" Vivian once again started to say.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary, Mr. Greyson. And certainly something that should wait at least until tomorrow, don't you think?" Ben turned from Alex to look at Vivian, who was now even more uncomfortable with both of them looking at her. "I'll give you a ride back, Viv. We'll see what we can do about your car tomorrow, too."
Vivian nodded a little too enthusiastically, causing Alex to softly chuckle. He then stood as if he were at a formal engagement and etiquette was a requirement. "Then I will look forward to sharing updates on our investigation as soon as possible." He purposefully paused. "You know, Ben… if I may. We do live in the same building. Perhaps I could join you?"
Ben looked at Vivian, who shrugged in response. "You're probably aware that my place is being cleaned up after a small fire. But she will be back in my guest room tomorrow, so no need to go looking."
"Yes, those kitchen fires can be bothersome."
Ben looked at Alex with a hint of contempt. "You have someone coming to assist you?"
"Yes. Jae will be here shortly. She is a most reliable employee," Alex looked at Vivian and then back at Ben. "And Vivian's personal security detail."
Vivian's eyes went wide. "I never agreed to that."
Alex nodded as if understanding, "While true, I consider the arson investigation you are leading a GIG priority. And considering you were already threatened this evening by armed assailants, I consider this a company security measure."
Ben looked at Vivian with genuine shock. "Armed assailants, Viv?!"
Vivian closed her eyes, knowing this was the start of a very long Ben-lecture to come. Then she said dismissively, "They were just metal bats. Nothing I couldn't…"
"Vivian!" Ben yelled like a parent scolding a child.
Oh, no. Ben used my full name. He's pissed.
Ben looked at Alex, and sighed in resignation. "I think, Mr. Greyson, we are in agreement about this one's flippancy regarding her personal safety."
Alex leaned back in his chair with a smug look. "There. Now that it's settled, I'll have Jae accompany Vivian starting tomorrow."
"Settled? But I…." Vivian stammered and looked at their stern, unwavering faces. After a long pause, she surrendered. "Fine. But it's no fair ganging up on me like this," Vivian sulked.
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Location: Eldorian Royal Manor in Azmar, neutral kingdom of Azmar in the world of Aethalgard.
Ally sat on the plush Eldorian settee with its rich, embroidered fabric as a familiar comfort beneath her. In her hands, a delicate cup of warm, spiced tea, curled steam gently upward to blend with the scents of aged wood, the salty Azure Sea and the crisp air of the island. Taken together, it offered a fragrant respite, a comforting contrast to the cacophony and strange smells of Vivian's world.
Across from Ally, Prince Callum, looking entirely too relieved, settled into a chair, running a hand through his silver hair. His knuckles were still a little tender, a testament to Tristan's unfortunate encounter with Callum's fist.
"Ally," Callum began, a tired but genuine smile touching his lips. "Thank the stars you are back. It has been… quite a time." He sighed, leaning forward, his purple eyes meeting hers. "Where do I even begin? You left quite abruptly. Vivian arrived, quite dramatically, during a chase. We got her back to the palace, and we realized this Switch was different as you surmised. You were gone, and she was here, stuck, it seemed."
Ally took a slow sip of her tea, the warmth spreading through her. She watched Callum, a silent invitation for him to continue.
"We decided the best course was to get her some training, quickly. So, we came to Azmar to see Professor Aethelstone. The journey itself was… eventful. She, as you, managed to charm the Barklars, by the way, so prepare for that. You have many new fans. And she even got Kel to share Moonwhisper Mead with her. Though, after that first night, I had to forbid her from participating in any more toasts until she built up some immunity, given how… uninhibited she became from the sounds of the ritual toast." A faint flush rose on Callum's cheeks as he remembered. He chuckled, shaking his head at the memory.
Ally's lips twitched, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"We arrived at the Institute, and Professor Aethelstone immediately recognized she was not you. He was fascinated, of course. Too fascinated, perhaps. He and his son, Scholar Tristan, were obsessed with her world and its science." Callum leaned in, his voice dropping slightly. "Then came the magic assessment. Ally, you would not believe this, but when the Professor tried to give her a small burst of magic so she knew how it would feel, the ground around them sank. And now he believes she possesses something called 'void magic.' It is a type of magic that has supposedly not been seen since just after the Great Cataclysm."
Ally's eyes widened, her teacup pausing halfway to her lips. A genuine flicker of surprise and intense curiosity lit her features. "Void magic? I have only heard of that in old lore. It is said to be incredibly rare, almost mythical."
"Indeed," Callum affirmed, watching her reaction. "Right," Callum continued, his voice growing more serious, the amusement fading from his face. "Well, after that, Scholar Tristan decided to take matters into his own hands. He… he used charm magic on her, Ally, and led her away, trying to extract more information about her world. She was completely compliant, telling him about her 'cold closets' and 'sound mirrors' and something called 'artificial intelligence' – all of it. He even had her believing she was 'his,' and that she would follow him anywhere." Callum's eyes flashed with a lingering anger. "When I found her, I was… furious. I confronted him, and I may have… punched him." His knuckles ached for a day afterward.
Ally's gaze flickered to his hand, a silent acknowledgment of the force behind that punch. A flicker of pride, too.
"But then," Callum said, a look of profound awe replacing his anger, his voice softening. "She went up to him. And Vivian, she threw him. She used some kind of… martial art, I suppose. She flipped him, pinned him, and made it very clear that she was not to be trifled with. It was… magnificent. Kel and I were both stunned. She showed him, and me, that she is not so defenseless, even without magic." He smiled, a genuine, proud smile, a warmth spreading through his features. "And then, just after that, you switched back. And now you are here with us in Azmar."
Ally nodded slowly, a dry amusement returning to her voice. She set her teacup down on the small, inlaid table beside the settee. "My turn, is it? Well, Cal, Vivian's world is still so… loud. So incredibly loud. And full of strange, unobservant people who stare at little glowing rectangles instead of where they are going. They walk into things, they bump into each other, all while their faces are bathed in the light of these rectangles." She wrinkled her nose slightly, recalling the constant glow and visual assault.
"And her job is absolute chaos. I arrived in the middle of a fire scene, with a bulky yellow man-blob yelling at me about 'hotspots' and hinted that we could not leave until we got rid of all of them. Hearing that, I just absorbed the hotspots so I could leave. I tried to be discreet, and no one seemed to notice. But it was the first time that I was able to absorb fire in Vivian's world."