Once upon a time, Miguel worked in an office. Lunch was the best time, escape from the cubicle maze out into the fresh air. He was standing in a long line outside a popular okonomiyaki food truck. The food trucks crowded downtown parks at lunch, all with lines of their own. Yet when a swirling disk of lights spawned out of thin air, no one seemed to notice. Miguel looked around, people were just walking past. Was he actually seeing this? He thought. The swirl grew to a six foot diameter. The woman in front of Miguel just shuffled forward, nose in her phone. The couple behind him chatted about the past weekend’s trip on the bay. 

A large child rolled out off the disk onto the sidewalk. Its hair was matted, and clothes a mess as it landed on its knees and right hand, the left hand shot up to block the sun. Miguel’s mouth opened in shock, still no one else reacted. The child quickly scurried away to an edge of a wall and down the street. The lunch-time crowds gave the child space without any active reaction. The woman in front merely took another step forward. Miguel kept questioning his own eyes when another figure emerged, a woman with angular features in an emerald cloak. She scanned the crowded street. The lunch line took another step. Another person stepped out, a tall broad man in a long coat, a large golf-like bag on his back. 

No one else reacted besides Miguel, who vaguely pointed off in the direction the child went. 

The two strangers followed the point from Miguel’s finger to down the block. The woman sprinted off in that direction, and the man smiled, tipping his head to Miguel and followed. The crowd parted for them without comment. The lunch line moved up again. 

The curiosity finally overtook Miguel and he ran off after them. He was only five people away from okonomiyaki.

“Do you want us to hold your place?” Asked the polite man behind him, as Miguel ran off.

 

Down the block, the two strangers had stopped, looking for a trail. 

“Are you sure it was the Clever one?” The man asked.

“I would not have chased a simple voidling.” She replied indignantly. 

Once Miguel arrived, “Who are you? Why? What is going on?”

The woman asked the man, “Is he one of yours?”

Looking at Miguel but talking to her, “Not directly. Perhaps. He is looking right at us. He must be.”  He reached a hand out to Miguel. “Greetings. I know this must be strange. My name is Halsted. I was born in Fayetteville Arkansas. We are chasing down something very dangerous. Can you help?”

Miguel let his hand be shaken by Halsted. “I’m Miguel.” he replied sheepishly.

“That thing that came out of the portal, ” Halsted started. And woman, still scanning the crowd, finished. “The clever one, it will cause as much damage as it can.”

“Maybe someplace dark but with a lot of people?” Halsted added.

Miguel, still slowly processing, pointed to the subway entrance across the street. 

Halsted smacked his own forehead. “Of course. I’ve been away too long.” And the two bolted off toward the stairs underground.

“Well, don’t just stand there.” Halsted shouted over his shoulder, “Answers are this way.”

Miguel quickly followed them down into the station. The two strangers hopped over the turnstile and kept going. Miguel stopped, tagging his transit card and hurried along. Lower down on the platform, dozens of people waited for their trains. They stepped out of the way for the strangers as they came to a stop in the middle. Miguel bumped and tripped over a commuter.

“Well now what?” the woman said.

Some movement caught Miguel’s attention off the edge of the platform. “Over there, down the tunnel.” He pointed.

“Good eye, Miguel.” Halsted said as he ran to the tunnel, followed by the woman.  And then Miguel. They all hopped down by the rails. As they walked along the tunnel, Halsted pulled out a massive shotgun from his bag. The woman pulled out two short slender swords from under her cloak. 

“Umm how dangerous is that child?”

“The void-touched are often violent. And they spread madness.” The woman said, still scanning forward.

“It's why the people back there avoided us, or it.” Halsted added, “People have a herd defense to ignore all the portal stuff. It's because the void-touched want to spread their madness. Less chance to be affected if you can’t see it. Now, Clever ones will run in and try to cause havoc and set up a beacon, to summon more. And if they can cause a disaster, despair weakens the herd defense.”

The tunnel bent to the right. They could barely hear the sounds  from the platform. The Clever one dropped from the ceiling right on top the woman, tumbling both of them to the ground. The child ended up on top, it’s face directly over hers. Miguel could see the air shimmer in the space between them. The woman screamed, first in pain, then definitely.  Miguel charged forward. The child’s head snapped up to face Miguel.  He stopped suddenly. Its eyes were devoid and empty, strange and horrifying. It leaped up, charging at Miguel, but first flew sideways from a blast of the shotgun in Halsted’s hands. 

The child landed in a heap but was still breathing.  The woman, shaking to clear her head, got up slowly, taking her cloak off. Her short hair showed off her pointed ears. Miguel spotted them instantly.

“You’re an elf?” He sputtered out.

She spun around to face Miguel, and then slapped him.

“Wow. Talla, Miguel doesn’t know better.” Halsted stepped in between them. “And Miguel, that word is a wretched slur to Glimmers. Never use it again. Or anything related. Talla, can you wrap that thing up so we can get out of here. Miguel help me find a small stack of stones or crystals?”

There was hardly any time to search. A rumbling announced an oncoming train. 

“Halsted, open a portal. We will have to come back to look for a beacon.” Talla said as she hefted the wrapped child over her shoulder.

Halsted stepped toward the sound of the train, and he raised his hand up, palm out, starting to swirl it around. Wisps of light followed his hand, forming a disk of light suspended in mid air. He stopped once it was large enough for them to step through.

“Alright. Miguel, you’d better come with us.” said Halsted, as we waved Talla through. “Not enough time to get you past the train.” He frantically waved at Miguel. It only took a squeal of metal on metal from the train to move Miguel’s feet. 

Miguel stepped through the portal right after Talla. The sensations as he passed through were overwhelming, both instant and eternal, a stellar distance in one step.The light of this new place was warm, but bright compared to the tunnel’s darkness. Then the aroma of the roast meat, garlic and rosemary pleasantly washed away the smells of the dirty tunnel. The mingling sounds of people and drinks filtered in from the other room. 

“You two, stay here.” Directed Halsted. “I don’t want to parade a void touched through the bar. I’ll get Vasa, bring him here. “

After he left Talla turned to Miguel. “I offer my formal apology. Recovering from an attack of madness is no excuse to strike the ignorant.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Miguel replied, thinking he was being kind. 

She shook her head with a little frustration. 

“A formal apology must be either formally accepted or it is considered rejected.” Talla said in the tone one uses with children. 

“Oh, um, I formally accept your apology. “ Miguel fumbled. Talla smiled in relief. 

“Understand if you use that slur again, I will end you.”

Miguel swallowed hard and nodded, even though he was easily twice her weight. She stood there looking up at him, barely blinking. He took a step back. 

Halsted returned with another Glimmer, a gentleman in a bright sapphire colored frock coat over a ruffled shirt. As soon as he stepped in, Talla spun around to face him, and bowed her head.

“Greetings, Baron Vasa Tanzanite,” Her tone was very formal.”May the light always shine.”

“Greetings, Talla Silverstrand.” Vasa replied stiffly.” May you never bend.”

Halsted spoke aside to Miguel, “Despite urgency, they will always have formality.”

“I am to understand you have a living Clever one?” Vasa asked. “The Earl will be quite pleased.” 

“Can we move it to a safe lab before it dies?” Halstead asked.

“Of course.” Vasa replied, and stepped over to the back of the room, bringing his hands up first crossing his wrists, and then releasing built up energy. Miguel could feel the pressure in the room shift, his ears popping. The Baron spread his hands out and a portal of energy took the air. 

“The facilities are in a village on Shadewes.” Vasa said with a blase tone.

Halsted turned to Miguel, “How are you holding on? I’ll be able to tell you more about the bar here. You can stay if you want. Shadewe will be more jarring. “

“Ah, I would rather stick with you, if you don’t mind.” Miguel replied, and followed Halsted through the Baron’s portal.

As Miguel stepped through the portal, he walked into a damp misty space, dark and chilly. It felt like being outdoors but the fog made it feel enclosed. 

“Welcome to Shadewe. A charming place once you get past all the darkness.” Halsted said cheerfully.

“Dreadful place in my estimation.” Replied the Baron. “But better keep those things here than on Glimmus.”

“Baron Tanzanite,“ Talla replied, sarcasm only slightly dripping,  “Am I to assume that is due to your high esteem of the Psionics of Shadewes?”

He turned to her, “You know full well. Never put words in my mouth.”

Stepping out of the mist silently, a Shadewe appeared. He was a tall, thin man in a hood and layered clothes. To Miguel, the man looked like a silent film character. 

“Charming as ever Vasa.” the figure said with full humor.

The Baron cringed. Talla snickered. And Halsted opened his arms to embrace him. “Boz, it is good to see you”

“Good to see you as well. I assume business?” Boz replied.

“Have you ever heard of Halsted taking a day of rest?” Talla quipted.

“Very well.” Boz said with a sigh, “Your high baronship will want to see the Professor, I assume. This way.”

They follow the Shadewe deeper into the fog. 

“Was he just waiting for us?” Miguel quietly asked Halsted.

“The Baron brought us to a portal field.” Halsted replied, “an agreed spot for visitors. Boz is a guardian, so yeah he was just waiting. For us, for others.”

“Do they have to worry much?” 

“This is Beacon Gathering, a sizable Shadewe community, so the odds of it getting attacked are small. Mostly a ceremonial job.” Halsted replied.

They walked through the town, stone buildings looming just beyond definition in the mist.

A pale light hung over the door of a dark gray stone building.

“This humble place has the greatest research of the void.” Boz said with pride to Miguel.

“Aren’t they dangerous?” Miguel asked as they brought the void touched child into the building. Its breathing still labored. The walls inside were light gray. 

“This place is special.” Boz replied as he opened an inner door to a large room full of cabinets and tables, scopes and samples, all devoid of color. And in the center a large standing stone, definitely purple, stood floor to ceiling covered in shallow carvings. Once Miguel had stepped into the room, he suddenly felt calmer. 

“That is an artifact from before history, we call them the Forgotten.” Halsted added.
“History later.” Talla said, “Bleeding specimen…”

“Yes, please bring it over here, please.” Said an extremely chipper voice from across the room. It came from an older woman, full of normal color, though earth-tone clothing. Due to the stark contrast of the lab to the woman, it took until they had stepped closer for Miguel to notice she also had large splotches of orange on her cheek and her forehead and the back of her hands.

“Halsted, you have a new friend.” She said, “I am Professor Lamarr.” She extended her hand to Miguel as the other put the body on the exam table. Something about the professor set Miguel at an unease despite the room's effects. And when she shook her hand, he felt like someone had walked over his grave. Her smile increased.

“Oh Halsted, you do pick them. He’s a good one.” She said,

“We didn’t bring him here for you to get your mitts on him.” Talla said sharply, turning to face the professor. 

Lamarr, still smiling, just raised both of her hands. “No intrusions. Just a shortcut to intentions. To save time.”

“Professor, we have secured for you what was asked.” Vasa said with a blend of professionalism and disinterest. “Are you satisfied with your end of the contract?”

“Of course I am, dear Baron. And I completely understand your desire to depart this place quickly.” Said without a hint of sarcasm. “Sharn, please fetch their package.” The professor’s assistant, a thin androgynus Shadewe came from around the back side of the standing stone.

In their hand was a gray fabric wrapped object, which they handed to the Baron. He opened it, revealing a purple stone the size of a baseball. The Baron smiled as he wrapped it back up.

“The Earl will be quite pleased.”

“Your lordship, as time is no longer a concern,” Talla addressed the Baron, “I request before we return to the Diamond Court, I be allowed to pay my respects to a fallen comrade?”

Vasa turned to Halsted, who nodded.

“Very well. I respect your request.” The two Glimmers bow to each other. “I will await you at the portal field.” And Vasa left as quickly as he could.

Talla went out, with Halsted and Miguel following behind. Out in the mist she led them away from the portal field. 

Halsted explained, “The Professor has taken the Mold, she is part of its collective, literally connected. It's a weird thing but it helps keep Madness out.” He let that sink in for Miguel a few moments and then continued.

“We are visiting the grave of Pash, a Shadewe Talla was intimately connected to. They had fallen to the Madness and were stuck down. We brought his body back.”

When they arrived, the area was marked with a large gray oblong tent stretched over a small field open on the sides. Under the fabric were slabs of wood spread around seemingly without order. At the head of each slab was a square of colored fabric, some bright and new, some faded almost to gray, and some between.  Halsted put his arm out stopping Miguel. Talla walked under the tent to one of the slabs of wood.  She knelt down, removing a faded square and replacing it with a fresh brilliant green square from her pouch.

Halsted whispered to Miguel, “Shadows have few rituals. Highest I think is their respect for the dead.”

She remained for a while silent, and then suddenly she stood up and left.

When they all arrived at the portal field, Barron Vasa stood in a cloud of annoyance strong enough to keep the mist at bay. 

“Finally.” he said.

Halsted turned to Miguel, “We have one more stop, and then we can take you back or whatever.” The Baron was already opening the portal.

“Be ready for fantastic splendor.” Talla added, “Gimmus is vastly brighter.”

“It will take a week to wash this fog off of everything.” Vasa sneered, and could not step through the portal fast enough. Talla rollered her eyes and Halsted just sighed. 

As his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, the brilliance of Glimmus was blinding.  They arrived on a splendid and ornate platform in a vast spired city covered in bright jewel tones. Buildings and lush vegetation mingled around curved streets. Its people, just as brilliantly attired in lacy dresses and long coats. 

With great pride the Baron swept his arm out, “Vollus, the Diamond City.The seat of her regal majesty, Queen of the Diamond Glimmers.”  Fully turning his attention to Miguel for the first time. “You shall remain here as I do not believe you have permission to enter.” And without waiting for a reply, the Baron Vasa Tanzanite spun on his heels and descended the platform to greet the two Glimmer guardians.

“Vasa is an elitist …” Talla confided to Miguel, “But you are better off. I have a good hour of introductions before the business is concluded. You, being your first, would have to go to the Hall of Transit to register as foreign traveler. Who knows when you’d get free.”

“I will take Miguel back, “ Halsted said. “If I don’t see you back at Toms Bar, I can come back here for you.”

“I owe Beke a drink,” Talla said, “I’ll tell him he has to portal me back to Toms to collect.”  And with that she headed down to her arrival process.

“Not all of Glimmus is this stritch.” Halsted added. “But the Earl is part of the court and pays well. Now Miguel, what do you think?”

“Think, about what? The strangeness like this?”

“Seriously, you have a good eye. That’s useful. Talla was nice to you, which is kind of rare. But I know it's a lot to take in. If it's too much I can take you back to San Francisco. Mind you, having gone through a portal, it will take you a little bit to fit in again. People will look past you for a few days. But that will wear off.”

“I am not skilled in much besides banjo.” Miguel replied a little meekly.

“I offer on the job training. And a chance to get away from the boring. I can’t guarantee your safety, but what’s the worst that could happen?”

“I could get killed.” 

“No, going mad is worse I hear.” Halsted replied seriously. “You have a rare talent for us, for humans. Seeing portals. Yes, we’re cashing in on that thing, but we also stopped a disaster of some kind. And you will get cut. But in Glimmer Krona.”

“So it's dangerous, but it does some good. And we get paid in money I can only spend here.” Miguel calculated.

“Toms Bar takes Krona. And most Shadewe don’t really like money.” Halsted added, then putting an arm across Miguel’s back and turning him around to face the city again. “This is but one of the wonders out there to explore.  Do you want to join us?”

Miguel looked out at the city again and considered. “Toms Bar, any good?”