Archons of Giabrand

A dark tunnel with blue shining lanterns hanging on the wall and sturdy scaffolding that drops into the creavass nearby is the first thing I see when I wake. My eyes are hard to adjust to the light as I hear the sound of pickaxes hitting metal.

"Wait, where am I? I should be in my dorm packing up to go home."

For some time, I explored the tunnels looking down each corridor as I walked by. I thought to myself there must be an exit somewhere. I hear mining, but I don't see anyone at all, and the further I walk, the less and less I'm sure that I can even find people down here. The sounds are just echoing off the walls.

I yell out, "Where am I?"

Someone in the distance says, "What are you going on about? You shouldn't be down here anyway."

He replies, " I don't know where we are."

The voice replies back, "The names Griff Longbeard and your in the grand tunnels of Gaiabrand. The largest mining operation of the world."

He replies, "Wait, I'm not in Boston Massachusetts?" A sudden fear unknown to me began to wash over me like a bad dream. Sweat begins to bead on my forehead. I quickly suck down that fear and with false confidence.

I hold out my hand and say, "My name is James Ryder."

The 21-year-old man stands confidently, showcasing an athletic build that reflects his dedication to fitness. His long, brown hair flows slightly past his shoulders, adding a touch of rugged charm to his appearance. His striking blue eyes are vibrant and expressive, radiating energy and vitality. Clad in a sleek Adidas tracksuit, the black fabric is sleek, showcasing the brand's logo, which accentuates his toned physique. The tracksuit hugs his body comfortably, allowing for ease of movement, yet it also highlights his athletic frame.

James looks down and sees a small older man with a reddish beard and dirty from mining. Griff looks up and accepts his hand and gives a firm shake. His hands are calloused from years of hard labor, I thought to myself.

Griff says "well my boy, that's a mighty rune and crest. You got there? I've never seen a human with both before."

James responds "Hmm I know it's rude to ask, but are you human?"

Griff raised his eyebrows in response. "No, im a dwarf! More importantly, you have not one but two magic marks on your hand, did you know?"

"Oh, that i've never seen before. It wasn't there yesterday. Wait, you're a dwarf!?" James said while looking at his hand and then at the dwarf.

Changing the subject, Griff replies curiously, " Say where Boston never heard of it?"

James replies, "It's pretty far from here, i think."

griff says "well we got to get you to the capital Astoria is the largest most beautiful capital full of wisteria and floating lights and beautiful shops but then i haven't been there much i'm always down here mining.

James says, "How do we go to Astoria?"

Griff responds, eyes beaming. "Oh, that's easy. We'll go to the mining depot and take a train that goes up to the city. we usually use it for sending refined ore where they are and then turn into whatever metal objects they need."

He takes me down several long corridors and other mining shafts to a large open underground room that basically looks like a glorified London Underground. Train cars loaded up to the brim full of metal and gems sat in the station. A station worker checking the tracks and train signaled the conductor that it was cleared to depart. We traveled for 2 hours on this rather slow train. It was loaded down with a lot of metal, and we took our seats in the caboose with the conductor. The conductor owed Griff a favor, and that's why we were able to climb aboard. Griff explained to me what the runes and crests on my hand meant. It was a lot of things I don't understand but basically I had aptitude for arcane magic and runic magic, whatever that might be I'll find out soon as we're going to a school for people who have these things. He tells me that everyone has to go as soon as you're found to have a mark or any such marks that denote that you have magical aptitude. Griff explained to me that there is a force greater than any on this planet that we have to fight. He calls them the wastelanders.

I ask him, "Is there a telephone where we are going? I'd like to see if I can call my parents or friends."

Griff's eyes widened. "What's a telephone?"

"A device used to communicate with others through long distances."

Griff replied "No we don't have a telephone, but we do have communication slates that do something similar but not thru long distance."

I rub my chin in contemplation. "Oh ok, what about the internet?"

"Internet, you say? Hmm, no, I've never heard of that either, James. What strange place have you come from?" Griff eyed James warily.

"That's a shame. Because I'm going to miss it, but maybe I'll get used to ot having it. The place I came from is entirely different from here."

"Well, you're going to be so busy you won't even think about this internet thing." Griff gave a friendly wink.