Swapped Souls

By Krushandkill

One day, the souls of two families suddenly found themselves having switched places. A Human man and his daughter from Earth, a Demi-Cat man and his daughter from a Magical World.
With some memories intact, they are left with no choice but to live their new lives.
Two lives. Two Worlds. Two different stories.
Can they ever find a way back or be trapped in a different World forever? If the chance comes, will they end up staying or returning home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Krushandkill
• Release date: Oct 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215851739

Book preview

Swapped Souls

Copyright © 2023 by krushandkill

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

krushandkill asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

First edition

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Contents

Chapter 1 – Exchange

Chapter 2 – Crosslot World

Side Story 1: Earth World

Chapter 3 – Guild of Adventurers and Explorers – part 1

Chapter 3.1 – Guild of Adventurers and Explorers – part 1.1

Chapter 3.2 – Guild of Adventurers and Explorers – part 1.2

Side Story 2: School bullies

Side Story 3: Mess in the School's cafeteria

Side Story 4: Father and daughter talk

Chapter 4 – Weird call

Side Story 5: Cooking lesson – part 1

Side Story 5.1: Cooking lesson – part 1.1

Chapter 5 – Growing farm – part 1

Chapter 5.1 – Growing farm – part 1.1

Side Story 6: Escaping – part 1

Side Story 6.1: Escaping – part 1.1

Chapter 6 – The Fae – part 1

Chapter 6.1 – The Fae – part 1.1

Side story 7: The visitor – part 1

Side Story 7.1: The visitor – part 1.1

Chapter 7 – Meryda's punishment – part 1

Chapter 7.1 – Meryda's punishment – part 1.1

Side Story 8: School meeting – part 1

Side Story 8.1: School meeting – part 1.1

Chapter 8 – First Quest – part 1

Chapter 8.1 – First Quest – part 1.1

Side Story 9: A nice talk

Chapter 9 – Suspicious Fae – part 1

Chapter 9.1 – Suspicious Fae – part 1.1

Side Story 9: Disguised date – part 1

Side Story 9.1: Disguised date – part 1.1

Chapter 10 – Dangerous training session – part 1

Chapter 10.1 – Dangerous training session – part 1.1

Side Story 10: Shopping mall – part 1

Side Story 10.1: Shopping mall – part 1.1

Chapter 11 – Strange meetings – part 1

Chapter 11.1 – Strange meetings – part 1.1

Side Story 11: Bodyguard – part 1

Side Story 11.1: Bodyguard – part 1.1

Chapter 12 – Training at the farm

Side Story 12: Get ready, fight! - part 1

Side Story 12.1: Get ready, fight! - part 1.1

Chapter 13 – Ooman Alliance envoys – part 1

Chapter 13.1 – Ooman Alliance envoys – part 1.1

Chapter 13.2 – Ooman Alliance envoys – part 1.2

Side Story 13: Mia’s love – part 1

Side Story 13.1: Mia’s love – part 1.1

Chapter 14 – Stopping an army – part 1

Chapter 14.1 – Stopping an army – part 1.1

Side Story 14: Fundraising event – part 1

Side Story 14.1: Fundraising event – part 1.1

Side Story 14.2: Fundraising event – part 1.2

Chapter 15 – New constructions

Side Story 15: Sleepover and fight – part 1

Side Story 15.1: Sleepover and fight – part 1.1

Chapter 16 – New project and night talk – part 1

Chapter 16.1 – New project and night talk – part 1.1

Side Story 16: Talking with a father – part 1

Side Story 16.1: Talking with a father – part 1.1

Chapter 17 – Beginning the voyage

Side Story 17: Bad side – part 1

Side Story 17.1: Bad side – part 1.1

Chapter 18 – Girl talk

Chapter 19 – To the rescue! – part 1

Chapter 19.1 – To the rescue! – part 1.1

Side Story 18: Sneaky attack

Chapter 20 – An annoying visitor

Side Story 19: Athletics Event – part 1

Side Story 19.1: Athletics Event – part 1.1

Side Story 19.2: Athletics Event – part 1.2

Chapter 21 – Meeting a King – part 1

Chapter 21.1 – Meeting a King – part 1.1

Chapter 21.2 – Meeting a King – part 1.2

Side Story 20: Dodgeball Event – part 1

Side Story 20.1: Dodgeball Event – part 1.1

Chapter 22 – Hidden agenda and flight plan – part 1

Chapter 22.1 – Hidden agenda and flight plan – part 1.1

Chapter 22.2 – Hidden agenda and flight plan – part 1.2

Chapter 22.3 – Hidden agenda and flight plan – part 1.3

Side Story 21: Boxing Event – part 1

Side Story 21.1: Boxing Event – part 1.1

Side Story 21.2: Boxing Event – part 1.2

Chapter 23 – Arriving at the front lines – part 1

Chapter 23.1 – Arriving at the front lines – part 1.1

Chapter 24 – Talks in the campsite – part 1

Chapter 24.2 – Talks in the campsite – part 1.2

Chapter 25 – Night visit – part 1

Chapter 25.1 – Night visit – part 1.1

Side Story 22: Strange stalker

Chapter 26 – Visiting a new country – part 1

Chapter 26.1 – Visiting a new country – part 1.1

Chapter 26.2– Visiting a new country – part 1.2

Chapter 27 – Preparation for the meeting – part 1

Chapter 27.1 – Preparation for the meeting – part 1.1

Chapter 28 – The meeting – part 1

Chapter 28.1 – The meeting – part 1.1

Chapter 28.2 – The meeting – part 1.2

Chapter 28.3 – The meeting – part 1.3

Chapter 29 – Talking with spoils of war

Chapter 30 – Going home – part 1

Chapter 30.1 – Going home – part 1.1

Side Story Epilogue: A few years ahead

Epilogue – A few years ahead

Curiosities

Names

Chapter 1 – Exchange

Jack Cross had finished making dinner for himself and his ten-year-old daughter and was setting the table in the dining room. He had already called the cute Sophia, but she was still in her room, feeding her pets.

With a sigh, Jack walked along the corridor of his two-bedroom rented apartment and knocked on her door. Why are you taking so long? The food is getting cold!

I am just finishing, dad! It would be faster if you helped me! she answered.

Jack turned the doorknob and grimaced at the sight of the big yellow snake swallowing a dead rat inside her glass cage, while his daughter was feeding the rainbow fish in the one-metre aquarium on the other side of her room.

She pointed with her head to the table next to her bed and said, Give some lettuce to the guinea pigs! I can finish the rest.

Jack took the leaves from the plastic container, and as he put them in the cage where two small guinea pigs were screeching, he said, This is my fault, you know? I should have only let you have one pet, maximum two, when you first asked me for one. But when I noticed, you had all this! And you keep bringing home sick or injured animals to take care of them!

Hey! I find them a home, or I release them in the wild when they recover! The ones I keep are only the ones that have no place to go! And there aren’t that many!

Sure… Jack sighed and asked, Besides the parakeet, that stupid snake, the lizard, the tarantula, the fish, and these guinea pigs? Did I forget any?

With a big smile, his little daughter closed the lid of the aquarium and answered, See? Not that many! Let’s go eat! I am starving!

She ran out of the room, leaving her father grimacing at the snake that now had a round lump in the middle of her body as she was slowly driving the rat deeper inside.

He closed the door and held hands with the smiling girl who was waiting for him in the corridor.

They walked along it to the living room and the moment they crossed the door frame, a blinding light surrounded them.

Jack rubbed his eyes with the back of his free hand, and when he finally managed to see anything, he noticed he was inside a narrow rocky tunnel, and he was holding a metallic lantern with glass on top and a candle inside.

Where the heck are we? he questioned himself more than to his daughter. Then he looked down and saw a strange little girl with long blue hair, cat ears, protective clothes made of leather, a small sword at her waist, and a tail moving behind her.

The girl gulped and said while looking around, We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto…

She looked up and gasped. Dad… is that you? You… You have cat ears! And… and a tail! You have a fluffy tail! Do I-

She touched her head and then looked back and screamed in excitement, "Kyyiiaa! I also have a tail! This is awesome! I am a kitty! A pretty kitty with a tail, blue hair, and pointy ears! How did this happen?"

While still trying to find out if they were both dreaming or not, Jack answered, I have no idea. We were at home, going to the dining room, and then we appeared here. Whoever here is. No… I think I know where we are… I can remember… almost like a dream…

His little daughter made a slight frown and said, Yeah… I also remember something, as if I were dreaming, and I have a few memories of that weird dream… I came here with my friends to explore the cave. I stepped on a soft spot near a wall, and the ground fell in and took me with it. I walked for so long in these tunnels, trying to find another exit! Then I heard your voice; I came running to you, and we were walking back… and then I saw a light, and here we are.

I remember being in… a weird kitchen in an enormous building? Then I joined a search group that travelled to get here the moment one kid arrived, saying you disappeared inside a crack in the ground. I rushed inside the cave, and I jumped head-first into the hole where you fell. I walked a lot, always shouting your name… Meryda… weird name… and I found you, and we were going back.

Yeah, Meryda Crawler, that’s my name in the dream! And you were, or are, Craydon Crawler!

Then something brushed on the girl’s leg, and she looked down. She made a puzzled face and then brightened in a smile as she said, I remember you! You were in my dream! Lyzy, the pretty lizard I saw hatching from a weird egg in a small cave down here!

Jack looked to where she was pointing and frowned when he saw his little daughter kneeling on the floor, rubbing the head of a strange orange lizard the size of a medium dog. The tip of his long tail was bright red, like the top of his head and the tip of his paws.

Next to it was a gelatinous form that looked like green jelly with the shape of a bean, as big as a cat. But it couldn’t be jelly because it was wiggling and jumping up and down.

His jaw dropped when his daughter said, I know you! Jelly, the pretty gelatine!, and she hugged the strange-looking gelatinous form. I found you when I fell, and we then met Lyzy when I was searching for a way out!

Jack asked while crouching on the floor to take a better look at the strange creatures illuminated by the light of his lantern. What are they? Animals?

In my dream, they were called Monsters. People fear them, mostly because they kill and eat people. But look at these cute things! How can they kill or eat anyone? They are small and so cute! I just want to hug them forever!

While his little daughter was caressing the strange lizard and poking the gelatinous creature, giggling as he bounced on the floor, Jack got up and looked around.

From where they came, there wasn’t anything besides a narrow, long tunnel. A strange glowing moss covered some places on the walls and ceiling, providing enough light that the lantern was not doing anything more than brightening the tunnel a bit and making the gloss glow even more.

He faced his daughter again and said, Listen, we can’t tell anyone about where we came from or what our real names are. From now on, and until I figure out what happened, I am Craydon Crawler, and you are my daughter, Meryda Crawler. The memories we have that seem like dreams might help us live here. Understood?

I… I understand… Do you think we will ever go home, dad?

I don’t know, but right now, this is our home. Well, not here, exactly, but where we live… lived… What do you remember about our home here? Like, I think I work as a cook in a building, but I am not sure.

With a slight frown, she said, I remembered a few things while I was walking down here. I… I mean, not really the me, me, but I am often at the Guild of Adventurers and Explorers, training and learning stuff. I used to be with you in the kitchen when I was little, helping you cook for everyone, and when I got old enough to hold a sword, I convinced you to let me train with the Explorers. she got up, holding the gelatine creature in her arms, and continued, Mommy died when I was born, like my real mom.

Now that you talked about it, it is coming to my mind. I think I remember seeing someone shoot a ball made of fire, but that seems impossible.

While pointing at her friendly lizard, Meryda asked, More impossible than Lyzy here? I never saw a lizard looking like him on the Discovery channel!

Yes, he doesn’t look like a normal lizard with those colours. He has teeth? Lizards don’t have teeth! Craydon said, while staring at the strange orange lizard that was moving his long tongue from one side to the other. He then tapped his daughter’s shoulder and said, It is better if we try to get out of here because I came with a group of people. Explorers, I think.

As they were walking along the narrow tunnel with the orange lizard behind them, Meryda asked, Do you think the Explorers at the Guild will let me keep Lyzy and Jelly? I remembered that people really hate Monsters, around here.

Maybe for a few days they will let you because they seem harmless. As they grow, I am not sure if it will be safe for you or anyone else.

I hope they let me keep them. They are so cute…

On a certain house on Earth, a man and his daughter blinked after the blinding light they encountered while they were walking in a rocky tunnel in their World disappeared.

The man looked around and said, Meryda, where are we?

Oh! Dad, is that you? You look weird! Where are your ears? And… after touching her head, she gasped, And where are mines? My tail! I don’t have a tail! Neither do you!

I was looking for you inside those caves, then… There was a light, and now… Where are we? I think I remember something, like a strange dream I had. We live here, and we were about to eat…

While looking at her hands, the little girl said, We look Oomans. Or Humans… I think that is the word… My name here… I am Sophia… Sophia Cross. And you are Jack Cross? Is that it?

Those names ring a bell. I am a Human, and I work… I work as a security guard for a company. I go there by subway… You go to school by bus… How is that possible? Only Nobles go to school because it is expensive!

The little girl pointed to the furniture and said, I think we are Nobles now. No… medium-class people. That’s the name. And here, the school is free. Dad, I think we are not in Crosslot anymore! This is… Earth. That’s the name of this World. She looked at the ground and made a sad face. Oh, Lyzy and Jelly are not here. They were so pretty…

Meryda… I mean, Sophia, until we figure out where we are and how we got here, we can’t tell anyone that we came from somewhere else, understand? People will be suspicious of us, and we may have a lot of problems. From now on, you are Sophia Cross, and I am Jack Cross.

Do you think we will ever get back? she asked while looking at her hands, and continued with a frown, Weird, I don’t feel my Magic. What about you?

I feel like I always did because I never had any Magic, remember?

Oh, right! she said as she went to the table and looked at the plates with food. I might as well eat because I am starving! Oh! I remembered I have a lot of pets in my room, and we fed them before coming here to eat! I mean, it is more like a dream than a memory, actually.

Jack grabbed the strange-shaped fork, and as he was cutting his steak with a weird knife that made him frown, he said with a smile, At least this looks tasty! We need to explore this house and see if we remember more things. About our dreams, or what we can call it.

I know you work as a security guard, and I am a student. Cool! I am a student! That means I am going to learn a lot of stuff!

With a forced smile, her father said, Yes, let’s make the best of this. We will see how things go for us. As long as we are together, everything will work just fine. He did his best to not worry his little daughter, but deep inside, he was frightened.

Chapter 2 – Crosslot World

After some time, Craydon and Meryda found two men that were in the group that went to search for her, and they guided them to the main cave and, after that, to the outside.

Moments later, the rest of the group joined them, and they were looking at the two creatures that never left Meryda’s side.

One man, an older Ooman, signalled everyone to be quiet and asked, Meryda, why do you have with you a young Slime and a Salamander? Slimes are dangerous enough, even ones so little as that one, but Salamanders are deadly when they grow up. In a few months, he can burn our City to the ground and kill everyone that lives there.

While hugging the squishy Slime and rubbing the rough head of the weird lizard, she said, But they are not dangerous, see? They are young and so cute! I can take good care of them! They will grow, and they will behave!

And if they attack someone?

With a gulp, the little cat girl said, I… I will take them to this cave before they do any harm and set them free.

For what? For them to attack people that could be travelling nearby? You know better than that, Meryda. They can’t go back with us, and they can’t stay here. Alive, that is.

The little cat girl felt her heart break, and she asked, already fearing the answer, You mean, you will kill them? But they are my friends!

The old man signalled the group around them, and as they drew their weapons, he said, If you want to be an Explorer, you have to start making tough decisions. Monsters can’t be left alive. They are-

A loud growl came from the forest nearby, and a few trees fell to the side as a massive shadow came running towards them.

When the men and women got ready to face the creature that was running towards them, Meryda was looking at the nightmare that was coming. She dropped the Slime, and without even thinking, she pointed her open palm to the creature that was coming, and while slightly glowing with Magic, she shouted, Stop! Calm down! No one is going to hurt you!

Before anyone could understand what was happening, the massive nightmare slid his four hoes onto the floor and stopped, looking at the little girl and glowing as well, as if he were reacting to her light.

Meryda pushed the men aside and walked to the front while saying, That’s it! Now sit and don’t move, or they will hurt you!

Before them, the massive boar sat on his back legs and waited. Meryda walked towards him, and her father tried to stop her, only for her to shake his hand away and continue forward.

Both the Slime and the Salamander stayed in front of the surprised group, preventing them from coming near her.

The boar lowered his head and looked down, while the young cat girl was getting near him and always telling him to calm down and relax.

She stopped at his side, caressed his plated head, and said, That’s it. You are a pretty boy, yes, you are! You look strong! What is this all over your body? An armour made of bones? I bet you could stop a sword with this!

She then faced her father and the others and said, with a smile on her face and still glowing, See? He is friendly! I think we scared him with all the noise we were making!

The older man gulped and asked, Meryda… Can you tell him to go away? Bone Boars are not friendly. Send him away before he gets mad and kills us all. He begged with a pale face.

But, but…

Now, Meryda.

With a sad face, the young girl told the boar to return to the forest, and after hugging him, she waved him goodbye.

She returned to her father while dragging her feet, already counting on a massive scolding.

Instead of shouting at her, Craydon kneeled and asked, while hugging her, What were you thinking? He could have killed you!

I… I knew he wouldn’t harm me… I… I could tell! She said in a nervous voice.

The older man approached and stuttered, N-no way… Meryda… Since when are you a Monster Tamer?

A what? What are you talking about?

A Monster Tamer! The rarest of the Mages! No wonder the Slime and the Salamander like you! They knew you would never harm them, and you used your Magic to calm down and control that massive Bone Boar! Since when you can do that?

While glancing at her father, she said, I don’t know… I did what I always do when an animal is angry… I show them I am friendly and that they can relax. It usually works…

Not with Bone Boars! They are vicious, mean, and deadly! They have no fear, and their armour made of bones can deflect swords and spears! Their massive fangs can tear a man apart with a single blow! And you just told him to stop and sit, and he did it! That thing was as huge as a Fur Cow!

The young girl went silent, looking at the ground, and asked, Is that weird?

Weird? No, it is amazing! You normally use a bit of Earth Magic, and I was expecting you would become better as you trained and grew up, but a Monster Tamer so powerful at your age? Not even an older Monster Tamer can make a Bone Boar sit on his back feet so easily like you did!

He then looked at the group around him and said, This can’t leak. Not even among yourselves, you can’t speak anything about this. If the wrong people find out what Meryda can do, they will take her away from us. The Slime and the Salamander can go with her so that she can learn how to control them better. They will be good training partners for her. We can say she is trying to control her Magic better, and these are young Monsters we got for her to practise. People will find it remarkable, and they will be curious about her, but no one can ever suspect how powerful she is. Understood?

They all nodded, visibly impressed by finding that the little girl they saw growing up could have become such a powerful Mage. Little by little, they realised how awesome it was — not only how she controlled a very dangerous Monster, but how calm she looked while doing it.

They all congratulated her, with her father receiving a few taps on the back while making a forced smile.

The men brought the horses that were tied to a tree on the right side of the cave, and it was then that Craydon noticed how strange they looked.

They had long fur on their manes and tails that reached the floor and two intricate horns on their foreheads, like deer. They were also taller than the normal horses on Earth and had strange wooden saddles coated with something soft that looked like foam.

Craydon grabbed the reins of one horse, and after thinking about how he could get on his back, the strange horse lowered itself for him to mount. He then pulled Meryda and sat her in front of him, with her carrying the Slime in her arms while the Salamander was on the soil, waiting.

The older man carefully picked him up and sat him between Meryda and her father, and he gasped when the strange lizard brushed his rough tongue on the back of his right hand as if he were thanking him or tasting him to check if he was edible.

After mounting his horse, the old man signalled everyone to follow him back to the City.

As they were travelling with the group of men and women, Craydon said in a low voice, Next time you see a weird creature, check first how everyone reacts before you try anything. You heard him. The wrong people might be interested in you if they find out what you can do. But how did you do that? You were glowing with white light!

Do you think that was Magic? Because I felt warmth all over my body, and I knew for sure that Bone Boar was not going to harm me!

I never could use Magic, so I have no idea, but most probably it was. I think that man is our boss. Or Guild Master, if I recall, in the City of Amberstar.

I remember that City’s name and the man is Dralro Jic, the Guild Master. she confirmed in a whisper.

As they were trotting along the dirt road, Meryda was caressing the Slime on her lap, and Craydon Crawler was looking around, amazed by the scenery.

In the sky there was a small yellow sun and a larger white sun. The dry grass at the edges of the road had a strange light red colour, and the trees had a dark green colour with the largest leaves he had ever seen. The tree trunks were round, with the shape of a barrel, and were more than twenty metres tall and ten metres in diameter in the largest part, right at middle height.

He heard a hammering on wood, and on his right, there was a strange bird with four wings as big as an eagle that was hovering strangely. While one set of wings was going up, the other set was going down, and he was hitting a tree trunk with his long, pointy beak. After a few hits, he made a hole, and a liquid started to gush out in a current that the bird eagerly drank.

More birds arrived, and they also drank the strange yellow liquid, and Craydon remembered a word. Sapnectar. A liquid that could be fermented to create an alcoholic beverage with a sweet taste.

The liquid that fell on the floor attracted some strange animals that looked like rabbits but had small, round ears and tall, thin legs, with intricate deer antlers on their heads.

They looked like rabbits because of their eyes, noses, and long front teeth, but everything else was strange. They were Grolagians, appreciated by several people because of their tasty, tender meat. Most Demi people liked to eat them raw, but Oomans preferred to cook them a little. Not too much, or the meat would lose most of its flavour, so that was why it was served in a thin fillet in several places.

Despite looking like big rabbits with long legs, they were absurdly fast and very hard to hunt. Their pelts were in high demand because of the warm clothing that could be made from them.

The Grolagians were drinking the nectar on the floor while staring attentively at the group riding on the road nearby, ready to start running the moment they felt danger.

Meryda looked to where her father was facing, and she said in a low voice, So beautiful… Those birds are so colourful! And are those deer or rabbits? They look so cute!

I know the animals are Grolagians, and the birds have a strange name. Peekers? Beekers? Something like that.

Beekers! Yes, that’s it! Because they use their beaks to search for food and defend themselves! The feathers are used for mattresses and pillows, and the meat is usually roasted. They taste like turkey. They are as big as turkeys, anyway.

After glancing around, making sure no one was near, Craydon whispered, Did you notice we are speaking in another language? I am sure I never heard this, but these sounds are way too different to be used on Earth by people from any country!

Yeah, it is as if we are inside another body, but we remember our lives on Earth, and we also remember some things of this World. Because with those suns in the sky, this is not Earth! Meryda said while disguisedly pointing up.

I have that same feeling. I don’t know how this happened or if we will ever go back!

While caressing her gelatinous friend, Meryda retorted, I am not feeling homesick. I am worried about my pets, but I have two cute new pets now that I need to take care of.

What about your friends in school? You don’t miss them?

Not a single bit. I am happy I don’t have to see them again. I didn’t have time to make many new friends anyway, after our last move.

With a pain in his heart, Craydon said, I am sorry we had to move, but it was becoming too difficult for me to pay the mortgage on our house with the increasing expenses ever since you changed schools.

I know, dad. Do you think someone is going to check on us back on Earth? I don’t want my pets to die of hunger.

I wish I could tell you they will be alright, but I have no idea. Maybe someone from my work comes to search for me when I don’t get to work in the morning. Or someone from your school calls the police, and they go check on us. No one will probably find out what happened to us, but at least your pets will probably get a new home.

With a sigh, Meryda said, That is nice. If they are safe, and they get a new home with an owner that loves them, I won’t be sad.

While kissing her head, Craydon said, Good girl. Now we just need to get used to living here if we don’t magically go home tomorrow.

I kind of don’t want to go home, you know? So far, I like it here.

It is pretty, but it seems extremely dangerous. There are Monsters and strange animals, and who knows what else! And the fact that these people are riding horses with old types of clothing and carrying swords and knives is too strange for my taste. It is like they live in ancient times, like four or five centuries ago. And if I recall my history classes, it was a bad time to live. The lack of technology, remedies, absurd medical practices… Let’s be careful, stay quiet, and not attract too much attention until we find out more about this World.

With a slight smile, she said, You and me against the World, right, dad?

Yes, my dear. You take care of me, and I take care of you. Like we always did.

Side Story 1: Earth World

After finishing dinner, Jack and Sophia Cross cleaned the dishes, amazed at the ease with which water came out of the tap. The sponge, the soap — it was all a discovery, but they managed to use everything because they had slight recollections about how to work with them.

After putting the plates in their place inside the cabinet, Jack asked, Do you want to watch television? I think that’s the word for that box in that room where we ate.

Sure. Maybe we can learn more about this World, or we remember something important, Sophia answered.

Jack turned on the television, and after going past the initial shock of a box that had people inside, they both sat on the couch, with Sophia joking about the softness of such a weird chair and that it was easier to sit like that since they had no tails anymore.

They changed the channels and watched for a few minutes several news stories and programs before Jack announced it was time for Sophia to go to bed because she had classes in the morning.

She kissed his cheek and went to her bedroom. Some seconds later, Jack heard her screaming and rushed to her.

When he opened the door, Sophia was in the middle of the room, looking at all the pets in cages and aquariums with her eyes shining.

She went straight to the glass cage of the big yellow snake and pulled her up with both hands. She looked at her father with a big smile and said, I remember her! I remember them all! And you are scared of this pretty snake, aren’t you?

Jack caressed the head of the hissing snake and asked, Why would I be scared? She is tiny compared with the Monster Snakes we had in Crosslot. Oh, right, I recall something about being grossed out by her! I have no idea why. But I think… he looked around, pointed to another cage on the floor, and said, I like them more. The guinea pigs. Now that I am looking at them closer, they look rather tasty. Do you think we can eat them?

I think we can because they look a lot like some animals we had in Crosslot, but the idea of eating my pets disgusts me, actually. Maybe we can find a few somewhere, and we can cook them, but not those two!

By the way, did you wash your teeth?

While looking for her pyjamas inside the closet, Sophia answered, Not yet, but I am going. She pulled out the strange clothing and pointed at her school bag, saying, I know I have my backpack ready, with my tracksuit inside. I remember you usually go get me after school, and we come running home every day. Don’t forget to check your bag to see if you have your tracksuit. You change every day after work, and then you run to get me, remember?

Yes, I think I do. We started running from your school to our home every day ever since you started school because I needed to keep in shape because of my work, and you liked to be with me.

Well, no need to change that habit, right? We never did that in Crosslot, but then again, I was never in School.

She suddenly froze and made a slight frown, as if she were remembering something that annoyed her. Some kids there often pick on me. They call me stupid and poor little orphan. If someone tomorrow dares to pick on me, I am going to slice their heads open!

It is better if you don’t do that. Talk with your teachers and tell them what is happening. If they don’t do anything, then you take care of that. Without any witnesses. Quickly, and swiftly. And if someone asks later what happened, deny it until the end.

While going in search of the bathroom, Sophia replied, Sure thing! Leave everything to me, dad! There is nothing for you to worry about! But you better not cause any problems at work! This is a different World, and you might lose your job if someone complains you were too rough.

As the cute little girl ran along the corridor, Jack mumbled, I was supposed to be the one telling her to be careful, not the other way around…

…

In the morning, they took their breakfast and marvelled at how easy it was to have cold milk from the refrigerator or hot toast from the electric toaster. All of that, with no need for Magic.

Jack had some trouble remembering how to put on his suit and tie, but after some struggling, he figured it out.

They grabbed their bags and left the apartment, with Jack using the key in his pocket to lock the door and following his daughter down the stairs.

Outside, there was a young girl with long, dark brown hair and brown eyes, smiling at them.

She came to them and said, Good morning, Mister Cross! Hello, Sophia! Are you ready? You took forever! I was starting to get sleepy!

Oh, right… Emma… Emma Pearson… We usually go to school together… Sorry, I am still sleepy.

Yeah, you look weird, alright! Come, or we are going to miss the bus! See you later, Mister Cross!

With a wave, Jake bid his farewells to the two girls and turned to the other direction, trying to find the entrance of the subway.

After ten minutes, he went down the stairs and, without even thinking, took his wallet from inside the pocket of his jacket, put it on the reader, and entered the platform to wait for his ride to work.

As he sat on a bench, he scratched his head, wondering how he had arrived there without making a blunder.

As for Sophia, she was at the bus station with her friend, looking around at all the kids and paying no attention whatsoever to what Emma was saying.

She knew it was something about a cartoon Emma saw on the television after arriving home from school on the previous day, but she had no idea what it was.

So that Emma didn’t become worried about her, Sophia kept smiling and nodding, pretending to be interested in her conversation.

The bus arrived, and Emma entered, with Sophia right behind her. The other kids followed them inside, and as they were both walking to the back of the bus, a girl’s voice called their attention by saying, Look who just arrived! The orphan and her sidekick! You should dump that moron, Emma, or you will become just like her!

Without even looking to check who said that, Sophia asked, You heard someone farting, Emma? Because there is a weird smell here!

While the kids in the school bus began laughing, the girl at the back got up and walked to the two newcomers, asking, What did you say, dumbass?

Sophia looked from top to bottom at the angry blond girl and made a slight frown as she covered her nose. Damn! No one ever taught you to brush your teeth in the morning? What did you eat last night? Manure? Move your head to the side or cover your mouth! I am about to throw up!

The laughter that followed made the young blond girl even angrier, and she grabbed Sophia’s right arm and pierced her skin with her fingernails. You are going to regret this, moron!

Sophia pretended to slip the moment the bus began moving and grabbed the blond girl’s tiny left breast and squeezed it, making her scream in pain. Oh! I am sorry! Did I hurt you on your titty? The bus moved, and I almost fell! Thank you for holding me! I could have fallen and hurt myself! You are so sweet!

With a smile, Sophia sat next to Emma, who was looking at her completely pale.

The blond girl returned to her place at the back of the bus, still rubbing her breast.

The moment she sat near her friends, she said in a low voice, She is going to regret making a fool out of me! Who does she think she is? We need to remind her of her place again. Maybe she forgot what happened last time she answered me back!

One girl on her right said in a whisper, We can get her on the first break. But as soon as we arrive at school, and before we go to our class, we can send her a message.

With a grin, the blond girl asked, You had an idea? Nice. she then leaned on her seat, staring at the two girls sitting two rows ahead of her.

On her seat, Emma leaned right and whispered to her friend, Sophia, are you crazy? After everything Eliza and her friends made you go through ever since you entered our school, you go and mock her in front of all these kids? She is going to be even worse to you!

I don’t care. Let her come. She might get a nasty surprise.

Emma gasped. She couldn’t understand why, but her usually calm friend had such determination in her face and a shine in her eyes that she looked like a different person.

On the other side of the City, Jack Cross arrived at his job. He saw other men wearing the same dark blue suit with a black tie as he was wearing and followed them to the back door behind the building.

He took his ID card from his wallet, mimicking the ones he was following, and approached it from the reader on the left side of the closed door. The door opened, and he walked along a corridor to a locker room.

Other men were talking there, putting the bags or packed lunches they were carrying inside their lockers, and he went to one near the left corner.

After thinking for a few seconds, he put the code on the keypad on the door and dropped his gym bag inside. From the plastic box that was in the locker, he took a receiver that he put in the pocket inside his jacket and the hearing piece in his left ear.

Someone tapped his back and asked, Hi there, Jack! Silent as always, I see! Ready for another day?

I guess so. Where am I supposed to be today? Inside?

Again, you didn’t memorise the places for this week. You are with me at the front. Just another boring day! I prefer when we are on the floors, doing rounds, but heck, someone must do the boring job, and this week it is us! Are you ready?

With a nod, Jack followed his co-worker, and at the end of the corridor, there was a door that led to a spacious room with a counter at the far right and an enormous, windowed entrance on the left side.

They went there, and the man asked, Left, or right? noticing that Jack looked puzzled, he explained, Your place today! Yesterday I was at the right of the door!

Right for me, then. We just need to stay there, looking at the people that come and go? Nothing else?

Not inside, of course, or else, how would the visitors know this is a safe building? We stay outside, in the shadows. At least this week is fresh, so it won’t be that hard. John told me that last month, he almost fainted on his second day because of the heat wave! the man said, looking somewhat puzzled by the question.

As they were walking to the entrance, the man asked, Are you feeling alright, Jack? Because you seem to be a bit drowsy.

I didn’t sleep well last night. The bed felt weird, and the mattress was too soft for my taste. I either get used to it, or I am going to search for a harder one if I don’t.

You still haven’t got used to your mattress? But you have lived there for, like what, five months already? the man asked while the windowed door slid left, and they went outside.

Some nights are better than others, I suppose.

Jack Cross went to the right side of the building, and his co-worker went to the left. They stood there in the shade of the balcony of the first floor to protect themselves from the sunny day, looking to both sides occasionally and checking who was arriving.

With a sigh, Jack mumbled, This is a boring job… I hope Sophia is having more fun than me, or she won’t stop nagging me tonight that she got bored…

Chapter 3 – Guild of Adventurers and Explorers – part 1

As they were approaching the City walls, Craydon looked at the metallic gate. Right at the top, stuck in the rock wall, there was a strange-looking head. It looked Human, but it had horns and had its mouth wide open as if it were screaming. Next to it, a Human torso was carved in rock as well, with his hand raised, piercing the strange horned head with a spear. The head was Human but with a very angry expression.

Meryda noticed where her father was staring, and she asked in a whisper, What is that? Some sort of warning? Because for decoration, it is ugly.

I have no idea. For luck, perhaps?

Craydon went silent and glanced at the Guards that were on each side of the gate, smiling at the approaching group.

As they were crossing the gate and entering the City, the Guards waved at Meryda, and they seemed genuinely happy to see her.

Smiling awkwardly, Meryda waved at them, and then her attention went to the strange buildings. Most of them were made entirely of wood, with only a few two-story buildings made of rock and wood. The buildings made solely of wood had roofs with red tiles, and the buildings made of rock had blue tiles all over the roofs. Strangely, Meryda remembered that the rock buildings had big businesses inside or were warehouses, and the wood buildings belonged to families.

As they were riding slowly along the main street, there were a lot of intersections with narrower roads also flourishing with people, horses, waggons, and houses.

At one of those intersections, a group of five kids, with boys and girls among them, came running, and while some were crying with big smiles plastered on their faces, one of them was visibly angry but also crying.

One boy, perhaps of Meryda’s age, who had ears and a fluffy tail that resembled the one a dog would have, shouted, You stupid brat! We thought you had died! Why did you run ahead instead of waiting for us? If we were near you, we could have grabbed you! I tried to jump after you to catch you, but these so-called friends stopped me! If you had died, I would kill them! And then I would find you and beat the crap out of your sorry butt!

Meryda gasped, trying to remember the name of the angry boy, but she could only stutter, I-I am s-sorry… I was too excited, and I wanted to see what was there… Is everyone alright?

Besides my stomach hurting ever since you fell in that hole? Yeah, we are alright.

It was then that the boy noticed the Slime that Meryda was holding, and he asked as he walked next to her horse with the other kids next to him, You found a new friend, didn’t you? Stupid, that is a Monster! Why do you have that thing in your arms?

Pointing to the orange head behind her, Meryda answered with an awkward smile, I found him as well when I fell in that hole. I was walking in a tunnel, and I first found the Slime, and then an egg. This cute guy hatched when I was looking at the egg.

The boy frowned and almost shouted, And you also brought him with you? facing Craydon, the boy asked, What is your excuse to let her bring two Monsters to our City?

It was not my initial idea, but things happened… Pof Grinun… the angry Demi-Dog boy, Meryda’s strange friend…

Who are you calling strange? And why that dumb look on your face? As if a Demi-Cat like you is better than a Demi-Dog! With a frown, Pof looked at Meryda and asked, He is acting weird today, you know? Maybe the fact that you almost died messed with his head! Are you going to stay up there instead of coming down to go with us? We have a lot to talk about! And a lot to punish you for worrying us so much!

I… I suppose I can go… right, dad?

Trying to disguise his worries, Craydon answered, Maybe we should go with the Guild Master. He might want to have a word with us. Maybe later?

Pof Grinun glanced at the group of kids near him, and seeing them nodding, he said, Okay, but don’t try to escape! You know you deserve a punishment, and we all agreed that if you came back alive, we would put some sense into your thick head! Even if we had to beat you up for that!

A girl, with the lower half of her body resembling a snake, pulled Pof Grinun’s right arm and said, after quickly cleaning her tears, We didn’t agree on that! Not the beating part! We only said we would scold her and think about some sort of punishment!

Pof shook his arm free and complained, For a Demi-Lamia, you are too soft, Tetil Stog! You guys are supposed to be mean and vindictive! She scared us to death, and you want us to let her go with only some scolding? I want to squeeze her neck and make her promise she won’t ever worry us like she did!

Facing Meryda again, Pof Grinun pointed at the Slime she was still holding and said, You better leave that thing and the weird lizard somewhere! If you get near me with them, I am going to slice them open! We will be waiting for you near our tree, right next to the market! If you don’t go there in one-hour maximum, I am going after you and drag you by your hair! Let’s go, everyone; we need to think about her punishment!

With a wave, the group of kids ran along a narrow street, disappearing in the crowd. Craydon was looking at them and asked the worried Meryda, You have a lot of friends, and they were worried about you. I remember that guy; he was the one who came to the Guild.

Meryda disguisedly pointed with her head to the enormous building on their left the moment the Guild Master stopped his horse and said, The Guild of Adventurers and Explorers. I am not sure what time it is, but I think I remember you usually start making dinner for everyone by this hour.

I think you are right, and I have a few helpers. Two boys and two… I am not sure if they are pets or slaves… Demons, if I recall the race name correctly. A lower species of Demons that are more like animals than intelligent beings. I named them Number One and Number Two because one has a scar on his head and the other has two scars.

Before Meryda could say anything else, the Guild Master opened the Guild door and was waiting for everyone to follow him.

The moment the search group, together with Craydon and Meryda, dismounted, the horses walked all alone to the large open door of the building right next to the Guild, where a young boy with dog ears and a tail was waiting. The stable, most probably, was what Craydon assumed as he watched the horses enter.

When Craydon entered the Guild, he saw the Guild Master standing in the middle of the room, and as soon as the last person entered, he signalled for someone to close the door.

He looked around, confirming that the group that went in search of Meryda, as well as the servants in the Guild and the Adventurers that stayed behind were looking at him, and he said, We were lucky this time because we almost lost our youngest member! I thank everyone that rushed to her, and I thank the ones that stayed behind in case someone came with a Quest!

He then faced the worried Meryda, who was trying to smile at the serious gazes upon her, and he warned her, As for you, young lady, the next time you want to play Explorers and Adventurers with your friends, think about all of us, that will be worrying about you! It is not only your father that would miss you, you know? We all saw you growing up, and we all think of you as a member of our big family! I don’t know if your father will ground you or punish you, but you must think about where you are going to keep your new friends while we all think about your punishment!

Meryda snorted and complained, still with the Slime on her arms and the Salamander brushing her left leg, seated on his back legs on the floor. First, my friends wanted to punish me for worrying them so much; now you guys as well? It was just an accident! I didn’t do it on purpose!

Dralro Jic, the serious Guild Master, answered, We are going to punish you for your own good, Meryda. I felt my heart stop when your friend came rushing in with tears and snot all over his face, shouting that you fell inside a hole. Craydon, perhaps you and she should go to the back and wash up because you are full of dirt and mud. We all need to have some drinks to see if all this stress goes away. Don’t take too long because you need to cook our dinner.

Craydon nodded, and he walked to the back door with Meryda right after him, holding the Slime and the Salamander running alongside her.

A servant, a woman with cat ears and tail, looked at the two Monsters, and with a frown, she asked, Guild Master, why does she have those things with her? They are still small, but when they grow up…

Don’t worry about them. Meryda said she would take care of them. But the moment they try to bite or attack someone, they are dead. She knows that very well. They are only here to help her control her Magic, nothing more. She found them inside the tunnel she fell into, and until now, they have been peaceful and friendly. Let’s see what happens in the next few days, and then I will decide what to do. For now, we need drinks! This was way too stressful!

While biting her lower lip, the cat woman went to the barrels behind the main counter, with the two young servants going after her to get the cups for the group of Explorers and Adventurers.

In the back garden, Craydon was pulling the rope that was attached to a bucket in the well, while Meryda was grabbing a large basin from the shelter next to the Guild wall. She put the basin on the floor, and Craydon filled it with water.

After the third bucket, Craydon and his daughter started to wash their faces, hair, arms, and hands to get rid of all the residues of their tumbling down the hole inside the cave through which Meryda fell.

As they were drying themselves with the rags that Meryda also brought from the shelter, Craydon said, You better go meet your friends, because they seemed really worried about you. Go through the back door of the garden while I go to the kitchen to take care of dinner. I have no idea what to make, but I will figure something out, depending on the ingredients available.

What about Jelly and Lyzy? Do you think you can take care of them? You heard that kid; I can’t take them with me.

As long as they behave and don’t try to eat me. If they lick me or even look at me weirdly, I am going to cook them.

Meryda crouched in front of the puzzled Salamander, which was seated on the floor on his back legs, right next to the bouncing Slime, and he stared at his new owner very attentively when she said, You guys can keep my father company, right? Behave yourselves and don’t annoy him or anyone else. Stay out of trouble because I will be right back.

With a rub on the Salamander’s head and a slight poke on the gelatinous Slime, Meryda ran to the back door of the garden.

Craydon stared at the two Monsters and as he walked to the door that led to the kitchen, he warned them, Follow me and stay quiet. I don’t want any of my helpers to worry about you two.

He opened the door and waited for the two Monsters to enter before closing it again. The sound of two young voices gasping in the middle of the kitchen made him look back, and he tried to remember their names. Two teenagers with dog ears and a tail. One had light brown hair, and the other had dark hair. Both were wearing simple clothes made of cotton and leather boots, and they were frozen, looking at the Salamander and the Slime that were at Craydon’s feet.

Hello… Emid Basson and Vasir Rez. We better prepare dinner because there are a lot of people out there waiting.

Chapter 3.1 – Guild of Adventurers and Explorers – part 1.1

Vasir Rez pointed at the two Monsters and asked, Boss, why do you have… those things with you? We are supposed to cook them? Because I don’t think Slimes are edible!

No, they are Meryda’s new friends. She found them in that cave where she got lost, and she wants to keep them. She told them to behave while she went to meet her friends, and they seemed to understand what she wanted. The Salamander’s name is Lyzy, and the Slime is Jelly.

Then, a low screech from the right corner called Craydon’s attention. What he saw made him feel a shiver along his spine. Two strange, light grey beings were staring at him, with bald heads, big, round, and black eyes, thin arms, and legs, and dressed in only a long, stained white shirt that reached their knees. They were barefoot, and both had an iron collar around their necks with a chain connected to another iron collar around their right wrist, and from the wrist, another chain connected to a collar on their right ankle.

Emid Basson noticed where Craydon was staring and