[i]“Let me see you more clearly.”[/i]

The stranger’s voice echoed around Tethys, and she wasn’t sure if he had spoken aloud or into her mind, but she was suddenly intrigued by this handsome character. He opened his arms invitingly. Shooting stars streaked silently across the sky, and she had a vague awareness of twinkling fireflies drifting around her, beckoning her to this man.

Before allowing her feet to lead her closer, Tethys touched the amulet at her throat. Perhaps this was an item of magic, and had brought her into a mystical dreamland. Or perhaps she had simply fallen asleep with wishes for a fantastical dream, because she'd acquired such an interesting piece of jewelry that appeared to be made of precious jewels to her eyes, but was no more than a rock to the peddler.

Did all this have something to do with her budding magical talents that had only recently begun to surface? Tethys had done her best to hide her abilities from her fellow villagers, but if they continued to grow in strength and went beyond her control, she would have to leave this place for good, and seek a home more welcoming to wielders of magic.

She supposed anything could happen in a dream, even if it didn’t make sense. Tethys approached him hesitantly, pausing a short distance away. He was even more striking up close; and if not for her natural wariness and demure manners in the presence of strangers, she would have stepped willingly into his arms, throwing all caution to the wind.

“What is this place?” she asked, feeling the rapid increase of her heartbeats. Tethys found herself unable to quite look at him in the eyes, so she instead watched his mouth, waiting breathlessly for his reply.