{"submission_id":"2245789","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"2193","keyword_name":"fantasy","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"15341"},{"keyword_id":"540286","keyword_name":"grimm tales","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"4"},{"keyword_id":"1440","keyword_name":"human","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"63481"},{"keyword_id":"165","keyword_name":"male","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"793652"},{"keyword_id":"597","keyword_name":"werewolf","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"7183"}],"hidden":"f","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"0","create_datetime":"2020-09-04 04:20:03.216399+02","create_datetime_usertime":"04 Sep 2020 04:20 CEST","last_file_update_datetime":"2020-09-04 04:17:34.403014+02","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"04 Sep 2020 04:17 CEST","username":"DarkWolf79","user_id":"19375","user_icon_file_name":"188720_DarkWolf79_wolf_avatar.jpg","user_icon_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/188/188720_DarkWolf79_wolf_avatar.jpg","user_icon_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/188/188720_DarkWolf79_wolf_avatar.jpg","user_icon_url_small":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/188/188720_DarkWolf79_wolf_avatar.jpg","file_name":"3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","thumbnail_url_huge":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.jpg","thumbnail_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.jpg","thumbnail_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.jpg","thumb_huge_x":"189","thumb_huge_y":"300","thumb_large_x":"126","thumb_large_y":"200","thumb_medium_x":"76","thumb_medium_y":"120","files":[{"file_id":"3265769","file_name":"3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"2245789","user_id":"19375","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":null,"full_size_y":null,"screen_size_x":null,"screen_size_y":null,"preview_size_x":null,"preview_size_y":null,"initial_file_md5":"4d5cea6a4b53f03cc2ce64039d1c27ed","full_file_md5":"4d5cea6a4b53f03cc2ce64039d1c27ed","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"d5cb192c20264b5fa9790a368ddee2e3","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2020-09-04 04:17:34.403014+02","create_datetime_usertime":"04 Sep 2020 04:17 CEST","thumbnail_url_huge":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.jpg","thumbnail_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.jpg","thumbnail_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3265/3265769_DarkWolf79_rise_of_the_yokai_ch_1_crystal_city.jpg","thumb_huge_x":"189","thumb_huge_y":"300","thumb_large_x":"126","thumb_large_y":"200","thumb_medium_x":"76","thumb_medium_y":"120"}],"pools":[{"pool_id":"66089","name":"Grimm Tales","description":"Character art and stories for my novel series, Grimm Tales","count":"6","submission_left_submission_id":"2220861","submission_left_file_name":"3227314_DarkWolf79_miroku_by_bungod.png","submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/3227/3227314_DarkWolf79_miroku_by_bungod.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3227/3227314_DarkWolf79_miroku_by_bungod_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3227/3227314_DarkWolf79_miroku_by_bungod_noncustom.jpg","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"120","submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"95","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_x":"200","submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_y":"159","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"300","submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"238"}],"description":"A SFW story? What is happening!?\n\nAs I work on the sequel, I've decided to post the first few chapters of my YA fantasy book, Rise of the Yokai, my first published full-length novel and the first in my Grimm Tales series. I'll be posting several more chapters here, so be sure to keep an eye out if you enjoy it. Very soon I will be holding a sale for the Kindle ebook edition, which will be on sale for a full week. For updates, you can check my profile here, or follow me on twitter @DarkWlf79\n\n[url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XGGVN45]Amazon[/url]","description_bbcode_parsed":"A SFW story? What is happening!?

As I work on the sequel, I've decided to post the first few chapters of my YA fantasy book, Rise of the Yokai, my first published full-length novel and the first in my Grimm Tales series. I'll be posting several more chapters here, so be sure to keep an eye out if you enjoy it. Very soon I will be holding a sale for the Kindle ebook edition, which will be on sale for a full week. For updates, you can check my profile here, or follow me on twitter @DarkWlf79

Amazon","writing":"I had the nightmare again. After all these years, the memories hadn't faded at all. I'm still having bad dreams. Is that even the right way to say it? Can you still call something a bad dream when it really happened?\n\nIt's been nearly eight years since then. There was a time when I could remember everything about that day. Not anymore. Now the only things I can remember are the bits and pieces my nightmares have burned into my brain.\n\nThe first thing I remember is getting separated from my parents. I was all alone, the maze of shelves and crates around me seeming to stretch on forever. The old, musty air made my nose itch. Each flicker of the old bulbs hanging from the ceiling made the shadows shift and move like some great creature shifting in its sleep.\n\nEven at eight years old, I could feel the power in that place, like a tingling in the back of my mind. I didn't want to be alone. I wanted to find my parents, leave, and never come back.\n\nI wandered through the shelves, trying to find my parents. Find an exit. Anything to get out of this creepy place. \n\nAnd that's when it happened.\n\nIt was the sound that got my attention. A tapping, rattling sound. As I rounded the next corner, I heard it again, louder this time. \n\nIt was coming from a clay jar, not much bigger than a flower vase. The jar was covered in a thick layer of dust, and its surface was etched with runes and symbols I couldn't begin to understand. Worn leather straps held the lid in place.\n\nI inched slowly closer, the tapping getting louder and more urgent. The jar rattled and rocked on its shelf, shaking harder and harder. I reached out, and just as my fingers brushed the sides of the jar, it went still.\n\nI lifted the jar off its shelf and staggered back under its weight. It was much heavier than it looked. Carefully, I lowered it down to the ground and undid the straps. I started to lift the lid.\n\nThen all hell broke loose.\n\nThe lid slipped from my hand as I was blasted across the aisle and into another shelf as a huge, black something erupted from the jar. The Vault shook violently, darkness spreading all around me, slightly more solid than smoke, bitter cold and darker than the blackest ink.\n\nThe blast had knocked me into the shelf pretty hard. I hurt all over, and my head felt like it was being split in two. \n\nThat's when I saw it. A shape looming up out of the darkness. I can't remember what it looked like, but I'll never forget the eyes. Those blank white eyes staring out from the shadows. \n\nAnd then it spoke. I don't really know what I was expecting. A roar? Threats? A villainous monologue? I certainly hadn't expected it to sound almost human. The voice was calm, almost gentle. It almost sounded...happy?\n\n``Thank you, child.'' I flinched away and covered my ears. The voice was quiet and calm, but it carried a power that I could feel down to my bones.\n\nThe eyes vanished as the darkness swept over me, and everything went still.\n\n****************\n\nI woke with a start, the hammock swinging so wildly it nearly dumped me onto the floor. I grabbed for the porch railing, steadying myself while I waited for my heart to slow down and sink out of my throat. I breathed deeply and slowly, timing my breaths with the white noise of the waves rolling over the beach below me, the roof of the porch keeping me shaded and cool, blocking out the worst of the afternoon sun.\n\nYou'd think after having the same dream for so many years, I'd eventually get to a point where it wouldn't bother me anymore. Too bad I just didn't seem to be there yet. If anything, it seemed like it was getting even further away. I mean, that?s the second time I?ve had that nightmare today.\n\nAfter another night's sleep interrupted by the joys of childhood trauma, and most of the day running on frustration and caffeine, I thought I?d try to take a nap out here, in one of my favorite spots in the house. I looked down at my watch. Wonderful. I hadn?t even managed to sleep a full twenty minutes. Seriously, is a little rest too much for a guy to ask?\n\nIf things kept going like this I was in for another rough night. I needed to clear my head. I went inside, the floorboards of the porch creaking under my feet. After changing into my swimsuit, I grabbed my goggles and headed downstairs.\n\nOutside, the salty air blowing in off the ocean covered up most of the chlorine smell coming from the pool. As I stepped out into the summer heat, the paving stones around the pool were so hot I could see the air around them shimmering in the heat.\n\nI slipped on my goggles and dove in, the brutal heat falling away as I was surrounded by the cool quiet of the water. My arms and legs pumped as I moved down the length of the pool. Reaching the end of the pool, I flipped and pushed off the wall.\n\nLike it always did when I swam, I could feel my mind clearing. By now, the steady rhythm of strokes and kicks was automatic. I didn't have to think about what I was doing. I just did it.\n\nWhen I finally stopped to catch my breath, I hung onto the side of the pool, dropping my goggles to hang around my neck. I felt much better, and the familiar burning ache in my muscles meant I should be in for a good night's sleep.\n\nI'd wanted to shake loose what was left of my nightmare and clear my head. As I glanced down at my watch, I realized it had definitely worked. My mind was nice and empty. So empty in fact, that I hadn't bothered to keep track of the time. I was supposed to meet everyone for dinner.\n\nTen minutes ago.\n\nOops.\n\nAnd so, five minutes later, dried and dressed, there I was, once again, running through town like a madman. \n\n Oh, who am I? My name's Zane. Zane Grimm. Nice to meet you. Now if you'll please excuse me, right now I'm running very, very late.\n\nI slowed to a walk when I finally reached Main Street, joining the crowds out celebrating the end of the week and the beautiful weather. We'd finally had a break in the heat. It was one of those rare summer days where you could go outside without feeling like you were trying to breathe hot soup. \n\nAll along the street, shops had thrown their doors and windows open wide to enjoy the ocean breeze and the break in the heat as the sun sank toward the horizon. Every building was painted in bright colors, cheerful and inviting, but a little weathered at the same time, in that way only a beach town can seem to pull off. \n\nWelcome to Crystal City. Our own little island paradise off the North Carolina coast. Where the air is warm, the water is clear, and there's magic in the air. And no, that is not a figure of speech. There is actual magic in this air.\n\nAnd I should know. Because I have magic, too.\n\nYou see, I'm going to be a mage.\n\nThat's right. I'm a magical, spellcasting, pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat, mage. Though to be fair, that trick is so old mundanes can do it.\n\nMundanes are what we call people that can't use magic. Some of the older crowd still just call them mortals. Trust me, I don't mean it as an insult to anybody, but around here sooner or later you start to think in those terms. But wait, it gets better.\n\nYou know all those old stories you hear as a kid, at school and in movies? Horus, Thor, Zeus? All real. Myths and Monsters? Real. Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White? All real. Fairy godmothers? They're real, too. And I would know, since I've even met a few.\n\nIf any of this seems a bit strange to you, that's normal. Give it some time, and you'll get used to it. We all do. But just you wait. Around here, things like this are just the tip of the weirdness iceberg.\n\nAnyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.\n\nI made my way down Main Street, the warm ocean breeze carrying sounds from the nearby boardwalk and the scattered calls of gulls. No matter where you go, you're never far from the ocean. And even if you manage to find a spot where you can't see it, the salty smell never totally goes away.\n\nIt's one of my favorite things about living here. If I really listened, I could still hear the roar of the surf over all the hustle and bustle of town.\n\nIt was calm. It was peaceful.\n\nI should have known it was never going to last.\n\nI had just crossed the street when I got hit by what felt like a furry wrecking ball. I couldn't see anything but a wall of shaggy black fur as the behemoth of a dog jumped up and tried to lick at my face. I held him off as much as I could, but man, that dog was heavy.\n\n``Dante!'' I gasped, ``Come on boy, you know you're too big for me to hold you anymore!''\n\nDante dropped off me, tongue hanging out and tail wagging as I scratched behind his ears.\n\nAs people walked by, they gave him plenty of space. Don't get me wrong, nobody in town is scared of Dante. He may look like a wolf and be big enough he could probably take down a bear, but he's a big softie. Problem is, he's so strong that anybody he hit with that long tail of his would run the risk of going flying into traffic.\n\n``Dog-zilla's just happy to see you.''\n\nA girl stood in front of me, hands on her hips and a small grin on her face.\n\n``You're late,'' she said.\n\nKora Winchester. She's got a figure that would make Wonder Woman jealous. Her blonde hair was pulled back into its usual ponytail, and her outfit seemed to have been chosen to show off as much of her arms and legs as possible. While I don't speak for everyone, I was certainly appreciating her fashion sense. If you ever tell her I said that, I'll deny it.\n\nWhat? I'm not staring. I'm a guy. I notice.\n\n``A mage is never late, nor is he early,'' I said in my most serious voice.\n\nKora held up her hand. ``Okay, you can just stop right there,'' she said. ``For what has to be the thousandth time, you can't use that excuse.''\n\n``Give me one good reason why not.''\n\n``Because you,'' she said, lightly jabbing a finger into my chest, ``are not Gandalf.''\n\nI clutched my hand to my chest, ``Saying something so hurtful on my birthday. How will I ever cope?''\n\nIf Kora's eyes had rolled any harder, they'd have popped out of her head and taken off down the street.\n\n``I'm sure you'll survive.'' She turned and walked down the street, gesturing for me to follow. ``Come on,'' she said. ``Everybody else is waiting.''\n\nKora and I fell into step behind Dante as we made our way through town, the mountain of fur making a sizable gap for us as we made our way through the growing crowd. After a few more minutes of walking, our destination came into view. \n\nThe three-story building was set further back than the others, separated from the street by a low, intricately woven iron fence. A break in the fence was marked by a large arch. At the top of the arch rested a thin slab of dark stone. \n\nOn top of the stone sat a statue of a dragon, talons clutching the slab, its wings outstretched, its tail curling down to hook under the base of the sign, the tip pointed out toward the street. \n\nThis statue is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The scales were forged from gold and bronze, and when light hit the dragon, I could swear it was flexing its metal muscles. The eyes, carved sapphires, seemed to follow you as you moved. A fire burned in its open mouth, illuminating the silver words set into the stone - Dragon's Roost.\n\nThis restaurant is, without a doubt, the single most popular place in all of Crystal City. Solidly built out of wood and brick, the front of the restaurant was just as colorful as all the others on Main Street. The white eaves and trim created a stark contrast to the deep red paint covering the rest of the building.\n\nA spacious lawn filled the space in front of the building. Bushes of bright hibiscus flowers grew beneath the windows of the restaurant, their sweet scent mixing with the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. \n\nTables were scattered around the front lawn, and most of them were filled with people. And from what I could hear, it sounded like the ocean-front patio around back was already full, too.\n\nAs Kora and I moved across the lawn, I smiled and felt there was a bit more bounce in my step when I saw who was waiting for us. Next to the front doors was my best friend, Jason Stark. \n\nJason was probably the one that sent Kora to come find me. His amber eyes focused on his hands as they were fidgeting with a small towel covered in blue stains. It looked like he was muttering something to himself as he kept smoothing out his clothes, and his tail kept twitching as he paced back and forth beside the doors.\n\nOh, the tail? Yeah, about that. There's something you should know about Jason. See, he's not exactly what you'd call...human.\n\nJason is a werewolf, like his father. We're about the same height, but I guess technically he's taller if you count the ears. His fur is a shining silver-gray, fading to white beneath his mouth and down his neck.\n\nJason straightened up, and a smile spread across his face when he saw us.\n\n``Good, you found him,'' he said with a grin. ``Was starting to wonder if you were coming at all. It'd be a shame for all this work to go to waste.''\n\n``Please,'' I said as we bumped fists, ``what kind of idiot would miss his own dinner? Not one word.''\n\nKora, who I'm sure was about to make some snide comment, closed her mouth.\n\n``What were you doing anyway?'' asked Jason\n\n``I was working out a problem,'' I said.\n\n``Are you sure you don't just mean working out?'' said Jason. ``You know I can still smell the chlorine, right?''\n\nBusted.\n\nThinking quickly, I said, ``Well, can you blame me? If I don't burn off some calories before I come here for dinner, I'll get all flabby.''\n\nI hated not telling my friends the real reason I'd been swimming. Sure, they knew about what happened back then, but most of the town didn't, and I definitely didn't want to discuss it in such a public place.\n\nJason just rolled his eyes. ``Oh, please,'' he said, ``You couldn't look bad if you tried.'' Jason froze. ``Uh, I-I mean... um...''\n\n``Come on, let's get inside,'' Kora said, pulling the door open. ``Don't want to keep everybody waiting.''\n\nKora went inside, pulling Jason in after her.\n\nJust before the door swung shut, I heard Jason say, ``Oh my god, did I really just say that?''\n\nThe owners wouldn't mind if I brought Dante inside, but it was so crowded there just wasn't enough space. Instead, he flopped down in the grass, tail wagging as one of the kids sitting nearby started tossing him bits of fries when his parents weren't looking.\n\nI opened the door, the low din of voices and the clinking of silverware spilled out onto the lawn. If you join me for dinner, I'll introduce you to the most popular person in town: a six-hundred-year-old French guy.\n\nHey, it's like I told you. Everywhere you look in Crystal City, things get curiouser and curiouser.\n\nWelcome to my world.\n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"I had the nightmare again. After all these years, the memories hadn't faded at all. I'm still having bad dreams. Is that even the right way to say it? Can you still call something a bad dream when it really happened?

It's been nearly eight years since then. There was a time when I could remember everything about that day. Not anymore. Now the only things I can remember are the bits and pieces my nightmares have burned into my brain.

The first thing I remember is getting separated from my parents. I was all alone, the maze of shelves and crates around me seeming to stretch on forever. The old, musty air made my nose itch. Each flicker of the old bulbs hanging from the ceiling made the shadows shift and move like some great creature shifting in its sleep.

Even at eight years old, I could feel the power in that place, like a tingling in the back of my mind. I didn't want to be alone. I wanted to find my parents, leave, and never come back.

I wandered through the shelves, trying to find my parents. Find an exit. Anything to get out of this creepy place.

And that's when it happened.

It was the sound that got my attention. A tapping, rattling sound. As I rounded the next corner, I heard it again, louder this time.

It was coming from a clay jar, not much bigger than a flower vase. The jar was covered in a thick layer of dust, and its surface was etched with runes and symbols I couldn't begin to understand. Worn leather straps held the lid in place.

I inched slowly closer, the tapping getting louder and more urgent. The jar rattled and rocked on its shelf, shaking harder and harder. I reached out, and just as my fingers brushed the sides of the jar, it went still.

I lifted the jar off its shelf and staggered back under its weight. It was much heavier than it looked. Carefully, I lowered it down to the ground and undid the straps. I started to lift the lid.

Then all hell broke loose.

The lid slipped from my hand as I was blasted across the aisle and into another shelf as a huge, black something erupted from the jar. The Vault shook violently, darkness spreading all around me, slightly more solid than smoke, bitter cold and darker than the blackest ink.

The blast had knocked me into the shelf pretty hard. I hurt all over, and my head felt like it was being split in two.

That's when I saw it. A shape looming up out of the darkness. I can't remember what it looked like, but I'll never forget the eyes. Those blank white eyes staring out from the shadows.

And then it spoke. I don't really know what I was expecting. A roar? Threats? A villainous monologue? I certainly hadn't expected it to sound almost human. The voice was calm, almost gentle. It almost sounded...happy?

``Thank you, child.'' I flinched away and covered my ears. The voice was quiet and calm, but it carried a power that I could feel down to my bones.

The eyes vanished as the darkness swept over me, and everything went still.

****************

I woke with a start, the hammock swinging so wildly it nearly dumped me onto the floor. I grabbed for the porch railing, steadying myself while I waited for my heart to slow down and sink out of my throat. I breathed deeply and slowly, timing my breaths with the white noise of the waves rolling over the beach below me, the roof of the porch keeping me shaded and cool, blocking out the worst of the afternoon sun.

You'd think after having the same dream for so many years, I'd eventually get to a point where it wouldn't bother me anymore. Too bad I just didn't seem to be there yet. If anything, it seemed like it was getting even further away. I mean, that?s the second time I?ve had that nightmare today.

After another night's sleep interrupted by the joys of childhood trauma, and most of the day running on frustration and caffeine, I thought I?d try to take a nap out here, in one of my favorite spots in the house. I looked down at my watch. Wonderful. I hadn?t even managed to sleep a full twenty minutes. Seriously, is a little rest too much for a guy to ask?

If things kept going like this I was in for another rough night. I needed to clear my head. I went inside, the floorboards of the porch creaking under my feet. After changing into my swimsuit, I grabbed my goggles and headed downstairs.

Outside, the salty air blowing in off the ocean covered up most of the chlorine smell coming from the pool. As I stepped out into the summer heat, the paving stones around the pool were so hot I could see the air around them shimmering in the heat.

I slipped on my goggles and dove in, the brutal heat falling away as I was surrounded by the cool quiet of the water. My arms and legs pumped as I moved down the length of the pool. Reaching the end of the pool, I flipped and pushed off the wall.

Like it always did when I swam, I could feel my mind clearing. By now, the steady rhythm of strokes and kicks was automatic. I didn't have to think about what I was doing. I just did it.

When I finally stopped to catch my breath, I hung onto the side of the pool, dropping my goggles to hang around my neck. I felt much better, and the familiar burning ache in my muscles meant I should be in for a good night's sleep.

I'd wanted to shake loose what was left of my nightmare and clear my head. As I glanced down at my watch, I realized it had definitely worked. My mind was nice and empty. So empty in fact, that I hadn't bothered to keep track of the time. I was supposed to meet everyone for dinner.

Ten minutes ago.

Oops.

And so, five minutes later, dried and dressed, there I was, once again, running through town like a madman.

 Oh, who am I? My name's Zane. Zane Grimm.  Nice to meet you. Now if you'll please excuse me, right now I'm running very, very late.

I slowed to a walk when I finally reached Main Street, joining the crowds out celebrating the end of the week and the beautiful weather. We'd finally had a break in the heat. It was one of those rare summer days where you could go outside without feeling like you were trying to breathe hot soup.

All along the street, shops had thrown their doors and windows open wide to enjoy the ocean breeze and the break in the heat as the sun sank toward the horizon. Every building was painted in bright colors, cheerful and inviting, but a little weathered at the same time, in that way only a beach town can seem to pull off.

Welcome to Crystal City. Our own little island paradise off the North Carolina coast. Where the air is warm, the water is clear, and there's magic in the air. And no, that is not a figure of speech. There is actual magic in this air.

And I should know. Because I have magic, too.

You see, I'm going to be a mage.

That's right. I'm a magical, spellcasting, pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat, mage. Though to be fair, that trick is so old mundanes can do it.

Mundanes are what we call people that can't use magic. Some of the older crowd still just call them mortals. Trust me, I don't mean it as an insult to anybody, but around here sooner or later you start to think in those terms. But wait, it gets better.

You know all those old stories you hear as a kid, at school and in movies? Horus, Thor, Zeus? All real. Myths and Monsters? Real. Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White? All real. Fairy godmothers? They're real, too. And I would know, since I've even met a few.

If any of this seems a bit strange to you, that's normal. Give it some time, and you'll get used to it. We all do. But just you wait. Around here, things like this are just the tip of the weirdness iceberg.

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I made my way down Main Street, the warm ocean breeze carrying sounds from the nearby boardwalk and the scattered calls of gulls. No matter where you go, you're never far from the ocean. And even if you manage to find a spot where you can't see it, the salty smell never totally goes away.

It's one of my favorite things about living here. If I really listened, I could still hear the roar of the surf over all the hustle and bustle of town.

It was calm. It was peaceful.

I should have known it was never going to last.

I had just crossed the street when I got hit by what felt like a furry wrecking ball. I couldn't see anything but a wall of shaggy black fur as the behemoth of a dog jumped up and tried to lick at my face. I held him off as much as I could, but man, that dog was heavy.

``Dante!'' I gasped, ``Come on boy, you know you're too big for me to hold you anymore!''

Dante dropped off me, tongue hanging out and tail wagging as I scratched behind his ears.

As people walked by, they gave him plenty of space. Don't get me wrong, nobody in town is scared of Dante. He may look like a wolf and be big enough he could probably take down a bear, but he's a big softie. Problem is, he's so strong that anybody he hit with that long tail of his would run the risk of going flying into traffic.

``Dog-zilla's just happy to see you.''

A girl stood in front of me, hands on her hips and a small grin on her face.

``You're late,'' she said.

Kora Winchester. She's got a figure that would make Wonder Woman jealous. Her blonde hair was pulled back into its usual ponytail, and her outfit seemed to have been chosen to show off as much of her arms and legs as possible. While I don't speak for everyone, I was certainly appreciating her fashion sense. If you ever tell her I said that, I'll deny it.

What? I'm not staring. I'm a guy. I notice.

``A mage is never late, nor is he early,'' I said in my most serious voice.

Kora held up her hand. ``Okay, you can just stop right there,'' she said. ``For what has to be the thousandth time, you can't use that excuse.''

``Give me one good reason why not.''

``Because you,'' she said, lightly jabbing a finger into my chest, ``are not Gandalf.''

I clutched my hand to my chest, ``Saying something so hurtful on my birthday. How will I ever cope?''

If Kora's eyes had rolled any harder, they'd have popped out of her head and taken off down the street.

``I'm sure you'll survive.'' She turned and walked down the street, gesturing for me to follow. ``Come on,'' she said. ``Everybody else is waiting.''

Kora and I fell into step behind Dante as we made our way through town, the mountain of fur making a sizable gap for us as we made our way through the growing crowd. After a few more minutes of walking, our destination came into view.

The three-story building was set further back than the others, separated from the street by a low, intricately woven iron fence. A break in the fence was marked by a large arch. At the top of the arch rested a thin slab of dark stone.

On top of the stone sat a statue of a dragon, talons clutching the slab, its wings outstretched, its tail curling down to hook under the base of the sign, the tip pointed out toward the street.

This statue is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The scales were forged from gold and bronze, and when light hit the dragon, I could swear it was flexing its metal muscles. The eyes, carved sapphires, seemed to follow you as you moved. A fire burned in its open mouth, illuminating the silver words set into the stone  -  Dragon's Roost.

This restaurant is, without a doubt, the single most popular place in all of Crystal City. Solidly built out of wood and brick, the front of the restaurant was just as colorful as all the others on Main Street. The white eaves and trim created a stark contrast to the deep red paint covering the rest of the building.

A spacious lawn filled the space in front of the building. Bushes of bright hibiscus flowers grew beneath the windows of the restaurant, their sweet scent mixing with the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen.

Tables were scattered around the front lawn, and most of them were filled with people. And from what I could hear, it sounded like the ocean-front patio around back was already full, too.

As Kora and I moved across the lawn, I smiled and felt there was a bit more bounce in my step when I saw who was waiting for us. Next to the front doors was my best friend, Jason Stark.

Jason was probably the one that sent Kora to come find me. His amber eyes focused on his hands as they were fidgeting with a small towel covered in blue stains. It looked like he was muttering something to himself as he kept smoothing out his clothes, and his tail kept twitching as he paced back and forth beside the doors.

Oh, the tail? Yeah, about that. There's something you should know about Jason. See, he's not exactly what you'd call...human.

Jason is a werewolf, like his father. We're about the same height, but I guess technically he's taller if you count the ears. His fur is a shining silver-gray, fading to white beneath his mouth and down his neck.

Jason straightened up, and a smile spread across his face when he saw us.

``Good, you found him,'' he said with a grin. ``Was starting to wonder if you were coming at all. It'd be a shame for all this work to go to waste.''

``Please,'' I said as we bumped fists, ``what kind of idiot would miss his own dinner? Not one word.''

Kora, who I'm sure was about to make some snide comment, closed her mouth.

``What were you doing anyway?'' asked Jason

``I was working out a problem,'' I said.

``Are you sure you don't just mean working out?'' said Jason. ``You know I can still smell the chlorine, right?''

Busted.

Thinking quickly, I said, ``Well, can you blame me? If I don't burn off some calories before I come here for dinner, I'll get all flabby.''

I hated not telling my friends the real reason I'd been swimming. Sure, they knew about what happened back then, but most of the town didn't, and I definitely didn't want to discuss it in such a public place.

Jason just rolled his eyes. ``Oh, please,'' he said, ``You couldn't look bad if you tried.'' Jason froze. ``Uh, I-I mean... um...''

``Come on, let's get inside,'' Kora said, pulling the door open. ``Don't want to keep everybody waiting.''

Kora went inside, pulling Jason in after her.

Just before the door swung shut, I heard Jason say, ``Oh my god, did I really just say that?''

The owners wouldn't mind if I brought Dante inside, but it was so crowded there just wasn't enough space. Instead, he flopped down in the grass, tail wagging as one of the kids sitting nearby started tossing him bits of fries when his parents weren't looking.

I opened the door, the low din of voices and the clinking of silverware spilled out onto the lawn. If you join me for dinner, I'll introduce you to the most popular person in town: a six-hundred-year-old French guy.

Hey, it's like I told you. Everywhere you look in Crystal City, things get curiouser and curiouser.

Welcome to my world.
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