Chapter Text
“So interesting! I haven’t seen anything like this. Can I try?” Bellara held the mysterious construct in her hands, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. It was a recent discovery from the lighthouse—Harding had found it tucked inside a dusty chest while searching the library for a book. The artifact was cool to the touch, with a faint purple glow emanating from its edges. She had brought it to Bellara, who had been deep into a theoretical discussion about the Fade with Emmrich.
“Careful, dear Bellara. Something so unknown should be treated with utmost caution!” Emmrich warned, his expression tight with unease. The elf’s constant fiddling made him visibly nervous.
Bellara waved off his concern, clearly enthralled by the artifact. But before she could continue her examination, the door flew open.
“I made paella. Does anybody want a plate?” Lucanis announced, stepping into the room.
The sudden entrance startled Bellara, who fumbled the artifact. It slipped from her hands, clattering onto the floor.
The three of them stared at Lucanis in disbelief.
“What?” he asked, nonchalantly holding up the platter of food.
Bellara quickly turned her attention back to the artifact. “Now then, let me just—”
The moment her fingers touched it, a burst of light filled the room, accompanied by a soft zooming sound. When the light faded, the room was empty, save for the faint shadows of where they had stood moments before.
The sound of waves crashing against rocks was the first thing Lucanis registered. The smell of salt and the faint cry of gulls followed, grounding him. His eyes opened slowly to a hazy horizon where sea met sky, both tinged with the colors of dusk.
Sand clung to his leather armor, cool yet coarse against his skin. He pushed himself up, glancing around. The others lay scattered on the beach, motionless but breathing. Spite, the ever-present weight in his mind, was oddly silent—his connection dulled yet not entirely severed.
“Lucanis?” A voice broke through the stillness. Deep, melodic, yet unfamiliar.
He turned sharply, hand already reaching for a dagger. A woman emerged from the waves, her dark hair plastered to her face, her steps purposeful yet hesitant. Her golden skin glistened in the fading sunlight, her figure silhouetted against the fiery sky.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief.
Lucanis didn’t lower his guard. “Who are you?”
Before the woman could answer, Harding stirred, coughing as she propped herself up. “Where… where are we?”
The woman sighed, wringing water from her hair as she stepped closer to shore. “You’re not supposed to be here,” she said, eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed the group. “I’m Maria. And this—” she gestured around her, the waves lapping at her feet—“this is Earth.”
Bellara sat up, brushing sand off her robes. “Earth?” she repeated skeptically. “That doesn’t explain why you know us—or how we got here.”
Maria tilted her head, studying Lucanis. “Does it matter right now? You’re not in danger, but you need to leave. This isn’t your world.”
Lucanis stepped forward, his dagger gleaming faintly in the twilight. “Not until we get answers.”
Maria’s lips twitched into a wry smile. “You think you can scare me, Crow?” Her movements were fluid as she sidestepped his advance, her hands empty but her stance poised. “You’re skilled, but I’ve dealt with worse.”
Lucanis lunged. She ducked, pivoting with practiced ease, her hand catching his wrist. With a twist, she disarmed him, tossing the dagger into the sand. “Enough,” she said firmly, stepping back to create distance.
Harding, now on her feet, glared at Maria. “You’re asking us to trust you when you clearly know more than you’re saying. Start talking.”
Maria exhaled, glancing toward the horizon where the sun was sinking. “Fine. I’ll explain. But not here.” She pointed to a metal object in the distance—a sleek, silvery carriage without horses. “My home is nearby. Follow me, and I’ll answer your questions.”
The ‘car,’ as Maria called it, was as alien to them as the world they now inhabited. Its smooth surfaces reflected the evening light, and its interior was filled with unfamiliar dials, levers, and glowing glyphs. Bellara couldn’t resist running her fingers along the dashboard, her eyes alight with curiosity.
“This is incredible,” she murmured. “What powers it? Lyrium? Enchantment?”
Maria chuckled, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Neither. It’s called a combustion engine. Runs on fuel.”
Lucanis sat stiffly in the passenger seat, his arms crossed. “This contraption does not feel safe.”
“It’s safer than it looks,” Maria assured him, leaning over to buckle his seatbelt. He stiffened at her proximity, earning a smirk from Harding. “Relax. Safety first.”
As the car began to move, the others gasped. The hum of the engine, the smoothness of the ride, and the sheer novelty of it all left them momentarily speechless. Maria pressed a button, and the roof of the car retracted, revealing a sky painted in hues of orange and pink.
“It’s… beautiful,” Emmrich murmured, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
Maria smiled. “Wait until you see the stars.”
Maria’s home was modest but inviting, nestled at the edge of a small coastal town. The scent of jasmine and salt filled the air as she led them inside. The walls were adorned with paintings—landscapes, seascapes, and a few portraits.
“This is where I live,” Maria said, gesturing to the dining room as she disappeared into the kitchen. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll fix you something to eat.”
Emmrich examined a painting of a young woman in a lavender gown. “Is this you?” he asked as Maria returned with a tray of glasses filled with cool water.
She nodded, a wistful smile on her lips. “That was my 18th birthday. The dreams started not long after that.”
“Dreams?” Bellara asked, intrigued. “What kind of dreams?”
Maria hesitated, her gaze drifting to the floor. “Dreams about Thedas. About all of you. I don’t know how or why, but… I feel connected to your world.”
Harding frowned. “Connected how?”
Maria placed a bowl of pasta on the table, her expression somber. “I don’t know how to explain it without sounding insane. But Rook and I… we share the same soul.”
The room fell silent.
“What?” Lucanis’s voice was low, almost a growl.
Maria met his gaze, her expression resolute. “It’s the truth. And Its why I can help you get home.”