Tales from the edge of reality

Pope, still dazed by the explosion he had just caused, breathed heavily as his eyes scanned the room. The corner where the beam of light struck was now a disaster: splinters of wood and shards of metal littered the floor. The silence felt heavy for a moment but was quickly broken when Hilda stood up with an expression of absolute shock on her face.

—What the hell was that?! —she repeated, a mixture of fear and anger in her voice—. What did you just do?

Pope could barely focus his vision, still not fully grasping what had happened. The light continued flickering in his hands, as if his body were about to lose control again. He stared at his hand, trying to recall how he had unleashed that beam, but everything was a blur. He hadn't felt any sense of control.

—I don't know... I... I didn't mean to... —he replied weakly, staring at his own hand, which still glowed with a faint white light.

Galia, who had been silent until then, approached cautiously, her hands raised as if trying to calm a wild animal.

—Hey, take it easy... —she said gently—. Maybe you should sit down. We can't help you if you keep... doing this.

—What's happening to me? —Pope murmured, slowly lowering his hand as the light began to fade—. I don't remember ever doing anything like this before.

Hilda shot to her feet, arms crossed, looking at Pope as if he were a bomb about to go off again.

—It's pretty obvious you're not ordinary —she snapped, pacing around the room—. And trust me, we don't have time to deal with people who can't control what they've got.

Pope tried to stand again, but a sharp pain in his side forced him to lie back down on the cot. The wound, though partially closed by stitches, still hurt as if a knife were twisting in him.

—Listen, I don't know what's happening to me —he said through gritted teeth, enduring the pain—. But I know I need to find my friends. Something's wrong, very wrong... and I don't have time to waste here.

Hilda let out a frustrated huff.

—Your friends? —she asked, clearly exasperated—. If you can't control yourself, you're only going to make things worse.

—Maybe we can help you —Galia interjected, giving her sister a reproachful look—. If you calm down, we can try to figure out what's happening to you. You're not the first person to show up here... injured... confused.

Pope looked at her with curiosity.

—What do you mean I'm not the first? —he asked, a spark of interest in his voice.

Galia hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to share more information, but eventually continued.

—This place... it's not just a farm. Here... we've come across people before, injured and with... strange abilities. Most of them were fugitives, people running from something. Some we never saw again after they left. We believe something bigger is happening in this territory.

—What do you mean, bigger? —Pope pressed, sensing that this conversation might give him a clue about his friends' whereabouts.

Hilda snorted again, impatient.

—Look, we don't have the answers you're looking for, but if you keep shooting beams of light every time you wake up, we won't last much longer here. This is not a safe place. Especially now, with the eastern patrols searching everywhere.

Galia gave her sister a serious look before turning back to Pope.

—Let us help you recover —she suggested more softly—. Maybe you can learn to control that energy before you end up killing us all.

Pope took a deep breath, still confused and distressed. He knew he couldn't stay long, but he also realized he was far from ready to move on alone. He looked at both women, thinking about what he had just seen in his mind: the visions of his friends, Dann's crystal blocked by that dark figure. Something—or someone—did not want him to find them.

"Where... exactly am I?"

Hilda looked at him with disdain. "In Kingsbury. Does that mean anything to you?"

"No. I don't know what that is."

"Kingsbury is one of the largest kingdoms in this region. It's caught in delicate alliances, like with the Wright Mountain Range, Coral Barrier City, and now they're negotiating with the Living Jungle. It's not just any place."

Hilda cut in with a sharp tone. "And ever since the stars fell, everything's turned upside down. One of those stars fell right here... you. Politics are in chaos, and people are getting nervous."

"And that's not all. Recently, the Wright Mountain Range announced they have an heir... when no one even knew there was one. But they haven't officially introduced him yet."

Pope absorbed this information, trying to piece together the puzzle. As he thought about his friends, he started noticing something strange. Around him, small waves seemed to emanate from the flickering lightbulb and the twins' voices.

Meanwhile, Hilda and Galia continued talking, their voices growing more tense.

Hilda spoke in a low, annoyed voice. "I don't know why we're helping him. We know nothing about him. All this fallen star stuff has put the kingdom in a delicate situation, and now, with Goldwater..."

"I know, I know. Since Goldwater disappeared from communications, everyone's on edge. There's no sign of Prince Frisk, Princess Chara, or King Don and Queen Gilda."

"And those reports from the spies... they said they saw Princess Chara's gunship take off from the hangar while under fire. And that beam..."

"Yes... a beam of dark energy fired from the city's main square. Something is very wrong there. If Goldwater has fallen, there could be severe consequences for the entire region."

Pope listened carefully while trying to focus on the waves he was seeing. He knew he had to stay alert and figure out what was happening. Although the information about Goldwater and the rumors of Chara's ship were troubling, what surprised him most was that he could see the sound waves when the twins spoke, and the light waves coming from the bulb.

He closed his eyes and raised his hand, pointing to the light bulb, "This is going to be usefull" he thought

....

Pope woke up the next day with a mix of curiosity and concern. Despite the wound in his side, which still hurt every time he took a deep breath, the surge of energy within him was undeniable. There was something he didn't fully understand, but what happened in the room the previous day made it clear that something was changing inside him. As he stepped out of the cabin, Galia and Hilda were already outside, waiting for him.

"I think I've discovered a bit more about what I can do," Pope began, walking towards the center of the field where he had been training the day before. "I'm not very sure, but it seems I can control light and sound waves. What happened yesterday was an accident, but there's something there, something I can feel."

The twins watched him cautiously, especially Galia, who crossed her arms.

"Whatever you do, just make sure not to destroy anything else," she said seriously. "Remember, you blew up part of the room's corner with that explosion. Before you leave, you'll need to fix that."

Pope smiled with a touch of guilt and nodded.

"I know. I won't leave without fixing it. It's the least I can do after almost blowing up half the place."

The second day was more challenging than Pope had expected. Despite focusing on stabilizing light and sound waves, control still slipped away at crucial moments. His still-fresh wound didn't help, constantly reminding him of his fragility each time he tried to concentrate on his powers. As he practiced, he emitted blinding flashes of light, and the sounds he generated became uncontrollable, bouncing off the walls and creating loud echoes.

Galia and Hilda observed from a safe distance but stayed attentive to his progress. Pope took a deep breath and allowed himself a moment to reflect.

"It's harder than it looks," he murmured while taking a break.

Hilda approached with a water bottle, her tone relaxed but empathetic.

"No one said it would be easy," she commented, handing him the bottle. "But you've made progress, even if it's small."

Pope took a sip and, while doing so, remembered something.

"I played on a basketball team near my house. I learned to be patient and consistent. I think this isn't very different. I met one of my closest friends on that team."

That thought brought a wave of worry to his mind. He remembered his friends, especially Floppa, whom he had met on that team when they were 17 and 16, respectively, a year before everything started. They had all been separated upon arriving in this strange world. He had to find them. His training wasn't just about controlling his powers but also reuniting with his group. He needed to plan.

On the third day, Pope continued training but also started participating more in household chores. Life on the farm, though simple, allowed him to keep his mind occupied with something other than his powers. Despite his wound, he offered to repair part of a broken fence and collected some eggs from the chicken coop. The twins watched him from the window, exchanging smiles.

In the evening, during dinner, the atmosphere was light, and Galia broke the silence.

"How's the training going?"

"Slow but steady," Pope replied between bites. "I still need to improve before trying anything big. And, of course, I have to make sure not to destroy anything else."

Hilda laughed.

"Well, at least you didn't break anything today."

Pope smiled, feeling grateful for those small moments of normalcy.

The fourth day brought small advances. Pope managed to emit a sound wave without it exploding or causing a disaster. The twins watched from a distance, and although he still struggled, his efforts were starting to pay off. Each day, his control improved, and though it was still rudimentary, Pope knew he was on the right track.

During a training break, Galia approached him and lightly tapped his shoulder.

"You know, despite everything, you're improving. Just try not to blow anything else up."

Pope laughed.

"Yeah, I think the worst is over... or so I hope."

Sunday arrived. Pope sat on the porch, staring at the horizon while reflecting on everything that had happened. The sun was setting, and the small oil lamps on the farm were already glowing. He could see some cows in the distance. Falling from the sky into a farm, with powers he barely understood... the whole situation felt ironic. He chuckled and murmured quietly,

"It's ironic, isn't it? I fell from the sky into a farm, I have powers, and I'm dangerous... If this were a comic, it would be like Superman."

Galia, passing by, heard him and approached curiously.

"Superman? Who's that?"

Pope straightened up and looked at her with a smile.

"Superman is a character from my world. He's a hero from a comic book. Like me, he fell from the sky onto a farm, but his powers are much more impressive than mine. The thing about Superman is that, despite being so powerful, he represents the best of what we can be. He's good, but not everyone accepts him. What's interesting about him is that, even though terrible things happen to him, he never turns bad. Superman symbolizes hope above all."

Galia looked intrigued.

"Why does he symbolize hope?"

Pope shrugged, reflecting.

"Because whenever he appears, no matter how bad things are, he's there to do the right thing. That's what Superman symbolizes. There's always something worth fighting for."

And so, the first week on that farm ended.

...

Three days later, Pope was in the field, the sun shining brightly as he focused on the waves emitted by the small transistor radio he had found in the house. Since he had begun training his powers, he had noticed that he could feel the sound waves around him, as if each vibration were a thread he could touch. His wound, although still visible, was almost healed, allowing him to push himself harder in his attempts to control his new abilities.

"It's amazing what I can feel," he murmured to himself, staring at the radio in his hands. He wondered what would happen if he tried to manipulate those waves. With a determined gesture, he began to concentrate, trying to redirect the vibrations emanating from the small device.

A slight hum filled the air, and Pope felt a kind of current inside him. As his hands moved, he noticed he could shape the sound wave into something that resembled what he imagined. However, he realized that his control wasn't as precise as he hoped, and the radio crackled before stabilizing.

"This is more complicated than it seems," he said, running a hand through his hair, frustrated but determined to keep trying.

Then an idea occurred to him. Raising his voice, he called out to Hilda, who was inside the house.

"Hilda! Could you turn on the radio inside?"

Hilda stepped onto the porch, one eyebrow raised, visibly confused.

"Why? What are you planning to do?"

"Trust me, please. I want to try something."

After a moment of hesitation, Hilda shrugged and went back inside. A few minutes later, the sound of the radio seeped through the window, a soft murmur of music filling the air. Pope felt the energy beginning to flow around him.

Focusing, he began to "redirect" the wave coming from the radio. With extra effort, he imagined himself as a conductor, guiding the sound waves in a specific direction, creating his own frequency. In doing so, he felt more connected to the environment, as if everything flowed through him.

"Hilda, can you try to find a strange frequency? Something different from what we're hearing."

Hilda, still a bit skeptical but intrigued, began turning the radio dial. After several failed attempts, she finally adjusted the frequency, and suddenly, a mix of static and clarity emerged. Pope closed his eyes, feeling his own frequency resonate with Hilda's.

"There!" she exclaimed. "I got it!"

As the sound stabilized, something surprising began to happen. Pope realized that, at the same time, his thoughts were being transmitted through the radio. They were fragments of his joy, his determination, and the idea that had been on his mind since arriving in this world.

"This is incredible!" he shouted, almost unable to contain his excitement. "Hilda, I think I can talk to my friends!"

Through the frequency, his voice resonated, full of hope and clarity. The words flowed easily, sharing his desire to reunite with them. The thought that if his friends still had radios, they could hear him filled him with energy.

"I'll send out a signal so strong that everyone who follows what they learned in the previous world should hear it!" Pope said, the glow in his eyes reflecting his enthusiasm.

"I can't believe it," Hilda replied, impressed by the skill he was showing. Pope continued adjusting his frequency, experimenting with different sound patterns, creating a message that would go beyond distance. He was anxious, almost nervous, but the excitement of being able to communicate with his group gave him the strength he needed.

"Soon, I'll be with them," he murmured. "I can't stay here forever."

The next morning, Pope woke up with the sun filtering through the curtains of the room. He sat up in bed, noticing that his side wound no longer hurt as much, though there was still slight discomfort. It was time to face the consequences of his explosive arrival at the farm.

After a light breakfast, he gathered his courage and headed to the corner of the room he had destroyed. The wood was splintered, and there were fragments of plaster scattered on the floor. Galia and Hilda entered, their worried looks mixed with a slight hint of expectation.

"Do you need help?" Galia asked, crossing her arms and watching the damage intently.

"No, I think I can do it," Pope replied, feeling that he needed to do this on his own. He rolled up his sleeves and began picking up the debris, his mind focused on the task. With each hammer strike and each nail he placed, he felt like he was closing a chapter of his life on the farm, but at the same time, he was ready to open another.

As he repaired the corner, he remembered the shared laughter at the table and the quiet moments. He wondered what the world outside the farm would be like.

"Remember the explosion?" Hilda said, breaking the silence as she watched Pope work. "It was impressive."

"Yeah, a little too much," he replied, smiling as he recalled his own surprise.

"The good thing is that now you know how to control it," Galia added, leaning forward with a gleam of pride in her eyes.

Finally, after a couple of hours, Pope finished the repair. He stepped back to inspect his work and nodded in satisfaction. The corner looked as good as new, and the act of rebuilding gave him a sense of accomplishment.

"Done," he announced, wiping his hands on his pants.

"Well done, Pope," Hilda said, smiling. "Now we only have two meals left before you leave."

That night, dinner was more abundant. The twins prepared hot soup and a fresh salad, while the aroma of sautéed vegetables filled the house. The three sat at the table, sharing laughter and anecdotes, savoring their last moment together.

"Better than school food," Pope joked, raising his bowl in an improvised toast.

"And healthier," Galia replied, laughing. The atmosphere grew a bit more serious when Hilda broke the silence.

"Do you feel ready?"

"I think so," Pope answered, though the truth was that anxiety was beginning to build.

Later that night, as Pope prepared to sleep, Galia and Hilda began packing a backpack for him. They had decided that, since Pope was about to face the unknown, he needed some gear.

"So, this is what we've prepared," Hilda said, pulling a katana out of the closet, which neither of them knew how to use. "We think this might help you."

"A katana?" Pope asked, looking at the weapon in awe. "This is amazing!"

"We found it in a closet," Galia said, smiling. "We don't know how to use it, but you probably know what to do with it."

In addition to the katana, they packed bottles of water, food, a first aid kit, and a map of Kingsbury and Desolea. They also included a handwritten letter, expressing their gratitude for his stay, his help, and their hope that he would return soon.

Finally, they added some money—no more than five Reyes—and the radio Pope had used to channel his powers.

"Remember, you have five Reyes in your backpack," Hilda said. "You can use them to buy whatever you need in Kingsbury. If you need more, you can always exchange them for mem-points when you leave the kingdom."

"Mem-points?" Pope asked, frowning.

"Yes, they're Desolea's standard currency," Galia explained. "They're useful if you come across something you want or need after leaving here. So, feel free to use them as you see fit."

"And this," Galia said, pulling out a white jacket with black and gold accents, along with denim pants and a blue scarf. "You can't leave without a bit of style."

Pope laughed as he examined the clothes.

"This is perfect. Thank you."

The twins finished packing and retired to their rooms. Pope stood staring at the backpack, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The decision to leave was taking shape, and although he was going to leave Galia and Hilda, he knew his journey was just beginning.

As he settled into bed, a smile crossed his face as he thought about what lay ahead. The night had fallen, but inside, hope shone brighter than ever.

. . .

The last morning at the farm began, sunlight filtering through the windows of the small dining room, where Pope sat at the table with the twins, Galia and Hilda. The aroma of freshly baked bread and strong coffee filled the air, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere. As breakfast progressed, the atmosphere grew more emotional.

"Pope, thank you for everything you did these past two weeks," Hilda said, as she filled her coffee cup. Her tone was sincere, and her eyes shone with gratitude.

"Yes, it's been amazing having you here," Galia added, smiling with a mix of nostalgia and joy. "Not just for the lessons, but for your company. We'll miss you."

"It was nothing. I'm glad I could help," he replied, eating a piece of bread with jam. "But, what happened while I was training?"

Galia exchanged glances with Hilda before speaking.

"Oh, many things happened. First, the heir of the Wright mountain range decided to send his diplomat in his place. The guy told the king that the prince doesn't want to show up yet because he wants to connect more with the people," Galia began, while Hilda nodded.

"Yes, the diplomat is a pretty... bulky guy," Hilda said, laughing a bit. "But the curious thing is that the prince is quite nervous, although he's interacting well with the people. He's the first royal member in a long time to get so close to the common folk. He also likes to read a lot."

"Really?" Pope asked, intrigued. The idea of a nervous prince who read books seemed curious to him. "Sounds interesting."

"And that's not all. According to the diplomat, the prince seems to have strange abilities too. He teleports and runs at super speed. Also, he has a strange interest in the Forest of Corruption," Galia said, looking at Pope with a mix of curiosity and wonder.

Pope frowned, recalling what he had heard about the Forest of Corruption and its toxicity.

"That sounds... very familiar," he thought to himself. That description of the prince resonated with his friend Floppa, who was also nervous and always curious about anything unusual, whether it was a strange plant or something else. However, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of Floppa fainting if he suddenly became royalty of the mountain range. "Although, it's hard to believe. Floppa would faint if he suddenly found himself turned into a prince."

Pope let out a small laugh.

"Poor bastard" he thought.

"Speaking of the city, there was a team of kids in Coral Barrier City who swept through the rankings in the fishbowl combat tournaments and the extermination rounds on the coast. The leader of that team is a very peculiar girl," Hilda continued, excited. "No one knows where she got a government sea cucumber and a 100-year-old charge rifle, but what matters is that she and her team are the champions."

"A charge rifle? Isn't that an ancient weapon?" Pope asked, raising an eyebrow. The idea of a girl using such a weapon seemed almost comical to him.

"Yes, but it seems to work," Galia assured. "The girl has a competitive air about her, and she manages to make everything work. It's amazing what they can achieve."

"It's great to know there are new champions, but it sounds a bit... unbalanced," Pope commented thoughtfully.

Hilda smiled.

"And then, in Lumia City, they've started broadcasting a strange new show. A boy, along with his friends and what seems to be a ghost, hosts a fun cooking show. It's ridiculous because they always get hurt or some disaster happens, but they always pull off the recipe."

"A ghost? What kind of show is that?" Pope asked, amused by the idea.

"I don't know exactly, but apparently, the boy who always cooks is chubby and, for some reason, always shows up dressed extravagantly," Galia said, stifling a laugh.

"That says a lot for Lumia City!" Hilda exclaimed, a comment that told Pope that place must be very strange.

The twins laughed, and Pope couldn't help but join in, imagining the scene.

"The other two boys are... peculiar," Hilda continued. "But that's what makes it fun. They manage to create all kinds of strange recipes, and people love it."

At that moment, Pope felt a sudden interest in learning more about those kids.

"Do you know who they are?" he asked, eating a bit faster, feeling he needed to know more about this new craze.

"Yes, one of them is a boy who seems a bit... odd. But I couldn't tell you much more, just that he's very energetic and always has a smile. The other one is a bit more serious," Galia said. "But why are you so interested?"

Pope frowned, remembering his first encounter with Jura and his behavior.

"I just have an idea of who they might be, and I'd like to know if I'm right," he replied, with a knowing smile.

After some more chatting and laughter, the twins began preparing to say goodbye to Pope.

"Before you go, I have something for you," Galia said, searching in a nearby drawer. She pulled out a gas mask and handed it to Pope. "It's in case you decide to go to the Wright Range."

Pope raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"A gas mask? Why?"

"Because the range has announced they're looking for eight individuals with special abilities. If you think you have them, you should go there," Galia explained, her expression serious. "However, you'll have to cross the Corruption Forest, which is so toxic and dangerous that you can't survive more than five minutes without a mask."

Pope felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing that. The idea of the Corruption Forest had always seemed terrifying to him.

"And what about the animals?" he asked, a bit worried.

"You'll have to be careful, especially with the chanchopoyos. They're quite aggressive," Hilda replied, smiling. "But if you follow the recommendations, you'll be fine."

Galia continued, her gaze serious.

"Also, at the top of the Kingsbury mountain barrier, there's an old antenna that no one uses anymore. You can use it to amplify your signal and reach your friends."

Pope nodded, feeling a bit more secure with the information they were giving him.

"Thank you, it really means a lot," he said, looking at the twins with gratitude.

Both approached to hug him. The hug was warm and full of emotion, and Pope felt a knot in his stomach.

"Safe travels! Come back soon!" they said in unison, smiling.

Pope pulled away and said his goodbyes, feeling he had formed valuable bonds in that short time. He headed for the exit, gas mask in one hand and backpack in the other.

After walking through the city for a while, crossing a bridge over which a train passed, Pope reached the outskirts of the city. Before him stretched a large river that wound its way to the horizon, where the majestic mountains Galia had mentioned stood.

He approached a shepherd standing next to his cart.

"Could you take me over there?" he asked, pointing to the mountains.

The shepherd looked at him and nodded.

"Sure, though I'll only go as far as the base of the mountains. I can't go any further," he said, settling into the cart.

Pope climbed into the back, holding his backpack in front of him, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

"Don't worry. The place I'm going is far beyond those mountains," the shepherd assured him.

As the cart moved forward, Pope gazed at the surrounding landscape. The city faded behind him, and a sense of adventure began to take shape within him. He knew he was stepping into the unknown, and that filled him with a strange excitement.

The journey promised to be long, and although the future was uncertain, Pope was determined to find his path, to discover what it truly meant to be part of this world full of surprises.