THE MOMENT
It'd been a while since Kelly had seen so many people in one location. And, she still hadn't passed the security gate yet. She was trying to keep her focus, but the crowded terminal was worlds apart from the quiet forest she'd spent the last three months in.
At least lines were simple. All she had to do was wait her turn as everyone in front of her was welcomed one by one. She tried to ignore the constant murmur of civilization as she kept her attention forward.
For three months, she adventured through another world. She met knights, Princesses, Kings, and dragons. She'd even picked up a few spells. Kelly didn't have any special talent for magic, but she learned enough to get by with magical scrolls that anyone could use. As she was reminiscing on the alternate world she left behind she noticed a sudden commotion from the front of the line.
Several security guards appeared, then, an oversized, orange-yellow fireball flew up and ignited safely above everyone's heads. She knew enough to identify that the spell had more or less been defused. It's size and color gave away how weak it was. However, she was impressed everyone else seemed to know that too.
She shouldn't have been surprised, everyone arrived from the same world she did. But, it was interesting that no one reacted to the fireball.
“It's always someone…,” a stranger behind Kelly commented with a chuckle.
“Sorry? What's always someone?” Kelly turned to ask. It was a young woman with dark hair. She still wasn't eager to socialize, but something about the idle comment caught her attention.
“Magic,” the stranger grinned with a shake of her head. “There's always some yahoo trying to smuggle magic to this Earth.”
“Smuggle?” Kelly asked.
“It's not allowed,” the stranger nodded. “First time on this Earth?”
“No, I'm from here…,” Kelly shook her head. “I didn't know magic wasn't allowed. But, I left as soon as we got the AlterNet.”
“It's a good idea to check server info whenever you're going to a different Earth. Even if you've been there before, things are always changing.”
“Thank you,” Kelly nodded. “I guess I'm still kind of new.” She sighed as she looked past the stranger at the back of the line. It ended at a black portal that she'd come through with a line on the other side waiting to come through.
“You okay?” The stranger asked.
“Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out if I want to go back and start all over again…,” she answered.
“Go back? Why?”
“Ehhh…,” her shoulders slouched in defeat. “...I didn't know about the ban and I've got some scrolls. So, I guess I inadvertently brought magic with me to this Earth and it feels like a waste to have security dispose of it.”