"Who are you and what are you doing in our land?"

Wilson struggled as he stared at the man holding onto him. He was terrified as they flew higher into the sky… and judging from the furious look the man had, Wilson guessed he would be capable of dropping him to his death and not feel bad about it.

The man gave Wilson a light shake when he didn't answer right away

"AH!" Wilson shook his head. "My-My name is Wilson Higgsbury, I'm-I'm a settler here. Please, don't do anything to me!" He looked down, feeling his stomach drop as he calculated how high up they were.

If he drops me I'm going to die for sure.

"A settler?" The man asked. "From where?"

"T-The Shadow World." Wilson narrowed his eyes. "I swear I'm not out to cause harm, I was scouting. I didn't know there was other people here." Or bird… men… THINGS.

"The Constant?" the man asked. "You came from The Constant?"

"If by "The Constant" you mean Shadow World then yes! Just please don't kill me!"

The man stared at him for another moment, processing what Wilson had said before flying back down to the ground to where Chester was, setting Wilson down before landing in front of him, crossing his arms.

"I don't recall me or my team bringing you and your other people in. Were you the one who reactivated the portal?"

"I helped construct the gateway from the other side but yes." Wilson admitted, trying to catch his breath, leaning against a tree. "And what do you mean by team?"

The man looked to the mountains, his wings moving as the breeze picked up.

"I'm not the only native to The Haven."

The Haven...?

"Look, I was looking for something because some kind of creature invaded our village last night and startled us."

"And what would you have done if you had found it?"

Wilson sighed.

"If it was docile I would've left it be, maybe lead it away with food. If it had been hostile I would've defended myself and my comrades. That's survival."

"And understandable but you went too far in your search."

Wilson sighed.

"I apologize." He looked the man over, reaching into his backpack as he took out the feather, holding it up as he looked specifically at the man's large wings.

It was a perfect match.

The man smirked a little.

"Find what you were looking for?"

"I… You were?" Wilson growled a little. "Why!? We aren't harming the land nor doing anything to it!"

"I have my own business here as well. I wanted to be sure you weren't out to harm my people either. Just like you were scouting so was I… and I was looking for something myself."

Wilson sighed.

"Just please… I don't want any trouble honest."

"And you have no interest in the natives here?"

"I promise. I mean it."

"Very well then."

Wilson sighed in relief.

"We just… want peace and a place to call home. That's all we ask."

"I see." The man looked him over carefully. "Well… you've come to the right place. The Haven is meant for that."

"Do they both have specific names or was it something you created?"

"The Haven has had its own name for quite some time. The Constant also has had that name for a long time but it has other names as well, such as The Shadow World."

"I… I don't understand. Okay, I guess first thing is first, who are you?"

The man gave a bow, spreading his wings widely.

"King Sabra, the ruler of the land alongside Queen Chione."

Wilson's eyes widened before he bowed himself.

"A-Ah my apologies, Your Highness."

Sabra grinned.

"No need. You didn't know. I'm just amazed to see a human here whom I didn't bring in from The Constant."

Wilson chuckled.

"Well, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance sir." He replied. "I didn't know you could travel there though… What purpose is it to you?"

"To rescue." Sabra gave a gentle look. "Least, that's my own self designated duty. Many fall into despair when in The Constant and on Earth or any dimension for that matter. It my duty alongside my team to rescue those who have lost hope. To help them find peace in their troubled lives. I bring them here so they may heal and find solace."

"That's incredible… So that explains why we haven't really found many other survivors." Wilson hummed in thought. "That's incredible."

"And it ensures no one is trapped there as a spirit if I can avoid it."

"And do all who come here…" Wilson was staring at his wings and noted the man also had pointed ears.

Sabra chuckled.

"The new attributes are an option."

Wilson heaved a sigh of relief putting a hand over his heart.

"Oh, thank goodness! Em no offense, I just don't think I'd want them myself."

Sabra smirked.

"Understandable. Though, keep in mind - I've been doing this for a very long time. So, it was just natural to happen."

"I see…" Wilson ran a hand through his hair. "I have so many questions… Just… The Constant… I never even heard Grandmother mention that name. You and… your people… I… I don't even know where to start."

Sabra hummed in thought before glancing to his wings.

"Pick up your mutt."

"Eh?"

"I said, pick up your mutt."

Wilson raised an eyebrow before doing so.

"Why-"

Before Wilson could finish, Sabra grabbed him, bringing him up into the air again. Wilson did his best not to scream again but couldn't help but yelp as they ascended into the air.

"W-Where are you taking me?"

"Over the mountains." Sabra grinned. "I think the best place to start would be my home."

Wilson held tightly to Chester, not daring to look down for a few moments before he decided to glance, his eyes widening at the sight below.

Below him was what he could only describe as something he only saw in books. A kingdom with architecture reminiscent of Ancient Egypt, yet unique and upgraded in its own way.

"Welcome to Senen." Sabra smiled. "My humble kingdom."

"It's… wow." Wilson breathed amazed. A grin came to his face as he looked around. "This is incredible! It's a mix of old and new, it's like something out of a story!"

"That's what I've heard some of the little ones here call it."

They soon landed in a courtyard. Wilson looked around, seeing others like him with no pointed ears or wings and some like Sabra who did have wings and pointed ears going about their day. Be it socializing or getting chores done.

"Everyone you see here is either from The Constant or Earth or some other dimension. All had one thing in common and that was wanting to find peace amongst all the despair they were in."

"Goodness, so many people." Wilson murmured, frowning a bit. "So many who were suffering.."

"But suffer no longer. They knew what they accepted when they decided to come here. All take care of each other here."

"Just like we do."

"Sabra! You're home!"

Sabra smiled as a woman older than him who beared some resemblance to the man came running over to him, hugging him.

"Indeed I am, Mother." He hugged her back before gesturing over to Wilson. "And I brought with me a neighbor."

"Neighbor?" The woman looked to Wilson, surprise in her eyes. "What do you mean by neighbor?"

"As in, I found him here along with many others. Mother, the portal to The Constant has been reopened."

The woman's eyes went wide.

"Then what Rune said is true. There's a new ruler on the throne in Maxwell's place."

Wilson gave a bow.

"The ruler is my grandmother, Melinda Wickerbottom. I'm her grandson, Wilson Percival Higgsbury."

She smiled, giving a bow of her own.

"Queen Chione. Goodness, I didn't think someone would get Maxwell off the throne."

"Eheh… It happened."

"Well… I am both sad yet relieved someone did the deed." Chione looked him over. "So if you're the grandson of the current ruler, that would make you a prince. Looks like someone is on the same level as you, Sabra."

"Would seem so, even if I do go by king." Sabra smiled. "Regardless of titles, he and his people have a village set up on the other side of the mountain. That was what I found the night before. So, no harm has come to our world. Just new residents."

"Thank goodness." Chione sighed in relief. "I was worried Maxwell's old friend may have found a way in."

"Old friend?" Wilson titled his head.

"Well… maybe I shouldn't say that. He was never a friend. If anything he was one of the reasons Maxwell spiraled into insanity."

"Poor Uncle." Sabra frowned. "He didn't deserve that."

Wilson's eyes widened in shock.

"UNCLE!?" He pointed at Sabra. "YOU'RE RELATED TO THAT DEMON KING?!"

Sabra was taken aback before laughing.

"Oh no no no no. Adopted uncle. He was part of my father's court in Egypt and I was generally very close with the priests. He was the one I was closest with though since my father trusted him so much."

"Not to mention thanks to him Aharon didn't have a breakdown when you were born."

"Oh yes I remember the story." Sabra grinned, making a face similar to Maxwell's. "And then he said "After all I've seen tonight, I never want to deal with that much blood ever again." Ah… The one time blood made him squirm."

Chione laughed.

"I shared his sentiment!"

Wilson still had an expression of shock on his face.

Maxwell had FRIENDS who trusted him with their child? Enough that he was there when said child was born?

Oh stars and atoms I feel like everything I knew was wrong.

Chione and Sabra looked to him, amused expressions on their face.

"We understand your confusion about Maxwell and we'll make this clear: What he has done for the past centuries was not excusable by any means but we will tell you this, despite all that he has done, we still care about him." Sabra's look turned serious. "But we do not want contention between us and your people or whoever else is out there. We just want to make things right."

Wilson shook his head, taking a deep breath.

"And while I'm still processing all of this, I don't wish to have trouble either. I would love to have allies in this world. It would certainly help."

"And we welcome those who don't bring trouble."

Wilson looked to Chione.

"Though, was the ambush entirely necessary?"

Chione looked at Sabra and smacked his arm lightly.

"You little mischief maker!"

"What? It was the best way to ensure he didn't use his weapon!"

"I swear, you're as bad Maxwell was back in the day combined with your father."

"Well hey, they were major influences on my life." Sabra shook his head. "Anyways, we got a lot to talk about Prince Wilson."

Wilson grinned sheepishly.

"Please, just Wilson, no titles needed. I may be a prince but I'd rather not use the title."

"Understandable. Shall we?"

"Y-Yes."

This world just keeps surprising me.