Time seemed to slow around me as I panicked. I looked down and saw the light moving down my body towards my hands, pooling into my palms. Before I knew what was happening, the energy took the form of a one-handed sword and a shield.

I didn't exactly have time to think. The demon was almost upon me! I swung with all my might with the shield, knocking the thing back and stabbing forward with the sword. I felt the sword dig into the demon's flesh, and I didn't dare look. I just kept stabbing over and over, yelling something along the lines of "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU CREEPY SON OF A BITCH!"

The demon screamed as it fell to the ground and seemed to sink into the ice, then it vanished. I was shaking, my knuckles white on the hilt of the sword.

I looked over at Cassandra as she approached me, her sword extended. "Drop your weapon," she growled, "Now!"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. As I did, I noticed the weapon and shield starting to disappear. They dissolved back into the energy they were before and returned to my body.

"What the…?!" Cassandra sputtered. "Don't ask, I don't know," I said with a shaky breath, "I was attacked by that demon and they appeared in my hands." I raised my hands up in surrender. "C-could you put your weapon away? I'm not going to attack you."

Cassandra eyed me warily, then sheathed her sword. "Let us hope you can bring your weapon back," she stated with a sigh, "it seems I cannot protect you, and you shouldn't be defenseless."

I nodded, too terrified to answer. I followed Cassandra as she continued walking. "I should remember you didn't run," she stated. "Like I'd get far if I tried," I half-joked with a chuckle.

We continued in silence. I was staring at my hands. What the hell is happening to me?

After a while, I finally spoke. "Where are all your soldiers?" I asked Cassandra. "They are at the forward camp, or fighting," she replied, "we are on our own, for now."

Lovely.

I looked back down at my hands as we continued walking. They were glowing with that odd light, as if ready to take form again. "…it's so strange," I stated, "Magic doesn't - well shouldn't - exist in my world. This makes me wonder, now."

"Make it didn't show because you had no need for it," Cassandra theorized. "Perhaps," I replied with a sigh.

We continued on in silence. I tried to concentrate on forming the sword and shield in my hands again, but the light wouldn't move. At all.

"Up these stairs," Cassandra said, pointing, "the others are fighting up there."

"What others?" I asked, starting to ascend with Cassandra following. "You'll see soon," she replied, "we must help them."

I turned the corner and stopped in my tracks. Before me lay the most bizarre scene I had ever had the fortune to witness. There were three demons fighting a group of soldiers of several different races, including a man with pointed ears - an elf - wielding a staff and attacking with bolts of energy, and a dwarf with a strange crossbow. But that wasn't the strangest part. The strangest part was what looked like a cluster of green crystals floating in the air.

Cassandra launched past me, pulling out her sword. Oh right. I should help… but… I looked down at my hands. How did I manage to summon that weapon before?

I looked up with a sigh. The demons were already almost dead. As the dwarf shot the last one to death, I approached them cautiously. The green cluster suddenly exploded, and I felt a strange energy flow out of the resulting portal.

Before I would process what was happening, the elven man grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the portal. "Quickly," he yelled, "before more come through!" He pointed the hand with the green mark at the portal. I felt the strange energy ball into my hand and burn, as a stream of light shot out and hit the rift. My hold arm felt like it was burning, but I didn't scream. I just gritted my teeth and waited for it to end.

Two seconds later, the portal exploded and vanished, along with the strange energy I was feeling. I looked at the elf. "What just happened?" I asked, rubbing my sore hand. The pain had vanished, for the most part, when the rift closed.

"I did nothing," he replied, "the credit is yours." I looked down at the green mark in my hand.

"…at least this is good for something," I murmured.

"Whatever caused the breach in the sky also placed that mark on your hand," the elf continued, "I theorized that the mark could close the rifts that were opened in the Breach's wake - and it seems I was correct."

"Meaning it could also close the Breach itself," Cassandra added thoughtfully."Good to know!" a cheerful voice said, "And here I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever."

I turned around to see the dwarf with the crossbow approach. "Varric Tethras," he introduced himself with a charming smile, "rouge, storyteller, and occasionally, unwelcome tag along." He winked at Cassandra, making her grimace.

"That's a nice crossbow you've got there, Varric," I said with a genuine smile. Something about this dwarf put me at ease. "Isn't she?" he beamed with pride, "Bianca and I have been through a lot together." He gazed at the crossbow with an expression you'd only give a lover. "You named your crossbow Bianca?" I asked with a small laugh. "Of course," Varric replied, "and she will be great help in the valley."

"Absolutely not," Cassandra growled, then sighed, "your help is appreciated, Varric, but-"

"Have you been in the valley lately, Seeker?" Varric cut her off, "Your soldiers aren't in control anymore. You need me." He flashed another charming smile at her. Cassandra grunted and turned away from him.

"My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions," the elf stated, "I am pleased to see you still live.""He means, 'I kept the mark from killing you while you slept'," Varric helpfully informed me."Then I owe you my thanks," I directed at Solas, "and my name is Kristine."

"You can thank me if we manage to close the Breach without killing you in the process, Kristine," the elf smiled, then turned to Cassandra. "You should know, Cassandra, the magic at use here is unlike any I have ever seen."

"Understood," Cassandra sighed, "we should get to the forward camp quickly."

Solas nodded, following Cassandra towards what I assumed was the valley.

"Well," Varric said next to me, "Bianca's excited!" He then followed the other two.

Smiling, I followed Varric. Maybe getting stuck in this weird magical world wouldn't be so bad after all.