Chapter 4
It was getting dark in the Hinterlands. So much so, that sight was starting to become an issue - not much in the way of roadside lighting was to be found where Rena and Midas were at. A spell would need to be cast.
"So," Midas wondered," How far off is Ashton from here, anyway?"
"Oh, he should be right around that bend," Rena assured. "I think so, anyway."
"You're not even certain?" Midas grew annoyed.
"Well it's tough to be certain about ANYTHING, really." Rena had a point.
Suddenly, a flash of light filled the air. A scream from above, a tumble later, a big OOF and a fall broken by Rena and Midas.
"WELCH!?" they both exclaimed.
"I know I know what's next - 'what are you doing here' you'll ask." Welch was feeling as snarky as ever. "I'm just glad you remember me - makes things easier."
"Yes, but could you please GET OFF OF US?" Midas wouldn't ask a second time.
Welch got up and dusted herself off. "Listen, strange stuff is happening here, OK? ANd it's time I let you guys in on MY secret - I too am from another world. But it gets trickier than that."
"How so?" Rena asked.
"I'm from, how should I put this, the next plane of existence up. You know how a drawing is 2D, right?"
"Yes." Midas wondered what she was getting at.
"And this is 3D, right? I'm from... well, 4D, the 4th Dimension. This existence - the whole Universe - resides in it like a drawing is an existence within this one!"
"So you're saying, this plane of existence is like a drawing to some people?" Midas was catching on.
"Yes! And like a drawing, things can be altered, modified. But it's a bit more than that, of course. There is a certain way things are supposed to be - the canon."
"That would explain the lapses in... everything!" Rena concluded. "Why our memories seem hazy at times, why I feel overly certain about some things and perplexed by others I thought were always the way they were."
"And that would explain YOU, Welch," Midas said smugly.
"Anyway," Welch added, "Ashton isn't here. But I can 'fast-travel' us to the Calnus - it's a crashed spaceship to the West, it's a town now and he's there!"
"Fast-travel, what?" Rena wondered.
"It's a thing we do for you, but you usually don't realize." Welch admitted.
"If we have you with all you seem to know," Midas reasoned, "Then why do we need Ashton?"
"Simple" Welch coyly stated. "He's the next objective, and Calnus is the next marked town to do stuff in.
"I'm sure that means something," Rena acquiesced. "Alright, let's do it - I trust you!"
"Great!" Welch stated. And with that, they were gone in a poof.