Reiko looked at Riku with watery eyes.
"But she didn't do anything wrong! I was the one who brought her here…"
Riku's expression hardened. "Reiko, it's dangerous to trust strangers. You could be easily fooled — especially if they hide bad intentions."
A shadow flickered in his gaze — a memory that still haunted him.
In his mind, Riku saw the scene clearly: a shape-shifter who had taken the form of his long-lost sister. He had believed her. Trusted her. And in that moment of weakness, the thief stole the Amulet of Rage — the very heirloom his late father had left behind.
That wound had never healed. Trust was no longer easy for him.
"But Shaira looks harmless! I can sense it — she means no harm." Reiko's voice was small, pleading — but Riku remained unmoved.
"You are too naive," he muttered. "This world does not forgive fools."
---
Meanwhile, in the dim corridors beneath the Chief's house, Shaira was being escorted to the underground cells.
Oddly, the place reminded her of her own slum back on Earth — narrow stone walls, damp air — but there was one difference. Here, strange blue orbs floated along the ceiling, casting soft, magical light.
As the guards led her through the twisting path, Shaira glanced down — and froze.
Her old belt bag — the one she used for scavenging back home — was strapped to her waist again.
"...Huh?" she muttered. I didn't have this with me when I came here… did I?
She fumbled through it quickly — but the journal and Glyph Codex she'd brought from the library were missing. All that remained was an empty pouch.
She took a deep breath.
Think. Think. What did I say before I got here…?
Her mind flashed back:
"Teleport me to the Majico World."
In desperation, she whispered again:
"Teleport me to the Majico World."
Nothing happened.
The guards exchanged puzzled glances.
"She's muttering nonsense," one said. "Maybe she's crazy."
"She is in Majico World already," another chuckled.
---
They reached the holding cells — small stone rooms lined with glowing blue bars that shimmered with faint, humming magic.
"This is your cell," a guard said flatly.
"W-why are the bars glowing?" Shaira asked, her voice tight with fear.
"It's a containment spell. Touch them, and you'll burn. Try to escape — and it'll hurt far worse."
"But why?!" she cried. "Why are you locking me up? I haven't done anything wrong!"
"We follow the Chief's orders," the guard replied simply, shoving the door closed.
With a dull thunk, the latch clicked.
---
Now alone, Shaira pressed her back to the cold wall.
The room was small — barely wide enough for her to lie down. The floor was smooth stone. The glowing bars flickered softly, casting shadows that seemed to dance with her unease.
Her heart still pounded.
How… how did I get here? And why was that Codex so important to them?
Instinctively, her hand reached again for the empty pouch. No Codex. No journal.
She sighed. "Great… stuck in some magic world with no way back."
Or so she thought.
Because right then — something odd happened.
She heard a faint pop sound beside her. Turning, she blinked in surprise.
Her old scavenger's black collection bag — the one she used daily in the slums — was now sitting neatly against the wall.
Wait… how is that here? I didn't bring that—
Her pulse quickened.
No… did I… transfer it here?
---
She hesitantly opened the bag. Inside were familiar scraps:
A crumpled newspaper
A glass bottle
Some stale bread she'd picked up that morning
Even an old lighter
Shaira's breath caught.
This stuff… came from Earth. I didn't have it when I got here — it wasn't on me… but now it's here.
Could she have… brought these things from one world to another?
Her mind whirled. Was this her power?
"...I can transfer things… between worlds?" she whispered.
---
At that moment, a soft voice came from across the hall.
"You… are not from this land, are you?"
Shaira turned sharply.
Across the corridor, in another dim cell, sat an older figure — a woman draped in faded robes. Her long silver hair shimmered faintly in the magical light, and her eyes gleamed with quiet wisdom.
"W-who are you?" Shaira asked, wary.
"A prisoner, like you," the woman replied softly. "Call me Mira."
The woman studied her carefully. "You… you carry the scent of another realm. A mortal… from the other world."
Shaira hesitated.
"You… you know about my world?"
Mira nodded. "Long ago, many mortals crossed here… but that gate was sealed. Now, only one thing could draw a mortal to Majico — the Codex Glypharum."
"The Codex?" Shaira blinked. "That old book? But I just found it in a library trash pile…"
Mira smiled faintly. "The Codex chooses its bearer. You were not chosen by accident."
---
As the hours passed, Shaira shared her story — how she had found the book, read the strange phrase, and awoke here.
Mira listened patiently, then said:
"You may not realize it… but you already hold a great power. You brought items from your world into this one. That magic — the power of transfer — is forbidden here."
Shaira swallowed hard. "So… that's why they locked me up?"
"Perhaps. But also… because of fear. The last person to wield such power was an Etoile — a mage of great legend. And now, the Codex has reappeared… and with you."
Shaira's head spun. What… Etoile? Me? This is crazy…
---
Meanwhile, above ground —
Chief Rei, ruler of Raco Land, was sitting in his study when a sudden wave of magic passed through him — a sensation like a spark in the air.
He rose at once. Someone has triggered a prison seal…
Striding down the halls, Rei soon heard voices:
"…but she's harmless! I was the one who brought her here!" Reiko was pleading again.
"And you broke the law by doing so," Riku snapped.
Rei's sharp voice cut through the argument.
"What is this commotion?"
Riku straightened at once. "Chief Rei — we have imprisoned a mortal. She claims to have arrived through the lost Codex… and possesses strange abilities."
Reiko bit her lip. "Father, please! She didn't mean any harm — I can sense it!"
Rei's orange eyes narrowed. "A mortal… with the Codex… here?"
Without another word, he strode toward the prison wing.
---
Below, Shaira sat quietly, her mind still racing with questions — when the sound of boots echoed down the stone hall.
"Someone's coming," Mira warned softly.
A moment later, the figure of Chief Rei appeared, flanked by guards. His eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence, his tribal markings dark against his tan skin.
He stopped before her cell, arms crossed.
"So," he said coldly. "You are the mortal who arrived here with the lost Codex."
"I-I didn't mean to!" Shaira stammered. "I just found the book and—"
"Silence." Rei's gaze was piercing. "This magic is forbidden. The Codex vanished for a reason. You should not be here."
"But… I didn't choose this!"
Rei frowned. "Perhaps not. Yet… the Codex chose you. That cannot be ignored."
He studied her a long moment, then turned to his guards.
"Leave us."
The guards hesitated — but obeyed. Only Rei remained.
In the silence, Rei's voice lowered:
"You must tell me… can you return to your realm?"
Shaira bit her lip. "I… I tried. The words don't work. I don't know how."
Rei's expression darkened. "Then you are trapped here."
He straightened.
"Until we know more, you will remain imprisoned. Your presence here could endanger this entire land."
Shaira's heart sank. Trapped… alone…
And so, her nightmare began — imprisoned in a world of magic, with no clear way home.
But deep within her… something stirred. A new resolve.
I have to find a way back. No matter what.