Jordan's POV

The pain was the first thing I felt. Spikes of agony dancing through my system and dots swimming across my vision as white specks floated on the back of my eyelids. Exhaustion soon followed, rippling across my still form as I fought to open my eyes. Peeling open my eyelids, the first thing I saw were some stone bricks up against my face, a cold worn stone that rubbed against my skin like sandpaper. I rolled over slowly, wincing as my injuries began to throb – a pulsing reminder of the damage my body had endured. However, I pushed through the pain and grabbed the wall beside me, using it as a crutch to stand up properly. A wave of dizziness swept over me, causing my vision to blur as darkness tinged the ends of my vision.

Once I was stable against the wall, I took the opportunity to examine my surroundings and figure out exactly what situation I had gotten myself into. I was in a silent room, the only sound I could hear being the crackling of the torches and the distant whisper of the wind echoing through the dark hallways. My gaze travelled around the room, taking in this area I had clearly landed in. There was a hole in the ceiling, cracked stone bricks surrounding the human-sized shape that was allowing the sunlight to filter through and the light breeze to pick up. Iron bars framed the only entrance to the room and a clear path to the end portal was highlighted by glowstone lamps mounted on the wall. Everything seemed familiar to me, information flowing through my mind like an open faucet – leaving me to question where this information had come from; it didn't feel as natural as it should.

Filtering through my memories, I collected myself as I tried to comprehend the situation I had found myself in. My name was Jordan and I was a follower of the goddess Ianite. I came from the realm of Mianite and I had 3 friends – Tucker, Sonja and Tom. My mind was filled with memories of us in our home realm, messing around and pranking one another – a generally peaceful time. It felt odd to me, like a whole section of my mind had been rewritten or erased, a gap in my mind that left a foul taste in my mouth. I shook my head, chastising myself for being so ridiculous as I wracked my brain for more information. Sadly I found none. I decided to compare memories with the others when we met up.

The portal began making a strange noise, whining as if it was preparing for someone or something to launch out of it. I stumbled away from the portal, my eyes wide in fear and confusion as I watched someone emerge from the portal. It was a woman, dressed in light blue purple attire. Her trousers and shirt were practical, covering as much of her skin as possible to protect from any potentially harmful objects she may have come into contact with. A gold fastening of a sort was attached just below her neckline and connected a sash across her right shoulder down to left hipbone. Long, flowing violet hair cascaded down her back and a kind face looked over at me – caution and confusion warring with kindness in her deep violet eyes. She reminded me of Ianite, a younger version – less tormented by demons and war, no longer abused by the constant arguing of her brothers. A quiet voice broke the staring contest we were involved in, her voice soothing my panic as she approached me slowly, as you would a baby deer in order not to startle it.

"It's ok. Don't be afraid of me, I just want to help you. Now tell me, what is your name?"

I flinched as her hands hovered over my wounds, the bruises and cuts seeming to increase the pain levels as they were revealed to the general world. My voice shook as I spoke, my usual confidence fading away in the presence of fear and the unknown.

"J-Jordan. W-Who are you?"

"My name is Martha. I'm a resident of Dagrun. Where did you come from?"

"I-I'm not sure. We called the realm Mianite, yet there were several gods not just Mianite!"

"Do you mean Dianite, Mianite and Ianite?"

"Y-Yes. My lady Ianite commanded us to jump into the void; it was the only way home."

"I don't think you are in your home anymore Jordan."

Her voice remained calm as she conversed with me, slowly helping me to my feet and allowing me to use her as a crutch as she led me out of the portal room and into a beautiful house – sitting me down on a chair. Grabbing some bandages from a cupboard in her kitchen, she returned to my side and began cleaning and wrapping my wounds all whilst humming a gentle tune that reminded me of Ianite when she was in a good mood. I glanced down at her, panic striking me as I realised my friends may not even be in the same realm as me.

"Martha, do you know whether my friends are here?"

Martha looked up from what she was doing, a little smile of amusement dancing across her face. She nodded and pulled me to my feet, walking next to me as I staggered unsteadily but determined. We walked across a bridge and into a large town, the huge walls and beautiful architecture stunning me into an awed silence. Huge, iron golems patrolled the streets, increasing in number as we walked under the castle's archway and into the centre room. A grand throne immediately caught my eye, made of gold and quartz in a swirling pattern that stretched all the way up to the raised ceiling like steam escaping from a hot spring. Martha gestured to the man, who had seated himself on the throne when I wasn't paying attention, the king of the Dagrun – as shown by the large golden crown that was positioned on his head, outshining his fancy cape and clothes. This king cleared his throat and began to speak, his gravelly voice catching my attention as his tone took on a wary and irritating sound.

"Greetings Jordan, Martha tells me you fell through the void and into our realm. I have already met your four friends and they have each been given permission to take residence in one of the spare homes we have set up here. To gain this, you must go through intensive questioning with me or Lieutenant Al. For your knowledge, all the others went through Lieutenant Al."

I was confused; only three friends had jumped into the void with me as I remembered. Tom, Tucker and Sonja. They were the only people I had memories of, excluding the gods themselves. Suddenly, my hands flew to cradle my head as a bolt of pain darted through my skull, like an ice-pick was being driven into my very flesh as faces flickered across my vision – people that I didn't recognise. A pair of blue eyes flickered to black before the pain vanished as quickly as it had come, my hands returning to my sides and a guarded look rising in the King's face. Martha backed away slowly, slipping out the door to leave me alone with the King.

"I think the good Lieutenant will join us and we can both question you, just a precaution as I'm sure you understand."

I couldn't really focus on what he was saying, my mind lost in these strange images that made no sense to me. I could feel the tension in the room and I could hear the clink of armour as someone walked in and paced behind me but I could not truly perceive them. All I could sense was loss and fear, tears threatening to escape my eyes as I felt the crushing loneliness and despair that I couldn't explain. I had lost someone, but whom? All my friends were here in this realm and my lady had promised that I would find another version of her that would prove we weren't alone and we just had to trust the right people. Yet I felt that everything was crumbling and I couldn't run forever.

"What is your name?"

I glanced up out of my wallowing and realised the hostility in the eyes of both the men in the room. Swallowing my fear, I replied in a strong, confident voice in an attempt to remove any doubts in their minds of my innocence and loyalty towards whatever cause they were championing, at least until I found my feet and my sanity again.

"Jordan Sparklez."

"Where did you come from?"

"I grew up in a small town outside the realm that we all called Mianite, which was in turn ruled by Mianite. Once I was old enough I moved across the realm and found a job as a builder near Mianite's main temple."

"What are your friend's names?"

"Tom, Tucker and Sonja. That's who I remember jumping into the void with me."

"Ah yes. Apparently your other friend, James or Wag the wizard as he likes to call himself fell through a separate portal and woke up here."

A flash of recognition floated through my mind as I recalled a strange man who helped me build Jerry's tree. He was a kind man despite his very creepy appearance, the black hood and the bloody eyes always gave me the freaks when he snuck up on me but personality wise he was a good guy with a level head – he should be good to have in this... odd place.

The Lieutenant and the King were exchanging glances, seemingly wary of me in case I suddenly collapsed onto the floor again in pain or as if I was about to pull a sword out of nowhere and go on a murdering rampage. A question was burning in their eyes that seemed to be filled with knowledge that they could have only gotten from my friends and part of me wondered whether I would live long enough in this realm to actually meet up with my friends or not. I stared impassively at the pair of them, preparing myself to run and hide from the rest of the land.

"We've heard a disturbing rumour about you. Your choice of goddess, you chose Ianite?"