The Milk Spoiled

Kranjax trudged through the desert sands. "I... think..." and proceeded to fall face first into the shifting sands. He clutched the astral compass and poured mana into it. He'd been here before, to this world, but this place was the most inhospitable he'd encountered here. Moments later, he was envelped in a cool draft and hoisted to his feet.   "I'm not going to ask why you're napping in the sand, but can you at least try a little harder to live? Solaris says that my life depends on it too."   Kranjax looked over and up at Eber, who stood a full head taller than him. "Wha... why are you here?"   "You undoubtedly summoned me for some shenanaginry, and not of the fun sort. Mind explaining where we are, and why you're half dead?"   "We're in a realm called The Great Tree. I've been here before, just not... here, here."   "And you need me to help you not die?"   "You catch on faster than Sol."   "Don't insult me!" Eber paused,, "Wait... you're... different."   "...Like I said, faster than Sol"   "Still as much of a smartass though, and apparently less powerful."   "For now. So, can we... get out of the desert now?"   Eber raised an eyebrow as he surveyed his surroundings. "Why not just go to that enormous rock. I can sense rain."   "Huh? I don't see or sense anything."   Eber glanced at Kranjax with exasperated suspicion. "You'd do well not to upset me."   "I'm sure Sol already warned you. Can we go now? The milk I bought has already spoiled." He dropped a full container of milk to the ground. "lets hope that guy will forgive me for littering..."   Kranjax found himself slung over Eber's shoulder, and the next thing he knew, they were gliding along magically formed ice toward the enormous rockface. They'd arrived at the edge within minutes, and Kranjax pondered how Eber got there so fast.   "You made me this powerful, and expect me not to use it? In any case, I have no intention of playing bodyguard." Eber summoned a staff, not just any, but his celestial weapon. "I trust you can use this. Now stop using everyone to complete your challenges! And yes, here, I know!" With those words, Eber stomped off in a huff, and summoned a large pillar of ice around himself. Seconds later, it shattered, and he was gone.   Dumbfounded and alone again, Kranjax held the staff and the compass, the latter of which he put away. He set foot in the first shade he'd encountered in hours. He glanced behind him and looked as the shadow stretched for what felt like miles. He turned ahead and saw lush greenery. Palm trees, flowers aplenty, and the sound of running water reached his ears.   He felt a moist breeze across his skin. It wasn't something generated by the staff; this was natural. He strode forward, then paused for a double-take. Not 20 meters behind him and that gargantuan shadow, was desert, hot and scortching. It was less of a 'transition' and more of 'the gods here colored well within the lines'.   He took 2 paces forward, and now that he wasn't roasting, he could hear the subdued notes of the songs of this world once more. It was a fleeting and beautiful, yet melancholy melody. He felt it slowly rejuvenating him, much like the staff Eber had left, which contained an inordinate amount of mana.   "...ugh." He removed his shoes, emptying the sand from them, before putting them back on and heading into the forest, which increased in density every 10 or 20 meters, before coming across a pond. He took his chances with the water and drank. He had enough mana to dispel almost any curse or ailment, assuming it wasn't divine in nature, and filled his canteen before he bothered to look up.   His mouth fell agape as he stared up at a monolith that would put Earth's tallest skyscrapers to shame. It was as if he was staring at a pillar cut from Mt Everest, and along its visible side, a waterfall and seemingly unceasing rain could be seen. He trudged on into the forest, brushing the thick leaves aside with the staff as screatches from creatures could be heard overhead. There would've been a shadow if he weren't already under the enormous shadow of the obelisk.   Turning his gaze downward once more, Kranjax watched as numerous hummingbirds in a multitude of colors hovered and zipped from flower to flower, and watched as lizards scurried up and down the trees. He marveled at the sight for a few moments before continuing into the forest, towards the pillar.   "I should find my way back to Sol", he muttered aloud, not paying terribly much attention to where he was going, until he felt the unmistakable sensation of sunken shoes. "Ugh." Glancing down, he saw several fish, akin to pike, scattering away from him. He stepped back, out of the water. "Unlike a certain ice princess, ain't wearing wet socks." He stowed his socks and shoes in his rucksack and carried on barefoot.   It started raining as he approached the pillar, and it wasn't subtle. It wasn't long before he was drenched. He called forth mana from the staff, and shielded himself from the rain while expelling the water from his clothes and skin. This was a few too many drastic changes in the span of minutes than a human should be exposed to, physically or mentally. The rumbling thunder overhead stole his attention, and he looked skyward.   As if the wrath of the heavens had decided to punish the mountain for its existence, lightning struck it again and again, unrelenting. The Chemist would undoubtedly love to study and observe such a phenomenon, assuming he could be pried from his research in The Atelier. Kranjax's eyes then widened in realization. "That deminutive genius, Reason, told me how to get out of here ages ago! Why didn't I think of it before?!" He smacked his forehead and took a deep breath. "Hopefully I don't break the laws of this world... Now... which spell was it...? Was it Multilateral Portal?? No, that was too short-range. I like the concept, though. Maybe it was Transverse Teleportation? That one kinda roots me though? Hmm..." He pondered for a moment. "This... might kill me, or break something... but..."   Kranjax set the staff firmly in the ground before him and focused on the song of the world. A deep breath, and he began, "Ye rulers of this world, both old and new, I beseech the! Grant this weary traveler a morsel of providence, so that I may return to my previous place in the world. Lend me your aid, guidance, and your power.   Lightning continued assaulting the pillar above, but with distrubingly increasing frequency as the rainfall intensified. The winds howled and roared around him, swirling into a small, yet still invisible vortex. This lasted but for a few moments, and Kranjax's figure shined with a bright light. By the time the light faded, he was gone.   Kranjax opened his eyes some time later, lying in a bed. Solaris lay across the room, and Cori was just entering the room, looking concerned.   "Did you just... teleport in your sleep?"   Kranjax looked down at his bare, wet feet, and felt the discomfort of the rucksack that he was not wearing before he'd intended to go to bed. "uhm... maybe?"