It seemed like every time something interesting came up, we were dragged into something else that became equally as interesting, only to be dragged away once more. When I awoke I wanted to know why I was here and why Jinji and I were naked. Then I wanted to know who the young girl was. Apparently her name was Xara. Before I could learn more about her Callista appeared. Then, just as she was about to tell us why we were here, she introduced us to her father, the king. He seemed like a very regal man, or at least, he had been before he had gotten sick. Of course, before we could learn any more about him, we were back out in the hallway with Callista. At least Jinji had convinced her to tell us why we were here.

“My compact,” Callista began. “I’ve been using it to communicate and travel back and forth between the Earth Realm and Lishalund.”

“Whoa,” I interrupted, “time-out.” I made my hands into the ‘T’ that I often saw coaches do. Jinji seemed to appreciate it. “Why did you travel to Earth in the first place? Let’s start from the beginning.”

“My advisor, Ghanasyama Konrad Carbonell,” she paused, “or Carbonell, for short, always does his duty in advising me as the Princess of Lishalund. “A few weeks ago, I turned seventeen and a half of a year, so, at my celebration, Carbonell decided it was time for me to find a husband.”

“Eh! But you’re so young!” Jinji gasped. I could have hit him. She’s finally talking and he interrupts with…did she say seventeen and a half?

“My father is dying,” Callista sighed heavily, “and with no male heir, I must marry someone before I turn eighteen or…” she paused. “You see, I can’t rule by myself, being a woman and all.”

“Who would lead if you don’t get married?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, Carbonell, of course! But that’s silly, he’s just an advisor,” Callista giggled. “Besides, he’s the one who sent me to Earth in the first place to find a husband.”

“Why Earth?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I mean, shouldn’t you be married to a prince or something?”

“As long as I marry someone who could make a good king, it doesn’t matter,” Callista sounded like she was quoting someone, probably that creepy old advisor.

“Okay, so you came to Earth to find a husband and you ended up with us,” I said without thinking. Then I turned to Jinji and he shared my blush. “Did you mean to…” I pointed one finger at my chest and the other at Jinji.

“Oh, no! Taking you two back was a complete accident,” Callista waved her hand in dismissal. “Of course, now that my compact is broken,” oops, my bad. “I suppose I’ll have to choose one of you.” I could feel my cheeks darken with color. How could this girl make my blush? I haven’t blushed because of a girl in years.

“Okay,” Jinji took over, “so you said why you came to Earth of all places.”

“Well, Carbonell suggested that Earth was the best place to choose a husband,” Callista put a finger to her chin, “he said it is because it is free of magic and therefore free of evil.”

“Magic?” I had finally gotten over my blushing fit. “You mean to say that magic exists here?”

“Well, I do have a magically compact that let’s me travel from one dimension to another,” Callista was beginning to sound cheeky. I suppose it was Earth rubbing off on her. “Well, since one of you will be king, I suppose I should take you for a tour around the city.” Now, that sounded interesting.

The first thing I noticed when we exited the castle was the beautiful weather. Even with three suns, the temperature was like Earth in spring, though I remember it being the beginning of winter back home. The city was lovely; I’m not sure what I was expecting. Every house, or apartment, had at least three stories and there was no trash or dirty laundry hanging out like one might assume. The city was spotless and looked more modern. If it weren’t for the castle in the background and the fancy clothing everyone was wearing, I would have assumed that this was something back home.

“This is the main part of the city,” Callista explained as we walked by smiling people who said things like ‘Good Morning, Princess,’ and ‘Wonderful weather today, Princess.’ She must have walked around a lot. So much for being trapped in a castle. “We call this area Vessel,” she went on. “The wealthier people of Lishalund live here.”

“These houses are amazing,” Jinji voiced as we walked by a building that looked as if it were made of ivory and gold. Callista just smiled brightly, proud of her kingdom. We turned a corner and came to a road with four forks.

“These lead to the four other mini-cities of Lishalund,” she pointed to each, starting with the one on the left. “That first one is Myriad, the second is a smaller town called Flaut,” she stopped walking as we reached the splits, “the third one is Serenade and the final town is Somnium.” The names sounded strange, but then again, so did everything else here.

“What goes on in the other cities?” Jinji vocalized my own question.

“I’m not sure,” Callista sounded sad. “I haven’t been there since I was very little, when I would travel with my father.” Her light green eyes looked wet. “Carbonell says that I cannot go there now.”

“Why not?” I was getting pissed. “He chooses who you’ll marry, he tells you want to do, he sounds more like a bad king than an advisor,” I growled.

“Ah, there you are, Princess,” a smarmy voice called from behind us. We turned to see the devil himself, or rather, Carbonell.

“Advisor Carbonell, I was just giving Tatsuya and Jinji a tour of the kingdom,” Callista smiled.

“Did you tell anyone?” Carbonell slithered over. “Because I was so worried about you…” he traced a boney hand down the side of her face. That guy was seriously creepy.

“I am sorry, Carbonell,” Callista hung her head. For being someone so loyal to the Princess, he sure bosses her around a lot. I didn’t like him already. On the way back to the castle, I noticed a few things I hadn’t before. There was a nice pub, I don’t even know if I would call it a pub because of how fancy it looked, called The Callista. That was nice of them to name it after her. There were also creatures flying up in the sky which I had assumed were birds earlier, but looks like small dragons. Callista caught my line of vision.

“Those are called Squamata,” she grinned, “I can liken them to Earth’s lizards.” They certainly did look more like dragons than anything, though.

When we reached the castle, the guards made us state our names and then searched us for any weapons that ‘might harm the Princess.’ Meanwhile, we came in with the Princess. Geez… I cried out when a guard hit a bruise I didn’t know I had on my rib. I must have gotten it from travelling here because it was just about healed.

We spent the rest of the day learning about Lishalund customs and getting a complete tour of the castle. Callista knew everything there was to know about her home. Of course, I kind of wanted to see the young girl named Xara again. I’m not sure why, but that girl was almost as intriguing as Callista herself.

It was after dinner, when Jinji and I were returning to our room, that I received the note. It was tucked under my pillow. I was just about to read it, when that creepy advisor came in. I quickly shoved the note into my pocket.

“Ah, Earth boys,” Carbonell greeted. “We have prepared rooms for you at the end of the hall, across from Callista’s chambers.” He suddenly looked very dark and sinister, “If you so much as take a step near her door, I will have you taken care of.” Jinji nodded dumbly and I didn’t answer. “Very well, let’s get you situated.”

My room was awesome. It was huge. It had dark green and white fabric everywhere; on the drapes, on the bed, on the couch. It was bigger than my studio apartment back on Earth. Then, I remembered the note. The handwriting was very fancy, almost like calligraphy.

Dear Tatsuya,

I really want to see you. Meet me at The Callista in Vessel tonight.

Love,

Callista

I was taken aback. The Princess wanted to me meet at the bar? That couldn’t be right. Maybe Jinji had received the same note and we were just going to talk without that creepy advisor spying on us. Well, I suppose I would just have to see when we got there. I walked out of my room and to Jinji’s. I knocked on his door, but there was no answer.

“What a jerk,” I whispered, “he went and left without me.” That wasn’t very nice. I sighed and then headed for the main doors of the castle. The guards didn’t have a problem letting me out. They recognized me from earlier. One of them even blushed and winked at me. Geez…

When I reached the pub, loud noises were pouring out. I walked in and scanned the room for the Princess and my childhood friend. I didn’t see either of them. I was about to head back out through the darkness of night and into the castle when the bartender hailed me over.

“You Tatsuya?” he asked. I nodded. He swung open part of the bar and came out. He was a lot taller than I first thought. “Come this way,” was the last thing he said to me. He led me to a backroom, opened the door and then closed it behind me. The room was dark.

“Hello?” I called. Then I felt small hands on my chest, pushing me backward.

“Hello, Tatsuya,” I knew that voice.

“Hey, turn on the lights,” I suggested. I felt her push off of me and walk away. Then the room was bright. There was Callista, holding a candle. She set it down on a table and walked back over to me.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” she purred. This was so unlike her. Wasn’t she nervous around boys? She pushed her hands against my chest again and leaned in close. “How would you like to be my king, Tatsuya?”

“Ah,” I tried to pull away, but I was stuck between a door and Princess. “I’m not sure about this king thing, Callista.” When I said her name, her light green eyes saddened a bit, but then she grew serious again.

“But isn’t that why you’re here?” she asked.

“Ah, no,” I raised an eyebrow, “we were sent here by accident, you said so yourself.” Callista’s eyes widened.

“Oh, I had forgotten,” she giggled. This was so unlike her. Something strange was going on.

“You’re not secretly the advisor, right?” I asked. She looked shocked and then started laughing. “I’m just asking because you’re acting strange and if you were him, I would have to excuse myself to vomit.” She stopped laughing and pushed herself against me again. I could feel her boobs, so soft, against my chest.

“I am me, Tatsuya,” she purred and kissed me. She was an amazing kisser. How on Earth could she be nervous around men, but be so experienced with things like this.

“Callista…” I moaned when she pulled away, wanting more. Again, when I said her name, her eyes saddened, if just for a second.

“You should be getting back,” she said as she put a hood over her head, to hide her identity. “Let’s meet again tomorrow night after we’re sent to bed.” I nodded and she ran out of a back door to the room. I decided to go out the door I came in, so the bartender wouldn’t get suspicious.

I passed Jinji’s room on the way to mine and was tempted to tell him about what happened, but the last time I told him about a girl I liked, he betrayed me. I decided to avoid the subject all together. Besides, I think he kind of hand a thing for Callista, too.

I tucked myself into bed and made to set my alarm clock. Of course, there wasn’t one. I rolled my eyes. This was certainly a weird place. My last thoughts before I fell asleep where of Callista’s soft lips on mine.