Chapter Text
Iris was floating. Face down, she realized, vaguely. Was this what it felt like to be dead? she wondered, without fear or anger. But no, she realized, she didn't remember dying. Just- falling.
She felt the water enter her lungs, and let herself fall asleep once more.
Odd, Iris thought, as unconsciousness left her again, the quietness leaving her to groan uncomfortably as rocks and sand scraped her skin. She was cold, she realized for the first time, shivering and beginning to cough.
She couldn't make herself move, though, and eventually, she fell back into a dreamless, uncomfortable sleep.
"Es! Esir ol! Ram, en col!" a voice came, startling Iris from her fitful sleep. The voice was rough with wear, but high and soft nonetheless. More words that Iris couldn't understand came from another couple of voices- a startled, younger voice and a deep woman's voice, young but powerful in a way that made Iris shudder even further in a way that had nothing to do with the cold. She let herself think it was fear.
She curled up further, shuddering as she remembered that she was soaking wet. The deep voice came closer, barking an order, and suddenly she was being lifted, carried. She squeaked and tried to say something, but her teeth clacked together as she shivered, and she only managed to get out a "wbrrrtk-k-mi". The person carrying her chuckled slightly and said something. Nobody else responded so Iris assumed it was aimed at her, but she couldn't understand it.
After a while, she vaguely understood that her wet clothes were being taken off, and she was being wrapped in something warm, oh so very warm, before, one final time, she drifted off into unconsciousness.
This time, she dreamed. She dreamed of a tall, tall tree, rooted with iron, but burning with fire of deep blue, a color she never knew fire could be.
She awoke, and she was actually lucid this time, able to take in her surroundings.
She was sitting, not uncomfortable in water or on the rocky ground this time, but on a soft mat in a tent, dyed canvas held up by sturdy poles of a wood that could have been bamboo, though they looked odd. The tent was also lit and warmed by a fire in the center, the smoke escaping through a hole in the ceiling. Heavy woolen blankets were laid around her body which, she realized with a warming of her cheeks, was completely naked. She squeaked and pulled her blankets closer to her body, as if someone could see her.
She looked around further, gazing desperately for something to cover her nudity, before coming across a simple tunic, accompanying leggings, and several heavy, warm furs of an animal that, even if she was interested in furs in any way, she probably wouldn't have been able to identify. There was also a set of woolen socks and a pair of sturdy leather boots set by the door of the tent, which was kept tied by a leather cord.
She slowly stood, shivering as she left her cocoon of blankets, and began dressing herself. As she did so, attempting to pull her leggings on, she squeaked and froze in panic as the door was opened by…
Well, the most attractive woman Iris had ever seen. She was muscled, with arms that, Iris could see as they pushed her fur cape to the side, were as thick as some people's heads, and looked as though her biceps had biceps. Her waist was as broad as a tree trunk, and somehow Iris thought she could see her abs through the heavy leather she was wearing on her chest. Her arms and face were scarred by claws, burns, and weapons that Iris couldn't hope to identify by the wounds they left.
Iris realized far too late that the woman was saying something, looking away from Iris' body as Iris snapped her jaw shut and squeaked again.
"...Speak the, errr, Anglish, yes?"
Iris realized she was expected to reply and came out with a "Ohgosh yes I do sorry who are you who am I-" before cutting herself off and diving into her blankets again to save herself the embarrassment.
"Ah, good. I read it on your, errr, shirt, and was hoping I wouldn't have to try more, err, mortal world tongues."
Iris was too deep in her blankets, hiding from literally everything currently happening, to respond.
The woman sighed. "Ah well. I was hoping to be here when you… eh… awoke, but can't be helped now. How are you feeling?"
Iris poked her head out of her blanket and whispered, quietly. "Fine, ma'am. I'm alright."
"I see," said the beautiful woman, chuckling softly. "Well, since I've already, er, walked in on you naked, I suppose introductions are in order."
Iris squeaked, feeling lightheaded. Come to think of it, it had probably been a very long time since she'd drank any water.
"I'm Ram. No surname at the moment, unfortunately, since I have been… mmmm… Cast out? Disowned?"
"I'm Iris", Iris said breathily, having caught another glimpse of Ram's bicep that made her stomach feel sparkly.
"Mm. Alright, Iris. Why don't I step outside whilst you clothe yourself. Do you require anything else?"
"Um… Water would probably be good?"
"Of course. I will also have some food prepared, since you will likely want that."
Iris nodded, and Ram stepped outside, retying the cord. She breathed out a heavy sigh.
She was feeling… Surprisingly calm, all things considered. It was a skill of hers. She tried not to think about anything, because she could feel the panic attack just a couple layers of suppression under the surface.
She finished pulling on the boots, lacing them tightly, and pulled the furs over her shoulders, outfit complete.
She took a step outside, and immediately regretted it as the cold stung her throat, the wind whipping the water from her eyes.
She shivered, and suddenly wished she had a hat as snow began to settle in her messy brown hair.
The woman — Ram, she remembered, — returned, carrying a mug, which she handed to Iris.
"Thanks," Iris tried to smile. "It's warm"
"Mm, we keep it that way during the… ehh… Cold months."
"Winter?"
"Yes."
They were in a small camp of three tents, Iris realized, and a great blue fire was roaring in the center, with one of the two women sitting next to it seemingly adding fuel from a canteen.
" Diol oil," said Ram, following her gaze as Iris sipped the water, very glad of its heat. "A drop can fuel a, errr… ban-fire? for many hours."
"Diol?", Iris said shakily.
"Large tusked, err, mammals. They become, hm, blubbery sea animals during the winter, but they have, errrr, wings during the summer."
Iris looked at her incredulously, trying to breathe. She looked away, around.
They were in a valley, flanked on either side by a line of tall, craggy mountains, which looked as though they met at a point somewhere in the distance. Above them, great crags of rock floated, radiating outwards from that same point, some covered with green in a way that made Iris think they must be inhabitable. Her breath came in short pants. Two great horned beasts, like oxen but covered in small, mottled scales, grazed on frozen moss a little ways away.
"Where… am I?"
"Mm. Right." The tall woman chewed her lip for a second, before answering slowly. "You come from the mortal world, material world, Earth, yes?"
"Right…" Iris breathed in at what Ram had to be getting at, feeling her grip loosen and slosh water onto her nose, where it seemed to freeze almost instantly.
"Mm. This world exists… Alongside the mortal world. Some people from your world, like my… Ehhh… Mother's mother?"
"Grandmother," Iris corrected absently.
"Grandmother, yes. They called it the otherworld. Others called it other things, like the Land Beneath the Hills, but what we call it these days in the common central tongue is the Warped World. My people call it the Oliskar, the… hm… Realm without limit, I suppose?"
"But, how am I… What am I…"
" Insor, the warped w-"
"Insor?"
"It means… hmm… 'Oh, yes', sort of."
"Ah."
"I said the warped world is alongside the mortal world, but… Mm… The warped world is… not the same sort of… straightforward and… limited, as yours. It has layers, all…connected… in a way that can be traveled to, like by boat or horse as well as by more eldritch means. Sometimes places come into… ehhhh… Esit. Con… Ah the word escapes me."
"Con…junction?"
" Insor! Thank you. They come into conjunction, and things… fall through. Usually objects or animals, but sometimes people."
"And that's… me?"
"Mm, perhaps."
"Is there another option?"
"Mm, but… You'd rather it be the first, I think"
Ram didn't seem willing to elaborate, so Iris decided not to push.
"Okay, so I'm, what. I've been isekaid into a world that is… Infinite?"
"As far as we are aware. Isei- Isekaid?"
"Not worth explaining. Okay. Awesome. Just great." Iris took a shaky breath, glad the wind got rid of any tears that formed, though snot freezing in her nose was more than unpleasant. She sniffed pitiably, and regretted it as ice froze her sinuses. "So… I can't go home?"
Ram looked at her, sadly, opened her mouth, and closed it again. It was honestly a little comforting to Iris that a woman like this could be at a loss for words.
Iris slumped down, put her head between her knees, the cold snow almost helping to keep her grounded as she grew dizzy and her vision narrowed, color starting to leech away.
She took a deep breath, another. She realized Ram had put an arm around her, her cloak also wrapped around Iris' skinny body.
"O-okay."
"Hmm?" Ram seemed surprised.
"All right. That's - All right." Iris was a bit more steady now. "Can we go back inside? I want to sit down where it's warm.
"Yes."
They did so, and Iris curled back up on top of her blankets.
She took shuddering breath after shuddering breath, while Ram loomed over her a little bit, having shed her furs now.
Iris found that she was still crying, now with no wind to wick away the tears, her nose unfrozen and dripping. She buried her face in her hands.
"Should I-", started Ram, before trailing off, offering an arm to Iris, and Iris gladly let Ram embrace her, the woman's bared arm wrapping around Iris' body softly but unyielding, Iris let it sooth the sobs from her body.
They sat in silence for a while, before Iris finally straightened, eyes reddened but no longer wet. "Okay," she said softly, shakily. "I'm here now. What next?"
"You're taking this rather well, all things consa…con-sid-erd."
Iris snorted. "My old world doesn't have much for me anymore."
"Mm. I won't, errr…."
"Pry?"
"Yes."
"Thanks." Iris smiled a little wanly. "I appreciate it."
"Of course," said Ram, giving a reassuring smile and standing up. "Now, if you would, I'd, uhhh, like you to meet my com… companions? before the day's out."
"Ugh, do I have to go outside for that?"
"The fire is very warm."
"Well, alright," said Iris, standing as well. "Any chance I could get a hat?"
"Oh, of course," said Ram, pulling a fur cap from her satchel. "Here's mine."
Iris slipped the warm cap over her head and tried to ignore how it scratched at her ears, before taking a deep breath and stepping outside, Ram close behind.
They moved to the bonfire, past one of the tents, which was as furnished as the one she had woken up in; rustic and utilitarian, but comfortable nonetheless. Iris realized vaguely that they were tents, yes, but more specifically they were small yurts.
The two women by the bonfire stood as they got closer, saying something in their own language. "Ainglish," said Ram to one of the two women, who nodded, pulling back her sleeve to show her heavily tattooed arm. A small series of what Iris assumed were letters glowed in the middle of it, before changing to the word "Language" in English. A similar tattoo appeared on Ram's outstretched arm as the woman touched it, then the same for the other woman who offered her arm without looking over.
"Ah, good," said Ram, no longer stumbling about her words — Iris shivered a bit at the confidence — "Thank you, Raisha."
"My pleasure. Introduce me to the young one?" The woman speaking was more clipped and refined than Ram, tall and skinny with wrinkles by her eyes and silver hair cut short, the tattoos somehow accentuating how skinny she was, her arms incredibly slim in comparison to Ram.
"'Course. This is Iris, she's new to the Oliskar ."
"I see, lovely to meet you, Iris. " Raisha extended a hand out to Iris, which Iris reached out to shake before being caught in a full forearm shake, Raisha grabbing her elbow. Iris squeaked, and Ram chuckled. "Don't scare her off, Raisha."
"Hah, pardon me, I do not know the customs of your culture."
Iris just nodded shyly and said "Nice to, um, meet you," quietly.
The other companion of Ram's turned finally, looking Iris up and down sharply, Iris feeling like she was digging into her soul. She was a woman even taller than Ram, likely a few years older, muscled in sleeker, different ways, and absolutely covered in scars. Her blue eyes flicked up and down a couple more times before shrugging. "Eb," she said without clarification, and turned back to what Iris realized was a sword she was sharpening.
"Eb's, ah, great with words, as you can see," said Ram with a chuckle. "You get used to her."
Iris just nodded.
"Now!", said Ram, clapping her hands once. "We should find you a course of action."
Iris blinked. "Oh, uh, I don't know…"
"Anything you've always wanted to see?"
"Not really…"
"You are young," said Raisha, "Would you like to find education?"
"I suppose… What's education like here?"
"Well, there's not much around here in terms of formalized education," said Ram, "But we're heading down into the White River spoke, and there they've got a few options. There's the 'deportment schools' for young nobles, but there's also the universities of lore in Heghmara and Ai-Adira."
"White River Spoke?"
"The spokes all spread out from the Spirechain, separated by chasms and mountains. After a while, they all connect back up, but it's a long ways to travel."
"The… Spirechain?"
"Oh, right. Let me show you something." Ram climbed up onto a large rock in front of them, and Iris clambered clumsily behind. "See that? Off in the north?"
Iris squinted, great snow clouds crossing her view before she noticed it.
Even with the naked eye, something that must have been miles upon miles away stood, stretching impossibly high, reaching beyond her sight.
Rising from the ground, it was a great triangular spire, edges appearing sharpened to the distant eye. From the top, a great chain stretched into the air, held by some impossible, unseeable force. Iris realized after a moment that it must be the point from which the mountains and the floating crags all radiated. She gasped, and Ram turned to her. "Impressive, ain't it?"
"It's… Terrifying!"
Ram blinked, and took another look. "Huh, so it is," she muttered as if realizing it for the first time. “They call it the Ladder of the Lords, some do,” she said, louder.
"The… Lords? What… Never mind, what's a, um, what did you call it, a University of Lore?" Iris was overwhelmed, but she could also feel things clicking in her mind, almost as if this was where she was meant to be.
"Ah, yes," said Raisha. "A university of lore teaches one or more of the Chained Arts — Which is to say, Kaldur-Igadat pulled from the spirechain, rather than from the soul, an object, or an entity."
"Kaldur-Iga… Igadat?"
"Hm, I suppose that wouldn't translate directly," said Ram with a slight frown of thought, "The simplest translation would be 'magic' but it's more akin to 'lifeforce of the world' or 'lifeforce of Imatat-Igad '." At Iris' questioning look, she elaborated "The Worldmother… Our goddess, by your standards."
"I see… So this is… Learned magic, I gather?"
"Yes, that's a good way to put it," Raisha gave a small smile.
"I see."
"Now, other options!", said Ram. "You could also stick with us, however, that… Leads down a warrior's path, whether by choice or accident, and you may not wish that."
"No… I'd, um… Rather not have that."
"Mhm. We could also get you a job in a town somewhere, though with lacking knowledge of this world's customs and systems that could have issues… Frankly, that could be a problem with the colleges of lore as well."
"There are likely other options we could find in the future, but for now why don't you think about those," said Raisha. "No need to answer on your first day here."
"O-okay. Thank you. It's… been a rough day."
"You wouldn't know, you've been sleeping for most of it," Ram jested with a laugh, and Iris giggled as Raisha glared.
"What do you guys do in your free time?", Iris asked.
"Drink and fuck, mostly, though it's those two doing the latter" said Ram, and Raisha punched her arm as Iris turned an incredibly dark shade of red.
"Shut the hell up, Ram," Eb grumbled, flashing her middle finger at Ram, who smirked as Iris sputtered.