Jack ran the silver coin he received through his fingers, his mind heavy with everything that had happened today. This morning, he’d been preparing to pack up and leave the shop for good. Now, he had a magical jewel on his doorknob, a shop that seemed to straddle two worlds, and a newfound way to earn more money than he’d ever imagined. It felt like his life had flipped upside down in less than 24 hours.

  His shop was, in fact, situated in the middle of a forest, just like Ellen, the peculiar girl with the blond hair, had said earlier. But it wasn’t always this way. Jack quickly discovered that the jewel he’d placed on the doorknob was responsible. When he removed the jewel, everything returned to normal—his shop stood on the corner of the street he’d known all his life. But when he put the jewel back and opened the door, he found himself in the midst of a lush, otherworldly forest.

  Strangely enough, the shop was still connected to its original spot even when the jewel was in place. Walderberg’s earlier visit had proven that much. Jack figured the jewel allowed him to connect to this new world while maintaining his ties to the old one. The idea fascinated him—but it also unsettled him. As much as he wanted to explore the forest, the sight of Ellen earlier with her backpack full of strange tools, weapons, and supplies was enough to make him think twice. The forest might look peaceful, but he wasn’t about to take any chances.

  Jack flipped to the last page of his grandmother’s pricing book, the same one that now listed unfamiliar flowers alongside their prices in shill. On the back, his grandmother had left a table that converted this world’s currency into his own: 1 shill equaled 20 dollars, 5 shill made a seft, and 10 seft added up to a shing. The silver coin Ellen had given him earlier was a seft—equivalent to 100 dollars. That one transaction had brought in more money than his shop had earned in weeks. If only he could get more customers like her in the coming days, he might just be able to save the shop and finally buy the land it stood on.

  For the first time in weeks, hope flickered in Jack’s chest. He turned his attention to the small compartment built into the reception desk. It had always been locked, and his grandmother had once told him that “the right time” would come for him to open it. At the time, he hadn’t understood what she meant—but now, he thought he did.

  “I guess this is the time, right, Gran?” he murmured as he tapped the silver coin onto the drawer. Just as the pricing book had described, glowing runes etched themselves onto the wood, and the drawer slid open on its own. Inside was a small, empty chamber. Jack placed the coin inside, shut the drawer, and opened it again. This time, instead of a coin, there were crisp dollar bills—exactly 100 of them.

  “This is quite convenient, isn’t it, Clover?” Jack said with a chuckle, glancing at the black cat perched on the counter.

  Clover responded with a soft meow as she stretched her back.

  Before Jack could begin planning how to attract more customers to the shop, he heard murmurs outside the door. Frowning, he moved to the window and peeked out. Two figures stood at the edge of the forest path, their tall, slender forms and flowing white robes immediately striking. Their most distinct feature, though, was the sharp points of their ears that peeked out from their silken hair—unmistakably elven. Jack blinked. He’d read about elves in books and played as them in fantasy games, but seeing them in real life was an entirely different experience.

  Jack hesitated. He didn’t want to seem rude, but he also had no idea what elves were like in this world. For all he knew, they could be friendly—or they could be dangerous. But if there was one thing he’d learned today, it was that curiosity often outweighed caution.

  He opened the door, stepping out with a friendly smile. “Welcome! I couldn’t help but notice you outside. Are you here to buy flowers? Or perhaps one of the other products we make here? My name’s Jack.”

  The taller elf, who had sharp features and a commanding presence, turned to him with a raised brow. “Greetings, Jack. I am Fynral, and this is my companion, Sylvian. We are here to investigate. Your shop is… unusual. It was not here before.”

  Sylvian, who had a gentler expression and a slightly mischievous glint in his eyes, chimed in, “It’s quite the curiosity. We’ve never seen a structure like this in Eterna Forest. Do you have a permit from her majesty?”

  “A permit?” Jack repeated, feeling a sudden pang of unease. “I… I’m not sure. You see, this shop belongs to my family, and I’ve only recently discovered its connection to this forest. I can check through my grandmother’s things to see if she had a permit.”

  Fynral’s piercing gaze narrowed. “Unlicensed establishments are strictly prohibited in Eterna Forest. You are fortunate that Sylvian senses no malice here. Were it not for his assessment, this would be grounds for immediate removal.”

  Sylvian rolled his eyes. “Come now, Fyn. Let’s not scare the poor man. The spirits around this shop seem content, and that’s good enough for me.”

  Fynral gave Sylvian a sharp look before turning back to Jack. “Regardless, you will need to obtain a permit directly from her majesty. As this situation appears to be unintentional, I am willing to escort you to her tomorrow morning at first light.”

  Jack swallowed hard, knowing he didn’t have much of a choice. “Of course. I appreciate your understanding. Would you mind if I prepared tonight and looked through my grandmother’s belongings for any documentation? I’ll be ready by morning.”

  Fynral nodded curtly. “Very well. We will return at dawn.”

  The two elves turned and disappeared into the trees, their movements impossibly graceful. Jack shut the door, leaning back against it with a long exhale.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “At least they’re more polite than Walderberg,” he muttered, glancing at Clover.

  The cat brushed against his leg, purring in agreement. Tomorrow promised to be another strange and eventful day—but for the first time, Jack felt more excitement than dread.

  —

  Early in the morning, Jack stood outside his shop, a backpack strapped to his shoulders, waiting for Fynral and Sylvian—the two elves he had met yesterday. As he rocked on his heels, he couldn’t help but reflect on how different the two were. Fynral was stern and brooding, while Sylvian was easy-going and bubbly. Of the two, Jack felt he’d get along better with Sylvian; his cheerful demeanor reminded Jack of his grandmother. Fynral’s seriousness, on the other hand, brought to mind Walderberg. But unlike the balding, stout man who had made Jack’s life miserable, Fynral at least treated him with respect. That alone made all the difference.

  Nearby, Clover was batting at a stray leaf, her tail flicking with concentration. Jack smiled as he watched her. Compared to the critters he occasionally saw by the edge of the forest, Clover seemed so normal. The animals here were strange, with fantastical features and vibrant colors that looked straight out of a fantasy story. Though curious, Jack knew better than to let his fascination get the better of him. He wasn’t about to let curiosity—or anything else—get him killed.

  Clover finally caught the leaf and was triumphantly pawing at it when Jack noticed movement at the forest’s edge. His eyes widened as Fynral and Sylvian emerged, their graceful steps making it seem like they were gliding rather than walking. Their movements were so elegant it was hard to look away. That’s elves for you, Jack thought.

  He greeted them with a smile to hide his nervousness. “Good morning!”

  “And to you, Jack,” Fynral replied, his sharp eyes scanning the backpack Jack carried.

  “Oh, this? Just things I thought I’d need for the journey. Well, mostly snacks for Clover. I can’t leave her in the shop all alone. I hope that’s okay.” Jack grinned sheepishly. Clover meowed as if to back him up, finally catching the elves’ attention.

  “Not at—”

  “Aaaaawwwww~!” Sylvian’s excited outburst cut Fynral off. “That is one of the most adorable creatures I’ve ever seen!” He crouched down and extended a hand toward Clover. She immediately darted behind Jack, hissing.

  “Uh… she’s a cat. A tuxedo cat,” Jack said, tilting his head in confusion. Did they not have cats in this world? “She doesn’t take kindly to strangers, I’m afraid.”

  Sylvian, undeterred, clapped his hands together and grinned. “No worries! I’m great with animals. One of the perks of being able to sense spirits.” He moved to try and pet Clover again, but Fynral cleared his throat.

  “We really should get going,” Fynral said, his tone firm.

  Sylvian sulked but complied, though Jack noticed he kept glancing at Clover with what could only be described as determination. Scooping up his feline companion, Jack let Clover settle on his shoulders, where her weight rested comfortably against his backpack.

  The group began their journey, and Jack found the forest surprisingly serene. The path felt like any other hiking trail, except for the occasional glimpses of fantastical creatures that lived among the trees. Though some looked strange or even intimidating, none seemed interested in the group. Slowly, Jack began to relax, allowing himself to enjoy the forest’s ambiance.

  That peace was shattered when Fynral abruptly stopped. Jack, not paying attention, bumped into his back.

  “Sorry—” Jack started but froze as his eyes landed on a snarling wolf just ahead. Its matted fur and glowing eyes made it look anything but natural.

  “Malice, Fyn,” Sylvian said, stepping up beside his companion. His eyes glimmered as if he could see something Jack couldn’t. “A particularly nasty one.”

  Fynral nodded. “Step back, Jack. Leave this to us.”

  Before Jack could protest, Sylvian summoned a staff seemingly out of thin air, while Fynral’s hand produced a thin, gleaming sword. They moved into position, Sylvian at the back and Fynral at the front.

  The wolf growled and lunged. Sylvian raised his staff and shouted something in a language Jack didn’t recognize. A stone barrier erupted from the ground, stopping the wolf’s advance. The creature recoiled, but it was too late—Fynral blurred into motion, moving at an inhuman speed. In a single, precise strike, he severed the wolf’s head.

  The entire encounter was over in less than a minute. Jack stared, equal parts awed and horrified. Good thing I didn’t try exploring the forest on my own, he thought.

  Fynral calmly wiped his blade before making it vanish. Sylvian did the same with his staff, and the two turned back to Jack as if nothing had happened.

  Jack fumbled with his backpack, pulling out two water bottles. “Here, have some water,” he said, handing them over.

  The elves exchanged curious glances before accepting. They inspected the bottles but drank eagerly, chugging the water down like it was the most refreshing thing they’d ever tasted.

  “Wow!” Sylvian exclaimed. “This is some of the freshest water I’ve had. You must have water-purifying plants in that shop of yours.”

  Fynral nodded in agreement. “Indeed. Thank you for sharing.”

  Jack gave an awkward laugh in response and with that, they resumed their journey. Thankfully, the rest of the trip was uneventful, save for a mischievous critter that tried to steal bread from Jack’s bag. After about half an hour, they reached a massive tree whose roots seemed to pulse rhythmically, almost as if it were alive. Glowing orbs hung from its branches, casting a soft, magical light.

  “This is one of the entrances to the kingdom,” Fynral explained. “Normally, one cannot approach without an elf’s guidance. That is why we escorted you.”

  He placed a hand on the tree’s trunk, chanting softly in the same unfamiliar language. The orbs above began to swirl and gather, forming a glowing portal in the bark.

  “Right this way,” Fynral said, gesturing for Jack to step through.

  Jack took a deep breath and complied. Stepping into the portal, he emerged on the other side and froze. Before him was a breathtaking sight: towering trees with houses nestled in their branches, connected by elegant bridges. On the ground, more homes and bustling shops lined the streets, and in the distance stood a majestic castle that looked as though it had been sculpted from the forest itself.

  “Welcome to the Elven Kingdom,” Fynral and Sylvian said in unison.

  Jack could only stare in awe.