Private Finished Curiosity on the Ocean

A little above the ocean of Manta Carlos—well away from the islets and Mertown, yet within view of those at the edge of the waterfront—the air twisted and sucked into itself. It was a strange effect, like looking at the area through a kaleidoscope. The sound accompanying it could remind one of a vacuum cleaner or a motorcycle, yet it didn't last long. One second that section of the world became a warped version of itself, the next a long object materialized out from there and fell into the ocean, then next returned the world to normal.

A strangely-designed broom floated gently in the ocean with not a speck of dust on it. It weighed nothing at all and lightly sparkled. Clearly magical in quality, there was nothing obvious saying if it was safe or dangerous.

Nothing happened for a short while. There was just Adelaida and the sparkling broom. Then the sparkles increased, causing the broom to glow a little. The small star-like sparks formed beside the broom to form the figure of a person, solidifying into a blue humanoid with wavy multi-colored hair and a unique maid outfit.

Their eyes opened, showing their pink heart irises. They wore an expression of shock before rushing to grab the broom laying on the floor of the boat and holding it tight to their chest.

"What...?" they gasped. They eyed the surrounding area, seeing mostly ocean and the sign of land far away. Then they caught sight of the person sharing the boat with them. With narrowed eyes, they tried to speak again with more clarity, "Who... Who are you?"

Adelaida's calm response to Besom left them feeling ashamed. Where were their manners? They bowed their head to Adelaida in submission, then opened their mouth to speak.

Which promptly closed when they remembered the situation they were in. This was no time to show respect towards a stranger. For now, they had no master and were lost somewhere... not out in sea but somewhere they were not familiar with at all.

"We all have stories, but I have more pertinent matters to get to instead of telling mine. I... am Besom." Seeing as how she was the one who got them out of water, it would do them well to be polite. "Thank you for letting me ride on your boat. Where am I? I've traveled plenty, but I've never seen a place like this."

Besom was too confused to keep their cool. They winced when gods were mentioned. Annoyed by their own inability to keep calm despite their years and experience, they lowered their head while sitting down. Calm, settled, and with crossed legs, they gave Adelaida their full attention.

"I'm not a dimension-hopper. I was attacked and..." They didn't, couldn't. remember what happened after they were forced back into their broom. Immediately before held memories of them being killed. It was likely that they were thrown out of their dimension to seal their fate. "... sent here. I fail to see how fun of a place Manta Carlos Islands can be if this is where I was sent."

Besom wasn't too convinced of that, but she was right: They were here now. Until they could find a way to get back, they would have to learn the ways of wherever they were. It wasn't the first time they found themself in a strange and unusual world. They could get used to it.

In the back of Besom's mind, they wondered if they wanted to go back in the first place. People rarely appreciated their assistance back home. All they were was a valuable asset that could be stolen at any moment, and often did.

Besom had no time to linger on their thoughts. They tightened their grip on their broom the moment it was pointed out. "You're wrong," they lied. There were far too many unknowns to go revealing their personal business like that. "Mostly. I'm like a tsukumogami. This broom is my weapon, you could say. An item I'm spiritually linked to and should keep close." They kept a cool expression and tone of voice as they spoke. It was easy to lie when truth was sprinkled in. It was easier when many years had been spent lying for their masters.