A Dapper Tale: Part 2 of 5

Dapper and Alicia reached an unassuming cottage in the middle of nowhere, where several other Vorpals were congregated and milling about. The various forms unnerved Alicia, as they had anywhere from no eyes to several hundred, and had anatomies ranging from hulking masses bulging with muscles to scurrying pest-like bodies. Most were solid black or a faded green, but a couple shared the more unique shade sported by Dapper. Several came up to Alicia with varying levels of aggression, but Dapper chatted them up cheerfully, sometimes in some alien language, before they left without causing any harm.

Dapper led Alicia through the simple door and into the cottage, where a woman sat in a plain wooden chair, yet wore ornate bracelets and rings along her grand total of four arms. She had a single large yellow eye set square within her forehead, focused on the newcomers entering the abode. Despite those differences, her skin was human in tone, a clear light tan. She squinted at Dapper, then her eye grew wide with disbelief at the sight of Alicia. “By the rift… a Human! This deep in the Inverse, and… unfolded!? Dapper, do not taunt me any longer! The whole story, now!”

“It’s not as much of a story as you think, Oracle. I killed a couple mercenary casters, and found they had this one in chains. I conversed with her and broke her chains, but she is lost. I was planning on getting her back to her home realm.”

Oracle looked bewildered. “Why would you do that?”

Dapper shrugged. “Because she’s lost? Oh, right, and she’s not a caster. So I thought it prudent to extend a little Inverse goodwill. No reason for all of us to act like ferals, after all.”

Oracle examined Alicia, who stared at Oracle with curiosity at the strange being in front of her. “Perhaps, but we kill Humans.”

“Casters.”

“Same difference. She may become a caster in the future, and she may reenter the Inverse. Are you okay with allowing that to happen?”

Dapper stroked his chin as he looked down at Alicia. “Good point…” Alicia looked up with pleading eyes, and Dapper felt a strange feeling. He thought it may have been called empathy, but he shook his head, dismissing it. “No, that’s not really a concern. Just as easily, she could convince less Humans to enter the Inverse. Or maybe, and yes I know this is a very sizable maybe, establish a new entrance we can use to get into the Outverse easier. We have evidence that Humans can be very inventive when they choose to.”

Oracle looked intrigued this time. “That’s… one way of thinking, I suppose. Ah well, not really my business. I assume you need…?”

“Indubitably.”

Oracle whistled, and two other Vorpals entered the dimly lit cottage. One was solid red, the other blue, and both had no nose and especially large eyes of identical colors to their skin. They were taller and thinner than Dapper, with flowing robes matching the others’ color and a hood obscuring any view of their hair. They spoke with their words perfectly synchronized. “Yes, Oracle?”

“Dapper has requested aid. Could you retrieve a map?”

The blue skinned one left while the red one remained. The red Vorpal knelt down, halving her height to look at Alicia at eye level with sudden interest. “Who are you, child?”

Alicia backed up, intimidated at the intense gaze, but answered. “I’m Alicia.”

The Vorpal squinted. “My name is Twins, pleasure to make your acquaintance. What are you, though? You don’t look like a Vorpal…”

“I’m a Human.”

Twins gasped and darted backwards, standing with back to the wall. “Dapper! Oracle! There is a Human in here!”

Dapper laughed to himself. Oracle explained. “We know. As his latest little diversion, he is going to take her back.”

Twins looked at Dapper with incredulity. “That’s suicide!”

Dapper tipped his hat. “I know, right? How could I ever pass that up?”

Twins shook her head, amazed at Dapper’s dismissal. “You have a braver soul then mine. I wish you luck. Here is what you requested…”

The blue skinned and red clothed Twins returned, holding a scroll that she promptly handed to Dapper. He took it, pulled it open and skimmed the contents, before rolling it back up and tucking it under his arm. “Looks spectacular. Alicia, let us depart…”

Oracle stood up. “One more thing, Dapper. She has no shoes, and her clothes are, to be frank, awful.”

Dapper stopped, and looked at Alicia’s feet. They were quite dirty and indeed bare as she shifted uncomfortably on them.

Oracle waved her four arms rhythmically, then snapped her fingers. A puff of smoke erupted around Alicia as she yelped, then found herself wearing a plain black robe with a hood, and woven sandals. She spun around, watching the hem of her new clothes spin outwards. “Wow… I like it. It feels so warm… Thank you.”

Dapper tipped his hat to Oracle. “Infinite thanks as always, Oracle. Farewell. Come along, Alicia.”

The Vorpal and Human left the cottage and out into the Inverse, both with a spring in their step fueled by excitement of setting out to see the unknown.

Beginning
Part 3
Same post on Minds