Data and Magic

She was asleep, her face turned towards him, bathed in the soft glow of the firelight. Even in the dim light, he could see that she was beautiful, with long, dark hair that framed a face that was both delicate and strong, a face that spoke of resilience and determination. But her beauty was marred by weariness, by the harsh realities of this world. Dark circles underlined her eyes, making them seem even larger and more luminous, and her skin was pale and drawn, her complexion hinting at exhaustion and perhaps even malnutrition. He also noticed several small cuts and bruises on her arms and face, partially covered by small, makeshift bandages, similar to his own, but made of a different, softer material. She looked like she'd been through a war, a silent testament to the dangers of this land. Yet, despite her evident hardships, there was a gentleness about her, a softness in her sleeping features that drew him in.

He shifted slightly, trying to get a better look, to study the details of this unexpected saviour, and the movement caused a rustling sound, the dry leaves beneath him crackling softly. The young woman stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked, disoriented for a moment, her gaze unfocused, then her eyes met William's, and she focused.

She sat up quickly, a look of concern crossing her face, replacing the peaceful expression she'd worn in sleep. She spoke, her voice soft but clear, a melody he couldn't understand, a language that flowed like water over smooth stones, rippling with an unfamiliar cadence and rhythm. Yet, despite the foreign sounds, there was a warmth in her tone, a gentleness that transcended the language barrier. He found himself captivated by the sound, by the musicality of her voice, even though he had no idea what she was saying.

William shook his head, trying to clear the lingering fog of the dream, the unsettling images and emotions that still clung to him. "I... I don't understand," he stammered, his voice hoarse and scratchy from disuse and dehydration.

The young woman frowned, tilting her head slightly, a delicate furrow appearing on her brow. Then, she raised her hands, her fingers moving in a graceful, intricate pattern, a silent dance in the flickering firelight. He saw a faint, golden glow emanate from her fingertips, a subtle shimmer in the air, like heat rising from sun-baked stone. It was beautiful, mesmerizing, a display of something he couldn't comprehend, something that defied the laws of physics as he knew them.

She spoke again, and this time, miraculously, he understood her. The words, though still spoken in that same musical voice, were clear and distinct, forming coherent sentences in his mind.

"Can you understand me now?" she asked, her voice laced with a gentle concern, a note of inquiry that eased his apprehension.

William stared at her, dumbfounded, his mind struggling to reconcile the impossible reality of what he was experiencing. "Yes... yes, I can. What... what did you do?"

"A simple translation spell," she said, with a slight shrug, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. "A temporary measure, just so we can communicate. My name is Julia."

"William," he replied, still trying to process what had just happened, still grappling with the undeniable evidence of magic. "Magic... is that what you just did?" It seemed like the most absurd question he had ever asked, yet, in this context, it felt strangely appropriate.

Julia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "A minor enchantment. It won't last long, perhaps a day or two at most. I found you in the forest, unconscious. You were injured. We brought you here, to this cave, to tend to your wounds."

"We?" William asked, his mind finally catching up, realizing the implications of her words.

"Myself and my companion, Edward. He's out scouting the area and looking for supplies. He should be back soon." She paused, her gaze shifting to his bandaged leg, her expression softening with concern. "Your wound... it was infected. A goblin bite, I presume?"

William nodded, wincing as he remembered the searing pain, the creature's teeth sinking into his flesh.

"You were lucky," Julia continued, her voice filled with a quiet authority. "You used the citrusroot leaves. They have potent healing properties, and would definitely be helpful against infection. They are quite rare to find, so you were extremely fortunate. It's already working, though you'll need to rest for a few days. We've been changing the dressing and keeping it clean using various things we have been able to forage, but you should get better in a few days." She gestured to a small pile of herbs and leaves near the fire, their unfamiliar shapes and colours adding another layer of mystery to this strange world.

William looked at the bandages again, a surge of gratitude washing over him, a warmth that spread through his chest, easing the lingering fear. He'd stumbled upon a cure by sheer luck, guided by seeing the leaves effects on the bugs, but ultimately it was still a blind leap of faith in a world that seemed to defy all logic. "Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion, the words inadequate to express the depth of his gratitude. "You saved my life. Both of you."

Julia smiled, a fleeting expression that briefly illuminated her tired features, a flash of warmth that reached into his soul. "We do what we can. These are dark times. We must help each other if we are to survive."

William decided to be cautious. He wouldn't reveal the truth about his arrival, not yet, not until he understood more about this world and these people. He needed to be careful, to observe, to gather information. "I'm not from around here, I have travelled far from my homeland, but I got lost in my travels and ended up here. I was foraging in the forest," he said, improvising, weaving a plausible lie, "Looking for edible plants. I got lost, disoriented, and then... the goblin attacked me. I barely managed to escape. I must have passed out from the pain and blood loss. I remember seeing the leaves, and... and I just hoped they might help."

Julia nodded, her expression sympathetic, her eyes filled with a knowing sadness. "Goblins are a menace. They've become bolder in recent months, venturing further from their usual territories, raiding villages, attacking travellers. They are a symptom of a larger sickness, a plague upon the land."

"Recent months?" William asked, seizing on the opportunity to gather information, to piece together the puzzle of this world. "What's causing them to be bolder?"

As if being transported to a new world wasn't strange enough already, little did William know that his simple question was going push him towards a desperate and dangerous path.