Felicita woke at dawn to the sound of chimes outside Sinta's hut. The air smelled of roasted corn and crushed leaves, and the golden sunrise spilled over the bamboo rooftops of the village like honey. Despite the strange world she was in, there was a stillness to the morning that almost felt normal.
Almost.
She sat on the woven mat Sinta had laid for her, the gem resting on her chest like a heartbeat from another world. As she reached up to touch it, a soft chime echoed once more in her ears.
> Link Established: Market of All Worlds
Connection Status: Stable
Credit Available: 1 (Gold)
Scanning for Trade Objects…
A new window appeared in her field of vision, displaying rows upon rows of shimmering icons: tools, survival gear, dried food packets, energy bars, rope, and something that looked suspiciously like a high-tech grappling hook.
Felicita blinked. "I'm inside a—what? Shopping interface?"
She scrolled through the categories like she was browsing a futuristic version of Lazada or Shopee. Each item hovered with a short description, cost in credits, and even shipping speed.
> Flashlight (Solar-Powered) – 1 Credit – Delivery Time: 2.1 seconds
Survival Pack (Basic) – 2 Credits – Trade Required
Water Purifier Bottle – 1 Credit – Delivery Time: 1.8 seconds
Healing Salve (Herbal + Nano-Blend) – 3 Credits – Locked
Weaponry: Restricted Until Rank 2 Access
She whistled low. "So I'm basically a level one shopper in a magic game."
Felicita checked her bag for anything valuable. She still had her grandmother's silver earring, a small gold crucifix, and a broken antique brooch she'd been meaning to fix. One by one, she held them up to the gem.
> Item Scanned: Silver Earring
Trade Value: 0.5 Credit – Accept Trade?
"Yes," she whispered.
The gem pulsed, and the earring dissolved in a flash of light. A credit was added to her balance, and a countdown began.
> Selected Item: Solar Flashlight
Delivering in 2… 1…
A small, sleek object dropped gently into her open palm, warm as if it had just come from a factory.
Her heart raced with a thrill that was equal parts awe and fear. "This… is power. And it's dangerous."
---
Sinta emerged from the hut with a cloth bundle. "Here. Provisions for the journey. Dried fruit, herbs, and rainwater tablets."
"Thanks," Felicita said, slipping the bundle into her bag alongside her new flashlight.
"You'll leave at sunrise," Sinta said. "The capital is not far, but the road is watched. Blend in with the pilgrims. Today is the Festival of Tribute—people from all domains travel to pay homage to the Hari and Reyna."
"And the enemy?" Felicita asked quietly.
Sinta's smile faded. "They could be anyone. Even someone you'd mistake for a friend."
Great, Felicita thought. Another layer of paranoia.
Sinta walked with her to the edge of the forest path. "You're walking the edge of worlds now. Just remember: the gem listens to your heart. Let it guide you."
Felicita nodded, adjusting the strap of her satchel. She stepped onto the trail, her nerves tingling with every footstep.
---
The road to the capital, Lungsod ng Tala, was alive with music and color. People danced barefoot on painted tiles, their faces streaked with ash and petals. Felicita kept her head low, blending in among the travelers. Her tunic helped, and she stayed near a family who seemed too distracted by the festivities to notice her presence.
The city gates towered over the valley like a carved mountain. Beyond them stretched roads lined with floating banners, digital scrolls displaying messages from the royal court, and bridges woven from wood and light.
As Felicita crossed into the capital, her gem pulsed again.
> New Area Unlocked: Royal Capital – Lungsod ng Tala
New Market Categories Available
— Clothing (Cultural)
— Food (Street Vendors)
— Communication Devices (Encrypted)
New Feature Unlocked: Scan & Translate
"Scan and translate?" she murmured.
She turned her head to read a flowing script etched on a temple wall. As her eyes focused, the letters shimmered and slowly translated into Cebuano… then English.
> "He who holds the gem holds the choice between memory and fate."
Before she could ponder it further, a small boy bumped into her. "Ay, sorry!" he said quickly, then ran off into the crowd.
Felicita frowned. Her hand went to her bag.
Gone.
She spun, eyes scanning the crowd. The boy darted left, weaving between dancers and vendors.
Without thinking, Felicita activated the gem.
> Request: Trace Object – Gold Crucifix (Recently Traded)
Permission Granted
Target Marked – 22 meters north
She sprinted after the boy, pushing through the crowd until she reached a narrow alley where he was already halfway up a vine-covered wall.
"Stop!" she yelled.
The boy froze—surprised not by her voice, but by the glowing gem around her neck. He leapt down, not to run, but to bow.
"You're one of them," he whispered. "A gem-wielder. They said you'd come."
Felicita caught her breath. "Who said that?"
"The Mag-aalahas—the Jewel Watchers. They said the Seer would return with the gem and rewrite the fate of the kingdom."
Great. Prophecies now.
"Why did you steal from me?"
"I wasn't stealing," he said. "I was testing you."
"Testing me?"
Before he could explain, a loud gong echoed through the streets.
> System Alert:
Gem Pulse Detected. Unauthorized Access Attempt. Distance: 800 meters.
Felicita's head snapped toward the palace. The gem glowed red, a warning flickering in her mind.
She could feel it now—another presence brushing up against the link in her gem, like fingers trying to twist open a lock. Whoever they were, they knew about the Market. And they were dangerously close.
Someone else was trying to use the portal.
A chill spread through Felicita's chest, and her fingers tightened around the strap of her satchel. The world around her—the music, the colors, the laughter—suddenly felt distant, like a dream she couldn't touch. Her breathing quickened. Was she being watched now? Tracked? Had she already made a mistake?
What if I can't do this?
What if I'm not supposed to be here?
Her thoughts spiraled. She wasn't a warrior, or a chosen one. She was a girl who liked books. And yet here she was—caught in something far bigger than herself.
---
End of Chapter 4