I am like half convinced you're playing some kind of weird prank on me but okay, accidentally kidnapped to another world, sure. I should maybe stay home to make sure our roof doesn't fall in. Depends how easy it is to visit, I guess. If it's really easy then I could just pop in to see you once a week or so, if it's a huge hassle or I'd end up stuck as long as you were then maybe I'll just give up on the house, we can always get another one. Love you too. —Fia

"Okay, how much of a hassle is it—I'm getting the sense you'd rather not do one of these every week, but two weeks here and two weeks there would probably work out fine, if that's not too much trouble."

"The circle's the main time expenditure," says Korulen's dad. "If we just leave it mostly in place, which we can, it's not much time to summon or unsummon."

"Okay, sure. Then I can grab my clothes and stuff from home and take a week or so to settle in and then have Fia visit, does that sound okay?"

"Of course."

"Thanks!"

She acquires a pile of material goods, writes another quick note to update Fia on the plan, and traipses back to her room. It's kind of a boring room. Once she's got all her stuff put away and has tried out the magical otherworldly shampoo (result: yeah it's pretty impressive) and assured herself of her ability to navigate the building via its magical otherworldly travelling box, she decides to go for another walk into the city.

And there are people in the city! Mostly humans and elves, but also halflings, vampires, leonines, and the occasional exotic. This one flies down as a booted eagle and then turns into a hot dude.

Goodness. That doesn't happen every day. She watches him curiously, trying to guess if he might like to explain the eagle trick to a clueless offworlder.

He notices her looking, waves.

She waves back.

"Hi! I've been in this world for like half a day and everything's very new and exciting," she says. "People at home don't turn into eagles."

"Fancy that! I'm a dragon," he says. "We can shapeshift into stuff. Like humans." He gestures at himself. "Or eagles. How'd you get here?"

"One of the kids at the magic school over thataway," vague wave in appropriate direction, "was getting teased about how she can't cast fancy spells, so she got a friend to help her do the summoning thing, only apparently if you double up on doing a spell you're screwed when it comes time to undo it. So now I'm stuck here until they get the right magic something-or-other to unstick me. The school was very nice about it though, I've got a room and a cafeteria pass for as long as I need 'em."

"Well, I guess that could be worse. Welcome to Elcenia! I'm Aurin."

"Thanks! I'm Anlei, nice to meet you!"

"You too! You looking for something? Not my city, but I've been here before."

"Just kinda wandering aimlessly. It seems to be working out for me so far."

"It's a nice town, Paraasilan. Good theater scene."

"Theater, huh? Anything you recommend I see? With, uh, my complete lack of local money."

"I have two tickets to Wintergarden tomorrow night. Not sure what it's about, haven't seen it before, so I don't know if it's ideally introductory, but I'd be happy to explain cultural references."

"Sounds like fun!"

"You finding your way around well enough that you'd rather meet me there or should I fetch you from the school?"

"Maybe fetch me from the school, I'm pretty confident I could get to a place at a time but I don't wanna find out I'm wrong by getting lost and missing the show."

"Sure. This option comes with a free dragon ride."

She giggles. "Nice."

"Great. I'll be there eleventh-and-naught tomorrow."