How does one achieve such speeds?

"There are paths through reality which we call threads. You can through either certain magics or advanced technology throw yourself into a thread. While you're in a thread you're travelling at the speed of light but no time passes from your perspective. You can ask magic or someone else at your destination to pull you out, though it is possible someone you weren't intending to meet can pull you out instead. Our first line of defenses for our worlds rely on pulling people out before they get near our worlds."

I have never heard of this sort of thread before.

"That doesn't surprise me, they're only really useful when you have the technology, or a form of magic that lets you make bobbles [zones of frozen time that dissipate after a certain amount of time has passed in the outside world]. The local language doesn't have a word for that though so I doubt you have a way to create them."

No. Perhaps there might be a god who has an acolyte power along those lines, but I do not know of one.

"If you were watching my arrival the silvery sphere that preceded me was a bobble."

Ah. One small mystery solved, only to be replaced by a greater one.

"What greater mystery are you referring to?"

How the bobble is created and manipulated.

"That is unfortunately not a question I can answer for you. It's a lot of physics and math that is more sophisticated than I understand, and for information security reasons I'm not carrying a textbook."

Unresolved questions give direction to life.

"Indeed they do, that's why I'm an explorer."

Do you require food or lodging?

"Depending on how long I'm here I'll eventually need free space in direct sunlight. Otherwise not really no."

Then would you perhaps like to meet up with my acolyte?

"I'd be delighted. I'd also be interested in meeting your neighbors."

The nearest is a week's travel away, across a range of mountains.

"Alright, perhaps at some point but I feel no urgent need to make such a journey."

Very well. My acolyte is east of here. If you follow the road, I will direct her to meet with you. Would you like a guide again?

"Up to you really. If it's just following the road I don't mind walking on my own."

I will be present regardless. Should you change your mind, simply ask.

"Thank you." He starts walking.

The road is a simple packed dirt track running approximately east to west.

After a while, it starts raining to either side. The road remains dry.

"Thank you." He says out loud confident that Ellayania will hear.

Probably a safe assumption.