Genesis told herself that she would finish the silver pocket watch quickly, but, again, she was distracted by other matters. The book she had been writing jumped into her hands, even so, the book didn't even hold her attention for quite as long as she expected it would. Soon she was looking out her large circular window with the old copper mutins at people who walked about to their destinations below.

Something stirred inside her, a mix of regret and longing. She wanted to be around others but something held her back.

Her eyes traveled upward to the tops of buildings and darkened copper colored factories in the distance. Genesis's rapt gaze continued to move skyward as her eyes eventually landed on on the beautiful land mass of green and blue that covered her world, Eyrasid, like a roof. A few small gray clouds and sky islands hung sleepily in between the space of the two worlds.

She smiled, brightening her topaz blue eyes.

Kyrasid is what her people named the land above. Back in old Eryasid, the people had found a way to go there, but as time went by the government of Eryasid had not allowed the people to go there for fear of polluting it and destroying its natural beauty with their steam-powered technology. Still, Genesis had spent many an hour wondering what it was like up there and if the rumors were true that there was a way to get there.

Did an Eryasidian of old really place a mirror up there like in legends? 

In her world, about half of the population was born with the ability to communicate and travel through mirrors; Genesis Quinlan so happened to be born with this ability. Of course, there were a few extra rules that the mirror jumpers had to abide by then the other half of the population, but that was fine with her being a responsible woman in her late twenties.

Genesis pulled her attention away from the land in the sky and started working on the silver pocket watch again. She promised it would be fixed by the eighteenth hour for one of her few friends. Just as she had secured the last small gear in place and closed the watch up, she heard a knock come from her mirror. Shortly thereafter, a young feminine face appeared, her green eyes scanned the room hopefully.

"A little early," Genesis said to herself as she walked over to the large rectangular brass baroque wall mirror with a mahogany desk pushed underneath. Taking another look, she could see that her friend's face and shoulders had appeared in it already. From what she could see, she wore a light tan colored top hat with a large feather, a small clock, and a burlap ribbon wrapped around it twice. Looking at her shoulders, she saw she was wearing a cream colored blouse with long sleeves. She was a mirror jumper as well.

"Jenny!" The blonde haired girl in her mirror chirped. "Is my watch fixed?"

"Yes, it is," Genesis smiled as she reached through the mirror its surface rippled as she handed the pocket watch to Amaryllis. Pulling her hand out, she inwardly remarked for the umpteenth time that moving through mirrors felt like moving through water. Yet oneself never got wet.

"Great!" Amaryllis bubbled. "By the way, did you remember there's a meeting today?"

Genesis snapped her fingers. Dang, "Who's mirror is it being hosted from."

"Karissa Decius's."

"Alright. Is my hair in place? Is there anything wrong with my dress?" It was polite in Eryasidian culture to look the best you could whenever a meeting was held.

Amaryllis leaned forward, she started from Genesis's long wavy ginger colored hair. Part of her hat poked out of her mirror as she quickly looked the rest of Genesis down. She wore a white long sleeve blouse, a reddish leather corset, and a dark brown ankle length skirt that shone a little under the incandescent lights, "You look fine to me." Amaryllis nodded looking back up at Genesis.

"Thanks."

"No problem. I'm gonna connect to the meeting now, see you there," Amaryllis moved her hand in front of the mirror disappearing as easily as she came.

Genesis moved her hand in front of her mirror too, she pictured Karissa Decius's place. Instantly, the reflection in the mirror changed and became as when two mirrors are placed in front of each other. The first thing she noticed was the chatter of the men and women in the room. Next, she saw everyone including Amaryllis who waved at her when she joined the meeting.

There was a tense feeling in her stomach.

So many people.

Genesis decided to grab her unfinished manuscript out of a drawer in her desk that sat directly under her baroque mirror. She pulled up a chair to the desk and began to work diligently.

About ten minutes later, the distinctive voice of Karissa rose above the others, "Attention! I have important and exciting news!" Today, Karissa wore a purple dress and black mini top hat with a small feather that rested on the right side of her head. The light from her house shone warmly on her coffee brown skin and jet black curly hair which was up in a bun.

Genesis quickly looked up from her book as the chatter died down.

Karissa began, "The good news is all citizens of Eryasid are now allowed to go to Kyrasid, of course, with the condition that we don't destroy its natural beauty."

Genesis heart leaped with joy. A murmur of excitement and agreement came from the other mirror jumpers.

"The bad news is," Karissa continued, "Is that we can't mirror jump there, the rumors that a mirror is actually up there hasn't been proven. Besides, mirror jumping is sort of like how you use a telephone. If you don't know your neighbor's number you can't call them, likewise if you don't know where a mirror is you can't go there, even if there's a mirror."

"Wait a sec," A young man with orange hair and a tan suit spoke up spoke up. "So that means we gotta go there the same way the non-mirror jumpers do. Right?"

"Right."

Genesis looked up at her copper tin ceiling and sighed, it wasn't going to be so easy after all.

*-*-*-*-*

Well after the meeting had ended, Genesis was still at the old desk. She stared silently at her mirror debating inwardly whether she should go or not.

She heard a knock on the door.

Genesis rose from the desk, and quickly opened the door, "Ignatius!?" She exclaimed happily.

The black haired man grinned, "Is there any other?"

Genesis heard herself giggle, "Come in!"

Hanging his hat up on the coat rack and they made their way to their usual place at the kitchen table.

Ignatius Hendrickson was a non-mirror jumper bachelor who had just moved from South Eyrasid almost a year ago. He had reached out to her despite her eccentric and quiet tendencies. In turn, Genesis was amazed and puzzled by this strange young man.

He was just a little older than her, being in his early thirties. He had jet black hair and vibrant green eyes. Ignatius wore a long maroon colored tweed jacket with a white long-sleeve and tan vest with hunter green slacks and black shoes.

Ignatius leaned forward expectantly from his seat, "Anything new going on?"

"Yes! Have you heard that all citizens of Eryasid can now go to Kyrasid?"

His eyes immediately brightened, "Really?"

"Yes. The bad news is that I can't mirror jump there. No mirror jumper can."

"Aren't you gonna go?"

"I'm not sure now..."

Ignatius frowned, "Why?"

"I'm not sure if I should if it's going to be that complicated."

"That's what makes an adventure truly fun Genesis. It doesn't have to be easy."

Genesis was quiet for a moment and thought about what he said. This wasn't the first time his way of thinking puzzled her. She looked up at him, "Where'd you learn to think like that?"

Ignatius shrugged and shook his head, apparently understanding what she meant, "I don't know."

"Ignatius?"

"Yes Genesis?"

"I'll go."

He smiled, "Good."

"Aren't you going to go?" She asked.

He shook his head, "No. Not anytime soon."

"Why?"

"I have to go back to the south tomorrow for a couple of weeks. Family matters."

She winced, she knew what that was like, "Good luck."

"Thanks, but just because I can't come with you don't wait to go. Get out there, see new places, and reach out to other people."

Genesis nodded, "I will Ignatius."

*-*-*-*-*

The very next day, at the start of the twelfth hour, Genesis got a hold of Karissa through her mirror, she started a conversation with her first. It had an awkward beginning but soon smoothed out. Then she asked her if she knew of any groups that were planning to go to Kyrasid within the week.

"I think I do..." Karissa began, she walked away from her mirror for a few seconds but came back with a small notebook in hand. She flipped through the pages, "Yeah! There's a group of a few people two days from now. You sure wanna join? You're a homebody kinda girl..." She looked at Genesis scrutinizingly.

"Yes."

"Alright. They'll be meeting at Hashira hill at the fourteenth hour."

"Do I need to bring anything?"

"Nope. The person who made the group said they were gonna wing it. Mostly."

"Thanks! How do you know all this again?"

Karissa grinned, "I work for the city."

*-*-*-*-*

The big day had finally come.

Genesis had put on a knee-length cream-colored dress, her usual leather cuff bracelets, a tan leather corset with a clock on it, and her hardiest black under-knee-length boots. To top it off, she put her hair up in a bun and put on some copper goggles to keep her hair out of her eyes.

Now, she was walking up Hashira hill. In the distance, she saw a woman and a man, who looked to be around her age, talking together; as she neared, she could see them better. The woman's hair, which was done up in a bun, was such a dark brown that it was almost black. She wore a white blouse, brown leather corset, a brown skirt and boots of the same color her dark brown eyes matched perfectly. The man had dirty blond hair and gray eyes. He wore a white long sleeve with a black leather vest and slacks of the same color.

"Hello?" Genesis interrupted cautiously, "Is this the group that's going to Kyrasid today?"

"Part of it," Said the man jokingly, "What's your name?"

"I'm- I'm Genesis, you?"

"I'm Ace and this," He motioned to the brunette woman, "this is Britt."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too," Ace smiled a little. 

The woman spoke up, "Are you a mirror jumper? There's always something different about the eyes of a mirror jumper. It's like they shine more or something."

She laughed a little, "Yeah. Are you one?"

"No, but Ace is."

Genesis smiled widely. Another mirror jumper!

Ace thought for a second, he turned to Genesis, "Do I know you? I can't shake the feeling that we've seen each other before."

"No. Wait, lemme think--" She stopped to think for a moment, she was feeling a little better at socializing already. "Your the one who always reads a book during meetings?"

"That's me."

"Your not the only one. I like to write and think about other matters during meetings. Mostly thinking."

"Really? I always thought you played attention. When you weren't writing you'd be looking at the person who was talking."

"That's 'cause I mask my daydreaming in the right way as to look like I'm paying complete attention. I pay just enough attention to my surroundings and others just so I look like I am."

Ace and Britt chuckled. Genesis could tell it wasn't mockingly.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Are you guys going to Kyrasid?"

Looking towards the direction of the voice they saw a man who looked to be in his forties and a pre-teen boy walked up the hill towards them.

"Yeah!" Ace called back out to them. "Come on up!"

As they came up the hill, Genesis wondered whether the man and the boy were related or not. The man's hair was a chestnut brown with white on the sides, his hazel eyes showed age. He wore a long brown leather jacket, pushed up goggles, black slacks, and long boots. The boy had short black hair and brown eyes. He wore a newsboy hat, a tweed jacket with a white shirt and brown vest, brown slacks and shoes.

"What are your names?" Asked Ace.

"I'm Carver," said the boy.

"And I'm Dmitri Balyn. Is this your whole group?"

Ace nodded, "Yes, Yes it is."

*-*-*-*-*

"I picked Hashira hill," Ace began, "Because it's the highest point in all of Eryasid and the closest sky island to the ground is practically within reach," He gestured to the nearest island which floated unmovingly in the sky. A single ladder connected it to the ground.

The island was of decent size, as oneself could have enough room for a few large tents. The top of it was mostly flat with emerald green grass atop it. The bottom was rock, it was shaped like a cone of sorts, albeit a very rough one.

Ace continued, "Luckily for us, some Eyrasidians of old have made ladders connecting certain islands in a way that partially lead up to Kyrasid."

Genesis mentally noted that Ace must have started the group.

"But what about when the ladders end?" Britt queried.

"We'll see. I heard that the old Eyrasidians left something up there that should help us the rest of the way."

The rest of the group nodded approvingly.

"Is there anything important we need to know before we start?" Genesis addressed.

Ace snapped his fingers, "I forgot! Thank Genesis. Yes, one more thing. Were gonna be going up pretty high so watch out for each other and keep each other safe."

Shortly after, the group walked over to the first ladder. Carver was the first to try the ladder, after which, Ace, Dmitri, Genesis and Britt came after.

As she went up the first ladder, it seemed that it wasn't as rickety as she expected it to be. As they went up the second and third Genesis noticed that the ladders were actually quite sturdy and in good condition, when the group was at the top of the fourth island she decided to ask about it.

"Hey guys," Genesis started. "Haven't you noticed how strong the ladders are? You'd expect them to be practically broken by now. Right?"

Sounds of agreement came from most of the group.

"My guess is that the old Eryasidians used magic to keep them in this condition for so long," Dmitri suggested. "Maybe a similar magic to what the mirror jumpers use."

"That's amazing!" Brit resounded.

*-*-*-*-*

The group continued upward. Genesis noticed that her fear of others continued to disappear. When the group made it to the eighth island they decided to stop and rest for a few minutes.

"Did anyone bring food?" Carver inquired of the group as he sat on the grass, his eyes still full of energy.

"I did," said Dmitri as all eyes turned to him. "I always bring some salt water taffy with me wherever I go." He reached into one of the many pockets of his jacket and pulled out some candies. After which, one candy was handed to everyone in the group.

After they were done with their candies, they talked. Genesis would join in sometimes; a comment here, some humor there. She was feeling better about herself already. During the conversation, she saw that Britt had walked off to a side of the island. When no one was talking to Genesis, she walked over to Brit and sat near her.

They sat together in silence for a couple minutes. The light from the sun glowed softly upon the two worlds through the graying clouds. Looking down, she could see Eryasidian buildings, and factories covering the ground. If one looked hard enough, you could see some people walking about.

She stopped for a moment to think about Ignatius. She wished he was there with her, she also wondered if everything was going well for him and his family.

Looking up from Eyrasid, on eye level, she could see other sky islands scattered in the air. Her eyes left the sky islands and landed on Kyrasid. She inwardly marveled at how beautiful it looked.

Britt turned to Genesis, "Do you feel that?"

"Feel what?" Thought Genesis, then she detected a cool wet feeling on her skin. "It's starting to sprinkle," she stood up, her hands outstretched.

*-*-*-*-*

Soon after, they continued on their journey. The sprinkling of the rain became little stronger and more noticeable as they went upward. Genesis had put her goggles over her eyes and held onto the ladders as well as she could.

"This the eleventh ladder. No?" Dmitri gestured to the damp ladder that stood before the group.

"This is eleven," Ace replied counting on his fingers, "And we have..." He paused and looked up, "it seems we have about five maybe six flights to go." He walked up the eleventh ladder and started up it. Genesis went next, but she felt her grip slipping, within the next few seconds she found herself hanging tightly by one hand onto the second to last rung of the ladder. The rest of her dangled dangerously in the air. An unshakable feeling of terror clung to her with a vice-like grip.

Ace, who was already at the top, looked down. His face white with fear. Dmitri immediately scrambled to the edge of the island where Genesis hung, "Reach up with your other hand!" He called putting his hand out to her, "We'll help you!"

For a few moments Genesis was paralyzed with fear, pulling herself together she swung her free hand up and latched onto Dmitri's hand. With one hand gripping a ladder rung and the other Dmitri's hand he and the others who were still on the island helped Dmitri pull Genesis up onto the island.

Genesis, looked up at Dmitri and smiled. "Thanks," she looked to Carver and Britt, "You too."

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Britt gushed, running up to Genesis.

"Is everything okay down there?!" Ace called out from the twelfth island.

"Yes!" Dmitri yelled up to Ace. "We almost lost a teammate!"

Genesis smiled at the fact she was considered and accepted as part of the team.

"Good thing we didn't!" Ace called back. "Now carefully come up here guys I can see the last island from here!"

*-*-*-*-*

The father they climbed, the braver Genesis became. It was dark, and the thunder had started, but she didn't care. They were now closer than ever before to Kyrasid, nothing would stop them.

Now, they were on the last island as a little rain fell. The only thing higher than them at this point was Kyrasid.

"Hey look!" Carver motioned to a large wooden rowboat at the end of a dock that floated on a cloud. The only thing that kept it from floating away from the place was a rope that attached it to the dock.

"So old Eyrasidians did leave something..." Ace marveled. As they walked up to the boat together. Genesis couldn't take her eyes off the floating dock and boat.

"It looks like it can fit us all," Britt mentioned.

Ace and Dmitri sat in the front seat of the boat each with an oar, Carver sat in the middle on the floor of the boat, and Genesis and Britt sat in the back seat.

Her heart pounded with excitement as they rowed in the clouds, as lighting flashed around them. She dared to look over the edge at the whole world below and was rewarded with an amazing view of the sky islands, and Eyrasid far below her.

She had never felt so alive before.

As they kept on rowing, Genesis detected that the cloud path they were rowing through was slowly turning them up and around. Lightning continued to flash as Genesis saw that the upward facing buildings of Eyrasid were beginning to turn downward. More excitement pulsated through her at the realization that they were almost there.

Gradually, the rain, thunder, and lightning stopped and they were now rowing calmly on the light gray cloud with Kyrasidian land in sight.

Genesis's heart caught in her throat as their boat landed on soft emerald green grass. Slowly, they all stepped out of the boat and onto Kyrasid.

An overwhelming joy filled her as she looked at the wide and vast world. A sunset shone brightly on the lakes in the surrounding area. Looking up, Genesis saw the sky islands that had helped them here. Her rapt gaze kept moving skyward till her eyes landed on a large land mass covered in downward facing buildings from her perspective.

The group was quiet for a little while as they looked at their parallel worlds in awe. Genesis whispered a quiet thank you to Ignatius.

Suddenly, a familiar light flashed in the corner of her far left peripheral vision. Genesis turned and saw a single white baroque mirror in standing the middle of the field. The last lights of day shone brightly on it's crystal clear surface.

"Guys," she motioned, breaking the silence, "There's a mirror here!"

They all walked up to the mirror.

"And I thought it was a myth," Ace breathed.

"But how do we non-mirror jumpers get back?" Dmitri queried gesturing to Britt and Carver.

"If a non-mirror jumper and a mirror jumper holds hands they can both go through a mirror," Genesis answered repeating what an old school textbook of hers said, "So if we all hold hands we can go through this mirror back home."

"What about the boat?" Asked Carver.

Genesis and the others turned to look at the boat, which was already rowing it's self back.

Ace chuckled, "I guess that answers our question. There's a mirror in the middle of town, we can come out of that one. Sounds good?"

Sounds of agreement went around as they all held hands. Starting with Genesis, then Dmitri, Britt, Carver and Ace in the back. The surface of the mirror rippled slightly as she neared it.

A feeling of triumph filled her as she stepped into her world.