The day had come. After a morning of helping Frank and Maria pack the ever-increasing Clarity orders, Leo stood before his master bathroom door, his heart pounding a nervous rhythm against his ribs. It was one thing to plan and purchase; it was another to actually step through and become a street vendor in another world.
He started with the folded-up stall. It was heavy and awkward. He dragged it to the threshold, took a deep breath, and stepped through.
He emerged in the dusty, abandoned storeroom that served as his private entrance to the Plaza of Wonders. He lugged the stall out into the bustling square, found a decent, unoccupied spot between a purveyor of mysterious glowing crystals and a woman selling live, multi-colored chickens, and got to work.
His appearance was an event. The locals watched, fascinated, as this strangely-dressed man seemed to pull a large, complex metal-and-canvas structure out of a dusty, empty doorway. He made several trips, vanishing into the doorway for a minute and reappearing with a strange metal cooking contraption, then boxes of colorful, crinkly packets, and finally, a crate filled with bottles of pristine, sparkling water.
Murmurs rippled through the plaza.
"Look at that! Planar magic, right in the open!"
"He must be a powerful mage... or a very foolish one."
"What's he selling? That box is covered in strange runes."
Leo ignored the stares, his focus entirely on setting up his stall. He unfolded the striped awning, set up the propane stove, and lined his counter with fifty packets of instant chicken-flavored ramen. He placed his crate of Clarity water discreetly beneath the counter. Finally, everything was ready.
He stood behind his new counter, looking out at the sea of curious faces. His nerve almost failed him. This was insane. But then he thought of the caged fairies, and his resolve hardened.
He took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and yelled, his voice cracking slightly. "Noodles! Get your magical noodles! Eat and feel invigorated!"
He decided on a price that felt audacious but fair for a "magical" product: five silver pieces per bowl.
People drifted closer, drawn by the spectacle, but no one bought anything. They looked at the brightly colored packets with suspicion. Five silvers for a small meal was steep, especially for something so alien.
To drum up business and calm his own nerves, Leo decided to make a bowl for himself. He tore open a packet, boiled a bottle of Clarity water on the stove, and cooked the noodles. The familiar, salty scent of chicken bouillon filled the air—a completely alien smell in this world of roasting meats and exotic spices. He ate it with gusto, slurping the noodles loudly, making sure everyone saw how much he was enjoying it.
His performance caught the eye of a wealthy-looking woman passing by in an ornate sedan chair carried by two burly men. She was draped in silks, her fingers heavy with rings. She watched Leo eat his strange, soupy meal, her expression one of amused curiosity. She ordered her carriers to stop.
She beckoned to Leo. "You, vendor. What is that you are consuming?"
Leo's heart leaped. A customer! "These are 'Noodles,' my lady!" he announced. "A delicacy from my homeland. Guaranteed to fill your belly and lift your spirits."
"Intriguing," she said. "I will try one of these... 'nadles.'"
"Yes, my lady!" Leo said, trying to sound like a humble street vendor. He cooked a fresh batch, using Clarity water and serving it in a simple disposable bowl. Her three armored guards watched his every move, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Leo was very, very careful.
He presented the bowl to her. She paid with five clinking silver coins. But she merely stared at the steaming noodles, holding the flimsy plastic fork he'd provided as if it were a strange insect.
"You... ah... you eat it like this, my lady," Leo said, quickly demonstrating with his own fork.
She mimicked his movements awkwardly at first, then managed to get a mouthful. Her eyes widened. The salty, savory flavor was unlike anything she had ever tasted. It was processed, artificial, and to her palate, exotic and wonderful. And beneath the simple flavor, she felt it—a gentle, spreading warmth. A lifting of the day's fatigue. The subtle magic of the Clarity water.
She finished the bowl in record time. "This is remarkable," she declared. "Vendor! I will have another!"
She ate a second bowl. Then a third.
As she finally sat back, satisfied, she handed the empty bowls and fork back to Leo. "You should not leave such strange refuse in our beautiful city," she admonished lightly.
"Of course not, my lady," Leo said, taking them and putting them in the trash bag he'd brought for this exact purpose. The 'Leave No Trace' policy applied to all dimensions.
The woman's enthusiastic endorsement was the only advertisement he needed. Her public enjoyment of three full bowls broke the ice. If it was good enough for a noble lady, it was good enough for them.
A small crowd began to form. A burly mercenary, a couple of curious young mages-in-training, a tailor on his lunch break. One by one, they tentatively handed over their silver pieces.
Project Noodle was officially in business. Leo was no longer just watching from the sidelines. He was a part of the chaos. A noodle merchant with a noble cause.