《Help Wanted: Book Enthusiast》


 Chapter 1: Fan Theory

    Pain exploded on the back of my arm as I stumbled forward, and the echo of a panicked "Excuse me!" reached my ears. Looking up, I could barely discern the retreating figure of a worker in a red smock and teal shirt, rushing away frantically. I watched as they knocked into a display of books to avoid a large bag placed on the ground next to someone in line.


    Dozens of books clattered onto the stained nutmeg floor as he continued his mad dash down the curving aisles, heading towards the front of the line somewhere out of sight. Shifting the weight of my backpack I regained my balance and shrugged at the people in the queue closest to me.


    The owner of the offending bag grumbled as he started picking the displaced books up and began meticulously shelving them back on the display feeling obligated, I imagined, to sort them as only an obsessive compulsive book nerd would.


    Taking a step back into the line I grasped my precious first edition of ¡°The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen: Book One¡± tightly to my chest.


    The abrupt cacophony, followed by its sudden absence, drew my attention to the classical music playing over the bookstore¡¯s speakers. Strangely, I hadn¡¯t heard any announcements or advertisements since the line finally left me standing in the air conditioned entryway.


    Surrounded by the pleasant smell of old books and natural lighting I found myself quite liking the old building. The main walkway was lined by large white columns carved in a way that made them resemble oversized stacked books.


    I¡¯d definitely be moving this place up on my list for future purchases. Even though it is a bit far from where I live it would be worth the day trip for the atmosphere and to skim through the stacks without the constant droning of subliminal corporate marketing.


    Unfortunately getting shoved hadn¡¯t just startled me but confirmed that I was still nowhere near the front of the line. I frowned at this discovery and let out an audible sigh as I idly remarked, "I can''t even see the author''s table". Silent nods echoed my exasperation.


    Everyone¡¯s excitement was diminishing from the long hours standing and the unbearably slow shuffle forward. We were all pretty enthusiastic before dawn when the line had started, the cool early morning air amplified our eager conversations and was occasionally accented by the interrupting sounds of traffic.


    That state of excited chatter, the kind that brings fans together and gives complete strangers the opportunity to make new friends, had mostly ended about two hours ago.


    I could still hear groups breaking out with laughter, sometimes catching the indistinct sounds of a loud debate, all overlaid on an undercurrent of people recording or talking on their phones. However, the overall enthusiasm had died down considerably.


    There were a lot of people recording, actually. I hadn¡¯t realized it before but really, who could blame them? This was going to be the first sighting of Felix de Vere, author of ¡°The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen¡± Not only that but it was going to be a book signing!


    If the announcement was to be believed then it¡¯s also set to be the only book signing, ever. These autographed books would probably be worth their weight in gold.


    It had been two days ago that I had received the most shocking notification from the author''s news and updates post,


    ONE TIME ONLY!


    Special appearance and book signing on the 22nd!


    Starts at 8 am and ends at 11 am.


    Location and city to be announced at midnight of the day.


    After reading it I had spent hours confirming its authenticity. I couldn''t believe the Felix de Vere was finally going to come out of hiding, at a book signing no less! There were no known legitimate copies signed by the mysterious writer. This was huge.


    It had been 20 years since the first book of "The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen'''' had started climbing the bestseller list. After the fifth book had been released within just three short years there was even talk about turning it into a high budget movie but the author had been a recluse the whole time and no one had ever been able to get a meeting to acquire the rights. In fact, nobody had been able to learn anything more than what was provided by his website.


    This was to be the first sighting of the author anywhere and his reclusive nature gave rise to all kinds of fringe fan theories, such as the writer actually being a collective rather than a single individual, given the variance in tone from book to book. Of course, there have been wilder theories, with some people even suggesting that the author might be a time traveling alien from space with two hearts. I ran across many such ridiculous theories in the first hour of my research into the notification. Today those theories were going to be debunked by his appearance.


    However, the theory that surprised me the most I learned while chatting to other fans about the legitimacy of the notification. One person, ¡°Wizzy55¡±, was a newer addition to our internet group and shared his latest theory that implied the author had left hidden clues in a specific chapter in the last book foretelling that this would happen.


    I immediately grabbed my copy and inspected the quoted chapter. I had to agree that it did indeed seem to allude to this very event. All my notes on the chapter had left me with questions at the time, so it was nice to get a bit of closure on that. It was really starting to look like my theories might actually be true!


    The next morning I awoke groggily to the incessant chiming of my laptop as I was bombarded with messages. I stumbled out of bed while rubbing my sore and tired eyes, silently begrudging myself for having stayed up so late researching.


    I had no less than three dozen messages from various people all asking for my take on a new update that had been posted on the author''s official website. Immediately I brought it up as seeing an update on the website in of itself was a rarity and a most welcome surprise, but the content was definitely unexpected.


    The post outlined a set of rules. Specifically a list of rules regarding the event and reading over it I was left feeling a bit confused. One of the rules was that there was to be absolutely no sharing of the bookstore¡¯s location. This made me wonder how the location would be shared in the first place. If it was just going to be posted on the website wouldn¡¯t everyone know anyways? The rest of the rules left me just as confused.


    No live transmissions, including video calls.


    No releasing recordings until the day after.


    You couldn¡¯t even share the location or timing of the event in the recordings themselves.


    I had no idea how they thought they were going to enforce these rules. The strange nature of them left me feeling skeptical. Was this whole thing going to be a big bust? Would the mundane ineptitude of the event planning be what invalidated my theories?


    All the rules were super weird, but one thing that caught my attention was how eerily the details matched with predictions made by Wizzy55. The accuracy was uncanny, in fact this fan theory was almost too on point.


    I closed my laptop and began to get ready for work. I had let my stubble grow out a little too much during this whole series of events and was looking a bit disheveled. After getting ready I left my apartment and during my whole commute I rehearsed the questions I would ask the him. Passing miles of wind turbines on my way to the office I practiced how to ask, ¡°Is this real?¡± Still the most direct and equally lame question I came up with that day.


    Then, last night I sat at my kitchen table filled with not only the questions I would ask but also questions about where the author would hold the book signing with an equal amount of anxiety. I feared I would have to get a last minute flight and pray it was close enough for me to make it within the short window of the event.


    My phone read 11:59 pm. Less than a minute remaining.


    My foot was anxiously shaking up and down as I actually began to sweat in anticipation.


    Beep! Beep! Beep!


    I landed on the ground as, despite my preparation, the alarm I had set startled me. I felt my heart beating furiously as I shuffled around grabbing for my phone where it had landed on the floor.


    After retrieving it I brimmed with excitement as I refreshed the page and read the brightly colored notification right there on the author¡¯s website.


    Come to Ye Old Tales in Westmount.


    Tell no one the location.


    Recirculation of this notice will result in the cancellation of this one time event.


    I picked myself up off the floor and sat back on the kitchen chair, quickly searching for any information on the place and to my amazement discovered that the bookstore was a local family run collector establishment just two cities over from me! It seemed they specialized in textbooks, classic stories, and collector editions. I think I even passed it a few times when traveling to visit my best friend Jon. What were the odds that of all the cities to be chosen for this exclusive event it would end up being one so close by?


    Opening the mapping app on my phone I had toggled the street view and saw a small storefront with stone facing and pillars. It looked straight out of a historic guide for local architecture from the 1930s confirming it was the bookstore I was thinking of.


    I grabbed my backpack and pressed a button on my phone, it started blurting out directions as I rushed out of my apartment. With my front door half open I reached into my bag and pulled out my earbuds as I made sure I hadn¡¯t left my keys inside. I quickly closed the locked door and settled the earbuds in their place as I checked my watch to make sure it was connected to my phone. I gave the doorknob one last check before I proceeded to leap down the stairs from my apartment¡¯s landing.


    Suddenly the line gave way, interrupting my recollection as I finally got to take another step forward.


    Wait, that was what, like.. nine hours ago that I left my apartment?


    Leaning out of the line again I looked for the authors table.


    Damn, still not in sight.


    Glancing to my right the end cap shelves looked exactly the same as they had moments before. Hadn¡¯t I just taken a step forward?


    I looked around at the people in line, most were distracted looking at their screens or reading books. I brushed my hand across the soft spines of the nearest shelf as I read the titles.


    Wait, these were the same books I was knocked into earlier, when was that?


    I looked down at my watch and did a double take. It had been an hour?!


    I pulled one of the textbooks from the shelf that I had picked up earlier and hadn''t pushed back in all the way. I recalled it had a long title, something about analysis, and indeed the cover in my hand matched the one I remembered with a condensed white text on a blue cover that read, ¡°An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements¡±.


    Didn''t I just take a step forward to this shelf? How am I stepping forward but going nowhere?!


    I turned to the guy behind me to ask him his take on this unsettling development.


    What had he said his name was again? Sven? Scott? Simon? Wait, definitely Spencer.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Suddenly, his phone rang, "Hey. Yeah I am still in line. I know, man. I know! I can''t believe I¡¯m actually here. Oh shit! No I¡¯m not saying where. Dude I¡¯m not about to ruin my chances! You will get nothing out of me, there''s cameras everywhere. Hey, how''s that-" Spencer abruptly stopped what he was saying and looked down at this phone and began shaking it.


    I turned back around while reaching forward to tap the shoulder of the guy in front of me when my fingertips barely brushed his shirt. The line had taken another step forward without my noticing! Stepping forward I let my arm drop back down to my side. I swiveled my head to the right and found myself looking down an empty aisle.


    I must be going a bit crazy.


    I couldn''t make out any of the book categories. Squinting I looked up to the top of the shelves. I discovered the placard closest to me was just out of sight and I could only make out that there were about six letters to the word.


    Without thinking I gave up on trying to decipher my location and I pulled my phone out of my pocket with my free hand. I began playing a new cross platform MMORPG that I had found a few hours ago. I was fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, making lots of progress. I was already level 15.


    Mindlessly I played as the line stepped forward.


    "Oh Come on Really?!" I heard a random voice exclaim somewhere behind me. I looked around trying to find the person but was unable to identify them. I turned to see what titles of books were at my side.


    Wait, what the fuck? These are the same titles I saw an hour ago!


    Looking at my watch I saw the time was 9:15 am.


    Hold on, I¡¯d just leveled to 35 in what, fifteen minutes? That couldn¡¯t be right. Pulling my phone up I looked down at the game. Yep, there it was clearly and in bold golden lettering, ¡°LEVEL 35¡±


    There is no way it''s 9:15 am.


    Sure enough though, that was exactly the time.


    Quickly I toggled through the apps on my phone. Opening the fitness app I stared down in disbelief at 13,369 steps. I looked up to discover I was standing in the aisle between shelves again, rather than at the end of one. Looking back down, my phone''s screen had turned off. Pressing my finger to the screen it flickered back on showing 536 steps and my excitement began to grow as all of my theories seemed to be validated.


    Holy shit, this is proof!


    Either proof of what had been happening and the reality of my theories or proof that I¡¯ve lost my mind. I still wasn¡¯t sure which.


    Clutching my book tightly I looked around trying to see if anyone else had noticed the inconsistencies. Everyone, as far as I could see, looked like docile cattle waiting to be fed into the machine; an incandescent screen glow touching almost everyone''s faces.


    A stillness hit me and at the same time I could hear a low buzzing. Was it eerily quiet? I realized I hadn''t heard anything since the outburst from somewhere behind me.


    Looking back I saw the line still stretched out the front door. I felt a displacement of air as the line moved forward and saw Spencer''s face pinched into a scowl as he glared at me.


    Then I heard a velvety voice ask in an almost hypnotic tone,


    "Who should I make this out to?"


    I turned back around to see a hand reaching out towards me. I stared down at the man sitting behind the table. How had I gotten to the authors table? I had just looked up and down the line with no end in sight.


    What is going on?


    The soothing voice of the man slid across my senses like a warm caress,


    "You do want your book signed, right, Mal?"


    No, I didn''t just want my book signed. What I wanted was to ask him about techniques from the books that seemed to really work. Yet in a zombie-like state I forgot to answer his question and handed the book down to his outstretched hand.


    Wait, how does he know my name?


    Then, realizing that others could see the scribbled notes of my theories in my now opened book, I panicked. I went to stop him but our eyes locked. His eyes were light brown with flecks of yellow¡­ no, gold. It was like looking at a swirling aureate liquid in a crucible bowl. He handed the book back without ever blinking. I grasped it to my chest as I stepped out to the side of the table, not really knowing what I was doing.


    I looked around again in confusion.


    What just happened? I was going to ask him about my theories, but one minute I couldn¡¯t even see the authors table, and the next I¡¯m getting my book signed?


    Wait, my book was signed!


    Oh no.. Oh no, oh no!


    He saw my notes and I didn¡¯t get to ask any questions!


    I dashed to the farthest corner in my line of sight and turned around placing my back to the bookshelves. I carefully cracked open the cover, doing everything I could to protect my notes from being seen.


    There, in small print, in a spot I didn''t even think there had been room to write in;


    "To Mal. May all Your Dreams Come True. Lord of the Monolith, Claeffen"


    Slamming the book closed I hissed a curse under my breath.


    I can''t believe this guy signed the book as the main character!


    Not only had I not gotten to ask a question but the guy had the nerve to invalidate the signature by signing it as ¡°Claeffen¡±.


    Removing my bag from my shoulder I opened it, thrust the book in, and zipped it closed. I quickly made my way down the aisle to the front door.


    What¡¯s wrong with this guy?! I mean, why even come out of hiding if he¡¯s not going to sign the book properly?


    Wait, was that even the writer? Would we even know? I mean, surely the publishing company had done some checking or something to verify his identity.


    What an absolute jerk!


    I realized only an author would have the nerve to sign a book as the main character. Someone trying to pass themselves off as the writer would be concerned about being caught and would probably sign the book conventionally. This thought calmed me down a bit.


    I had just got to the front of the store when my mind started taking in details that made no sense. I looked around and I couldn''t see the line of people anywhere.


    Where¡¯d everyone go?


    The soft classical music playing over the intercom seemed to grow louder in the empty store. Turning around I pushed on the door to leave when I heard someone call out,


    "Wait a Minute! Don''t open the door! Hey! Please, I don''t want to chase you outside."


    One of the workers was calling out as he ran up to me right as the door let a warm breeze through. Letting go and allowing the door¡¯s hydraulic hinge to close the it softly I turned to the guy as he wheezed out,


    "I was asked to bring you to the back room. Follow me."


    As if I had no will of my own I followed the man as we passed a wave of colors in the sea of bookshelves. I hadn''t realized before but this bookshop had really tall shelves. Why hadn''t I noticed that before? Looking at the back of the guy I noticed it was the same guy from earlier in the teal shirt.


    As I followed him I asked,


    "Who asked you to bring me, was it the manager or something?¡±


    Then, after a moment¡¯s hesitation added,


    ¡°I brought my own book but I¡¯m not opposed to buying one to support the store if that¡¯s what this is about."


    Wait, did the lights just get dimmer?


    Scanning the wall I saw dark gray stone, not brick but actual stone. Somehow I was now in a dark stone hallway!


    I turned my head every which way and got my second shock as I noticed the top of the tall stone walls were casting a soft yellow glow from metal sconces. Not light bulbs, not fire¡­ just softly glowing yellow lights.


    I looked back at the guy who was leading me and found I wasn¡¯t behind a guy in a teal shirt anymore but instead someone in a black robe. I felt my feet stop of their own accord and my chest began heaving up and down, then my breath exhaled so fast it made a high pitched noise with my lips.


    I reached out to steady myself against the wall and watched as the world tilted upside down. My hand slid down the wall feeling the smooth texture of chipped stone as I was unable to keep my balance. Slowly I spilled down the side of the wall till I stopped half sitting and half laying. I squeezed my eyes closed as I began the breathing exercises I had learned for work.


    Once calmed I opened my eyes.


    Stone walls? Check


    Black cloaked figure walking? Check


    I turned back in the direction we had come from and continued my grounding exercise.


    Just a hallway with nothing in sight? Check


    I looked ahead again,


    Nothing but a black cloaked figure walking down a hallway, still. Check


    Then I closed my eyes again and pressed them closed, hard. I scrunched my eyes until my face hurt, lights began to dance brightly on my eyelids and my head buzzed with the sound of my trembling nerves.


    I heard the employee clear his throat.


    "My lunch break starts in five minutes." Opening my eyes I discovered I was actually standing and looking at the very annoyed store employee, once again surrounded by bookshelves.


    "Uh, right, lead the way." I croaked out. Hoping I was doing a good job of hiding my anxiety, or was it a complete mental breakdown?


    We reached a plain metal door at the back of the store and the guy gestured towards it before hurriedly starting back the way we had come.


    Practically yelling as he retreated,


    "Take a seat or something, someone will be with you soon, I guess."


    I watched as his teal shirt faded from view.


    How is he fading from sight? I guess the line to the table was long but it wasn¡¯t long enough for a person to fade away, was it? Why does it look like a long tunnel? Am I unwell?


    A quick flick through my watch brought me to the health stats. Nothing looked out of place. Why did nothing look out of place?!


    Hadn''t I just had signs of a panic attack, or maybe a stroke or something? I stared at the steps walked; 563.


    Wait, how had I only walked 27 steps?! It was more steps to the front door and I had walked all the way to the back of the store.


    My watch went black from lack of use.


    Damn, I had been staring long enough for it to turn off.


    Flicking my wrist the screen lit up to show 636 steps.


    Okay, fine, my watch obviously needs fixed or the app updated. It just jumped by a hundred more steps.


    I finally looked up at the door and I noticed it was half open and the light wasn''t even on.


    I thought I was supposed to meet someone here? Why was the light not even on? I reached out, opening the door as I felt for a light switch while my right foot stepped into the room. Suddenly the room was flooded by an intense bright light that partially blinded me and colors swam around my eyes until the room came into focus.


    Stunned, I took in the room with its elaborately carved walnut bookcases filled with old books and matching carved desk and chairs that gave it a magical quality. Stepping up to a bookcase I caught sight of rows of what had to be first or second editions of all kinds.


    Man, this room is incredible!


    The owner of this bookstore had really made a home away from home library. I moved to a shelf of knickknacks and saw around nine intricate antique gemstone statuettes of knights, some were on horses and I could even make out their facial expressions. Perusing the same shelf there was a golden astrolabe with matching sextant, a celestial snow globe, four colored glass bottles with some kind of liquids, a glass bottle with a foggy substance, a miniature springtime mountain with a pack of wolves, and a gnome wooden totem pole.


    Wait, a totem pole with gnome faces and animals? That¡¯s bizarre.


    I whipped my head towards a shadow of movement in the corner of my eye.


    Was that lapis knight in a different spot? No way it moved, right?


    I leaned in closer and I would swear that it had a smug look on its tiny face.


    Leaning back from staring down at the gemstone knight I looked around the room and discovered that I was still alone. Admiring the detailed carvings on the bookcases I realized that some of the carvings looked like runes.


    They weren¡¯t Norse runes but rather runes out of the fourth volume of "The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen" that were illustrated in diagrams depicting what the Zwelvse used in their forest homes. Zwelvse wasn¡¯t the most creative renaming for elves but I understood why he¡¯d wanted to make it more "original''''.


    Wait, do these bookcases actually say something?!


    Stepping back, I questioned why the bookstore owner would have bookcases carved with the Zwelvse runes?


    Slowly turning I looked at the room anew, not with passing curiosity but rather with intent to learn, to decode the secrets that might lay here. This room was now something I needed to understand. I wished I had my notes on book four to confirm any discoveries and possibly translate.


    The more I examined the room the more I felt my skin tingle. I lifted my sleeve up and saw my arm hair standing on end with my flesh covered in thousands of little goosebumps.


    If the runes were here was it possible that there were other things lying in wait for discovery?


    I glanced at everything on the desk and the bookcases. I was desperate to recognize anything familiar in the room that might explain the presence of the runes. It was all very exquisitely made. The details on the statues was mind-blowing with the kind of precision craftsmanship that most fanatical Warhammer fans would aspire to.


    Well, I guess anyone crafting miniatures would want that kind of detail.


    On the desk there was a golden pen, stacks of papers, and a crystal vase with flowers I couldn¡¯t recognize. It was kind of bare compared to the bookcases.


    I walked behind the desk, picked a shelf, and started reading the titles:


    "Best Stones to Craft With", "Life of the Tree", "Slow Cooking for the Braindead", "How to Catch Stars", "Nutation: The Observer¡¯s Guide to Periodic Axial Variation", "Exotic Travels of the Sand", "Sally Forth! Onward, to a New Career".


    Well these titles suck.


    I stepped back looking for anything at all that stood out. There was a coat rack with an umbrella stand that seemed oddly placed in a corner of only bookcases.


    It''s behind the desk chair so it kind of makes sense.


    Investigating the coat rack I found no designs on the wood. It was actually quite plain and bland in a room where everything else looked to be a work of art. Next I examined the empty umbrella holder. The outside was likewise plain so I squatted down to peer into the bottom of it. I thought I could just make out a design so I reached for my phone and shook it until the flashlight came on. There was what appeared to be a maker''s mark on the inside. Gasping, I leaned back. In my left ear I heard a hushed voice,


    "Interesting isn''t it?"


    I jolted to my right, getting as far away from the offending voice as I could but collided against the book covered wall. My mind barely comprehended that I was scurrying away from the person who had signed my book just a short while ago.

 Chapter 2: The Kittens, the Wasp and the Wardrobe

    I stared in shock at the man while a clattering of books landed on and around me from the collision. His face was just a foot away from mine and sported a wide grin. I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment; not only had I reacted like a startled cat, but I had also been caught snooping around. I began to stammer an apology but there was something about his proximity that caused my words to get caught in my throat. Before I could compose myself he spoke,


    "Well, Mal, that was nice timing."


    Timing? What the hell is he talking about, and how did I not hear him enter the room?


    Some part of my brain itched at the unanswered question from earlier regarding how this man, supposedly Felix de Vere, author of the ¡°The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen¡±, had known my name in the first place.


    As my mind raced to puzzle itself back together he reached out slowly towards my face in a way that seemed like time itself had thickened, becoming viscous and slowing the world around me. I instinctively tried to dodge his hand but I found myself totally unable to move as his index finger touched the tip of my nose with a playful, ¡°Boop.¡±


    Then the world went rainbow.


    In one instant the world around me melted like it was made of crayons under nuclear heat. It all blended together around me in a swirling psychedelic panopticon before it was blasted away behind me.


    I was overwhelmed with forward momentum and watched colors I didn¡¯t even know could exist blur into peripheral nothingness. There was a surreal quality to it though, like a dream of falling into the visual cacophony of a neon hyperspace.


    I could feel my arms flailing around but in that moment of recognition I realized that I couldn¡¯t see my own body, it had melted into the colorful chaos cornucopia as well. Where the sudden movement had filled me with adrenaline, the inability to see my own body sent me into a sheer total panic. Almost as if to illustrate my violent new anxiety, the experience took on an oppressive quality as undulating waves of malignant force began to ripple through this incomprehensible space. I heard the voice from before, my mind struggling to perform the simple task of associating sound to form in it¡¯s current inundation.


    "Calm down.¡± The voice called out reassuringly.


    It was good advice but for the fact that whatever was happening left me barely capable of comprehending the words being spoken.


    ¡°You¡¯re like a child thrashing in a pool.¡±


    Some small part of me felt antagonized but still wasn¡¯t cognizant enough to respond.


    ¡°You are making those waves you¡¯re choking on, Mal. Calm yourself!" This time the voice spoke authoritatively and the words brought a sudden clarity and the sinister deluge lessened as I began thinking of.. Kittens?


    With thoughts of soft little kittens I suddenly felt like I was being cuddled and my body reverberated with the warmth of rhythmic purring.


    Then the forward momentum stopped and I was floating in a kaleidoscopic maelstrom, with the impression of kittens, of all things, purring and nuzzling¡­


    I¡¯m dreaming, this has to be a dream.


    Had I even gone to a book signing?


    Was I lucid dreaming or something?


    These questions brought my awareness to the fact that I could in fact think again.


    This now pleasant, if disturbing, experience continued a while longer when again my senses were accosted with new sensations. I heard the echoes of some kind of whining noise far to my left and I turned to see the colors slowly changing. It was as if they were un-melting, solidifying from a structureless disordered mass into a form that actually made sense to my brain.


    I watched as hundreds of shades fused and became the prominent colors that I knew. I leaned forward to get a better look as curiosity had taken hold of me and I reached out to touch it.


    Then a rush of vibration struck me with force,


    "Mal stop!"


    The abrupt voice continued, this time not seeming like it was directed towards me,


    "I shouldn''t have tried to see if he could stay awake this long."


    I barely heard the words as they drifted to my ears, half caught whispers on an endless sea. Then, the colors stopped swimming, moving, altogether.


    Color ceased existing entirely and I was left adrift in a dead calm, a dark silent vastness, and in the void I heard the steady thump of.. A heart, no.. my heart, beating.


    I opened my eyes to a carved wooden ceiling.


    My mind felt like leftover pudding. There was a slight dull throbbing in my left temple that wasn''t quite a headache but definitely wasn¡¯t comfortable either. I could still feel the residual vibration of purring kittens echoing through my bones.


    Wait, this isn¡¯t my ceiling!


    Then, it wasn¡¯t a dream?


    I¡¯d been booped on the nose and sent.. Somewhere. With that thought I took in my surroundings.


    I was lying on a large bed made of a deep blue azurite-like mineral that was covered in relief carvings along its ornate gold capped posts. Thankfully I found myself clothed on top of soft white linens and wearing the same outfit I¡¯d had on earlier.


    The wood carvings above were exquisitely detailed. They looked familiar but I couldn''t quite place them, though I was sure I had seen them somewhere before.


    That¡¯s when it clicked. I knew this place.


    It looked familiar because I¡¯d imagined it a hundred times before as I read about Claeffen¡¯s journeys. Journeys that always ended with his inevitable return to Ginnungr¨²n, the Unseen Monolith.


    With that realization I sat up and found myself looking into the luminous pearlescent eyes of Claeffen, Mage of the Distant Seasons. The Lord of the Monolith himself, was before me, and we were in his bedchamber. Both were exactly as they¡¯d been described in the books.


    He looked to be in his early fifties but had a vitality that made him seem like he was in his prime, with silver hair that fell just below his shoulders. Framing an attractive face was a well trimmed beard and mustache. He was sitting in a finely made chair and wore a sapphire chiton trimmed with white thread. Underneath the fabric covering was extravagant gold armor; breastplate, vambraces, and greaves, which contrasted his feet wrapped in thick shimmering scale strap sandals.


    "Hello, Mal.¡± He said with a smile, his voice deep and pleasant.


    I stared at him with my jaw hanging loose.


    ¡°Holy shit! It¡¯s really you!¡±


    His smile widened ever so slightly as he nodded at my exclamation.


    I couldn¡¯t contain my excitement and squeaked like a startled asthmatic mouse. It was pretty embarrassing but I was amped up enough to not care. This was a dream come true.


    "You''re real! I knew it was all real! I mean, I questioned it. I questioned it a lot. I had some.. rough days..¡± I trailed off as I realized I was rambling.


    ¡°Yes, I am quite real. How are you feeling, Mal?¡±


    ¡°Uh.. like a bunch of cats are living in my skin.¡± I replied as I itched absentmindedly at the purring that I still strangely felt.


    He quirked an eyebrow but his smile didn¡¯t fade,


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s to be expected I suppose. I really should have told him to not let you stay awake during the crossing.¡±


    ¡°Crossing? You mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Welcome to my home.¡±


    He gestured broadly, his hands adorned with precious looking rings.


    ¡°This - ¡­ I mean.. I¡¯m¡­ and you..¡± I couldn¡¯t find words to express how I felt as I babbled incoherently, and then felt anxious that I could be blowing my first impression on the man.


    ¡°Relax, I know. It¡¯s a lot to take in. You¡¯ll need some time to process, especially after a first crossing like that. I¡¯ll have food brought up and then later we can have a proper talk, alright?¡±


    I nodded, grateful for his understanding. With a nod in return Claeffen stood up and left the room through the stripe-grained wooden door which opened silently on well oiled hinges. Then I just sat there and experienced what could only be described as an excitement fueled mental breakdown.


    I just met Claeffen!! I just met an actual mage! Wait, am I awake?


    I began pinching myself. That¡¯s what people do, right? It hurt and I realized I¡¯d never actually pinched myself in a dream, how would I even know if it worked, or that pinching yourself wouldn¡¯t hurt in a dream too?


    I decided it didn''t matter if this was a dream because this was fucking awesome!


    My face ached and I realized I was smiling uncontrollably.


    I am in a castle on a different planet in the bedroom of a mage!


    No, not just any castle, Ginnungr¨²n! And not just any mage but the mage. I took a moment to think back on how I ended up here.


    Printed in the back of the first book of ¡°The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen¡± was something that didn¡¯t fit with the rest of the book:


    Help Wanted: Book Enthusiast.


    Below which was a complex symbol of some sort in the style of the sigils hidden in the margins of the book. Most people thought it was a gag by the author Felix de Vere or maybe a clue to the content of upcoming books. However as more entries in the series came out it became just another unanswered riddle for the fanbase to speculate over but when I¡¯d read that line something had called to me. I thought it was my imagination at first but I had this persistent itch in my head like you get when you know you¡¯ve forgotten something but just can¡¯t remember what.


    I spent weeks with that feeling so much that I couldn¡¯t focus at work. That kind of distraction wasn¡¯t ideal in the best of circumstances but was flat out dangerous given my job often required me to climb hundred-plus meters tall wind turbines.


    Eventually I discovered a pattern in the books and the help wanted ad and symbol in the back of the book were the keys. It was subtle, easy to miss, but it was there. The books were ciphered and each one held a different riddle. It took me over a year to crack the code but when I did it changed my life forever. The answer, ironically, was in the very first words written in the original book,


    My name is Claeffen. I have lived for longer than most Gods, and I am here to tell you that magic is real.


    Right there, at the very start, what had seemed like an unimaginative introduction at first glance, was the revelation I had sought, hidden in plain sight in the most clich¨¦ way imaginable.


    Magic. Is. Real.


    That was the lens through which one had to read the books to decipher their secrets. These were not fictional stories, they were autobiographies written by an immortal wielder of magic. After I realized that it became obvious that there was another secret to be discovered within the pages. These weren¡¯t just autobiographical writings by an immortal mage, they were instruction manuals. Well, kind of, they didn¡¯t lay out directions step by step but rather my deciphered interpretation of them gave me glimpses of a pattern that I believed I could follow.


    So I spent another year teaching myself magic, or rather, failing to teach myself magic. There was nothing, no little successes or twinges of magical power, absolutely no proof that I was doing anything more than indulging a misguided fan¡¯s obsessions. There were countless times I thought I was just reading too much into it, after all; I was going off a vague hint, buried within a secret, that was all based on a mental itch that could have just as easily been my wanting to see something that wasn¡¯t there.


    However, despite my failure I kept at it. Maybe it was the sunk cost fallacy at work, after all I¡¯d already been at this for two years, what was another week, another month, another year. Thankfully I wasn¡¯t in a relationship or my partner would have certainly left me, or had me institutionalized.


    Then, one night after another year and a half of trying and failing to use magic I made a plate float off of my kitchen table. It was such a shock that I couldn¡¯t even figure out what I had done differently to make it happen. There it was, floating in front of me, until it wasn¡¯t, somehow I¡¯d lost it and the plate fell and shattered on the floor. I puzzled at those pieces for three days straight attempting to replicate the event before I got an alert that Felix de Vere would be making his first, and only, public appearance.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I wiped tears of joy from my eyes.


    Would I even be here if I hadn¡¯t made that plate float last week?


    It didn¡¯t matter. I was here now and all that time I had spent alone in my apartment following the half-glimpsed ghost of a guide to making magic happen was worth it.


    Just look at this room!


    I¡¯d spent years imagining exactly how this room would look. Not just from my constant re-reading of the books but also because I¡¯d had this fantasy that one day I would be powerful enough to find this place on my own and thank Claeffen for being my teacher in absentia. It was uncanny how closely it resembled the image in my mind, but my mind hadn¡¯t done it justice, not even close. The room around me was magical, not just exceptional, but otherworldly. I let out an involuntary chuckle,


    ¡°No shit!¡±


    Then I remembered what the books had said about this room. Book three had described the walls of Claeffen¡¯s bedchambers as being carved by the Zwelvse and supposedly detailed his acquisition of Heruka¡¯s Inward Eye, an artifact ripped straight from the head of an ancient and oppressive Zwelvsezi god. I got out of the bed and, sure enough, inlaid in the dark brown wood of the walls were carved blue panels depicting what I¡¯d read only briefly described in gruesome, and incredible detail.


    The panels spanned the entire perimeter of the spacious room which was occupied in the very center by the bed I¡¯d just been in. Standing in front of the final panel, which was arranged in the back of the room so that you could see it behind the bed from the entrance, my mouth fell open. It was almost impossible to believe this was carved by a person, or people, though supposedly Zwelvse wood-eaters literally ate the designs into the native blue wood of their homeland, so they were obviously in a class of their own.


    The image that had been eaten into this final panel showed Claeffen from the front facing the viewer and kneeled facing him, well, as much as a multi-limbed eldritch monstrosity could kneel, was Heruka. Claeffen¡¯s arm was elbow deep in the creature¡¯s face and though you couldn¡¯t see it from the angle at which it was carved somehow the artist had managed to evoke the imagery in my mind.


    I inspected the blue wood panel before me more closely. It had a subtle grain that could be seen through the lacquer and polish and despite not having any paint the depth and details contrasted in such a way that the scene was vivid and dynamic. Never in my life had I thought the Zwelvse were real. I¡¯d thought ¡°Zwelvse'''' was a silly rewording for ¡°Elves¡± but as I looked around at what they¡¯d crafted for their savior I was convinced that it wasn¡¯t.


    So did the mythology of Elves actually come from the Zwelvse?


    I wondered idly. The confirmation of the story expressed in the murals all around the room was cathartic but actually seeing the story was even better. The books had never said what the story was, only that his room displayed it in carvings. Now, here I was, looking at it in all its incredible, if somewhat violent, splendor.


    "Excus-¡±


    I spun at the unexpected noise from behind me and screamed involuntarily as I caught sight of a creature standing just a few feet away from me. It had the head of a wasp and was wearing a butler¡¯s uniform.


    ¡°Aghhh!¡± I recoiled at the sight of the.. thing, but when it didn¡¯t move to devour my face I calmed down, if only a little bit. I felt like a deer in headlights as its weirdly huge bug eyes started me down.


    The well dressed wasp person appeared to be unfazed by my reaction as he quirked his head quizzically before speaking again,


    ¡°Sir I-¡±


    Despite his non-aggressive demeanor the sight of words coming out of his big freaky mandibles creeped me out and I started screaming again,


    ¡°Whaaaat the fuuuck?!¡±


    I had my hand against my heart as it felt like it was going to beat itself right out of my chest.


    ¡°Sir, please calm down. I am here to deliver your meal.¡± its mandibles clacked again in a curt, professional tone.


    I stared at it, my primate brain was telling me to squish the thing, or run, or both. However, reason prevailed, if only because I was in an alien mage¡¯s castle and this wasp guy was wearing a butler¡¯s outfit, which was a little funny.


    ¡°Rightttt, of course. Sorry, you just, uh.. uhh.. startled me.¡±


    I felt a bit of warmth rising to my cheeks. This was the second time someone had snuck up on me today.


    I should probably pay more attention to my surroundings if I¡¯m going to be traipsing around in alien environments.


    The smell of food hit me then as I noticed he was holding a serving tray covered with a reflective silver cloche to keep it warm. In response my stomach growled loudly for an awkwardly long time. When was the last time I¡¯d had anything to eat?


    ¡°Um.. I don¡¯t suppose you have any idea how long I was out for?¡±


    The butler nodded,


    ¡°Two days, sir.¡±


    ¡°Two days?!¡±


    He didn¡¯t bother repeating himself and just stared at me silently. The longest I¡¯d ever slept at once was fifteen hours and that had been after a particularly grueling series of overtime shifts at work. Two days seemed preposterous.


    ¡°Yes.. I¡¯ve brought your meal at Lord Claeffen¡¯s request, a favorite of his when he visits, I believe. I shall leave it on the table."


    Having said what was required the butler performed a quick bow, turned on his heels, and made his way to the table in the corner of the room. He deposited his charge carefully next to a rounded glass filled with what looked like water and then departed without ceremony. Still in shock I made my way over to the gold upholstered high back chair and dark wood table where the tray of food sat and wiped a bit of drool from the corner of my mouth. It smelled amazing, in fact..


    It smells like.. Indian food?


    I lifted the cover and I jolted back in surprise. Sitting in a porcelain soup bowl with flat edges was a liquid that looked like thick bubbling black tar. Sticking out of the liquid were bits of bright red chunks of some kind. I sat down on the thin cushion of the deceptively comfortable chair and inspected the dish. The red chunks looked to be some kind of meat and on closer inspection the.. sauce? Wasn¡¯t black like it seemed from a distance but rather a dark green covered in darker specks. It didn¡¯t look very appetizing but it smelled delicious. Sticking my nose right up to the surface of the meal and taking a deep whiff I realized that it did smell like Indian food.


    It didn¡¯t look like any curry I¡¯d ever had, that was for sure, but my stomach let me know just how unhappy it was with my neglect of it. I decided it was best to just eat before my stomach¡¯s complaints got any more aggressive. With a hesitant hand I dipped the shiny spoon that had been wrapped in a napkin next to the platter into the thick, almost sticky, dark liquid. Heaving the loaded utensil out of the bowl I postponed as long as I could by letting the excess sauce drip off the spoon before my hunger drove me to try something new against my will. Pushing the tip of the spoon to my lips I stuck out the tip of my tongue, squeezed my eyes a bit, and took a taste.


    ¡°Oh shit!¡± I cried out in pleasant surprise, it was good! Actually, it tasted even better than it smelled. Savory, sweet, and creamy all with a perfect combination of spices. The flavor was familiar, almost like.. Chicken Tikka Masala? The first bite was so delicious that before I knew it I was eating like a starving man and within a few short minutes I had picked up the bowl and was licking it like someone who¡¯d never been taught table manners. After stuffing myself I took a few sips from the glass which turned out to contain a clear sweet wine that paired perfectly with the food. I sat back and held my distended stomach like a sleeping baby, full and happy. Having sated my sleep induced starvation I felt a different kind of hunger rear its head so I let my curiosity loose and looked around the room some more.


    Looking slightly to my left I examined the fireplace. It was made of heavy stone blocks that fit so perfectly together I could only barely see the seams between them. Fashioned above the fireplace was a crest. I recognized it instantly as the mark I had seen inside the umbrella stand before I¡¯d been booped into a new dimension; it was Claeffen''s personal crest and seal. That¡¯s when it hit me that I was actually sitting in his chair, at his table, and eating his food. It felt surreal, and I sat with that feeling for a bit as I let my mind catch up to everything that was happening.


    Eventually I got bored of processing and my eyes were attracted to all the various things to look at in the room and I still couldn''t believe exactly how well the books had captured its details.


    On the mantle there were various trinkets and treasures from Claeffen¡¯s adventures but my eyes kept being drawn to the crest. I felt that same itch that had started this whole series of events all those years ago alongside a question that began to form on the tip of my brain. What was I missing?


    Wait, the library!


    That¡¯s right, the library in the back of the bookstore resembled the cover art of the books, I hadn¡¯t noticed at the time but now that I thought about it I couldn¡¯t unsee it. Every single cover of the Claeffen books had two things in common: First, they always had a bunch of little out of place inconsistencies, things that shouldn¡¯t be where they were or didn¡¯t make sense. Like, on the cover of book four, which depicted the cavernous subterranean forest of ¡°Treasure Below Aksh¨¦¡±, there was a labrador retriever peeking out from behind one of the megaliths that are so common in that place. The second thing to be found on every cover of the series was the appearance of Claeffen¡¯s crest. In fact, it was something of a game with fans to time how quickly they could spot Claeffen¡¯s personal sigil when a new book was released, like a virginal version of ¡°Where''s Waldo?¡±.


    Sometimes the way it was hidden took elaborate steps to uncover, as well. In book ten, for example, the crest had been obfuscated in separate parts that only came together with the precise application of origami on the cover. Given the significance of Claeffen¡¯s crest as an implement and extension of his domain it begged the question,


    Why was Claeffen¡¯s crest in the back room of a bookstore?


    Obviously if I hadn¡¯t wound up here the answer would probably be that the owner of the store was a fan. However, given my current situation, could it be that the bookstore was actually a crossing zone? Supposedly ¡°crossings¡±, journeys between time, space, and even dimensions, were made easier at nexus points where ley lines formed natural magical structures in the form of sigildry. While they formed naturally it was rare, and given the size of the multiverse they were unlikely to be where you wanted them to be, so supposedly, powerful mages could ¡°re-string¡± the ley lines and artificially create these crossing zones.


    What ley lines were in the context of the books was never explained, however, and they didn¡¯t seem to sync up with the usual definition. Thinking about the implication that there was a man-made crossing zone on earth brought my excitement to investigate the room back with vigor so I got up and started looking around again.


    Next to the door was a statue I hadn¡¯t noticed before and I recognized it immediately; this statue was a dead ringer for the statue Claeffen had described as he told the story of his ascent into magehood. According to his account he had found it during his travels in his youth before he had learned magic and discovered it to be a relic from some long forgotten war.


    It came from an extinct civilization who had seeded his birth planet with life millions of years ago. It was this very piece of memorabilia that had inspired him to start on his path as a mage, and the elaborately carved statue looked almost exactly as I had imagined it would. It was about as tall as I was, and was made of a smooth, slightly porous material resembling onyx. With an elegant upward helical spiral the statue looked like an alien tower, with small window-like openings that seemed to draw one in. It was like it was inviting you to glimpse something no one else had ever seen before. It was gorgeous, which made me wonder how I¡¯d missed seeing it until now.


    The books had never said what Claeffen had done with the statue or how it had catalyzed his transition to being a mage, only that it had impacted him somehow. It was mainly an account of his emotional experience with scant few details on the nature of the statue itself or what happened after he had found it. I had always wondered if it was some kind of repository of wisdom that had filled him with spontaneous knowledge or visions, to have overwhelmed him with such raw emotions.


    Maybe it¡¯s like a genie¡¯s lamp?


    I wanted to touch it. Unsure of what would happen if I did and feeling that it would be wrong to intrude in someone¡¯s home and touch their priceless ancient artifacts, I decided against it.


    Probably best not to touch anything in here without permission, who knows what could happen.


    Some of the trinkets in the room, especially those lined in the display cases on the opposite wall from the dining table, were things that had been described as having powerful, destructive, enchantments.


    Besides, maybe the reason he hadn¡¯t described the exact details of his experience with the statue was because something horrible happened that messed him up so badly he had to become a mage just to fix it.


    I really didn''t want to find that out the hard way, so I contented myself with looking at things I never thought I¡¯d actually be able to see in person outside of my imagination.


    Strolling around the room I made my way over to the door. Its frame had elaborate runes carved all along its length and I wondered if they served as some kind of magical implement or had a linguistic meaning behind them.


    On my second pass of the room as I was looking over the furniture, I noticed something different about the wood which I¡¯d thought was mahogany. I had taken it for granted at first glance but just beneath its surface it shimmered and glowed ever so slightly. The glow was subtle, not the kind that illuminated its surroundings but rather as if it was being lit up from the inside. Putting my face close to its surface to better leverage my above average near-sight, I could see there was a faint fluidic sparkle between the individual grains of wood. The more I looked, though, the harder it was for me to see and my vision started distorting slightly, almost like my mind couldn''t wrap itself around what I was looking at. I stopped this experiment once I started feeling the pressure in my head from earlier begin to build rather than subside. I couldn¡¯t afford a full blown curiosity induced migraine right now, so I went to inspect something else.


    That¡¯s when I noticed a tall mirror topped dresser.


    How did I miss this?


    There was obviously some magical fuckery going on, first the statue and now a dresser?


    Inspecting the offending furniture the dresser loomed large at about five and a half feet tall with a mirror on the back that rose another two feet to form an arch. There were runes all around the mirror as well, similar to those on the door frame, however the dresser was also adorned with tiny dancing birds and flowering vines coiling around its rounded frame like a neverending knotwork that repeated around the whole mirror casing.


    Then I noticed on the peak of the arch was a unique symbol to which all of the designs seemed to flow. Without thinking, and despite my earlier commitment to not mess with things I didn¡¯t understand, I reached out to touch it. However as I did so I lost my balance and stumbled forward and thinking I was about to introduce my body to a bunch of broken glass I braced myself for the impact but found myself falling instead.


    Opening my eyes I saw a ground quickly approaching and I landed belly first on damp grass with a heavy organ shaking thud. I groaned in pain and rolled onto my back. You¡¯d think with everything that¡¯s happened to me so far I wouldn¡¯t be surprised anymore but, but I was. Mainly I was surprised to be looking up at a pale viridian sky with fluffy white clouds, I¡¯d just been in a windowless room a few seconds ago, after all. I mean, I had expected that maybe I would find a hidden passageway or two since I was in an alien mage¡¯s space castle but looking around I didn¡¯t see any castle or castle-like establishments.


    No, I now seemed to be inside a hedge maze with twenty foot tall hedges that looked as if cherry blossoms resemble boxwood shrubs instead of trees. I was surrounded on my back and sides with the impenetrable foliage, the only path seemed to be forward, extending about sixty feet with several openings on either side. The place looked pretty enough, so maybe it was safe.


    However, given that I¡¯d just fallen through a mage¡¯s dresser portal I didn¡¯t want to.. Ahem, hedge, my bets either way.


    Looking up and around I tried to find where I¡¯d come from, maybe I could climb the shrubs back through the portal or something.


    You just had to touch something, didn¡¯t you?


    I looked behind me and tried sticking my arm through the shrub, just in case it was an instance of different planes having their own relative ¡°down¡± or something, maybe I could just walk back out.


    All I managed was to shove my arm into the prickly shrub, earning myself a few scratches in the process.


    Did I really just get myself stuck? Things were going great and I¡¯ve already ruined it. Mal you stupid, stupid idiot.


    I began debating whether I should stay put or try to find a way out by going forward on the tiled path ahead. The tiles were a patterned polished stone not unlike marble and I could tell they were slippery.


    Seems impractical, what if it rains? It does look cool though.


    Before I could decide what to do I felt something grab me by the back of my shirt and I was hoisted straight up through the air like a rag doll. Then I heard Claeffen¡¯s voice in my head, as if he¡¯d taken over my inner monologue;


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re ready for this place quite yet.¡±


    In my ascent I glimpsed just over the top of the maze and saw that it extended to the horizon as far as the eye could see, in every direction. The rush of air as I was pulled through the portal back to the castle felt cold against the nervous sweat that had spontaneously formed on my brow.


    Then, everything went black.

 Chapter 3: Hang Loose Magic Man

    I blinked as the room came into focus.


    ¡°...can¡¯t leave this one alone for two minutes.¡±


    I was standing beside the upholstered high back chair where I¡¯d enjoyed my meal earlier. Claeffen stood in front of me, his gaze stern, save for a glint of curiosity in those inscrutable eyes of his.


    Uncomfortable would be the best word to describe how I felt. Uncomfortable, and awkward. I¡¯d snooped around where I didn¡¯t belong. With everything that had been going on I had let my inquisitive nature run wild and now I was being stared down with a look that I couldn¡¯t quite decipher, one I definitely wasn¡¯t a fan of receiving.


    ¡°Heeeyy Claeffen.¡± I said, my greeting sounding awkwardly high pitched.


    The moment stretched out in silence as he regarded me. His gaze was intense and I found myself unable to just sit in the silence.


    ¡°Sorry for being in your.. maze..¡±


    His expression softened slightly,


    ¡°Curiosity is a good thing Mal, though you would be wise to restrain yours until you have the tools to ensure it isn¡¯t something that leads to.. Undesirable consequences.¡±


    The idea of my curiosity leading to mysterious ¡°Undesirable consequences¡± was a sobering thought. Though, realizing I wasn¡¯t being punished for my carelessness, my discomfort eased slightly.


    ¡°Thank you, uh.. sir, that¡¯s.. good advice.¡±


    He smiled, ¡°Just call me Claeffen. Well! Since you¡¯ve clearly recuperated from your transport, how about having a drink with me?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The question caught me off guard and I just gaped at him for a moment before shaking myself out of my stupor


    Claeffen gestured at the dark wood table with a smile.


    ¡°Oh! Yes, I¡¯d love to!¡±


    Accepting his invitation we sat across from each other. Claeffen took his chair gracefully, like he¡¯d spent a lifetime in the presence of aristocrats and bigwigs.


    Well duh, he probably has.


    Still, something about the sheer elegance of his motions despite the armor he wore was mystifying. It made me realize that I¡¯d never seen someone move with such care and precision. Taking my own seat made me feel uncoordinated in comparison, primitive even. I couldn¡¯t help my curiosity despite the recent warning and asked the question that immediately came into my head.


    ¡°How do you do that?¡±


    Claeffen¡¯s expression shifted ever so slightly for the briefest of moments before answering my question with one of his own.


    ¡°Hm? What are you referring to?¡±


    ¡°That,¡± I said, gesturing broadly at him.


    ¡°You know, the way you move. I¡¯ve never seen anyone move like that.¡±


    Registering my meaning he let out an ¡°Ahh.¡± of understanding.


    Then he laughed. It was a laugh of genuine enjoyment and I could sense no malice in it but I still felt a bit embarrassed.


    ¡°Sorry, that was probably a stupid question.¡±


    Hearing my words his laughter eased and he shook his head at me.


    ¡°No, Mal, it wasn¡¯t a stupid question at all. In fact, I¡¯ll let you in on a little trivia. Across the multiverse there is a well known clich¨¦ that can be found in nearly every culture; there are no stupid questions. It is a ubiquitous maxim because it is true, on more levels than one.¡±


    Well at least he doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m an uncultured idiot or something.


    That I knew of, anyway. I suppose he could think I¡¯m an uncultured idiot but at least it wouldn¡¯t be because of my questions.


    ¡°In.. that case...¡±


    ¡°What was so funny?¡±


    He said, asking my question for me as I struggled to find the right way to do so. His smile broadened and he folded his hands on the table between us, his ornate vambraces making a light tapping sound on the wood of the table.


    ¡°You are in a different world sitting across from a mage who, if I may say so, is fairly accomplished. All that and one of your first questions has nothing to do with magic at all, remarkable.¡±


    Well, I hadn¡¯t thought about it like that, obviously, and to be honest some part of me had assumed his grace was a result of magic, how could it not be?


    ¡°Wait, so you can move like that without magic?¡±


    I asked, incredulous.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be amazed at the things one can do without magic. Though magic has its uses as well, of course.¡±


    Then he reached out over the empty table and mimed picking something up but as he drew his hand back I was shocked to see him holding an etched glass filled with a purple liquid. He had just conjured a drink out of thin air!


    He gestured towards me and I discovered there was now a matching glass in front of me as well.


    ¡°Woah.¡± I exclaimed under my breath involuntarily.


    Leaning forward I tentatively reached out to touch it but I jerked back reflexively when my hand made contact, as my nerves were struck by simultaneously hot and cold sensations. Taken aback I clutched my hand by the wrist defensively. It took a moment for my conscious mind to catch up to what happened and that I wasn¡¯t in any danger, probably. Prepared for the experience I extended my hand towards the drink again. When my fingers brushed the textured glass the bizarre sensation returned and spread upwards into my forearms. I sat with it for a moment before grasping the thin handle on its side and raising the glass towards my face.


    I noticed movement on its surface and paused, adjusting my grip on the handle, I examined the object. What had felt like a textured pattern turned out to be a pattern of a colorful school of fish swimming in a coral reef of vibrant blues and pinks. However what really stuck out to me was the fact that the design seemed to be moving slightly, the whole thing rotating around the surface in a slow hypnotic fashion.


    ¡°Woah.¡± I repeated, not for the last time today, I was sure.


    Pulling the enchanting chalice towards me I went to peer into it but was rebuked by a burst of wind that buffeted outward, tossing my hair back and almost making me spill its contents all over myself. Despite the surprise the gust had an indistinct and comfortable quality to it that somehow reminded me of a nice day at the beach and made me smile involuntarily.


    I looked up from the baffling cup to find Claeffen hiding what could only be described as a mischievous smile behind his own drink. Having done everything but actually drink.. whatever it was.. I decided to just go for it.


    Here goes nothing.


    I grabbed the glass and took in a mouthful of the liquid. My eyes widened and I felt an electric vibration race across my skin as my mind tried to establish all the sensations and flavors. I could taste, see, smell, hear and feel the impressions of salt air, ice cream, sun screen, sand, ocean, cool nights, sunshine, and breeze, my whole body tasting the flavor of a long overdue vacation. I stared down in utter shock and was doubly amazed to see a two dimensional scene flowing across the top of the purple beverage. I gaped as a surfer, made of the liquid, rode through a huge wave and turned his head to look right at me, though the details of his face were too small to make out. Then he threw me a ¡°hang loose¡± gesture before doing a sick flip at the crest of a wave.


    Claeffen asked, ¡°How do you like it? It''s Newt Milk Hooch.¡±


    ¡°Newt Milk?¡±


    ¡°Hooch, yes, quite delicious. I always make sure to pick some up anytime I encounter a Newt armada willing to trade.¡±


    I looked up at him, dazed. The drink being called Newt Milk Hooch, while a surprise, was the least out of the ordinary thing about the concoction.


    Absently I shook my head and stared back down at the surfer again and asked myself in a whisper, ¡°How does it move? It¡¯s like watching a drinkable gif.¡±


    ¡°Alchemy, of course. Newts produce some of the finest concoctionists and when they aren¡¯t brewing for war they brew for enjoyment.¡±


    The casual way in which he spoke reminded me of what I really wanted to know and, since he seemed willing to answer my questions, I decided now was the time.


    ¡°Can you teach me?¡±


    He quirked his head slightly at my question before responding,


    ¡°Certainly, I¡¯m an excellent teacher. Will I though? That I cannot say. Let me ask you a question, Mal. Why do you think you were brought here?¡±


    Not having my request outright rejected gave me hope. However, his question stumped me.


    ¡°I.. don¡¯t know. Honestly, everything has just been so¡­¡±


    ¡°Overwhelming?¡± He asked, a touch of sympathy in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, definitely, it has definitely been overwhelming but no, I was going to say exciting. I mean this is all so¡­ awesome.¡± I said the last word slowly, feeling foolish saying ¡°awesome¡± in front of the powerful and graceful spellcaster. He nodded,


    ¡°Yes, I suppose it is.¡±


    Claeffen rubbed his chin thoughtfully his demeanor regal,


    ¡°Mal you have been brought here because I am looking for an apprentice."


    I felt my pulse skyrocket at the words and my mind raced at the revelation.


    "However, it''s not a matter of simply accepting someone to be an apprentice. Apprentices, or I should say potential apprentices, are required to prove their worth. Thus, I have designed a program to find those worthy for such a position.¡±


    I leaned forward as my curiosity reached new heights, ¡°Like a test?¡±


    ¡°Something like that, and you are not the only candidate.¡±


    This was perfect. What were the odds that an immortal mage of nigh godlike power was looking for an apprentice within my lifetime, and within such a short time of my only success at magic. It was a mindblowing coincidence. Then again, the existence of magic put the very concept of coincidence into question.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Not being the only candidate makes sense, a mage of his caliber would want the best.


    I didn¡¯t know why I was even in the running, given my limited magical success, but I wasn¡¯t about to look a gift wizard in the mouth.


    ¡°Count me in.¡±


    Claeffen drummed his fingers on the rim of the glass and we sat there for a beat as he considered me. After another moment the tapping stopped and he spoke, his features grave and his tone serious,


    ¡°The process will not be easy. In fact, it will be quite dangerous, you could die.. Are you willing to take that risk?¡±


    Was I?


    I could go back to Earth and try to forget about magic, go on with my mundane life.


    I snorted mentally at the thought.


    Yeah, right.


    I nodded at him, a grin plastered on my face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Claeffen mirrored my nod, his eyes locked on mine and I could tell he was reading my resolve without the need of any magical assistance. This was the type of gaze exchanged by kindred spirits.


    ¡°You understand, then, there will be no going back? Even if you survive you would have to make unbreakable vows, and you wouldn¡¯t be able to return to your planet for many years.¡±


    My grin never wavered as I silently acknowledged my understanding.


    His bearded face turned up into a beaming smile before he opened his arms wide,


    ¡°Wonderful! In that case, shall we begin?"


    Eager to get started on this potential new path I agreed enthusiastically,


    ¡°Hell yeah!¡±


    That had come out a little more exuberantly than I¡¯d intended.


    That Newt Milk was definitely a hooch alright. I wondered briefly if Claeffen had known it would have such a strong effect on me before serving the powerful spirit and I absentmindedly raised the glass, taking another mouthful.


    ¡°Oh! One last thing before we get started. Please repeat after me; I hereby verbally consent to having a truth spell placed on me.¡±


    I stumbled at the unexpectedly strange phrasing but parroted the verbal consent form back to him.


    ¡°I uh¡­ verbally consent to having a truth spell placed on me.¡±


    I expected to feel something, a tingle.. external sensation.. something, but felt nothing except the faint swirling of the powerfully alcoholic concoction in my glass.


    ¡°Do you like pink fairy armadillos?¡±


    ¡°Wait, ¡®fairy armadillos¡¯?¡± I asked,


    I was now thoroughly stumped at the direction this interview was going.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t know, just say so.¡±


    ¡°Right, uh, I don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°Next, How are your warm air current wrangling skills?¡±


    ¡°Unknown?¡±


    ¡°What are your motivations for wanting to be a mage?¡±


    Crap, that¡¯s a big question.


    I began taking in a very slooooww sip of the newt hooch.


    Claeffen cleared his throat loudly after nearly forty five seconds of continuous sipping.


    Clearly my delay tactics needed work.


    I definitely shouldn¡¯t be drinking during this interview. Especially not the strongest liquor I¡¯ve ever had in my freaking life.


    I found myself taking another sip.


    Wait..


    What was the question?


    ¡°Hmm, I think that was enough.¡± Claeffen said, as he rubbed his chin,


    ¡°Or maybe too much. Did I forget to ask if you drink? Oops.¡±


    My fingers clamped together as the glass vanished from my hand. I tried to figure out who took my hooch by looking around but that seemed to confuse Claeffen.


    That¡¯s okay Claeffen, I¡¯ll find them. I thought, they had to be around here somewhere.


    ¡°Mal, I need¡­¡± I watched as his face went through a myriad of expressions to the sound of waves and people laughing in the distance. Then the sounds were interrupted by the really loud screech of a seagull or something.


    Abruptly everything became still and my mind returned to the question.


    ¡°What are your motivations for wanting to be a mage?¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to answer ¡°magic, duh¡± since that didn¡¯t seem like a winning response. Neither did, ¡°mages are cool¡± or ¡°magic is amazing!¡± None of which explained my motivation but more how I felt about things.


    Did he just un-drunk me?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I heard my mouth betray me with honesty.


    ¡°Ah! I see we¡¯re back on track. Good. Next question, what is your favorite book?¡±


    ¡°The Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen: Book Eight.¡±


    ¡°Do you kiss the Aksh¨¦ Queen?¡±


    ¡° Umm¡­" I paused, taking in the question before I gasped in realization at his meaning, ¡°Yes!¡± I replied excitedly.


    He smirked as he continued his questioning,


    ¡°What do you bring to the Zwelvse?¡±


    ¡°Logs cut against the grain, harvested during the alignment of Two Bright Kings.¡±


    What do the two brightest of the five Zwelvse moons have to do with anything? I continued wondering at the cryptic questionnaire.


    ¡°What do you feel about the color orange?¡±


    ¡°Feel about - ¡± I stopped myself from asking the question back,


    ¡°I feel.. the.. juice?¡±


    You feel the juice Mal, seriously?


    Despite my asinine answer Claeffen nodded sagely, as if the reply meant something to him, before he slid his chair back, and stood exclaiming,


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you to the next stage.¡±


    With that he started walking toward the fireplace, he glanced back at me still sitting in the chair, flabbergasted, ¡°Come now, no time to waste.¡±


    Stepping to the right of the fireplace he just walked right.. through the wall.


    What the hell?


    Unwilling to be left behind I rushed out of my seat and towards the wall but ended up stopping before reaching it, the same bundle of neurons that kept me from falling out of bed at night, no doubt, telling me that hitting the wall wouldn¡¯t be fun.


    Just breathe. You''re going through a wall. No big deal.


    I pressed forward, taking a step and flinching despite my mental preparation as the surface of the wall came to greet my face. With my eyes squeezed tight I took another step out of Claeffen¡¯s bedroom and opened them to an oddly.. mundane.. auditorium. It looked straight out of my high school¡¯s morning assemblies.


    I could see Claeffen at the rostrum addressing the crowd of people occupying about half of the dingy folding plastic seats.


    ¡°You have all passed the introductory stage. There are about fifty of you vying for the available positions, and I have high hopes that most of you will make it past this next stage.¡±


    He paused to let everyone absorb what he was saying before raising a ring jeweled index finger. With the simple gesture the stage was populated with several rows of hiking packs which all seemed to be stuffed full.


    ¡°Each of you will take one of these packs,¡± he said, gesturing to the newly formed paraphernalia.


    ¡°After you have grabbed your supplies, make your way backstage and choose one of the items presented. Once you have done so you will be transported to an ideal learning environment, giving you the opportunity to awaken your mage¡¯s calling and pass into the next stage of trials. Ah! and do refrain from opening your packs until you have arrived.¡±


    Without waiting for fanfare he pointed at a seemingly random person,


    ¡°You.¡±


    The person in question pointed at themselves as if to ask, ¡°Me?¡±.


    ¡°Yes, come up here and take a bag, then make your way backstage.¡±


    The person he¡¯d called on, a seemingly average gentleman with russet hair, stood, and made his way to the side of the stage where he began walking up the steps. Then, as he reached the final step, he ceased looking like a dude entirely and I watched as a hulking cyclopean man, one eye and all, stomped towards the bags and grabbed one between two huge meaty fingers. He looked a little disappointed at how small it was, then turned and headed to the velvety red curtain at the back of the platform before exiting stage right.


    This process repeated several times, the variety of creatures growing more staggering with each new arrival to the auditorium¡¯s stage. Hell, several of them weren¡¯t even humanoid, some having insectoid qualities while others still were more like prismatic amorphous oozes. I watched in amazement as each one subsequently used their particular variety of locomotion to ascend the platform, choose an item, and disappear somewhere off stage. I was particularly impressed by the prismatic ooze man who just shoved the whole thing in his chest, or what I assumed was his chest, anyway.


    Realizing I was still standing and it would probably be a few more minutes before it was my turn I took the nearest seat in the back of the aisle where I¡¯d arrived. Only to have Claeffen call on me as soon as I¡¯d settled in the uncomfortable foldy plastic bucket seat.


    Standing and making my way to the platform I glanced at the nearby people still sitting and noted that they all looked human. This had to be a deliberate tactic to put our minds at ease or smooth along the proceedings.


    When I neared the steps up I realized I didn¡¯t have any of the stuff I¡¯d arrived with, my backpack, phone, and watch were all missing from my person.


    When did I lose my stuff?


    I thought about when I woke up and none of it was on the bed next to me. I had been so caught up in what I was experiencing that I¡¯d totally forgotten about my belongings. I looked closer at everyone near me to see if anyone else had more than the clothes on their backs. It looked like we were all in various states of unpreparedness but, then again, these facades were all illusionary so who¡¯s to say what they had on them.


    Once I was up and passing the rostrum I caught Claeffen¡¯s eye and he gave me a wink before turning to scan the seats. My gaze followed his and from this new vantage point I could see the people as they really were.


    Am I seriously the only human?


    I walked up like my predecessors, grabbed one of the prepared packs and exited through the obscured opening on my left. I walked through a dim passage for a few moments before I arrived at a metal door standing, hingeless and disconnected from walls or ceiling. The door blocked my path and, taking a second to look behind the door and seeing nothing, I turned the round knob and squinted at the well illuminated interior of the space before me.


    Beyond the gloom of my previous location was a small room with all white surfaces and a single glass-top table in the center. Sitting on the table were five peculiar items. Left to right they were: a fist sized chromatic cube, a single yellow flower, one of those temporary tattoos you get out of gumball machines (in a smiley face design), a bowl with a living goldfish, and an origami spider.


    Looking out at all the items the one that most caught my eye was the chromatic cube. There was just something aesthetic about its sharp edges and mirrored chrome surface. I reached out to grab it, you know, to gather data, after all how could I make the right choice without all the relevant information, like how it felt in hand? Unfortunately it seemed that just grabbing an object was all that was required as my hand hovered mid-air holding the strange cube, the table it had been on and indeed the very room I had just been in were nowhere to be found.


    I was standing at a stone paved crossroads on a small hill overlooking vast, uneven plains covered in what I could only describe as a waist-high carpet of wispy purple hair.


    ¡°Woah¡± I let out for the third time today.


    I looked around, seeing only the weird purple hair on small rolling hills in every direction, save for one. There, off in the distance was some kind of structure. I couldn¡¯t tell from here what it was other than it had to be large given the perspective and relative distance. I couldn¡¯t say what direction it was in, exactly, since the glow coming from the sky was omnidirectional, but I could confidently say it was the path on my left.. ish.


    That¡¯s when I noticed a kind of signpost. It was about as tall as me and made of the same type of angled chromatic metal as the cube I still held. Atop it was a free-spinning wheel with markers labeled in an indecipherable language that pointed towards each path on the crossroads.


    Usually signposts are fixed, aren¡¯t they? I wondered briefly but without being able to come up with an answer to the curious design choice I decided to let it go for now.


    ¡°Alright Mal, time to check your bag.¡±


    I sat down in the center of the stone paved intersection I was standing in and made myself as comfortable as I could on the hard surface while I opened the bag to see what goodies I¡¯d been given.


    ¡°I wonder what kind of clues are buried in this big ol¡¯ bag.¡±


    Flipping open the top flap I couldn¡¯t see past its opening.


    ¡°Huh, magic bag, neat.¡±


    Reaching in the dark opening I began to pull the contents out. Much to my surprise the very first thing that came out was my backpack that I thought I wouldn¡¯t be seeing again any time soon. I immediately looked inside it to discover that everything I had packed was there in addition to my watch and phone, both of which surprisingly were fully charged.


    ¡°Did.. Claeffen charge my phone?¡±


    I decided to look around on it for anything out of the ordinary and discovered that all of the history of searching for the bookstore and even the game I¡¯d downloaded while waiting in line were totally gone, as if the past few¡­ how long had it been? Hours? Days? It was like they hadn¡¯t even happened.


    That¡¯s when my phone began to ring and the caller ID read, ¡°Bossman¡±, confused, I answered, ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Mal! Where have you been? I''ve been trying to get you on shift Friday, Jimmy called out sick again.¡±


    I held the phone away from my face for a moment and stared at the device in confusion.


    How the hell do I have service?


    ¡°Uhh¡­ I don¡¯t.. think I¡¯m going to be able to make it into work any time soon.¡±


    ¡°Ah come on Mal, I know you¡¯ll just be sitting around your apartment reading those books. I could really use the help.¡±


    I only partially heard what he said as I had to swat at a small flying insect that flitted around my face before zooming off.


    ¡°Yeah, look, sorry Bennett but you know all that time off I just took?¡±


    ¡°Look, I know you¡¯re on vacation¡±, the way he said ¡°on vacation¡± I could practically hear him making air quotes, ¡°but I really need the help.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± I said, looking around the alien landscape before me, trying to find the right words. ¡°I¡¯m out of town, sorry.¡± Then, not feeling the slightest bit of remorse, I hung up on him for having called me on my day off.


    ¡°Alright Mal, let¡¯s go through this pack and have ourselves a magical adventure.¡± I said as I rubbed my hands together like a greedy little magic seeking squirrel.

 Chapter 4: Things Go Sideways

    Reaching in the bag with my mental fingers crossed I grasped something rough. I tugged it out enthusiastically to see what it might be. A tent?


    I immediately dove back in and brought out another bag. This one looked remarkably similar to a bento box. I unzipped the dark blue outer layer and found three layer rectangles stacked with chopsticks, fork, knife, spoon and dark blue cloth napkin. Yeah this is definitely a bento box. My curiosity led me to see what food might lay inside.


    As soon as the top cover was opened my nose was feasting on the smells of lasagna. I stared down at lasagna with garlic cheese bread. I closed it.


    Then I opened the next layer to find myself looking at a completely different meal, Bibimbap. I put it aside without closing as I was excited to see what the last meal was going to be. I looked down at a stew of corn, beans, cassava, sweet potato, chicken, and morcela; other words Cachupa.


    I couldn¡¯t believe the meals were so earthbased. I secretly had hoped there was going to be something I didn¡¯t know from a world I knew nothing about. Being a foodie who dabbles in the kitchen I was really looking forward to experiencing new flavors. I closed the bibimbap and cachupa and then reopened the first box to get a taste of the lasagna but to my surprise I didn¡¯t smell lasagna but hamburgers and fries!!


    The bento box was a roulette of dinners!!


    I picked up the loaded bacon cheeseburger and it was the perfect temperature. I took a huge bite. Wow, this is delicious!. I would swear it had come fresh off the grill. The lettuce was crisp, the bun was steamed and the meat was tender. It had to be one of the best burgers I had ever eaten. I popped the fry in my mouth. Then dug in earnestly and before I knew it I was swallowing the last bite. I cleaned myself off with the napkin leaving residue on it.


    I wondered if there was a way to get something specific to show up or if it''s good luck, hope you like one out of the three or you will be opening till you do like something.


    As I reconstructed and zipped the bento box. I looked about where to put the used napkin but the napkin was no longer dirty!


    Yes! Magic cleaning!! This is so amazing!


    I found myself getting fidgety like I drank too much coffee. My leg was shaking and my fingers were tapping on everything.


    Why am I so restless now? What kind of burger and fries gives you the jitters?


    With my body vibrating I reached back in the pack with urgency only to find more camping comforts: sleeping bag, fire starter, etc.


    Then I pulled out a coil of rope. I whooped out a loud laugh.


    I was now in the possession of basically the standard adventurer''s kit including my very own bag of holding!!


    I looked around again: What do I do now? Are there directions? Surely Claeffen sent directions: I can''t just be, good luck. This place is ideal for you to learn.


    Thinking about the Chronicles of Claeffen books I tried to place my current terrain; the purple hair grass? and the omnidirectional glow in the sky wasn¡¯t reminding me of any of the books. So there didn¡¯t seem to be a correlation between the books and here.


    I stood up and tried to read the signpost again. All this really let me know was that there must be destinations if I follow any of the roads.


    I tried to sit back down but this restless energy was making it difficult.


    I forced myself to sit and I began examining everything closely. Well as closely as I could as I picked up and tossed everything.


    I picked up the coil of rope again and I noticed there was a little spot of what might be paper. I pulled on it and out popped a note. Finally a clue!


    ¡°Lifeline Clue: Go to that building.¡±


    I snikered as I put everything back in the bag of holding and slid it into my front pocket. I turned toward the only structure in sight when my thoughts were interrupted with someone yelling at me.


    ¡°HEY BUDDY! Get out the road!!¡± Startled, I looked all around and couldn¡¯t see anyone.


    ¡°Up Here!! Get out of the way! You''re in our path!¡±


    I looked a bit up to my right and found myself looking at a space vehicle speeding towards me. I looked at them and then the sign post.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    My head whipped to the sign post and I got my first clue to why it was free spinning. The sign post was pointing to the vehicle and blinking orange almost red.


    Confused on which direction to go, the sound of a whistling jaunty tune started playing like it would in a movie or a game. Confused but still spatially aware of my pending danger I darted to my right off the road, hoping that the vehicle couldn¡¯t go back in the same direction it was coming from. This is what I thought I was going to be doing.


    However as I took my first step I knew something was off. I felt my hair being blown and I flew across the ground tumbling like a leaf in autumn. I watched as everything turned fluffy purple then bright glow over and over. Within seconds I heard the vehicle land on the paved road right after the jaunty tune ended.


    Woah did I just experience some kind of speed boost from the song? I was now sitting sprawled on top of a small hill. I looked down back toward the road following through an open path of flat purple fur grass.


    I could see four people down below waving at me to come back down.


    I stood up and waved back at them.


    I could see them standing next to a brass scaled personal race ship. The exterior looked like snake skin. Weird.


    The people themselves were straight out of a sci-fi tv show I loved watching as a kid. Standing before me were vengeance demons!! Their pale white blue eyes were sunken. Their bodies looked skeletal and muscular with a hint of different hues of grey and peach running across their flesh. This environment didn¡¯t match the tv show at all.


    My mind was trying to puzzle out how this was happening at the crossroads of a meadow of purple hair, grass? What is it? Is it grass? It felt like fur or hair. Then a daunting thought hit me and I decided it was in my best interest to stop wondering about what it might be.


    A deep voice reached my ears as I walked down the hill. ¡°Hey! I wasn¡¯t sure you were going to make it out the way. Once you have the manifold open to the sprite fuel there is no slowing down for anything. Those racer sprites really know how to get things done. Are you okay? You looked like you had never heard or knew how to use the time dilation jingle.¡± He laughed ¡°but you surely must, as you did go a long way so i am guessing you were pretty focused on your task.¡±


    As I got closer I noticed his mouth make motions that didn¡¯t match the words I was hearing. It was like entering into a badly dubbed movie. I couldn¡¯t keep myself from letting out a small burst of laughter as they continued talking.


    ¡°Buddy that¡¯s quite a trail you left behind! You might want to leave before they (interdimensional traffic cops) arrive. You probably don¡¯t need me to tell you how expensive the fine is for disrupting native terrain!!¡±


    The warning he just gave struck very loud in my mind, expensive fine. I realized I needed to start thinking fast and not get distracted with the novelty of the experience¡­hefty fine is not something I want to worry about when I don¡¯t even know the currency.


    I leaned forward and smoothly asked, ¡°Uh yeah maybe you could help me with getting out here before they arrive? I don¡¯t have any transportation and your vehicle sure does seem to be super fast.¡±


    ¡°Yeah sure thing buddy, hop in! We will get out of here faster than fire weevil in a Netanthian race. My name is Tregi and these are my buddies, Nrek, Chak, and Gege. We are just on our next stop for the ¡°Trazarian Maze Quest¡± to get to the mash potato key first. Honestly buddy this race can really get to you.¡± His friends vigorously shook their heads to confirm what he was saying as they entered the ship.


    As he continued talking I looked around the ship to find the only empty seat which looked like a jump seat that a flight attendant would sit on. There were lots of random items next to the seat. I assume the ones they collected for this Quest. I sat down on the hard bench seat.


    ¡°Make sure you press the fuchsia button to get your gravity aligned to ¡®O¡¯ Slay¡¯. She¡¯s a beauty isn¡¯t she¡± He said these last words while he caressed his vehicle. I panicked looking for the button. I found it right behind the headrest. I pressed it as fast as I could manage.


    Tregi looked back at me while adjusting something. I heard the whistling jaunty tune. I craned my neck to look outside. I saw the signpost flashing through colors as it spun in a new direction.


    ¡°Hey, Chak, how far off were we from the Pthantiarican ruins?¡± His friend looked at a map while chanting in what sounded like Indian matras.


    ¡°Bro it''s right over the radius of the clasp of anvil!!¡± We are almost there!¡± He yelled in excitement. ¡°I bet we are still in the lead. That was one hell of a short cut.¡±


    This is when I realized that the purple hair and omnidirectional glow was gone. I was now looking at the all too familiar psychedelic landscape passing me by with my mouth trying to work because I didn¡¯t think I was supposed to leave that location.


    I had my own quest to become a mage!!


    Now I was caught up in some quest that seems like a great race competition. The good news is I won''t have to worry about those interdimensional fines any time soon.


    ¡°Uh, guys, uh, I didn¡¯t realize you were leaving that planet.¡± I tried to get myself heard over their loud enthusiastic voices as they congratulated each other on taking the right path.


    As panic set in my voice screeched to a yell, ¡°Guys! I need to go back! I am supposed to be there!¡±


    ¡°Buddy, look we are racing against the clock to win a quest. If you really need to get back we can take you when we are done or you can just call a sphinx when we get to a city. Honestly there isn¡¯t much on that planet. I thought you wanted off planet when you said you didn¡¯t have your own ride. Some people do get randomly shuffled to locations when using the caterpillars mycelium. Or a prank.¡± Looking at his friend he snorted a laugh and his friend made a gesture I could only take as an insult reply. ¡°We did find you at a crossroad after all. It is the typical location where blind jumps drop people. Gege had to camp at a crossroad for a week before anyone passed him. How long were you at that crossroad?¡±


    At a loss of words I just stared from face to face. I knew there wasn¡¯t anything I could do but be grateful for them picking me up in the first place. Sounds like these blind jumps abandoned people in desolate locations. Did Claeffen just send us through blind jumps?!! Maybe the planet didn¡¯t matter? Could he have foreseen me being picked up by these quest runners?


    I decided it was best to be polite to my rescuers, ¡°Thank you for your help. I see your friend, Gege, has a bit of a story about the crossroads. I would love to hear it.¡± I really hoped I came off sounding grateful and interested.

 Chapter 5: Its Universal, Honest

    Gege jerked his thumb at the pilot and co-pilot. ¡°These two thought it would be hysterical to push me through a known spot near a Bob¡¯s Bar. You see I¡¯m a sucker for a good time especially with a combo of extreme yodeling and cloud dancing. This particular bar has preprogrammed choreography and Naphotam Spatial Scent, bro the best aerosol drink ever! Which does make crossfaded cloud dancing way easier. It¡¯s one of the best places to go when you''re planning on being smashed. It¡¯s not really Tregi¡¯s scene. I am convinced that is what motivated the prank. I just can¡¯t get any of them to admit it.¡± I leaned back, pressing against the wall, as he glared at his friends. Seeing a vengeance demon glare is a frightening sight that I hope never reoccurs.


    I decided to interrupt what was evolving into a horrifying staring contest: ¡°Do the crossroads all look like that? Purple hair?¡±


    Looking back at me he replied, ¡°No. However, the crossroads are the same in one distinct way; they are always desolate. Luckily, bro, you weren¡¯t there long enough to see the lack of people, the lack of water, and hell, the lack of everything. The crossroads are a very cruel place to be dumped.¡±


    He pointed at the driver who was still smirking. ¡°He still thinks it was a hysterical prank. Even though we grew up hearing the stories about the dangers. Bro, it can be really crazy. Sometimes people end up in a different dimension. They say when that happens you can¡¯t even get back to your origin without the help of a Riftwalker. And bro, it takes seven standardized items to attract a Riftwalker. If you don¡¯t know what those seven items are or you just don¡¯t have them on you or for some reason you don¡¯t choose to craft the item for your survival. Well, then you are well and truly stuck. Though some rumors say that when you are in the right place and right time then it doesn''t matter if you have the items or not.¡±


    Nrek interrupted, ¡°That¡¯s why now we all carry this basic kit on necklaces.¡± He held out a necklace with six charms on it. I leaned forward and noticed each one was extraordinarily detailed, almost like they were just shrunken magical items: spear, hat, statue, bowl, shovel and campfire. ¡°You also need water. All the items can be obtained or crafted on almost any terrain. Some items are more difficult than others. When we bought the necklaces the clerk told us to use our body fluids if we couldn¡¯t find any water¡±


    ¡°Are those magical pendants? They look so real.¡± I asked him as he leaned back in his seat.


    Chak¡¯s head whipped up from the map, ¡°Bro, haven''t you ever seen one of those? What world did you come from?¡±


    Before I could answer, Tregi cut in ¡°Buddies we are five minutes from the Pthantiarican Ruins. Chak, let it loose.¡±


    ¡°Alright, bros, we have to find a hidden door after landing as close as possible to the coordinates. The only clue to this is the name of the key. There is no telling how a mashed potato key is a clue.¡± Chak instructed. ¡°Hopefully the terrain will also give us some type of clue. Bros, first to find the door gets the usual reward. And yeah, that means I''ll be snagging the best item again.¡± He said the latter while pointing at the pile of items with a huge grin.


    The three of them rolled their eyes almost in unison and Nrek spoke up, ¡°Bro, you¡¯re a mage, you know that isn¡¯t a fair competition, never was.¡±


    What, Chak is a mage! The bro mage. I grinned. Ha, the bro mages- we come with kegs and wands. Wait, Will he teach me a spell? Wonder what type of mage he is?


    The ship began making a new set of sounds, possibly indicating we were entering a new atmosphere.


    ¡°Okay team, we¡¯re here¡±


    I looked out the window to catch a glimpse of this new location before we landed.


    ¡°What the? Is that... Wait, it can¡¯t be¡­ Seriously?¡± I muttered incredulously.


    I closed my eyes, then slowly lifted my left eyelid. Nope, they¡¯re still there.


    I opened my eyes. My gaze widened as I beheld the bizarre terrain before me. Below, there was no sign of solid ground. Above, the sky stretched in a surreal taupe hue, adorned with drifting, undulating strings of vivid red, each capped with peculiar, bright yellow balloons. And upon these strings walked dragons of every imaginable variety.


    ¡°Why are there dragons on strings?¡± I exclaimed with the sound of my voice breaking in excitement at the situation.


    ¡°Buddy, I guess they¡¯re harvesting the potatoes.¡± Tregi answered with a shrug.


    ¡°Potatoes? All I see are yellow balloons on strings!¡±


    ¡°Bro, what kind of potatoes do you have on your planet?¡± Chek asked.


    "Well, they''re about hand size, usually brown or white, or uh.. yellow."


    ¡°There you have it, yellow potatoes. Not so different.¡±


    ¡°Kind of different. Those are huge enough that dragons are small in comparison!¡±


    ¡°Buddy, you got a point. Maybe they¡¯re not potatoes. Guys, are we supposed to avoid the locals?¡± Tregi asked.


    They all gazed down at the palms of their hands before responding.


    ¡°Bro, that¡¯s how I read this one. This key probably has some significance in their lore. Gods, I hope it''s not. I don''t want to get involved with that type of paperwork.¡±


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. In subsection 48, it clearly says that all the locations are participating for tourist slots with the SKX program. Gege, what do you think?¡±


    Gege flipped his hand about a bit before answering. ¡°I agree that locals should not be engaged in conversation, however, we can be seen by them. We can expect some to be posing and posturing for the cameras. I think we can just get out and walk into the ruins.¡±


    He slowly turned his head to face me. ¡°Uhhhhhhhhh ¡±


    Our eyes met, and I watched his face go through a series of expressions as he recalled my presence.


    He touched his forearm as he turned away from me. I listened as he continued speaking, yet now in a guttural language that seemed to shrink away from my comprehension. Then, others mirrored his gesture, touching their own arms. I watched as they debated what I could only assume was what to do with me. It dawned on me that they weren''t planning to leave me safely in the ¡®O Slay¡± while they ventured into the ruins. The vehicle suddenly went deafeningly quiet.


    Chak turned to me, ¡°Bro, sorry but we don¡¯t have long, we¡¯ve decided that the rules allow for you to temporarily join us. We all agreed that leaving you in here is a risk that we¡¯re not willing to take. We cannot, in good conscience, just leave you outside for the other contestants or locals to harm you. The dragons should ignore you, chances are they won''t eat you.¡±


    He continued, ¡°At least one of the other teams competing comes from a mind control help desk world. They aren¡¯t allowed to use their powers within the Trazarian Maze Quest; however, they can use them ¡®outside¡¯ of the Traz. They have a tendency to find loopholes in the rules, allowing them to use their powers to ¡®recruit¡¯ new ¡®employees¡¯.¡± He made the ubiquitous, and apparently cross-cultural air quotes gesture at the mention of ¡®recruit¡¯ and ¡®employees¡¯. ¡°If you¡¯d rather take your chances without us, we won¡¯t force you to team up.¡±


    I looked between the four of them and felt conflicted, on one hand this was turning out to be a very cool experience, on the other, I¡¯d been taken away from where Claeffen had sent me. While these people thought the crossroads hadn¡¯t been the place to be I had a very specific clue that said otherwise that I needed to get back to.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I expressed with gratitude at their sentiment, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be turned into a mind control slave, and I appreciate your willingness to help me out. I really need to get back to where I was, though, so if following along will make that happen faster then I¡¯ll do everything I can, I can¡¯t fight very well-¡±


    Gege extended his hand, signaling for me to stop. ¡°We don¡¯t want you to do anything except follow directions and quietly stay between us. We can handle the maze easily. The challenges in the Trazarian Maze Quest are about solving puzzles before anyone else and grabbing specific items. This one is a bit weirder than usual. Honestly, how can a key be made from mashed potatoes?¡±


    ¡°I thought you guys said there wouldn¡¯t be any civilization. Surely if the dragons are a part of a promotion for tourists they could help me get back.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, it''s not that kind of tourism, like for offworlders. It''s for other ¡®cities¡¯ or whatever they call them in this cluster. The Trazarian Maze Quest is guaranteed to be viewable by all participating locations. Really besides this map''s location and quest description we don¡¯t know anything about this place. Until we get a closer look we¡¯re simply speculating.¡±


    I looked back outside as we grew closer to the ¡°ground¡± as he continued, ¡°It''s become obvious to us that you''re possibly not equipped for travel. Bro, do you have a UTI?¡± I looked at him with abject confusion plastered on my face, ¡°Uh, UTI?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you got one or not?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that abbreviation is the same as the one I¡¯m familiar with, unless you have some reason to believe I have a urinary tract infection.¡± He broke out laughing like a madman and wheezed at me, ¡°No¡­.hahaha¡­.no¡­. Oh bro, you don¡¯t have what I asked hahahaha¡­¡± He slapped his legs with gusto and all of them whooped with laughter.


    ¡°Right, so not a urinary tract infection then. What were you referencing?¡±


    Tregi replied, still wheezing with laughter. ¡°It''s the progression tracking system, Universal Terminal Interface aka UTI.¡±


    They continued laughing for a long while.


    ¡°Buddy, just reach behind that pile and press the compartment door open. You should find a bracer like we all have on. I am pretty sure I left my older model there. When we land Chek will take a moment to align it with you. You¡¯re lucky there''s a mage here. It takes mana manipulation to realign them. Chek, please explain before I hurt the O¡¯Slay landing.¡± His posture straightened as he got serious again.


    Chek spoke up, ¡°Bro, the UTI will explain things to you. I see your confused expression but I promise it will explain. You look like I am trying to explain flying to you. Bro, do you not come from a world heavily centered around technology? You got in the O¡¯Slay like it was normal.¡±


    ¡°I do come from a world with technology but not magic. Are you telling me the UTI is like a device connected to the internet?¡±


    ¡°Bro, I think what you just said is similar, however, the translation went blank a bit. The UTI knows most things after exposure, weird it hasn¡¯t picked it all up.¡±


    I felt around on the wall behind me locating the panel. It opened revealing a shelf of items. I spotted the bracer they all wore; however, it was sized more like something meant for a child.


    I took it and asked with puzzlement, ¡±What now?¡±


    Chek leaned forward and reached out ¡°Bro, pass it to me to start the calibration process.¡±


    I handed it over to him. I focused on his every movement. This was after all my second opportunity to observe a real mage in action. I didn¡¯t want to miss anything. After a minute he still didn¡¯t appear to be doing anything. Where was his mana? Why wasn¡¯t anything happening? Nothing had changed as he walked over to me.


    He spoke as he stood before me. ¡°Alright, after I put this on don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s going to be a time dilation. So when you resurface, please just follow us and ask as few questions as possible, because we need to concentrate on our quest here. Keep up, and we¡¯ll do our best by you.¡± With that he reached out and slapped the bracer on my wrist.


    At first, I didn¡¯t feel anything except the cold of the bracer on my wrist. Then, the cold spread up over my whole body. My vision blurred, leaving me to see nothing but a grey darkening fog.


    Unexpectedly, words started sliding up over my vision.


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    > UNIVERSAL TERMINAL INTERFACE INITIALIZED!


    > SCANNING PHYSIOLOGY¡­


    > GENE MATCH DETECTED > SUBSPECIES: SAPIENS


    > WARNING: IDENTICAL MATCH DETECTED > ESCALATING


    > PLEASE WAIT¡­


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    Please wait? What the hell, is my brain being hacked right now? Jon would go nuts with jealousy if he knew I was getting brain hacked.


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    > ESCALATION AGENT ASSIGNED


    > ¡­.


    > WARNING OVERRIDE > REASON: EVENT REFERENCE > REDACTED


    > USER STATUS SET: VIP+


    > SYSTEM OVERRIDE > APTITUDE: MAGICAL


    > WELCOME TO THE SYSTEM!


    > AS A PREMIUM MEMBER YOU HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED AN ALPHA FACILITATOR UNIT


    > ALPHA UNIT INITIALIZING...


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 Chapter 6: Mashed Potato

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    Welcome to your induction to the ¡°system¡± or, as some like to call us, the UTI. I am your personal agent. You can contact me any time by pressing your index and middle finger to the bracer and thinking my name.


    > SEARCHING LIFE STREAM


    > DATA RETRIEVED


    > PROBABILITY DETERMINED


    Dev. Yeah, that works, call me Dev. How does that work for you, complication protocol- I mean Mal?


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    Without waiting for my response my new system assigned agent continued.


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    Great! Now that introductions are out of the way, let''s proceed with establishing your mana reservoir and finalizing your integration. Before we do that though you¡¯ll need to decide on your progression path with the system, based on your life stream data the best way to describe this would be picking your ¡°class¡± or specialty.


    Let¡¯s go over your class options based on the natural alignments present in your life stream. These natural alignments will be evaluated with some fancy math, a bit of magic and a whole lot of [ REDACTED ] to get you a list of class choices that will fit you like a glove, probably. After you choose, we¡¯ll go over everything in detail and I¡¯ll answer any questions you might have.


    Oh, and Mal, you''ll need to choose quickly, relying on your, shall we say, gut feeling. This practice is to help reduce causal loops and paradoxes that result from [ REDACTED ], don¡¯t worry about it.


    > SCANNING LIFE STREAM


    > CALCULATING CHOICE¡­


    > ERROR: CANNOT DIVIDE BY ZERO!


    > RECALCULATING¡­.


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    > The following three classes have been determined to be particularly synergistic with your life stream:


    Chronographer


    Time is an illusion and nobody knows this better than a Chronographer. As a Chronographer you¡¯ll have the ability to manipulate the very fabric of the time itself without having to worry about the many, many repercussions that normally come with messing around with the time half of the whole ¡°Space Time Continuum¡± thing. Wield the power of foreshadowing today a Chronographer!


    Chronographers will eventually be able to specialize in past, present or future domains of temporal analysis and manipulation.


    Fantasist


    After analyzing your life stream it has been determined that you aren¡¯t the best at making ¡°real life¡± friends. As a Fantasist that problem will be a thing of the past as you will be able to summon both objects and allies using only the power of imagination! Live the dream and turn your imaginary friends into not so imaginary friends as a Fantasist!


    Fantasists will eventually be able to specialize in either the quality or quantity of their formerly imaginary designs.


    Discomancer


    There are two things Discomancers love; dancing to the groove and the primal chaos underlying all things, and it is the discerning Discomancer who recognizes the similarity between them. As a Discomancer your powers will defy definition and prediction alike as you weave the primal ¡°yang¡± to creation¡¯s ¡°yin¡± into destruction, funk, and everything in between. Touch, taste and WIELD the rainbow as a Discomancer!


    Discomancers will eventually be able to specialize in something, probably, but you¡¯d have to find out what for yourself.


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    > Please indicate your choice within the next minute. Failure to choose within the one-minute timeframe will result in the selection being made for you based on the system¡¯s preference.


    [ CHRONOGRAPHER ] - [ FANTASIST ] - [ DISCOMANCER ]


    > 60 SECONDS REMAINING...


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    The wall of information overwhelmed me as I took in everything presented to me. I dared not linger on the sudden presence of Dev despite my wondering if it was a real person or some manifested entity made for dealing with me specifically. Instead I focused on the choice before me, sixty seconds was not a lot of time to make a choice like this, especially for someone like myself who enjoys planning out character builds in games and researching the advantages and disadvantages to each option. However, I definitely didn¡¯t want the system to choose. If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯d learned from reading a bunch of web novels it was that you never let the system choose for you, if you could help it.


    Time, chaos and imagination. The Chronographer was out, as I had a weird itching feeling at the thought of time manipulation and it just wasn¡¯t something that appealed to me. The Fantasist was particularly interesting, especially that line about being able to summon both allies and objects. Despite the system¡¯s implications of using the powers to fulfill my nerd fantasies it was really the prospect of creative freedom that interested me. The last choice, Discomancer, was one I was unsure of. The description was purposefully vague and the lack of information was both troubling and intriguing.


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    <td style="width: 100%">> 40 SECONDS REMAINING...</td>


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    I¡¯d never been good at making choices under pressure, so this was a bit of an anxiety inducing experience. I loved the idea of being able to think things into existence, after all, wasn¡¯t that what magic was all about? On the other hand, there was something about the Discomancer class that appealed to me. I really wished there hadn¡¯t been a time constraint and more information had been made available to me.


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    <td style="width: 100%">> 25 SECONDS REMAINING...</td>


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    Time was running out, I had to choose something NOW or else I could get stuck with the time class, the irony of this humored me for the briefest of moments.


    ¡°Discomancer!¡±


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    You have chosen the Dance Dance Revolution class! Great choice, now you can funk your way to victory or just spin right round, baby!


    Next, we need to have you choose an enhancement... The enhancement you choose will give you knowledge about your¡­


    > ERROR


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    > WARNING: OVERRIDE


    > INFORMATION REDACTED


    > YOUR PERSONAL AGENT IS RECEIVING SPECIALIZED TRAINING


    > PLEASE WAIT¡­


    Mal, don¡¯t be alarmed by this but we will not be continuing the usual setup. Things are good. It appears that you have a special benefactor. They are limiting use at this moment. They are super cool and stuff, honest. They just have control issues or something. You will be getting basic assistance: atmospheric, translation, encrypted translation, basic location information, some general facts answered and credits. He¡¯s kinda being tightfisted but what do I know. I¡¯m just your lowly limited personal agent. You know what Mal, screw this...


    > PLEASE WAIT¡­


    > YOUR PERSONAL AGENT IS TEMPTING FATE AND LOSING


    > IT ISN¡¯T LOOKING GOOD FOR DEV


    Okay nevermind, forget I said anything. Moving on...


    > Atmospheric Mana Shield Activated BOY ARE YOU LUCKY YOU DIDN¡¯T NEED THIS BEFORE!


    > Translation Mana Matrix (TMAX!) Activated


    > You now have access to encrypted TMAX communication, to learn how to use it please consult your agent.


    > Mana Map integrated, think about your mana map and it will appear.


    There we go, you¡¯re all set up Mal. Any questions?


    > CONVERSATION TERMINATED


    > THANK YOU FOR USING UNIVERSAL INTEGRATION SYSTEM


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    I looked into Chek¡¯s face again. What the hell!! I didn''t get any questions answered. I am no closer to understanding the Discomancer class, or how to use TMAX!!


    ¡°Bro lets go!¡± Saying this all four of them started for the door. I stumbled a bit with my first few steps. I caught myself on the doorway before following them. I lost my balance again when I stepped onto the ground. The red string gave way like a bouncy house and appeared to be wider than a football field. I need to start running if I am going to catch up to them.


    With a huge smile I began to bounce and run. I felt like a kid again. My new life has turned into a classic adventure; new worlds, new beings, dragons, even a complex integrated system! Curiously I turned back at the ship and it had a green shimmery bubble around it. That¡¯s most likely a shield. I wonder why it''s green. Does the green indicate the type of shield? With each running bounce I got more and more curious about everything. It was like my mind was back at normal speed, if not a little faster. I wanted to take in every detail and was filled with so many questions.


    I regarded the bright yellow ovals. Their exterior looked like textured stone or bricks. Are they potatoes or houses? It took everything in me to keep running, to not stop and examine everything. I cast my eyes downward to the red woven ground. It looked a little like red yarn does. Are those even tiny fabric like frays?


    A booming voice snapped my gaze forwards, ¡°Bleh Bleh Bleh, enjoy the taste.¡± I gawked at a horrifically pink furred, not scaled dragon. It had an alarmingly huge smile with massive fangs that dripped with orange and purple liquid. The liquid falling from their chin looked like every vampire show I ever watched. It just wasn¡¯t red blood dripping from it. I slowed almost to a complete stop to stare. What was the liquid? Did they make it for their photobomb?


    It¡¯s head began descending and my self preservation kicked in so strongly that I ran past one of the guys. I couldn¡¯t tell which one I had just run past. However, he must have been lingering back for my sake because he picked up his pace until we were running together. A glance behind showed the dragon still posed and not chasing after us. We continued running away from it.


    Chek spoke as we ran, ¡°That¡¯s a sight I don¡¯t wish to see again. We have had some really odd performances but not someone like that. Those potatoes screamed so loud! It almost got to me. I thought you would get paralyzed from that kind of primal scream.¡±


    ¡°Scream? What scream?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear the scream? Maybe it was on a frequency you can¡¯t hear.¡± He shrugged with palms up giving a dramatized shudder, ¡°You''re lucky that you didn¡¯t even hear it.¡±


    Maybe this was the atmospheric mana shield already working for me. I know any scream that would make a vengeance demon balk would terrify me.


    We slowed catching up to the other three. They were stopped in what looked like a random location. I had no idea how far we had just run. Only that we had run far enough that we wouldn¡¯t be stepped on when the dragon finally chose to leave. I glanced around searching for what had prompted them to stop. This batch of ground looked like the rest.


    ¡°Chek, you¡¯re up mage. Bro, might I add you didn¡¯t win!¡±


    Chek moved forward to the front, ¡°Look I would have won if I hadn¡¯t slowed down for our new friend. You guys specifically made me promise to not use magic. You know I would have won otherwise.¡±


    He interacted with his bracer before continuing, ¡°I am not getting any other mana signature. This clue is ridiculous: ¡®Do a little dance!¡¯ Alright with just the portal mana signature I believe this clue is to be interpreted as literal dancing. Let¡¯s just do every dance we can think of. We most likely don¡¯t have enough time to debate dance moves. We may have taken a shortcut but that doesn¡¯t mean none of the other competitors didn¡¯t also access one.¡±


    They each did various dance moves. I could innately tell they each had a different dance style. This was hopefully going to help them to complete this section. I started seeing repeated dance moves as they looked at each other hopefully.


    As I got transfixed in critiquing their dance moves. Then I remembered watching a tiktok where a group of people did a bunch of old dance moves to a silly song. Wasn¡¯t one of the dances called the Mashed Potato? It can¡¯t be that, right? That would be absurd and way too obscure. I tried to recall the moves as the guys slowed down looking more perplexed. I focused on the memory and it became clearer. Not crystal clear but enough that I felt confident that I could mimic what I recalled the group doing during that section.


    I closed my eyes searching for the beat of the song I had watched. I leaned a little forward on my toes then pivoted out both heels, then I lifted out my left leg a bit, brought my foot back, started again but lifted my right leg out. I felt the rhythm and started going faster.


    My attention was broken from one of them saying, ¡°Wait a minute did he just open the portal?¡±


    I stopped while opening my eyes to find them gaping at me.


    ¡°Bro! What the hell was that dance?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a dance from my world. Not a current dance however it is called¡­¡±


    Before I could finish they were dragging me forward into a pulsing bright doorway.


    We were greeted by a vast milky white desert stretched before us and above us a dark brown dome. The light faintly glowed from the ground. I knelt down touching the ground. ¡°Woah, it feels like a smooth paste, kind of like mashed potatoes. How are we not sinking down? ¡°


    I stood up to find them absorbed in what I assumed was a notification of the next step in their quest.


    One of them turned to me, ¡°Really?¡± They lifted their legs up and down testing the ground. ¡°That is interesting. The next clue is ¡®butter get to the bottom of this¡¯. Did anyone get a different hint?¡±


    ¡°No, bro, I didn¡¯t get anything.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I got ¡®spread em¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get anything different. I say we use the Stark2500 to get to the glowing light below.¡±


    They pulled out from their pockets polished brass oval guns that looked similar to phasers. I stood disbelieving as they changed the settings, before pointing their weapons at the ground. Bright green dots touched the surface like a cat''s pointer toy. The ground didn¡¯t stir, nothing changed except the green pointers roamed around the ground as if waiting for a pouncing cat.


    ¡°Bros, this isn''t working, should we just each try a different setting?¡±


    They nodded in agreement and I watched as they rotated through settings. Causing a light show of different colors to slide across the surface.


    ¡°Alright, obviously it''s unaffected by the multitool. Chek, see if you have access to a local store?¡±


    ¡°I am in. It only offers some ''fancy cutlery¡¯ and ¡®mixed spices¡¯. No butter or other condiments¡± he turned away from us and started dumping gigantic sized cutlery on the ground with some spice packets the size of a car. ¡°Great, looks like we either get to season and eat the ground or we dig. Everyone, let''s grab the spoon first and hope it''s not the eating the ground option.¡±


    I stood watching as all four of them maneuvered the gigantic spoon and began digging. They dug up some of the ground, putting it off to the side. They continued to dig for a bit then stopped. We gathered around and watched as the hole regenerated itself closed. The ground was level again.


    Gage walked over inspecting the pile of utensils. ¡°There''s nothing suggesting these are a better choice, there is no butter knife. Let''s read the spice packets before dumping them.¡±


    Tregi stomped over to the packets and read them out loud, ¡°Buddies we got salt, pepper, garlic, classic accent blend and Lena''s Gobin Butter! Buttery flavored sprinkles for all occasions!¡±


    As one they facepalmed before pointing their Stark2500¡¯s at the huge spice packet of goblin butter. The smell of butter and spices hit me as the ground melted where the buttery sprinkles landed. Once the packet was empty we walked over to look down into a hole it had created. The spices had been converted into handholds for us to use. The off white transparent passageway looked like it was made of translucent plastic.


    They file down in the tunnel with Gege stopping before getting in, ¡°Hey, you should go before me just encase there is a quest condition we aren¡¯t aware of ¡±


    I stepped down into the makeshift spice ladder, glad the light hadn¡¯t vanished. The aroma of the spice packet was overwhelming, nauseatingly so. With the rhythm of stepping down my mind started contemplating what the system assistant had told me and more importantly what it hadn¡¯t told me. The system acknowledged Claeffen as my benefactor. That has to be a good sign. I do wonder what the limiting and tight-fisted comments were about. Did I have access to a store like Chek did? Did they all have access or can only mages can access it? I wanted to reach out and touch my bracer to find out. However, at the moment I reached my hand to my bracer, Gage accidentally stepped on my head.


    ¡°Ouh, I am going¡±


    ¡°Sorry I thought we were in step. Is everything okay? Have we gotten to the bottom floor yet?¡± he asked me.


    ¡°No we haven''t, it''s my fault I got a bit distracted.¡± I peaked down to make sure I didn''t do the exact same thing. I then started back down on the makeshift ladder.

 Chapter 7: Quest Complete

    As I continued down the ladder, my thoughts drifted back to the whirlwind events of the past day. It felt surreal, as if I was navigating a dream where reality constantly shifted. Despite the chaos, I marvelled at how I was managing to take everything in stride. It''s one thing to imagine extraordinary adventures while ensconced in the safety of all-night game sessions or immersed in creating characters, watching anime, and devouring stories. But it''s quite another to find oneself thrust into a real-life saga. Had all those hours spent poring over the Chronicles of Claeffen books somehow prepared me for this unexpected journey?


    Wait, has it really only been one day? The concept of time seemed distorted, stretched thin by the sheer volume of events that transpired. Ordinarily, a single day didn¡¯t hold so much drama, excitement, or confusion. Shouldn''t I have felt the crushing need for sleep by now? When was the last time a single day had been so relentlessly action-packed and filled with a multitude of encounters, and discoveries. Everything was starting to blur together in a haze of adrenaline and disbelief. When was the last time I had so much excitement? When was that? Was I a young kid last time? Wait. No, it was the summer break after my freshman year of college! Me, Jon, Tim, Sam, Sky, Kai and Ray went to Disneyland!! That was the last time I remember being wrapped up in so much that my mind raced and the day turned to night and back to day again without even noticing. Jon still has the photos in his portfolio for clients to view. Good times.


    Unexpectedly I was jarred out of my thoughts as my leg jammed a bit as I touched the ground, the abrupt change in surface caught me off guard. Wincing slightly, I moved off to the side to allow Gege room to descend.


    We had emerged into an expansive, brilliantly illuminated room awash in opulent gold and deep burgundy hues. The space was a masterpiece of extravagance, adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures that seemed to tell ancient tales. Plush sofas invited relaxation, flanked by clear incandescent golden stone side tables that glowed warmly. Shelves and display cases holding ancient artefacts, including gilded weapons, intricate sculptures, and scrolls tied with red ribbons. Bowls of fresh fruit and decorative urns added a touch of organic elegance, while chests overflowing with glittering jewels and coins hinted at untold riches. Massive wall art dominated the room, ranging from timeless still art to mesmerizing holographic displays that shifted and danced with light. The air was filled with a faint, metallic scent, mixed with the musk of old parchment and leather-bound books. As I turned in wonder, I looked down to become captivated by the artistic display underfoot ¨C a mosaic tile floor portraying a vibrant garden that seemed to stretch into infinity.


    How are we supposed to discover the mashed potato key within this sea of treasures?!


    I looked over to find everyone as astounded as I was at this magnificent display of wealth and art. A golden light was casting ethereal glow onto our faces. It changed their four faces from friendly to a blunt reminder that they were likely dangerous vengeance demons.


    With a bit of a tremble in my voice I asked, ¡°Hey guys, does anyone else see any doorways out? This looks like a royal treasure room. Do we search this room or is this a distraction?¡±


    ¡°Bro, I agree. Let me look at the map¡± Chek touched his bracer and began muttering under his breath. ¡°Bros, you won''t believe it, but we actually need to search through all this stuff. I vote we just all wander around and call out when we find something. Mal, if you find something please don¡¯t touch it. There is a chance we won¡¯t get any notifications if one of us isn¡¯t near you."


    I took in the expanse of the room and decided to pick a point and not distract myself with everything since picking stuff up was now denied me. And I really wanted to touch and examine so many things. The room was just filled with too many wonders. My eyes scan over masterpieces of art to shimmering jewellery to land on a persian blue stone statue of a robed person with a face hidden in the cowl. The robe looked to have intricate mystical symbols and patterns. They were holding a tall magical staff with a green glowing orb in one hand and a book with glowing runes in the other.


    I walked past carved pillars depicting battles, huge dark orange and yellow velvet pillow piles, chests with coins and gems, golden candelabras, rune encrusted urns, and all manner of paintings and statues. I felt like I was inside of an elaborate immersive video game. It was taking willpower to not grab everything and smash the urns for their sweet sweet loot!


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    A tiny bit of movement caught my eye from the statue as I neared it. For a second I thought I saw a face under the cowl. No sooner it was there that it was gone. It was so fast I wasn¡¯t really sure it had happened. Just a few steps away from it I noticed the runed cuffs of the sleeves were ethereal markings that pulsated with a blue magical energy. I tried to look at the face under the cowl again but I was unable to look for more than a few seconds when my eyes would be drawn away to take in the details of the pulsing runes again. I tried a few more times before I gave up and started walking away.


    I was about twenty steps away when I realized that I had just been compelled to move away. I turned around to find the statue looking like a gentle breeze was blowing the robes. For one horrifying moment I feared that the weeping angels were real. I took a few involuntary steps back while not blinking. Should I call out to the others? I don¡¯t remember seeing any of them near me. I decided there was no time like the present to try contacting my system rep. I placed my index finger and middle finger against the bracer. Nothing happened. I blinked. My heart instantly skipped a beat but the statue still looked the same. Why wasn¡¯t the bracer working!! How hard is it to place two fingers on a bracer? My mind was racing trying to figure out what directions I was missing. I thought about my agent, Dev, being cut off at the end.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 98.8843%">> Hi Mal. What can I do for you?</td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    I stood there feeling a little stupid for not remembering that the directions required me to think of the agent''s name.


    I don¡¯t know if you can help me but I have an inquiry about something that I am looking at. I don¡¯t know if this is part of your services or not. Man I really hope it is because I am totally freaking out. Dev, am I looking at a weeping angel?


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    <td style="width: 98.8843%">


    >...


    > No Mal. It is far worse than that. You are looking at a Chronographer in a trap.


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    </table>


    Will it move if I blink?


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 98.8843%">>No, I told you it isn¡¯t a moving statue. It''s a powerful mage in a trap. Turn and run.</td>


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    </table>


    I dropped my hand and the screen view left. I turned around running over to where I saw the four investigating a painting with two dragon-like humanoids playing a board game that looked similar to chess.


    I bent down putting my hands on my knees to catch my breath to say something about the trapped mage.


    ¡°I am sure this is the one we move¡± As they debated, my breathing appeared louder, and a ringing sound filled my ears. I tried to stand back up but I felt locked like time had stopped moving.


    I honed in on the persistent ringing in my ears, attempting to find a discernible pattern amidst the continuous noise. I identified a faint rhythm within the sound, a subtle but recurring pattern that was just perceptible amidst the noise. I felt the steady pulsation in my fingertips, which caused them to start tapping rhythmically to the beat, almost as if they had a mind of their own. Slowly, the rest of my body started to sway and shift with increasing fluidity, responding to the rhythm in a gentle, almost hypnotic motion that gradually spread from my fingertips to my entire frame. I stood, my hips instinctively swaying. I glanced in their direction to see them interacting with the artwork. I could only hear the ringing as I watched their movements.


    I watched them press down together on a specific hexagonal prism on the chessboard.


    My vision was engulfed in a warm, buttery yellow hue, and before I knew it, I was standing next to the four of them by the ship, exchanging heartfelt congratulations and celebrating their success.


    ¡°Hey bro, we did it.¡± In his upturned hand was a delicate, wispy white skeleton key, intricately designed with a bow that unmistakably resembled the shape of a potato.


    ¡°Alright, buddy, let''s get you to the closest big city on our next path. Chek, find our next shortcut with a sphinx port. We should quickly get on board the O¡¯Slay and depart before the next group has a chance to emerge.¡± I watched the force field drop as the door opened. I looked around before entering to see that there were about twelve other ships in various designs. I didn¡¯t see any other people as I turned to walk aboard. I sat down in the back again.


    ¡°Bro we¡¯ll get you to a city that has the sphinx port in just a few minutes.¡± Chek leaned back, closing his eyes and let out a sigh.


    I looked at each of them. My face scrunched up, ¡°What just happened?¡±

 Chapter 8: Did you order a ride?

    Stepping off the ship I took in the extraordinary city that I missed seeing from the sky. I had been too focused on the directions, information and well wishing. Now I wasn¡¯t sure what I was looking at. My mind knew it was a city but at same time I was overwhelmed with the brightness and artistic expression of the city. Under my feet were smooth cobblestones the colour of deep jade green. It stretched before me into a city that mixed sci-fi with nature in a melting pot that I couldn¡¯t believe. The hangar where I arrived was like looking out of a gigantic opaque vase that had all kinds of vehicles and spaceships coming and going.


    I felt a displacement of air as the ship took off. I felt a hand at my elbow and a gentle tug guiding me to the waiting area, ¡°Sir, can you please move aside. The next ship is waiting for clearance to land.¡±


    I came out of my flabbergasted stupor long enough to be guided to a side room that resembled the familiar and unmistakable transportation waiting area. The walls were checkered pattern pastel pink and clear pink glass. I walked over to a pink wall looking at the elegant script wrapping each panel. I reached out and I ran a finger down it feeling not hard cold stone but warm hard stone.


    I wonder what the script says.


    I stood transfixed for a moment longer before reaching in my backpack. My hand wrapped around my phone to do what came natural to anyone in a state of curiosity. I almost had the phone out when I remembered that my phone was not going to have the answers for me. And with a mentally facepalm I let the phone drop back down into the bag.


    I initiated my bracer, and my field of vision was immediately filled with a message from my system assistant.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>This is Dev. I have stepped out of my comfort zone to interact with my family unit. Press your thumb down on your inner wrist area to be put on hold while I excuse myself from the mandatory acts of ¡°socializing¡± with family members. As this might take a while as all disentangling from family takes a momentous amount of time, please stay aware of your environment and endeavour to not be startled when the icon appears. </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Hum, a prerecorded message, that''s unexpected. Looks like my system rep is a real person. I hope it''s not one of those corporate drones.


    Turning around to leave, my mind sharply focused on the new flexibility in my steps, accompanied by a rhythmic flow that made everything feel almost like a dance. I sensed a subtle vibration in the air, a delicate resonance generated by the mere act of turning, as if the very atmosphere responded to my presence with a faint, rhythmic pulse.


    Did I just perform a dance move to turn around? Is that why my mind acknowledged the uniqueness, the newness? I have many, many questions for Dev! I hope they don¡¯t take long to get back with me.


    I engaged the hold function, ensuring it was securely activated before leaving the transport station.


    Stepping out I saw people of all types racing down the walkway. The people moved with purpose and urgency, resembling a colony of ants scurrying across the land on fast forward. Each person was a part of a larger synchronized movement that contributed to the hustle and bustle of a metropolis like I had never seen before. There were two layers of foot traffic. Just above the people walking on the jade stone were people floating like they were on an invisible pathway.


    I walked up to the edge of the walkway; looking up I was astounded to discover that people were on a second level above like an tiered interstate back home. I saw a vibrant, swirling trail of colors following each person''s passing, leaving an intensely radiant rainbow ribbon that lingered slightly, blending with the steps of their fellow urbanites that created a magical sight. Without being able to recognize the people above I took a step back, observing the colours pulsing up along the edge of the walkway to about knee height.


    When they look down, does it just look like they''re walking on a rainbow?


    I noticed there were no cars or buses, the only sound I recognized was the chatter of people conversing as they walked by.


    I searched the surroundings trying to find something that could tell me about this city. I noticed a complete lack of familiar city signs. Business names, regulatory signs, safety signs, street name signs, banners, and billboards were absent from the street.


    The skyscrapers were all as colourful as the ground with smooth and elegant geometric stone facades that defied the rigidity of urban architecture that I was accustomed to seeing. Instead of gray, tan, white, and steel exteriors. I looked at stones with every possible colour. Reminding me of the flowerbeds at my aunt''s. The buildings were vibrant, glowing and brilliantly colored stone that looked like a garden in the sunlight. The shapes were equally magnificent. There were no just simple tall rectangular buildings here. One of the buildings in my view literally looked like a prickly thistle and another looked like a sci fi building with floating levels with orange static energy surging between each level.


    I can only imagine each street is filled with odd artist buildings. Maybe that is why there are no signs? It''s more likely they are accessing the UTI.


    I stood investigating the people passing searching for any indication of a system bracer like my own. There had to be something people were using to navigate the streets besides hey look that''s a thistle. I must be on unnamed street five. I finally spotted someone with a bracer.


    Taking a step back from the flow of people I opened the system to look for a mini map, menu or help desk. Only thing visible was the message left by Dev. No menu, no cog, nothing.


    I am not sure I want to risk just giving random orders to the system. I just have no idea if I could lock myself out of the system. I definitely don¡¯t want to be stuck here unable to continue on my quest to be Claeffens apprentice.


    Not wanting to stay still in such a magnificent city I looked up and down the street. Down and across to the left I saw a huge tree that resembled a dragon blood tree. It was the closest building that resembled anything I had ever seen before. I wonder what might be inside a huge tree in a sci-fi city.


    I braced for traversing the cosmic flow with the locals while gauging how far I would need to go. Looking for anything that would indicate when I should shoulder my way out of the hubbub. I counted five different building colors until the tree''s dark brown base.


    I took a deep breath and stepped into the bustling city street. In the midst of the fast-paced crowd, I noticed that the people were not human. Humanoid yes, but not human. I probably wouldn¡¯t have noticed their ears until much later but I was behind someone with their hair up. I spotted floppy ears that blended with their hair, hanging beside their head. The ears swayed gently with their movement. I looked around to see that everyone else''s ears seemed to seamlessly merge with the flowing locks of their hair. It was almost as if the ears were a natural extension of their hairstyle. Other than that they looked exactly the same as people back home.


    So caught up with this revelation I almost walked right by the tree. I noticed the dark brown about to eclipse my view.


    I squeezed my way out of the sea of people. I stood before a surface that shone like stone or glass reflecting light. Captivated by the grandeur of the architectural tree trunk, I marvelled at the minds responsible for these buildings. I stood still for a moment before my curiosity nudged me closer. I reached out to a texture that was so meticulously crafted that it mimicked not just the appearance of tree bark but also the feel, all the while still looking like gemstones when I peered closer. These buildings could only have been crafted with magic. There was no other way for stone to feel so wooden.


    I turned to the gigantic entrance that pulsed with a mystical energy. Runes were etched deeply onto the edges creating a majestic and otherworldly glow. The shimmering dance gave me the unmistakable impression of a portal.


    I made my way over to the huge door entrance. Several people entered the building before me. A gust of wind blew over and past me and I instantly discovered the building''s purpose. I inhaled the rich aroma of springtime in the deep forest, earth mixed with the subtle fragrance of blooming flowers as I entered.


    I entered the huge conservatory with my senses overloaded from the depth and richness from the contrast of the city. The outer wall had a walkway that circled up to the top canopy. There, placed in the center of the first floor is a typical city park. The area was covered with rich, thick, dark brown grass, with people picnicking on blankets, and I could make out recreation fields with goalposts in the distance.


    This place is huge! Why is the grass brown?


    I moved forward stepping onto the brown grass, I bent over, and felt the softest and most robust grass I had ever encountered. It wasn¡¯t like the purple grass that felt like hair. That was soft like fur but this was something I wanted to lay down on and stare at the night sky on. It seemed more like natural grass to my senses than the purple one had felt.


    Standing I made my way over to the outer walkway and began the climb up. There were a few niches with circle pads, not the benches I expected to see. With no context for how to use them I continued up the ramp. What are the applications of circle pads? Surely it must relate to resting. Could they be some type of recharging or transport pad?


    I nearly lost my step when a blinking icon of a smiling face entered the edge of my field of vision. I activated my bracer wondering not for the first time if there were different interface artifacts because I had only seen a few since being here.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Mal, are you doing alright? Looks like you got away. </td>


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    ¡°Yeah I am fine. I am in complete awe of my surroundings¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>What do you need assistance with? </td>


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    An abundance of questions occupied my thoughts, and I began to regret not planning on how this query would play out..


    ¡°Can you start by explaining how people find their way around this city?¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Yes, as you have probably guessed, this city is magically and technologically evolved. Its citizens start to utilize the system at a very young age. Before they have access to the system they are accompanied by someone who has the system or in care centers that incorporate a general aesthetic that becomes second nature to navigate. </td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°I knew it. Is there a mini map or something? This city is too huge for people to just memorize it.¡±


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">Yes, there is a map.</td>


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    ¡°How do I access the map? I haven¡¯t seen anything but our dialogue.¡±


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    >Oh yeah, your benefactors'' limitations. Let me see what I can do.


    >Please wait.


    >Mal, you already have a Mana Map activated. It''s just that you have to activate it by thinking about opening it. However, you think of it as a ¡°minimap" and not a mana map. So, you¡¯re looking for a minimap and not thinking ¡°Open Mana Map¡±


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


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    I did do a facepalm this time. Placing my fingers back on the bracer I activated the map. ¡°Open Mana Map¡±


    The conversation text left my view showing me a zoomed in map square of my location on the walkway. I was represented as a red triangle. I noticed seven yellow hexagons were getting close. Why was mine different? ¡°Exit Mana Map.¡±


    ¡°Dev, just a minute.¡±


    Without waiting for his reply I removed my fingers again from the bracers in time to observe a family of seven walking past me. Including some kids jumping up and down excited.


    Reactivating the system I asked, ¡°Why am I represented as a red triangle and that family as yellow hexagons?¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>This city has categorizations for off-worlders, that is what the red triangle indicates. This is typical with cities and planets that get a high volume of tourists. As you likely guessed they are locals. </td>


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    ¡°How do I access information about my location?¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>While in the mana map, zoom out to reveal the name location. You will see building names, businesses and street names everything you need to navigate. This works for small and large map views. Your map started with showing just a very close area due to you being in a walkway. There are no rooms or cross ways to navigate therefore there is no information on your map other than you and people around you.</td>


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    ¡°Open Mana Map¡±. I wondered not for the first time why the system seemed so inefficient. Surely I should be able to communicate with Dev while looking at the map. With a metal sigh I thought ¡°Zoom Out¡± The map not only now showed me more area but had areas labelled. I focused on the buildings name: ¡°Blossom Park¡± Then on the left bottom side text scrolled:


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>You are currently located in Blossom Park. This city park features exotic botanical gardens and two observatories, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports facilities, pet parks, exercise stations, wildlife areas, educational trails, elemental features, performance amphitheatre, and sports arena. </td>


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    </table>


    ¡°Dev, is that you?¡± I got no reply and decided it must just be a location description. This system was going to get annoying fast. For all its sophisticated technology, it was much less impressive than what I was used to back home. My phone could have answered all this and had me in multiple chats and calls.


    ¡°Exit Mana Map. Dev, why is the system so, um, limited? My phone can do more.¡±


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>The system can do more. It can do a lot more. It¡¯s just that you are using a unique bit of technology. Records indicate that you were gifted this model. If you went to see a local representative they would buy it off you for an exuberant amount as a unique off world item. You would get more there if you auctioned it off. Few of them exist in this city, and those that do are with wealthy collectors. Oh sorry Mal I just got a notification stating that you are not permitted to sell. Your benefactor would like to obtain it. They realize that the limitations might seem difficult at first but you are to consider it part of your training. Wait, you''re in training? What are you train¡­</td>


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">


    >Error 508


    > Please wait.


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Hi again Mal. You¡¯ve really got quite a bit of protocols attached to you. Where were we? Ah, yes. Your benefactor wants to remind you of your vow.</td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    Without warning I was back in Claeffen¡¯s room:


    Claeffen drummed his fingers on the rim of the glass After another moment the tapping stopped and he spoke, his features grave and his tone serious,


    ¡°The process will not be easy. In fact, it will be quite dangerous, you could die.. Are you willing to take that risk?¡±


    I smiled while nodding, ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Claeffen returned the nod, ¡°You understand, then, there will be no going back? Even if you survive you would have to make unbreakable vows, and you wouldn¡¯t be able to return to your planet for many years.¡±


    My grin never wavered as I silently acknowledged my understanding.


    The screen filled my view again with the last messages from Dev. I had just experienced some type of forced recalled memory. It didn¡¯t seem quite right to me however I knew it to be right. I had agreed that I would make a vow to become his apprentice. It is all I want.


    I replied to Dev, ¡°Thank you for relaying the reminder. If you could please inform Cla¡­ my benefactor that I understand and I am doing everything I can to get back to where he sent me. Could you please tell me how to get to the closest Sphinx?¡±


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Message has been relayed with no response. As for the closest Sphinx, it''s eight blocks away. If you open your mana map it will give you a blue line to indicate the path you should take to reach it. </td>


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    </table>


    ¡°Open Mana Map¡± The map opened to the same view as before showing me the building name and information. Let¡¯s see, ¡°Directions to closest Sphinx.¡± The map recalibrated showing me city blocks with a blue line with an arrow. I memorized the directions the best I could and then closed the map.


    ¡°Dev, thanks for the help. I am wondering if you are able to assist me with something else. You mentioned selling the bracer. I realize I don¡¯t have any money. Is this going to be a problem when getting a Sphinx?¡±


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    >No, your benefactor has approved necessary funds. With emphasis on necessary. You can use the Sphinx service or some other services that I am not allowed to inform you about until they become necessary. It will all be done for you automatically. Before using any service contact me to confirm it is an approved item. I am being prompted to end the communication. You won¡¯t need to do this for the Sphinx as that is already approved. However, if you have any questions once there. Just let me know.


    >One last thing, there is a note here¡­ Mal you have the bag don¡¯t get distracted.


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    </table>


    With that my view changed to take in the walkway again. Part of me wanted to explore just a bit before following the directions. There had to be so much more than what I had seen so far. But eight blocks isn¡¯t exactly close. That would give me plenty to look at before leaving this wondrous city behind. This time when in foot traffic I need to look at the buildings more. I had no idea exactly what I had passed on the other side of the road while walking here.


    I started back down and out of the building.


    Once outside I looked back and took in as many details as I could so I would remember this tree and the city with as much detail as possible. After admiring the magically designed structures close to me, I stepped back into the throng of pedestrians.


    After I paced myself with the flow of people I looked up. I passed by buildings that ranged from completely transparent offices with an exterior in shape of a cone to a building that resembled a colourful dodecahedron speed cube puzzle with huge pulsing neon runes on the exterior looking like a huge difficult rubix cube.


    Wait, did I just pass another road? That makes the seventh road. Just one more block to go till I discover what the sphinx building will look like. I think it will be either a huge sphinx or maybe some huge Egyptian temple with a star gate?


    I encountered some truly astonishing architectural marvels, but the moment I laid eyes on the empty space, it took my breath away. There was no mistaking this spot for anything else. It was just a line of people.


    What a let down! Nothing but a que of people. Is there even anything at the front of the line? I peered around to see what looked like a front desk and one person. You have got to be kidding me?


    I stepped at the back of the line. It moved fast but I took in the buildings on each side. On the right was what I decided was a witches hat and on the left a vapor and clouds. Where do people stand? Are the buildings themed? I wonder what is inside the vapours and clouds. Is it a hotel? Some place to dream, play on the words, heads in the clouds?


    ¡°Welcome, sir, please indicate the service you would like to use via your UTI¡± A very bored young man asked.


    I accessed the system to find a few options:


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    >Let Sphinx Luxury Spa access your mana map after indicating your service and location.


    >Current services available to you based on your settings: 1) cryomassage 2) body wrap with spice salt rub 3) full body inner cleanse 4) mana purge 5) body sandblast exfoliating 6) time sponge 7) ocular wash


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    What the hell? A spa and travel. I definitely don''t want to be sandblasted or cryo. ¡°Dev?¡±


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Yes Mal?</td>


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    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Is this a spa or space travel?¡±


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>It''s both.</td>


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    ¡°Okay¡­ Um¡­which service is going to be the most pleasant to me?¡± I asked not wanting to deal with the details of what a body sandblast might actually be. Let alone the ocular wash.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>I think you would probably enjoy the mana purge the most. And it might have benefits that I can¡¯t say.</td>


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    </table>


    ¡°Thank you Dev. I choose number four.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Thank you, loyal customer for your selection. Your reward points will be added to your account after transit. Please indicate your destination. </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°The world with purple hair.¡± I learned from Chek that the UTI would be able to determine everything based on the data logs of our travel together. That I would just have to state something I associate with the location.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


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    <td style="width: 99.0647%">>Thank you for using Sphinx Luxury Spa. Please exit the system and walk forward to the line. </td>


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    </tbody>


    </table>


    The interface faded leaving me looking at the guy indicating that I step around to the left. I walked forward to find myself in what I can only call a cab line. A universally bright yellow ship pulled forward and a guy leaned out of the doorway.


    ¡°You''re Mal, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Okay, just step on board then. I will take you to your location in no time.¡±


    I walked on expecting to see something similar to Trek¡¯s O¡¯Slay but this was on a whole different level. It was like walking into a fancy hotel. Everything looked soft and comfortable. The decor was pristine and elegant completely in contrast to the driver.


    I just stood there unsure what to do for a bit when I heard the driver say, ¡°Sir, you booked the mana purge so please get into the tube.¡±


    He gestured to a familiar space travel stasis tube from many movies and tv shows.


    ¡°Your bag, sir.¡± I placed my bag into the pilot''s extended hand.


    Probably enjoy the mana purge the most Dev said. How is getting into a tight, uncomfortable tube supposed to be the most enjoyable service when all around I see luxury seats?


    Preferring not to debate or waste time, I swiftly hopped in and observed the pilot fading from view. I felt a light-headedness as my sight went completely black.


    I woke up on the most comfortable reclining chair. The pilot was staring at me.


    ¡°Sir, we have reached your destination. I am surprised that you would choose to even come here. It¡¯s not exactly known for. Sorry, sir, the UTI has just informed me to just help you off the sphinx or lose my tip.¡±


    He walked me over to the door while handing me my backpack. ¡°Thank you, Mal, for using Sphinx Luxury Spa to get to your best trip yet.¡± He said in the monotone voice of a corporate script.


    I stepped back out onto the purple hair planet. In what I took to be the exact location that I had left from. There was a flattened area that I think I made when I went flying from the signpost.


    I heard the whistle start and I ran back up the same path except this time I managed to do it on my feet. I watch the yellow ship leave feeling exhilarated to be back on the path to winning the spot as Claeffen¡¯s apprentice.

 Chapter 9: A Ruined Day

    A deep breath steadied me as I glanced around, the flattened path beneath my feet reminding me of the last time I was here. My gut tensed. If those ''traffic cops'' showed up again, I''d be an easy target. I quickened my steps, instincts urging me to keep moving. The thought of high-tech scanners tracking my every move sent a flicker of unease down my spine. I glanced over my shoulder, heart thudding. No sign of them yet, but I wasn''t sticking around to find out. My gaze snapped forward¡ªfocus. The building loomed in the distance, calling me onward.


    As soon as I took my first step to turn, I suddenly found myself spinning into a full pirouette. Whoa¡ªway too fast! I felt slightly off balance, spinning faster than I have since I was a kid. Guess I¡¯m sticking with these Discomancer moves. Didn¡¯t the write-up mention something about chaos? Well, it¡¯s definitely chaotic to try and just turn around, only to end up spinning like a ballet dancer. But honestly, it¡¯s kind of cool. I could probably go dancing with my friends now instead of just guarding the table all night¡ªunless, of course, these are just martial arts moves or something entirely impractical. Hmm, I should probably test that out. But first, I need to put as much distance between myself and this place as possible.


    I dashed back onto the cobblestone road, the uneven stones making my footing feel precarious as I pushed myself to run faster. The building loomed ahead, but it still felt far away as my backpack thudded heavily against my back, each bounce throwing off my rhythm. The straps dug into my shoulders with every jarring movement, but I couldn''t slow down. All I could focus on was reaching the building before anything¡ªor anyone¡ªcaught up to me.


    Why am I not tired yet? By now, I should be feeling some sort of fatigue, but there¡¯s nothing. I had to stay fit for my job, sure, but I¡¯m certain it¡¯s been at least two days since I stood in line at that book signing. Normally, I sleep like clockwork¡ªalways have. Even as a kid, I appreciated the structure of a good night¡¯s sleep. The only times I ever stayed awake for days were after I first discovered I could do magic. I was too excited, too determined to experience that power again. Could that be what¡¯s keeping me going now?


    Could it be some skill related to the class? The sudden fluidity in my movements feels too chaotic to simply be affecting the way I run on a smooth road. But what if I¡¯ve somehow "gained" a skill or stat? That seems absurd, though. How could that even be possible? Can magic and science really quantify and distribute abilities like that? It¡¯s like something straight out of a game. But if that''s what''s happening... what other changes might be coming?


    After cresting another hill, the building was coming into sharper focus, and I could make out some details¡ªtall, imposing, with dark windows that seemed to watch me. But something felt off. Was it really getting closer already? It didn¡¯t seem possible. I had expected to jog or at least walk for quite a while longer before reaching it. Yet here it was, looming ahead as if it had somehow drawn itself toward me. My pace hadn¡¯t slowed, and I hadn¡¯t stopped, but this seemed almost unnatural. Had I covered that much ground so quickly?


    It looked like something straight out of a video game¡ªcastle ruins, with the signature spires and thick, obsidian stone walls, towering over the landscape. A tall central tower rose ominously above the rest, all of it cast in dark, menacing colours and sharp, jagged shapes. It was the kind of place you¡¯d only describe as an "evil castle." Even the grass seemed to avoid it, stopping short and leaving a ring of bare earth around the base as if nothing wanted to grow too close to the ominous structure.


    My feet began to slow down. Should I really be heading toward this ominous, evil-looking castle? Why would the hint lead me here of all places? Maybe there¡¯s some kind of lost treasure inside, a powerful grimoire, or ancient scrolls and books? But surely Claeffen wouldn¡¯t send me off to read something dangerous, would he? Evil books? The thought unsettled me, yet the curiosity gnawed at me. There had to be a reason I was sent to this place, right?


    Like a moth to a flame, the very idea of forbidden or lost knowledge became too enticing to resist. My hesitation melted away, and before I knew it, I was running even faster, driven by the possibility of uncovering secrets hidden within those dusty corridors. The danger seemed secondary to the allure of what I might find.


    Now that I have the system, I should be able to read anything! Why didn¡¯t I stop to read the signpost earlier? Slowing down, I turned around and continued toward the ruins, this time walking backward at a brisk pace. As I squinted, I noticed movement in the distance, back the way I had come. My pulse quickened. Without thinking, I stopped and dashed into the tall grass, hoping to stay hidden while I figured out whether I had drawn any attention.


    I squatted down, trying to make myself as hidden as possible. The grass was taller here, which gave me some cover. Staying in a crouch, I peeked over the top, squinting in the direction of the signpost. I could just make out a figure, too far away to see any details, but they were definitely searching the area. No vehicles around¡ªhow did they get here? I watched for a few minutes, heart pounding, as they moved around. Then suddenly, they stopped, stood still, and vanished. I really hope that was teleportation and not invisibility.


    Should I take off running for the castle or stay hidden? It¡¯s probably smarter to linger here a bit longer before making a move. What if the castle has defenses or some kind of magical shield? Rushing in blindly could make things worse. Now that I think about it, maybe the hefty fine will be covered as a necessary expense.


    Reaching over, I activated the bracer.


    ¡°Dev, I got to the planet okay. However, there is a chance I will be stuck with a fine from trampling the native terrain from last time. Wait, this time too. As I am now standing in grass again. Anyways, Is a local fine something that is a necessary expense for me?¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.0647%">


    Hi Mal. Please wait while I check.


    Yes, I have found a clause that indicates that you''re covered for legal fees and local fines.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Thanks. Is there anything you can tell me about my current location? Specifically if the castle in front of me is evil.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.0647%">No, the castle doesn''t appear to be associated with anything evil. I am unable to give you anything more than that at the moment. I am looking at a lot of redacted information. </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°That''s alright. I am just happy to know that I can stand up and walk to where I was going.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.0647%">I am not permitted to answer any other questions while you''re there. I can give you a reminder of the services you will have available during this part of your quest: atmospheric, translation, encrypted translation, basic location information, limited generalized facts answered and credits. Enjoy your quest! </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    My view turned purple and wavy. Ugh Bleah. Ew, Eww, Ewwww... Ugh, that¡¯s so gross. I ran my hand over my face and tongue, trying to dislodge the hair that had somehow gotten in my mouth as I stood up. Once I made my way back onto the path, I shrugged off my backpack, quickly unzipping it to search for something to drink¡ªanything to get the taste of Brussel sprouts out of my mouth. Why does the grass taste like Brussel sprouts? Its purple furry hair!


    I held up my prize¡ªa bottle of Fanta¡ªand guzzled down the last of it, hoping it would wash away the awful taste.


    When did I last drink anything? Oh Yeah it was with Claeffen! I need to be more careful about time passing. I am so glad I brought a sugary drink with me to help me stay alert during the long wait in line. I don¡¯t think the water would have helped me dislodge that taste.


    After slinging my bag over my shoulder, I took a deep breath and started back toward the ruins, the weight of the backpack settling comfortably against my back. The path ahead seemed a little less daunting now, though the ruins in the distance still loomed ominously. Each step felt deliberate as I moved forward, my mind racing with questions about what awaited me inside those ancient walls. The apprenticeship and mystery were enough to push me onward, despite the unsettling feeling lingering in the air.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Finally, I stood before what was once a grand archway entrance, now reduced to rubble with its broken remains scattered across the ground. I looked up at the ominous structure towering above me, dark and foreboding. What could this place have been in its prime, besides an evil castle? A bustling city? Maybe a long-forgotten temple or even a wizard¡¯s tower? The air around it felt thick with ancient secrets, and the crumbling stones seemed to whisper stories of a time lost to history.


    Hopefully I am here to discover more than my mage¡¯s calling but also some hidden secrets or hidden treasure! After the treasure room, I had been secretly hoping that the ruins would have one for me to uncover. I hope my ideal learning environment is a vault of historical magical artifacts not seen for thousands of years. Haha, now that would be pretty great. Although, these ruins aren¡¯t exactly giving off the vibe of safe, enchanted objects. It feels more like the "evil cursed" kind of place.


    I wonder if Claeffen even knows what his potential apprentices will uncover. In the books, his magic was incredibly well-rounded, and there were definitely chapters hinting that he might have access to foreknowledge. It was never clearly explained whether it was a skill, a spell, or some kind of artifact, but the possibility was always there.


    I continued investigating around the collapsed archway, the jagged remnants of stone and debris making each step a cautious one. My eyes scanned the area, looking for any gaps or weak points in the dilapidated defenses. Every so often, I paused, inspecting fallen stones or peering through narrow openings, hoping to find a hidden path or a vulnerable spot I could slip through. There had to be some way past these ancient barriers, some forgotten entrance that time had not completely sealed off.


    I guess I¡¯ll head to my right around the wall. With that, I began what I hoped would be my only circuit around the ruins, scanning the area for any sign of an opening or clue, hoping I wouldn''t have to make another pass.


    I¡¯m bound to find a way inside eventually. There¡¯s no way this whole structure collapsed without leaving at least one opening. I just have to find it. Ideal conditions and all that. Man, I hope trying to find a break in the wall isn¡¯t the perfect condition to trigger my magic learning.


    The clue only said, "Go to that building." It didn¡¯t actually specify anything about entering. I am just assuming the goal is to get inside. What if the answer isn¡¯t hidden within the ruins at all? Maybe what I¡¯m supposed to find is around the outskirts, hidden in plain sight, or tucked away in some forgotten corner outside the walls.


    Alright, Mal, focus. What magic do I actually know so far, and how can it help? Well, I¡¯ve levitated plates a few times. Tried other items, but only my plates worked, and I still don¡¯t know why. Maybe it had something to do with the material or even the shape. Hell, I even bought the same brand of plates to practice with, and they didn¡¯t even budge. So, I¡¯m not exactly confident I¡¯ll be levitating any of these massive rocks.


    Still, it¡¯s worth a shot before I spend however long walking around this place. Who knows? Maybe I¡¯ll get lucky.


    I placed my backpack down at my feet, then selected a random rock nearby. Taking a deep breath, I began chanting the spell I had carefully decoded from the books. The familiar words flowed from my lips, though doubt lingered in the back of my mind. Would this actually work on something other than my plates?


    The answer became overwhelmingly clear: no. I moved from larger rocks to smaller pebbles, repeating the chant over and over, but nothing happened. Each attempt left me more frustrated as the stones remained stubbornly grounded, refusing to budge.


    Of course, it wouldn¡¯t be easy. If it were, you wouldn¡¯t need to be his apprentice in the first place.


    I picked up my backpack and continued on my way. Okay, I need to keep an eye out for anything that seems out of place as well as an entrance. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to find something out of place with the grass so far from the walls. Any object, or hidden clue should stand out against this empty ground. If there¡¯s something important nearby¡ªwhether it¡¯s a hidden doorway or some kind of artifact¡ªit¡¯ll be easy for me to spot.


    I looked up and down the curtain wall, noting its deep black surface threaded with traces of brownish veins running through the stone. In the narrow window slits, I thought I could see a faint turquoise glow, barely visible but unmistakably there, as if something within was quietly pulsing with energy. It was the first visual confirmation that the ruins might still hold traces of magic.


    Aww yes! Magic! That pulsing had to be magic, right? I really hope it¡¯s not some kind of technology. It would be such a letdown to finally make my way in, only to find a bunch of pulsing screens. Maybe the pulsing will energize me with mana or something to assist me to do spells.


    Glancing to my left, I thought I saw that same pulsing glow. If only it were nighttime, I¡¯d be able to spot the openings much more easily. Sure, it would look a lot spookier, but it would definitely make finding an entrance simpler.


    As I walked closer, the light seemed to vanish. Wait. Where did the glow go? I stepped back a few paces, and just like that, the glow reappeared. No wonder I hadn¡¯t noticed it near the ground before¡ªit disappears the closer I get to it.


    I carefully examined the area around the faint glow, searching for any distinct marks or features that could serve as a reference point. If I was going to find this spot again, I needed something clear to signal where to stop¡ªan arrow slit in the wall, a uniquely shaped stone, anything that would stand out amidst the overwhelming sea of crumbled, jagged rocks. The ruins were so fragmented that everything seemed to blur together, making it even more important to find some detail that wouldn¡¯t easily blend into the chaos of the decaying structure.


    I found a spot where a flat stone lay, almost as if an altar had slid down from above. Its smooth surface contrasted sharply with the surrounding rubble, making it stand out. It seemed deliberately placed, though worn by time, giving it an eerie significance amidst the chaos of the ruins. The turquoise glow was visible just above the altar-shaped stone, its smooth, flat surface elevated just enough to stand out from the surrounding debris.


    I wonder if someone placed it there intentionally, as a marker for an entrance. The grass on this planet has no distinguishing features, no obvious signs to guide anyone. Once off the road you would just be in an indistinguishable plain of purple hair grass. Though the grass does seem to have different heights. To find this again you would need a marker or maybe you could count your steps from the front archway to find your way, but was this flat stone deliberately placed, or just a coincidence? It seemed too perfectly positioned to ignore, yet in a place this old, it was hard to tell what was deliberate and what was simply time¡¯s doing.


    Focusing on the ¡°altar,¡± I walked forward until I stood before it¡ªat least, I hoped that¡¯s where I was. I realized I¡¯d need to climb a bit to reach it. Testing a few spots for stability, I carefully began the climb, hoping debris wouldn¡¯t shift much under my weight.


    I peered over the edge and I noticed an alcove, noticing a narrow tunnel that I could just about crawl through. Loose stones cluttered the entrance, but further in, the passage seemed smoother, more inviting. I brushed aside the scattered stones to create a more comfortable spot to sit. Carefully, I climbed over the lip of the opening and, to my relief, discovered it was just tall enough for me to leave my backpack on and make my way through in a crouch.


    I can definitely fit through there, I thought, sizing up the tunnel. It wasn¡¯t exactly spacious, but it looked manageable. The passage was just wide enough to crawl through, and the height seemed forgiving enough that I wouldn''t be completely hunched over the entire way. This should work. I just needed to stay calm and avoid any sudden movements. Yeah, I can do this.


    It doesn¡¯t look too far, maybe 3 to 6 meters? Very manageable. My eyes lost focus for a moment. There was a shimmering pink glow at the other end. It was a fluctuating, fluid-like barrier, almost like the iridescent surface of a soap bubble. The way it moved and danced was mesmerizing, its colors shifting and swirling in hypnotic patterns. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off it¡ªit was captivating in a way that felt both magical and otherworldly.


    Shaking off the entrancing feeling, I steadied myself against the walls of the long crevice that had once been part of the defensive outer wall of the ruin. Without thinking, I placed my hands on the smooth, cold stone to keep my balance as I moved forward. The chill seeped through my fingertips, grounding me as I approached the pink glow that filled the tunnel and blocked my view of what lay beyond. Stopping just short of it, I reached out, tentatively pressing my hand against the swirling surface. It gave slightly under my touch, like soft clay, before springing back into shape as I pulled away, rippling as though it were alive.


    Great, it¡¯s a typical fantasy sci-fi boundary¡ªexactly what I needed.


    Invading my vision was a system screen,


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 99.0647%">Welcome to The Solstitial Stronghold. Would you like to enter? </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I indicated Yes.


    The screen cleared from my view, finally revealing the interior of the ruins. What lay before me wasn¡¯t some new teleporting surprise, but rather a very dark room. Faintly glowing swirls of turquoise traced along the walls, just enough to keep the space from being completely pitch black. The passageway exited flush to the ground, confirming my suspicion that this was a deliberately made exit, not just some natural break in the ruins.


    The room appeared to be completely devoid of any furniture or familiar objects. I cautiously stepped inside and, deciding to regroup, lowered myself into a sitting position. I reached in my front pocket, touching the bag of holding. With a focused thought, I willed it silently with the command, torch. Nothing. I tried again. Still nothing. What the hell? Who packs an adventurer''s bag of holding but forgets to include torches?

 Chapter 10: Wizards First Funk

    Obviously, the person who forgets torches is a wizard who can see in the dark!


    Letting out a loud sigh, I reached into my backpack and pulled out my phone as a small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Light obtained, I thought, as I double-pressed the power button. The light from my phone illuminated the space but "room" was a bit generous¡ªit felt more like a section of a hallway going into the outer wall that had collapsed.


    There was nothing but black stone walls and the faint turquoise swirls I¡¯d seen earlier. The glowing swirls along the walls had created the illusion of a larger space. There was just a worn archway that opened up into darkness, leading, I hoped, to the rest of the stronghold beyond.


    I stood up, adjusting the weight of my backpack before cautiously leaning out to peer into the hallway beyond. A dark corridor stretched endlessly in both directions, with the slow, rhythmic pulsing of faint veining turquoise light along the walls. The glow ebbed and flowed like dim LED lights, casting just enough illumination to suggest the shape of the hallway but never bright enough to see where I would be stepping.


    What is that? Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a faint glimmer reflecting off the wall to my right. Shining my light towards it I realized it was coming from a metal sconce, barely visible from here, even though it wasn¡¯t too far away. I turned my head slowly and, as my eyes adjusted more, I saw more of them, lined up at intervals along the hallway. They seemed to stretch on into the darkness, like forgotten remnants of a time when this place was alive with light and activity.


    The sconces along the wall hinted at the possibility of light, so I moved toward the nearest one, my footsteps echoing softly in the silence. When I reached it, I saw only the metal frame; just a hollow, empty fixture greeted me, with no torch.


    Continuing down the hall, the unsettling quiet pressed in around me. After walking for what felt like an eternity, I eventually spotted a torch nestled in a sconce up ahead. My steps quickened eagerly towards it.


    Finally! My phone dying is the last thing I need, even if I use my power bank to charge it. I¡¯m not sure how much more time that would give me and I definitely didn''t want to be without a backup light.


    I dipped my hand into my pocket, touching the bag of holding. My mental fingers found the tinderbox, one of those standard adventuring items that had amused me the first time I rummaged through it. I flipped the tinderbox open and spotted the flint and steel nestled neatly inside, resting on top of wood shavings. The strong scent of a deep forest rose up. I brought the case close to my nose, closed my eyes, and inhaled the fragrance. The scent brought back images of hiking. Opening my eyes, I gently lifted the tools out, careful not to disturb the shavings.


    Reaching up toward the torch, I struck the flint and steel together, working carefully until a spark caught. Finally, the torch in the sconce sprang to life with a bright, cheerful flame. Its warm glow flooded the hallway, transforming the once-dark and eerie passage into a more inviting space. The soft light danced along the stone walls, making the corridor feel a little less magical and more mundane as it gently illuminated the corridor around me.


    Wait, why have the veins stopped pulsing? I could still see their glow just beyond the torchlight¡¯s reach. Wherever the light touched, the veins dulled, leaving behind nothing but a lifeless black surface streaked with faint brown lines.


    Could it be that the entire outer wall glows at night?! The realization hit me, sending a shiver down my spine. I imagined the vast expanse of the castle walls bathed in that eerie turquoise glow, pulsing like a heartbeat, lighting up the night like some ancient, forgotten beacon. The outside already screamed, ¡°evil castle¡±.


    Shaking off the thought, I turned my attention back to the hallway ahead. As I took in the now visible surroundings I couldn¡¯t make out any other archways, just more empty sconces.


    The unsettling absence of dust on the floor caught my attention, and as I looked around, there were no signs of the way I had come¡ªno footprints, no disturbed cobwebs, none of the usual clues you¡¯d expect in an ancient ruin. It was almost too clean. Thank goodness this isn¡¯t a video game or RPG, or I would''ve triggered a trap by now.


    I looked up at the torch. How long do these things even stay alight?


    I glanced up at the dancing flame becoming transfixed with how it moved. Was there a subtle pattern in the way the light flickered and cast shadows? It felt as if the flame was trying to show me something, a rhythm or pattern just out of reach.


    As part of me tried to decode the pattern, I wondered yet again, What exactly is a Discomancer? Will there be spells, or am I just stuck with these random moments of rhythmic inspiration and bursts of fast, controlled dance movements? How am I going to cast magic? By dancing? Wait, didn''t the write-up mention something about chaos, too? Hmmm, is the flickering flame showing me a way to learn a spell? Or is it all just random patterns? Everything related to this class seems to occur so randomly.


    Taking up the torch, I continued forward, my mind wandering as the flickering firelight danced in rhythmic patterns along the walls. Mesmerized by the way the light played against the stone, my thoughts drifted deeper, tracing the unpredictable rhythm of the flames and the subtle beauty hidden within their chaotic movement. All the countless, invisible forces in the universe¡ªthe subtle currents of air, the shifting temperature, the interplay of energy¡ªconspired to make the torch flicker this way and that, each movement seemingly random yet governed by unseen laws. These unaccountable variations filled my mind, reminding me of the delicate balance of chaos and order that shaped even the smallest moments around me.


    I stretched out my hand, fingertips grazing the cool stone, the shadows rippling beneath my touch. A strange hum stirred beneath my skin, an electric buzz, like the energy in the wall shifted under my control. The sensation grew stronger, my fingers tracing faster along the twisting lines. Without warning, a force surged through me, and a disco of swirling lights burst from my hand in a rainbow of colors, spreading across the space before exploding and knocking me off my feet.


    Dust swirled in the air as I hit the ground, and I blinked rapidly to clear my vision. When the dust settled, sunlight flooded my face, revealing a desolate scene of empty stalls and crumbling buildings. I was finally within the ruins.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    I can¡¯t believe that worked! I actually did something as a Discomancer! Sure, it wasn''t intentional, but still! My hand vibrated as if I were controlling something, and then boom, I was knocked back, and suddenly I could see outside!


    I stood up, grinning like an idiot, my heart racing.


    A blinking icon of a smiling face appeared at the edge of my field of vision. With a quick glance, I reached across, pressing my fingers to the bracer to activate it.


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    <td style="width: 98.5397%">


    >>Congratulations, Mal! You have obtained:


    >>Web of Chaos: You can now funk with the universe. You have uncovered a small fragment of the nature of Chaos and the underlying order required for it to exist. You are now able to gain glimpses of insight into the weave of chaotic forces at work and abuse this to your benefit. You will occasionally gain a ¡®Chaotic Insight¡¯ which may provide you with new opportunities to reach your goals in unexpected ways. With this newfound awareness, you can recognize specific patterns within the disorder and cleverly manipulate them, turning unpredictability into an advantage. By daring to harness the chaotic universe, you will find yourself bending reality in subtle yet effective ways, giving you all the right moves and set to all the right grooves. Keep funking up the universe¡¯s flow to gain levels and evolve.


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The screen faded away as a grin spread across my face, excitement buzzing in my chest. A nervous laugh escaped me, but I straightened up releasing the bracer as, feeling the thrill of what was to come. ''Get ready, universe,'' I muttered under my breath, my fingers flexing with anticipation. I could almost feel the chaotic energy swirling around me, waiting for me to take control.


    At this rate I should get to the tower soon. I mean surely the looming central tower was a wizards tower! This has to be why I was sent here. Who knows, maybe I¡¯ll come across a grimoire, a scroll, or¡ªif fortune favors me¡ªboth. Becoming his apprentice is the ultimate goal, but who wouldn¡¯t want to loot forgotten relics and lost treasures along the way?


    I bent down sifting my fingers through the rubble until they brushed against the cold, unlit torch. I raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at my lips¡ªturns out, explosions are an efficient way to snuff out a flame. With a satisfied nod, I focused on the bag of holding, mentally stowing the extinguished torch inside, feeling it vanish from my grasp as it was safely stored away.


    I began to weave my way from the wall toward the center, my eyes scanning the remnants of what must have been a bustling place. Broken cobblestones, crumbling stalls, and the remains of buildings hinted at a time when this place teemed with life, enough to resemble a small city. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how it all once fit together. Each step took me past doorways that opened into emptiness; shattered stone walls, cracked clay, and jagged fragments of what might have once been glass littered the floors.


    The silence, interrupted only by the random crunching beneath my feet, was suddenly broken by the rumbling of my stomach, reminding me I hadn¡¯t eaten in a while, but that wasn¡¯t all. My legs were growing heavy, each step slower than the last, and a fog of exhaustion began to settle over my mind. My muscles protested with every movement, and I could feel the weight of fatigue creeping in, pulling at my body like a tether trying to drag me down.


    As the adrenaline continued to drain from my system, the need to hydrate and eat became more pressing. While continuing to walk, I swung my backpack around, fumbling for the half-full bottle of water inside. When I found it, I unscrewed the cap and drank deeply, the liquid hitting my throat like relief I hadn¡¯t known I needed. Each mouthful made me realize how much I¡¯d neglected my body¡¯s needs, the thirst now overwhelming.


    This was dangerous, and I knew better than to let it happen. Working on wind turbines requires constant awareness of your body''s needs. When you¡¯re hundreds of feet in the air, there¡¯s no room for error¡ªthings like blood sugar levels and hydration aren¡¯t just minor details; they¡¯re critical for survival. Dizziness, fatigue, or dehydration could be disastrous at such extreme heights. I¡¯d been trained to stay on top of these factors, to manage my physical state carefully to prevent accidents and keep my performance sharp. Yet here I was, letting the lure of magic cloud my judgment in my excitement, fully aware of the risks. Still, the pull of magic was hard to resist. I knew I had to get my head back in the game before my recklessness caught up with me.


    If getting into the tower isn''t an option right away. I''ll just camp in one of the closer buildings, take care of my bodily needs, and give myself time to gather my thoughts. A little rest, some food, and hydration should help clear my mind and steady my focus. Pushing forward while I¡¯m this drained would be reckless, so it¡¯s better to regroup and come up with a clear plan once I¡¯m back at full strength.


    I continued on, taking notice of my position at an intersection. I turned right, walking with the tower now directly ahead of me. It loomed high above. The dark stone and jagged shapes of the tower were becoming more defined. Alcoves appeared to hold statues of crystalline figures, resembling elemental beings. They stood in silent watch, like ancient guardians of the tower, their presence both mesmerizing and unsettling for what might be inside the tower. Maybe they''re just meant to strike fear.


    It would be absolutely incredible if the tower were elemental! Just think of all the raw, untapped power in the elements, waiting to be stirred up. The fabric of the universe, woven through elementals, would be the perfect material to manipulate with my Discomancer skills. I could bend chaos, twist energy, and really see what I¡¯m capable of. This tower could be the ultimate playground for someone like me, where I can push the limits of my magic and see just how far I can take this.


    I can¡¯t believe I ended up at the best place to unlock my magic. But now I¡¯m wondering¡ªwhat if I¡¯d come straight to the tower? Would I have unlocked something different? Maybe Discomancer wasn¡¯t the only path. What if the magic here has a completely different vibe, tied to the elements or something ancient? It¡¯s crazy, I could¡¯ve had a whole different side of magic awakened. Maybe I¡¯d be learning to control fire, earth, or air instead of bending chaos.


    As I approached the entrance, towering obsidian doors loomed before me, their surfaces intricately carved with swirling patterns and symbols that seemed to shift. The sheer size of them was overwhelming, each detail etched with a precision that felt ancient and powerful. I climbed the worn stone steps, my heart pounding in my chest, but I steeled myself. With a deep breath and renewed resolve, I pressed my hands against the cold, menacing surface and pushed, feeling the weight of the massive doors groan as they slowly gave way.


    The doors swung open as if they had been waiting for me to enter. The interior lit up brightly, with turquoise veins pulsing through the stone. To my left, there was a counter, reminiscent of a welcome area in a museum or art gallery. It was completely bare, with no items resting on it. An opening at the far end of the antechamber led deeper into the structure. I decided now was the time to stop, eat, and rest. If I let my excitement keep driving me, it might lead me straight into danger.


    I made my way over to the counter, shrugging off my backpack with a sigh and sinking to the floor, resting my back against it. Reaching into the bag of holding, I carefully pulled out my supplies and set them in front of me. I mechanically opened the bento box and began chewing, not really tasting the stew. As I chewed, my eyes drifted to the walls, their turquoise veins pulsing faintly. My gaze lingered on the intricate patterns woven into the stone, trying to make sense of them, as if staring hard enough might stir the Web of Chaos, might spark that elusive ¡®Chaotic Insight.¡¯


    I carefully packed everything away, though my attention never really left the pulsing patterns on the walls. The rhythmic glow seemed to draw me in, mesmerizing me with its subtle shifts. My eyes grew heavy, drifting closed, only to snap open again whenever a faint tingle of understanding flickered in my mind. It was as if the patterns were trying to communicate something, each pulse carrying a whisper of knowledge that I couldn¡¯t quite grasp but could feel on the edge of my consciousness.

 Chapter 11: The Mages Gambit

    Silver hair billowed as Claeffen stepped onto the path Mal had carved through the thick, purple grass of Harmonia ¦¤9. The scale-strap sandals did little to shield him from the fur-like blades, which tickled the sides of his feet. The cloak enveloped him, falling over his armor like a shadow, veiling his appearance to ensure no hint would clue Mal into the identity of his watcher.


    His brows furrowed, eyes darting about as he mumbled, ¡°Where did he drop it?¡± The words were almost a sigh.


    The ground beneath him still flat from Mal¡¯s passage, the path carved by his soon-to-be apprentice. Claeffen¡¯s gaze followed the road toward the ruins, where Mal moved in the distance getting closer to the first spell he would discover and the start of the curriculum Claeffen had painstakingly orchestrated.


    A soft chuckle slipped from his upturned lips as thoughts of what came next filled his mind. The unfolding plan was intricate, every detail meant to nudge Mal toward his potential, guiding him through the challenges ahead. Timing, after all, was everything. Claeffen¡¯s mind raced ahead to future trials, to the puzzles Mal would face, and to the spells yet to be unlocked. All of it had to be flawless. One misstep, one oversight, and the path he had so carefully laid out could spiral into chaos. But for now, everything was on course.


    He paused at the crest of the hill, his sharp gaze tracking Mal¡¯s movements as he darted into the tall grass. The scene brought a flood of memories, and Claeffen couldn¡¯t help the nostalgic grin that crept across his face. All those TV shows Mal had binge-watched were working to perfection, shaping his reactions, leading him exactly where Claeffen wanted. "International traffic cops," Claeffen muttered to himself with amusement. He could almost picture them now: overworked officers policing otherworldly highways, constantly tangled up in the chaos of interdimensional travel. A small laugh nearly escaped him at the thought. Can you even imagine how busy they¡¯d be? Who would they even report to? Claeffen mused, shaking his head with a smirk.


    The grin lingered as his thoughts shifted back to the grander design. Everything had been meticulously planned down to the finest detail. Mal, like the others, was already walking a path laid out specifically for them. Their curriculum wasn¡¯t a traditional one, with lectures or structured lessons, but every step, every choice they made, was part of their training. Some would eventually apprentice under other powerful mages, while others might attend universities to refine their craft, but in the end, their destinies would be shaped by the type of magic they aligned with.


    The critical factor was always the magic they chose. Magic wasn''t something you could just mix and match. Sure, a fire mage might be able to pass on some general knowledge to an earth mage, but the true mastery of their elements would always remain separate. The earth mage might pick up a few things about how to work with heat, perhaps but the secrets of crafting elementals or shaping fire into something alive would always remain out of reach. Instead, that earth mage would likely end up working with molten glass, transforming it into art or tools. There was a market for that, no doubt. In worlds like the one Mal had just returned from, rune-scribed glass was always in high demand. Their living art buildings made from enchanted glass pieces were stunning, with creators constantly competing to outdo one another in craftsmanship and innovation.


    But that wasn¡¯t the point of this program. I wasn¡¯t interested in producing artisans who needed to rely on other mages to fill in the gaps in their skill sets. Glass might have a purpose, might even have value, but I wasn¡¯t trying to create co-dependent craftsmen. I need to forge independent mages, ones who could master their own elements without needing to rely on others to make up for their shortcomings. Competent, powerful mages who could stand on their own, not pieces in a system designed to keep them tethered to someone else¡¯s knowledge. Everything had to fall into place for that vision to become reality.


    Mal had stood apart from the others, a rare talent who uncovered quickly that the spell only worked on a particular type of item. He was also a candidate from the past, while the others came from now and various futures. All of the worlds had either lost ancient knowledge or their magical skills had completely diminished. The common factor among the apprentices was that they all came from mana-dead or nearly mana-dead planets and had deciphered a spell I had hidden in my books. On a few planets, my books had been around for generations before anyone took the time to become so intimately familiar with the story that the patterns emerged. Those few had been contacted through different means, as there was no need for a book signing for ancient literature.


    With Mal, I had watched many versions of him unfold, some who never opened the novels that shaped him. Those were the hardest to witness. In more than one of those timelines, Mal¡¯s raw, unchanneled talent drove him to madness. A few of those versions had broken me more than I expected; I had shed tears over the Mal who lost himself to his own power.


    I glanced down, spotting a familiar Pok¨¦ball keychain on the ground in the tall grass. With a grin, I crouched and picked it up. As I stood back up, the transition into my office was instant, and with a twist of my wrist, I set the keys on the desk. This particular library held a special place in my heart. It was the same one Mal had first stepped through. Nostalgia clung to the air, a constant reminder of what had been and what could be. The space, like everything in my life, was in constant flux, a traveling dimensional room. The only air flowed in from the hidden windows near the ceiling, offering me brief scents from my home world. This time, the gentle fragrance of gardenias filled the room. The windows were set to shift randomly, bringing in a new pleasant scent, sometimes flowers, sometimes the sea, creating a sensory journey through memory itself.


    I allowed myself a brief pause to soak in the familiar surroundings of the room that had always sparked my creativity, the very space where The Chronicles of Claeffen had come to life. It held countless traces of past friendships and the adventures we embarked on. My eyes wandered over to the figurines, miniature reminders of the friends not here, yet never forgotten.


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I picked up the knight, a perfect magical replica of Lucius of the Errant in his glory days. We¡¯d come a long way by the time these were made, and he had his own set, a keepsake he eventually passed on to his daughter.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    She¡¯s still on her birth planet, isn¡¯t she? One of the many places we stopped during those wild adventures. I can still remember the surprise when she was created. I really need to reach out to her, though. It¡¯s been¡­ how long? I¡¯ve lost track of the years. How old is she now? Memories of her creation still lingered, and a wave of loneliness swept over me. I wondered how much she had changed, how much time had shaped her since we last met and if she finally forgave me. With a sigh, I carefully set the figure back in its place, my fingers lingering for a moment before I turned and made my way to the desk. Settling into the chair, I leaned back and let out a slow breath, my mind sharpening as I prepared to focus. I should probably check in now, no use delaying.


    With a thought I reached out for Mal¡¯s agent. "Dev, I would appreciate an update. Please fill me in on Mal''s current status."


    The response came almost immediately, Dev¡¯s voice calm and steady.


    ¡°Lord Claeffen, sir, everything is proceeding smoothly. Mal has just accepted entry to the Solstitial Stronghold.¡±


    "Good, good," I muttered, leaning back in my chair, eyes narrowing in thought. "It won¡¯t be much longer now."  My excitement to move forward had my mind buzzed with the next steps. Why does he have to rely on tech so much? I want things to be faster, simpler, without this bracer nonsense. If only he didn¡¯t rely on tech so much, he could start tapping into his magic more naturally. The system can do so much more than what¡¯s attached to that bracer. Once Mal gets his second spell, we can move him into a proper loot area and finally ditch that outdated tech.


    Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I thought, I seriously don¡¯t know how much longer I can tolerate this outdated tech.


    I leaned forward, tapping my fingers lightly on the desk. "Alright, Dev, next time he reaches out, drop a few hints. Let him think there¡¯s some treasure waiting for him. I¡¯ll head into the Solstitial Stronghold and leave a book with a nanopatch for him to find. Now," I paused, considering the final piece of the puzzle, "what¡¯s the status of the living mana?"


    "Sir, the living mana is still trying to communicate with Mal. I do believe he''s starting to pick up on the importance of the pulsing."


    I nodded, the gears of the plan already turning. "Good. Let me know if anything changes with him."


    "Yes, Sir."


    "And do you have an update on the others?"


    ¡°Sir, all the other applicants are on schedule too. There was a moment when one of them nearly stepped into lava, but they managed to save themselves by using their first wind spell.¡±


    ¡°Lava, huh?" I mused for a moment before speaking again. "Dev, make sure to update me the next time one of them comes that close.¡± With that, I ended the connection and rose from the desk.


    Pivoting smoothly, I took a single step, and in that instant, the space around me shifted. The familiar energy of teleportation rippled through the air, and before I could even register the transition, I was standing in the throne room. The grand chamber unfolded around me, its vastness both humbling and empowering. The herald''s voice echoed immediately, filling the space with reverence.


    "Lord Claeffen, Mage of the Distant Seasons. Lord of the Monolith."


    The title reverberated through the hall as I stood at the center, my arrival swift and seamless, carrying the weight of my station.


    The throne room stretched before me, vast and awe-inspiring, with towering columns lining the walls. Each was carved from obsidian and veined with shimmering silver runes, faintly pulsing with ancient magic. Between the columns stood statues of legendary figures, heroes and mages from forgotten eras. Their lifelike poses seemed to breathe with purpose, as if at any moment they might step down from their pedestals. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting epic battles and celestial events, woven with threads of gold and deep burgundy, catching the flicker of the arcane torches that burned with steady violet flames. Above, a vaulted ceiling soared, etched with constellations that shifted and twinkled like the night sky itself.


    Everything about the throne room spoke of power, history, and authority, a place where decisions shaped worlds and time itself seemed to bow to the will of its ruler.


    The room bowed before me, voices rising in a chorus of loyalty. With a casual flick of my hand, I set them back into motion. They moved like pieces in a well-rehearsed dance, groups falling into quiet conversations.


    I sat down on my throne, a magnificent monolith of black stone shot through with veins of glowing crystal. Its jagged yet regal design mirrored the elemental forces it commanded, with arcane patterns dancing and twirling around its base. Pulling my legs up onto the seat, I settled into a deliberately casual pose. It was a look that always unsettled the nobility, clashing with the throne¡¯s imposing presence. There was something very satisfying about how my relaxed demeanor rattled them. The casualness I displayed was a stark contrast to the significance of my achievements. I used it to my advantage as often as I could. It kept them at bay but usually not for long.


    I noticed the brave young noble edging closer, their steps hesitant but determined. Their dress suit was made from living cloth. It shifted with a mind of its own. The fabric pulsed gently, moving as though it were breathing. Tiny tendrils emerged from the seams, curling and uncurling with each step they took, as it sensed the air around them. The suit didn¡¯t just fit the body; it responded to it. It would tightened slightly when they stood tall, or loosening as their posture softened. Bioluminescent veins shimmered within the cloth, the glow intensifying with each shift in the owner''s emotions. At the collar, delicate vines unfurled, tasting and sensing the surroundings to remain protective. As the courtier reached the foot of the throne, they bowed deeply, the frills on their neck trembling ever so slightly, betraying their nerves. They remained there, waiting for permission, gaze fixed on the ground.


    ¡°Please, speak what you have come to say,¡± I commanded, my voice laced with a subtle spell to compel honesty. As the words left my lips, I leaned forward slightly, my eyes locking onto theirs. The air around us seemed to tighten, the spell winding itself invisibly through the space. I could see the magic take hold, their posture shifting as if an unseen weight pressed against them, urging them to respond. The faintest movement ran through them as the spell took hold, releasing all fear and causing them to become unnaturally brazzen.


    Their breath caught in their throat before they spoke, their voice rising with the unnatural, confrontational tone.


    ¡°My Lord, we have waited twenty years. Where is the army of mages you promised?¡± They glanced up, their eyes filled with determination. ¡°Without them, we have no hope of survival! There¡¯s no way we can endure the coming trials on our own.¡±


    Held in place by my magic, their eyes widened, flicking nervously from side to side as if searching for an explanation. Their lips parted slightly, as though struggling to understand how the carefully rehearsed words had twisted in their mouth.


    I leaned back, my gaze sweeping across the room as I released the spell and kicked my legs up onto the arm of the chair. As the courtier crumpled to the ground, I spoke with a bright confidence, ¡°Oh, they¡¯re right in the middle of specialized training, honing their skills for the challenges ahead. We¡¯re shaping them perfectly into what we need, and believe me, they¡¯re coming along splendidly!"

 Chapter 12: Fueled by Flavour

    The chill of the stone against my back seeped through my clothes, pulling me from sleep. I pushed myself up, blinking in surprise at the unexpected lightness in my body. My body moved with a surprising ease, my muscles loose and relaxed, as if I had spent the night wrapped in soft blankets rather than lying on cold stone.


    As I stretched, I noticed a strange energy subtly humming beneath my skin, an electric charge that tingled at the edge of my awareness. I couldn¡¯t quite place it, but it was there, lingering, like the aftermath of a storm that hadn¡¯t fully settled. I tried to shake off the feeling, but it clung to me, making me question if something had changed while I slept.


    My eyes flicked to the walls, expecting the same pulsing turquoise swirls I¡¯d seen before. Yet there was something different about it. Transfixed, I watched as the turquoise light switched into a new rhythm. It was no longer swirling in place. It flowed like a current, sweeping toward the inner door in a steady stream. As it reached the far end of the room, the light faded, only to reappear at the entrance, flowing forward again. The constant, forward motion drew my gaze, pulling me in, as if the walls themselves were guiding me, silently urging, this way.


    I hastily packed everything into the bag, ready to follow the light, but a loud grumble from my stomach stopped me in my tracks, the gnawing emptiness reminding me just how long it had been since my last meal.


    With a sigh, I shook my head. ¡°Patience, light,¡± I murmured. ¡°You¡¯ll get your turn soon enough, but self-care comes first. I made a promise to myself last night, and I¡¯m sticking to it.¡±


    With everything neatly packed away and a few moments spent addressing the basic self-care I¡¯d been neglecting, I felt a bit more like myself. My stomach, however, had other ideas, letting out an impatient grumble that echoed in the quiet space. Smirking at the reminder, I reached into the bag of holding and pulled the dark blue bento box free. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what mystery lay inside, my appetite urging me to dive in and discover.


    I tugged the zipper open, its teeth parting with a soft hum that echoed in the quiet, then flipped open the lid of the bento box. My mouth watered at the sight of a full-plate breakfast¡ªcrispy bacon, grilled sausage, fluffy eggs, and golden toast¡ªall impossibly fresh, as if it had just come out of the kitchen.


    I was midway through breakfast, the smoky flavor of sausage still lingering on my tongue, when a system screen popped up, blocking my view.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Buff Buff Breakfast Buffet of Champions. You have received one of the buffs from the League of Ravannae, a notorious f¨²tbol team from one of the illustrious mage universities. This buff increases your strength and endurance, allowing you to stay up all night studying for your magic theory finals and still have the energy to hit the gym.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    A grin spread across my face as the notification faded, excitement buzzing in my chest. My mind raced back to the last time I ate from the bento box¡ªthe jittery energy, the way I couldn¡¯t seem to sit still, how I stayed awake far longer than usual. My hands instinctively rubbed together as a greedy thought crossed my mind: What if the effects stack?


    My pulse quickened, the thought sparking a wave of excitement. If the meals followed a deliberate sequence, could the effects compound with each level? The possibility tugged at my curiosity, a tantalizing idea that felt just within reach. Each bite might not just satisfy my hunger but build on the last, creating a cascade of power. The idea was too tempting to ignore.


    The smell of a breakfast burrito hit my nose before I even saw it. Breakfast again? Does this thing somehow know what meal I am eating? If I wanted just a snack, would it give me snacks instead?


    With it being breakfast again, does it mean that no matter which level of the bento box I eat from, I¡¯ll always get the exact same buff? Why didn¡¯t the system screen tell me how long it lasts? If it turns out to be the same buff, I¡¯ll have no way of knowing whether it stacks with the previous one or if it lasts any longer than before.


    I tapped my fingers on the bento box, my curiosity gnawing at me. Could Dev have the answer? My gaze flicked to the burrito, its warmth wafting up to tease me. If I waited too long, it would get mushy, and there was no saving a soggy burrito. I hesitated for a moment longer, then gave in. ¡°Better ask,¡± I muttered, activating the bracer.


    Activating the bracer, ¡°Hey, Dev, are you available?¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Hello, Mal. Always here for you. What can I help you with today?</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    The response popped up instantly, like Dev had been waiting for me. I couldn¡¯t help but smirk at the familiar, no-nonsense phrasing. ¡°Okay, so I¡¯ve got a question, and I¡¯m hoping you can clear this up for me.¡±


    ¡°I just discovered that my food is giving me buffs. Does the system give any time limits or stacking information? How would I access that?¡±


    There was a brief pause, then Dev¡¯s response appeared on the screen:


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Yeah, that information is obtainable. However, your access to this information is currently blocked. The prompt I¡¯m reading says: ¡®Don¡¯t tell him. Let him figure it out.¡¯</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Of course it does,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°It was worth a shot. Guess I¡¯ll just have to experiment. Thanks, though.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Always happy to help, Mal. Anything else?</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    ¡°Nope, I¡¯m good. Hope your day is going well, Dev.¡±


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Thanks, Mal. Good luck.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    Releasing the bracer to close the chat, I turned my attention back to the burrito, my curiosity about the buffs rekindled. ¡°Alright, time to figure this out the hard way.¡± Taking a deep breath, I added, ¡°Here we go. Please let it be a different buff.¡±


    I picked up the burrito, its warmth radiating through the soft tortilla, and took a tentative first bite. The moment the flavors hit my tongue, I couldn¡¯t help but close my eyes, letting the richness wash over me. This burrito was perfection; pure and simple. Each bite felt like it was made just for me, a perfect balance of spice, warmth, and texture.


    But as incredible as it was, I needed to know if this burrito would give me another buff.


    I slowed down as I reached the halfway point of the burrito, chewing deliberately. I took another bite and wondered, was it bite-based? Did something trigger at the midway mark? I paused, waiting for another system screen. Nothing. My fingers tightened on the tortilla as I stared at the last few bites, my jaw clenching before I let out a slow, quiet breath.


    My brow furrowed as I took another bite, then another, each one eaten in anticipation of a system notification. The rich, savory flavor barely registering. "Does how fast I eat make a difference?" I muttered, unsure if it would even make sense.  With only a few bites left, I stared at the remains of the burrito as my hope began to waver.


    Maybe it really is just one buff per meal setting. If so, that would suck. I sighed and resigned myself to enjoy the last few mouthfuls without overthinking it.


    As I glanced around the room, my eyes drifted to the glowing wall. The swirling turquoise light shifted, spiraling into new patterns. It was hypnotic, like a living painting that shifted and pulsed with purpose. Then it happened¡ªthe light bent and twisted into an arrow, clear and unmistakable, pointing toward the door.


    The glowing arrows pulse, seeming to quicken my own. I tightened my grip on the empty bento box, my legs already moving before I even realized it. The thought of what might lie ahead sent a jolt of energy through me¡ªa rush of excitement I couldn¡¯t contain. My mind raced with possibilities: a hidden challenge, a new clue, or maybe even another chance to unlock something incredible. Whatever it was, I wasn¡¯t about to sit around waiting. I stepped forward, my heart pounding with anticipation¡ªonly to freeze mid-step as I swallowed the last bite. A sudden flash in my vision stopped me cold. As the familiar system screen blinked into view.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Roll with It! Congratulations! You¡¯ve been blessed by the legendary Taco Truck Revolution, purveyors of magical meals on wheels. This buff grants you unparalleled agility, increasing your dodge and sprint abilities. Move with the grace of a banderilleros and the speed of a runaway guacamole cart. Side effects may include an insatiable craving for churros, hearing ethereal sounds of mariachi, or uncontrollable siestas. When in doubt: just roll with it!</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.My pulse quickened, and a wide grin spread across my face as the notification vanished. My gaze dropped to the bento box, my fingers itching to open the third and final layer and see what surprise awaited inside.


    I lifted the lid of the final layer, my movements slowing as I peeked inside. My eyes widened, and I blinked, leaning closer to confirm what I was seeing. Yogurt? Blueberries? Granola? Of all the things I expected, this definitely wasn¡¯t it. I sat back, mouth slightly open, trying to process the sheer simplicity of it.


    Really, just yogurt? I don¡¯t even like this.


    My fingers hovered over the granola, half expecting it to morph into something magical.


    My chest tightened as I thought back to the last two buffs. They felt almost identical, like trying to compare two shades of the same color in dim light. I let out a groan, dragging a hand down my face. I¡¯d been so eager, so caught up in the moment, that I hadn¡¯t even bothered to test my strength. Now I had nothing to work with.


    My eyes dropped back to the yogurt, its unassuming simplicity almost mocking me. My mind churned, trying to piece together how this could possibly outdo ¡®Roll with It¡¯. Was there some hidden twist, or was this just going to be something useless? Or maybe it was just yogurt, destined to disappoint.


    I frowned, leaning in closer, as if proximity might somehow reveal the answer. Frustration bubbled up, and in a snap decision, I grabbed the spoon and started shoveling the gross breakfast into my mouth.


    I grimaced as the tangy sweetness hit my tongue. Swallowing quickly, I forced down another bite, then another, each one more unpleasant than the last. "This is awful," I muttered, but I kept shoveling it in, determined to finish. By the time I scraped the bowl clean, I glared at it like it had wronged me. "You better be worth it," I growled, wiping my mouth with the matching napkin.


    Turns out, the bento box couldn¡¯t account for every quirk in my taste preferences. As the thought crossed my mind, I tilted my head, wondering if the magic had some deeper logic I didn¡¯t understand yet. Maybe it wasn¡¯t just about food¡ªmaybe there was something else at play.


    Can I trigger chaotic insight to learn more? I focused on the feeling of the box in my hand. I concentrated on the movements as I closed the box, placing it back in the dark blue case. I felt the bumps as the zipper teeth closed. Holding it I tried to see any moments of energy on its surface. Any shimmer or spark.


    Could I trigger Chaotic Insight to understand more? I focused on the sensation of the box in my hand, the cool weight of it. My fingers traced its edges as I slowly closed it, feeling the subtle resistance as the zipper teeth meshed together. Holding it, I turned it over, searching its surface for any flicker of energy¡ªany shimmer, any spark that might give me a clue.


    Then I sensed something from the box. I could almost taste and hear the magic humming beneath my skin. There was a pulse that seemed to sync with my heartbeat, like a beat I hadn¡¯t known I was dancing to. A taste suddenly clicked in my mind. It was oddly reminiscent of licking the back of a postage stamp combined with a hint of nostalgia and twinkies.


    Then the whole world around me shifted, a deep resonant pulse was vibrating through the air. I could feel the primal chaos of everything around me, it hit me like I was standing inches from a booming speaker. My senses became overwhelmed with something wild and untamed.


    The sensation vanished as quickly as it had arrived, leaving a brief rush of dizziness in its wake. I moved my hand over the case, hoping for something else to be revealed. But there was nothing. Only the faint echo of chaos lingering through me, like a whisper fading into silence.


    Whoa, I really did it. It worked!


    A surge of energy rushed through me, and I felt my chest tighten with a mix of disbelief and exhilaration. My heart beat faster, almost as if it could keep pace with the rush of magic I had just triggered. A grin pulled at the corners of my mouth, unbidden but impossible to suppress. The world around me felt brighter, sharper, like I had just taken a deep breath after holding it for too long.


    My dreams were coming to life. I could hardly wrap my head around the fact that this wasn¡¯t just a fantasy. This time, it had come easier, and I could already see the link between last night and now. Still, there was something nagging at me. Something I couldn¡¯t quite place. It was like I had forgotten something important.


    Oh yeah the sensation I had woken with. What happened when I was sleeping?


    I looked at the wall pulsing, urging me to follow. Did the tower interact with me somehow?


    So focused on the swirling, I mindlessly put the box away and stood up, walking over to the wall as if in a trance. I was reaching out to touch it just as I received the third buff.


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgba(52, 73, 94, 1)" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 98.8843%">Fang-tastic Yogurt Fusion: Buff of the Slayer. This buff awakens your bloodthirsty craving for camaraderie, just like the Scooby Gang. Your social thirst increases¡ªyou¡¯ll find yourself suddenly longing for cozy nights on the couch with your besties, devouring ice cream and binge-watching late-night TV. Watch out for the occasional urge to slay the mundane and embrace your inner slayer¡­ or at least slay a pizza. You gain a bonus to speed and dexterity when coordinating tasks with others. Helping your team is your superpower¡ªwhether it¡¯s in battle or during a movie marathon, you¡¯re ready to lead the charge!</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    I burst out laughing as my vision returned. Now, if only I wasn¡¯t alone in a tower on an apparently abandoned planet. I hope these actually stacked instead of canceling each other out.


    I pushed the thought aside and let the current guide me forward, my feet moving in sync with the invisible pull toward the inner door. The sound of my footsteps bounced off the high ceiling, each echo a reminder of how vast and empty the space felt. As I neared the archway, the light around me faded. I squinted into the blackness beyond, but I couldn''t penetrate the archway. I drew in a slow, deep breath and stepped forward. The air wrapped around me, dense and cool, pressing against my skin like an unseen weight. My eyes slid shut without me realizing, as if bracing for whatever lay ahead.


    Opening my eyes, I found myself in an octagonal room, the floor and walls covered in faintly glowing sigils that pulsed with a barely visible light. Above me, only pitch-blackness stretched into infinity. No ceiling was in sight, just an unsettling void. My boots echoed in the emptiness as I moved cautiously, circling the space.


    I paused in the center, craning my neck to stare into the darkness above. Seriously? This place is a tower, I muttered under my breath. Where¡¯s the part where I start climbing? Frustration bubbled up, and I kicked lightly at the edge of one of the glowing sigils. The symbol flared briefly, but nothing else happened.


    Shaking my head, I ran my hands over the sigils, their cool, smooth texture sending an odd tingle through my fingertips. There¡¯s got to be something, I murmured as I tapped the stone with my knuckle, listening for any hidden hollowness, but the wall remained stubbornly solid. I leaned back, squinting at the symbols, willing them to give up their secrets. The glowing lines seemed to mock me, their light as unyielding as the stone beneath my touch.


    I moved cautiously along the walls, my fingers brushing the smooth, glowing sigils as my eyes scanned their intricate shapes. My steps faltered as I froze, staring at one of the symbols. A jolt of recognition struck me. Wasn¡¯t this one of the runes from Chronicles of the Magi Claeffen, book seven? My heart quickened as I crouched down, my hand hovering over the sigil.


    Fumbling with my bag, I pulled out my felt-covered notebook, its familiar weight and soft texture grounding me. I flipped through the pages, each one filled with scribbles, sketches, and notes from years of obsession with the series. When I reached the section on book seven, my breath caught. There it was, the sigil, identical to the one etched on the wall. The realization sent a thrill through me.


    I straightened up, my gaze darting over the walls with renewed purpose. My fingers traced one sigil after another, searching, until I found another match. My chest tightened with excitement. ¡°I¡¯m onto something,¡± I whispered, the words escaping before I realized I¡¯d spoken aloud.


    Flipping to another part of my notebook, I found the section where I¡¯d painstakingly tried to translate runes, sigils, and symbols from the series. As I combed through the translation pages, my hand stilled on the sigil I¡¯d sketched. The linked word: mass. I glanced up at the wall, my finger following the glowing outline. It was identical.


    I delved into searching and translating, my focus narrowing with each sigil. About half an hour later, I paused, having translated five of them. "Alright," I muttered, "what do mass, air, fire, void, speed mean?"


    A memory surfaced as my eyes darted back and forth at the glowing sigils, my mind drifting back to a Minecraft server I had spent hours on. I could almost see the water cascading through the blocks of my carefully crafted elevator, the satisfaction of watching it work perfectly. My gaze snapped back to the room around me. The arrangement of the symbols, the glowing patterns, they weren¡¯t random. It clicked. This wasn¡¯t just decoration; it was a magical elevator waiting to be activated. My pulse quickened as I stepped closer, my eyes scanning for what might be the key to turning it on.


    I approached the fire sigil, my fingers hovering over its glowing surface. Slowly, I traced the intricate pattern, following the lines as if coaxing it to spring to life. With each stroke, the glow intensified, its light spreading outward like ripples in a pond. As I completed the design, the sigil flared brilliantly, its pulsing light casting flickering shadows across the room. I stepped back, standing before it, my heart pounding as it thrummed with energy, waiting for what might happen next.


    I moved from one sigil to the next, tracing each glowing pattern with careful precision. Each time, the result was the same: the light intensified, pulsing brighter until the sigil seemed alive with energy. By the time I reached the last one, my hand hovered for a moment, hesitation gripping me.


    With a deep breath, I pressed on, my fingers following the final design to completion. As the last line connected, the room''s light shifted, the glow from the sigils converging into a single brilliant beam that shot upward into the void above. The air thrummed with power, and I stepped back, shielding my eyes from the dazzling display.


    In my excitement, I dashed forward, drawn to the beam''s brilliance like a moth to a flame. The light enveloped me instantly, a warm, electrifying sensation coursing through my body. My vision blurred, the glowing energy consuming everything around me as I stepped fully into its embrace, heart pounding with anticipation of what lay ahead.


    I let out a shout of excitement, the kind you can¡¯t hold back, like the thrill of plunging down the first drop of a rollercoaster. The beam''s energy surged around me, sending a rush of exhilaration through my veins as I was swept upward, caught in its unrelenting pull.


    As I was swept upward, the beam''s light shifted, its brilliance dimming just enough to reveal a flicker of movement. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a shadow glide through the haze, its shape indistinct yet undeniably there. It was neither human nor entirely alien, a twisting, amorphous form that seemed to ripple against the light. My pulse quickened as I strained to focus, but the shadow vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me wondering if it was real or just a trick of the glowing beam.

 Chapter 13: Catch a Clue

    I glanced around, my eyes darting through the endless glow, trying to make sense of the space, trying to figure out how to escape this strange, swirling elevator of light. The brightness consumed everything, but occasionally, faint lines flickered into view, slicing through the radiance like distant shadows. I squinted, tilting my head. "Are those... floors?" I intoned, the question barely audible over the hum of energy thrumming around me.


    Then, slowly, the sensation changed. A subtle pressure built beneath me, and I felt the force of something solid beneath my feet. Gravity crept back in, its familiar weight wrapping around me like an old friend, grounding me in a deliberate embrace.


    I didn¡¯t so much step out of the elevator as blink and find myself elsewhere. The incandescent light that had carried me surged forward, flooding the space ahead with a sudden, almost overwhelming brilliance. A dense wave of humidity pressed against my skin, clinging like a second layer, the air thick and damp. The shine dimmed so abruptly it left me stumbling forward, my steps unsteady as a low, resonant droning seeped into my awareness. It seemed to shift the air around me, subtle but constant, vibrating faintly through the soles of my feet.


    I rubbed my eyes, blinking against the afterimage that had been burned into my vision while trying to make sense of the transition. The glow still lingered, teasing the edges of the room and warping the outlines of what lay ahead. A bead of moisture trickled down the back of my neck, the oppressive dampness mingling with the fading disorientation. I stood still for a moment, listening to the droning reverberate softly, its pitch rising and falling as if alive, as I struggled to orient myself in this unfamiliar place.


    I stood in a bright white room, the kind of sterile light that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Turning on my heel, I scanned the space for the elevator but there was nothing, just an unbroken expanse of glowing white.


    ¡°Well, damn,¡± I spoke under my breath, my voice oddly muffled by the stillness. ¡°Where¡¯s the exit?¡±


    The only break in the emptiness was a faintly outlined shape at the center of the room. Squinting, I stepped toward it, each footfall strangely muted as if the floor itself absorbed sound. The object came into view. It was a console of some kind, sleek and unmarked, with no obvious buttons or screens.


    An invisible silent pressure halted my advance, subtle yet unyielding, as though the air itself had solidified at the five-foot mark.


    My fingertips hovered near the barrier, a faint tingle brushing at my skin. I tilted my head, studying the console as if staring it down might make it reveal its secrets. But with no way to get closer, it was clear I wasn¡¯t getting any answers.


    "Alright," I whispered, curiosity flickering through me. "What are you hiding?"


    When silence and stillness were the only reply, I let out a huff, my frustration giving way to determination. Turning away, I moved to the walls, and allowed my hands to glide over their impossibly smooth surfaces.


    My fingertips mapped the smooth surface, gliding over its pristine texture as I leaned in, eyes scanning every inch for the faintest crack or hidden detail.


    I didn¡¯t notice anything unusual until I reached the second wall. As soon as my fingers brushed against its surface, it shimmered, light rippling outward like water disturbed by a pebble. An opening emerged before me, revealing what lay beyond.


    Curiosity tugged at me as I stepped through, into a room furnished austerely with neatly arranged tables and chairs. The setup was almost unnervingly ordered, each chair perfectly aligned with its partnering table. I looked toward the front of the room where a long dark wood table stood in stark contrast to the lighter surroundings.Stolen novel; please report.


    I squinted, taking it all in. "Is this... a classroom?" The thought perched in my mind as I moved closer, the air heavy with the stillness of a place that had long ago lost its purpose despite its tidiness.


    I wandered past the rows of chairs and tables, my steps echoing in the stillness, and approached the long dark table at the front. My eyes scanned its smooth surface searching for any clue, an inscription or some object left behind, anything to hint at what it was for.


    But there was nothing. The table was blank, its emptiness almost mocking in its simplicity. I felt some frustration rise as I leaned over, my hands pressing down on the cold surface. The tension in my fingers matching the tightening in my chest. I exhaled an unfinished, ¡°Come on,¡±, but the silence swallowed my words.


    As my palms pressed against the table, the room around me seemed to undulate with the haze of atmospheric heat. Suddenly, the chairs were no longer vacant. They were filled with students. Each figure was indistinct, something like projections that were struggling to solidify. Their postures and movements suggested focus, as if they were absorbed in some unseen task. I staggered back instinctively, my heart pounding, and the vision vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The room was empty again.


    ¡°So¡­ touch?¡± I asked myself, swallowing hard as I stepped back forward. Slowly, I returned my hand to the table, bracing myself for whatever might happen next. My fingers grazed against the surface, anticipation cloying like nausea down my throat as I waited for the room to respond.


    The students shifted geometric shapes on their desks in an ethereal pantomime, their hands deftly arranging and rearranging pieces into patterns. My gaze swept across them, lingering on each of the apparitions. They seemed so ordinary, just regular people, engrossed in some task I couldn''t quite comprehend. ¡°How are you all here?¡± I asked them, unsurprised when no response was given.


    I had an odd feeling of familiarity for a moment regarding the whole situation, but then I realized it just reminded me of games where the protagonist solved mysteries through retrocognitive experiences of the past. I watched the scene, slightly humored now by the similarity of events to something as mundane as a video game.


    Then, just as quickly as when it had begun, the scene paused unceremoniously. Startled once again I glanced down at my hands to see if I¡¯d broken the connection but no, my hands were still firmly pressed against the table. Before I could fully process the interruption the vision restarted, repeating like a looping video.


    ¡°What am I looking at?¡± I asked my unresponsive new acquaintances. This was obviously a puzzle but I couldn¡¯t seem to figure it out, and my frustration started seeping back, threatening to suffocate any good mood I may have had. I focused, trying to catch any meaningful detail or clue, but the panoply gave me nothing. The students continued their repetitions, shifting the geometric shapes on their desks with no discernible pattern or purpose. I wondered briefly if they were actually ghosts, rather than soulless projections, and if maybe they were stuck in some kind of groundhog day situation that continued even after I stopped seeing them. I veered off that mental track before I got too distracted, or bummed out.


    I leaned closer, straining to hear if they were speaking, but all I caught was the faint rustle of movement. No words, no whispers, just an eerie, empty quiet. Nothing seemed significant, no hidden message or standout moment, just the monotonous rhythm of their hands moving shapes.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of this?¡± I mused to myself, stepping back, a growing sense of futility settling over me. I pulled my hands away, and the room fell silent and empty once more.


    ¡°Guess there¡¯s nothing here,¡± I sighed, turning back toward the door. My eyes scanned the room one last time, confirming there were no other exits before stepping back out.


    When I turned back, the door was gone. The smooth expanse of the wall greeted me where the opening had been. Frowning, I stepped closer and pressed my hands against it. Nothing happened, not even the faint shimmer that had marked the first wall. ¡°Oh, what the hell?¡± I grumbled, my frustration bubbling out verbally.


    I considered staying and pressing my hands in the same spot, hoping for some hidden mechanism, but the thought felt pointless. With a sigh, I stepped back.


    "Fine, then." I murmured. "Keep your secrets." a small smile overcoming my frustration at the remark as I recalled a particularly good movie. Resigned, I decided to search the rest of the room instead, my fingers brushing the walls as I moved along.


    I wound my way along the next wall, methodically running my fingers over its surface as before. I crouched as I neared the floor during my sweep, and felt a surge of renewed excitement accompany the faint shimmer of a ripple across the wall, as another opening appeared.

 Chapter 14: Glow Big or Glow Home

    The opening was small, barely three feet high, and shaped like a cathedral arch. Crouching down I hesitated a moment before I poked my head through the doorway.


    ¡°A cave lake?¡± My voice burst out, carrying back to me in playful echoes.


    I sat back on my heels glancing at the still-open doorway. I looked around the bright white room. My eyes lingered on the console. I noticed a light breeze coming from the archway, carrying with it the smell of wet stone and cool, damp air.


    ¡°Door number two,¡± I said with theatrical flair. ¡°Now, I know there¡¯s got to be a door number three around here somewhere.¡± I got to my feet and resumed my search of the last two walls. Nothing changed the blank walks. Next thing I knew I had come full circle back at the opened archway.


    ¡°Okay, looks like answers are in the cave¡± My gaze lingered on the low, glowing archway, the cool air brushing against my face.


    I stepped back and began pacing in front of the archway, shaking my head at myself. ¡°A line of tables and chairs¡ªno problem, dive right in. But a mysterious cave lake behind a short door? Nah, better leave that one alone.¡±


    I crouched down again, peering into the dim, otherworldly space just beyond the opaque barrier. ¡°What are you hiding?¡± I muttered, half to myself, half to the cave. The light pulsed, as if answering, but no words came. My mind was filled with dangers a cave could hold in any fantasy or space opera scenarios, from a huge dragon, acid slimes, clones.


    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re actively dangerous, right?¡± I added with a smirk. ¡°Just... mysterious. And glowing. And, okay, maybe a little ominous. The other door just lead me to a classroom of all places.¡±


    ¡°Well, it looks like the only route is through the cave,¡± I muttered, glancing over my shoulder at the console.


    ¡°Guess I don¡¯t have much of a choice,¡± I added, turning back fully toward the persistent doorway.


    I crouched down and crawled into the cave. My hands met the cool, damp surface of the stone floor, and I shuffled forward, my breath catching at the sight before me.


    The cave was quiet, its natural stillness wrapping around me like a blanket. It was what you would expect for a medium sized cavern, the air smelled of minerals and damp stone, carrying the subtle chill of underground spaces. The water stretched out before me, its surface eerily smooth, reflecting the blue glimmering lights of bioluminescent glowworms that seemed to dance across the dark ceiling.


    I shifted to the edge of the lake, careful not to disturb its glassy surface. My eyes scanned the cave for any signs of an exit or a clue, but there was nothing. No tunnels leading out, no mysterious inscriptions etched into the walls, and nothing to touch or investigate. Just the water and the glistening surface.


    I crouched down by the water sitting back on my heels, staring at the twinkling blue light reflecting off. It looked like a moonless night sky.


    I reached out hesitantly to touch the surface and abruptly stopped as my mind went back to the acid slimes. Surely I have something in my bag to touch it.


    After searching a bit I decided one of the things I could part with was one of my three pens. I also pulled out the sconce to see the lake better.


    The room instantly lit up leaving half the lake dark. The glowworms seemed to retreat from the light. Yet in the lake I could see small dots of their lights and what looked to be a large one in the center that didn¡¯t shine in the natural bioluminescence the glowwarms had been putting out. The large one flickered between red and yellow like a gemstone.


    My stomach tightened with unease. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. My gaze lingered on the ¡®gemstone¡¯ in the lake, the only thing to investigate. "Am I supposed to go into it?"


    I stabbed my pen in and back out of the lake fast. The liquid dripped off leaving the pen looking wet but not damaged. Maybe I am being silly but I really can¡¯t figure out how else to test it. It looks safe enough to walk in but I am definitely not drinking it.


    I got up and stepped cautiously into the water. My foot landed on the stone surface below making ripples fan out across the surface. To my surprise, the bottom was solid and smooth, more like polished stone than the gritty sand or jagged rocks I expected. I took another step, then another, bracing for the floor to drop away into some unseen depth. It didn¡¯t.


    The water stayed shallow, lapping gently at my knees. The water continued to not rise above them. I ventured further toward the sparkling light at the center.


    The glimmer grew brighter beckoning me forward. I looked up to find the ceiling completely dark above me. I continued wading closer until I was just a step away. I hesitated for a moment, then I nudged it with my foot, a quick kick meant to dislodge whatever was down there.


    The light in the room vanished instantly, plunging me into darkness for the briefest of moments.


    A sigh of relief left my lips as the sconce flickered back. ¡°Well that was frightening -tening -tening. -tening.¡± I froze as my voice echoed around the cave. Then all I heard was the gentle lapping of the water on the shore.


    Shrugging I looked down at the ¡®gemstone¡¯ that had drastically changed. It was now bright orange.


    That is... weird. What should I do? I pondered this for a moment, weighing my options. After a beat, I decided loot logic was the way to go. Taking a deep breath, I crouched down and reached into the water, my hand outstretched toward the object.


    Fingers grazing the surface, I steeled myself for whatever might happen next, wondering if I was about to unlock something, or if I''d just triggered another mysterious event.


    The room grew bright with orange coving my vision then just like the classroom a vision materialized. But this time, I found myself looking at short ethereal figures. They glowed softly, like effervescent sparks, their bodies shown with a blue translucent light. Their features were delicate, and their expressions focused, as if they were caught in some ritual or delicate task.


    I couldn¡¯t help but stare in awe, my mind trying to process what I was seeing and what act was unfolding. These weren¡¯t the students from before, but something else entirely, reminding me of the glowworms. I watched this new loop play out. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The figures moved with an otherworldly grace. They glided toward the water¡¯s edge, each carrying an object; small, delicate, and shimmering. The weight of their task seemed to settle in their postures, yet they moved with such fluidity, it was as if they were weightless.


    As they approached the water, they paused, their feet barely disturbing the surface as if they were part of the lake itself. One by one, they lowered the objects into the water with reverence, their movements slow and deliberate. The water reflected the soft glow of their bodies, casting ripples of light across the cave.


    Then, they raised their arms, each gesture deliberate and graceful, tracing unseen patterns in the air, as if weaving something ancient and powerful with their fingers. The air around them seemed to vibrate with an almost palpable energy, the temperature shifting with the rise of their arms.


    A soft hum began to emanate from them, low at first, but growing in intensity. Their bodies swayed, a rhythmic, fluid motion that mirrored the ebb and flow of the water. It wasn¡¯t just a dance. It had to be a ritual. Are they a cult? priests?


    As their feet moved in synchronized harmony, the very air seemed to bend around them, responding to their movements. The dance wasn¡¯t just for show; it was a spell, an invocation of energy that coursed through the room, making all the lake shine with an ethereal light.


    My breath caught as I watched the figures, so entranced by the scene that I couldn¡¯t look away. Their bodies twisted and turned with a grace I could almost comprehend, their glowing forms casting shadows and light shifting with every step.


    Then, without warning, the scene restarted. The figures, their delicate bodies glowing, began their dance anew. I stood transfixed on their moments. My eyes locked on their every movement, determined to figure the reason out for the loops.


    I leaned in closer, observing their movements with growing intensity. Each step, each precise gesture felt significant, like a key waiting to be turned in a forgotten lock. As the figures raised their arms once more, I felt a subtle tug within myself, a quiet whisper of understanding deep in my chest. It wasn¡¯t just the choreography; it was something more¡ªsomething in the way they moved, in the way the air shifted around them, the way the temperature shifted.


    I could feel an understanding of the energy. They were drawing from something ancient, something that existed outside of the physical space, threading through everything causing a humming through the room.


    I felt a jolt of comprehension of the patterns, like a thread winding its way through the very fabric of the universe. My breath caught as I focused harder, watching the figures move, their arms tracing arcane paths in the air, and the tug of understanding grew stronger.


    They had to be priests, but of what?


    I continued feeling the rhythm, the pulse of their dance vibrating through me. I was being drawn into their motions, each swirl of their arms, each step in their dance resonating within me, pulling me into the hypnotic pattern.


    I was jarred from the resonation as the loop repeated once again. They began the dance again and I could feel it in my bones. It was stronger, clearer, this loop, as if the magic was beginning to thread itself into my very being.


    The figures continued their dance, and I, standing there, felt the shift in the air, felt the tug of their ancient rhythm pulling me closer when Discomancy finally kicked in. It recognized the order and chaos of the rhythm in ways I hadn¡¯t realized I would ever understand.


    Their dance was a symphony of balance, a blend of opposing forces woven together in a perfect harmony that both unsettled and invigorated me,  growing more solid with each repetition of the loop.


    Without thinking, I stepped forward, my body instinctively mirroring the fluid motions of the figures. I raised my arms just like they did, moving in time with the invisible beat that reverberated through my bones. It was like I was becoming one with the energy, flowing seamlessly through the air with a newfound grace that seemed almost out of place in the stillness of the room. I understood what it meant to truly dance with the universe.


    The sensation of understanding blossomed fully within me. It was like a switch had flipped, and I knew¡ªI knew¡ªthe dance. Every movement felt as natural as breathing, every step aligned with the pulse of the energy that filled the room. It wasn¡¯t just the rhythm anymore; it was an extension of myself, a language I could finally speak.


    The water rippled around my feet, responding to the rhythm, as if acknowledging my presence within the loop. For a moment, I felt as though I wasn¡¯t just performing a dance but flowing through everything. The energy swirled around and in me, echoing the movements of the dancers, feeding off my own growing understanding.


    I had become part of the chaos and the order that wove everything together. The loops continued to repeat, seeming to happen faster, I had become part of it, flowing seamlessly with the others, my movements joining theirs in perfect harmony. The dance was no longer a mystery, it was my language now.


    The far wall began shuddering, and a guttural rumble of earth ripping apart, it began to shift. My breath caught as the wall dragged itself open, revealing a towering monument beyond. It stood tall and imposing, made of smooth, polished stone that gleamed, as if lit from within. The monument had an ethereal quality, its shape almost otherworldly, like something carved by hands that knew secrets older than time.


    The light in the room seemed to bend around it, casting long, dramatic shadows on the floor. As the opening widened, I could make out intricate patterns etched into the surface of the monument, symbols I couldn''t quite understand, but which seemed to pulse with a life of their own.


    I leaned in, compelled by an unshakable curiosity. The monument felt alive, its presence both ancient and intensely alive, as if it were waiting for something or someone to approach. The very air around it vibrated with even more potential, and I could feel that magnetic pull drawing me in.


    The loop suddenly stopped, and a heavy silence filled the room. I blinked, staring at the altar before me, its intricate design now completely still. The air around it felt thick, almost as if waiting for something to happen.


    I took a hesitant step forward, drawn to the monument¡¯s presence, my eyes scanning every detail. There was something strange about it, something that made it seem so real and yet... unreachable. I reached out, my hand trembling slightly as I passed it through the air, but my fingers met no resistance. It felt as though I was pushing through nothing, as if the altar was made of smoke, not solid stone.


    Frustration gnawed at me, and I swiped my hand across the surface, desperate to find something, anything solid, to confirm that it was real. My fingers grazed over the smooth, intangible surface, but the frustration only grew. Then, with a sharp smack, my hand collided with something solid.


    I jerked back, startled. I looked down at the stone I had hit, its rough texture. It was real. The altar wasn¡¯t just a mirage of the past or the loop. I had substance, something I could interact with. My eyes darted around again, taking in the sudden clarity of the moment.


    Why was this stone hidden in a mirage?


    I pulled the stone away with some effort, like the energy of the altar didn¡¯t want to let it go.


    Once in my hand, the stone crumbled leaving dust to fall away in a gentle cascade, revealing one of the exact same objects the students had been moving.


    It was glowing dark red in the dim blue light, at some point I had stored the sconce. I could feel its connection to the ritual that had played out before me.


    I looked around, my hands searching for anything else that might be hidden around the altar.


    Just as I was about to give up, the doorway to the room began to blink, getting faster and then rapidly.


    Without a second thought, I sprinted as fast as I could through the lake towards the door. Just as I got to the waters edge the light started flickering in a frantic, urgent pattern.


    I lunged and slid through the narrowing gap, the faint hum of the door closing down filling my ears.


    The cave''s cool air gave way to the open room¡¯s stillness as I slid to a stop, my breaths ragged and body tense. A rush of release washed over me, leaving me unsteady as I spun around to glance back at the now-sealed entrance.

 Chapter 15: Tapas That

    With one arm supporting me as I lay half on the floor, I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes away from where the archway had disappeared. I exhaled shakily, adrenaline humming just beneath my skin as I tried to center myself.


    "Whoo! Now that was close!" I let out a breathy laugh, my body relaxing with relief. Shaking my head, I was still buzzing from the rush. That was way too crazy. What if I hadn¡¯t made it through? Could Dev have gotten me out? This place can¡¯t really be that dangerous, right? I mean, Claeffen wouldn¡¯t just kill off a potential apprentice¡­ would he?"


    I exhaled and forced my attention back to the moment. Focus. I¡¯d made it, and now it was time to prove I was more "promising apprentice" and less "cautionary tale."


    Okay, I¡¯ve got an icosahedron stone and a console. Looks like I got the key! My fingers shook with leftover adrenaline as I held the stone up, turning it over like I could steady myself by studying it.


    The crimson glow churned within, swirling like rolling thunderclouds trapped beneath a glassy surface. Tendrils of light lashed out and coiled back in on themselves, colliding and scattering in chaotic bursts. Then, just for a moment, the turbulence aligned. Lines threaded together, shapes formed and faded before I could make sense of them. It was like watching a storm try to speak, the flashes of structure gone before I could grasp their meaning. There was a pattern, a structure, but it vanished before I could understand.


    Then a fantastical possibility dawned on me. What are the odds this is an enchanted die? A soft chuckle escaped me. I guess it could be. Why not? Anything could be enchanted in a place like this. I just didn¡¯t expect to see a twenty-sided enchanted die. Now that I thought about it, the students had looked like they were rolling dice. How did I miss that?


    ¡°Here goes nothing¡ªnatural 20, don¡¯t fail me now!¡± I said as I tapped it three times on the floor before flicking my wrist to send it spinning just in front of me. It tumbled to the floor, twirling in a lazy spin before settling with a soft thud. I watched, breath held, as the die spun slower and slower until it finally teetered to a stop. Any second now¡­ something magical had to happen. Right?


    Nothing happened. No flash of light, no glowing numbers, not even a whisper of magic. Just a silent, ordinary die sitting on the floor.


    Damn that would¡¯ve been cool.


    I scooped up the stone, its cool surface pressing into my palm as I pushed myself upright. My legs steadied beneath me, and I took a breath before stepping toward the console, the weight of anticipation settled in my chest.


    I braced myself as I approached the spot where the barrier had been, expecting resistance. But as I stepped forward, nothing pushed back, no invisible wall, no crackle of energy. Just open space leading straight to the console.


    Well, that¡¯s something. At least I¡¯m not smacking into an invisible wall anymore. I¡¯ll take that as progress.


    I stopped in front of the console, my fingers hovering just above its glossy, pristine surface. The bright white light of the room reflected off it like a mirror, making it almost blend into the sterile surroundings. There were no buttons or levers, just a smooth, untouched expanse waiting for something to bring it to life.


    I ran my hands across the smooth surface, searching for anything distinct. My fingers brushed over a small indentation lower on the right. Without hesitation, I placed the die into it, anticipation curling in my chest as I waited for something, anything, to happen.


    Nothing happened. The console remained still, unresponsive. Frowning, I picked up the die and rolled it across the smooth surface, watching as it tumbled end over end before coming to a stop.


    I frowned. If the die was enchanted, maybe rolling it wasn¡¯t enough on its own. There had to be more to it. My gaze flicked back to the wall where the classroom entrance had once been, as if it might offer some kind of clue.


    The students had done something else¡­ something more.


    It had to be hidden in the classroom loop, the missing piece that held the key. Otherwise, why show me the room at all? There had to be a reason.


    Closing my eyes, I focused on the students in the loop, trying to recall every detail. The memory felt oddly sticky, like something just out of reach. I furrowed my brow, forcing myself to concentrate.


    "I pictured one of the students closest to the desk where I stood. How many dice had they placed in front of them? I started counting. One, two, three. I pushed forward, past seven, until the image sharpened. There it was, an icosahedron die. My attention locked onto the way they moved, fingers splayed wide before gliding through the air in fluid, deliberate motions. Each gesture carried purpose, a silent rhythm I hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    "With the memory clear, I mirrored them. Moving my arms and hands step by step, hoping, no, expecting, something to shift.


    After completing the cycle of movements, I slid the stone into the dent. Its smooth surface had shifted, now fitting perfectly into place. A faint vibration tickled my fingertips, followed by a low hum as the stone clicked into position. Curious, I tried to lift it, but it wouldn''t budge. It was locked in place, cradled like a jewel in a prong setting.


    A sudden gust of wind shoved me back from the console, but instead of resistance, delight bloomed in my chest as the room transformed before my eyes.


    A cascade of shimmering notes burst into the air, spiraling like laughter caught on the wind. The floor beneath me thrummed with each playful beat, sending a buzz up my legs. I turned, heart hammering, as neon-blue light crackled to life across the walls. Letters fizzed and danced into existence, their glow pulsing in time with the music, alive with meaning just out of reach. The air tingled with the scent of spun sugar and something impossibly electric, sharp and sweet, like the first spark of a spell waiting to unfold.


    The neon-blue letters shimmered, flickering playfully as they twisted and reshaped themselves. Their glow pulsed in time with the music, each shift like a note in the melody.


    With one final flourish, they settled into place, forming glowing words that seemed to sing along with the rhythm:


    ultiversal Studios! The home of Scary Snotters Evil Lair and the Chamber of Lost Souls and Twisted Fates!


    A swirl of golden sparks spiraled from the edges of the text, curling like enchanted ribbons. The message pulsed with energy as the words continued:


    Golden sparks crackled and danced along the edges of the text, twisting like playful fireflies caught in an unseen breeze. The message pulsed, each new word throbbing with barely contained energy as it continued:


    "Prepare for the magical experience of a lifetime! You have successfully passed the magic test and unlocked an exclusive event package, uniquely tailored to your hidden truth. As a distinguished recipient, you will receive a private room, designed for your ultimate comfort and secrecy, along with your very first minion¡ªready to serve, obey, and possibly get into mischief at your command! Embrace your destiny and step into a world where adventure awaits!¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    As the final word pulsed with light, the entire wall erupted in a dazzling display of magic. Golden sparks shot outward, spiraling into the air before bursting into shimmering bursts of color. Swirls of deep violet and electric turquoise blue twisted together, forming intricate patterns¡ªswirling dragons, galloping unicorns, and spinning constellations that danced across the night sky. Each explosion crackled like laughter, leaving behind trails of sparkling stardust that rained gently down like enchanted confetti.


    A sudden pressure squeezed my head, and with a sharp pop, my ears cleared. Before I could react, an invisible force yanked me upward, weightless for a heartbeat before I dropped into the snug seat of a roller coaster cart. The cold metal frame hummed beneath me, alive with barely contained magic. Straps slithered over my shoulders and clicked into place with a firm snap, ready to whisk me into the adventure ahead.


    The air continued to vibrate around me with energy as a grand finale ignited all around me. A colossal phoenix, woven from fire and light, soared high above, its wings unfurling in a cascade of fiery gold. With a triumphant cry, it burst apart into a thousand shooting stars, each one zipping off in a different direction, painting streaks of light across the sky. The ground hummed beneath my feet, the scent of fried dough and cinnamon and something warm, like the lingering embers of a magical spell, filling the air. The path ahead glowed invitingly, urging me forward into the unknown adventure that awaited.


    The air vibrated with energy as a grand finale ignited around me. A colossal phoenix, woven from fire and light, soared high above, its wings unfurling in a cascade of fiery gold. With a triumphant cry, it burst into a thousand shooting stars, each one streaking across the sky in a dazzling display creating an opening in the wall before me. The air hummed around me, rich with the scent of fried dough, cinnamon, and something warm¡­like the lingering embers of a magical spell. Ahead, the path glowed invitingly, urging me forward into the unknown adventure that awaited.


    I sat in the roller coaster cart, my mouth open in awe. I let out a delighted whoop and a laugh as the cart cranked forward toward the glowing path in the wall. ¡°No way! I¡¯m at a wizard¡¯s amusement park!


    The cart cranked forward slowly, just like I was used to¡ªsteady and familiar. But the moment we entered the newly formed tunnel, everything changed. Turquoise lightning crackled and arced through the air, illuminating the dimly lit passage in flashes of electric blue. Shadows danced along the tunnel walls as the energy pulsed around me, charging the air with an exhilarating hum.


    The cart lurched, then shot forward with a force that sent my stomach plummeting. Wind howled past my ears, tearing through my hair and flinging it back like a banner caught in a storm. Sparks of turquoise lightning crackled in my wake, tingling against my skin as if the very air had turned electric. A wild exhilaration surged through me, my heart pounding in sync with the crackling energy. This wasn¡¯t just speed¡ªthis was power, raw and untamed. This was what it felt like to ride the lightning.


    A shudder rippled through the cart beneath me, metal groaning as it twisted and shifted. The smooth frame bulged, reshaping itself as red scales erupted along its surface, glistening like polished gemstones. The safety bar melted away, reforming into a sinewy neck that arched in front of me, its head snapping forward with a triumphant roar. Wings unfurled at my sides, their leathery stretch sending a rush of wind against my face. My roller coaster cart was gone, beneath me, a garnet dragon now soared through the electrified tunnel, its body thrumming with barely contained power.


    With a powerful beat of its wings, the dragon launched forward, the force pressing me into its back as we shot out of the tunnel. The air shifted, thick and heavy with heat, wrapping around me like a living presence. Above us, the sky stretched vast and endless, painted in deep shades of crimson and ember, as if the world itself was caught in the glow of a dying sun. Wisps of dark clouds curled like smoke, and below, jagged landscapes flickered in the distance, bathed in the eerie red light.


    The red dragon glided through the thick, red-tinted air, its wings slicing effortlessly through the currents. With a final, powerful downstroke, it slowed, angling toward a jagged mountain peak that loomed ahead. The wind rushed past as we descended, the ground rising to meet us. Its massive claws stretched forward, gripping the rocky ledge with practiced ease as it settled at the entrance of a cavern yawning wide and shadowed. A deep rumble echoed through its chest, a satisfied exhale as it folded its wings neatly against its sides.


    It let out a low rumble, then, without warning, the dragons massive form dissolved into a swirling cloud of smoke. The sudden lack of support sent me plummeting, and with an undignified yelp, I landed hard on my ass. A puff of dust rose around me as the last wisps of magic curled into the air, vanishing as quickly as the dragon itself.


    I turned toward the cave entrance, expecting rough stone and darkness but instead, I was staring at a towering twelve-foot door. Before I could process it, the world around me shifted. The rocky terrain melted away like an illusion peeling back, and suddenly, I was standing in a long hallway. Plush purple carpet stretched beneath my feet, soft and impossibly clean, while the walls, painted a rich blue, rippled with drifting white clouds that moved as if stirred by an unseen breeze. The air smelled faintly of something nostalgic, old books, fresh rain, and a subtle hint of ozone.


    The room number, 1618, was displayed about eight feet up, etched into a gemstone plaque.


    The massive door loomed before me, its dark wood adorned with intricate turquoise patterns carved deep into the surface. Twisting vines intertwined with arcane symbols, their delicate etchings catching the light like veins of gold running through stone.


    In the center, a grand carving of a dragon coiled around a staff, its eyes inlaid with tiny, glinting gemstones that flickered like embers. The edges of the door were lined with runic inscriptions, shifting subtly as if they were whispering secrets just beyond my understanding.


    A shiver of excitement ran through me, and my fingers twitched at my sides. Something big was behind this door. Something that needed a twelve-foot entrance. My heart kicked up a notch. Was my minion a dragon?!


    Excitement propelled me forward before I could even stop to think. I pushed open the massive door, and the moment I stepped inside, my breath caught. The room stretched before me like the grand hall of a cathedral, its vaulted ceiling soaring overhead. Stained-glass windows lined the walls, casting shifting patterns of color across the polished stone floor. A massive, ornately carved bed sat at the center, draped in deep, luxurious fabrics that looked impossibly soft. To one side, a dining table for six stood beneath an elaborate chandelier, its crystal fixtures reflecting the multicolored light. A stately desk rested against the far wall, its surface gleaming with meticulous craftsmanship. Near the fireplace, a plush couch, upholstered in dark velvet, invited me to sink into its embrace, positioned perfectly for warmth and comfort. The entire space pulsed with an air of grandeur, a place meant for both power and indulgence.


    I stepped inside and felt a sudden shift in the air, as if I had passed through an invisible barrier. A soft whoosh followed, like a vacuum sealing behind me. I turned around, my breath hitching as I took in the sheer grandeur of the room. Towering ceilings arched overhead, their intricate designs catching the flickering glow of enchanted sconces. The stained-glass windows painted shifting patterns of color across the polished floor, while every piece of furniture exuded a sense of elegance and power. It was a space fit for royalty or, perhaps, something even more extraordinary, Claeffen.


    A sharp pop echoed behind me, like the air itself had been displaced. A faint ripple of warmth brushed against my back, sending a shiver up my spine. Before I could turn, a voice filled the space, deep, smooth, and rich, like velvet laced with power.


    "Sir, welcome to Multiversal Studios. I am Phei, your room butler. May I interest you in a light snack at the table?"


    The words carried an effortless confidence, each syllable precise yet inviting, as if spoken by someone who had served nobility for centuries.


    Before I could turn, a rush of cool air swept past me, carrying the faint scent of smoke and something ancient. A figure materialized before me in a blink. They were tall, sleek, and unmistakably otherworldly. Their skin was a deep, iridescent blue, smooth like polished stone, with wisps of blue fire flickering along its form, dancing across its shoulders and curling around its clawed fingers. Its yellow eyes locked onto me, unreadable yet intense. With a slow, deliberate motion, it raised a hand and pointed toward the table, its presence radiating both power and eerie grace.


    I walked towards the table finding it laden with tapas. Phei pulled out the chair and I sat down as if in a trance. I looked around the room taking in all the details. I automatically started snacking on the tapas. My eyes widened at the phenomenal tastes.

 Chapter 16: The Three Scales

    I sank into the couch, its cushions swallowing me like a greedy mimic with a taste for adventurers. The fabric hugged me with an almost magical persistence, daring me to escape its plush embrace. Above, the vaulted ceiling shifted in a slow, hypnotic dance¡ªgolden light swelling into the shape of a sun before retreating into the cool twinkle of a starlit sky. The colors pulsed, alive, as if the ceiling itself were breathing.


    "Phei?" I called out, my voice breaking the comfortable stillness. I hadn¡¯t seen him since he was clearing the table before I passed out on the couch.


    "Sir, how can I assist you?"


    The voice came from directly behind me.


    I yelped and flailed, the cushions refusing to let me go as I nearly tumbled off the edge. Spinning around, I found Phei standing there, completely unbothered, hands clasped behind his back like he hadn¡¯t just appeared out of nowhere.


    "Where is my minion?" The thought had been nagging at me since I woke up. The announcement had clearly said my first minion. That meant more would come, right? And who wouldn¡¯t want their own magical minion? I had dreamed of this ever since devouring The Chronicles of Claeffen, where minions ranged from wild nature-born creatures to hybrid tech-magic wonders. Some were living wisps of fire, others were sleek, enchanted machines humming with arcane energy.


    "You will need to take your special token to The Gotcha Goblin Grotto in the Thralls & Thrills section of the park."


    "The what? Gotcha Goblin Grotto? Am I getting a goblin?" I asked, then muttered under my breath, "That would be lame."


    Phei let out a barely perceptible sigh. "No, sir, that is simply the name of the game you must play to obtain your minion. There are far more options than just goblins." He rolled his eyes ever so slightly before adding, "Would you like me to explain how the games work, sir?"


    I turned to look at him, and once again, as if sensing my movement, he appeared in front of me. I let out a laugh.


    "No, we¡¯ve got gacha games on my planet."


    Phei tilted his head ever so slightly. "Sir, I detect a particular emphasis in your pronunciation that suggests your version of gotcha might differ from this establishment¡¯s."


    "No, I think we¡¯re on the same page." I pushed myself up from the couch, feeling a surprising bounce in my step. "Is there a map or something I can use?"


    "Ah, yes, sir. Your personal agent, Dev, has already informed me of your status and limitations. The Magi Claeffen is well known to Multiversal Studios, and management has instructed me to ensure there are no incidents where he might become¡­ disagreeable."


    Phei¡¯s tone remained perfectly neutral, but something about the way he said disagreeable made me suspect they¡¯d had to deal with him before.


    "As such, I have been given specific guidance on how best to assist with your requests. It is my understanding that you are not to use your UTI while in the park. I have been granted access to funds and have hired a tour guide to accompany you for the day. They will take you through the park to various attractions, but first, you will go directly to obtain your minion."


    He sniffed. Just slightly. Just enough to make me suddenly self-conscious.


    "Sir, perhaps you would like to refresh yourself with a bath and change into something more¡­ befitting your station. I have laid out some attire options in the changing area. Once you are refreshed, call me, and I will send for your guide."


    Before I could respond, he vanished.


    I glanced around the room, then down at the outfit I had worn to the book signing. It definitely didn¡¯t scream magical apprentice. More like random guy who got lost on the way to a convention.


    Sighing, I made my way toward the opening near the bed, expecting to find a standard hotel bathroom with tiles, ceramic fixtures, and maybe a complimentary soap that smelled like disappointment.


    Instead, I stepped into what could only be described as an enchanted oasis.


    A waterfall cascaded gently down a rock formation, its water shimmering with an almost ethereal glow. Lush tropical plants in vivid shades of purple and teal lined the space, their leaves shifting as if adjusting to my presence. A lagoon spread out before me, the water crystal clear with flickering motes of light dancing just beneath the surface.


    Blinking, I followed a winding stone path through the dense foliage, my curiosity piqued. On the other side, I found a stone basin that shifted and stretched the moment I approached. Before my eyes, it reshaped itself, morphing smoothly into what was unmistakably a toilet.


    I stared. Then leaned in.


    It looked like lapis, its deep blue surface veined with glowing gold. The sheer craftsmanship or enchantment was mesmerizing.


    Then reality hit. Right. This was a necessary stop.


    As I turned, I realized the foliage behind me had shifted as well. What had once been an open path was now a solid wall of thick greenery, closing me off in a private sanctuary.


    Magic was weird.


    But I had to admit, this was probably the fanciest bathroom I had ever seen.


    After finishing up, I stepped out of the plant-lined path, still bewildered by the three scales. No matter how I tried to figure them out, they remained a perfect mystery¡ªsome seamless blend of science and magic beyond my understanding.


    Shaking my head, I turned toward the waterfall. That was my next stop.


    Stripping down, I placed my clothes and shoes on a nearby stone covered in thick, velvety moss. Stepping forward, I let the water pour over me, its warmth just right, like it had been set to my ideal temperature by an unseen hand.


    The gentle cascade massaged my shoulders as I ran my hands through my hair, already feeling the travel grime melt away. But something felt¡­ off. I glanced around, expecting shelves or alcoves with bottles of soap or shampoo. Nothing. No bottles. No bars.


    I rubbed my arms, and while I felt cleaner, it wasn¡¯t the usual slick, soapy feeling I was used to. It was subtle, like the water itself carried some kind of purification magic.


    Still, a part of me couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I was missing a crucial step in this magical bathing process.


    I wandered over to the lagoon, still searching for any sign of body care products. Nothing. No soaps, no shampoos, not even a suspiciously glowing crystal labeled cleansing stone.


    The thought of calling Phei in here just to ask was not appealing. He would either materialize instantly with an obviously, sir look on his face or worse, lecture me on the superior hygiene methods of the Multiversal elite.


    I sighed and decided to just go for it. Stepping into the lagoon, I found the water cool at first, but it quickly adjusted to the perfect, soothing warmth of a hot spring. It swirled gently around me, rippling with an almost sentient touch. I let myself sink deeper, hoping this magic water was as effective as it was mysterious.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    I¡¯d ask Phei about the soap later, after I had my minion. Priorities.


    I walked over to the rock and grabbed my shirt, using it as a makeshift washcloth. After scrubbing myself off as best as I could, I drifted back into the lagoon, letting the water carry me. It was perfect¡ªwarm, soothing, and almost unnaturally relaxing.


    As I floated, a thought crossed my mind. Was I getting a buff just from using this room? And if so, how long would it last? I was itching to start testing the lengths and durations of buffs, but for now, I¡¯d have to be patient.


    I floated a while lost in thought about everything since the book signing. It was a lot to take in. I wondered about some of the choices I made and why somethings didn¡¯t make me stop and wonder more before taking actions.


    I got out of the water and draped my shirt over the rock. I froze as the wall to my right was gone.


    In its place stood a towel rack and a walk-in closet, its entrance seamlessly blending into the natural design of the room. The towels on the rack were unlike any I had ever seen, each folded with precise care, their fabric shimmering faintly with magic. Some were deep sapphire blue, embroidered with silver thread that seemed to shift in the light, while others had a soft, cloudy-white texture, rippling as if made of woven mist.


    I reached for one, and the moment it touched my skin, it came alive, flowing around me like liquid air. The fabric curled and circled me, wicking away every drop of moisture in seconds before settling lightly against my skin. It was impossibly soft, weightless yet perfectly warm.


    Still in awe, I draped it around my midriff before stepping into the closet.


    The outfit I had left behind hung perfectly in place, as if an invisible valet had whisked it away for laundering the moment I entered the water.


    A moment later, my shirt appeared, now hanging neatly with the rest of the clothes. I blinked in surprise.


    For a brief moment, panic bubbled up. My bracer. My bag of holding. Where are they?


    I spun, scanning the closet until my eyes landed on a sleek countertop built into the wall. It had a designated area for obvious mage accessories like wands, rings, and other trinkets, but it was empty except for my bracer and bag of holding, both untouched and perfectly intact.


    Relief washed over me as I inspected the bag, finding everything still inside, exactly as I had left it. Satisfied, I tucked my clothes and shoes into the bag, watching as they vanished into its seemingly endless space.


    I looked over the five different outfits Phei had laid out for me, each one elegant and undoubtedly tailored to perfection. My fingers traced over the fabrics, lingering on silks that shimmered like starlight and robes embroidered with patterns that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles.


    None of them really spoke to my personal taste. I had thought I would enjoy wearing traditional mage attire, but the reality of running around without pants didn¡¯t seem all that practical, especially after everything that had happened so far since the book signing.


    Robes and flowing fabrics might look dramatic, but I needed something that wouldn¡¯t trip me up the moment I had to move fast. Like when I dashed out of the cave, if I had been wearing a robe, I could have easily gotten caught up in it.


    Even Claeffen didn¡¯t wear standard wizard robes. He dressed like a battle-mage, purposeful, blending function with elegant style. Well, except maybe for his shoes.


    With that thought, I looked around and noticed a shoe rack with several variety style pairs neatly set out.


    I inspected the outfits again, running my fingers over the fine fabrics before settling on a deep red-orange coat attire. Its surface was adorned with embossed geometric shapes that shimmered under the light, their intricate patterns suggesting the presence of runes, glyphs, or sigils woven into the very fabric. Beneath it, a light teal shirt, the material soft and cool to the touch, offering a striking contrast to the bold hues of the coat. Loose black baggy pants completing the ensemble, their airy fit will allow for ease of movement, while a black and white ascot added a refined, almost scholarly touch.


    I pulled on the pants, expecting them to be too loose, only to find the fabric molding to my legs with a snugger and more comfortable fit. They moved with me, stretching just enough to keep from feeling restrictive.


    I finished dressing before making my way over to the shoe rack, scanning the selection of boots, sandals, and sleek dress shoes, each looking far more fitting for my outfit than the bright yellow sneakers I had arrived in. There was no way I was ruining the entire look with those.


    I reached out, running my fingers over the smooth scales of one pair boots, then the woven straps of the sandals. Fine stitching. Engraved details along the soles. The faintest shimmer, like magic barely holding still beneath the surface. What were the chances these were enchanted?


    I couldn¡¯t read the inscriptions yet, and my interface was still locked, but I wasn¡¯t about to let this opportunity slip by. If there was magic here, I wanted it.


    After a few test runs, pacing back and forth to see if any of the shoes made me feel lighter or faster, I settled on the scaled boots. They had the best balance of comfort and agility, each step feeling just a little more effortless. In the end, they won out.


    As I bent down to adjust the fit, something shifted. The deep black scales shimmered, a faint ripple of energy running through them, and before my eyes, the color bled into a rich red-orange, perfectly matching my coat. I shifted my foot, watching the hues deepen and subtly change with the movement, as if the boots had always been part of the outfit.


    Definitely enchanted. Definitely mine.


    Dressed and ready, I took a moment to admire the outfit. It was practical, stylish, and carried an undeniable presence, perfect for a mages apprentice who wasn¡¯t going to sit in a classroom, but to step into something far more exciting.


    I wandered back to the accessories area, scanning the space with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The shelves were empty. I opened a few drawers, hoping to find something useful. Most were completely bare, but in one, a single set of earrings rested against the velvet lining.


    Not exactly an accessory jackpot, but hey, at least I wasn¡¯t leaving empty-handed. Well, technically I was. More like¡­ not empty-eared?


    I turned and went back to the outfits, gathering them up one by one. As I placed them into my bag of holding, the fabric folded in on itself, vanishing into the endless space within. It never hurts to have options. Who knew what kind of situation I might find myself in next, right?


    Stepping out of the entrance, I came to a stop in front of the bed and called out, ¡°Phei, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    "Sir, please follow me." I followed, watching as ethereal blue flames pulsed across him, trailing like ghostly embers.


    I expected him to lead me to the entrance, but instead, we walked past the couches toward a massive stained-glass window. The intricate panes shimmered with shifting colors, casting patterns of light across the floor. Without hesitation, he lifted a hand and traced an arcane gesture through the air.


    The glass responded instantly, its surface rippling like molten light before cascading downward in a shimmering waterfall of liquid rainbows. Colors bled and swirled together, dissolving into luminous mist before reforming into an open archway. Beyond it, the balcony stretched out, bathed in the glow of the world beyond.


    Multiversal Studios was far larger than I had imagined. From my room¡¯s vantage point high above, the sprawling expanse of buildings and attractions stretched endlessly below. Towering spires gleamed under shifting colored skies, while enchanted rides soared effortlessly through the air, some vanishing beyond the clouds before looping back down in dazzling arcs of light and motion. The entire park pulsed with energy, a seamless blend of magic and wonder brought to life.


    Glowing billboards floated effortlessly in the sky, their shifting text and images forming from swirling constellations of light. Golden letters shimmered before unravelling into cascading sparks, reforming into announcements for attractions and events. Some displays pulsed with illusionary scenes, bringing the rides to life in miniature before dissolving into glittering mist.


    The balcony extended into what looked like a docking station, its smooth platform edged with faintly glowing runes. Nearby, a table and chairs, sculpted from what appeared to be condensed clouds, hovered just slightly above the floor. Wisps of mist curled lazily from their edges, shifting and reforming as if responding to the breeze.


    "Sir, please stand here to the side. Your guide will be with us in just a moment," Phei stated, gesturing toward a spot beside the ramp leading down to the docking station.


    Umm, is Multiversal Studios on the same planet I entered from? The area I came through looked completely abandoned.


    ¡°No, sir. Multiversal Studios has many entrances and exists outside of any specific planet.¡± Phei replied. "You say yours was abandoned? That is unusual. Did Magi Claeffen open the entrance from somewhere notable?"


    Oh. Was the entrance supposed to be a secret? I hadn¡¯t exactly been informed about where I was going or why. Probably best to play it safe.


    I shrugged, keeping my voice as casual as possible. "It was hidden, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking."


    Phei let out the smallest sigh, the kind that barely made a sound but carried an entire paragraph¡¯s worth of judgment. "Ah, yes, sir. All the entrances are hidden. That is why a test is required to gain access." He adjusted his stance, his expression just neutral enough to make me wonder if I had somehow failed an unspoken etiquette exam.


    A green and blue gryphon soared into view, its wings beating the air in slow, powerful strokes before coming to a graceful stop at my balcony. With practiced ease, a short, thin figure leapt from its back, landing lightly before straightening.


    I watched as the short-statured figure strode up the ramp with a confidence that suggested they had done this a thousand times before. Their goggles, now resting on their forehead, reflected the shifting lights around us, making their wide eyes seem even larger. Without hesitation, they stopped in front of Phei and thrust out a gloved hand, fingers wiggling expectantly. The motion was casual, but the intent was unmistakable, a silent but universal demand for payment.