《Max Level Runemage returns to earth.》
Chapter 1 Going to far.
Robin paced back and forth between his reading table and his Essene extractor. A bronze pedestal, with many-layered rings above, forms a hollow ball. Robin moved one of the rings and the device hummed for a second, telling him that it was tuned to the new setting.
Ok, one more and it will be ready. Robin thought as he turned back to his reading table. Where his user manual sits. Oh right! The seventh ring needs to be set to hundred and ninety degrees not hundred and ninety-five degrees.
Along with the user manual, the table was littered with other items. A book about magical herbs Robin was rereading, for fun. A pile of gray rocks sits in a small box near the wall and hidden underneath a book about herbs was a poster of Robin himself. His brown hair and old pug-like face barely showed beneath the book.
Robin grabbed one of the rocks and walked to the device. He carefully placed the rock in the center of the device and turned the seventh ring to the new setting. A humming and popping sound came from the device. As the rock started to glow bright green.
Robin broke into a smile moments before his reason kicked in. His smile dropped, and he quickly moved the seventh ring to a setting. The humming and popping sound stopped. The glowing green rock went dim.
¡°Good, it didn''t explode like last time,¡± muttered Robin, as he stared down at the little rock. ¡°But I did it again. After days of looking, I finally found a solid piece of uranium. In hindsight maybe I should have used some kind of gloves to handle it.¡±
As Robin was thinking about what to do, the ring on his pinky started barking at him, like an angry dog. Eyes wide, Robin silenced the ring with a touch and run over to the door. He flipped open, the first of five peepholes, and looked out. Nothing, but a straight empty hallway lay beyond.
Robin then moved to the next peephole and the same as before, but this hallway''s carpet was different. An Orange one, instead of red. He moved to the third peephole and almost screamed.
The door at the end of the third hallway was smashed open. A large group of knights in full armor was probing the hallway with long metal poles. Small flames of green and orange shot up, wherever the poles touched. Making the traps useless.
Robin watched in horror, as the knights wormed their way through his defenses. They somehow got past the first two hallways untouched. Bitterness grew in Robin''s stomach.
I should have known he would rat me out. Robin thought as he watched a pair of familiar-robed men step forward. Their eyes meet for a moment, but it was enough. Oh Hell! A mage!
Robin quickly closed the peephole, as one of the robed men raised a finger at the peephole. Robin jumped back, as the peephole grew red hot, and started to melt. He hurriedly touched the door with one of his blue rings. As the door shimmered with blue light, the hot metal dimmed and cooled.
In a rush, Robin sprinted over to his Essene extractor and grabbed the gray rock inside. Ignoring the fact it might be radioactive. He runs over to a nearby ladder, whatsit against the wall. He started up.
Robin wanted to use portals for this, instead of ladders; But anything bigger than a peephole was too expensive, for his existing budget.
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Robin climbed to the top floor attic. The attic was Robin''s storage room by day and bedroom by night. The little room was littered with boxes. The cramped space condensed most of the tower''s unnatural smells up here.
Robin crawled over his bed and opened a ceiling hatch. Multicolored light streamed in through the opening.
As Robin stepped out onto the roof of his tower, he looked around. Formed around his tower was a colorful wobbly bubble of magic. It was a special mirage spell he had cooked up. No one can approach his tower from any other angle, than from the one he wanted. Luckily that angle was attached to the lord''s manor.
It was a bright sunny day, and through the magic bubble, Robin could see the lord''s manor and grounds below. A large group of people was moving around down there. Beyond the lord''s grounds were the green wilds and the high mountains of Nuirian. They almost made Robin regret what he was about to do.
He climbed to the top of the tower. Where a golden device sits, endlessly spinning. His area effect generator.
The magic bubble was coming out of the thing. Robin climbed up beside it and touched it with his finger. A panel opened up in the device and revealed a tiny crystal inside. He added the gray rock in with the crystal and touched the device with one of his rings.
The tower shook as Robin gave it mental new orders. The magical bubble popped, blasting Robin with a fresh bit of air. As he stood up, he heard shouting from below.
Everyone was gawking up at his tower. Because it was doing something completely strange. It had broken itself off from the lord''s manor and started flying away. The knights and robed men stood in the broken hallway staring up at the tower, in frustration and awe. They had made it all the way to the last door for nothing. Robin waved down at the crowd. The maids and servants stared up in shock.
As Robin put his cold hands in his armpits, he glanced over at his pursuers again and jumped. The robed men were gone and the knights had started aiming crossbows up at him.
Oh Hell, I should get a move on. Time to find a new hiding place and I know one that they''ll never find because they don''t even know it exists. Robin thought as he run back up to the device. He touched it with a finger. It hummed with life. Earth. My birthplace.
The tower vanished.
The world changed for Robin in an instant. Rain-soaked in his clothes, he took in his new surrounding. Above him, dark storm clouds loomed over, as hurricane winds rocked the tower. A vast dark sea lay below.
Oh Hell! Robin thought as lightning filled the sky. He covered his ears as thunder boomed. Ah! I need to hurry and turn the space mirage spell on again before I get hit!
Robin clapped his hands together and made his rings glow. As he moved his hands apart a small ball of light appeared. The ball quickly grew over his hand and down his body. He felt his shoes find new purchase on the wet roof.
The wind wasn''t affecting him anymore, but the raindrops still hit Robin''s left side, like a sea serpent''s breath. He started back up to his area effect generator. He had to work fast, his air-repelling spell won''t last under this onslaught.
He reached for his device and touch it with a ring. The area effect generator started to glow, as the magic bubble appeared. The bubble passed over Robin''s head and moved down the tower, encasing it.
Silence met Robin''s ears, as the tower got cut off from the storm. Lightning flashed overhead, but there wasn''t any massive boom. Instead, a faint thunderclap came from below.
¡°Oh no! My study, my books! The door is still connected to the storm.¡± said Robin, as he run for the hatch. The crawl space inside was soaked. ¡°Oh, nuts it''s all wet too.¡±
Minutes later, Robin was resting in one of his wet chairs. After quickly forming a barrier spell, around a loose piece of gold, to block the rain and a few dozen drying spells. His books and things seemed to be safe from the rain, for now. His floor and clothing were still soaked.
¡°Note to self. Never manifested into a thunderstorm again, without proper waterproofing wards on everything,¡± muttered Robin, as he started a drying spell on his own clothes. His shirt begins to steam. ¡° Good grief is this going to ruin my clothes.¡±
Now with his clothes were dry, Robin set to work on drying everything. He clapped his hands, making his rings glow red. A fireball appeared in mid-air. It slowly grew until Robin thought it was big enough. Standing near the ball felt like putting your face in a campfire.
Chapter 2 Got away?
Robin waved a hand and the fireball rose. It''s light warming up and illuminating everything. Robin began pointing at the floor, wherever water was. Under the effect of the drying spell, the loose water streamed away into vapors.
As soon as the floor was dry, he checked over the books again. He want to be sure they were ok. From past experiences, he knew drying spells could make them wrinkle up. He didn''t want to risk losing them. He had stolen most of these from the magus circle private library. After his banishment, he threw caution the wind and took them. Most of them are about runes.
Robin extinguished the fireball and climbed the ladder. The attic was socked. He closes the ceiling hatch and begins to dry his socking bed and boxes. He paused halfway through the drying spell. His bed was a simple cotton bag full of feathers. It was a pathetic reminder that his life had come too. A bed for the poorest rich man.
Hell! Robin thought, angrily. As he finished his drying spell. I knew that the traitorous lord was acting strangely. I had weeks to realize. I should have noticed. He even tried to distance himself from me, near the end. Damn. I need a break and a nap.
As the drying spell finished on the boxes, Robin rolled down onto the bed. It felt less fluffy than before. The heat made the smells from the boxes stronger, but he did mind. He reached up and grabbed a frozen candle snuffer. That was hanging on a nearby hook. The light in the small room came from an enchanted ever-burning candle. He reached up and extinguished the burning candle by placing the candle snuffer on top of it. A passing thought crossed Robins''s mind.
Mages hadn''t a clue on where these candles got their power. They worked even on a winter''s night or even underground. Robin speculated the candle fed the fire and the fire fed the candle. A closed loop. That explains why it needs to be relit every time.
As Robin closed his eyes and rolled over. Sleep came to him slowly. The stress and worry of the day fall away, just to be replaced by a new worry. A dream.
Robin stood in front of his Essene extractor, he was just about to place the rock he knew was uranium into the device. Then he caught himself. He did this alright.
Robin backed away from the device and dropped the rock. He was back in his study, replaying the events again. The only difference was that he had an audience this time. All around him stood robed figures. Beyond the figures, was blackness.
¡°The magus circle! ¡± Robin muttered, as realization hit him. So that''s how they knew where he was. The lord didn''t betray him. The circle was prying into his dreams. ¡°How did... Oh, I see I''m still connected to that blasted dream machine. I didn''t know it could do this. Force me to relive events? So how long have you been watching me?¡±
Silence answered him. One figure stepped forward and removed his hood. Robin recognized the man instantly. It was his old rival, Jacob.
¡°There are many things you don''t know, heretic,¡± Jacob said, with a hint of venom. ¡° Stop running and face your fate. Your flashy escape today, might have taken a lot of power. Wherever you are, you''re trapped for a while. Once we...¡±
¡°Please, that''s never going to happen.¡± Robin cut in. He glanced around the room, at the figures. ¡°Because for one I got more power than all of you combined and two I''m somewhere you''ll never find me."
"More power than us? So you did found another devil stone."
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"Yes I did and now that I know about this little dream trick of yours. You''ll never find me.¡± The other figures started disappearing. Robin realized they were awaking up.
¡°Oh really? But you said something like that last time.¡± Jacob said, grinning like a madman. ¡°For you see, we turned off your ability to remember any of this. We''ve been doing this to you for months now, and we can keep doing this for as long as it takes to find you.¡± Jacob turns and vanishes.
Robin awakens with a snort and on his belly. He groped for the candle snuffer and pulled down. It fell to the floor beside him. Robin''s back cracked as he sit up.
Damn, That never did that before. I hate getting old. To bad runes can''t do anything about that, Robin thought as he groped for the candle. He found the candle and grabbed it. Like an ice cube, it took his body heat and self-lit. It''s light, once again filling up the room.
"Ow hot! Cheap candle, give me a sun orb or a light bulb any day."
He crawled over to the ladder and climbed down. His study bathed in candlelight and sunlight from the doorway. His barrier was still up, and everything was as he left it. It seems to be daytime outside.
The storm is over, that''s good. Robin thought as he placed a book back in place. But if I''m really out in the middle of the ocean, then food going to be a problem. All I got in here, is magical herbs and ores. Sure I can eat the herbs, but I would rather eat real food. Maybe I can catch some fish.
Robin walked to the barrier and what he saw surprised him. Below the tower was a forest of green trees. Far off in the distance, he spotted the sea.
The tower must have flown here, while I was sleeping. Wait what''s that? Robin thought as he spotted something along the seashore. He quickly clapped his hand together and cast a light-focusing spell and his view zoomed in. Showing Robin something he hadn''t seen in years. Oh my is that''s a concrete highway, with metal barriers and everything? So I did make it. I made it back to earth. This is incredible. After all these years of research and hope. I''m back.
The tower shook, causing Robin to wobble where he stood. The trees below grew closer, as the tower slowly fell. A bottle shattered behind him. Everything that wasn''t already on the floor and the stuff he had put away, was now falling again.
Robin thought fast and took a deep breath. He clapped his hands and his rings clicked together. He hastily cast an air-thickening spell. In moments Robin felt the air around him grow thick in viscosity. He quickly lost the ability to move properly. His feet left the floor, as the tower entered free fall.
A thunderous crash filled the air as the tower''s base hit the ground. A moment later it fell over on its side. Robin slowly floated to the ground, which was now the wall. He canceled his spell and the air returned to normal.
¡°Oh, what hurts,¡± Robin muttered, as he stood. he rubbed his sore butt. He looks around at the damage. ¡°Oh dear, everything is broken. Oh damn!¡±
How did this happen? That small bit of uranium should have kept this tower flying for a month maybe more. Robin thought as he picked up one of his fallen books. Maybe the jump took more power than I thought it would? I should check that.
He picked up a book and placed it under his arm. He makes his way to the sideways doorway. The barrier from earlier was still up around the entryway. It took Robin a touch from one of his rings to turn it off. The wind rushed in. The piece of gold, in the barrier, fell to the floor.
The trees outside rustled in the wind and the afternoon sunlight, blinded Robin for a moment. It also got an emotional reaction out of him too. Robert gulped. This light was coming from the sun, which He hadn''t seen in years.
Oh goodness me, I''m a grown man. Focus. Robin thought as tears rolled don''t his cheeks. Must be the sunlight. It''s far brighter than I remember it being.
After getting used to the light. Robin stepped out. The wind racked his body and the smells of the wood filled his nose. It was just like the woods in the other world. He walked around the tower, and check on the roof where the area effect generator was. Luckily he found the device still attached to the roof. On closer examination, Robin found the little hatch open and the device empty.
¡°Hum? Did they fall out?¡± Robin muttered as he placed his book into his coat pocket. ¡°Is that how I lost my power? Surely not? I better go looking for it. Now, where are they?¡±
Robin pulled from his other pocket a small leather sack with a rope tie. It looked and felt empty. He undid the knot and suspiciously looked inside. he didn''t know if this still worked here. He carefully placed his hand inside and groped around. finding nothing. He slides the bag up all the way to his elbow. It could easily take his whole arm.
Chapter 3 Fixing things
Inside the bag, Robin felt a wooden staff, a small book, and a bag of coins, but they weren''t his aim. He moved over and felt a long leather-covered box. He grabbed it and pulled it out.
OK, finally. Maybe I should make this thing bigger. So I don''t have to guess what I''m grabbing in there. Robin thought as he pulled the box halfway outside. In the sunlight, the box revealed that it had many different colored sections. Maybe I should empty and destroy it later? Wouldn''t want the circle to find this stable wormhole.
I''m surprised this portal bag still works even across the worlds. Hey, that would mean I could create a stable wormhole and move between both? Well maybe not. But it''s a fun idea to think about anyway. Robin thought as he opened the first section and removed a pair of golden glasses. Ok, let''s go find that rock.
Robin closed the box section and slide it back inside the bag. He tied the bag up and pocketed it, before putting the glasses on. Then Robin finally did, He nearly fell over.
¡°Ahh, what the heck!¡± Robin yelped, as he ripped the glasses off, blinked, and rubbed his eyes. ¡°What was that? Why was everything so bright.¡±
Oh right. I completely forgot. Robin thought as he turned the lenses in his hands a few times. I forgot radiation isn''t that rare here. I should have changed the sensitivity on this thing. He clapped his hands and put the glasses back on. Oh, that''s much better.
He scanned the area around the tower and then little ways down the hill. Soon he spotted three spots of light. Which confused Robin a bit. So he walked over and dug through the grass for the lights. In the grass, he found his old crystal and two crumbly gray rocks.
Damn, that explains the power loss. The rock couldn''t withstand the load and crumbled. Robin thought as he pocketed the loose crystal and removed his glasses. He pocketed the glasses and looked down at the rocks, hesitantly. I picked it up barehanded last time. I probably gave myself radiation poisoning. Well, I can''t just leave them here. The safest way would be to not touch them at all.
Robin clapped his hands together and his rings started to glow. Sparkles of light like a sparkler appeared from his hands and fell onto the rocks. The rocks began to float out of the grass. Once they reach eye level they stopped.
Robin grabbed the solid air around the rocks and began walking back to his area effect generator. it was lead-lined. He first placed the gray rocks back inside the device and then pull from his pocket the Crystal. He paused.
On second thought, I might need this for other spells. Robin thought as he put the crystal in his pocket. He then closed the hatch and touched the device with a ring. he gave it new orders. Ok, up you go.
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The device started to glow as the tower begin to rise. As by design, the tower slowly floated up and then down. The wind whipped around the tower as itself righted. Thereby planting itself into the soft ground of the forest. Its tip now pointing up at the sky. Robin frowned. The landed side of the tower was damaged. It was caked with grass, dirt, and mud. It was obvious that some bricks were cracked and everything was loose.
Damn, that''s worse than I thought. I''m going to need to fix this. Robin thought as he pulled the Crystal from his pocket. An empowered liquidation spell might work.
He stepped forward and touched the tower with a hand. His rings started to glow green. The bricks of the tower started to go runny and melt. Drops started to form between the cracks. Robin stopped halfway through the spell. The bricks fused back together and grew solid once again.
This isn''t the best way to fix this. But it will be fine for a few days. Just until I find someplace better. Robin thought as he examined the wall. He pocketed the Crystal again. Time to go see what''s salvageable.
Robin walked back to the tower''s doorway, as a roar of thunder come up from the nearby highway. A sound Robin only remembers vaguely. Eager to see the source, Robin quickly casts a wind-based, levitation spell and rockets up through the air. The sound was almost ear-spiting now.
Then Robin rose above the trees. He spotted a white object zoom past. The knowledge and memories clicked into place. It was an emergency ambulance. The siren was poof enough. The sound started to fade as Robin floated back down to the ground.
Damn it. I barely saw its color. I wanted to see more. Robin thought as he found his footing before the spell ended. That was an ambulance vehicle. A real one, not some drawing. Hell. I haven''t seen a combustion vehicle in what... twenty-five years or something? I should go check that out later, but first I have to deal with the tower?
Robin reentered his tower and looked around at the mess. Glass bottles cracked underfoot and strange smells lingered in the air. He noticed a bottle of snake venom, leaking on the floor.
Oh no, I can''t leave everything like this. Some poor animal might wander in and step in this. Can''t have that. Robin thought as he clapped his hands together. I love this part. Magic makes cleaning so convenient.
A rush of air hits Robin''s arms and face. The poison on the floor begins to rise and into a column of air. It formed a ball and with a blue flash, froze solid. Robin expertly moves the floating ball over to the last upright cold box in the room and ends the spell. Gravity took over and dropped the ball inside. It jumped a little against the cold padded walls of the crate. It was cold, as a freezer inside.
It took twenty minutes for Robin to clean up everything else. Half the bottles were gone, the cold boxes need to be lined up again, and some things needed to be tossed into the trash box.
After most of the items got put away. Robin filled a bag with some essentials. A knife, a large gold nugget, a few empty gold rings, a water-skin, and some dried snacks for the road. Robin walked out of his tower and breathed in the not-so-fresh air. He turned back to the tower.
I can''t have people simply wandering in here. An empowered light, invisibility spell will have to do. Robin thought, as he pulled the Crystal from his pocket and bend down. He started drawing runes in the mud. Robin drew ten different runes. One rune for height, one rune for length, one rune for volume, and seven different runes for concealment. He placed the crystal in the center of the runes and touch it with a ring. The runes flashed and the tower vanished. The only things that were left were a big hole in the ground and a crystal in the mud.
Ok, finally this is it. Robin thought, as he turned towards the road and started walking. Time to see what the world has become in twenty-five years.
Chapter 4 HitchingHiking without consent
The path down to the highway was overgrown with wet grass, small bushes, and large stones. It wasn''t really a path at all, just an animal trail through the trees. The trees around him were pine. so pine needles were everywhere.
Ok, first I''m going to need a new lab. Someplace that can handle toxic chemicals and radiation. Robin thought as he dodged a tree branch. I''m going to be needing a lot of uranium too. But I''m sure the government isn''t just going to ignore that right.
Let''s see, twenty-five years from the time I disappeared would make this year two thousand and twenty. I don''t think the US government would change that much in just twenty-five years. Ok, I''m going to need some black market contacts if they still have black markets. Hopefully, they''ll be the type who doesn''t ask too many questions.
After a few minutes, Robin smelled salty, sea air so he paused his walk to enjoy it. In Nuirian seas were very rare. Robin suspected that, unlike earth, the other world had far more landmass than sea. Soon the trees opened up to a steep hill that curved down to a beachside road. Past the road, another hill curved down to the beach. The beyond sea expanded out forever. Up in the sky, gray clouds filled the open air. They were fading evidence of the earlier storm. A crashing set of waves hits the rocky beach below. A continuous background roar. The road was still wet with the earlier rainfall and the sea air was stronger here.
Now that''s a sight you rarely see in Nuirian. I wonder what it''s like on a good day. Robin thought as he stepped onto the hill. He placed a foot on a loose rock and fell forward. The ground rushed towards him as his hands shot out and caught himself. Pain ripped up his arms.
¡°Ah. Damn it.!¡± Robin yelped, as he rolled onto his butt. His hands were red and covered in small stones. He picked the stones off and removed one from under his slow fall ring. ¡°I hate being old, you get so clumsy.¡±
Robin stood up, brushed himself off, and approached the road. He bent down and touched the tarmac. A big smile grew on his face as old memories thought gone, resurfaced. Cold ice cream, laughter, and hot summer tarmac. The road started vibrating and the sounds of a car rose over the waves. Robin looked up and spotted a blue shape coming towards him. A vibrant blue car came driving down the road towards him. It was smoother and larger than he remembered cars being.
Hey, maybe I can try hitchhiking here. Ask to drive into town. Robin thought, as he straightened up and held out his thumb. The car zoomed past, leaving Robin in the dust. An ear splitting moment later. Whoa, that was loud! Damn. I guess they don''t like picking up hitchhikers.
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As the car disappeared, Robin started walking. He didn''t bother marking or memorizing the path back to his tower. He could just make an item finder ring later and follow it back. He walked along the road and came to a lookout point. It was a small concrete area off the side of the road, where people can park and watch the sea. He stood there for a minute, letting the calm waves below soothe him. Another roar of a car filled the air. A red minivan this time.
¡°Oh, no. I''m not giving you the chance. You''re not going to get away from me.¡± Robin muttered as he clapped his hands together. A new spell formed in his mind.
He increased the slow fall spell to its max setting. The spell would simply make him fall so slowly, that he would basically just float in place. ¡°Good that might work as I want it. New spells always have a risk. Next, I got to make sure they don''t see me.¡±
He triggered his Camouflage ring and instantly vanished. To the naked eye, he was just a heat mirage. He sprinted to meet the passing Van. At the point of contact, he triggered the floating spell and grabbed the van''s roof. He hit the van''s side with full force making a loud thump. The Van''s roof was surprisingly slippery and he started to slide off. But before he could completely fall off, Robin finally got a hold near the back of the Van. His legs wobbled as he found his balance. It was like snowboarding, just with no board.
Ok, that could have gone better. But that doesn''t matter now, because it worked. Robin thought as he floated lower behind the Van. The wind kept blasting his face and his hands still hurt from the tumbled earlier. I sure hope the driver is going into town and not out camping.
At that thought, the van pulled to a stop and a masked woman stepped out and came around the side. Robin froze with his feet still off the ground. The woman had long brown hair and wore a blue and white mouth mask. Like a hospital mask, Robin realized.
¡°Oh, Crap. What did I hit?¡± The woman panicked, as she checked the side of the van. She was speaking English, a language Robin nearly forgot after many years of neglect. ¡°What is this? Where''s the blood? I''m sure I hit something?¡±
Why is this lady wearing a mask? Is she sick or something? I sure hope it is not a fashion choice. Oh damn, here she comes. Robin thought as he holds his breath in and watches the lady move around. She nearly bumps into him, then she goes to check the back wheels.
¡°But I was so sure?¡± The lady muttered, though still loud enough for Robin to hear. ¡°Oh man, now I''m hearing things.¡±
She moved back to the front of the car and got inside. The van started up and quickly got up to speed. Robin held on but was quickly losing strength. His hands were freezing now due to the spell heat cost and the wind was sharper than he had expected. So he let one hand go of the van and placed it on his other, making sure the rings were connected. He can''t use the air blocking spell here. The rune for air was already in use by his shoes. So he used the heat rune instead. The spell triggered and a ball of heat surrounded him. He was now a true heat mirage physically and visually. The heated ball was warping under the punishing wind but it held. His hands now warmer, held on a little tighter.
Chapter 5 Traffic accident
The lady drove inland and merged onto a larger stretch of highway. Where a few cars drove past. Though Robin held fast to the moving van, he was only human. His arms were getting tired fast. So upon realizing the journey would be longer than he thought, Robin threw himself from the van and floated across the highway towards the side of the road. He had a few close calls as he went, a couple of near misses by a few passing cars. But no one saw his invisible form as he slowly floated past the concrete barriers and came to a stop over the grass.
¡°Ok, that was a bit too must for the first test run of a new spell...whoa!¡± Robin yelped as the spell suddenly failed and dropped him. His feet met the ground first and his upper body kept going. He tried to stand, but his legs had no strength. They had become jelly. Robin collapses onto his right side in the grass. His right arm had shot out to protect his head. Slowly Robin pushes himself up into a sitting position where a flash of pain runs up his legs. "Ouch! Damn, I think I just bruised my hip."
I should have thought through all the physical demands of that little trick before I tried it. That''s what I get for trying to copy Marty Mcfly. Robin thought as he felt a crumbling lump in his pocket. He reached in and pulled out his golden pair of glasses. The lens was fine, but the frame had snapped.
No! Why didn''t I didn''t put them away? Oh hell. I hope the other stuff isn''t broken. Robin gave his shoulder bag a good tap and feel. Nothing else felt broken. The bag was full and the lids buckle was still in place.
Oh good, I haven''t lost anything else. But now how I''m I going to fix these? The creator is a world away. He closed his eyes and held the glasses in his hands. He was feeling out the runes in the glasses.
Well, I should be able to put the runes on a new pair of glasses later. Hang on, where''s the unbreakable rune? It''s not here? Patricia said it had the unbreakable rune on it, that I didn''t have to worry about sitting on it? Why would she lie to a colleague? Oh right, she was only a mage graduate at the time? She didn''t know the unbreakable rune yet? I wonder what happened to her? Robin moved his legs under himself to stand up but felt a sharp pain shoot up from his feet.
Ow, ok all of that''s still numb. Robin thought as he rubbed his legs. Which burned in short waves as he rubbed. Seems like I''m stuck here for a minute or so. I hope there aren''t any ant about.
As he was waiting for fo the pain to stop, Robin notices a long stick on the ground.
Hey, that might be a good stick to turn into a walking stick. Robin thought as he reached for it. His smile turned to a frown as he grabbed it. The whole stick was frail and boggy. Like a piece of driftwood. Well, I could fix both of those problems, and I could straighten it out too? He tossed the stick away.
But on second thought that would take too much of my time and I have to get into town before dark.
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Robin sits there for three more minutes until his legs finally felt better. He stands and discovers that his legs were a little wobbly. He ignored his new set of pains and wobbled up to the highway. He reached the top of the hill. Where the concrete barriers were. Past them, cars drove by.
Wow, and I thought that the car was moving fast? Maybe hitchhiking was a bad idea? It probably went out of style too. It was rarely done back in my day, they must have finally killed it? Robin thought as he placed a hand on the barrier. He noticed a sign on the side of the road. Saying Portland city one mile. Portland City? I guess that means I''m in Oregon. Well, if it''s only a mile. I should start walking.
Just then the cars started to slow and a line of vehicles started piling up. The highway was backing up with vehicles of every color. Two barriers were separated. So Robin moved through them to get a better look.
¡°What''s this?¡± Robin muttered as he moved along the stopped cars. He saw people stare out at him as he passed. He glanced over to the other side of the highway. That side was still moving. Strange this is a lot of Traffic for a four-lane highway? Or could it be a traffic accident? I guess I''ll know which, when I walk past it.
As Robin walked, a bit of hunger awakened his belly, so he pulled out some Salamander jerky from his bag. He folded the dry jerky in half, before taking a big bite. The meat was dry as a bone but spiced heavily with chicken pepper. A local spice of the northern areas of the other world. The spice reminded Robin of chili pepper. He finished the jerky as he begin hearing a siren over the honking cars and vans. He passed the red Van he rode in on. The lady inside was hitting her head again on her driving wheel in frustration. She was still wearing a mask even in her car? Robin paused.
Wait a lot of these people are wearing masks in their cars? Something is wrong here. Robin thought as he glanced around. He knew only one reason people would wear masks. He had seen it four years ago with the demon plague. They called it the demon plague, but Robin knew it as the black plague. Thankfully the Mage circle at found a set of runes to stop the black plague cold. I need more information before I approach anyone.
¡°Hey, Ass hat!¡± A man yelled from this car window. The man was not wearing a mask. Robin pointed to himself because there was a car in between them. ¡°Yes, you! You wizard want to be! Get back in your car!¡±
¡°Sorry sir, But I''m not a wizard! Wizards are fictional, I''m a mage.¡± Robin shouted back grinning. But that just made the man angrier. The man swore back at Robin. ¡°Who are you, sir! To tell a mage where to put his mother? Be happy I''m not taking that as a personal insult.¡±
Robin walked away, as the man yelled after him. Soon Robin was out of earshot and the man still steaming, leaned back inside his car. Robin walked past several more cars and spotted the end of the traffic. The white ambulance was parked there, next to an overturned green car. People were standing out of the cars and a few people were rushing around the two vehicles. As Robin walked up. He spotted a man in a white uniform on his knees, checking an unconscious woman on the ground.
He must be an EMT? Robin thought as he stopped to watch. I remember EMT standing for an Emergency Medical Trackers or something?
¡° Move her over here!.¡± shouted a woman in another white uniform. She was checking a man on a gurney by the ambulance. ¡° Bert get back! It''s starting to ignite! ¡±
"Where are the firefighters!" a nearby woman muttered as she stood outside her car.
Robin noticed the green car was starting to leak flames. Bert the EMT and the unconscious lady were still near the car. Bert seeing the flames, dropped what he was doing starting picking the lady up.
Chapter 6 Getting rusty
Ok, that''s a wildfire just waiting to happen. But what should I do about it? I can''t simply walk over and snuff the fire out? I''ll be seen. Robin thought as he saw more flames appear from the car. Oh hell. Fine, I''ll help them. If I know anything about fires an air barrier might work from this range.
Robin clapped his hands together and in his mind formed a long-range air bubble spell. He had used a version of this spell before, during his monster-fighting days. Most monsters needed air to breathe and so does fire. Same principle.
As Bert carried the woman away with little trouble. Robin finished the spell and waved it over towards the car. Which was smoking heavily now. The moment the bubble surrounded the car, the smoke inside stopped rising and started filling the bubble. No one seemed to notice.
¡°Wendy help me here. She needs air now.¡± Bert shouted as he joined Wendy by the ambulance. He glanced over the man on the gurney. ¡°What about him? Is he awake yet?¡±
¡°No, not yet. Bert lay her here. I''ll get the air mask.¡± Wendy said as the sounds of fire truck sirens filled the air. She adjusted the mask on her face. ¡°Ah, finally the firefighters are coming.¡±
The air bubble rippled as the fire in the car grew even more. Smoked fulled bubble darkness evermore as the flames started to shrink.
Come on. Snuff it already. Robin thought, as he stared down the fire with his hands pointed toward it. I can''t be standing like this when the firefighters get there.
The fire trucks appeared coming up the opposite highway. The cars on the other highway cleared the way for the tricks. Who slowed and parked beside the barriers. Men got out and started unpacking the fire hoses.
¡°Well if they''re here. I see no reason for me to continue.¡± Robin muttered as he dropped the bubble. The flamed jumped higher as the air was let back inside. ¡°Oh hell. It must be a gas fire. If there''s still heat the gas will keep self-igniting. I would have to get closer to stop that. Crap.¡±
At least the firefighters are here to deal with it. I''m a master rune mage for heaven stakes. If I just had my Crystal staff. Robin thought, as he adjusted his bag on his shoulder and started walking again. If I still had my staff I could snuff out a fire a hundred times bigger than that. But I''ve one Crystal, and one crystal is not enough to make a new staff. If only I stole five I could make a new staff and keep the tower hidden. I wonder if I can use something else. Uranium is out of the question. Maybe batteries might work.
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¡°Hey, you! Columbus dude.¡± said a firefighter, as he spotted Robin. ¡°You need to get back in your car.¡±
¡°Oh don''t worry about me. I won''t get in your way, good sir.¡± Robin said as he kept walking. ¡°Action like I''m not even here.¡±
¡°Can''t do that, dude. You''re acting strange? Were you thrown from this car?¡± The fireman asked as he approached Robin. ¡° Come this way. You could be suffering from a concussion. Let the Docs check you over.¡±
¡°Hold on. I was not in that car. I''m not hurt. I''m perfectly fine.¡± Robin said as the fireman forced/ directed Robin towards the ambulance. ¡°Hey, No need to push.¡±
"I''m not pushing you, Dude. I legally can''t. Six feet rule." the fire mans said.
By the ambulance, the two medics pulled out a second gurney for the woman. Who was starting to cough into the air mask they gave her. She was on a temporary padded mat, the medic Wendy had pulled out. The other firefighters dragged a water hose over the barriers and started spraying down the flaming car. The fire shrunk away against the watery blast. The smoke darkened.
¡°You got another one over here. I think he''s a little confused. ¡° said the fireman. As he brought Robin over. ¡°He lost his mask too.¡±
¡°Ok, sit him over here. Whoa.¡± Wendy the medic said, as she turned to look at Robin. She put up her mask. ¡°Sir, were you going to a party? I wouldn''t advise that, we''re still in somewhat of a quarantine even now. But I guess you can''t stop everyone. Anyway, are you hurt anywhere Mr?¡±
¡°Miller. Mr. Miller and no, I''m completely fine. Don''t you have a fire to fight?¡± Robin said, shooing the fireman away. The fireman shook his head and walked away. ¡° I was not in that crash and this is how I normally dress.¡±
¡°Wait, Miller? That''s...¡± Wendy muttered, she looked confused.
¡°Wendy, I need help over here, we''re losing him,¡± Bert said, as he started CPR on the man.
¡°Oh crap. Wait here, Mr. Miller. I''ll be back.¡± Wendy said as she rushed to help Bert.
What was that about? She physically hesitated when she learned my name? Did my last name go extinct or something? Robin thought as he stepped back. Well, I hope they don''t report this little encounter to the police. That''s all I need my face on a billboard.
Robin slipped away and stayed in cover behind the ambulance. Headed for the barriers and once in reach slide between two of them and crouched behind one.
Too many witnesses here, I can''t use my invisibly ring. Robin thought as he crawled along the barrier. A flash of the guy in the gurney crossed Robin''s mind. I hope that guy recovers, I''ve seen enough death for one lifetime. I don''t want to see anymore.
He pasted the flaming car and the firefighters. As he reached a signpost he heard a yell behind him. The medics had noticed he was gone. Some of the firefighters broke away from the fire to help look. Someone must have noticed him sneak away because they were heading for the barriers. Robin calmly triggered his invisibly ring and vanished.
The rest of the walk was a lot quieter. With only the cars on the far highway passing by. Robin had this side of the highway all to himself. The clouds in the sky showed no signs of letting up. So Robin had no clue what time it was. He felt it was around lunchtime. After a while, he became visible again and sit down in the grass beside the highway and had a small picnic. He washed down three more pieces of salamander Jerky and a few dried nuts.
I think those nuts were going bad. I''d hate for that to be dinner too? But I''m going to need money for that. Robin thought as he put the half-empty water skin away. He stood and brushed himself off. I hope pawn shops are still around?
Chapter 7 Mild Radiation sickness
After an hour of walking, a siren roar was coming up behind him. It was so fast he barely had time to hide. The ambulance flashed by and he could see Wendy and Bert in the driver''s sits. They passed and soon the traffic picked up again. Down the highway, Robin spotted a highway turned off. A sign beside the road said gas station.
Robin walked off out of curiosity. A truck drove out as he walked into the parking lot. A large number of cars were parked here. Through the windows, the place looks like it sold food too. He wanted to see what was inside, so he dodged the passing cars, and approached the gas station. Parked outside the station where a red car and a green truck were parked. As he walked through the parked vehicles he was hit with a horrible headache. He reached out a hand to catch himself. A young couple appears and spots Robin by their car. They were both wearing masks.
¡°Hey, old-timer. What you doing by my truck?¡± asked the man, as he pulled his mask down to his chin. His girlfriend stayed close to him. They must have come out of the gas station. Robin removed his hand. ¡°If you scratched the pant I''ll take it out of your ass.¡± His girlfriend pulled out a metal rectangle and pointed it at Robin.
¡°Look at what he''s wearing.¡± the young woman said, as she touched the metal rectangle. ¡°This needs to be on U-tube.¡±
¡°Young man. I didn''t mean any harm. I''ll just get around. Have a good day. ¡± Robin said, as he decided to avoid the whole thing and move around their car. Wait they were following him now! The young woman was still pointing the metal thing at him. ¡°What is that thing? Get it away from me.¡±
¡°What''s with the costume? You cos-playing or something?¡± the young man asked, smirking. ¡°Hey, why are you running away? It''s only a phone. ¡±
A phone? That thing''s a phone? But it has no wires, and it''s so small? Are they lying to me and it''s really something else? How can that be a phone? Robin thought as he moved around their car and pass them.
¡°Oh, I love cosplay. I''m glad older folk can love it too.¡± said the woman, as she came around still pointing that thing at him.
¡°Leave me alone,¡± Robin said as he approached the gas station doors. Are they trying to get a reaction out of me?
There were signs along the window. He paused to read them as he grabbed the door handle. One said. Smile you are being watched with a picture of a mounted camera. He remembered this sign, but not the other one. The other sign said masks are mandatory inside, with a picture of a mask below.
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What is this? Is mask really mandatory? Robin thought, as he opened the door and stepped inside. The young couple followed him in. He glared at them. Hell, if this was the other world. They wouldn''t dare try this.
The inside of the gas station was wall-to-wall with shelves each with colorful snack foods. There were other people here. They all had masks. The man behind the countertop. Who was also wearing a mask, looked up?
¡°Hey, no cameras in here!¡± the man behind the counter shouted. The young woman sheepishly put the metal thing down. Her boyfriend took her hand and pulled her towards the doors.
So it wasn''t a phone. But a camera? They were recording me? Robin thought as he watched as the young couple left. Why? Do they just record random people for their home videos or something?
¡°Hey, you Gandhi or something. Where''s your mask?¡± the man behind the counter asked.
¡°I don''t...¡± Robin started but felt suddenly sick. His stomach groaned in pain and bubbles. ¡° Ah, where ''s your restroom?¡±
¡°The restrooms are for paying customers.¡± the man said. But Robin was already looking around for it. He spotted the sign in the back. He hurried towards the door. ¡°Hey, you can''t go back there!¡±
Lucky the restroom was empty. Robin rushed inside and knelt by the toilet. He flipped the lit open and vomited his stomach out. Afterward, he shied away from the bowl and its new red-colored contains.
That hurt. Like I was coughing up my guts. Robin thought as he wiped his chin with his sleeve. Maybe that jerky was undercooked? Or maybe... he glanced down at his hands. He didn''t realize it before, but one of his hands was going numb. It was the hand that held the uranium.
¡°Well, Crap. Hopefully, it''s only mild exposure. I''ll feel sick for a bit, but that''s better than the alternative.¡± Robin muttered. The store owner appeared at the door.
¡°What the hell are you doing? Eww gross!¡± The owner said as he pinched his nose through his mask. ¡°Don''t move.¡± He dashed away.
It wasn''t that bad and I''m the one with his head right up to it. Robin thought as he flushed the bowl. The contains spun into oblivion.
The man returned with a plastic spray bottle. He stepped inside the restroom and glanced at Robin.
¡°Where you touch? Oh never mind, just get out.¡± The owner said, as he circled around Robin and started spraying the toilet down.
Robin left the restroom and walked toward the exit. Other customers watched him wearily. As Robin passed through a row of shelves. A man ahead of Robin backed out of the row and waited for him to pass. In fact, everyone was keeping their distance from everyone. Robin didn''t notice it when he came in. This surprised him.
In the other world, after becoming a runemaster people normally made way for you. But to see it here was a surprise. These people didn''t know he was a runemaster.
He shouldn''t have expected it from them. Maybe there was a rule in place.
Shouldn''t the mask be enough? Do they really have to stay away from each other? Robin thought as he push open the doors. The light outside the turning red and orange. The sun was setting.
Oh hell. Now I have to walk in the dark. Robin thought.
He ventured back onto the road.
Chapter 8 Old friends new enemies
Robin pushed on through the setting sun and the twilight. Following the highway, the farmland and forests soon gave way to buildings and houses. He crested a small hill and spotted Portland city in the distance. It was a massive line of lights in the dark.
Oh hell, it''s so far? I thought it would be closer. Robin thought as a sharp pain ran through his guts. Oh crap. I think I should slow a bit. I''m not getting into town tonight. Better find somewhere to sleep.
Robin started walking down to the farmland by the side of the road. A car drove by behind him. He turned to watch it go.
I guess the invention of the car allows for longer travel distances. Robin thought as he started walking again. People could just build cities and farms where the best resources are and nothing more. It kinda makes me wonder what the other world will do with my inventions? Combining earth tech and runes might have been a bad idea on my part. Well, I can''t change that now. I''m never going back.
Once he reached the edge of the farmland. He coached down to investigate the little green plants there. In the dark, he could only feel them, but they smelled like parsley.
¡°Sorry, little guys. But I''m going to have to sleep under you tonight. Nothing personal.¡± Robin muttered to the plants. He glanced over at the highway steel street lights. ¡°Well, this is going to be a little tricky, with that being the only strong source of light around. Hum, If I..?¡±
Robin walked back up in the lamplight and triggered his fireball ring. A fireball appeared out of thin air. He willed it to remain tiny and to float in the palm of his hand. At this size, he could keep it going for hours.
Temperature runes were funny in a way. Heat and fire runes can if given enough energy at the start. Self-sustain themselves forever. Cold and ice runes can literally power themselves, by taking the heat from their target. Both are the easiest of runes to use, so novices normally started with them.
Robin grinned to himself. He remembered how exciting it was when he first learned a heat rune. He could only start fires back then. But what was enough to make it cool.
Ok, first a little liquefaction. Robin thought, as he moved the fire over to the farmland and bent down. He tapped the ground with his stone-shaping ring. The ground softened like it was wet with water. Now add a little air.
He pushed his Slow fall ring into the mud next. The ground started to rise, like a balloon. Robin was carefully controlling the elastically of the mud. He didn''t want to pop it.
The earth soon grew over his head. In seconds a dirt bubble tent was formed. Robin had learned this little trick from an older more adventuress mage. All you needed was an earth medium, a few elemental runes, and five years of practice. Robin passed the fire over the nearby dirt and reach down to draw a rune in it, but stopped himself.
I almost set up an alarm rune out of habit. I don''t need those. Not out here at least. This is rural America. There aren''t any large predators here that I remember. Robin thought as he punched a man-sized hole in the dirt bubble. The inside smelled like a garden and looked like an animal''s den. If I know I would be camping out. I would have brought my sleep roll. Well, beggars can''t be choosers. At least I don''t have to worry about large predators caving this thing in anymore.
Robin climbed in and sit down. The little fireball lit up the bubble-like a candle. He couldn''t sleep with it on. But before he snuffed it out. First, he wanted to form a healing rune where he''s going to be sleeping.
I hope simple healing runes will work for radiation poisoning. Robin thought as he started drawing in the dirt. He draws a simple pain reduction rune and a simple self-mending rune. Both normally help with bleeding wounds. But he had no clue if they worked on internal damage. With that done Robin, laid down his bag as his pillow and tried to fall asleep. I should have spent more time learning healing runes. Especially before I was chased out.
In the other world. Patricia Small was glancing out the carriage window at the main street, watching the market area pass by. There weren''t a lot of people there now. Strange?
Patricia wore a purple-colored mage robe and a pointed hat. Covering her fingers were a set of golden rings. Against her chest was a folder of papers and she was sitting inside a rune-powered horseless carriage. It was one of Robin the heretic''s inventions.
Master Miller was far from a Heretic. She thought rebelliously as she adjusted the folder to her lap. I remember the recollection and fear in his eyes when they first found the devil stones. He must have known they were dangerous from the start. But how?
Patricia turned from her thinking and stared outside again. She was on her way to the local mage circle building to turn in her reports on the newly discovered devil stones mines. Turns out the rocks can be found anywhere deep enough. She spotted a young boy riding past on a bike. Another of Robin''s inventions. One of his older inventions.
It was funny how everyone still used them, despite hating the man. In fact, I believe most of his inventions were still in use. Though some more extreme individuals abandoned the devices outright and argued with anyone who would still dare use them. The tools of a so-called devil worshiper.
The carriage turned onto an empty street, where it slowed to a crawl. The carriage stopped and the driver tapped on the roof.
¡°Hey, Miss I can''t go any farther than this.¡± The old man said. ¡°You''re going to have to walk the rest of the way.¡±
¡°Why what''s happening?¡± Patricia asked as she heard the man climb over the roof to the other steering wheel on the other side of the carriage. She slide over in her seat and popped her head out the window. As she did, she spotted a large crowd in the distance. They were outside the mage circle building and many were holding signs. ¡°That all? Can''t you go around the mob?¡±
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¡°No can do Miss. My girl''s created by that loon mage everyone hates. A crowd like that will rip my girl apart.¡± The old man said as he started up the runes in reverse. ¡°I''m already too close for my liking. Take My advice and order a horse-drawn carriage while in the city. Now off you go.¡±
Annoyed at the sudden change of plain. Patricia stepped out of the carriage and watched it speed away in reverse. Well, technically it didn''t have a reverse.
Oh well, I guess I needed a walk today. Patricia thought as she walked towards the crowd.
Momentarily she debated with herself if she should turn invisible or not. She would rather not get mobbed today. A flash of light enveloped the mage building. The crowd yelped and rushed back. A male voice roared over the mob.
¡°Disperse now!¡± said the voice. Patricia recollected the voice to be William. He was a local older mage forty years her senior. ¡°Return to your homes! Before I call the city guards! ¡±
The mob got enraged at this and a few people started throwing rocks. The rocks bounced harmlessly off an invisible barrier and cluttered to the ground. Patricia moved a little closer. The barrier was set up at the base of the stairs. While William stood behind the barrier on the first bit of stairs.
¡°Enough of this! You''re all acting like children! The rocks stay!¡± William shouted as he raised his staff high and it glowed with four embedded crystals. The air barrier became electrified. ¡°Begone!¡±
¡°We can do this all day old man! ¡± Shouted a young man in factory clothes. He turned to the crowd. ¡°Come on! His buffing! That''s not real lightning!¡±
Maybe I should go through the ceiling entrance. Patricia thought as she walked into an alleyway between the city center and the mage building. With a flash of coldness, She triggered her air jump ring and flew straight into the air. She gave it enough power to get her to the roof but no more.
As she reached the roof''s edge the spell ended and she started to fall. Skillfully Patricia shot her feet out and landed on the roof. She wobbled a bit before getting her balance.
Whoa, what could have been worse! But now I can see why some use the ceiling entrance. It''s dangerously thrilling, sadly it''s not me. Patricia thought as she brushed her robes with a free hand. She straightened up and headed for the hatch.
The hatch had a spiral staircase and was always open. It used an air barrier to keep the rain, stray birds, and bugs out. Patricia paused at the edge of the barrier and pulled out a necklace from her dress pocket and offered it to the barrier. The barrier lit up at the necklace''s presence and allowed her through. The barrier tingled a bit as it made the sweat on Patricia''s skin move.
She climbed down the stairs and entered the lobby. Where a large woman sits behind a desk. The woman looked up from something as Patricia came in.
¡°Patty is that you?¡± The woman asked. The women''s name was Betty. Patricia paused at the base of the stairs and adjusted the folder under her arm. ¡°Why are you coming in through the ceiling? Is the mob still there? Oh hell, William said he could deal with it.¡±
¡°Oh, I think he is. But the mob is not having any of it. I fear someone like gets hurt soon and it won''t be William.¡± Patricia said as she walked towards the desk. ¡°Anyway, Betty do you know where the local manager is? I have to turn in these reports.¡±
¡°Oh right your reports. He''s up the hallway in the meeting room. you can''t miss it.¡± Betty said as Patricia started walking away. ¡°Oh wait, I just remembered. I had a messenger just in here. She was looking for you.¡±
¡°A messenger? Did they leave anything?¡± Patricia asked. ¡°When was this?¡±
¡°Barely ten minutes ago. She left when I told her you were out. ¡± Betty said, pointing deeper into the building. ¡°The lady said the main circle wanted your help with Robin the heretic. She said something about gathering people for a dream interpretation or something.¡±
¡°Betty, how did this messenger get here?¡± Patricia asked, quickly. ¡°Through a portal gate?¡±
¡°Of course through a portal gate. The main university center portal. She left the same way.¡± Betty said as she reached out ahead. ¡°You know that Patty. Maybe I should turn in those reports myself.¡±
¡°What? I wouldn''t want to do that to you?¡± Patricia said as she hugged the folder closer. ¡°Besides, they never wanted my help before. You know being old friends with their quarry. They said I might be sympathetic.¡±
¡°Well, they''re asking now. Maybe they need someone who was close to the weirdo.¡± Betty said. ¡°if you don''t go now. You''ll never know.¡±
¡°Ok, I''ll go,¡± Patricia said as she pass the folder over to Betty. ¡°The main portal gate right?¡±
Betty started flipping through the folder as Patricia jogged away. She hurried down the hallway passing empty rooms and a few idle adults. They must have a job to do here or they wouldn''t be here at all.
Coming down a third hallway. She passes through an open bronzes archway and enters a large round room. It had twelve golden archways, each showing and leading to a different place. People moved around here. Entering and leaving through the different archways. In some of the archways, cargo lay waiting for people to move them.
Patricia spotted the mage university portal gate and approached. She paused at the threshold, she never like moving through portals. The sudden air pressure shifts and the jumping of the temperatures often made her sick. Patricia swallowed a breath and stepped into the portal. A barrier stopped her.
¡°Of course. How did I forget.¡± She muttered and pulled out the necklace. She walked through the archway and felt her ears faintly pop. She was in another round room, just like the one she left. But this one was more crowded. ¡°Seriously, all this new security for one runaway master. We never needed it before.¡±
Patricia walked through this room''s bronze archway and stepped out into a sunlit campus. Where a few mage apprentices were practicing out in the grass. The apprentices were of all ages, their only similarity was their clothing. Patricia dodged a splash of water and stepped over a burned patch of grass as she walked.
She was heading for the council building at the center of the campus. Where she believed the mage hunting task forced is based. She approached the building and got stopped by a pair of armored knights.
¡°Do you have an appointment inside, madam?¡± One asked as he held out an armored hand. ¡°if not. Turned around.¡±
¡°I''m Patricia Small. Second class expert. Let me through.¡± Patricia said as he pulled out the necklace again. ¡°I was called here for a meeting?¡±
¡°If that''s a real rune key you can just go in.¡± The knight said as he made way for her. She passed them and entered the building.
The building was quiet as she stepped into the lobby. She spotted a man behind the desk. He was looking down at a book. She slowly approached, not wanting to break the silence.
¡°Hello,¡± Patricia said as the man looked up from his book. ¡°I''m Patricia Small. I got a messenger earlier. I was told to come here for a dream interpretation.¡±
¡°Oh, you''re with them. Well, head upstairs to the dream room.¡± the man said, looking back at his book. ¡°Just be aware some of them will be asleep.¡±
¡°Ok. Lovely meeting you.¡± Patricia said as she walked away. The man didn''t lookup. ¡°The dream room is still in the same place right?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± the man said without looking up.
Normally the dream room is only used for recreation by experts and masters? What does the task force want with it? Did they find a way to use it against Robin? Patricia thought as she climbed the stairs in silence. Wow, it''s so quiet.
Patricia followed the upper hallway wall and found a crowd of experts outside the dream room. They were waiting for something. A woman with orange hair from the crowd spotted Patricia and rushed over.
¡°Oh, so you did get my message. I''m Ana ¡± Ana said. ¡°Good for you to be here. But sadly they are just finishing up in there. ¡±
¡°Is this really about Robin?¡± Patricia asked as she glanced around the woman. As the door to the dream room opened and another crowd walked out. ¡°What are they doing?¡±
¡°It''s over! We lost him again.¡± A male voice shouted. ¡°Can anyone make head or tails of that we just saw? Anyone?¡±
The crowd broke out into hushed muttering. A man in the crowd spoke up.
¡°Maybe we should draw them before we forget.¡± the man said.
¡°I''m already working on it.¡± an older man said. He was standing by Patricia and Ana. He was drawing a weird-looking rune carriage. It had four wheels and a slender body.
¡°Hey, can I see that?¡± Patricia asked. As she glanced over at the drawing.
Strange? It looks like one of Robert''s drawings. She thought as people crowd around her.
Robin awoke with back pain. Very itchy back pain. Many somethings were crawling over him.
Chapter 8.5 Not so sneaky
Wendy Miller stepped into her living room and removed her EMT jack. She tossed it toward the pink and yellow couch. Where it landed on a pillow. She rounded the crouch and collapsed into it. A noise came from the kitchen.
¡°Honey, is that you? I heard the door open?¡± A male voice came from the kitchen. Wendy''s husband, Tyler appeared in the doorway. He stepped towards his wife. He noticed the smell. ¡°Wow, you look... great.¡± She leaned over the couch to glare at him. ¡°Anyway, I heard about the crash on the news. Saw your name on the EMT list. Knew you be late. The kids are in bed and I saved some casserole just for us. Do you want a shower first?¡±
¡°Yes, that would be nice. Hey Tyler.¡± Wendy asked as she glanced back at him. ¡°Do you have a brother?¡±
¡°What?¡± Tyler said as he rounded the couch and sit down. ¡°Why would you ask that?¡±
¡°Well, I ran into an older man who looked just like your dad,¡± Wendy said. ¡°You know, who still lives up in Ohio? Thought I should ask. He had the same last name too.¡±
¡°What! Are you sure? Did you get his first name?¡± Tyler asked with little too much sharpness to his words. Wendy eyed her husband warily. ¡°Honey, please tell me you got his first name!¡±
¡°No. He disappeared before I could ask. What''s with you?¡± Wendy said as she touched his forehead. ¡°You just said you didn''t have a brother.¡±
¡°I didn''t say that. I said why would you ask that.¡± Tyler said as he got up. ¡°Wait here.¡±
Tyler raced to his bedroom and a minute later came back with a book. He opened it and showed Wendy the inside. It''s an old family album. Strangely enough, Wendy had only seen this book when they first moved into this house.
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The page Tyler turned to was of three kids. A girl and two boys. They were young and of veering ages. From ten to fifteen. The younger of the boys were obviously Tyler. The oldest looked almost like the man she met.
¡°Tyler, what is this?¡± Wendy asked as she took the book. He sits beside her. ¡°Is that your bother?¡±
¡°Yes, what''s him. Robinson Miller. He was the oldest. Always poking his nose into places he shouldn''t. That''s what I liked about him. He went to college before me or my sister. One day he just disappeared. We tried calling his phone, but only got an error signal. The police combed the woods for him for weeks. But he was never found.¡±
¡°Honey, I know this might sound crazy but I think that man I met was your lost brother,¡± Wendy said as she pointed at the picture. ¡°He even had the same nose.¡±
Meanwhile at a nearby military base. A computer specialist takes his fourth cup of coffee for the day. Black, no sugar. He lazily turned the digital page in the radar history logs and almost drop his mug. There is a blimp in yesterday''s logs. He called up the rest of the details.
The data showed something large and slow appeared above the Pacific. Right at midnight. It moved over the coast and vanished.
¡°Sir, I think you need to is this!¡± The Specialist shouted over his shoulder. The normal night sift conversions of the operations room died down. Everyone glanced over at him as a man with a hat walked over. ¡°Look at this. Tell me it''s wrong.¡±
¡°That''s up near Portland city, right? It''s all woodland and forests up there. There no runways there.¡± the Commander said as he glanced over the data. ¡° Could it be a glitch?¡±
¡°Maybe, but look at the timeline. It just appears out of nowhere and moves inland. Whatever it was could have descended from a higher elevation.¡±
¡°But why didn''t we pick it up on the high atmospheric radar, then? Can you show me that data?¡± The Commander asked. The specialist obeyed and pulled up the data. Both men scanned the screen. ¡°Nothing really? What crazy stealth would you need to do that? Glitch or not. You should check the news for any flying objects in that area.¡±
¡°Yes sure Commander Floyd sir.¡± The specialist said as the commander turned to leave. ¡°Ah... should I call a search team together? If I do find something?¡±
¡°No. Call me if you find something. I''ll gather the team myself.¡± the commander said as he walked out of the room.
¡°Hey check this out!¡± A woman said as she sit at her computer. Her boyfriend walked over. ¡°Look how many views I''m getting for this guy.¡±
¡°Wow, some of the comments are even calling him beardless Gandalf.¡± the boyfriend said as he read the words on the screen. ¡°Hey looks this one''s calling him a fake. Wow-what a blind loser. Want to comment back to him?¡±
¡°No. I don''t want to play with the trolls. But this guy.¡± The woman said as she rubbed the screen with her finger. ¡°...just got me to a thousand views.¡±