《Starforged Destiny》


 Prologue

    In the beginning¡­ Was there even a beginning? Even if there was a god who created everything, what created the god? What ignited the change from nothingness to something? Maybe as humans, one just have a hard time picturing nothingness, not just space, or air, in or darkness but the absence of anything. That is why loneliness is such a primal emotion. Humans cannot fully understand it. Humans are hardwired to want to belong to something. Even in their heads, most humans are not alone. They are an aggregation of all of their thoughts both conscious and subconscious. Loneliness, as a concept, can even be powerful enough to physically stunt human development. But the worst kind of loneliness is when they are surrounded by people but still feel like there is no one there for them. That is the kind of loneliness that drives so many to madness. Maybe God was lonely too. Maybe the beginning and the end of time is just loneliness. Maybe in that loneliness, an adventure starts to bloom into something exciting and deviates from that lonely ending.


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 Stargazing

    Astra¡¯s sneakers stomped on the mistreated pavement as he walked, the sound echoing through the cold, desolate streets. The city around him was an empty beehive compared to what it once was. A once thriving metropolis reduced to a weathered out and blown up graveyard. Gutted buildings loomed like long dead giants against the sullen sky, their dusty shattered windows staring down at him like the empty eyes of fallen gods of an old world. Loose cement chunks and pieces of metal that had fallen from the nearby buildings, cigarette butts, and broken glass lined the street as if they were also waiting for an opportunity to turn their lives around. His breath fogged in the crisp air as he stopped to glance at his reflection in a jagged shard of glass on the ground. To him, he still just looked like a lost teenage boy with black curly hair and an empty look in his eyes.


    It was his birthday, which meant he was free from the clutches of the foster care system. This was the sixth time he had run away from his foster home. It wasn¡¯t like anyone would miss him when he ran anyway, so Astra didn¡¯t care what that family did after he was out of the house. There were too many times when Astra had woken up on his birthday with no birthday cheer or wishes, just his foster dad gambling with his birthday money and his foster mom nagging away when his foster dad lost it all. Despite all this, every time he ran away, the system would inevitably find him and send him to another foster home each progressively worse than the previous. Astra was just fed up with his home life so he chose to roam the city. However, just like Astra, everything in the city gave off the feel that they were just forgotten remnants of a war that had left nothing untouched. Astra hid his hands deep into the pockets of his worn-out jacket, trying to get this nagging feeling of misery that permeated his bones off of him.


    Eighteen. Free. Alone¡­


    The thought tasted bitter. The day he¡¯d waited for his whole life had finally arrived, but it felt hollow. The air was coated with the scent of the smog from the chemical plant on the edge of the city, and the few people that he passed moved with hollow-eyed weariness. Looking around the usual street corners and back alleyway, Astra could see all the street regulars. He drifted past drug addicts chasing their next escape, beggars who told every sad story under the sun for money to hang out with the drug addicts, and the religious zealots warning everyone they needed to repent, screaming about the dead gods and the end of the world.


    Astra chose not to associate with any of those people because despite everything, Astra was afflicted with the curse known as eternal optimism. He saw the negative side of life but refused to let it break his foundation of belief that one day he was going to be someone with a purpose, someone who was needed in the world. First and foremost, Astra wanted freedom, but what he saw all around the city wasn¡¯t what he pictured freedom as. The word ¡°free¡± should have meant something to him, but here, in this broken city, it felt like just another lie.


    There is no way this is all that I will ever amount to, he thought as he passed more street regulars. Astra remembered counting down the days until his eighteenth birthday, but now that it was finally here, he just felt apathy with a hint of bitterness because it wasn¡¯t like life would be any different now.


    He glanced again at the crumpled piece of paper in his hand, the address of yet another temporary shelter. It promised a bed and some warmth, but the idea of staying there¡ªof settling into yet another place that wasn¡¯t home¡ªmade his skin crawl. So he kept walking, wandering through the ruined city with no destination in mind. So long as he hadn¡¯t settled in some place yet, he hadn¡¯t resigned to that empty feeling.


    Around him, the city roused itself up, slowly but surely. Shopkeepers pulled up metal shutters on shops that had little left to sell, buses rumbled to life, and early commuters shuffled forward with the same dead-eyed monotony Astra had seen all his life.


    Astra ducked around a corner when he spotted three policemen walking his way. He overheard one of them saying, ¡°Did you see the annual blood moon last night?¡±


    He never liked the police. It wasn¡¯t because he was some kind of delinquent, but between the running away from home and skipping school, he hated seeing them fake arrest him just to send him home.


    After walking for awhile, he realized he had walked right up to the skeletal remains of the library he used to visit. It was the last safe place that he loved. Its shelves of comics and stories had offered him an escape from a life that rarely gave him one. Skipping school just to read more books¡ªnamely comic books¡ªbecame his favorite daily activity. He always thought the books taught him more about life than school did. But, sadly, the library was no longer there. Courtesy of the war, the old library was destroyed from a stray artillery round in the last terror attack. It devastated Astra to see the old building get demolished in such a way. The irony of the situation was not lost to Astra. The first things destroyed in the name of war were always places of knowledge and safety.


    Astra continued to stroll through the city to waste time. Eventually, he got hungry, but he already knew he had little to no money on him. Even if inflation hadn¡¯t skyrocketed due to shortages, he had no way of saving his money when his foster parents searched his room for every bit of money he could scrounge up. He dug into his pants pocket and pulled out some pocket lint and a couple of coins.


    Worthless, Astra thought.


    He continued on, daydreaming of a nice, calm place somewhere far, far away from this mess of a life.


    If only we could live off of dreams. What I wouldn¡¯t give to just find out that I¡¯m some kind of long, lost prince from a foreign country or a superhero from the comic books. His thoughts drowned out all the busy noise of the city as he continued to physically and figuratively walk away from his old life. He just wanted to forget his tired memories of houses that had never felt like home and faces that had always been temporary and distant.


    Just then, something broke his autopilot. He saw it, a spooky whirl of movement out of the corner of his peripheral vision. He turned just in the nick of time to catch a glimpse of a sleek, black cat darting across the street. In the cat¡¯s mouth laid something shiny¡ªsomething that gave off a twinkle that made Astra think of riches, and his heart skipped a beat.


    Curiosity flared in his chest, hot and undeniable. Astra thought, I got some time to waste. Why not? He turned off his brain and chased after the cat.


    ¡°Hey! Wait up!¡±


    The cat didn¡¯t stop. It slipped through narrow alleys, leaped over broken railings, and vanished around corners with a grace that mocked Astra¡¯s frantic pursuit. Astra chased the cat like it owed him money. The city blurred around him as he followed the creature, his breath coming in sharp bursts. He hardly noticed when the grimy concrete gave way to the crunch of dry leaves beneath his sneakers. Astra lost all sense of time and directions. Astra hesitated for only a moment before going farther in the forest after the cat, driven by a primal urge to see this game to an end.


    The trees started to get taller and thicker the farther he went. They started to cover more and more light till Astra felt like he was in a fairy tale forest. The farther Astra went the more oppressive and thick the atmosphere became. The air was laced with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. He continued on, his eyes locked on the infuriating, wagging black tail ahead of him.


    Finally, after losing himself in the chase for what felt like hours, Astra found himself in a small clearing. In the center of the clearing was a cabin¡ªif that dilapidated slab could even be called that. It was clear the structure was ancient; its wooden wall was worn down by time with moss and weeds growing out of the cracks between the planks. There seemed to be a faint pattern on the bottom of the cabin. The windows were dark and dusty giving no hint to what could lay inside.


    The cat vanished as if its existence was questionable to begin with, leaving Astra alone in the eerie silence of the forest.


    With his wits back with him, he realized the sky above him had deepened into the rich blue and purple tones of twilight.


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    How long have I been running around trying to catch that stupid cat, and where did it disappear to?


    Astra swallowed hard. A sense of uneasiness and anxiety settled into the pit of his stomach. The cabin looked as though nobody had shown it any love for years. Yet something about it drew him closer. He felt a strange magnetic pull as if the very air around the cabin was a mermaid and he was a ship captain. He was a naturally curious person anyway. He had always been drawn to mysterious objects and places. A shiver ran down his spine, and his gaze lingered on the cabin¡¯s warped door. As anxious as he was, he just couldn¡¯t resist the urge to see what was inside. He raised his hand to knock.


    The door creaked open as his knuckles made contact. The silence in the room felt like a void that called out to him.


    ¡°Alright, Astra. This is the part in stories where people die,¡± he muttered under his breath. Swallowing his nerves, he stepped onto the cabin.


    Inside the cabin was a chaotic shrine to forgotten objects. The dimly lit room had only a single overworked candle doing its best to provide enough light. Upon further inspection, the room was cramped and cluttered, filled with old, worn equipment and strange trinkets that seemed to have an interesting story to tell. Half-eaten food lay in what looked like the kitchen.


    Then from the corner of his vision, his eyes immediately recognized the figure of a man sitting in a tattered armchair. The man looked old and ragged with burn marks on his face and strange markings on his arms. The man looked either like he¡¯d seen some battles or he was just an eccentric weirdo. His long, dirty gray hair curled over one of his eyes making him look like someone with too many secrets that it is best not to ask about them. Even his clothing looked strange as if it was patched together like he had survived a hundred battles.


    While Astra gathered his thoughts, the man¡¯s eyes widened in shock as they met Astra¡¯s, his face turning white for a moment. Catching up to his train of thought, Astra stood still in the doorway with every instinct screaming at him to turn and run. However, before he could move, the man¡¯s expression shifted from surprised to something more akin to relief.


    ¡°You¡­¡± the man breathed, his voice hoarse and trembling. ¡°You found me.¡±


    Astra¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. ¡°Well, I-I didn¡¯t mean to¡­ I was just following a cat¡­¡±


    The man let out a breathless laugh, the sound bitter and tinged with something Astra couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°A cat, you say? Of course. Fate works in mysterious ways.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Astra asked, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What is this place?¡±


    The man hesitated for a beat, his eyes scanning Astra as if searching for something, then he nodded to himself, as if there was an internal debate. He glanced around the room with mischief dancing in his eyes until his gaze landed on a pair of old, worn boots near the door. ¡°Bootstrap,¡± he said suddenly. ¡°You may address me as Bootstrap.¡±


    Astra blinked twice, the name catching him somewhat off guard. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, ¡°Bootstrap? Really?¡±


    The man shrugged, his eyes glinting with a mixture of humor and something else Astra couldn¡¯t quite place, maybe optimism. ¡°Why not? It serves its purpose as well as any other. Besides, let¡¯s not pretend I¡¯m the one encroaching here.¡±


    Right then, Astra¡¯s stomach growled loudly in the silence that followed, and Bootstrap¡¯s gaze softened as he reached into a worn, leather bag beside his chair. He gave off a soft chuckle. He dug in his bag and pulled out a strip of dried jerky handing it to Astra with an amused smile. ¡°Here, kid. You look as though a proper meal hasn¡¯t crossed your path in days.¡±


    ¡°Here. Don¡¯t keel over on me,¡± he said, tossing it to Astra.


    Astra caught the jerky with a murmured thanks and a bit of skepticism. His stomach was more hungry than his brain was cautious at this point. He tore into the jerky, the salty, tough meat making his mouth water as Bootstrap watched him with an unreadable expression. Astra was not always starving, but there were many days when he wished the meals he ate made him feel better. Perhaps it was because food was often scarce, or perhaps it was the kind of emptiness that no meal could fill. More often than not, it wasn¡¯t food he craved, it was companionship.


    As Astra ate, Bootstrap settled back into his chair, his gaze never leaving Astra. ¡°You must be tired,¡± he said after a moment. ¡°But before you rest, there¡¯s a matter I must address. You¡¯re not here by mere chance, you know.¡±


    Astra looked up, confusion and curiosity warring in his mind. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    If this was where I will be murdered, then, oh well, there are fates worse than death out there. Astra debated about all the possibilities where this could turn for the worse, but he just wanted any kind of change.


    Bootstrap leaned forward, his voice low and serious. ¡°There exist realms beyond this one. There are more worlds brimming with magic, peril, and untold adventure. Yet, reaching them is no simple feat. This gem¡±¡ªhe held up a small, cracked gemstone, the same kind Astra had seen in the cat¡¯s mouth¡ª¡°holds the key to traversing those realms. But as you can see, it¡¯s fractured. Without its missing half, we have no control over where it might cast us. We¡¯d be venturing into the unknown, flying blind.¡±


    ¡°Flying blind, huh?¡± Astra whispered, ¡°Die here in this wasteland or have a chance at a real adventure with a possibility of dying?¡±


    Astra¡¯s heart raced as he listened. The idea of there being other worlds of magic and adventure was almost too enticing to be true. However, it was also everything he had ever wanted. A real chance to be a part of something bigger than his insignificant life so far, something that mattered. Furthermore, it was a chance to say good bye to the war-torn ruins of his world and to find a place where he could truly belong.


    ¡°And the other half of the gem?¡± Astra asked, his voice filled with anticipation.


    Bootstrap¡¯s gaze darkened, and he clenched the gemstone tightly in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s out there, somewhere. I have a fair notion of where it ought to be, but reaching it will demand far more than mere fortune. The path ahead will test our resolve, our wits, and perhaps even our very limits.¡±


    ¡°And once you get the other half?¡± Astra asked.


    ¡°Then consider the world your home. Anywhere and anytime you want will be your home. The freedom to wander, to carve a path through time and space. So, what do you say? Shall we seize this moment, take this chance to embark on a grand adventure? This could be the last chance to do something of this magnitude,¡± replied Bootstrap.


    Bootstrap leaned closer, his voice laced with quiet amusement as he said, ¡°If you¡¯d rather stay, that¡¯s fine. I just thought I¡¯d offer you a chance, to witness real magic, to leave this wretched place behind. Maybe even find a life worth living beyond the ashes.¡± Bootstrap acted like he knew Astra¡¯s life. Truthfully, Astra¡¯s life probably wasn¡¯t too hard to guess by the way he looked, acted, and dressed.


    Astra hesitated a bit. Even if it was something he had been looking forward to all his life, he still had to think about it a bit. The prospect of giving up his life and diving headfirst into an unknown magical journey was terrifying, but it was also the first time in his life he felt like he could make a choice on the matter. A chance to do something, to be someone. More than anything, it was the idea of being a part of a world of adventure where no one gets left behind. After a lifetime of feeling like an outsider in everyone else¡¯s home, Astra craved the feeling of belonging more than anything else.


    What was the alternative? Go back to try and find the next shelter to sleep next to a violent drug addict or a gang member looking for trouble? No, thank you. It¡¯s so late in the day. There is no way the office is even open for new applications, Astra found himself thinking. There is nothing left for me in this world. No friends. No family. No life. How much longer am I going to stay in this town before they start to draft me into the war too?


    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± he said, his voice showing how resolute he was despite the worry forcing his hands to tremble. ¡°Oh, and one more thing. Are you a wizard? Like blasting fireballs or summoning demons like in the books they have in the libraries?¡± he added remembering all the fantastical stories he read about in his comic books.


    Bootstrap¡¯s lips curved into a small, weary smile, and for a moment, Astra thought he saw something like pride in the old man¡¯s eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t claim mastery over such feats, but who knows? Perhaps one day, you might. For now, however, we set out at first light,¡± Bootstrap said. ¡°Get some rest, boy. Tomorrow, we begin.¡±


    ¡°So, the stories of multiple worlds are real?¡± Astra asked curiously.¡°I have read and heard of stories like that at the library, but it has been awhile since the library was destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Oh, indeed, the stories hold more truth than you might imagine. The last dab I acquired from a rather dubious supplier sent me far beyond the bounds of this world,¡± Bootstrap said with a teasing smile. Noticing Astra¡¯s expression changed, Bootstrap reassured him, ¡°I am just teasing you. I believe you have seen enough of those people to be able to make a snap judgment about my character. At the very least, I hope I don¡¯t smell like them. As for the gemstone, I assure you, by tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll demonstrate precisely how it operates.¡±


    Astra nodded, the weight of the decision settling over him like a heavy, yet oddly comforting, weighted blanket. Even as Bootstrap showed him to a small pile of blankets in the corner to sleep in, Astra felt a strange sense of rest and peace. For the first time in his small life, he wasn¡¯t running away from something, he was running toward it.


    So when he finally laid down, exhaustion caught up to him. Astra still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was more to this journey than Bootstrap was letting on such as why Bootstrap would want someone like him on this important journey. However, that was future Astra¡¯s problem. Present Astra was too tired to deal with this now. As the sleepiness claimed both of their consciousness, the old man returned to his chair by the fire, clutching the cracked gemstone in his hand and went to sleep too. Finally, Astra¡¯s last thought before sleep claimed him was that whatever happened next, there would be no turning back.

 Nova

    Astra was woken up by the soft glow of dawn coming in through the cracks in the dusty cabin walls and through the dirty windows. The room, which seemed mysterious and almost magical last night, now strangely felt ordinary and just plain dirty. The worn wooden planks beneath his feet, the cluttered shelves filled with odd almost broken trinkets, and the faint smell of smoke and herbs made it clear that this place had not seen life in decades or ever. It was a far cry from a memorable starting point of a magical journey, or maybe, that was exactly what would make it a memorable starting place.


    Bootstrap was already awake, seated at the small table by the window. He scrawled in a weathered leather journal, his pen darting across the page as his brow furrowed in intense focus. Astra noticed a subtle change in the old man¡¯s demeanor this morning that wasn¡¯t there last night. It was as if the daylight had brought with it a different reality, one that weighed heavier on Bootstrap¡¯s shoulders.


    Astra stretched and rose quietly from the bundle of cloth in the corner, pulling the blankets around himself to ward off the morning chill. He glanced at the small bundle of clothes Bootstrap had given him: a sturdy cloak, worn gloves, and an old pair of boots that had clearly seen many miles. He dressed quickly, grateful for the warmth and the practicality of the outfit.


    Bootstrap glanced up as Astra approached the table. ¡°Morning, kid¡± he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. ¡°Did you rest well? I hope the accommodations were sufficient.¡±


    ¡°Well enough,¡± Astra replied, his gaze lingering on the journal as Bootstrap closed it with deliberate care and tucked it into his bag. There was obviously something special about that journal, something that made Astra curious and a little uneasy. Too bad now probably wasn¡¯t the right time to ask about it.


    Bootstrap reached into his bag and handed Astra a small piece of dried jerky. ¡°Eat up. You¡¯ll need your strength.¡±


    Astra accepted the jerky with a nod. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, biting into it. The taste was the same old salty and tough that he had last night. Surprisingly, Astra liked the taste and texture of it. Astra thought, It was tough because it had character. Yeah, that¡¯s right. Character.


    As they ate, Astra couldn¡¯t help but think that there was more to Bootstrap than meets the eye. The old man looked well traveled with his weathered cloak and boots and scars that marked his face and arms. Speaking of which, he also had a strange assortment of intricate tattoos and metallic band around his arms. Astra had always had a knack for reading people, and something about Bootstrap gave him an uncanny sense of familiarity. It was as if, deep down, he knew Bootstrap was someone he could trust, even if he couldn¡¯t quite understand why. It was the kind of feeling you got when you met your best friend for the first time.


    ¡°So, Bootstrap,¡± Astra began, hoping to draw the old man out of his guise of mystery, ¡°Like, how does that gemstone actually work?¡±


    Taking a second to think about how to answer such a question, Bootstrap took a piece of paper from his journal. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated,¡± He said, his tone guarded. ¡°Magic of this caliber doesn¡¯t come with an instruction manual, I¡¯m afraid. Its workings are as enigmatic as they are precise. Allow me to explain with a simple analogy. Imagine this paper represents space, an endless plane encompassing every point in the multiverse. Now, under ordinary circumstances, to move from one point to another, you¡¯d traverse the distance between them directly, as if walking a straight line across this sheet. However, this gemstone defies that natural limitation. It has the ability to force the paper to bend and fold so that any two points on the paper will overlap with each other giving you no travel time whatsoever. Of course,¡± Bootstrap added with a small, wry smile, ¡°such power is far from stable in its current state. The folded paper may tear if mishandled.¡± Seeing Astra¡¯s puzzled face, Bootstrap demonstrated the concept with the paper. He folded it to show the overlapping points a couple of time. Noticing that Astra might not fully get it, Bootstrap sighed and said, ¡°Just trust it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, trust it?¡± Astra raised an eyebrow. ¡°I barely passed the mandatory schooling here. I can¡¯t say that I have a strong foundation in fancy physics especially not magical physics. So, I don¡¯t know, how do you know it¡¯s going to take us where we need to go?¡±


    Bootstrap finished packing and slung his bag over his shoulder and gave Astra a long, considering look. ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± he said simply. ¡°That¡¯s the essence of adventure, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bootstrap said, a faint, wistful smile curving his lips. ¡°The not knowing. The uncertainty of what lies on the other side until you¡¯re standing there, taking it all in. It¡¯s the thrill of discovery, the challenge of adapting, and the beauty of experiencing the unknown. The journey itself, unpredictable as it may be, is as much a part of the magic as the destination.¡±


    Astra frowned, not entirely satisfied with that answer. ¡°But¡­ you¡¯ve at least used it before, right? Surely, you seem to know how exactly it works.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as if he was debating on whether he should say more or not. ¡°I¡¯ve wielded it often enough to trust that it will guide us where we need to be,¡± Bootstrap said, his tone steady but edged with the weight of experience. ¡°The finer details, though? They¡¯re more complex than most could grasp. You¡¯ll just have to trust me on this one, even if the mechanics elude you for now. Sometimes, having the courage to have faith in the process is worth more than the explanation.¡±


    Astra couldn¡¯t tell if Bootstrap was hiding something or if this was just the way he was. But something about the old man¡¯s demeanor made Astra uneasy, even though he couldn¡¯t put his finger on why. There was something about Bootstrap that both intrigued and unsettled Astra. Still, despite the nagging doubts, Astra felt drawn to the man. There was a goodness in Bootstrap, a sense of purpose that made Astra want to believe in him. It was something that Astra wished he felt about himself too.


    ¡°Okay, alright,¡± Astra said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you¡­ I guess.¡± Even though internally he knew he was about to be a fish out of water, he wanted to see where this led.


    Bootstrap nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    As they finished their meal and prepared to leave, Astra felt a tingle down his spine like someone out there was watching them. He glanced around the cabin, his eyes darting back and forth to the shadows in the room, but there was nothing suspicious around. Still, the sensation persisted, a prickling at the back of his neck that made him shiver.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Bootstrap asked, noticing Astra¡¯s unease.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Astra replied, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°I mean, maybe it is the food you made or I¡¯m getting paranoid, but it feels like we are being watched.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s expression didn¡¯t betray him, but there was a momentary flicker of caution in his eyes and tone of voice. ¡°This place has a way of playing tricks on your senses,¡± he said, his voice even. ¡°Best to keep your wits about you.¡±


    With that, Bootstrap turned and led Astra to the door. The morning air was crisp and light compared to yesterday. Even the forest seemed quiet and peaceful today. A bit too eerie for Astra¡¯s taste because at this point Astra couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that they weren¡¯t alone.


    As they stepped outside, Bootstrap pulled the cracked gemstone from his pocket. The light caught on its fractured surface and cast neat little prismatic glimmers across the ground. Astra watched in fascination as the old man held it up to the light to appraise the gemstone.


    ¡°How does it¡­ I mean, what happens when you use it?¡± Astra asked, unable to contain his child-like curiosity.


    Bootstrap glanced at Astra, a small, wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. ¡°It¡¯ll take us wherever it can. The transition itself is swift. Don¡¯t worry. The jump is too fast for any real pain to settle in,¡± Bootstrap explained, his tone matter-of-fact. ¡°That said, the experience can be¡­ disorienting. Most feel a momentary wave of vertigo or nausea. It¡¯s nothing debilitating just the cost of traveling the fabric of the multiverse in an instant.¡±


    Astra nodded, trying to mentally prepare himself for whatever was about to happen. ¡°So, we just¡­ hold on to it? It is kind of small.¡±


    Bootstrap shook his head. ¡°The gemstone¡¯s magic functions through touch or proximity. It anchors anyone in physical contact with its user, pulling them along through the fold in space. So, whatever you do, keep hold of me. Letting go mid-jump isn¡¯t something I¡¯d recommend testing.¡±


    Astra swallowed hard trying to keep the food in his stomach down as the reality of what they were about to do sunk in. ¡°And you¡¯re 100% sure it¡¯s safe, even for me?¡±


    Bootstrap chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. ¡°Safe? No. But nothing worth doing ever is.¡±


    Astra couldn¡¯t help but smile at that. There was something reassuring in Bootstrap¡¯s confidence even if the old man was intentionally teasing him. Astra reached out and grabbed Bootstrap¡¯s arm feeling the rough fabric of the old man¡¯s coat beneath his fingers.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Astra said, his voice steady. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Bootstrap gave a single nod. ¡°Okay, Astra. Here we go.¡±


    ¡°Wait, did I tell you my name yet?¡± Astra realized as the gemstone activated.


    With that, Bootstrap held on to the gemstone, closed his eyes, and projected his thoughts into the stone as hard as he could. Next thing they knew, they were standing in a new place. Space warped without warning, blurring their surroundings as reality stretched and snapped around them. Gravity vanished. Invisible forces yanked Astra in every direction, spinning him until he melted into the whirling chaos of his environment. The overwhelming sensations assaulted his senses, and before his mind could grasp what happened, everything slammed back to normal. The jump was exactly like Bootstrap had said, but also, Astra felt like the warning was not at all adequate for what he just went through.


    Both of them stumbled into a new place with Bootstrap adjusting much faster than Astra. The air in the new place was heavy and humid. Astra blinked once and saw that his vision was still unsteady as he tried to make sense of their surroundings. The suddenness of the jump left him with a nasty headache and the feeling like he was abruptly woken up from a deep mid-afternoon nap. Astra had to take a moment to let the headache and nausea pass.


    When Astra recovered from the nausea, Astra and Bootstrap found themselves at a crossroads between a giant rocky cliffside and a toxic looking swamp. The water was murky with purple bubbles rising out of it. Even the surrounding trees all tilted to the side like it was being weighed down by the heaviness of the swamp air. It seemed to Astra that they were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The cliff looked like it stretched all the way to the clouds as far as Astra was concerned and was too steep for even goats to dare climb.


    ¡°Ugh, where are we, Bootstrap?¡± Astra asked as Bootstrap trudged on. ¡°Wait, we aren¡¯t really going into the swamp are we?¡± Focused on where he was stepping, Bootstrap silently continued on walking straight into the swamp. ¡°I guess we are going into the swamp, then,¡± Astra said out loud to no one in particular.


    ¡°We can¡¯t use the gemstone to jump again for awhile since there is a refractory period after using it.¡± Bootstrap said in a matter of fact way as he continued to walk on. ¡°Best to move forward.¡±


    Glancing at their surroundings again, Astra saw long skinny trees looming overhead with their roots all gnarled and twisted in the murky waters. Various bugs and animals lurked in the water peeking over to see them walk by just to run away as they got closer. The air was heavy with humidity, and an odd croaking echoed from somewhere in the distance.


    ¡°Swamps! Nature¡¯s cruel jest upon the landscape. If frozen wastelands are the earth¡¯s inhospitable deserts of ice, swamps are the soggy abyss where the devil himself likely dipped his toes in disgust. Yet, they are a rite of passage for any traveler worth their salt. Like it or not, everyone trudges through at least one in their lifetime, and those who haven¡¯t¡­ well, they¡¯ve yet to earn their stripes,¡± Bootstrap said out loud with a smirk as he lead the way through muddy dirt roads that could hardly be called land much less a road.


    ¡°Man, I think I could have skipped it,¡± Astra muttered as he tried to scrape some tenacious gunk off his boots. After a couple of tries, the gunk jumped off his boots and startled the stuffings out of Astra. ¡°Ugh, I really don¡¯t like it here. This is definitely the opposite of the city I grew up in.¡± Astra¡¯s eyes darted around, his unease rising as the distant splashes and croaks echoed closer. ¡°And what is that sound?¡±


    Bootstrap chuckled, patting Astra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kid. It is but some of the local wildlife.¡± He started walking, gesturing for Astra to follow. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve got to move before they discover us though.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. Like, that makes me even more worried,¡± Astra¡¯s words tumbled out in a shaky whisper.


    ¡°Who¡¯s they?¡± Astra¡¯s voice rose with desperation as he asked.


    ¡°Local cults devoted to the Swamp God infest these marshlands,¡± Bootstrap informed, his tone steady and unhurried. ¡°If the relentless croaking of unseen creatures unnerves you, just wait until you cross paths with the cultists themselves. Truly delightful individuals,¡± he added with a faint hint of dry sarcasm.


    They trudged through the swamp one sloppy step at a time. Astra was still marveling at the odd flora and fauna around them. Glowing moss clung to the trees, casting an eerie green light on the water¡¯s surface, and Astra could¡¯ve sworn he saw a pair of eyes blink at him from beneath the murky depths. Even the trees felt like they were watching him. He could have sworn one of the trees he passed looked at him. He hurried closer to Bootstrap, sticking near his side.


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


    Suddenly, a loud ribbit echoed through the trees followed by a chorus of strange, melodic croaks. Astra froze, eyes wide. ¡°What is going on?¡±


    ¡°Oh, those?¡± Bootstrap remarked, his smirk faint but unmistakable. ¡°Giant singing frogs. The locals call them ¡®greetfrogs.¡¯ They¡¯ve got a peculiar habit of welcoming visitors to the swamp with a boisterous serenade. Charming, right? Except their ¡®songs¡¯ can be loud enough to kill if enough of them decide to harmonize.¡±


    He glanced at Astra, amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°And as if that wasn¡¯t delightful enough, the locals also use them as an early warning system. Their serenades double as a signal for when unsuspecting travelers like us stumble into the swamp. Efficient, if a bit murderous.¡±


    Walking a bit faster away from the screeching frogs, Astra and Bootstrap came upon a strange wooden sign post.


    ¡°What does that say?¡± Astra pointed at the sign post.


    ¡°It says something along the lines of ¡®Frog the Jam.¡¯ Jam?¡± Bootstrap questioned.


    ¡°Wait, jam as in a musical jam session? Like this is the spot that the frogs come to hang out and play music?¡± Astra asked as he pointed to a clearing next to the sign.


    ¡°I guess it does then.¡± Bootstrap shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯m not exactly fluent in the local dialect here,¡± Bootstrap confessed, scanning the strange carvings with a furrowed brow. ¡°I can recognize enough of the script to piece together bits and pieces, but this¡± he gestured toward the markings, ¡°is a mix of symbols I barely recognize and some that aren¡¯t even based on letters I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    He sighed, straightening up. ¡°No point in lingering. If those frogs were some kind of alarm¡ªand I¡¯d wager they were¡ªwe¡¯d best keep moving. I¡¯d rather not meet whoever they¡¯re summoning.¡±


    Not three steps later, a tree jumped out in front of them. ¡°AHHH!¡± Screamed Astra. ¡°I knew it! I knew the freaking trees were looking at me.¡±


    Bootstrap, unfazed by the surprised encounter, said to Astra, ¡°Cultists¡­ Be careful and stay close to me.¡±


    The cultist looked more menacing than a man in tree camouflage had any right to be. The cultist in front of them pointed wildly at them while pulling out what Astra assumed was a mud caked blade while three other cultists who were camouflaged as trees and one who was a log in the water surrounded them.


    ¡°Uh, what are they saying?¡± Astra asked quietly.


    ¡°They are saying ¡®Hi, we are here to guide you to our resort,¡¯¡± Bootstrap joked.


    ¡°Oh, really now? With the way they are waving that blade around, I could have sworn they were robbing us,¡± Astra said exasperated at the situation.


    ¡°Apologies,¡± Bootstrap said with a small, apologetic grin, his tone softening. ¡°Just trying to lighten the mood a bit. But seriously, stay close. These swamps have a way of turning even the best intentions into bad ideas.¡± His eyes darted around the murky terrain, his usual calm edged with caution.


    ¡°So, you understand them?¡± Astra asked.


    Tapping his forearm, Bootstrap gave a subtle nod, his tone steady despite the tension in the air. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve got a translation rune on me. I¡¯ll explain once we get out of here alive. Priorities first, survival second, and lectures, well, they can wait.¡±


    ¡°Oh, interesting.¡± Astra replied.


    Bootstrap explained to them in a slow and nonthreatening manner that they were travelers and were just a bit lost. They meant no harm and had no valuables on them whatsoever. The cultists did not take that for an answer. With a word from the main cultist, the rest moved in unison with their blades poised to strike the both of them.


    Bootstrap made quick work of the main cultist catching the muddy knife and disarming him. Bootstrap knocked him out with a single precise punch to the chin and moved on to help Astra with the other four cultists. Astra was doing his best to keep distance when Bootstrap kicked the knife from two of the cultists hands and tripped the other two with a wide leg sweep. Astra could barely follow Bootstrap¡¯s movements as he disarmed and dropped the cultists like a superhero in a comic come to life. He might have even been glowing as Astra was too awestruck to fully recall.


    ¡°Woah, are you some kind of superhero?¡± Astra asked as Bootstrap squatted down to the main cultist.


    No sooner than the second after Astra uttered those word, Bootstrap knocked the main cultist out and rummaged through his pockets until he found a bag of coins.


    ¡°Ah, a small donation for our troubles,¡± Bootstrap said as he counted the coins. ¡°There are a diverse collection of coins here probably from other travelers. A couple of orichalcum coins. At least a few gold coins in the mix, which should serve us well once we¡¯re back in civilization. Currency like this speaks to movement, trade¡­ or perhaps desperation.¡± He pocketed the coins carefully. ¡°Let¡¯s hope these can buy more than just our next meal.¡±


    After walking away from the cultists who were still on the ground shocked as they process the fact that they did a reverse robbing, Astra and Bootstrap came upon a large, exceptionally foul smelling marsh pit.


    Astra coughed as the pungent smell reached his nose. Bootstrap wrinkled his nose as he surveyed the pit before them, the acrid stench rising like an invisible wall. ¡°This place doesn¡¯t sit right with me,¡± he muttered, his voice low and cautious. ¡°You noticed those people back there, the swamp god cultists? Well, this¡­ this reeks of their handiwork. A sacrificial pit, no doubt. The kind they toss corpses into as offerings to whatever god they¡¯re groveling to. Lets get out-¡± Bootstrap said as he was interrupted by a sound of a couple of objects flying towards them.


    Before Astra could react, a dart flew out from somewhere in the thick of the swamp to land right on his neck. Bootstrap reacted to his in time but not quickly enough to protect Astra. ¡°Oh, not again,¡± an annoyed Bootstrap whined.


    ¡°Ugh, it was the trees again. I¡¯m going to totally hate swamp trees after this¡­¡± Astra managed to murmur before his body went limp from the tranquilizer in the dart.


    The last thing that Astra remembered was he could hear the chanting of the swamp cultists from the darkness. The mud and murky water around him started to sway and move. Bootstrap tried to pick up Astra¡¯s limp body, but a couple more darts were fired his way. Bootstrap rolled out of the way of the darts, but that put him further away from Astra. The mud around Astra was now picking him up and moving him towards the foul-smelling pit. Then, his vision went blank and he must have succumbed to whatever was in the dart.


    The next thing Astra knew, he woke up to Bootstrap injecting him with something in his shoulder. Astra slowly got his bearings back when Bootstrap stuffed some smelling salt near Astra¡¯s nose. With a jolt, Astra woke up immediately noticing his surroundings were now a mess. There were trees knocked down, and plants hung upside down in places they shouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°W-what happened?¡± Astra asked as he looked at the destruction around him.


    ¡°That was a shot of caffeine. No more time to explain. Can you stand?¡± Bootstrap asked as he helped Astra to his feet.


    That was when they both heard a loud screeching sound from below. Whatever the cultists were chanting about earlier probably worked because Astra had a feeling he needed to run, now.


    They both knew what was happening and instinctively started running. A loud, guttural gurgle interrupted Bootstrap mid sentence followed by a massive splash as something enormous rose from the swamp¡¯s depths. As far as Astra could tell, the beast definitely screamed, ¡°Get out of my swamp!¡± just now. Astra did his best to run but his legs where not fully there. They were still a bit wobbly. Astra looked back at the pit, eyes widened as a colossal, slimy creature covered in mud, algae, and unidentified brown slop slithered out of the water, its many eyes gleaming with malevolence. Astra¡¯s legs turned into jelly just then.


    ¡°Faster!¡± yelled Bootstrap.


    Astra did not need to be told twice. He dashed after Bootstrap, his heart pounding as the giant swamp monster let out a bone-rattling roar behind them. The cultists noticed too and were now frantically scrambling while some were shouting praises to the monster while others ran for their lives.


    They dodged low-hanging branches and splashed through shallow pools of murky water as the monster¡¯s heavy footsteps shook the ground behind them indicating that it was closing in on them. Astra stumbled once or twice but managed to keep his footing. The monster was fast, but it was not adept at running over and through the obstacles in its way.


    Up ahead, an old, massive, twisted dead tree laid on the side of their path. Its dead roots tangled around other trees in the area. Bootstrap slid to a stop, grabbing Astra by the arm and pulling him into a hollow space beneath the tree¡¯s roots. ¡°Shh!¡± Bootstrap whispered, holding a finger to his lips.


    Astra held his breath, trying to stay as still as possible. His heart was racing, and despite the danger, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a thrill. This was his first real adventure. His first time in a new world dodging monsters, avoiding cultists, and relying on someone else to get him out of trouble.


    One thought raced through his head. Oh gods, I am literally a part of a real comic adventure.


    The swamp monster with its many eyes and terrifying teeth was evidently really stupid. It was nothing more than a raging beast masquerading as an all-powerful god. After awhile, the swamp monster gave up chasing them and lumbered back to the pit and the cultists. Bootstrap let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Ah, just another charming day in the devil¡¯s armpits. I¡¯m with you on this one, Astra. Swamps are miserable places.¡±


    Despite the near death experiences, the monster actually forced them to run through a large part of the swamp. They were close to the edge of the swamp. Maybe that was why the swamp monster stopped chasing them. Fortunately, they could see the swamp clearing up ahead.


    ¡°Are all the worlds that we are going to going to be like this or are there going to be more civilized people like us?¡± Astra asked as they trudge through more swampy, mud road.


    ¡°Well, civilized is a relative term, but yeah, there will be more humans like us. As a matter of fact, a large portion of the livable planets that form tend to have its ruling class as more human-like creatures than animal-like creatures. I guess it is nature¡¯s way of saying that human-like evolution are the most efficient for world domination. Well, that and crabs. Lots of creatures converge into crabs.¡±Bootstrap grinned as they made it out of the swamp area.


    ¡°Okay, well how about showers? I mean, do we have to find a town before we wash off or can we find a stream somewhere?¡± Astra asked.


    Bootstrap laughed. ¡°Yeah, I know of showers,¡± Bootstrap replied, a hint of humor dancing in his tone. He reached into his weathered bag, pulling out what looked like an ornate watering can and a pair of gloves embroidered with runes. ¡°These beauties? Picked them up ages ago from a master farmer. They handed them over after muttering something about ¡®maxing out their farming level.¡¯ No clue what they were on about, but hey, I wasn¡¯t about to turn down magical gear.¡± He gestured toward a nearby cliffside, where a small stream trickled down like a natural shower. ¡°Let¡¯s head over there. These should help us wash off the swamp¡¯s generous hospitality.¡±


    As they both took off their soiled tops, Astra noticed that Bootstrap had intricate tattoos drawn across his arms and all over his back. The tattoos seemed to wink at Astra as he admired them from the other side of the river under the cliff.


    I wonder what all the tattoos mean. No one gets that many tattoos without a good reason, right? Astra pondered.


    Walking up to Bootstrap, Astra pointed to one of the tattoo on Bootstraps right forearm. Astra asked with genuine curiosity in his voice, ¡°What does that one mean?¡±


    Bootstrap tilted one eyebrow up and gave a wry smile. ¡°This one, specifically, is the translation rune that I spoke about earlier.¡±


    ¡°Ah, That¡¯s right. That¡¯s how you were able to understand the cultists, right?¡± Astra chimed in.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct, Astra. This rune is actually split up into a couple of small parts.¡± Pointing to each small characters on the tattoo, Bootstrap explained, ¡°This first one is the wynn symbol which means joy and harmony or in this case connections and communications. This next one is the symbol for lagu which means fluidity. It there so that the magic can travel on sound waves. The next symbols represent the mind, mouth and heart. They are dagaz, beorc and jera respectively.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s so cool. So, those little lines are all words of some kind? What kind of language is that? Is it from a far away place that you have been to?¡± Astra asked with wide eyes.


    Bootstrap chuckled softly. ¡°It is from a long forgotten language called ¡®Old English.¡¯ It is an ancient language from a planet called Earth in a funny little galaxy called the ¡®Milky Way¡¯ that has been lost to time. I doubt more than a handful of humans today know about this runic script.¡±


    Astra snickered. ¡°No way there¡¯s a galaxy out there called the ¡®Milky Way. ¡¯ That¡¯s the worst name I could think of for a galaxy. Like, that¡¯s more of a drink than anything.¡±


    Astra squinted and furrowed his brow at the translation tattoo again. ¡°So, how come you know this ¡®Old English¡¯ if it is that rare? Does the magic require that language or something?¡±


    Bootstrap looked up to the sky for a bit, contemplating a good explanation. ¡°Rune magic doesn¡¯t inherently rely on any specific language,¡± Bootstrap explained, his tone calm and precise as he ran a finger over one of the symbols etched into his arm. ¡°It can be written in any tongue, really. The reason I stick to this archaic language? Let¡¯s just say I prefer to keep prying eyes guessing. If someone can¡¯t decipher my runes, they can¡¯t anticipate the spell I¡¯m casting. And in a life-or-death situation, that little edge can make all the difference.¡±


    He paused, his gaze drifting momentarily, as if recalling an old memory. ¡°My teacher was relentless about it,¡± he added with a shrug. ¡°Drilled the importance of secrecy into my head. It¡¯s not the most exciting explanation, I know.¡±


    His tone softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Astra. I promise I¡¯ll give you the full rundown on magic when I¡¯ve had a chance to put it all together in a way that actually makes sense. But first¡­¡± Bootstrap glanced around, scanning the horizon. ¡°Let¡¯s find somewhere decent to rest. I¡¯m not exactly in the mood for giving lectures in the middle of a swamp.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay. That¡¯s a promise then!¡± Astra smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure there will be time for that later too.¡±


    Oh, wow. Maybe, I¡¯ll get to cast some fancy magic now too. I wonder what I¡¯ll be able to do. I want to fly or throw fireballs at people. Thought Astra as he grinned to himself.


    Finishing up their washing, Bootstrap fired up the gemstone again and off they went, the void opening and closing around them. The gravitational pull distorted all of Astra¡¯s senses. Then, they appeared again in a dim place. The nausea and headache hit him again with a vengeance. The abrupt jolt from the jump was something Astra felt like he would never get used to. He sat down to rest for a bit.


    Eventually, he looked around to try to get his bearings straight. They were standing in what seemed like the remains of an old temple. The stone walls were crumbling, and there were vines and large plants growing out of the rubble. The air smelled of damp earth and musty swamp water. It was similar to the previous place they were just at but with a hint of civilization. The light was strong so they walked out of the temple to check their surroundings.


    Bootstrap steadied himself then turned to Astra. ¡°Are you doing good?¡±


    Astra nodded though his legs felt shaky and his head was still spinning. ¡°Umm yeah¡­ I think so.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Bootstrap said, already scanning their surroundings with a practiced eye. ¡°We¡¯ll rest here for a bit,¡± Bootstrap said, his voice steady as he gestured to a relatively dry patch of stones. His sharp gaze flicked to Astra, noting the boy¡¯s unsteady stance. ¡°Told you the jump would catch up with you eventually. It always does the first few times.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, first hundreds of times¡­,¡± he mentioned softly.


    With that said, Astra sat down on the nearby rubble hoping that this headache would go away soon. As he opened his eyes to look around the ruined temple, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe. This place felt ancient and surreal. Almost like it was a part of some ritual that went wrong a long, long time ago. Even in the dim light, he could make out symbols etched into the stone, remnants of an old world. There was definitely a strange beauty to it, a sense of history that piqued Astra¡¯s interest. Astra couldn¡¯t help but think about his home city. There were no more historical buildings in his old city due to the destruction of the ongoing war there. By comparison, the temple even though it was ruined, it was a different kind of ruined to Astra. It was ruined due to time and use not by war and violence.


    ¡°This is incredible,¡± Astra said, his voice hushed. ¡°Not just the jump, but the temple is cool too.¡±


    This was the start of a new adventure, one that could help him find that one place where he could belong.


    Bootstrap gave a small approving nod at Astra. ¡°It¡¯s one of many,¡± he said, his tone almost reverent. ¡°This represents just a small taste of what we can jump into in this wide world. A small taste of the adventures to come. Just try not to think about that last swamp adventure.¡±


    Astra¡¯s eyes widened at the prospect of more exotic places than this. Especially after the horrid swamp they just visited. He had spent his entire small life in a world that seemed insignificant and unkind, but now, standing here in this far off place, he felt a new sense of hope. He had a new sense of adventure that he had only ever dreamed of before.


    However, once again, he felt that same feeling like they are being watched. He glanced at Bootstrap, wondering if the old man could feel it too, but Bootstrap¡¯s expression was unreadable.


    ¡°Bootstrap,¡± Astra began cautiously, ¡°do you ever feel like¡­ we¡¯re not alone, again?¡±


    Bootstrap paused, his gaze flicking around the ruined temple before returning to Astra. ¡°Always,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But you learn to live with it.¡±


    Astra nodded though the answer didn¡¯t ease his nerves. There was some adventuring to be done so he pushed the fear aside focusing instead on the fact that he was no longer trapped in the life he had left behind.


    Once the post jump sickness subsided, they headed out the temple¡¯s door.

 Landing Among the Stars

    Astra and Bootstrap stepped out of the small, weathered temple and onto the rugged stone pathway that led into the hot, dense jungle. The air was thick with the scent of moss and earth, the sounds of unseen creatures creating an eerie symphony that echoed through the trees. There were glowing bugs that Astra could never have even dreamed of and large plants with colorful flowers that looked threatening even in dreams. The jungle stretched out before them, a vast and untamed land with secrets hidden in every shadow. Astra took a deep breath, trying to calm his beating heart so that Bootstrap wouldn¡¯t look down on him as a child.


    ¡°Magic is, like, everywhere. Interesting.¡± Astra mumbled.


    They paused on a small rise overlooking the vast expanding jungle to survey the landscape. In the distance, the thick canopy of trees gave way to a large ornate arcane temple, its walls adorned with glowing runes and vibrant banners that fluttered in the breeze. The temple seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly energy mixed with an ancient aura, drawing Astra¡¯s attention like a beacon.


    Oh, the world seems so alive almost pulsating with energy. Wow. Astra thought.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to restock our supplies and find a safe place to stay for the night,¡± Bootstrap said, his voice breaking Astra¡¯s reverie. ¡°That market up ahead should have what we require on our journey.¡± Bootstrap pointed towards a cluster of stone buildings in the distance.


    ¡°Oh, wow that¡¯s a big market place. Do you happen to know where we are or how to navigate through this jungle?¡± Astra asked curiously. When Bootstrap didn¡¯t give him an answer, Astra added, ¡°Maybe you actually don¡¯t know and are too embarrassed to admit it to this junior traveler. Hmph.¡±


    As they made their way down the path, the jungle gradually thinned, revealing a bustling market area situated in front of a massive temple. Stalls lined the streets, offering a variety of goods such as fruits, trinkets, herbs, and relics while monks in crimson robes moved about with purpose, their faces calm and serene. The monks seemed to be performing some ceremony in front of the temple. Astra noticed that the monks¡¯ robes were the same deep red as the temple¡¯s banners, each adorned with intricate gold embroidery that caught the light. Astra was awestruck by how many people could be packed together into one location like this. He seldom saw people gather in such a bustling way without it being a military operation. Astra thought, This must be some sort of celebration. There is no way that this many people gather at the market every single day here.


    Bootstrap, making sure Astra wasn¡¯t lost, grabbed Astra¡¯s arm and led him through the market, weaving through the crowd until they reached a secluded corner. Astra looked like a lost tourist everywhere Bootstrap dragged him to. Astra could hear people around him talking in some indistinguishable language. Finally, when they got to where Bootstrap was dead set on going, there stood a small nondescript shop with a sign above the door that was faded and worn with the symbols barely legible. Bootstrap knocked three times in a specific pattern, and the door creaked open to reveal a dimly lit room filled with strange mechanical parts and glowing runes.


    Inside, an elderly magician with a long, silver beard and piercing eyes greeted them. His robes were deep blue, embroidered with shimmering silver runes that seemed to move on their own. Even the patterns on the door now looked like there was an eye on the door, and that it was sneaking a glance at them. The magician eyed Astra with curiosity before turning to Bootstrap.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± the magician said in a gravelly voice. ¡°And you¡¯ve brought a companion.¡±


    ¡°Just passing through,¡± Bootstrap replied. ¡°We require a translation rune, good sir.¡±


    The magician nodded and shuffled over to a cluttered table, rummaging through a pile of stones. He selected a small, glowing stone and handed it to Bootstrap. ¡°This one will do. The mark will allow him to communicate with others, but it won¡¯t translate the words directly. Instead, it sends the meaning of his words and ideas into the mind of the person he¡¯s speaking to. They¡¯ll still hear him speaking in his language, but they¡¯ll understand what he means.¡±


    ¡°It will also translate the sounds of another person¡¯s word that hits his ear so there will be no lost in communication.¡± The magician added.


    Familiar with the translation rune, Bootstrap took the stone in exchange for something that Astra didn¡¯t get a good look at and tossed it to Astra. ¡°Take this. This will make our travels smoother.¡±


    Oh, wow! My first real magic item. Astra caught the stones in his hands careful to not damage it. Wait, did that magician just speak my language or was that his translation runes?


    Astra examined the stone curiously as Bootstrap took his hand and pressed the stone to his palm. Bootstrap¡¯s hands glowed real quickly. If Astra was not staring at them intently he might not have believed that he saw anything. A warm, tingling sensation spread through Astra¡¯s hand as the stone left a faint mark on his wrist, glowing briefly before fading. Astra wanted to mention how fascinating that process was, but once again, he didn¡¯t want anyone to think he was a child.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Astra said, looking up at the magician with wonder in his eyes, his eyes sparkling with flecks of curiosity.


    The magician nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. ¡°Safe travels.¡±


    As they left the shop, Astra felt a renewed sense of excitement. The translation rune seemed like a small thing, but it made him feel more connected to the strange world he was now a part of. As soon as he got to a busy street corner, he yelled out with glee with both arms raised, ¡°Hello world!¡±


    Some passerby glanced with worried looks while some made a wide arc around him to give him some space. A little girl passing by asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that boy, mom?¡± The little girl¡¯s kind mother just pulled her away saying, ¡°Now sweetie, we don¡¯t point at the sick. Let¡¯s go let them be.¡±


    Whoa, I heard that! She said something in another language but I understood it! Hah! Astra giddy with joy waved at the passing mother and child.


    Astra didn¡¯t mind the scene at all. He was just glad to be a part of this magical new setting. Assuming Bootstrap has also been here before too, he asks, ¡°So was this planned or did we get lucky to find a place with a local magician?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t start counting your lucky stars yet. Especially not over meeting a small town mage. To believe in destiny is to give up your free will.¡± Said Bootstrap.


    ¡°Also, there are plenty of ways to find translation services on every planet,¡± Bootstrap explained, brushing some dirt off his cloak. ¡°Small translation runes, for example, are a common solution. They don¡¯t require much mana to work passively, so mages sell them pretty cheaply. It¡¯s a good business model. It¡¯s something small and essential everyone¡¯s willing to buy.¡±


    He paused, tapping his forearm. ¡°Not that I trust the cheap ones, mind you. Some of them will translate ¡®good morning¡¯ into ¡®declare war¡¯ if they¡¯re poorly crafted.¡± A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Always invest in a quality rune, Astra. Or better yet, learn the language yourself. Less chance of awkward misunderstandings and more mana efficient.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right, right. Makes sense. Well, wait. What is mana, and how do I know if I have it?¡± Astra asked with an inquisitive tilt of his head.


    Bootstrap adjusted the strap of his bag, his expression settling into the thoughtful demeanor Astra had come to recognize as his ¡°lecture mode.¡± He raised a hand as if sketching an idea into the air. ¡°All living and non-living things contain mana. It¡¯s a ubiquitous force woven into the very fabric of existence. There are rare exceptions, of course, but for simplicity¡¯s sake, think of mana as an extension of the fundamental forces you learned about in grade school¡ªgravity, electromagnetism, weak force, strong force.¡± His voice carried the measured precision of a scholar but maintained a conversational edge that invited curiosity.


    ¡°We, as sentient beings, have the unique ability to perceive and manipulate mana. Imagine it like commanding your own muscles: intuitive, yet complex. Simple actions, like using a translation rune, are as natural as moving your fingers to pick something up. But something more elaborate, say, casting a spell to summon zombies, requires not just knowledge but discipline and energy management. Get it wrong, and you¡¯ll likely exhaust yourself before you even manage to raise one.¡±


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Bootstrap leaned forward slightly, his eyes catching Astra¡¯s, his tone intensifying with a hint of enthusiasm. ¡°Everyone perceives mana differently. For some, it¡¯s a rush, a tingling sensation that surges through them when they¡¯re doing something they love. Picture a runner finding their second wind, the way their body seems to defy exhaustion. That feeling, that power coursing through their veins? That¡¯s mana in action.¡±


    He straightened, his gaze shifting as if addressing an invisible classroom. ¡°For others, mana reveals itself in moments of stillness, in harmony with their own mind and body. When they relax, when they truly connect with their soul, mana becomes a tangible presence. It¡¯ll feel like a calm, steady current waiting to be shaped.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s tone softened, losing some of its professorial weight as he regarded Astra. ¡°You¡¯ll find your way of connecting to it, kid. When you get the chance, just try to relax and feel it. The mana is all around you, waiting to be noticed.¡± He tapped a finger against his temple, a small smile forming. ¡°Trust me, once you sense it, the world will never feel the same.¡±


    While Astra let that last part seep into his subconscious, they continued through the market, and as they approached the arcane temple at its center, Bootstrap paused. ¡°I¡¯ll handle gathering the supplies,¡± Bootstrap said, his voice calm and deliberate. ¡°Your task is to find us a place to stay for the night. Let¡¯s meet back here in an hour.¡±


    Astra nodded and watched as Bootstrap disappeared into the throng of people. He wandered through the market, searching for an inn or a lodging house. Astra got lost while wandering sightseeing around and eventually forgot about his job. The vibrant energy of the place was infectious, yet a lingering sense of unease kept him on edge. Astra may not be familiar with a densely populated area like this market, but he was well aware of how fast a situation can turn if he met people desperate enough to do whatever they need to survive.


    As he passed by a stall selling strange looking gigantic dried fruits, Astra noticed an older man kneeling beside a young boy. The man wore a faded version of the crimson robes that the other monks wore, his uniform closer to a dull maroon. He had dark tanned skin like he was outside more often than the other monks and short cleanly cut black hair. He had a hooked nose and a face that was etched with lines of worry and fatigue, and his shoulders were heavy with responsibility. His hands trembled slightly as he placed them on the little boy¡¯s shoulders. Astra started eavesdropping in the middle of their conversation.


    ¡°I am sorry we were dealt an unfair hand, son,¡± the man said softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. ¡°I know it is hard when all the other kids are playing with their new toys or eating their expensive meal. Trust me, it hurts me even more knowing that you have to put up a strong facade to spare my feelings. I do not even have much to leave you when I am gone. All I have for you are books and knowledge. If you know more about how everything out here works, then you will know more about how everything in there works.¡± He said as he pointed to the boy¡¯s head. The boy does not seem to be making eye contact with his father but is still listening intently. ¡°I want you to remember that I love you, and, no matter what, I will always be proud of you.¡±


    The boy who seemed to be no older than ten, looked up at his father with wide, tear-filled eyes. ¡°But, father, what will happen to me when you are gone? I do not want to be alone.¡±


    ¡°I think you have misunderstood me again. That is only if something bad happens to me on this business trip. I will always try to come back to you.¡± The man sighed, his gaze drifting to the temple towering over them. ¡°You will have to trust me and be strong, my son. Knowledge is the greatest inheritance I can give you to help you navigate through society, but also, don¡¯t forget, you have you mother¡¯s determination and grit to get through everything else. It will guide you even when I am no longer here.¡±


    Astra felt a pang of sadness as he watched the interaction. The man¡¯s words resonated with him, stirring up memories of his own uncertain past and the lack of any true parental figure in his life. The old monk¡¯s love for his son and his hard working nature was commendable, a stark contrast to Astra¡¯s experiences of being transferred from one uncaring foster home to another, never getting that stability in life that he wanted.


    Just then, Bootstrap returned, carrying a small bag filled with supplies. ¡°Got everything we require,¡± he said, handing Astra a piece of dried jerky from the bag. ¡°Here, you must be famished.¡±


    Astra took the jerky, realizing just how hungry he was and wondering how long he was zoning out for. As they made their way back through the market, Astra couldn¡¯t help but think of Bootstrap and how they had met. Astra still had this uncanny feeling about Bootstrap. There was something about the old man that didn¡¯t quite add up, but at the same time, Astra couldn¡¯t help but trust him. Bootstrap seemed to be a genuine person who cared even if he¡¯s a bit weird.


    As they continued walking further into the busy market space, a fortune teller stepped out in front of them stopping them in their path. She was a pale elderly woman in a shawl with sharp, piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight through Astra. A black cat tattoo peeked out from under her sleeve on her forearm. Her fingers danced across the worn edges of the tarot deck, shuffling and twisting the cards in an endless rhythm. A smile played at her lips, her eyes gleaming with secret knowledge.


    ¡°Would you like to see what your future holds?¡± she asked, her voice a melodic whisper that sent a chill down Astra¡¯s very core. The sound reminded Astra of a mother¡¯s voice calling to her tired child.


    Astra hesitated for a bit, something about this woman feels unsettling thought Astra, but curiosity got the better of him. He thought, Why not, what¡¯s the worst that can happen? It¡¯s just a fortune teller. I used to see them all the time back home.


    ¡°Sure.¡± he replied, managing a small, warm smile.


    The fortune teller reached out and lightly touched his hand. Her fingers were cold, sending a shiver up his arm. It felt like she was digging through his mind with something he couldn¡¯t see. ¡°A boy with no past comes to find no future,¡± she said, her voice taking on an ominous tone. ¡°But beware, young one. Stars were meant to be enjoyed at a distance, the closer you get to one the more it burns.¡±


    Astra¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but before he could respond, Bootstrap¡¯s voice cut through the moment. ¡°No, we don¡¯t require our fortune read,¡± he said sharply, appearing at Astra¡¯s side with a stern expression. Bootstrap pulled on Astra to continue forward.


    Before Astra could process what the fortune teller had said, he felt a sudden shove at his side. He turned just in time to see a street urchin dart away without so much as a glance back, clutching Bootstrap¡¯s bag in his small hands.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Astra shouted, as the boy weaved through the crowd, disappearing into the narrow alleyways. With such a large crowd around and all the twists and turns of the market, the little thief had a large home field advantage.


    Without hesitation, Astra took off after the boy, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He heard Bootstrap who was faster shouting ahead of him. With that, the thrill of the chase had taken over. Astra dodged through the bustling market, narrowly avoiding a cart filled with cabbages as he pursued the thief. Ever the opportunist that he is, Astra pulled out a piece of jerky and ate it as he gave chase. Hunger waits for no one. This, Astra has known all his life.


    The boy was fast, darting through the alleyways with the ease of someone who had spent his life on these streets. The boy was like an oiled up pig in a pool party, easily sliding into every crevice and crowd he could find. Astra pushed himself harder, his lungs burning as he tried to close the distance between the boy and Bootstrap. Eventually, the sounds of the market faded into the background, replaced by the rhythmic thudding of his footsteps and the pounding of his heart.


    As Astra rounded a corner in a dark alleyway, he overheard angry hushed voices coming from the dead-end. He heard, ¡°How did you get this gemstone? There is only one other.¡± He pushed himself harder, sprinting toward the narrow entrance. But as he approached, all he saw was Bootstrap standing there with the bag in his hand. Bootstrap¡¯s face was wrinkled in careful contemplation.


    The street urchin was nowhere in sight, but Bootstrap was holding his bag once more, the gemstone clutched tightly in his hand.


    ¡°We need to leave,¡± Bootstrap said suddenly, his voice tense. ¡°It¡¯s not safe here anymore.¡±


    Astra opened his mouth to ask why, but before he could, Bootstrap was already leading him toward the edge of the jungle. Nobody else in the market place seemed to have noticed them or the chase at all.


    Astra looked around at the people in the market. It was like everyone else was too busy to noticed us, or there was something magical going on to compel everyone to mind their own business. As they walked into the forest, Astra felt a sharp sting on his neck, like a big bug bite. He winced, rubbing the spot. ¡°Stupid giant mosquitoes,¡± Astra whined.


    When they reached a secluded clearing, Bootstrap quickly pulled out the gemstone. He held it up, and it began to glow. The light intensifying until it enveloped them both. Astra barely had any time to react to the gemstone before they were yanked from the jungle. As it did last time, the world around them blurred, and they were teleported away in an instant. Once again, gravity shifted and the space around them distorted.


    The jump was jarring, the sudden shift in reality leaving Astra momentarily stunned. He blinked, trying to regain his bearings as the world around them solidified once more.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± Astra asked, his voice shaking.


    ¡°Somewhere safe, I hope,¡± Bootstrap replied, though his eyes gave off a flicker of concern. ¡°But lingering here isn¡¯t an option. We need to keep moving.¡±


    Astra nodded, still fight off the lingering effects of the jump. As they began walking again, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder about the fortune teller¡¯s words and the strange voices in the alley. The questions all swirled around in his mind like a hypnotic taunt. The more he thought about everything, the more questions he had. Who were the voices back there? What were they trying to do? Where did Bootstrap get that gemstone from? Several more questions echoed in his head as he walked with Bootstrap. However, for now, all he could do was follow Bootstrap and hope that the path ahead would lead him to the answers he sought.

 Stardust

    With the smell of the jungle still lingering on their bodies, Astra and Bootstrap found themselves thrust into a completely new, grim reality. The air here was thick with the scent of putrid sewage, wet trash and decaying rats, and the sky reflected that with dark, swirling clouds that seemed to cling to the broken skyline like a funeral garment. The city they just entered was a place where hope had come to settle in for its final days in a hospice.


    The buildings were big and imposing; their still proud facades now pocketed with bullet holes and scorched by fire. The streets were lined with what you would expect from a military operation with broken down cars and crumbled buildings everywhere. Everywhere Astra looked, there were signs of conflict: abandoned barricades, graffiti scrawled in anger, rebellion, desperation, and the ever-present rumble of distant explosions.


    This world reminded Astra of his own, the world he had fled just recently. The same sense of unease settled in his stomach, the same gnawing fear that no place was truly safe. However, there was something else here too, something that pulled at him and made him hesitate even as Bootstrap scanned their surroundings for the next place to stay before jumping to the next place.


    ¡°Not another one of these,¡± Bootstrap muttered pulling his cloak tighter around him and instinctively checked his bag. ¡°We need to find shelter before we can attempt to jump again. The gemstone needs time to recharge. Last time I saw a place this grim, I ended up on a world where someone had literally stolen all the colors. Imagine navigating an entirely gray world, definitely not my most enjoyable trip.¡±


    ¡°Interesting, a world without color¡­¡± Astra said as he looked in the distance.


    As they moved through the trash heap they called a city, Astra¡¯s attention was drawn to a group of children huddled near the entrance of a narrow alley. There were a couple of children around six, seven, or eight years old, their faces dirtied with grim, their clothes ragged and torn standing around waiting for something. It was hard to tell the ages of these malnourished children. They were gathered next to a jewelry store, the kind with barred windows and a flickering neon sign that spoke of past glories. The children tried to eye all the passersby, their hands outstretched in silent pleas for food or money, but their eyes and gesture were evaded or ignored. The children seemed used to the treatment as they kept on moving on to the next people who passed by.


    Astra¡¯s heart tightened at the sight. These children were like him once. Lost and desperate, they clung onto this world even though this world had no mercy for the weak. He knew he couldn¡¯t just walk away. Even if it was just for a small part of their day, he wanted to keep them company.


    ¡°Look, Bootstrap,¡± Astra said, his voice firm, ¡°we should stay here for a while.¡±


    Bootstrap turned to him, a look of surprise crossing his face. ¡°Are you mad? This place is a war zone, even more so than the last one. We need to get a move on as quickly as possible. Stick around here too long, and you¡¯ll end up looking like those dead rats rotting in the gutter.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Astra replied, his gaze fixed on the children. ¡°But they need our help. We can¡¯t just leave them here. Come on, even if it¡¯s for a little while.¡± Astra turned to Bootstrap with a pleading look, then back at the children.


    Bootstrap followed Astra¡¯s gaze. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. ¡°Fine,¡± Bootstrap conceded, his voice calm but edged with pragmatism. ¡°But don¡¯t get too attached. We¡¯re not staying forever, and you know it. Once we leave those children behind, then what? Who will protect them when we¡¯re gone?¡± His gaze lingered, a flicker of concern breaking through his typically measured demeanor.


    Astra nodded, and with a final glance at Bootstrap, he made his way over to the children. They looked up at him with wide, worn out eyes, not used to strangers stopping for them. Astra knelt down, offering them a gentle smile.


    ¡°Um, would you kids like some food?¡± he asked softly.


    One of the children, a little girl with matted hair and a determined face, nodded. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°We haven¡¯t eaten in a few days.¡±


    Astra believed them since he¡¯s familiar with what hunger looks like and reached into his pouch, pulling out some small pieces of dense bread he had saved from their last world. He handed it to the girl who took it with both hands, her eyes lighting up with gratitude. The other children crowded around, and Astra distributed what little food he had, reminding them to eat slowly, and vowing to find more. Bootstrap didn¡¯t want to stand there all covered up looking like a grim reaper silently staring so he also gave them a couple of meat jerky from his bag.


    As they finish up the meal Astra asked them where do they normally stay. With reluctance, the first little girl told him she can show him since she can tell he was a nice man. The group of kids led Astra and Bootstrap passed barred up shops, partially obscured alleyways, and through an old sewer grate to a clearing outside the main city.


    Arriving at the little broken down orphanage at the outskirts of the city, Astra saw several other children talking to an elderly lady.


    Seeing the way the children held on to her dress, Astra deduced, She must be the caretaker for these children. Astra walks toward the old lady and introduces himself.


    ¡°Um hi, I¡¯m Astra and this is my friend Bootstrap. Are you in charge of the children here?¡± Astra said.


    ¡°Hmm. Bootstrap is a strange name, but who am I to judge. Yes, I am the owner and caretaker of this orphanage,¡± the old lady replied slowly.


    The old lady had light olive skin and dark gray hair tied up in a tight bun. She had a very kind but worried look on her face. The old lady politely introduced herself as Lucy and told Astra and Bootstrap about the orphanage. ¡°This place used to be a school before the war for independence, but now, it¡¯s a shelter for orphans. To be honest, we do not get very many visitors around these parts so we don¡¯t necessarily need any help with any troubles.¡±


    Lucy continued cautiously. ¡°I don¡¯t mind you gentlemen staying for a couple of days to keep the children company, but if the military catch wind of foreigners here, they will come knocking on our doors with more than just words and questions.¡± Her eyebrows turned upwards in the center creating worry lines across her forehead. ¡°Please don¡¯t endanger the children.¡±


    Knowing how helpless people normally feel during war time, Astra decided to not stir up trouble. ¡°If my presence could cause trouble for these kids, I should try to help them out with something that¡¯ll have lasting effects. What did I need help with when I was little?¡± Astra pondered out loud. Memories of his own battles against the broken system gnawed at him. He remembered all those futile attempts to punch his way through walls that never budged. His mind, not his fists, had always been his true weapon. Now, watching these kids struggle against the same invisible barriers, wisdom from his city streets stirred in his thoughts. He could arm them with something more valuable than fighting skills. He could give them the special knowledge that had saved him, lessons carved from surviving in his own wasteland.


    ¡°Pickpocketing!¡± exclaimed Astra as he gathered the five children that he thought were the fastest. ¡°The best way to get all the rewards with no hard work. Well, maybe a little hard work.¡±


    Bootstrap slaps the back of Astra¡¯s head, sighing. ¡°And here I had hoped you actually had a good plan.¡±


    Astra rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you are above stealing. I mean, you¡¯ve probably done some questionable stuff on your travels too,¡± Retorted Astra, remembering the time Bootstrap stole the swamp cultists money.


    ¡°Whether or not I¡¯ve done it before is irrelevant,¡± Bootstrap said firmly, his voice taking on the tone of a seasoned mentor. ¡°The fact remains, yours is a terrible idea. Wrong place, wrong time, and absolutely the wrong approach. All you¡¯d accomplish is setting them on a course for trouble down the line. What we should be doing,¡± he continued, his eyes narrowing with calculated precision, ¡°is teaching them practical skills like how to fish in the river to the south or gather scrap metal from the junkyard to trade for coin. That¡¯s how you equip them for survival, not by making rash decisions.¡±


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s one idea. We will do it your way for now, but how do you know where the river and junkyard is?¡± Astra asked.


    ¡°I have runes on me that you couldn¡¯t begin to imagine so believe me when I inform you, I am ready for any possibility, unlike you.¡± Teased Bootstrap.


    So, yeah. I am going to need to ask him more about these runes and magic stuff that he has on him later. Sounds like juicy new skills to learn after we settle the business with these little guys here, Astra thought.


    So all seven children and Astra gathered around the riverbed next to Bootstrap the next morning. While listening to Bootstrap demonstrating trapping methods and material management to the other children, one particular little girl named Clara tugged on Astra¡¯s shirt. He recognized her as the first little girl that he spoke to on the first day.


    The girl looked up at him, her expression curious. ¡°Mister, why¡¯s your name Astra? Isn¡¯t that a girl¡¯s name?¡±


    The question caught Astra off guard. It wasn¡¯t the first time anyone had asked him that, but as he opened his mouth to reply, he realized something even more surprising. The girl was speaking his language. He took it for granted that he would need the translation rune on every world, but he realized that he could understand the words that were flowing out of her mouth. Her words resonated in his mind. The realization that this must be the same planet that he was from, hit him even harder. It occurred to him that his entire planet is riddled with war.


    Astra realized that he did not know how this war even started just that it was slowly devouring his entire planet. Of course, there are no safe places in this god forsaken world anymore, thought Astra. It would seem that no matter where I go there will be someone¡¯s making their problems everyone else¡¯s problem. Astra wanted to say this but kept it to himself instead. He did not want to worry the children even more if he could help it.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not really my name,¡± Astra said after a moment of thinking, his voice quiet. ¡°I don¡¯t really know my real name or who my parents were. Like, they could be anyone. I would like to think they were some rural royals running away from war, or maybe, they were scientists who found out some secret they shouldn¡¯t have. But, truly, I don¡¯t know anything about them no matter how hard I try.¡±


    Astra¡¯s finger tugged at a loose thread on his shirt, his mind wondering into the past. ¡°I was found in a pile of rubble by an old witch. Umm, my country was at war, just like this one. A lot of things happened, and the bad men attacked my town. So, everyone was gone except me. Why or how it was me remains a mystery. Sometimes, I think to myself that it should have been someone else; however, this is reality and it is what it is.¡±


    The children, now all listening, waited intently, their eyes wide with sympathy.


    ¡°Yeah, the witch was a wanderer,¡± Astra continued, his gaze distant as he remembered. ¡°She found me while she was scavenging for supplies. For some reason, she took me in. She was¡­ eccentric, weird, to say the least. She had a unique way of talking to you like she was not exactly talking to you but talking to someone in you.¡±


    A gentle sigh left his lips. ¡°Yeah, life wasn¡¯t too bad. From what I can remember, she was a good teacher too. She taught me how to read, how to write, and survive. Like for example, she taught me that opportunities are often missed by people because it is dressed in overalls and looked like work. I still use that to motivate me to today. She told me that it was a famous quote from an old inventor she hated. Oh, and she loved the stars. It was one of the few things that felt like home to her. No matter where she traveled to, she could still see the same old stars in the sky watching over her. Umm, she also believed she could see the future in them. Her eyes would sparkle and glow when he spoke about the stars.¡±


    Astra let out a little chuckle. ¡°She was kind of wacky. Maybe, it was because she didn¡¯t have a good start in life either. Just like me she was also an orphan of war so she didn¡¯t like to settle or even give her real name to anyone. Yeah, I supposed because of me she settled down in the neighboring country. It actually felt nice to have a little home. It was supposed to be a safer country, but war is like a cancer. It spreads and does not stop. When you least expect it, it shows up.¡±


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    Astra¡¯s hand curled into a tight fist and took a deep breath. Sighing, he continued, ¡°One day without warning, the fighting reached our new home. That quiet morning she went out to get food and¡­ just never came back. The morning passed, then the afternoon came. She didn¡¯t even come home for tea. I waited all day for her. Eventually, soldiers came instead, and they told me she was dead. Like, I didn¡¯t even get a chance to tell her good-bye. I didn¡¯t even have time to cry. They just bombarded me with questions. They asked me if I had any family, where I would go, and for my name.¡±


    ¡°She never gave me a name,¡± Astra said softly. ¡°She just called me ¡®boy.¡¯ I didn¡¯t have any of those things. So, I gave them the only name I could think of, Astra. It was the name of the old witch, the only person who had ever cared for me. I had no family when she found me either, but losing the old witch was somehow worse. At least I didn¡¯t remember losing my parents so it didn¡¯t hurt as much as this.¡±


    Shaking his head, he continued, ¡°Anyway, I ended up going with the soldiers to a bigger city.¡±


    The children were silent, absorbing the whole story. Clara who had spoken earlier looked at him with a newfound understanding. ¡°So, she¡¯s still with you, even now. She¡¯s in your name, Mr. Astra.¡±


    Astra smiled, a warmth spreading through him at the thought. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I think she is. Every time I hear the name Astra, I feel like she¡¯s watching over me. Maybe it was destiny. Yeah, destiny.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Oh. Astra can you tell us how stars work? What are they?¡± yelled a child in the back.


    ¡°Hey, did the witch show you how to cast magic?¡± asked another child.


    ¡°Did she really see the future?¡± chimed in another one.


    Astra also noticed that Bootstrap was listening intently to his story too. Bootstrap appeared to be reminiscing about something with a hum of regret as Astra finished his story.


    The children huddled closer to him, and for the first time in a long time, Astra felt the warmth of belonging. A real connection to these lost souls who reminded him so much of himself. Even if his foster homes always had heaters to keep the house warm, he had never felt this kind of warmth before. He didn¡¯t know how long they would stay in this world, but for now, he knew that helping these children was the right thing to do. It was something he wished another person would have done for him.


    The days spent with the children at the orphanage were some of the best days that Astra had in a long time. The children loved him, and he felt like he had a purpose there. Bootstrap also took an active mentor role to the children and Astra when it came to proper schooling. Bootstrap and Astra both served as tutors for the children when it came to life skills. Bootstrap also showed Astra some small tips about magic too namely just how to spot a magic user and some of their common traps.


    Bootstrap sighed deeply as he watched Astra huddled with two of the children, clearly ignoring earlier warnings. The young man was demonstrating how to move quietly and lift an item unnoticed, a skill that had the kids wide-eyed with excitement.


    Meanwhile, Bootstrap and the other children worked on something more practical. He focused on teaching them how to scout for edible plants, locate fresh water, and identify safe places to sleep within the ruins of the city. ¡°These are the skills that will keep you alive,¡± he said, his tone both patient and authoritative. ¡°Surviving is not about stealing; it¡¯s about adapting. You outlast trouble by being smarter than it.¡±


    Astra reassured the children that it was a useful skill regardless of what Bootstrap thought. Pickpocketing was a core skill that Astra had developed to survive in his daily life. Whether it was getting his money back from his abusive father or stealing lunch money from the rich kids at school, that skill is what kept him alive. Even going beyond just being a survival skill for Astra, pickpocketing became a skill that gave him back a bit of control in his life as one of the few things that he had a choice in the matter.


    Among the children, there was one that Astra was the closest with. One that Astra felt like he could see a bit of himself in. Clara was the oldest kid at the orphanage at about ten years old. She was the fastest and most clever of the children. She had a real knack for reading people and by extension really good at picking pockets. There was a certain resilience in her that Astra can¡¯t seem to ignore, almost like she was born to be something greater and she knew it. She was also an eternal optimist for which Astra loved her for especially considering the circumstances. Astra also got to know Damian who was a mischief maker. He liked to make sarcastic remarks at every situation, but deep down, he cared a lot about everyone, helping with all the chores without being asked. He was meticulous and quick witted which made it all the more frustrating when he was pulling pranks on people. Then, there was Sarah, who would always try to feed everyone before she ate for herself. She was very down to earth and hard working above all. She did her best to keep the peace between all the children, but truth be told, she caused a lot of the arguments herself. Finally, the mother to them all, Lucy, was the most humbling of them all. She sacrificed so much of her life to raising orphans in this city. She sold all of her belongings from back when her family had money and power to stay here with the children who had no means to leave the city. Despite being an old lady she still had a fiery spirit and will fight off anyone even soldiers who approach the house with bad intentions. There were plenty of times when Astra could see himself just staying here and protecting this small house filled with kids forever.


    But life had a unique way of keeping the story going; soon, it was time to leave. Bootstrap¡¯s patience was up by the end of the month, and so, the two started to pack up. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to grab all your extra clothing. I know we were both pretty active here, but don¡¯t forget all your essentials,¡± Bootstrap lectured.


    There wasn¡¯t too much to pack since neither of them brought much to the orphanage to begin with. They were ready to leave before late afternoon. As they were both starting to leave, Clara runs up to Astra yelling for them to stop for one final good bye.


    ¡°Astra! Astra! Hold up. I have one more thing for you. Before you leave I managed to ¡®find¡¯ this fancy deck of playing cards or some kind of cards after some snooty rich guy in town dropped them.¡± Clara rejoiced with a playful wink so that Bootstrap wouldn¡¯t think she was out stealing. ¡°I just want you both to have something to remember us by before you guys leave.¡±


    Astra laughed and avoided Bootstrap¡¯s glare. Bootstrap had caught on to what Astra was doing a while ago but was waiting for him to confess to Bootstrap himself. Somewhere along the way Astra had learned to lighten up and be comfortable around everyone especially Bootstrap. He felt like he can be more free around Bootstrap. But, that also meant he¡¯ll definitely hear about that one later. Astra also thought that he would miss Clara infinitely more.


    She was a breath of fresh air with her cheerful smile and positive demeanor every day. Even now she stayed positive and even went out of her way to get Bootstrap and Astra a parting gift. However, Astra looked at the deck, and the impact of what he saw knocked the wind out of him. It was the same deck of cards the fortune teller had back at the market. It gave off an ominous feeling. It was a deck embroidered with a black cat on it and the written words ¡°Boo¡± on it.


    In that moment, it was like time stood still. Something wasn¡¯t quite right, but Astra couldn¡¯t tell what it was until it all happened. An explosion ripped through the air, its force slamming into Astra¡¯s bones and hurling him, Clara, and Bootstrap in different directions. The blast pierced his eardrums with a familiar signature that churned his stomach. A ringing filled his ears. Familiar with military grade explosive, Astra¡¯s instinct kicked in. His stomach turned when he surveyed the surrounding area.


    The world swayed and muffled around him like he¡¯d sunk beneath murky waters. Only two thought cut through the thick fog of his mind, Clara. Where was Clara? Was that all my fault? His legs felt like lead weights as the high-pitched whine drowned out everything else. His heart thundered against his ribs as his vision darted through the chaos, desperate for any sign of her. The all-enveloping guilt of everything that lead up to the event suffocated his heart.


    W-was this all because I taught her to steal?


    Finally, he saw that Bootstrap was already up and carrying Clara across the field to the orphanage at speeds with which humans should not be capable of. Through the haze, Bootstrap¡¯s form blazed with ethereal light, his runic tattoos igniting in a kaleidoscope of colors as he sprinted toward the orphanage. Clara¡¯s body laid limp in Bootstraps arms. His heart raced as Astra panned over to see two menacing man in cloaks approached the orphanage. I doubted they are here for a tea party. I can¡¯t let anything else happen to the kids. Astra thought as he balled his hands into fist.


    Uh, what am I even doing? Bootstrap was up and ready instantly, and I am just rolling around pathetically. I am not a kid anymore. I have to do something to get their attention while Bootstrap gets everyone to safety, Astra reasoned.


    ¡°Yo, hey! If you two were looking for a good time, I believe the gentlemen¡¯s club was in the other direction. Or maybe you two can just go fuck yourself!¡± Astra screamed.


    Astra hoped in his head. I can¡¯t hear worth a damn over this high pitched ringing in my head, but I¡¯m sure they got the message.


    The two looked at him, but didn¡¯t pay him any mind otherwise. Astra pissed off at the whole situation, picked up some rocks and started throwing them at one of the man. If there was one thing Astra was good at, it was annoying people. The rock nailed him straight in the head like it was guided by magic. The rock ignited the man¡¯s fury. The man took out a card from his pocket and threw it in Astra¡¯s direction, and it blew up with bang just like before. Astra ducked just in time, the card slicing past as he rolled to the side and charged toward the man at full speed.


    Oh okay, so that was him earlier with the explosion. So was it a different kind of magic or tech because I didn¡¯t see any magic glow, thought Astra as he made more mental notes to ask Bootstrap later.


    When Astra got near to the man, he recognized the man¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t the man¡¯s feature that stood out to Astra, but it was the moment that he shared with his son that made Astra remember him. It was the poor busy monk from the previous world. If this was part of his business trip, then he was not the kind of guy Astra had initially thought he was.


    ¡°Hey, does your son know your are out here literally killing innocent children for business?¡± Questioned Astra.


    Those words startled the monk just enough for Astra to close the gap and wound up to punch the monk. However, just as Astra was about to land the punch, the other man, who looked like what you would get if you crossed a meth head with a bodybuilder, intercepted Astra¡¯s arm and performed a textbook one armed shoulder throw. The world spun as his attacker executed a perfect shoulder throw, slamming Astra into the ground with enough force to explode dust and dirt into the air. Astra¡¯s lungs emptied on impact. Before he could recover, a massive knee crashed into his stomach, pinning him like an insect. The behemoth loomed over him, turning each of Astra¡¯s breaths into a desperate struggle against the crushing weight. Questions poured from above, but Astra could barely focus as his chest compressed like a balloon in a vice grip, ribs creaking under the relentless pressure.


    ¡°Where is the stone?¡± One of them said sharply. ¡°I should have known it was you when I first saw you on Kukulkan.¡± He hissed.


    Without missing a beat, the two men roughed Astra up a bit then started to dig in his bag looking for the gemstone. Their hands moved quickly, rifling through his bag and yanking at his pockets with practiced efficiency. One even went further, tugging at Astra¡¯s boots in search of the gemstone. The bigger one started to lift up his fist in anger again, but this time it started to glow. The nearby dust and dirt was starting to rise and form on his fist.


    Fortunately for Astra, at that moment, Bootstrap came back to whack the monk in the head with a wooden chair leg effectively taking him out of the fight. Then, like a skilled assassin, Bootstrap fired off a string of words for an incantation and stabbed the big guy in the chest with an odd shaped glowing blade. There was no hesitation at all as he pulled the dagger out leaving the big guy¡¯s body to slump down to the ground.


    Bootstrap wiped the blood soaked blade on the big buy¡¯s cloak. ¡°Come on we have to take the little man too. and I¡¯ll not have the children endangered on our account. The risk grows with every moment we linger. Gather your belongings from the ground, quickly. We¡¯re jumping, and we¡¯re jumping now.¡± Bootstrap said with utmost urgency as he scanned the surrounding area.


    He pulled the hurt Astra along to where the old monk was lying down like a dad pulling a tired child along. Astra, who was still recovering from his beating, felt a sense of reluctance as he saw the big guy¡¯s lifeless body hit the ground. Even though he has seen dead bodies before, he never saw someone die right before his very eyes. The feeling unsettled Astra, but he pulled himself together in time for Bootstrap to dig in his bag. He didn¡¯t want to feel bad for the big guy since he knew what could happen to all the children if he did survive, but Astra didn¡¯t want to feel like he caused this death either.


    What is going to happen to the kids¡­ I don¡¯t know if I even want to know. Astra thought as he felt ashamed of himself for not being able to take responsibility.


    First, Bootstrap yanked a length of rope from his bag, his movements practiced and deliberate, as he bound the monk¡¯s hands tightly. His eyes remained focused, sharp with suspicion. Then, he reached back into his bag for the next item. Pulling the gemstone out of his bag, Bootstrap activated the gemstone transporting all three of them to the next place.


    The world warped and twisted as Astra clung to Bootstrap¡¯s arm. The sickening lurch of the jump magic ended as abruptly as it began, depositing them in a dimly lit forest. The oppressive darkness seemed alive, the air thick with an almost tangible malevolence. Shadows hung heavy in the air, and the dim light filtering through the thick canopy did little to alleviate the oppressive atmosphere. The ground was uneven, damp, and covered in gnarled roots that clawed at their boots. Astra staggered to his feet, clutching his stomach as the nausea of post-jumping sickness hit him.


    "Where¡­ where are we?" Astra asked, his voice shaky. Astra began to comment on his surrounding, but the sudden urge to go puke interrupted his thoughts as he ran towards some bushes off to the side.


    Bootstrap, already scanning the surroundings, muttered, "Not anywhere I recognize," he muttered. "That¡¯s peculiar." His tone carried an edge of unease.


    Behind them, the monk stirred, groaning as he tried to sit up. The monk¡¯s normally composed demeanor was rattled, and post jumping sickness had taken its toll. His sharp eyes flicked around the forest, narrowing in thought. ¡°This place¡­¡± the monk trailed off, furrowing his brow. ¡°I have seen it before. It feels familiar, but I cannot quite place it.¡±


    Bootstrap turned to him, his tone sharp. ¡°Start talking, Eadrich. What are you guys doing here and who do you work for?¡±


    When Eadrich hesitated, Bootstrap grabbed the rope binding his wrists and gave it a sharp tug, forcing the monk to meet his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve got one chance to explain,¡± Bootstrap said, his tone low and commanding. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. I know where your family is. You know I¡¯ll do what I have to.¡± His words were calm, measured, but they carried the weight of a man who wasn¡¯t bluffing.


    Eadrich paled, his usually composed mask slipping as fear flickered across his face. ¡°Wait,¡± he stammered. ¡°How do you know about them? About my family?¡±


    ¡°I know more about you than you know about me, monk.¡± Bootstrap said in a low commanding tone.


    Eadrich swallowed hard, his defiance crumbling under the weight of Bootstrap¡¯s words. ¡°You¡­ you have something the Shadow Garden wants,¡± he admitted. ¡°Something they believe belongs to them. But it¡¯s too late, Wanderer. Even if you handed it over, they wouldn¡¯t spare your lives.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Why? What¡¯s their endgame? They already have the means to jump dimensions. What more could they want with the gemstone?¡±


    The grim question hung in the air.

 Once Upon a Star

    A grim smile tugged at Eadrich¡¯s lips, his composure returning in pieces. ¡°Oh, this is bigger than you or me,¡± he said, his voice tinged with a dark edge. ¡°It involves the God of Shadows. To most, he¡¯s just a forgotten god, a relic of old tales. But to the Shadow Garden, he¡¯s the God of Antimatter, the God of the New World. And with his power, we can reset this broken, corrupted world.¡±


    Astra, who had just returned from the bushes, froze mid-step. ¡°Wait,¡± he interjected, his voice incredulous. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just steal the gemstone from us? Instead of trying to fight us head on, then?¡± Asked Astra coming back from the bushes.


    Eadrich¡¯s smirk deepened. ¡°Oh, I see you did not tell the boy everything. The gemstone can¡¯t just be stolen by anyone. Once the user has been given the gem they must willingly give it up to another person or no one else can use it. It is linked to the user¡¯s soul. If someone takes it from the primary user then after a certain distance from the primary user, it will reappear back in that person¡¯s possession like it was never gone. It¡¯s not so easy to take, you see?¡± His eyes narrowed as he spoke in a low voice, like a predator sensing weakness.¡°So how did you even end up with it?¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°The gemstone isn¡¯t what matters right now. Did you say Shadow Garden is releasing the God of shadows? You think that¡¯s a solution? You¡¯re playing with forces you can¡¯t control.¡±


    Eadrich¡¯s face was replaced with cold determination. ¡°It is not about control. It is about survival. The gods have destroyed the world before, Wanderer. Us mortals have no choice but to fight back even if that means we have to team up with the God of shadows. The Father is our only hope for us to make this world right. The Father is the only one strong enough to command the god of shadows or, at the very least, take its power.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re delusional,¡± Bootstrap snapped. ¡°The gods didn¡¯t destroy the world out of malice. Humanity¡¯s greed drove them to act. The God of matter split itself into two to come down to our realm to help humans thrive, and how did we repay it? With betrayal.¡±


    Bootstrap laughed, a bitter sound that echoed in the dense fog surrounding them. ¡°It¡¯s laughable that you think some deranged man can handle the power of a primordial god like the God of shadows. Do you understand the magnitude of what you¡¯re dealing with, monk?¡±


    Eadrich straightened, his posture betraying none of the unease creeping into his expression. ¡°And yet, here you are, defending beings who have wiped entire civilizations off the face of existence.¡± His tone was cold, precise. ¡°You speak of betrayal, but you conveniently omit the wrathful retribution that followed. The God of antimatter¡¯s rampage left scars that have yet to heal. We are still cleaning up their mess, Wanderer.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing with an almost paternal frustration. ¡°So, the solution is to ally yourself with that same God of antimatter? Brilliant,¡± he retorted, his sarcasm cutting.


    Eadrich¡¯s lips curled in a faint sneer. ¡°The Father has his ways.¡±


    Caught between their heated argument, Astra raised his hands. ¡°Wait, what betrayal? What are you talking about?¡± His voice cracked slightly, betraying his unease as his gaze darted between the two men.


    Bootstrap softened slightly as he turned to Astra. ¡°You deserve to know the truth,¡± he began, his voice steady and deliberate. ¡°In the beginning, there were two primordial gods: the God of matter and the God of antimatter. They existed in perfect harmony until the God of matter, curious about mortals, split into two: the God of space and the God of time. Together, they gave us magic, knowledge, and the chance to thrive. But humanity¡¯s greed¡­ it drove them to trap the God of space, believing they could take its power for themselves. That betrayal led to a cataclysm that nearly destroyed everything.¡±


    ¡°Convenient story,¡± Eadrich scoffed, his scholar¡¯s skepticism cutting through Bootstrap¡¯s narrative. ¡°You omit the crucial part where the gods, in their fury, annihilated entire civilizations. The mortals who survived bore witness to the wrath of beings who cared little for the lives they supposedly nurtured.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°That destruction was not senseless. It was a response to the unimaginable treachery of mortals. The gods gave us everything: magic, prosperity, knowledge. And what did we give in return? Chains.¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± Eadrich shot back, his voice rising, ¡°you defend those who have shown time and time again that mortals are expendable. It is time we mortals took back control. The Father is the only one strong enough to command the God of shadows or, at the very least, take its power to reset this broken world.¡±


    Bootstrap stepped forward, his tone low and dangerous. ¡°You speak of control, but it is hubris, plain and simple. Do you think The Father, or anyone, can harness a primordial god¡¯s power without consequences?¡±


    Astra¡¯s head spun as the tension crackled around him. He opened his mouth to interject, to question further, when a chilling, commanding voice whispered directly into his ear.


    Save the world, Astra. Forget Bootstrap. Humanity has angered the gods before. Do not repeat their mistakes. Bootstrap lies. He has lied to you too. He blames you for hurting the children. You shouldn¡¯t have taught them to steal.


    Astra froze. The voice was calm yet insidious, its words wrapping around his thoughts like tendrils of smoke. He glanced at Bootstrap, who was glaring at Eadrich, completely unaware of the voice. Astra¡¯s heart pounded. Who is speaking to me right now? Is it telling the truth?


    Doubt took root, gnawing at the edges of his resolve.


    Before Astra could speak, a thick fog rolled in, carrying with it a wave of tingling.


    Bootstrap¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the surrounding forest, his expression hardening. ¡°A curse...,¡± he muttered, his voice carrying an edge of urgency. ¡°There¡¯s something in the air¡­ it¡¯s making me drowsy.¡±


    His accusing glare shot to Eadrich. ¡°This has your fingerprints all over it.¡±


    Eadrich, his face pale but resolute, shook his head. ¡°This is not my doing, Wanderer. It is affecting me too.¡± His cautious gaze shifted, scanning the surroundings. ¡°As a matter of fact, I believe I know this magic. It is no ordinary sleeping spell. It is a curse that binds itself to recent magic users. This is the cursed forest of Ya-te-veo.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°I can cleanse it, but I will need time to observe the mana signature and draw a circle. Astra, keep an eye on him.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Eadrich countered, swaying slightly as the curse began to take hold. ¡°A simple cleansing spell will backfire. This curse is rooted in the environment. We will need arcane magic to track and dispel the curse. We must find its source and destroy it.¡±


    ¡°And how do you suggest we do that while we¡¯re being incapacitated?¡± Bootstrap growled.


    Eadrich grimaced, swaying slightly as the curse began to take hold. ¡°I¡­ I know this curse. It is tied to a magic plant. There is a cursed seedling nearby. Destroy it, and the curse will break.¡±


    Bootstrap and Eadrich both collapsed moments later, their breaths shallow as the curse overtook them. Astra, unaffected, knelt between them, panic rising. Both men had told him what to do, but who could he trust?


    ¡°Wake me first,¡± Eadrich had said, ¡°so I can pinpoint the seedling.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, Astra,¡± Bootstrap had said, his voice steady. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you. We need to work together to get out.¡±


    The voice whispered again, Bootstrap lies as all men do. Does he trust you? He knows the truth. Abandon them there and seek the truth.


    Astra¡¯s hands trembled as he stared at the two unconscious men, each embodying a different path forward. The weight of his decision pressed down on him as the cursed forest seemed to close in, the malevolent whispers growing louder.


    What if the voice is right? I can¡¯t trust either of them, but I have a feeling Eadrich does know more about this forest than Bootstrap right now.


    Bootstrap could cleanse the curse, but Eadrich knew it. He¡¯d recognized the magic immediately. He¡¯d said he could lead Astra to the source and end it for good.


    And that was what Astra needed right now, action. He needed to do something, anything, to break free from the choking fog of doubt.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he murmured to himself, trying to steady his breathing. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wake Eadrich.¡±


    Astra reached for the smelling salts Bootstrap had in his bag. His hands trembled as he uncorked the vial, the sharp scent stinging his nose. But still, he hesitated.


    What if the voice was right? What if this was a mistake?


    The thought gnawed at him, but he forced himself to push it aside. I don¡¯t know if I can trust Bootstrap. I don¡¯t know if I can trust Eadrich. Hell, I don¡¯t know if I can even trust myself. But right now, Eadrich is my best shot at breaking this curse.


    With a determined nod, Astra pressed the vial under Eadrich¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Please,¡± Astra whispered, his voice shaking. ¡°Please let this be the right choice.¡±


    Eadrich woke with a sharp gasp, his body jerking upright as if pulled by invisible strings. His eyes darted around the dense forest before landing on Astra. ¡°Thank you, Astra,¡± he said, his voice steady despite the strain laced in his words.


    Astra nodded, helping Eadrich to his feet. ¡°What now? How do we stop this thing?¡±


    ¡°As an arcane mage, I can sense the mana in the natural world,¡± Eadrich explained, his tone formal and clipped as he composed himself. ¡°It is faint, but I can trace the source of the curse. The plant must be nearby.¡± He turned and began to walk, his steps measured but unsteady.


    Astra followed closely, gripping Eadrich¡¯s arm occasionally to steady him. The oppressive silence of the forest pressed in on them, broken only by the rustle of leaves underfoot.


    After some time, Eadrich slowed, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the shadows. His breath hitched. ¡°The plant¡­ it is close,¡± he rasped, his fingers twitching as he conjured a small pulse of arcane energy. The ground glowed faintly beneath them, guiding their gaze deeper into the forest. ¡°There!¡± He pointed, his arm trembling.


    Astra squinted in the direction Eadrich indicated, his heart sinking as the glow revealed massive, writhing vines that seemed to writhe with a life of their own. The cursed plant loomed ahead like a nightmare made flesh.


    ¡°Can you destroy it?¡± Astra asked, gripping Eadrich¡¯s arm as he swayed on his feet.


    Eadrich thought for a minute then shook his head, swaying. ¡°I seems I can locate it, but if I use too much magic, I¡¯ll¡­¡± He slumped against a tree, fighting to stay awake. ¡°This might be too hard to fight by myself... His words trailed off as he slumped against a tree, his breaths shallow. ¡°This curse is¡­ more potent than I anticipated.¡±


    He looked up at Astra, his face etched with reluctance. ¡°We might need your friend¡¯s help to stop this for I cannot do it alone.¡±


    The voice entered his head again. ¡°What if you are the one who is asleep and all of this is just a dream. There is only one way to find out. When people die in there dreams they wake up.¡±


    The voice was making Astra feel even more confused than he already was.


    Astra¡¯s stomach churned with guilt as he glanced back toward Bootstrap, still unconscious on the forest floor. With a heavy sigh, he dug into Bootstrap¡¯s bag and pulled out the familiar vial of smelling salts.


    Kneeling beside Bootstrap, Astra uncorked the vial and held it under his mentor¡¯s nose. A moment later, Bootstrap jolted awake with a sharp gasp, his eyes darting wildly until they landed on Astra.


    ¡°Astra!¡± Bootstrap exclaimed, relief washing over his features. Without hesitation, he pulled Astra into a firm hug. ¡°You¡¯re okay. Thank goodness.¡±


    Astra stiffened, the weight of his earlier decision gnawing at him. He returned the hug hesitantly, his guilt threatening to overwhelm him.


    ¡°Time is of the essence. We need to cleanse our mana¡­¡± Bootstrap¡¯s voice trailed off as he saw Eadrich standing in the distance watching them.


    Bootstrap pulled back, his gaze softening. His expression grew unreadable for a moment before he patted Astra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± he said gently. ¡°You made a call. I trust you, Astra. We¡¯ll figure this out together. Now, let me in on what has happened so far.¡±


    Relief swept through Astra as he nodded. ¡°We found the cursed plant, but the curse is too strong for Eadrich to fight alone. He says it¡¯s drawing mana from the magic we use around it, and if he casted magic near it, he would be put to sleep before he could stop the plant. It ¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. ¡°The plant must be using the curse as a defense mechanism, feeding on unsuspecting prey who uses magic near it. Clever.¡± He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°We¡¯ll need a sigil to reverse the curse, but it¡¯ll need to be placed directly on the plant¡¯s core.¡±


    Eadrich, still leaning against the tree, added, ¡°I will imbue one of my cards with a dispersal spell to target the cursed seed within the plant once your sigil reverse the curse back into the plant.¡± He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small deck of cards with shaking hands. ¡°However, Astra¡­ you must deliver as no one else here can get close for long.¡±


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Together they came up with the plan for Astra, who was immune to the curse since he has never casted magic before, to go and draw the sigil around the plant and placed the card on the plant.


    They followed the glowing path on the ground placed by Eadrich to the cursed plant. The plant loomed ahead, its massive vines writhing as if alive. The air around it shimmered with an unnatural heat.


    Eadrich cast one last spell, activating a deck of cards with a powerful dispersal spell. ¡°Use these,¡± he said, handing them to Astra. ¡°Place them at the plant¡¯s core. But¡­ be careful. The vines¡­¡± His eyes fluttered closed as he succumbed to the curse again.


    Bootstrap caught Eadrich as he slumped backwards. Dropping the monk on the floor, he said, ¡°The curse is especially strong here around the plant. I can grasp a better understanding of the curse from here with its potency being this high.¡±


    Bootstrap handed Astra a piece of paper with the sigil drawn on it. ¡°Be careful of the vines, we have no idea if there are more magic on them or not. Be fast but don¡¯t forget the picture of the sigil I need you to draw on the ground. I¡¯ll guide you from here. You got this.¡±


    Astra steeled himself, clutching the cards and the sigil diagram. The plant¡¯s vines lashed out, nearly taking his head off as he ducked. He dodged and weaved, his heart hammering as he closed the distance. He started to draw the sigil with a marker Bootstrap gave him. The voice whispered again, urging him to abandon Bootstrap and save himself, but Astra pushed it aside knowing now that Bootstrap would never do that to him.


    Just as he reached the plant¡¯s core, a vine whipped toward him. He braced for impact, but a blur of motion intercepted it. Bootstrap, bleeding from fresh wounds, held the vine back with one arm.


    The voice yelled in Astra¡¯s head. ¡°You are useless. You can¡¯t do anything by yourself. This is why all your foster parents hated you. That is why your parents left you. Just give up, give up already!¡±


    ¡°Finish it, Astra!¡± Bootstrap shouted, his voice strained. ¡°You can do this! I have your back.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s voice broke through the brain fog the sinister voice was putting Astra¡¯s brain through.


    ¡°But, if you cast any magic in here you will fall asleep,¡± Astra shouted back, trying his best to ignore the loud nagging voice in his head.


    Bootstrap braced against the vine as another one whipped out to attack him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Finish the sigil.¡±


    With tears in his eyes, Astra hastily drew the rest of the sigil Bootstrap had described, placing the cards at its center. The plant was an eerie shade of gray and green and as Astra looked at it, the plant looked back with its one eye. Then, Astra ran towards Bootstrap pulling him out from under the vines. Once Astra was out of range, Bootstrap mustered up enough magic to activate the magic circle on the ground succumbing to the sleeping curse.


    The sigil blazed to life with a searing burst of light, its energy slicing through the cursed air like a blade. The monstrous plant screeched as its vines thrashed wildly, and it disintegrated in a shower of sparks and gusts of wind. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, leaving the forest eerily still.


    ¡°You are destined to be alone. Destined to cause death and destruction¡­" The voice died slowly as it grew quieter and quieter until Astra could no longer hear the incessant whining. Slowly, the cursed magic dissipated, and both Eadrich and Bootstrap stirred as the spell¡¯s grip on them faded.


    Astra stumbled toward Bootstrap first, his legs still shaky from the ordeal. Dropping to his knees, he fumbled with a bandage from Bootstrap¡¯s pack. ¡°Come on, Boots. Don¡¯t leave me hanging now,¡± Astra muttered as he worked to bind the wounds the vines had left behind. ¡°Please, don¡¯t let this be some magical eternal sleep. Oh gods.¡±


    Astra nudged Bootstrap a couple more time to no avail.


    Astra knelt beside him, not giving up and starting to bandage Bootstrap¡¯s wounds. After a minute Bootstrap stirred then slowly, twitching finger by twitching fingers, he regained consciousness. Bootstrap looking at Astra, gave him a knowing smile. ¡°I see¡­ you¡¯re getting better at first aid,¡± he croaked, his voice tinged with humor despite his exhaustion. He winced slightly as Astra tightened the bandage.


    ¡°I had a good teacher,¡± Astra replied with a laugh, relief washing over him as Bootstrap regained more of his strength.


    Bootstrap¡¯s gaze softened, and he raised a hand to Astra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I understand why you chose Eadrich first,¡± he said, his tone quiet but steady. ¡°Just promise me¡­ when it really matters, you¡¯ll trust me.¡±


    Astra looked away, guilt flickering across his face before he smiled back at Bootstrap. ¡°I promise. I¡¯ll trust you from now on. Its just, I¡¯m, like, so used to looking out for myself first. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    Bootstrap gave Astra a reassuring smile. ¡°Then it seems I must demonstrate what it truly means to have someone stand beside you, to have your back, no matter the storm.¡±


    Having a renewed sense of self and awareness, Astra stood and turned toward the still unconscious Eadrich. His eyes narrowed as conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind. ¡°But do I even wake him up? He did try to kill us.¡±


    Bootstrap sighed, propping himself up with visible effort. ¡°We should. He owes us answers. Besides, he might prove useful if we can get him to see things our way.¡±


    With a reluctant nod, Astra walked over to Eadrich and used the remaining smelling salts to rouse him. The monk jolted awake, his sharp eyes darting around before landing on Astra. For a moment, his gaze softened, and he gave a faint nod. ¡°You two¡­ you are something else,¡± Eadrich said, his formal tone carrying a rare hint of approval. He stood, brushing leaves and dirt off his robe with meticulous precision. ¡°Now, let us leave this accursed forest before it claims another victim.¡±


    As they began their cautious journey out of the forest, Astra couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity. Falling into step beside Eadrich, he glanced at the monk. ¡°Umm, hey Eadrich. What¡¯s your deal anyway? How come you are working for the Shadow Garden?¡±


    Eadrich sighed, a deep, weary sound that seemed to carry the weight of decades. ¡°That is a long story,¡± he said, his tone measured. ¡°But I suppose I owe you something for saving me back there.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Astra said with a shrug, ¡°we¡¯ve got a long walk ahead of us. I mean, might as well pass the time.¡±


    Eadrich nodded, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked. ¡°To start, I will concede that humanity may bear more fault than the stories often admit. Perhaps we were in the wrong in those ancient times. But should we not strive to rectify our mistakes? Even if the methods are less than moral, is it not worth pursuing a greater good?¡± He glanced at Astra, his intelligent eyes searching for understanding. ¡°I still believe resetting the world is the best course of action.¡±


    Bootstrap, walking a few paces ahead, scoffed without turning around. ¡°Humans are at fault. That much is clear. There are still old poems about what happened, even though all the monuments and statues to the primordial gods were destroyed. You¡¯d think someone would¡¯ve learned by now.¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Astra interjected, his tone sharp. ¡°You¡¯ve got a family, don¡¯t you? I saw your son. You probably have a wife, too. How can you talk about resetting the world like it¡¯s no big deal? That¡¯s messed up.¡±


    Eadrich¡¯s jaw tightened, his composure faltering for a moment. ¡°My son¡­ he would be better off in a world free from this corruption,¡± he said quietly, his voice strained but resolute. ¡°As for my wife¡­¡± He paused, his eyes briefly clouded with pain. ¡°She is no longer with us. But I believe she would have agreed. She would have done the same.¡±


    ¡°Astra slowed his pace, processing Eadrich¡¯s words. ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± he muttered. ¡°How can you talk about your family like that? Like they¡¯re just¡­ pieces in some plan.¡±


    Eadrich¡¯s expression hardened, though his voice remained calm. ¡°Sometimes, to save what you love, you must be willing to sacrifice everything even your own attachments.¡±


    Bootstrap, still walking ahead, glanced over his shoulder. ¡°Spoken like a man who¡¯s given up.¡± His voice was calm, but his words carried an edge. ¡°Resetting the world won¡¯t erase the pain, Eadrich. It¡¯ll just create new scars.¡±


    Eadrich thought about it for a bit, then decided someone out there should at least know his story. ¡°If you must know, I will tell you my story though it is tiresome for me to talk about.¡±


    ¡°I was born to a great warrior family, but I was not always a warrior. I was born more frail than most boys in my clan. I was born with a heart defect the doctors all claim was going to be my undoing. So once my parents saw that, they decided to name me Eadrich which meant wealthy monarch as a kind of prayer to their god to allow me to have a good avenue in life. My parents thought if I was not meant to be a fighter, then I might as well be a rich academic. I grew up spending more time indoors reading and learning about the world instead of playing outside. I had no problems with that since books were more fun than anyone my age at the time anyway. So naturally, as I grew up I wanted to become a monk in the great arcane temple of Kukulkan. I heard they made decent money and had great respects in the village. Truthfully, there was something about the appeal of arcane magic that drew me in. The magic seemed to speak to me. There, I dedicated many years of my youth learning and training in the art of arcane magic. My parents were proud of me, and I thought that was all there was to life. In my small world, what else did I need?


    Life had a funny way of moving our story along though. That was when I met her. The one who changed my life. Izel. The day she walked into the temple, the world shifted on its axis. Time seemed to slow as she approached the prayer room I was manning. Her presence filled the space, driving all other thoughts from my mind. In that moment, I knew my life would never be the same.


    As she drew near, I was struck by her beauty, her long, sleek black hair cascading over her shoulders, her hazel eyes captivating and full of warmth. Her figure and even her aura was warm and gentle against the morning sun. But it wasn¡¯t just her appearance that enthralled me. There was a kindness in her smile, a gentleness in her voice that spoke to my very soul.


    She had walked up to me to ask me to show her how to pray for one of her sick family member. However, all I could think about was her perfect long sleek black hair, flawless face and captivating hazel eyes. After nearly fumbling this chance to talk to her, I showed her around the temple and taught her the sacred prayer to Kukulkan. It was a simple process, but I made sure to take my time explaining everything to her. I felt a connection forming between us, delicate yet undeniable. Eventually, that family member miraculously got better even healthier than when they were at their prime. She was overwhelmingly appreciative of me for helping her through that hard time. After this, she would come quite often either to pray for more family members or just the country in general.


    She was from a prominent family which would never usually be associated with my warrior family, but there she was. We lived in two totally different worlds. While she learned how to deal with political affairs of the country, I was dealing with smaller everyday problems. She was also such a kind soul which made me so baffled when she asked to see me outside of the temple. In the days and weeks that followed, Izel became my sun, and I, a planet caught in her orbit. Each visit to the temple was a gift, a chance to bask in her radiance. When she asked to see me outside the temple walls, my heart soared. To learn she felt the same way about me, it was like catching lightning in a bottle, a miracle I never thought possible.


    She had opened my eyes to more of the outside world. She took me outside the village and showed me how to fully appreciate the beauty of nature. In return, I took her inside the temple and showed her how to appreciate the beauty of the world¡¯s magic. Our love blossomed like a rare and precious flower, nurtured by shared moments of joy and wonder. Time flew by when I was with her. Within a few years, we were married and wanted to start a family. Sadly, we were having difficulties conceiving a baby. The doctors all said that she was not destined to be a mother. Well, Izel had other plans. She was having a baby whether the heavens allowed it or not. Her determination was one of her best quality. Eventually we had a miracle, a beautiful baby boy. When I first laid eyes on him I could not help but see that I held the entirety of my world in my arms. His tiny fingers, his squishy nose, and those beautiful hazel eyes. They were just like his mother¡¯s. We named him Tadeas because he felt like a true gift from god. However, it wasn¡¯t all flowers and rainbows. I knew my son was born a bit special, but I did not expected him to have that many health problems. I could not help but think it was my fault that he was born fragile. I was the same way when I was born. One day he grew sick, sicker than he had ever been before, and he just could not shake it. We fought tirelessly for our son, exhausting every option. We had tried everything from medicine to magic. Nothing worked.


    Out of desperation, we tried a prayer to Kukulkan just like when we prayed for Izel¡¯s family member on that first day. This time it costed us almost everything. The temple claimed that Kukulkan required gold, more gold than we had at the time. My job did not bring home a lot of gold. I always thought that gold was not the point of my job so I never thought about trying to ask for more. I felt like I failed my family. Izel did not see it that way. Izel, determined to not let anything happen to her baby, sold everything she owned to get the gold. To her money had always just been a means to an end. She did not need money in her life to be happy. Kukulkan must have been happy because the next day, our baby boy was all smiles and sunshine. That is the thing with gods though. They are never truly satisfied.


    Within weeks, our baby boy was sick again with seemingly the same illness. It was like a curse from god. Maybe it was all a punishment from god. It was a cruel fate. We went back to Kukulkan. He helped us before so why not try again. However, this time he demanded a human sacrifice. My world seemed to have shattered before my eyes. A life for a life¡­ Oh, the irony of my life. How could I decide who I loved more. What sane person would chose between the two love of their life. The thought of losing either of them was unbearable. So I decided, I would go perform the ritual when Izel was busy attending to our baby. Little did I know, Izel was one step ahead of me.


    Izel¡­ my brilliant, brave and beautiful Izel¡­ she was one step ahead.


    She always was. That was the kind of person she was. Behind her beautiful facade was a warrior who was always ready to fight for what she wanted. The moment I returned home and saw Tadeas sleeping peacefully alone, a sense of dread washed over me. It was a feel that is hard to describe in words. The note by his rocker confirmed my worst fears. In an instant, my world imploded. The bottomless pit opened beneath my feet swallowed me whole, leaving nothing but an aching void where my heart once beat. God knows, I never recovered from the shock of that moment. My sweet shooting star. She burned so bright, she fizzled out before her time¡­ She was gone, leaving behind only memories and a sleeping child who would never know the depth of his mother¡¯s love and sacrifice. It was supposed to be me¡­


    It was Kukulkan. He did this. The shock of that moment has never left me. The pain, the guilt, the rage, they have become my constant companions. Kukulkan may have granted our prayers, but at what cost? Did he even grant our prayers? Was it all a twisted game for him? He took my Izel, my everything. And for that, I vow he will pay. He was a lesser god, and he knew his power was weakening so he did whatever he could to get all the magic from as many human sacrifices he could. So, it was an easy decision when Shadow Garden showed up a year later telling me I could wield the power to kill gods and redo any regrets I had. It was an easy decision and I would have made the same decision again.¡±


    Eadrich ended his story with a far off stare that showed all the lost and regret that he normally hid.


    It was like even the universe was waiting to see if someone could speak up in that moment. After an uncomfortably long moment of silence, Astra spoke, ¡°Well, let¡¯s see. I think that there is no way that your wife would have wanted you to go down this path. To abandon everything she sacrificed her life for and to deny her a meaningful death.¡±


    ¡°I mean, I get where you are coming from now, but this anger and resentment that you hold on to even after knowing her intentions mean that deep down you have still not forgiven yourself for hesitating when she did not,¡± Astra continued.


    For a moment, Eadrich didn¡¯t respond. His silence was heavy, suffocating. Astra shifted uncomfortably, his stomach churning with the weight of his own words. He wanted to believe he was right, but doubt gnawed at him.


    What if I¡¯d been in Eadrich¡¯s place? Would I have been strong enough to choose differently? Astra thought.


    Eadrich¡¯s lips parted to reply, but he hesitated again. A flicker of pain crossed his face before he finally spoke, his tone sharp and defensive. ¡°I do not know what I believe anymore. But sadly, she is gone. She does not get a voice in this matter now; that is the thing about leaving. Maybe if she¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you even hear yourself?¡± Astra snapped, cutting him off, his eyes blazing. ¡°Are you seriously starting to blame her for all this? You¡¯ve gone so far down this road you can¡¯t even see it. You¡¯ve become the very thing you despise. You¡¯re trying to play god!¡±


    The words struck Eadrich like a thunderclap. His face flushed a deep crimson, his body stiffening as though bracing against a storm. For a moment, he looked like he might explode, his fists clenched at his sides. But then, slowly, he exhaled, his shoulders dropping as he forced a semblance of calm. The tension in his jaw betrayed the turmoil he still wrestled with. ¡°You are trying to play god.¡± The words clawed at him. These spoken words had knocked something loose in the solid walls that he built in his mind. Eadrich¡¯s voice lowered, barely audible. ¡°Playing god? No. I was just trying to stop a world that has forgotten how to save itself.¡±


    Astra took a step closer, his voice cutting through the stillness. ¡°And how do you think that¡¯s going to end, Eadrich? You can¡¯t fix this by destroying everything and starting over. That¡¯s not saving anything. That¡¯s running away.¡±


    Eadrich¡¯s eyes snapped up, his usual scholarly composure replaced by a flicker of desperation. ¡°You will not convince me to stop,¡± he said, his voice gaining strength, though it quivered at the edges. ¡°I have a duty to Shadow Garden, a promise to fulfill.¡±


    With a ghastly expression, he reached into his sleeve, retrieving a concealed card. ¡°I will let you and the Wanderer off this time for what you have done for me, but do not think that this is over.¡±


    The card began to glow, and Astra instinctively took a step back. Eadrich¡¯s gaze lingered on him for a fleeting second, unreadable, before he activated the card. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he added, ¡°Oh, and one more parting gift. They are tracking you through the mosquito bio-tracker in your neck.¡±


    With a puff of smoke and a shimmer of arcane energy, Eadrich disappeared, leaving Astra and Bootstrap standing in the now-silent clearing.


    Bootstrap stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he placed a steadying hand on Astra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let him go,¡± he said quietly, his tone calm but deliberate, each word chosen with care. ¡°Something tells me we¡¯ll cross paths with him again, one way or another. For now, we have bigger concerns.¡±


    Astra looked up at him, guilt and frustration swirling in his eyes. ¡°But what if he¡¯s right?¡± he asked softly. ¡°What if we really can¡¯t fix this? Are we even trying to fix the world?¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s gaze softened, and he offered a small, reassuring smile. ¡°Doubt is a sign you¡¯re asking the right questions. Keep asking them, Astra. But don¡¯t let the weight of the world keep you from moving forward.¡±


    ¡°Besides, we¡¯ve reached the outskirts of town. If we¡¯re to be prepared for the next confrontation, we¡¯ll need to procure some materials.¡±


    Together, they made their way out, the whispers and shadows of the forest finally silenced. But Astra couldn¡¯t shake the feeling their journey was far from over. The weight of what he had learned pressed on his mind, but for now, he walked forward, holding on to the hope they could still make things right.

 Nebula

    As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of amber and violet, Astra and Bootstrap finally emerged from the forest and arrived at the edge of a small village. Just before leaving the dense foliage behind, Bootstrap knelt by a cluster of plants growing precariously close to a patch of poisonous purple leaves. To Astra, the herbs looked like ordinary mugwort, nothing to write home about. But Bootstrap¡¯s sharp focus and careful hands suggested otherwise. Astra watched in quiet fascination. There was something about Bootstrap¡¯s movements, deliberate and calculating, that made him seem perpetually on edge, as if he were playing a high-stakes game against an unseen adversary. Every step felt like it held purpose, as though Bootstrap was mapping out possibilities far beyond Astra¡¯s understanding. Whether it was paranoia or simply a level of preparedness Astra couldn¡¯t fathom, Bootstrap seemed to know the terrain of every place they entered.


    The villages on the outskirts of the Orinia kingdom are usually well guarded due to ongoing tension in the neighboring countries. This village was no exception. There were guards on every corner of the village and even more so in the town hall. The village was built into the expansive network of canyons so that the whole village was connected by rocky foot paths. Despite being carved out of the rocky sides of the mountain, the buildings were dark and slender with high pointed arches and large stain glassed windows. The last rays of sunlight bathed the village in a golden hue, casting elongated shadows against the stone-carved structures. The stained glass in the tall windows caught the light, refracting it into shimmering, colorful shards that danced over the path.


    Astra felt the village almost pulsed with a quiet, ancient energy. It was a powerful reminder of the centuries that it had weathered in this canyon. As much as Astra wanted to stay and admire the beauty of the scenery, he knew they needed to get in and out of here so that the shadow garden cannot catch up to them easily. After hearing Eadrich¡¯s story, he knew that Shadow Garden was more complicated than he was initial made to believe. Eadrich looked like he was trying to find something in the wrong place. He was more misunderstood than evil.


    ¡°Listen carefully. Our objective is straightforward. We need to retrieve two enchanted rings in the vault over there. I came across some dependable intelligence about this location some time ago, so I have a fair understanding of what to expect. Stay here and keep low. I¡¯ll survey the area to confirm a few details. Don¡¯t wander off. I¡¯ll return shortly.¡± Said Bootstrap activating his speed runes.


    ¡°Wait, so, how do you even know that the rings are even still in there¡­¡± Astra said to thin air as Bootstrap sped away.


    He can be just as rash as me. Astra thought. I really hope I never become like that.


    After about a minute, he rushed back. Astra did not even have time to adjust his pants or rest his tired feet.


    Astra straightened up. ¡°so, uh, do you have a plan?¡± Astra looked over at the town hall then back at Bootstrap. ¡°Maybe, some kind of powerful magic to blast a whole in the back?¡±


    Bootstrap pulled his head back, eyes widened. ¡°My preferred magic is to use something more subtle and versatile.¡± Bootstrap gave a small chuckle.


    Bootstrap looked back at the town house. Now, he looked focused and ready. ¡°Here¡¯s the setup. There are only two guards stationed inside the town hall itself. First, we¡¯ll get past the ones at the front. It should be straightforward enough. Then, your role comes in. You¡¯ll distract the two interior guards while I relieve the one on the right of his vault key. No need for dramatics. Okay? Just keep their attention elsewhere. I¡¯ll be in and out in two minutes. Understood? Keep it simple.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, aye aye captain.¡± Astra said as he walked off. Astra was always up for a challenge. Astra strolled right into the first guard at the door.


    Here¡¯s my chance to show Bootstrap my versatility. Astra thought.


    ¡°Oh, sorry guards. I didn¡¯t mean to bump into you. I¡¯m such a clumsy person. Ah, you two look mighty cute standing together so close to each other though.¡± Astra¡¯s words dripped with mockery as the two guards slid a little further away from each other.


    ¡°Oh sorry, I¡¯m not from around here. I¡¯m still so nervous around everyone. You can tell from my accent. Can you show me where I can go to get some work information?¡±


    One of the guards put a large hand on Astra blocking him from walking further. ¡°Where are you from? What house are you from?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I am Phoot. I hail from House S-Sandale.¡± Astra said with a stutter.


    Bootstrap almost coughed out loud at this statement.


    ¡°That is pretty far from here.¡± The unamused guard said.


    ¡°Yes, exactly. It is. It is waaaaay out there.¡± Astra replied taking up more of their attention with an outstretched arm.


    Astra saw Bootstrap snuck through both of them in a blur as he activated his runes again. Astra still couldn¡¯t believe his eyes when he saw Bootstrap zoomed by with magic. He decided he will ask Bootstrap to teach him how to run that fast once they are a bit safer.


    Astra pulled both of them closer to him as he took off a boot. ¡°You see this little toe here? Yeah, it doesn¡¯t look damaged, but I was cursed by a sand witch for asking her for a sandwich. I can¡¯t actually run around or stand for too long, but I really, really need a job because I have this one uncle who tried to box a bear¡­¡±


    Bootstrap took this chance to walk in and observe the guards next to the vault entrance. Funneling his mana into his ears, he started to listen and to count patrol patterns around the vault. The rotation of guards gave just enough time for him to be able to speed in and pick the lock or blast a small hole in the door if needed.


    Astra strode into the room and immediately collided with someone. This wasn¡¯t just any random passerby. It was a man of obvious importance. His pristine suit, tailored from fine silk and animal hides, practically screamed wealth and arrogance. The way he carried himself, chin held high and a faint smirk curling his lips, made him the perfect target. The gentleman exuded just enough smug self-righteousness to make Astra¡¯s mischief feel entirely justified.


    Bootstrap was trying to concentrate, but all he could hear was Astra starting to argue rambunctiously with the lord of the village. He heard something to do with the mayor not respecting patrons with disabilities and how the king will hear about this when Astra returns to the capital. At this point, Astra had gotten too close to the lord of the village, and guards were starting to notice. As Astra¡¯s voice carried through the hall, his exaggerated complaints about the mayor¡¯s lack of ¡®respect for those in need¡¯ grew louder sparking the guard¡¯s attention.


    As the guards all started moving to stop Astra from getting more riled up, Bootstrap took that opportunity to palm the keys off of the passing guard.


    Bootstrap shook his head, resisting the urge to groan aloud. He thought, One day, that boy¡¯s going to get us both thrown into the stocks. But he couldn¡¯t deny Astra was doing an impeccable job of causing just the right amount of chaos. He was perfectly whelmed.


    Your sacrifice will not be in vain Astra, thought Bootstrap as he covertly unlocked the vault doors and rushed to the rings. Bootstrap was quick and precised. He was in and out just as fast as he said at the beginning.


    Once outside again, Bootstrap breathed a sign of relief. Not more than twenty seconds later, Astra was physically thrown out of the town hall causing a nearby rotund black cat to scurry off in a hissy fit. The comically large guard sneered at Astra as he tried to recover to his feet. Astra raised his middle finger back at the guard rudely before running off. He was having too much fun and was too far in character for Bootstrap¡¯s taste.


    ¡°Phew, they really didn¡¯t take that joke well at all.¡± Said Astra patting dirt off of his clothes.


    ¡°Great work kid. I couldn¡¯t have asked for a more annoying partner.¡± Smiled Bootstrap. ¡°I¡¯ve secured the rings. They should help us in the near future. Now, let¡¯s not linger. Let¡¯s get out of here before anyone discovers what¡¯s missing.¡±


    With that, they hurried to a nearby cave and jumped to the next place. The cavern blurred and everything contracted and returned.


    ¡°Whoa, I seem to be getting a bit better at the post jump sickness.¡± Asta said as he started feeling woozy. ¡°Maybe just a couple more times, and I will really be a master like you.¡±


    This time, they found themselves in a vibrant forest. Amazingly, it was an entire village built into the trees. Everything looked like it was a part of one big plant all interconnected with each other with vines and plants growing into the buildings. Homes were nestled into the trunks of some trees and some were dug into the roots of the tree as an underground house. Almost all the homes had intricate carvings of long, strange curved script letters on their front door archway. All of the forest was incorporated into the way they lived and worked. The village was a marriage of nature and magic. The entire village felt alive with magic. The forest seemed to hum with life, and each step he took felt like an intrusion into a world both sacred and hidden. He could almost hear whispers in the rustling leaves like the trees themselves were alive carrying secrets that were centuries old.


    Spotting a colorful round bird in the tree next to them, Astra jabbed a finger at it direction with enthusiasm and eyes sparkling with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s so round! Is that how it normally is?¡± Astra laughed in astonishment. ¡°It¡¯s a ¡®borb.¡±


    Once again, Bootstrap seems to know this village well enough to navigate around all the bustling of the shops closing for the day and the gawking of the all the what Astra recognized as elven children to find a magic shop in the back of the village. The strange people had the typical long pointed ears and pale skin of elves in the picture books back home.


    ¡°Whoa, they literally are elves with the ears and everything.¡± Astra whispered loudly at Bootstrap.


    ¡°Indeed, Astra.¡± Whispering loudly back at him, Bootstrap said, ¡°Whatever you do, don¡¯t point out their ears! That¡¯s rude.¡±


    Astra face grew crimson as more elven children stared at them passing by. Given in to his embarrassment, Astra quickened his steps as Bootstrap laughed out loud.


    The elven village gave off a serene yet vibrant vibe that was the opposite of the ghastly smokey city that Astra was used to. The shops along the way smelled of fresh leaves and wildflowers mixed with sweet fruity scents. The fresh wind flowed through the village like it was guiding them somewhere important.


    ¡°There¡¯s bound to be a magic shop somewhere in this village,¡± Bootstrap mused, scanning the narrow streets with a discerning eye. ¡°I¡¯ve had a few items in mind that might suit you. Some items that could keep you alive. Also, I am positive you¡¯ve been wanting to ask me about magic, correct?¡±


    ¡°Uhh, yeah I have.¡± Astra looked distracted. ¡°There¡¯s another question on my mind though, actually.¡±


    Astra didn¡¯t know why he was thinking about his old life now, but maybe, he was thinking about how he has been living up until now. He was realizing now that he missed the proverbial forest for the trees. Maybe instead of focusing on trying to grow up so fast to get away from his situation to find his real family, he could have been building his family with those around him. Astra¡¯s chest tightened as he thought of Clara, of the friends he¡¯d left behind. Perhaps, he realized, family could be something you built as you went, piece by piece. Maybe it¡¯s all the families in the small village influencing his thoughts, but the impact of all that has happened the past day has been weighing on him mind. All those swirling thoughts steered his mind towards Clara and the others. Astra shifted nervously, pulling on the hem of his shirt. The reminder of Clara and the others made him realized that he let himself get distracted rather than asking about about what happened.


    ¡°Umm, is Clara going to be okay? How about the rest of the kids? Like, do you think we are ever going to see them again?¡± Astra hurriedly asked Bootstraps as they got to the magic shop. The shop was a small wooden shack built into the side of a great oak. Bootstrap held the door open for Astra. The small door did not look like it lead to a shop that could hold any customer let alone both of them, but the inside was deceptively larger than Astra initially thought.


    ¡°Firstly, don¡¯t put all the blame onto yourself. Secondly, she¡¯ll pull through,¡± Bootstrap said with quiet confidence, his tone measured but reassuring. ¡°From what I observed, she¡¯s tougher than she looks. The blast left her with a fractured arm and some bruises. It¡¯s nothing she can¡¯t recover from. The memory might haunt her for a while, sure, but physically? She¡¯ll make it.¡± Bootstrap said reassuringly with a small pat on Astra¡¯s back.


    ¡°Seems to me Eadrich wasn¡¯t aiming to cause any real damage. He¡¯s likely just trying to corral us, not take us out for good. That¡¯s¡­ telling, but it doesn¡¯t mean we can let our guard down.¡± Bootstrap continued for Astra.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know his real goals, but he definitely let his partner there perished. He seems to be holding some information back.¡±


    Astra¡¯s shoulders relaxed at the news of Clara¡¯s recovery. But, he couldn¡¯t shake the nagging worry that he still wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything if next time, things turned out worse. ¡°Thanks, Bootstrap,¡± he mumbled, glancing away. ¡°Sometimes¡­ I wonder if I¡¯m bringing way too much danger to those around me.¡±


    Bootstrap pat Astra on the shoulder, ¡°No matter where you go there will be danger. You can¡¯t just sulk about it. You have the opportunity to either use this situation to propel you forward or let it knock you back.¡±


    Bootstrap took this moment to think a bit deeper, looking passed Astra. ¡°And if you are thinking about death, you will come to see that there are things that are worth dying for. There will come a time in our lives where we can put our lives on the line for a cause that is greater than just us.¡±


    Waiting for a minute, Bootstrap eventually said, ¡°Sorry, I was lost in some other thought¡­¡± Bootstrap apologized. ¡°Regardless of what comes our way, I won¡¯t let you fall. You will get stronger, Astra. Strong enough to protect those around you. I promise.¡±


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


    ¡°For now, I need to make sure you can protect yourself. While we have a chance, I¡¯m going to show you some magic and self defense. So get your wits about you.¡± He said as he walked into the magic shop. This particular shop smelled of smokey kindling and old tea leaves. Something about this magic shop feels different from the others that they passed along the way.


    After some aggressive but sly negotiation with the rare herbs that they gathered before jumping to the elven village, bootstrap secure four small rune stones with delicate elvish symbols carved into each stone.


    ¡°Wow, like, I¡¯ve never seen someone threaten another man that old for some rocks before.¡± teased Astra.


    ¡°Now, hold on. I didn¡¯t threatened anyone. I merely asked him if he needed a demonstration on how effective those healing herbs could be. He drew the conclusion not me.¡± Bootstrap rebutted.


    "Let us establish one thing clearly," Bootstrap began, his voice steady yet tinged with a wry amusement as he cast Astra a glance. "I have never professed to be a model of virtue. That distinction belongs to you, Astra. You possess the spark, the unrelenting drive to make a difference. My role? It is merely to ensure that flame of yours does not extinguish before you can light the path for others or perhaps even set the world ablaze in your own unique way."


    Astra laughed. ¡°No, don¡¯t worry I trust you. You¡¯ve been a better role model than ninety percent of the people I¡¯ve seen so far. I mean, I haven¡¯t died yet, have I? Well, we did get close several times actually¡­¡±


    "Well then, let us see to it that such a fate does not come to pass, kid." Bootstrap said as he lead them to a nearby secluded hill. The hill was surrounded by a dense patch of green trees making it the ideal location to camp out for a break. After the last couple of days, Astra just wanted to clear his thoughts.


    ¡°Okay, so I couldn¡¯t procure any greater runes, but we did get some nice lesser ones. They should suffice for what we need them to do. These three runes should be able to increase your muscular activation strength and speed, increase your healing rate, and help you increase the focus and fine-tuning of your natural senses.¡±


    Bootstrap pressed the runes on to Astra¡¯s arm and poured a bit of mana into them. They glowed then settled into his arms. ¡°It may seem simple but in practice it can be confusing especially at first.¡±


    ¡°Cool, can I get some weapons too? Like the small sword that you have there.¡± Astra asked eyeing Bootstrap¡¯s weapon. Astra didn¡¯t cared about the weapon so much as he was just so excited to finally do some of the fascinating magic that Bootstrap has been doing.


    "You should not need a weapon at all if you learn to control your magic properly," Bootstrap said, his tone instructive but carrying a note of strong conviction. He held up the sword, its fractured edge glinting in the dim light. "Besides, this sword¡­ well, it is broken. Hardly the best choice anymore. Yet, for reasons I cannot quite explain, I find myself unable to discard it..." His voice softened, his expression laced with sadness.


    Abruptly, he straightened, the moment passing as he shifted his focus. "Anyhow! How do the runes feel? Are they resonating properly?" Bootstrap asked, his scholarly curiosity cutting through the fleeting shadow of his thoughts.


    ¡°Good. I guess.¡± Astra answered, feeling a bit skeptical of Bootstrap¡¯s response. The runes for some reason did feel very natural to him. Almost like he¡¯s had experiences with them before. Astra noticed that they didn¡¯t glow like Bootstrap¡¯s did when he was fighting.


    ¡°Good, now I¡¯ll present a bit more explanation on rune and sigil magic. There are countless types of magic out there, but my expertise tends to lean heavily on runes and sigils, so let us stick to what I know best. Rune magic, at its core, involves creating a spell by channeling mana through symbols such as runes to amplify or direct its effects. Think of it as writing a command into the fabric of reality itself.¡±


    ¡°For this to work properly, the caster needs a firm grasp on the natural phenomenon they¡¯re invoking. The command also has to be simple, elegance in simplicity, as my old teacher used to say. Done correctly, it¡¯s efficient and flawless. Now, let¡¯s take that translation rune as an example. That¡¯s a greater rune, meaning it can handle up to two distinct commands.¡±


    Bootstrap raised his hand and mimicked inscribing a rune in the air. ¡°In this case, the rune collects your brain¡¯s electric signals, your thoughts, and converts them into mana. That mana is then layered onto sound waves as you speak, essentially turning your words into mana-imbued intent. On the flip side, when you hear someone else¡¯s words, the rune unscrambles the intent encoded in their mana, translating it into a form your brain can comprehend. Pretty clever, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    He paused for a moment, gauging Astra¡¯s reaction before moving on. ¡°Now, as for the runes you¡¯ve got etched into you, they function a little differently. These augment your body directly by using mana to enhance natural responses, like quickening your neural firing or bolstering physical strength. They¡¯re designed to kick in the moment you channel mana into them, no casting delay, no waiting around. Instant activation.¡±


    ¡°That said, you¡¯ve got to be cautious. Mana isn¡¯t a perfect energy source. Some of it dissipates as heat and light, which is why you¡¯ll see casters glow when they¡¯re really working their magic. Overdo it, and that heat can scorch you from the inside out. ¡®Burnout¡¯ isn¡¯t just a figure of speech. A good mage will be able to hide most of the glow in a better way than other novice mages.¡±


    ¡°So far, so good? Any questions before I move on, or am I dazzling you with brilliance here?¡± Bootstrap asked.


    Bootstrap had a way of explaining things that was both rambling and precise, like a spider weaving its web. Astra¡¯s head spun, but he found himself catching on quicker than expected.


    Astra had a blank look on his face and made a gesture to indicate that he had dramatically died with his tongue sticking out for the full effect. Then he smiled and said, ¡°Just kidding, Bootstrap. Boot? Yeah, Boots that rolls off the tongue.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never seen magic done before I met you, but honestly, that seems pretty simple. Simple and kind of scary. I mean, I don¡¯t understand the underlying reason for how it all works, but there is an intuitive portion to this that I somehow get really quick. Also, I think you should be a teacher or something instead of a bum hitch hiking across worlds.¡± Astra joked. ¡°That explanation was actually pretty clean.¡±


    Bootstrap continued. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll take that as a compliment. Now back to the magic lecture. Now, let¡¯s dive into sigils,¡± he began, his voice measured as if explaining the finer details of an ancient text. ¡°A sigil, in essence, is a complex assembly of runes. Think of it as a mosaic. Each individual rune is like a smaller picture contributing to a much larger image. When arranged into a circle or other closed shapes, they follow a specific internal logic, amplifying and directing the magical energy they channel.¡±


    He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he considered his next words. ¡°Sigils are rarely placed directly onto a person¡¯s body. And the reason is simple, the mana required to activate one is astronomical. For most beings, mortal or otherwise, that kind of demand would cause catastrophic burnout in seconds. Only beings with essentially limitless reserves, immortals for instance, could sustain a sigil¡¯s power without self-destructing.¡±


    Pointing to his own cloak, Bootstrap¡¯s tone shifted with a note of practical pride. ¡°They¡¯re more commonly used for things like containment or large-scale computation. Case in point, the sigil stitched into this cloak of mine. It¡¯s a protective mechanism specifically designed, by me, to absorb impacts up to about 11,000 newtons and mitigate certain projectile magic. Handy against the likes of magical fire and lightning.¡±


    He adjusted the cloak slightly, revealing faintly glowing patterns woven into the fabric. ¡°Of course, it has its limitations. It doesn¡¯t do much against crushing or suffocation, nor can it handle everything the universe throws at me. It¡¯s primarily calibrated for high-energy attacks such as fireballs, lightning strikes, things of that nature. It¡¯s no perfect shield, but it¡¯s kept me in one piece more times than I care to count.¡±


    ¡°Now if there are no questions. I¡¯d like to show you some rune script that I personally use.¡± Bootstrap gleefully rubbed his hands together.


    Bootstrap took this time to show Astra some simple rune script such as elemental controls, mind and body inputs, summation and division, and conditional symbols. It took some time, but Astra was able to memorize one or two of the symbols.


    ¡°Once you lay down the base code for the runes, the input and minute controls are dependent on how well you use your mana to tell the runes what to do,¡± Bootstrap said.


    Astra felt the magic simmer beneath his skin as he got more excited about learning magic from someone as experienced as Bootstrap.


    Rubbing his beard, Bootstrap exclaimed as he remembered more to teach Astra. ¡°Ah, yes! Since you witnessed Eadrich¡¯s flair with arcane magic, I suppose it¡¯s worth delving into,¡± he began, his tone shifting to that of an instructor mid-lecture.


    ¡°Arcane magic, you see, is intrinsically tied to the planet itself. Some say it is the only natural form of magic and even more extreme believers say that it is the original magic of this world. Practitioners draw their energy from natural sources such as geothermal currents, magnetic fields, even the subtle hum of tectonic shifts. It¡¯s magic rooted in the very fabric of the earth. ¡±


    ¡°Hmm, interesting.¡± Astra said deep in thought.


    Bootstrap gestured vaguely to the ground, as though the world beneath their feet held the answers to countless mysteries. ¡°This connection allows for remarkable manipulation of natural forces such as detonations, elemental movement, the kind of phenomena that can both awe and annihilate, depending on the user¡¯s intent. Its versatility is undeniable, though I confess I don¡¯t quite know all its applications.¡±


    His gaze flicked upward, a faint smirk playing at his lips. ¡°It also has its more esoteric uses, particularly in divination. Some arcane mages use it to anticipate cosmic events, charting the movements of celestial bodies or predicting the ebb and flow of natural phenomena. It¡¯s akin to those fortune-tellers with their tarot decks. You know, the ones we have seen before.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. I see.¡± Astra said looking wide eyed at so much information.


    Handing Astra the enchanted rings they stole, he explained. ¡°These rings use a type of soul magic. Soul magic is used to bestow sentience to inanimate objects usually requiring a lot of mana. These rings for example are used to locate each other. As long as you are wearing your ring, I should be able to sense your presence wherever you may be. That should help in case we get separated. You just have to follow where the ring tugs you.¡±


    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s cute. Now I feel really bad because these are probably some lover¡¯s ring meant for a fancy wedding that we stole.¡± Astra¡¯s words came out in a small, shame-filled voice.


    Hopefully, it was just some unwanted arranged marriage that Bootstrap and I disrupted. Astra thought.


    Bootstrap gave a small, amused chuckle, his demeanor relaxing as he shifted from scholar to mentor. ¡°Ah, well, best not to overthink it,¡± he said, his tone light but steady. ¡°Some things in life, magic included, make more sense when you¡¯re not chasing every detail all at once. Let the knowledge settle.¡±


    He reached into his bag, pulling out a bundle of dried jerky. ¡°Now, let¡¯s eat,¡± he continued, handing some over. ¡°You¡¯ve taken in a lot today, and no one learns well on an empty stomach. Besides, physical training on a full head and an empty gut? Not ideal.¡±


    Astra on seeing the jerky again, asked, ¡°Say¡­ do you have anything else at the moment? I don¡¯t really feel like eating more jerky.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. I guess, I did procure some other stuff before we arrived here.¡± Bootstrap said, digging into his bag. After digging around for 10 whole seconds, Bootstrap handed Astra a loaf of bread with some meat floss in it and a bowl of some strange vegetable.


    ¡°Interesting.¡± Astra eyed the strange vegetable with skepticism. ¡°I guess, it¡¯ll do.¡±


    They both enjoyed the meal regardless of Astra¡¯s skepticism.


    Bootstrap spent the next couple of hours before sundown teaching Astra about the fundamental of self defense and evasive footwork especially coupled with his new found runes.


    ¡°Look, Astra. You can¡¯t just use your runes to blast every part of yourself with mana. Try to be precise and meticulous about what you are trying to do with your mana.¡± Bootstrap said demonstrating to Astra what to do.


    ¡°Imagine, Astra, your mana as a stream. It should be controlled, deliberate, flowing exactly where it¡¯s needed and nowhere else,¡± he began, gesturing with his hand as if sculpting the image in the air. ¡°Right now, when you want to run faster, you¡¯re flooding your entire lower body with mana like some overeager apprentice dumping too much ink on a page. All you¡¯re doing is wasting energy and leaving yourself defenseless. Not to mention the chances of burning out.¡±


    He paused, turning back to face Astra directly, his tone firm but instructive. ¡°What you should be doing is sending just enough mana to activate the rune, then channeling it specifically to your calves and hamstrings. Think of it as focusing a lens so that each muscle gets what it needs, no more, no less. Keep the rest of your mana in reserve for when you need to react, dodge, or defend.¡±


    Bootstrap crouched slightly, picking up a twig and using it to illustrate his next point on the ground. ¡°Now, here¡¯s the real trick. Instead of pumping mana steadily, which is wasteful, release it in controlled bursts. It should be short, sharp, and targeted. It¡¯s like hammering a nail. A continuous push might eventually drive it through the wood, but small, precise strikes? Far more efficient and effective.¡±


    "The twigs from the World Tree are uniquely attuned to mana," Bootstrap explained, holding up a slender, gnarled branch. His voice carried the practiced authority of a scholar. "That is why you see such a seamless blend of magic and nature in this forest. However, not all objects are so easily receptive. Lucky for us, this twig will help demonstrate exactly what I need to show you."


    Bootstrap extended the twig between his fingers, and with a flicker of concentration, channeled his mana into it. The twig began to glow softly, a steady pulse of light emanating from its surface. "Notice this," he said, his tone shifting slightly, tinged with anticipation.


    A second later, he pushed a sudden surge of mana into the twig. With a sharp crack, it emitted two brief bursts of light before snapping cleanly in two.


    "See? A quick burst of mana creates an explosive impact," Bootstrap said, holding up the broken pieces. His gaze flicked toward his student, his expression thoughtful yet firm. "Meanwhile, a steady, controlled channeling does little more than light it up. Remember that."


    He straightened, tossing the twig aside as his voice softened just a touch. ¡°This is about efficiency, Magic is about intent, balance, and timing, Astra. Not just brute force. Do you understand? If you can master this, you¡¯ll move faster, hit harder, and, more importantly, last longer in a fight.¡±


    ¡°So, wait, let me get this straight,¡± Astra said, furrowing his brow and gesturing vaguely with his hands. ¡°I just need to, like, feel out my mana and try breaking it up into smaller pieces¡­ ah right, smaller bursts. Okay, I think I got it.¡±


    Astra was slowly getting the hang of activating his runes. Astra was losing focus when he had to think too hard about what his next move is. Fortunately for Astra, Bootstrap was generously patient with him. By the time the sun went down, Astra did not even feel like he was comfortable in his own body anymore. His runes made his body feel awkward to move when they are activated. With wobbly legs and heavy arms, he felt ready to fall asleep immediately.


    The next morning they spent some more time before breakfast in town to drill some out boxing techniques and close quarter combat defense techniques. Both styles unmistakably took into account of Bootstrap mastery over his speed runes. He moved with the precision of someone who had spent decades honing his personal style, every motion shaped by hard-earned experience and relentless effort.


    ¡°Hey, Boots, do you ever get lonely on your travels? You know, before you met me?¡± Astra asked while chowing down on some delicious mushroom stew that taste scandalously like beef stew.


    ¡°Sometimes. I have thought about how traveling is nice for broadening my horizons, but if there is no one to share it with, did it ever really happened? Of course, physically it did, but it feels less impactful. There is something to sharing experiences with someone. With that being said, I¡¯ve had travel partners before so it is not like I¡¯ve been alone all this time. However, that¡¯s a story I rather tell you about later, way later. Maybe after we succeed in getting the gemstone back from this Shadow Garden group and preventing this catastrophic mistake they are going to make.¡± Bootstrap shared.


    ¡°Ah, so you do intend to stop them. Yeah, I figured you must have had a reason to try to fix that gemstone when you first talked to me. Also, does the original reason for getting the gemstones together have anything to do with your last travel partner? I mean, if you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± Astra prodded at Bootstrap, smiling at him.


    Sighing, Bootstrap answered, ¡°More or less. It¡¯s¡­ complicated, as most things tend to be. For now, let¡¯s focus on what matters such as getting you prepared and safer for whatever attacks might come our way.¡±


    Bootstrap continued, ¡°On that note, we¡¯d best get moving to the next spot. With any luck, it¡¯ll be a place where we can dig into this Shadow Garden group and figure out exactly how they¡¯re planning to release the god of shadows. I¡¯m still piecing together how they intend to pull off something so reckless and catastrophic.¡±


    Bootstrap found them a small cave opening near the village to give them some privacy. While looking around, Bootstrap noticed some inappropriate crude drawings of elves on the cave walls. Bootstrap smiled as it seemed even elven children had the same mindset as any human child. Firing up the gemstone, Bootstrap grabbed on to Astra and off they went into the familiar space distortion.


    At the same time, a different visitor arrived at the elven mage¡¯s shop. ¡°I seemed to have gotten lost, from my friends. Do you mind pointing me in the direction of two earthlings? They should look a bit out of place.¡±


    ¡°Please, stop with the jokes. The whole archaic use of the word earthlings is weird. I gave them the runes and slipped in something extra for them too, like you asked. It was actually more difficult than you promised to get that in there. So, don¡¯t forget to do your part. I know you always get distracted.¡± The elven mage said.

 Gathering Storm

    The darkness of the cave gave way to new blinding lights as they arrived at their new location. They landed in a strange technology filled white laboratory of sorts. The room smelled strongly of disinfectants and various alchemical mixture. All around them where small tables and chairs lined up with monitors set up to observe something in the middle of the room. At the center of the room stood a massive glass enclosure, its thick, reinforced panes clearly designed to contain whatever experiments were conducted within. The chamber exuded a sense of foreboding, the kind of structure built to withstand unimaginable forces and keep its contents firmly locked away.


    A chill ran down Astra¡¯s spine. He pulled out a chair and sank into it, rubbing his temples. ¡°Uhh¡­ I don¡¯t like the look of this room,¡± he muttered, still trying to settle his queasy stomach. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s supposed to happen in here, but I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about it. And, ugh, I¡¯m sure people are gonna show up any second. We need to leave as soon as¡­ I stop wanting to puke.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I¡¯d say you¡¯re right. This place reeks of experimentation namely on people who can conjure. Their current subject looks like a little boy named Xavier if these files are to be believed,¡± commented Bootstrap as he picked up a piece of paper off of a stack. There were plenty of paper with handwritten notes on them scattered around the lab.


    Astra straightened in his chair. ¡°Wait, what? A kid?¡±


    ¡°Seems so,¡± Bootstrap said, his tone darkening as he skimmed the notes.


    ¡°Conjurers are indeed a rare bunch, but what are they trying to accomplish by pushing the limits of conjuring. Are they trying to create a super being or amass an army that are easier to control?¡± As Bootstrap posed the question, the murmur of distant voices and the rhythmic thud of approaching footsteps echoed from a hallway to their right. The sound grew steadily louder making the moment more urgent. Bootstrap straightened. Time was slipping away, and hesitation was no longer an option.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move. We can¡¯t solve every mess we stumble into, not with what we have right now. Sorry, Xavier.¡±


    Grabbing Astra by the arm, Bootstrap pulled him to his feet and steered him toward a hallway on their left. Astra stumbled along, protesting as he tried to keep pace. ¡°Wait, what? We¡¯re just leaving? We can¡¯t leave him here!¡±


    Astra began to protest, but Bootstrap chimed in. ¡°I know your instincts, Astra. You want to save everyone you meet, but listen. You can¡¯t always be the hero,¡± Bootstrap said, his voice steady though edged with the weight of experience. ¡°This isn¡¯t some comic book where everything ties up neatly in the end. Not everyone gets a happy ending, and we have to accept that, no matter how much it stings.¡±


    Astra bit his lip, frustration bubbling in his chest. He hated it, but he couldn¡¯t argue with Bootstrap¡¯s logic with the footsteps growing louder behind them.


    They silently snuck out the side halls waiting and listening as they went. Every few feet, they would pause with ears straining to listen to any sound of footsteps, shuffling of shoes or the murmur of voices. Each hall was getting progressively louder with the chatter of more people arriving in the main hall. The scent of the sterile air and disinfectants from the lab soon became less prominent. They continued on in silence as they made their way through the halls.


    Eventually, they found an exit door in what seemed like a cafeteria. Astra ran by what seemed to Astra like a hastily eaten breakfast with half eaten pancakes and some kind of mystery meat patty with a strange blue hue. This was probably where all the scientist was before they came back into the big lab. Relief spread over the two as they spotted the glowing exit sign and made their way to the door. The oppressive atmosphere of the building seemed to have melted as they got outside to the cool open air.


    Looking up at the building once they made it far enough, they saw it was actually a university research center. Towering above them was the tall university building with a unique mixture of old architecture and new sleek technology wrapped around the original building. It was a marriage between modern science and old traditionalism.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± Astra blinked in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ university?¡±


    ¡°That would explain all the students arriving at the building so early in the morning, but, like, that does not explain why they are experimenting on humans.¡± Said Astra. ¡°I guess, maybe the students don¡¯t have access to that particular lab or have no idea the experiments were going on.¡±


    Bootstrap squinted at the building. ¡°If you look at the building a bit closer, Astra, you can see some faded letters under the new letters. It reads Neo Domino University Research Center, but those faded letters underneath concerns me. I have a feeling this place was a lot more before it got renovated for the research center.¡± Replied Bootstrap as his sharp gaze lingered on the building. ¡°Ominous architecture and foreboding vibes aside, we¡¯d best make ourselves scarce before they find a couple of suspicious people on a college campus and detain us.¡±


    As they started to walk around the city, they were awestruck at how advance the place was. The further into the city they went, the more technology they saw. Everything from advertisements and storefronts were lined with holograms trying to get your attention. Sleek vehicle pods smoothly slid on metallic rails in the streets that took passengers anywhere in the city. Children roared in excitement as a whole park dedicated to holographic card games came to life. With all the new noise and flashing colors, the city was a bit too overwhelming for them. The buzzing of all the holograms nearby and the murmur of the crowds of robots were too overstimulating. It was too far-removed from where they both came from. Everything seemed too good to be true. If Bootstrap knew anything about advanced civilizations, it is that there is always a price to pay for advancements.


    Bootstrap had seen his share of utopian societies, where gleaming facades often concealed rot and corruption in their underbellies. His sharp eyes quickly picked up on the pervasive security measures around them. There were cameras mounted at every corner, their lenses sweeping the streets like unblinking sentinels. ¡°No Loitering¡± signs plastered storefronts with the subtlety of a slap, a constant reminder of the city¡¯s disdain for idleness. The sheer lack of privacy set his teeth on edge. Seeking some respite from the ever-watchful cameras and the ceaseless buzz of city life, Bootstrap and Astra headed toward the park, hoping for a moment of peace and quiet amidst the chaos


    Walking into the busy park, Astra pondered the scene before him, Hmm, that¡¯s curious. A park without animals is weirdly unnerving. Like, even in the middle of a war zone back home, you¡¯d still see some pets here and there especially cats. Those things are survivors.


    As they wandered to the more serene part of the park, Astra¡¯s eyes were drawn towards a small stand with a flashing neon sign. Wow, this city sure love their neon colors and signs. Thought Astra.


    ¡°Oh yeah! Look they are handing out free samples around the corner.¡± Yelled Astra excitedly.


    ¡°The big neon sign reads, ¡®Free sample, no sign up or ID chip required!¡¯¡± Said Bootstrap as they approached.


    Astra thought, Huh, that¡¯s odd but maybe, that was just what their society was like. Eh. Astra dismissed the thought as unimportant.


    The thought that even free samples can lead to intrusive advertisements was truly foreign to him. He then noticed that the samples were mini hotdogs. He hadn¡¯t seen a hotdog since he was just a boy so he grabbed a handful of them. The familiar scent reeled him in with its familiarity like magic. The juicy hotdogs contrasted to all the tough jerky and vegetable that he had eaten for the past couple of days with Bootstrap. Astra lost in gluttony and drool decided to feast on all the hotdogs.


    The boy standing nearby was wiry and pale, his oversized shirt emblazoned with a cartoonish hotdog, the bright print at odds with the sharp judgment in his eyes. His thin frame and hollowed cheeks gave him a fragile, almost ghostly appearance, but his posture spoke of someone who had long since learned how to stand his ground.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he called out, his tone cutting through the quiet like a knife. ¡°Those are for everyone, you know. Don¡¯t act like you didn¡¯t hear me.¡±


    Astra froze mid-motion with a fistful of hotdogs.


    The boy stepped closer, voice rising with each word, and projecting enough confidence to make up for his sickly frame. ¡°I said, you can¡¯t just take all of them. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re not from this planet. Don¡¯t play dumb. You hear?¡±


    The boy¡¯s medium length brown hair was combed neatly to the side with a few strands falling across his tired face. If it weren¡¯t for his gaunt figure and sickly pallor, he could¡¯ve passed for a magazine model. The kind with brooding stares and effortless coolness, but there was nothing intimidating about him. Yet something about the sheer nerve in his tone made Astra hesitate.


    He must be the worker in charge of the hotdog stand. Thought Astra who was now five hotdogs too deep to play dumb.


    ¡°Yeah. Well, you¡¯ve got some nerve,¡± Astra muttered under his breath.


    The boy didn¡¯t flinch, crossing his arms over his chest. ¡°Yeah, and you¡¯ve got sticky fingers. What¡¯s your point?¡±


    ¡°Okay, Okay. Sorry about that. I was just starving, and I can¡¯t help myself when I see some good food.¡± Astra said while grabbing some more hotdogs to give to Bootstrap. Bootstrap happily took some more.


    ¡°Alright, alright. My bad, okay?¡± Astra raised his hands in mock surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. ¡°I was just starving, and, I mean, can you blame me? Good food¡¯s hard to come by, you know?¡±


    Even as he spoke, Astra snatched up a few more hotdogs, tossing them over to Bootstrap without missing a beat. Bootstrap caught them with a bemused smile, clearly unbothered by the commotion. ¡°Hey, can¡¯t let the old man go hungry either, right?¡± Astra added, flashing a quick wink.


    ¡°Oh wait, wait, how did you know we aren¡¯t from this world?¡± Astra asked astonished.


    Xander crossed his arms, his sharp eyes locking onto the runes like a predator sizing up prey. ¡°Yo, the name¡¯s Xander,¡± he said, his tone casual but carrying the weight of someone who knew more than he let on. His gaze flicked between Astra and Bootstrap before landing on the glowing etchings of their translation runes. ¡°Those runes tell me you ain¡¯t from around here. Visitors from way out, huh? Or at least mages with some off-world gear.¡±


    He pointed at Astra first, his smirk growing sly. ¡°That one? Straight up elven. Clean script, too. Probably someone fancy taught you to wear that.¡± Then, his hand gestured toward Bootstrap, his head tilting slightly as his expression grew more curious. ¡°But yours?¡± Xander¡¯s finger lingered in the air, pointing at Bootstrap¡¯s forearm. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like that script. Looks old, but not local.¡±


    Xander tapped the side of his head with two fingers with a wry grin playing on his face. ¡°See, thing is, mages on this planet? We ditched the old-school runes a long time ago. Nowadays, it¡¯s all about magitech earpieces or those fancy translation implants.¡± He gestured at his temple, the light catching on a faint metallic sheen. ¡°Like this. Modern tech, way more reliable.¡±


    He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into something more pointed. ¡°The problem with runes? Too easy to mess with. A little magical tampering, and boom! Your whole spell¡¯s outta whack, maybe even lethal. That¡¯s why we stopped trusting the old methods. A thousand years ago? During the war? Sure, runes were the jam. Now? They¡¯re just a liability.¡±


    Cocking an eyebrow, Xander leaned in and whispered, ¡°You guys outlaws or somethin¡¯? ¡®Cause you sure don¡¯t look like tourists. Kinda too ragged for that.¡± Xander squinted at them. ¡°And what¡¯s up with your accents? Definitely not local. So, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Seeing their expressions shift, Xander leaned in as his tone dropping a notch. ¡°Relax, I ain¡¯t a snitch. I¡¯ve never been a fan of the peacekeepers here anyway. Bunch of no-shows when it counts. When seconds matter, they¡¯re always only minutes away,¡± he said, his voice carrying a sharp edge of irritation. He paused as the words settled before continuing. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve got a situation. One that needs¡­ let¡¯s call it an ¡®off the books¡¯ assistance. If you¡¯re the types who don¡¯t mind skirting the rules, maybe you¡¯ll hear me out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure we¡¯re the kind of help you¡¯re looking for,¡± Replied Bootstrap looking around. ¡°We¡¯re just passing through. We¡¯re just honest visitors trying to keep to ourselves. Trouble¡¯s not exactly on our itinerary.¡±


    Xander crossed his arms. ¡°Honest visitors, huh? That¡¯s cute. Let¡¯s hope you¡¯ve got a visitor¡¯s visa ready when the peacekeepers decide to sniff around. Would be a real shame if they didn¡¯t buy the ¡®just passing through¡¯ story.¡± Xander said smoothly as he glanced between them. ¡°But hey, I¡¯ve got a spot out of sight where you can crash for a bit. You both look like you¡¯ve been through the wringer. Call it a peace offering.¡±


    Bootstrap and Astra gave each other a look. Both instinctively realizing they bumped into the wrong person.


    ¡°Well, you sure seem to hold a lot of attitude for such a small person.¡± Astra said before Bootstrap could push him aside.


    Bootstrap adjusted his stance. ¡°You seem unusually well-informed for someone running a hotdog stand. Knowledge like that usually comes with strings attached. So tell me, how exactly do we know we can trust you?¡± His tone was calm but carried a weight of quiet suspicion as if he were probing for cracks in a carefully built facade.


    Xander leaned in slightly, his voice low and measured, though there was an edge of desperation beneath his cool demeanor. ¡°Trust is built or earned so you ain¡¯t gonna trust me no matter what I say. Words don¡¯t mean jack until there¡¯s action backing ¡¯em up. But you seem like a reasonable guy, so here¡¯s the deal. I¡¯ll gamble my life on this.¡±


    Xander locked eyes with Bootstrap. ¡°If I lay my situation out for you, no fluff, no lies, will you help me and my family out? In return, I¡¯ll give you a place to lay low and keep my mouth shut about your little visitor gig. Sound fair?¡±


    Sighing Astra said, ¡°Alright, I guess I¡¯ll hear you out. I mean, I can tell that you are serious.¡±


    Bootstrap nodded.


    Xander told them he had to finish his shift real quick, but they can meet his brother at the pier. They just have to tell him Xander sent them. Xander pointed in the direction of a large construction crane and told him to meet up with a person named Xaden so Astra and Bootstrap went to the pier toward the direction of the ominous looming crane. As soon as they got out of the city limit, the neighborhoods started to be more of what Astra was used to. There were more weathered buildings and houses that gave off a feeling that there was a clearer divide in this city than Astra first thought. They passed by all the same things Astra was familiar with back where he was from. He counted at least five drug addicts begging for more, four pickpockets sizing up a target, three children selling fake lottery tickets on the street corners, two police officers harassing an ex-convict and one kid who is just trying to get through his day ignoring the world. The pier gave off the same feeling as the rest of the area around it. It was a mostly abandoned construction site with a rusty old warehouse on the edge of it. It whispered of unkept promises and broken dreams.


    As they reached the center of the pier, their path was abruptly blocked by a towering figure. The man before them exuded an air of unshakable confidence, his presence as commanding as his physique. With blond hair tousled in deliberate disarray and a muscular frame that spoke of countless battles, he looked more suited for a professional fighting ring than the mundane life of pier work. He wore a large leather jacket over a silver button-up shirt and black jeans. This man did not look like he would be or even should be working at the pier.


    Raising a hand up to Bootstrap, his voice boomed as he spoke, ¡°This is a construction site so no visitors are allowed. Do you guys have any business here?¡±


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Bootstrap adjusted his cloak, his voice calm and measured as he addressed the imposing figure before them. ¡°A boy named Xander directed us here. He mentioned we¡¯d find his brother, and I presume that must be you?¡±


    Xaden leaned back against a nearby post, crossing his arms with a cocky grin plastered across his face. ¡°Xander sent you, huh? Figures the kid finally found some suckers to con! Classic.¡± He chuckled, his laughter echoing across the empty pier. ¡°Look around. No witnesses, no backup, not even a nosy bird in sight. You two really stepped into it, didn¡¯t ya?¡± The man¡¯s laugh echoed on the nearby containers.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try,¡± he said, his voice steady, carrying the weight of measured assurance. ¡°But honestly, you don¡¯t strike me as particularly tough.¡± His calm confidence lingered in the air, a quiet challenge wrapped in understated composure.


    The man laughed again. This time, he was nodding his head like he was confirming some suspicion in his mind.


    Xaden smirked, dropping his arms to his sides in a gesture of ease. ¡°Alright, I like you. Got some backbone,¡± he said, his tone playful but sincere. ¡°Sorry if I gave you a scare. Just testing the waters, you know?¡±


    His grin widened as he extended a hand, first to Bootstrap and then to Astra. ¡°Name¡¯s Xaden. And truth is, we could really use someone like you. Tough, level-headed. We need help getting our brother back from some people who don¡¯t play fair.¡± Despite the lightness in his voice, there was a flicker of seriousness in his eyes that underscored his words.


    Flashing a confident grin as he gestured to himself. ¡°You¡¯re probably thinking, ¡®Wow, this guy is big, handsome, and clearly the funnier sibling. How is he even related to that sickly kid, Xander?¡¯¡± He ran his fingers through his hair dramatically, pausing as if to let the thought sink in.


    ¡°Well, surprise, they¡¯re my adoptive brothers,¡± he said with a shrug, his tone as matter-of-fact as if he were stating the weather. ¡°I found them out on the streets looking all sad and lost, so I figured, hey, someone¡¯s gotta step up and show them the way. Might as well be me.¡± He spoke with such unshakable confidence, it was clear he genuinely believed every word, and not a trace of sarcasm laced his voice.


    Seeing Bootstrap rolling his eyes, Xaden said, ¡°Fine. Fine. Maybe I was the one saved by them. We all saved each other. Okay? We have been a family for a long time so please when Xander comes back, listen to his offer.¡±


    After the brief introduction, they all went inside the warehouse on the pier. Their foot echoed on the hard floor of the warehouse. It was a big metallic warehouse with a big open space in the middle to park cars or other vehicles to get fixed and a second floor for the brothers to live in. It was a small room with three beds all lined up against the wall and one small desk in a corner with some blueprints and articles spread out on it. The room was warm which contrasted with the cold chill in the open space on the first floor. The room could be described as more cozy than cramped. There was not a lot of space to move around in there but every inch of it was filled with memories for the three brothers. On one wall, there were photos of them fishing on the pier. On another wall, there were small toys and tokens a kid would get from arcades. Next to a notebook with Xavier¡¯s name on it, lay a well used flute.


    Glancing around the room, Astra noticed. Xavier must have used it for a long time if it had that much wear on it. In a corner, you can clearly see an open birthday card with the words ¡°best brother ever¡± written on the inside.


    Xaden plopped down in a chair across from them, holding out two bowls of soup with a grin. ¡°Here¡¯s some leftover soup we¡¯ve got lying around. Squash and fish¡ªdon¡¯t ask me how the combo works, it just does. Anyway, help yourselves. Xander should be back in about twenty minutes, so no rush.¡±


    He handed the bowls over, the thin broth sloshing slightly as he did. Then, without missing a beat, he launched into conversation. ¡°So, did you guys notice that weird new shop opening downtown? The one with the purple sign that said ¡®Eggroll King¡¯? Yeah, it¡¯s totally a front. Saw some shady stuff going on there last week.¡±


    Bootstrap and Astra exchanged glances as Xaden kept talking, his words flowing like an unstoppable river. He leaned back in his chair, gesturing animatedly as he filled them in on local gossip, from the latest market drama to the new troublemakers in town. He didn¡¯t seem to need any input from anyone. Just having an audience was enough to keep him going. For all his rambling, it was clear Xaden had a knack for knowing what was happening around him. By the time they finished their soup, Astra couldn¡¯t decide if he was impressed or just overwhelmed.


    ¡°¡­and that¡¯s how I ended up naked and hanging from the balcony of the Kcorp hospital,¡± Xaden finished with a dramatic flourish, leaning back in his chair. ¡°They still gave me the job though¡ªfull-time paramedic, can you believe it? Only catch is, I¡¯m not allowed to drive anywhere near the school in that district. Weird restriction, but hey, rules are rules, right?¡±


    Astra blinked, caught between disbelief and a stifled laugh. Bootstrap¡¯s brow furrowed as if mentally filing the story away as evidence of Xaden¡¯s questionable life choices.


    Just then, the door opened and in came Xander. He wasted no time and hurried to where they were relaxing. ¡°Looks like I missed story time.¡± His expression serious and sharp. ¡°I hope Xaden didn¡¯t scare you guys off. He¡¯s only got one brain cell, and it has to recharge for twelve hours before it can fully work.¡±


    Tossing his Spectacular Hotdog work shirt on his bed, Xander sat down at his desk and sighed. ¡°Okay,¡± Xander got a step closer to Astra and Bootstrap. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be asking this if I had any other way, but I need your help to save my twin brother Xavier. He¡¯s been taken by this secret organization called the Shadow Garden.¡± He held up a hand, anticipating their words. ¡°I know it all sounds made up, but just let me tell you how we ended up like this before you answer.¡±


    ¡°Shadow Garden, huh? Sounds like we do have something in common. Ah, sorry. Please continue your story.¡± Astra apologized for interjecting.


    ¡°Well, good. Glad we¡¯re on the same page,¡± Xander began, his usual edge softening as he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. ¡°So, how did my brothers and I end up here? It ain¡¯t a fairy tale, that¡¯s for sure. If this is gonna make sense, I gotta take you back to the very beginning, back to my mom.¡±


    ¡°I can still hear her voice sometimes, telling us her stories. She had this way of talking, like she was trying to make the world seem less harsh than it was. But here¡¯s the truth. The cold truth. She had us when she was young, too young. And her family? They weren¡¯t exactly the supportive type. Soon as they found out, they cut her off completely. Left her to fend for herself.¡±


    ¡°As for our dad? She didn¡¯t say much about him, not really. Just that he wasn¡¯t around and we probably wouldn¡¯t need to meet him. Sometimes, though, I¡¯d catch this look in her eyes, like maybe she was still hoping he¡¯d come back one day. She never admitted it, though. My mom was tough like that. But tough ain¡¯t the same as happy, you know?¡±


    ¡°She worked her hands raw as a janitor at some lab just to keep us fed. I think she was counting the days till we were born, not just ¡®cause she was excited to be a mom, but ¡®cause she was lonely. Like, real lonely. She wanted something, someone, anyone to love her unconditionally, to make all that pain worth it. We were all she had. And living like that? Well, that kind of life can really get to you.¡±


    Xander¡¯s lips twitched into a halfhearted smile as his gaze drifted somewhere distant. ¡°So, when we were finally born, we became her whole world,¡± he began, his voice quieter, as though speaking too loudly might disturb the memory. ¡°She named me Xander for the ¡®defender of mankind.¡¯ She said she hoped one day I¡¯d grow up to help people, people like us, stuck in the same mess we were born into.¡±


    ¡°For my brother, she named him Xavier. It means ¡®new house.¡¯ He was supposed to be the safe place, the castle where we could all feel protected.¡±


    Xander chuckled softly. ¡°That¡¯s how she was. Always thinking everything had to have a purpose, even when the world didn¡¯t make much sense.¡±


    Bootstrap folded his arms, watching Xander carefully. ¡°She sounds like a remarkable woman.¡±


    ¡°She was,¡± Xander said, his voice quieter now. ¡°No matter how rough things got, she never let us see her sad. Never let us see her break. She was¡­ a lot stronger than I¡¯ll ever be, honestly. Always smiling. Always telling us, ¡®Things can only get better.¡¯ And you know what? She meant it. She¡¯d say we were the best things that ever happened to her. And I believed her. I really did.¡±


    Xander let out a long, weary sigh, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the memory. ¡°But nothing good ever lasts, right?¡± he muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness. ¡°Xavier¡­ he was special. Always was. There was something about him, something that set him apart. At first, it was just these moods he¡¯d get, real intense and unnatural, especially when certain people were around. It was like he could feel everything they were feeling, every little emotion, like it was his own.¡±


    Astra¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Empathic magic?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Xander confirmed. ¡°But it didn¡¯t stop there. It got worse. This weird, eerie aura would creep around him when he got upset. And then, one day¡­ people started getting sick. Really sick. It was like his emotions leaked out and poisoned the air.¡±


    Xander paused, his jaw tightening as he rubbed a hand over his face. ¡°Even then, we were okay. At least, I thought we were. Our mom¡­ she never stopped smiling. She stayed as chipper as can be, always acting like nothing was wrong. I still don¡¯t understand why she did that. Maybe she thought she was protecting us, or maybe she just didn¡¯t want us to worry. But she should¡¯ve told us. She should¡¯ve said something.¡±


    He swallowed hard, his voice lowering as the memory sharpened in his mind. ¡°She should¡¯ve told us she was getting sick too. From him. From Xavier.¡±


    Astra shifted uncomfortably in his chair. ¡°Wait¡­ she got sick because of him?¡±


    Xander nodded, his expression pained. ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t even notice until it was too late. One day, she just¡­ collapsed. Ended up in the hospital. That¡¯s when I overheard her talking to the doctors. She¡¯d been sick for a while. Months, maybe longer. She should¡¯ve gone in way earlier, should¡¯ve been treated. But she didn¡¯t. She never had the time. Never had the money.¡±


    Letting out a slow, shaky breath, Xander lamented, his voice heavy with grief, ¡°The worst part? The doctors¡­ they didn¡¯t have a clue how to help her. No clear cure, especially not at the stage she was at. And by the time we figured out that Xavier was the cause of it all, she still refused to leave us. She wouldn¡¯t even think about being apart from us, no matter what it was doing to her.¡±


    Astra¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ awful.¡±


    He paused, his gaze distant, as if staring back into a memory he wished he could forget. ¡°So, in the end, she got what she wanted. She was never alone. She had us, Xavier and me, right by her side. That was the one thing she feared more than death, you know? Being alone. And she faced it the way only she could, with that damn smile on her face.¡±


    Xander¡¯s voice dropped lower, the pain raw in his words. ¡°Right up until her last breath, she told me one thing. Just the one thing she wanted from me. ¡®Always protect Xavier.¡¯ That was it. That was her final wish. And now, it¡¯s just us. All we¡¯ve got is each other.¡±


    Astra noticed a quick glimpse of regret and some other emotion in his eyes for a split second before he continued.


    Bootstrap¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°And what happened after she passed?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s when it all went downhill fast, Xander said, his voice laced with bitterness. ¡°The debtors came first, vultures picking at the bones of what little we had left. They took anything and everything that wasn¡¯t nailed down. And what were we supposed to do? We were just kids. We were twelve years old. We had no family to claim us, no safety net. Just¡­ nothing.¡±


    He paused, his jaw tightening as the memories replayed. ¡°Then came the lowest of the low. The ones who didn¡¯t just want to take our stuff. The ones who wanted to use us. Use us for what we could do. For our magic. That¡¯s when Shadow Garden showed up, like leeches that latched on and never let go. I wasn¡¯t like Xavier. I wasn¡¯t ¡®special¡¯ enough for their plans, so they tossed me aside like trash. But Xavier? They held on to him, wouldn¡¯t let him go no matter how much I fought. I told them I wouldn¡¯t leave without him, but they just threw me out onto the streets. They had no use for me.¡±


    He nodded toward Xaden, a flicker of something softer crossing his face. ¡°And that¡¯s when I ran into this guy. Xaden was wandering the streets too, looking just as lost as I was. He didn¡¯t look like he belonged here, but somehow, we figured it out. We learned to work together, doing whatever it took to survive. He was loud, brash, and way too full of himself, but he had my back when no one else did.¡±


    ¡°Heck yeah, tell ¡®em how we formed the XXX squad.¡± Xaden hollered, puffing his chest out with pride.


    Sliding a hand down his face in pure exasperation, Xander muttered, ¡°Please, for the love of all that¡¯s decent, don¡¯t tell people that was our name.¡± Xander looked apologetically at Astra and Bootstrap. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Astra and Bootstrap briefly glanced at each other before Astra let out a chuckle, and Bootstrap shook his head.


    ¡°You thought it was funny at the time.¡± Xaden retorted refusing to think it was wrong to use that name.


    ¡°Nope! Not even once. Back to the point. We did rescue Xavier from the lab once,¡± Xander began, his voice steady but tinged with regret. ¡°It was a close call, but we made it out safely. Back then, their security was lax compared to what it is now. We managed to exploit their system and sneak in under cover of night. Honestly, their guards were sloppy, and the whole setup was amateur hour.¡±


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°But that was then. Things are different now. It¡¯s like they realized we were serious, and they doubled down on their defenses. Cameras everywhere, biometric scans, DNA cannons. You name it. And yeah, we messed up. During that mission, they managed to get a sample of our blood. We were careless, and now they¡¯ve got our DNA in their system. With that, they¡¯ve got everything they need to identify us.¡±


    His jaw tightened as he continued, ¡°Since then, they¡¯ve been targeting us harder, and the place is like the senator¡¯s vault now. We got Xavier back for a while, but they weren¡¯t about to let him go. They took him again, and this time it¡¯s worse. Their experiments have only gotten more intense and their DNA cannons are too advanced. It¡¯s why we can¡¯t afford to screw this up again.¡±


    Seeing the confused expressions on Astra and Bootstrap¡¯s faces, Xander quickly raised his hands to explain. ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re not familiar with DNA cannons, let me break it down for you. These things are no joke. They¡¯re fast, accurate, and brutal. The second you step into range, the system scans your DNA and matches it to their database. If it finds you flagged. Boom! You¡¯re vaporized. No time to run, no second chances.¡±


    He paused, his voice lowering as he glanced between them. ¡°That¡¯s why we need you. They don¡¯t know you guys. They don¡¯t have your DNA on file yet, which makes you the perfect wildcard. If you can help us get to the main control room and disable the cannons and alarms, we have a shot at getting Xavier out of there alive.¡±


    His gaze softened as he leaned forward, his tone shifting to something almost desperate. ¡°Please. My brother doesn¡¯t deserve any of this. It ain¡¯t his fault. He¡¯s just a kid caught up in something way bigger than him. If this was your brother, wouldn¡¯t you do whatever it takes? Wouldn¡¯t you risk it all to save him?¡±


    With concern etched into his face, Bootstrap said, ¡°I¡¯ve got a few questions before I can give you a definitive answer. Let¡¯s start with the most pressing one. You mentioned Xavier¡¯s magic is harmful to those around him. If that¡¯s the case, what makes you think it¡¯s safe to release him? For him or anyone else?¡±


    He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing even more deliberate. ¡°Secondly, I believe I know the location you¡¯re talking about. If I¡¯m correct, this lab you¡¯re referring to isn¡¯t some top-secret military compound, but a university research facility. A campus with students, classrooms, and professors. So why in the world would they have DNA cannons of all things? Cannons designed to vaporize people? That doesn¡¯t line up with what I know about this place.¡±


    His gaze didn¡¯t waver as he waited for Xander¡¯s response, his expression a mixture of skepticism and curiosity. ¡°Help me understand the full picture, because right now, something about this situation doesn¡¯t add up.¡±


    Xander leaned in, his voice steady but laced with urgency. ¡°Oh, nothing is as it seems on the outside. Trust me on that. The building? It¡¯s state-of-the-art, alright. All the security measures you¡¯d never think to look for are hidden beneath the surface. Shadow Garden doesn¡¯t care if they¡¯re using innocent people as cover. They¡¯ll keep doing what they¡¯re doing as long as no one questions it.¡±


    He straightened, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he continued, ¡°And about my brother? I can handle him. It ain¡¯t a problem. I¡¯ve spent my whole life preparing for that. I¡¯ll use my mana to seal his powers. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve done before, and I can do it again. You don¡¯t have to worry about him being a danger. Let me deal with him.¡±


    Xander¡¯s tone softened slightly as he locked eyes with Bootstrap and Astra. ¡°Look into my eyes. You¡¯ll see that I mean every word I¡¯ve said. My family means everything to me. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to protect Xavier.¡±


    He took a steadying breath before giving them both a long, serious look. ¡°So¡­ are you in?¡±


    Astra spoke up, his voice carrying a spark of defiance. ¡°Well, Bootstrap, don¡¯t you think we really should start fighting back against these Shadow Garden people? I mean, They¡¯re clearly out of control.¡± He turned toward Xander, his curiosity and determination blending in his expression.


    ¡°Hey, Xander,¡± Astra continued, ¡°I think I¡¯ve got a problem too. Last time we ran into Shadow Garden, I¡¯m pretty sure I got hit by one of their bio-trackers. It looked like some kind of freaky mosquito monster. Umm, if they¡¯re tracking me, I might just lead them right to us. Do you think you can disable it? Because if not¡­¡± He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged with an apologetic grin. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know if I can help you out either. Yeah, I¡¯d rather not have them breathing down my neck while we¡¯re trying to rescue your brother.¡±


    Xaden, lounging against the wall, perked up and jumped into the conversation with his trademark enthusiasm. ¡°Oh, my time to shine! I can handle that. Bio-trackers are nothing compared to what I¡¯ve seen.¡±


    He grinned confidently, pushing himself off the wall with exaggerated flair. ¡°I¡¯m actually really good at fixing people up. All I need is my bio-scanner to find that little bugger, and then I can short it out with my magitech disabler. Easy peasy.¡±


    He shot them a smug smile, clearly reveling in the chance to show off. ¡°Breaking things is kind of my specialty,¡± he added with a playful shrug, before turning to rummage through his bag of tools with the energy of someone who was genuinely excited to help.


    After running the bio-scanner over Astra with a focused look, Xaden frowned slightly. ¡°Huh¡­ or maybe not. Let me test this out real quick on you, Bootstrap, just to make sure it¡¯s working right.¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Xaden turned the scanner on Bootstrap, scrutinizing the readout with exaggerated seriousness. After a few seconds, he abruptly slapped Bootstrap on the back of the neck. ¡°Oh, my bad. Bad habit.¡±


    Bootstrap stiffened, his eyes narrowing to deadly slits. ¡°Was that really necessary?¡± he asked in a voice that promised retribution.


    Xaden gave a sheepish grin, holding up the scanner. ¡°Hey, it worked though! You¡¯re all human. Congrats. But for Astra, well, bad news. This thing¡¯s working just fine. I might need something else.¡±


    Bootstrap rubbed the back of his neck with a grimace, the spot already feeling sore.


    Xaden leaned in, tapping the bio-scanner thoughtfully. ¡°This tracker¡¯s got some flair to it. It¡¯s magitech, sure, but it¡¯s mostly alive. What nasty little hybrid tech. I¡¯ve seen these used on the homeless around here. If you try to kill it without disabling it first, it¡¯ll release toxins. Real bad news.¡±


    He glanced up, his grin wide and mischievous. ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. We¡¯ll need a better bio-scanner and a fancy magitech bio-neutralizing pill. The scanner will map the tracker¡¯s bio-signature, and then the pill will do the rest. Once you swallow it, the pill will hunt that thing down and neutralize it. Real high-end tech. Should work like a charm.¡±


    Before anyone could respond, Xaden¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief. ¡°Lucky for you, I know where to find what we need. And by ¡®find,¡¯ I mean ¡®borrow¡¯ from my workplace. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m great at this.¡±


    With a wink that radiated pure mischief, Xaden darted off, leaving no room for objections. His electric energy and can-do attitude lingered in the room like a whirlwind of chaotic charm.


    Astra chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at Bootstrap. ¡°Well, looks like saying no isn¡¯t really on the table anymore, huh? Geez.¡± He let out a resigned laugh, his optimism stubbornly clinging to the edges of the situation. ¡°Like, we¡¯ve definitely walked straight into a cosmic-level mess, haven¡¯t we?¡±

 Gravitational Pull

    As Xaden prepared to get everything needed to help Astra get rid of his bio-tracker, they all took this chance to relax and shower before coming up with a plan.


    Everyone will need to be on their toes for this mission tomorrow morning, thought Astra.


    Miraculously, the removal of the bio-tracker was exactly as easy as Xaden told them. With the bio-tracker gone, everyone settled down for the night. The night was cool and comforting. It helped lulled them to sleep so they could be ready for anything tomorrow morning.


    Morning arrived, and as expected, everyone was ready to go, except Xaden. Xander, unfazed by his brother¡¯s predictability, rolled his eyes at the delay. Xaden, it seemed, had encountered some unfortunate last minute ¡°toilet troubles,¡± keeping the group on hold for hours. Xander spent the morning loudly berating him from outside the bathroom, declaring Xaden¡¯s diarrhea was now everyone¡¯s problem. His patience thinning, Xander even threatened to toss all of Xaden¡¯s experimental concoctions from the fridge into the trash. Instead of hurrying up, however, Xaden doubled down on his bathroom break, much to the growing exasperation of the entire group.


    ¡°Sorry about the delay. Xaden¡¯s usually a lot more solid than this,¡± Xander said, his tone steady and confident as he gathered everyone around the small kitchen table. ¡°I¡¯ve trusted him with my life more times than I can count. He¡¯s probably just¡­ nervous. The jitters, you know.¡±


    ¡°Xaden is the type of dude who will tell you the sun is not some mystical ball of fire but is actually a dense core of hydrogen atoms undergoing nuclear fusion to become helium and giving off energy. Real geek stuff.¡± Xander shifted nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Then again, he is also the whack dude to tell you he won the staring contest with the sun because he didn¡¯t see the sun anymore that day.¡±


    ¡°Astra and Bootstrap somehow looked both reassured and more nervous after hearing Xander talk about Xaden,¡± Xander said, his tone shifting into something more casual but still carrying a hint of conviction.


    ¡°Look, Xaden¡¯s been kinda off lately, but I think he¡¯s just been busting his butt to make this mission work, you know. Xander straightened up and gave a small nod, his confidence starting to seep through. ¡°But trust me, once the heat¡¯s on and things get real, Xaden¡¯ll show up. He¡¯s rock-solid when it matters. You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±


    So, when late morning finally arrived they all met outside the university¡¯s campus. ¡°Everyone ready? No turning back now. We are all pulled into this mess together.¡± Xander asked one last time.


    Everyone relied in unison.


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°Of, course.¡±


    ¡°Was born ready.¡±


    Bootstrap and Astra donned sleek jackets and clean slacks, their outfits helping them blend into the sea of students milling around campus. Bootstrap, as always, clung tightly to his journal. It was a personal artifact he refused to leave behind. The well-worn book not only held priceless knowledge but also conveniently allowed him to pass as just another diligent student, blending seamlessly with those clutching notebooks and textbooks.


    Leaving the journal behind, especially in the hands of strangers, wasn¡¯t an option Bootstrap was willing to entertain. It gave him a sense of purpose and confidence as they wove through the bustling crowd.


    The timing of their infiltration was no coincidence. With students crisscrossing the grounds during the day, the pair could move inconspicuously through the throng. Their plan relied on the natural chaos of the daytime routine to shield them from unnecessary attention. According to Xander, security staff were less vigilant during daylight hours, often distracted by the sheer volume of activity. The crowds, along with the busy energy of the campus, provided the perfect cover for the pair to slip closer to their target without raising suspicion.


    ¡°Act like you¡¯ve got somewhere important to be,¡± Bootstrap muttered under his breath, his voice low but sharp. ¡°Move quick, but don¡¯t stick out. The cameras will be scanning for anything that doesn¡¯t fit, not just faces in the crowd.¡±


    He glanced down, patting his jacket pockets to ensure everything was in place. His journal, tucked snugly under one arm, was an ever-present weight of reassurance. ¡°And, Astra,¡± he added, barely moving his lips, ¡°you¡¯ve got Xander¡¯s fake ID, right? Because if not, this is about to get a whole lot messier than I¡¯d like.¡± His tone carried an edge of warning, his eyes scanning their surroundings like a hawk.


    Astra nodded. He was nervous and couldn¡¯t keep still so he was happy to start moving. He started to move faster through the crowd. Flashing his student ID quickly, he ran through security saying he was running late.


    Astra watched Bootstrap stroll through the security line a few seconds after him, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of relief wash over him. He¡¯d been holding his breath, half-expecting something to go wrong. If either of them had been stopped, the whole plan would¡¯ve unraveled fast, and Astra wasn¡¯t sure how they¡¯d manage to get past the rest of the tight security alone.


    Bootstrap, as always, seemed composed. Astra noticed how the older man kept his movements deliberate, his calm presence like a steady anchor amidst the chaos of students rushing around them. That calm was reassuring and a reminder that Bootstrap was definitely taking the lead on this mission, for better or worse.


    Once they cleared the first checkpoint, Astra followed Bootstrap¡¯s lead, slipping out of the main flow of students. They veered into a side hallway with fewer people, the quiet making his nerves hum even more. Astra glanced around, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets to keep from fidgeting. At least we¡¯re in, he thought, trying to match Bootstrap¡¯s confident pace.


    ¡°Okay, the side control room should be nearby. Let¡¯s pick up the pace, kid¡± said Bootstrap.


    Astra hurried down the long corridor behind Bootstrap, his heart pounding louder with each step. The hallway stretched endlessly, or at least it felt that way, until they finally reached the door marked ¡°Authorized Personnel Only.¡± Astra glanced nervously over his shoulder, half-expecting someone to shout or stop them, but the corridor was eerily quiet.


    Bootstrap pulled out a small electronic scrambler and held it to the door¡¯s lock. A faint beep sounded, and the door clicked open with surprising ease. Both of them exhaled at the same time, relief palpable in the air. Astra followed Bootstrap into the room, his eyes darting around as he took in their surroundings.


    The space was sterile and cold, lit by the glow of a couple of open monitors positioned to observe the front entrance. The faint hum of electronics filled the silence. Empty, Astra thought, though something about the stillness made his skin crawl. Bootstrap moved with practiced precision, pulling out a small storage device loaded with malware. He began scanning the setup, looking for a port to connect it.


    Astra tried to stay calm, but his eyes kept drifting to the blank monitors. They felt¡­ wrong, somehow. ¡°Why¡¯s no one here?¡± he wondered, unease creeping into his chest. As Bootstrap worked, Astra saw the older man pause, his movements slowing. Bootstrap¡¯s expression darkened as his gaze swept the room again, more carefully this time. That was when Astra felt it too, a sinking, gnawing sensation in his gut. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    ¡°This may not have been a good idea.¡± Bootstrap said right as the door behind them slammed shut.


    There was a quiet hissing noise, and the room started to fill with some kind of mysterious gas. Neither of them panicked and began to cover their mouth and nose. However, the gas was strong and there was no way to open the door again. They both tried to push and pull on the door, but was solid. The more they worked on knocking down the door, the more the sedative in the gas worked to weaken them. The tiny room filled up quickly, and there was no escape.


    ¡°Oh crap. They must have recognized us. Here it is. The sleeping gas¡­.¡± Astra said as he started to fall on one of the chairs. He saw Bootstrap attempted to use his magic, but something was tampering with it. Then, his eyes faded into darkness.


    When Astra¡¯s eyes fluttered open, a sharp, throbbing ache greeted him, pounding at his temples like a relentless drum. Still, he quickly realized it was nothing compared to the nauseating sickness that followed every world jump. If anything, this headache felt like a mild annoyance in contrast. At least he wasn¡¯t fighting the urge to throw up his last meal.


    Blinking to clear his blurry vision, Astra scanned the room. The space was stark and empty, a boxed in confinement room with smooth, windowless walls and a single steel door. There wasn¡¯t even a chair or table to break up the monotony of the space. Turning his head, he spotted Bootstrap leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips.


    ¡°Took you long enough.¡± He said in a low voice. ¡°All according to plan, though. Now, let¡¯s get to work on that door before our gracious hosts decide to check in.¡±


    Moving closer to the door, Bootstrap knelt down to take a closer look at the locking mechanism. ¡°Yep, same design as the last one,¡± Bootstrap said, inspecting the door with a practiced eye. He traced a faint rune embedded near the frame, his fingers hovering just above the surface. ¡°It¡¯s a mana absorption lock. A standard issue for keeping magic users in check. Pretty clever, really. It siphons off any magical energy we try to use against it. Efficient, but not impossible to crack.¡±


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    ¡°Uh, did they literally empty our pockets?¡± Asked Astra.


    Bootstrap¡¯s grin deepened, and he pulled the gemstone from his pocket with a deliberate slowness, as if savoring the moment. Its swirling patterns danced in the dim light, casting faint reflections on the walls. ¡°Ah, there it is,¡± he said, his voice carrying the weight of age and experience. ¡°Our little gemstone. Just like Eadrich said, it¡¯s got a knack for finding its way back to me. Guess they didn¡¯t account for that particular quirk.¡± His voice carried a smug undertone, his confidence palpable.


    He turned the gemstone in his gnarled fingers, the swirling energy catching his tired but sharp eyes. ¡°If the information we¡¯ve got holds water, and in my experience, it usually does, then this slip-up of theirs might just be the stroke of luck we needed. Not only have they dragged us straight into the heart of where they¡¯re keeping Xavier, but I¡¯d wager we¡¯re within spitting distance of their control room too.¡±


    Bootstrap leaned closer to the door, squinting at it as if inspecting the craftsmanship of an old rival. ¡°Now, this lock¡­ clever little contraption. A mana-absorption system, designed to keep the magically inclined in their place. Not bad. Not bad at all.¡± He let out a dry chuckle, the kind that hinted at countless battles won and lessons learned. ¡°I could try to brute-force it with a potent shot of mana, but why go swinging a sledgehammer when you¡¯ve got the right key?¡±


    He held up the gemstone again, letting its light play over his weathered face. ¡°This thing? It¡¯s limitless, boy. The kind of power they didn¡¯t account for when they designed their fancy toys. You see, they built their cage, but they didn¡¯t stop to think about who they were caging. Their mistake. Our gain.¡± His smile turned wry, the wisdom of his years woven into every word.


    Pressing the gemstone against the lock, Bootstrap activated it. The gem glowed and the lock gave off a little crack. The device seemed to have already started to absorb the mana from the gemstone. With a bit of smoke, the door unlocked itself.


    ¡°Looks like it bit off more than it can chew there,¡± he said, nodding toward the lock. His eyes lit up as he glanced at the gemstone in Bootstrap¡¯s hand. ¡°They really thought they had us, huh? Big bad magic-absorbing lock, and they didn¡¯t even think to plan for that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like making an omelet. Easy.¡± Bootstrap opened the door as not to make too much noise and draw attention, and they both crept out of the room. They ran by a couple of other locked rooms, but eventually, they landed on another ¡°Authorized Personnel Only¡± door.


    Bootstrap adjusted his stance, the gemstone glinting faintly in his hand as he inspected the lock. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked, his voice calm but laced with the gravel of years gone by. ¡°Once again, we¡¯re putting faith in their information. Let¡¯s hope this is just a standard lock and not some overcomplicated anti-magic contraption. I¡¯d rather not find out the hard way they got it wrong.¡± His weathered face creased into a wry smile as he glanced at Astra. ¡°Well, here goes nothing.¡±


    With a sharp nod from Astra, Bootstrap surged forward activating his runes. Gripping the door handle, Bootstrap twisted with a strength that defied his age, the metal groaning under his grip before snapping clean. With a swift, calculated kick, the reinforced steel door flew open, crashing against the wall. For anyone else, the door might have posed an obstacle, but Bootstrap¡¯s force, honed by years of magical prowess and experience, made quick work of it.


    Inside, startled lab technicians froze mid-motion. Without missing a beat, Bootstrap and Astra moved in, swiftly but carefully incapacitating the technicians. They didn¡¯t aim to harm, only to ensure the staff couldn¡¯t sound the alarm. With hurried precision, they tied the technicians up and stowed them away in a nearby closet, their muffled protests subsiding as the door clicked shut.


    Turning their attention to the room, the duo began rummaging through the storage boxes lining the walls. Astra sifted through one pile while Bootstrap methodically examined another. Sifting through the boxes, they found their confiscated items and a couple of other people¡¯s belongings too. There in the box were some strange gold necklace with an eye in the middle, a box full of cards and some game die with symbols on it instead of numbers in a bag.


    Astra picked up the dice, turning them over in his hands. ¡°What even is this stuff?¡±


    Bootstrap glanced over, his eyes narrowing at the necklace. ¡°Artifacts from another time, another place, I¡¯d wager. And possibly trouble if we don¡¯t tread carefully.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Okay, got it!¡± Astra rejoiced as he found their missing items.


    ¡°Good work, Astra.¡± Bootstrap said, his voice warm with approval. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get that malware into the main system. If Xander and Xaden are keeping their eyes on the feeds, they¡¯ll know the security grid¡¯s been compromised the moment it goes down.¡±


    He gave Astra a small nod, his sharp gaze scanning the room. ¡°We need to move quickly. If they¡¯re not already suspicious, it won¡¯t take long before someone notices the silence in here.¡±


    Astra went to the biggest computer and started to flip through the screens to find Xavier first. The computer system set up was a bit confusing at first, but pushing every button finally got it to a menu that Astra could understand. Knowing that they were twins, he flipped through the screens until he found a boy that looked like Xander. Popping out at him on the screen was a boy lying curled up on a mattress in a near empty room.


    ¡°Ah got him. He¡¯s in room Number 31. Now we can plug this bad boy in,¡± excitedly said Astra as he plugged the small transfer device into a slot on the main server computer. The computer had a small prompt open up, and then the malware went to town on the computer.


    ¡°Wait! You don¡¯t know what you are doing.¡± Cried one of the lab researcher. ¡°We need him. We finally got everything stabilized. That boy is powering half the city with his magic right now.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± In that moment, a suffocating feeling started to swell up in Astra.


    ¡°Like, what do you mean he is powering the city?¡± Astra¡¯s voice trembled, a mix of anger and disbelief swelling within him.


    The lab researcher struggled to get to a better sitting position and weakly began to talk with a mixture of fear and determination. ¡°Xavier isn¡¯t just any boy. He has a unique condition to emit mana by converting the fluctuation of everyone¡¯s soul around him. If you take him right now, you will cut the power to half of the city. Think of all the innocent people who will be affected by the chaos. There are a lot of vital infrastructure that is on our power grid. Innocent people rely on him, Astra. Hospitals, families, the elderly¡­their lives hang on what he¡¯s providing.¡±


    Astra¡¯s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his voice rising with raw frustration. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you dare get on a high horse now! Nah! You¡¯re just using him, using him, like he¡¯s nothing more than a living battery! How can you stand there and justify making this boy suffer, so the rest of you can live comfortably? How is that okay? That¡¯s seriously fucked up.¡± His voice cracked slightly, but the fire in his eyes burned hotter than ever as he glared at them, the anger radiating off him like heat.


    The researcher shook his head, pleading. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. We¡¯re not trying to exploit him. We¡¯re trying to help him. We are trying to stabilize the side effects of his condition. Yes, he¡¯s providing energy, but we¡¯ve spent years on this research ensuring he¡¯s safe also ensuring his power isn¡¯t hurting anyone.¡± his voice cracked, laced with desperation. ¡°Look around you, Astra.¡±


    Bootstrap stepped forward, his voice calm but laced with sharp disapproval. ¡°Hold on just a minute. Are you genuinely clueless, or are you just pretending not to understand the basics of morality? Or maybe you¡¯re just stalling until reinforcements arrive. Because let¡¯s not play dumb. I¡¯ve seen the notes, the reports. They¡¯re not exactly subtle. It¡¯s all laid out. He¡¯s being used as a test subject to create weapons. There was something about building an ¡®army generator,¡¯ or whatever euphemism you¡¯ve slapped on this monstrosity. Don¡¯t try to feign innocence. We know exactly what kind of experiments you¡¯re running here, and trust me, it doesn¡¯t paint you in a flattering light.¡±


    The lab researcher¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Weapons!? No. We aren¡¯t a weapons program. We are a humanities program. We are trying to create a way to suppress the side effects of his condition and generate power for the people in this city. We are funded by the university to study how can magic be used to support society more.¡± As Astra and Bootstrap begins to realize something was wrong, the lab researcher said, ¡°Just look around you. We are in a facility full of students and volunteers. With no armed guards!¡±


    ¡°Well, what about the really deadly DNA cannons that were a part of the security system, then?¡± Asked Astra, his sharp gaze beginning to falter.


    ¡°T-those are experimental probes that gather data to see if there are a lot of fluctuation in mana emission around this building due to Xavier. Please. We just wanted to make sure that no one else could be hurt by his emissions. The only security we have is the mana absorption locks on all the doors and a couple of guards¡­¡± Replied the lab researcher.


    Astra¡¯s thoughts spun, conflicting emotions tearing at him. Rescue meant freedom for Xavier but would also mean throwing countless others into darkness. The truth weighed heavy on his heart challenging his very sense of right and wrong.


    ¡°Also, I see that you guys think you are rescuing him, but you may not be doing him any favors letting him out of here. He came here willingly. If you talked to him he can tell you more about his story,¡± continued the lab researcher.


    ¡°No way. Don¡¯t mess with me!¡± Astra retorted.


    The lab researcher shook his head, pleading. ¡°Please. I¡¯m not lying.¡±


    ¡°Xavier went to Shadow Garden on his own?¡± Astra said in disbelief.


    ¡°What is Shadow Garden?¡± The lab researcher stammered as a huge explosion sounded in a nearby room. The blast shook the entire building, sending a tremor through the walls and floors. Astra froze, his heart pounding as the sound of crumbling walls and gut-wrenching screams followed growing louder and closer by the second.


    ¡°What the-¡± Astra started, but Bootstrap grabbed his arm and pulled him out the door.


    The pair sprinted down the hallway, the acrid scent of smoke and destruction filling the air. As they rounded the corner, the scene ahead made Astra¡¯s stomach churn. Half the rooms they had passed earlier were now obliterated, the walls reduced to rubble. All the occupants including scientists, guards and innocent civilians lay scattered in the wreckage. Some were unconscious, others broken beyond recognition.


    In the center of the chaos, standing amidst the debris in Xavier¡¯s room, was Xaden. But he wasn¡¯t the Xaden Astra remembered. He wore a sleek black suit that looked almost alive, its fabric shimmering ominously under the flickering emergency lights. His face was a mask of twisted fury, his gaze locked on Xavier with an expression that was equal parts disgust and rage.


    ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± Astra whispered, horrified. So much wreckage.


    Bootstrap¡¯s face darkened. ¡°That¡¯s not just Xaden,¡± he said quietly, his voice tense. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong. Something¡¯s very wrong.¡±


    ¡°Xaden! Don¡¯t do it¡­ It wasn¡¯t suppose¡­ to be like this.¡± Running up the hall now was Xander with Bootstrap¡¯s broken sword, looking out of breath, he gasped, ¡°Save them¡­ please¡­don¡¯t let¡­ him take Xavier. Xaden¡­ isn¡¯t himself.¡±


    That was all Astra needed to hear. Hearing the desperation in Xander¡¯s voice, Astra had no hesitation. Activating his mana, his muscles all tensed and a jolt of power shot through him as he bolted towards Xavier and Xaden.


    Behind Astra, Bootstrap spotted his sword in Xander¡¯s hand. Darting over, Bootstrap reclaimed his blade and took off after Astra. ¡°I slipped a tracker in your sword. Go on ahead. I¡¯ll catch up!¡± Xander called, staying back to catch his breath. Bootstrap charged forward catching up to Astra.


    At that moment, Xaden locked eyes with Bootstrap and pulled out a lighter to light a small flame. The flame danced from the lighter to Xaden¡¯s glowing fingers and bursted into a bright pillar of flames. Xaden quickly started to draw a sigil on the ground with the fire. Giving them a melancholy smile, he glowed quickly and the world seemed to glitched out for a split second. Bootstrap and Astra tripped and fell to the ground right as they got near Xaden. The next thing they knew, the sigil was finished. With no time to think about it, both of them recovered to their feet and made a mad dash to Xavier right as Xaden pulled a small object from his pocket. Activating it, right as Bootstrap and Astra reached Xavier, they all disappeared.

 Escape Velocity

    The sensation hit Astra with an unsettling familiarity. He had been through this kind of disorienting shift before. The world twisted, crunched in on itself, and then snapped back into place, leaving behind a lingering wave of nausea that churned in his stomach. Blinking to steady himself, Astra took in his surroundings. They were in what looked like a ritual chamber, the atmosphere thick with heat and an oppressive stillness.


    At the center of the room stood a massive, weathered altar, its surface darkened with age and blood. Surrounding it was a circle drawn in crimson, the lines sharp and precise, glowing faintly in the flickering light of dozens of candles. Xavier lay motionless atop the altar, his small form dwarfed by the ominous setup. The heavy scent of iron mingled with the acrid tang of burning wax, clawing at Astra¡¯s senses and making his pulse quicken.


    ¡°Ugh, Bootstrap, does he have it? You know, the other piece?¡± Astra asked. A bit of familiar nausea showed on his face.


    ¡°Yes, he has the other half. There¡¯s no other explanation,¡± Bootstrap said, his voice low and steady, though the sharpness in his tone betrayed his unease. His eyes stayed locked on Xaden, analyzing every move. ¡°The sigil on the ground back there. It wasn¡¯t random. He must¡¯ve used it to direct the jump here by linking it to this room somehow. That¡¯s how he pulled it off.¡±


    Bootstrap stepped slightly in front of Astra, his protective instincts kicking in. ¡°He¡¯s dangerous, Astra. Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Everything worked out so easily,¡± Xaden¡¯s grin carved deep into his face, sharp and smug as ever. ¡°I gotta admit, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d fall for it like that. There was a moment when I was nervous, but hey, thanks to Astra here, it all came together perfectly. You really made it too easy for me¡­ Wanderer.¡±


    Xaden¡¯s eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction as he spread his arms wide. ¡°And now, you get a front-row seat to the show. Sit back, Wanderer, and watch helplessly while I change this world.¡±


    ¡°What does Shadow Garden want with Xavier?¡± Bootstrap demanded, his voice a low growl laced with urgency. ¡°I thought they wanted his abilities, not to sacrifice him like this!¡± Without waiting for an answer, Bootstrap shot a glance at Astra, and the two lunged toward Xaden in unison.


    Once again, the world glitched out for a split second, and Xaden appeared behind them. Too fast for them to react, he struck Astra in the back and threw flames on Bootstrap knocking both of them down. With another cruel flick of his hands, he threw more flames on Bootstrap igniting Bootstrap¡¯s shirt.


    Astra¡¯s voice carried a sharp edge, tinged with Bootstrap¡¯s influence. ¡°He wasn¡¯t just fast,¡± he said, his breath catching. ¡°He didn¡¯t even look like he moved. One second he was there, and the next¡­ he just appeared behind me.¡±


    As Bootstrap threw his burning shirt off, Xaden said, ¡°Sorry I had to do that. I¡¯m glad you don¡¯t have all your equipment especially your cloak right now. Nothing personal, I promise I just need to finish this ritual real quickly.¡±


    Xaden''s eyes briefly flickered with something Astra couldn''t place. It looked like hesitation to Astra, but then, it disappeared replaced by smugness as he turned towards Bootstrap. ¡°But now, I am reminded of a story of a famous hero who once tried to save the world. Tell me if you know this story. He was tasked with defeating a demon who roamed the world sucking the joy out of the world everywhere he went. Everyone needed him to pull the legendary sword out from a stone and claim the one weapon needed to beat the demon. I seem to remember that the demon is still out there too, you know. Not only did this ¡®hero¡¯ not pull the sword free from the stone, in his desperate attempt he broke the sword so that there can never be another hero who can be chosen by the sword.¡± Xaden gestured at Bootstrap¡¯s half broken sword. ¡°How tragic. I guess some heroes have greatness forced upon them while others try to force greatness.¡±


    Astra watched Bootstrap tense, the words hitting harder than any spell. He could see Xaden was baiting him, trying to distract him from the ritual. Astra knew he had to act before Xaden twisted Bootstrap¡¯s resolve any further. ¡°He¡¯s stalling. He has to be,¡± Astra said, his words tumbling out quickly. ¡°This feels like a timed ritual or something. I mean, he¡¯s dragging on his speeches. Also, like, I¡¯ve been watching, and right before the world distorts, he glows for a second. That glow. It¡¯s like he¡¯s pulling mana from himself. It¡¯s got to be some kind of spell he has to keep casting.¡±


    Shaking off the creeping self-doubt, Bootstrap snapped back into focus. He couldn¡¯t let his mind wander now. Astra needed him sharp, steady, and dependable. Turning to Astra, Bootstrap spoke with calm encouragement, his voice steady despite the chaos.


    ¡°Sorry about that, kid. You¡¯re catching on. You see the mana flow too. Good. Really good. That¡¯s not something just anyone can pick up on, especially against someone as skilled as Xaden. I¡¯m proud of you. That kind of concentration takes real talent.¡± He paused, his weary eyes narrowing on Xaden, then added, ¡°But look closer. There¡¯s a trick hidden in his movements, subtle, but it¡¯s there. Focus on the details.¡±


    Bootstrap straightened his stance, adjusting his grip on his blade. ¡°Without my cloak, my defenses are limited. You¡¯ll need to act fast and figure this out. You¡¯re ready for this, Astra. I trust you. You¡¯ve got what it takes.¡±


    With that, Astra extended his mana outward and concentrated on feeling everything around him in the small room. Xaden with graceful movements of his arms pulled some fires from the ever bright candles, and threw them towards Bootstrap like missiles. Astra could feel the heat in the air as the flames flew across the room. He can hear his heartbeat thumping faster and faster as the flickering flames got closer to Bootstrap. The flames zipped through the air heading straight for Bootstrap¡¯s head. Bootstrap side stepped the flames with ease then took that chance to take a quick step towards Xavier.


    The flames¡­ Thought Astra.


    The cool calmness of Bootstrap¡¯s heart contrasted with Astra¡¯s own heart as Astra tried to take in all the action in the room at once. Once again, Xaden activated his magic and stepped in front of Bootstrap to punch him in the gut. Using the momentum from Bootstrap¡¯s steps and his own forward strike, he landed a solid punch that felt like a ten ton truck hitting Bootstrap¡¯s stomach.


    Bootstrap doubled over onto his hands and knees. A low rumble of a strained laugh started, then he let it all out with a full laugh. ¡°Did you catch that, Astra? Straightforward enough, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Astra¡¯s voice cut through the tense air, catching Xaden off guard. ¡°Yep, I figured it out.¡± His tone carried a mix of triumph and curiosity. ¡°So, if I¡¯m right about this, and I think I am, you¡¯re not really stopping time or teleporting, are you? You¡¯re just messing with how we perceive it. Our perception of time. See, every time you pull your trick, the candles flicker weirdly. If you look at all the flickering candles, they flicker unnaturally into a different orientation when he does his magic. Time still flowed for the fire, but we don¡¯t see it until the magic stops, then we see it in the current state a couple of second later. like they¡¯re jumping into a different state. Time keeps flowing for the fire, but we don¡¯t see it happen until the effect wears off. Oh, and I¡¯ve also noticed something else, the time stop is getting shorter every time you use it.¡±


    Astra¡¯s grin stretched wide, lighting up his face with genuine excitement. For once, he¡¯d pieced together something magical on his own, and he couldn¡¯t help but beam a smug, almost playful smile at Xaden. ¡°How¡¯s that for figuring you out?¡±


    Wait, I totally sounded like Bootstrap right there. That gave me chills. Astra thought.


    Bootstrap nodded, his expression serious but tinged with approval. ¡°Exactly, Astra. That¡¯s his weakness. He¡¯s burning through his mana faster than he realizes, and he can¡¯t keep this up forever. But,¡± he paused, his tone shifting to one of caution, ¡°it also means he¡¯s not planning to win by fighting us directly. He¡¯s stalling, running the clock until that ritual completes. We need to act fast and disrupt whatever he¡¯s trying to finish.¡± Bootstrap¡¯s gaze hardened as he tightened his fist. ¡°Stay sharp. This isn¡¯t just a fight. It¡¯s a race against time.¡±


    Xaden began clapping slowly, the sound echoing in the ritual chamber like a mocking metronome. ¡°Well done, young prodigy,¡± he said with a sly grin, his tone dripping with mock admiration. ¡°You figured out my power, but here¡¯s the kicker. You still won¡¯t win.¡±


    He paced casually, gesturing as he spoke, his voice tinged with frustration and zeal. ¡°Let me clear the air. This? This isn¡¯t about Shadow Garden. The Father? Please. He¡¯s just another old fool chasing a childish dream of creating a so-called ¡®new world.¡¯ Like that¡¯ll fix anything.¡± He scoffed, his lip curling in disdain. ¡°He¡¯s so short-sighted, always talking about gods and rebirth like it¡¯s some grand solution. But he doesn¡¯t get it. Creating a new world? That¡¯s just escapism wrapped in a shiny package. The same problems will creep back. The rot in humanity? It doesn¡¯t go away with a fresh coat of paint. No, I¡¯m tired of running from it all.¡±


    Xaden stopped, looking at Astra and Bootstrap with something almost akin to sincerity. ¡°When I was little, I read a book. A book that opened my eyes to the truth about people. Ever hear of it? In the story, a group of kids get stranded on an island after a plane crash. At first, they try to stay civilized, try to keep order. They come up with a system, a conch shell. The kid holding the conch gets to speak, gets to be heard. It worked, for a while. The conch kept things together. Unity. Democracy. Respect. Simple, right?¡±


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his tone darkening. ¡°But nothing¡¯s ever that simple, is it? That same fire that keeps humanity striving forward. It¡¯s also the spark that burns everything down. Eventually, the leader gets killed, and the conch? Shattered into pieces. And with it, the illusion of order. Once it broke, the kids realized something. That unity, that respect, it was all make-believe. It only worked because they let it work. And when they didn¡¯t? It was just another useless hunk of junk.¡±


    Xaden paused, his expression hardening. ¡°The conch in this world? It shattered a long time ago. Behind the glitz and glamour of the elites lies the truth, the disease-ridden underbelly of society. I¡¯ve seen it, felt it. My family starved to death while some rich bastard blew away a fortune on a single bet, laughing like it was pocket change. How do you fix that?¡± He looked at them, his voice quiet but sharp. ¡°You can¡¯t force people to respect what they¡¯ve been taught to despise their whole lives. You can¡¯t undo that conditioning. But¡­ you can give them something to unite under.¡±


    Xaden¡¯s gaze drifted to Xavier, lingering there a heartbeat too long. Was that guilt flashing across his face? Astra couldn¡¯t be sure, but whatever it was, Xaden quickly buried it beneath a new twisted confidence. ¡°The world needs a new conch. And I¡¯m going to make it happen.¡±


    Xaden spread his arms wide, a dramatic flourish punctuating his words. ¡°What we need,¡± he began, his voice growing louder with each syllable, ¡°is what we had a thousand years ago, back when true gods ruled this world. You¡¯ve heard of it, right? The Age of Blood? Despite the name, it was the most well-governed era in history. Everyone was on the same level, ruled by a supreme being. United under one.¡±


    His tone turned reverent, almost dreamy. ¡°That¡¯s real equality. None of this fractured nonsense, none of this ¡®every man for himself¡¯ garbage. Just one ruler. One vision. That¡¯s how we can finally bring peace.¡±


    Xaden¡¯s gaze snapped back to Astra and Bootstrap, and his grin twisted into something more sinister. ¡°And lucky for you two, you get to play a special role in this glorious rebirth. You should be proud, really. The honor of being the nourishment for the new god? That¡¯s not something just anyone gets.¡±


    He gestured toward them grandly, as if unveiling a masterpiece. ¡°You¡¯ve got way more magic than most people. Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice that. You¡¯re special, and the new god is going to appreciate that. Your magic, your lives¡­ they¡¯ll be the foundation for a new era of peace. You should feel privileged to help birth the new world order.¡± Xaden¡¯s smile widened, filled with cruel satisfaction. ¡°Take pride, you two. You¡¯re about to be part of something¡­ divine.¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s voice was tight with restrained anger, his words cutting like a blade. ¡°So that¡¯s your grand plan?¡± he hissed, his tone deceptively calm but laced with fury. ¡°To bring back some long-dead god and expect it to rule this world? Do you honestly think that a being like that would care about fairness or equality?¡±


    He took a step forward, his eyes blazing with barely-contained outrage. ¡°What do you even know about the age of the gods? Do you think it was all harmony and balance? It wasn¡¯t! It was chaos, bloodshed, and control. Everyone was groveling in fear under beings who saw them as nothing more than tools. What makes you think this time would be any different?¡±


    Bootstrap¡¯s fists clenched at his sides, his voice dropping lower but carrying even more weight. ¡°This world doesn¡¯t need another tyrant, no matter how you dress it up as ¡®unity.¡¯ Don¡¯t pretend you¡¯re doing this for the greater good. You¡¯re playing with forces you don¡¯t understand, and it¡¯s going to end in ruin for everyone.¡±


    Bootstrap lunged at Xaden with his sword, and Xaden activated the time stop again. However this time, the time stop flickered, but then broke as a rock struck Xaden¡¯s head. While Xaden wasn¡¯t looking Astra got some rocks on the side of the room and threw it as bootstrap started to attack Xaden. The time stop didn¡¯t actually stop time so an object in motion already does not stop and stays in motion. In this case, stayed in motion until it hit Xaden and stopped his concentration. Bootstrap narrowly grazed Xaden¡¯s chest causing some blood to drip from his chest.


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep this up anymore Xaden.¡± Bootstrap commented. ¡°Your mana is almost empty.¡±


    Xaden¡¯s movements were starting to be sluggish as he got more tired with each attempt of his time stop. The constant interruptions when he used time stop had reduced his mana pool to mere drops so he started to switch to more physical hand to hand combat. He resorted to using reinforcement magic to change the carbon structure of his suit before the moment of impact which will allow him to reserve more mana in case of an emergency.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Bootstrap¡¯s tone was sharp, almost scolding, but it carried an edge of frustration that cut deeper than his words. ¡°Do you really believe this world is beyond saving?¡± he pressed, his voice steady but laced with incredulity. ¡°Is it truly so far gone that the only solution is to wipe it clean and start over? Or¡­¡± He narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing as he leaned forward slightly. ¡°Is it just because you¡¯ve realized you¡¯re too weak to make any real change yourself, and now you¡¯re looking for someone else, a god, to do all the heavy lifting for you?¡±


    His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring Xaden to face the truth. But the younger man didn¡¯t respond, his focus locked elsewhere, his eyes clouded with desperation. Bootstrap sighed heavily, the weight of disappointment settling over him. ¡°You¡¯re so lost in your own despair that you can¡¯t see what¡¯s right in front of you. This world doesn¡¯t need a god to save it. It needs people who refuse to give up, who¡¯ll fight for change even when it seems impossible.¡±


    But it was clear Xaden wasn¡¯t listening, his desperation drowning out any sense of reason. Bootstrap shook his head, his voice dropping to a murmur, almost as if speaking to himself. ¡°You¡¯re so consumed by your own hopelessness that you¡¯ve forgotten what it means to believe in something real.¡±


    Xaden found himself utterly outmatched by the relentless assault from Bootstrap and Astra. Desperation flashed in his eyes as he struggled to defend against their coordinated strikes. Bootstrap, with the precision of a seasoned tactician, seamlessly directed their attacks, creating openings for Astra to exploit. Astra would dart in, landing a swift blow before trapping Xaden¡¯s arm, leaving him exposed to Bootstrap¡¯s calculated strikes. When Bootstrap moved in, he would restrict Xaden¡¯s movements just enough for Astra to circle around, targeting a blind spot and launching into another unrelenting combo.


    Their teamwork was seamless, a dance of strategy and ferocity. Bootstrap¡¯s experience shone in every calculated step, while Astra¡¯s youthful energy kept the pressure unrelenting. Xaden fought back with a wild, almost feral determination, his movements driven by something deeper than self-preservation. It was something or someone he seemed to be fighting for with every ounce of his being. Yet, despite his raw resolve, he was no match for the duo. The sheer force of Bootstrap¡¯s expertise and Astra¡¯s relentless spirit overwhelmed him, slowly chipping away at his defenses until he was left battered and cornered.


    ¡°So, we¡¯ve cracked your little trick. How your time stop actually works. No point pretending otherwise now,¡± Bootstrap growled, his voice sharp with both anger and curiosity. His grip tightened on the back of Xaden¡¯s neck, pinning him firmly to the ground. ¡°What I want to know is how you were using it on us. Perception magic of this level doesn¡¯t come cheap, nor is it common. I¡¯ve never heard of anyone wielding such a spell without shattering through mana barriers like paper. So, tell me. Where did you learn it? Who taught you to manipulate reality this way?¡± Bootstrap¡¯s eyes bore into Xaden, the scholar in him still hungry for answers even amidst the chaos.


    Almost as if on cue, the candles around the alter started to blaze wildly getting brighter and larger. The bloody sigil under Xavier started to glow, and a scream tore out from Xavier. It seemed as though the spell was trying to rip Xavier¡¯s soul right from out of his frail body. The ritual spell had begun as the mana around him started to go into the alter. Only now, as they had the time to examine it more closely did Astra and Bootstrap realized that the alter was actually a big coffin most likely for the ancient god.


    Xaden¡¯s face flickered with concern, his gaze briefly darting toward Xavier, as if wrestling with some relentless inner turmoil. But with a deep breath, the look vanished, replaced by his usual smug demeanor. Turning to face Bootstrap and Astra, he finally spoke, his voice carrying an unsettling calmness.


    ¡°Not that it matters anymore,¡± he started, his tone laced with bitterness, ¡°but there¡¯s a reason the folks on this planet don¡¯t use runes like you off-worlders do. You see, I had a little fun with your trust.¡± His eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief as he gestured toward Astra. ¡°I slipped some of my magic into those fancy runes you so proudly carved into his body, Bootstrap. You basically handed me a key to your apprentice.¡±


    He shifted his gaze to Bootstrap, a sly grin forming as he added, ¡°And you? That slap wasn¡¯t just to mess with you, old man. I laced a bit of my magic right into your neck. You didn¡¯t even notice, did you? All that experience, and you missed it. Sorry, but I couldn¡¯t let all this planning go to waste.¡±


    Xaden¡¯s voice took on an edge as he continued, his hands gesturing theatrically. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy, you know. Breaking into that lab wasn¡¯t just tough. It was damn near impossible. Took months of planning, months of pretending, months of keeping all the players in the dark. You really can¡¯t trust anyone around here, not even the so-called researchers.¡± His grin faltered briefly before snapping back into place. ¡°But hey, thanks for making this a little easier.¡±


    ¡°Xavier!¡± Astra shouted as he ran up to the coffin and started to smear away the blood sigil. Nothing worked. It seems like the magic has already taken a lot from Xavier, and has become self contained.


    It won¡¯t break easily now. Thought Astra


    Xaden¡¯s bravado shattered like glass under a hammer as Xavier¡¯s anguished cries filled the room. He stumbled back, pressing himself against the cold wall, his confident mask slipping away. His face twisted with horror. His eyes darted, wild and desperate, like someone watching their worst nightmare unfold. His gaze darted between Xavier¡¯s writhing form and the fading light of his magic, panic consuming him.


    ¡°This¡­ this isn¡¯t right,¡± he muttered, his voice shaking, barely audible over Xavier¡¯s cries. His hands trembled as he reached out, then pulled back, unsure of what to do. ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this¡­¡±


    From where Astra stood, Xaden¡¯s expression crumpled. He stared at his younger brother like someone watching a nightmare they couldn¡¯t wake from. Xavier¡¯s body barely holding on as the curse magic drained away. ¡°Wait¡­ no. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be this harsh!¡± Xaden¡¯s voice cracked, raw with desperation. ¡°I didn¡¯t-it wasn¡¯t supposed to take his soul! Only the cursed mana!¡±


    His legs gave out, and he slid to the floor, burying his face in his hands. His shoulders shook as if the weight of the room had finally crushed him. ¡°What have I done?¡± he whispered. The weight of his actions bore down on him, and for the first time in years, Xaden looked utterly broken. ¡°Xavier¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t want this. I just¡­ I wanted to save you.¡±


    Bootstrap gripped his sword tightly, attempting to channel its power to cut through the raging storm of mana. The blade sparked briefly, but the swirling energies consumed the attempt effortlessly, swallowing the mana as if it were fuel for its chaos. The storm began to grow more insidious, tendrils of energy creeping through the air to siphon mana from everyone present. Even the very essence of the rocky chamber seemed to weaken as the spell drained its surroundings, pulling strength from the walls, the floor, and the people trapped within.


    ¡°No, this wasn¡¯t part of the deal!¡± Xaden¡¯s voice cracked, trembling with despair as he slumped to his knees. His eyes locked on Xavier, now frail and writhing in agony. ¡°He lied to me. I didn¡¯t want this¡­ I just wanted us to be a family again. My brothers¡­ together¡­¡± His words faded into a feeble cry, the weight of his decision crushing him as he clutched his head in his hands.


    Just then a new voice broke through the chaos. A familiar voice that sounded confidently enough to both send chills down Astra¡¯s spine and reassure him.


    ¡°Wait guys, I think I can help.¡± Spoke a familiar face in a maroon robe breaking the heavy aura in the room. Trailing behind him gasping for breath was Xander.


    ¡°Finally made it,¡± Xander panted, doubling over to catch his breath. ¡°I brought Eadrich with me once I pieced together what was going on with the sigil magic. Followed the tracker and the mana trail straight down here.¡± He straightened, glancing at the chaos around him. ¡°Trust me, he can help. The guy knows way more about ritual spells and these so-called lesser gods than I ever could.¡± His voice carried urgency, but there was a glimmer of hope in his tone.


    ¡°Eadrich!¡± Astra and Bootstrap called out in unison, relief mingling with surprise in their voices. Astra¡¯s eyes widened as he took in the monk¡¯s appearance. It was unmistakably Eadrich, but something about him was different. His monk robes, once simple and reserved, now carried a practical and combative edge.


    The fabric looked reinforced, sturdier, with a larger sash wrapped around his midsection, lined with an array of pouches that hinted at concealed tools or potions. The top of his robe was looser, designed not just for movement but also for carrying supplies. Eadrich¡¯s entire presence seemed altered, less of the scholarly monk Astra remembered and more a seasoned warrior stepping into the fray. Even his expression carried a sharper focus, a readiness Astra hadn¡¯t seen before.


    ¡°Oh, do not be so surprised it is me. In moments like these, what you need is someone with a clear head to do the thinking,¡± he said, tapping the side of his temple as if to emphasize his point.


    Adjusting the pouches on his sash, he added with a self-satisfied grin, ¡°Besides, Shadow Garden always takes care of their own. And if, by chance, I get the opportunity to kill a lesser god in the process? Well, that¡¯s just icing on the cake. So many pluses for me, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± His tone was both calculating and smug, a man fully aware of the gravity of the situation but enjoying the moment nonetheless.


    ¡°How did you manage to get here so fast, Eadrich? And why should we trust you after what happened to your last partner?¡± Bootstrap asked Eadrich, caution laced his words.


    Eadrich stood with his arms crossed, his gaze unwavering as he addressed the group. ¡°Let me be clear,¡± he began, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of exasperation. ¡°I had my own affairs to tend to in my hometown. It is pure coincidence that our paths have crossed here, so do not let your ego convince you that everything revolves around you. I am a wanderer as well, Bootstrap. It should not come as a shock if I appear unexpectedly or vanish just as abruptly, much like yourself.¡±


    He adjusted the sash around his waist, the pouches jingling softly. ¡°As for my previous partner, well, let us just say he was far from an ideal companion. You could see it in his actions. He was more inclined to wreak havoc than to adhere to any semblance of strategy. A reckless force, better suited to chaos than cooperation.¡±


    Eadrich¡¯s tone grew sharper, but his eyes betrayed a glimmer of understanding. ¡°You do not have to trust me, Bootstrap. Trust is a luxury we cannot afford to weigh too heavily on right now. What you can trust is this.¡±


    ¡°Whatever is happening here must be rectified. That much is undeniable, whether you like it or not.¡± Eadrich said waving at the surrounding hellscape. ¡°Also, you have trusted me before in the forest, and that turned out just fine.


    Astra tilted his head, confusion written all over his face. ¡°Uhh, what¡¯s a Wanderer? I thought it was just, like, a cool nickname or something. But the way he said it, it sounded like Wanderers are some kind of¡­ special people or something. What gives?¡± Astra whispered to Bootstrap.


    ¡°I will have to explain after this ordeal. Time is of the essences right now.¡± Bootstrap whispered back quickly.


    Bootstrap adjusted his stance, his tone sharp but steady as he addressed Eadrich. ¡°So, tell me, monk, how do we save Xavier and while we¡¯re at it, all of us? Because if this mana storm keeps pulling at our life force, I doubt we¡¯ll have the luxury of debating much longer.¡± His eyes flicked to Xavier, then back to Eadrich. ¡°I assume you¡¯ve got more than just a dramatic entrance planned?¡±


    The winds in the room picked up and whirled around as the magic became more fierce.


    Eadrich surveyed the scene with a sharp, calculating gaze, his voice calm but imbued with a sense of urgency. ¡°This is unmistakably a blood ritual of significant complexity. The sigil functions as a vessel to anchor a soul within that corpse resting in the coffin. It is designed to draw upon all available mana sources to reanimate the lifeless body. Once re-energized, it will attempt to extract Xavier¡¯s soul, binding it to the flesh as a conduit. By superimposing its own essence atop his, the god intends to revive itself in full form.¡±


    Xaden¡¯s voice cracked as he slumped against the wall, his hands trembling as they covered his face. ¡°This is all my fault,¡± he choked out, his words heavy with despair. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I am going to lose my family all over again.¡± His shoulders shook as he struggled to contain the flood of emotions.


    Eadrich¡¯s voice carried a measured calm as he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the swirling ritual at the room¡¯s center. ¡°It is not beyond hope,¡± he began, his tone steady and reassuring. ¡°The spell is designed only to verify the presence of a soul within the vessel. Once that condition is met, the reanimation process will cease. To prevent the god from fully reviving with his full power, I will use arcane magic to seal the surrounding mana, severing its connection to the environment. This will starve the spell of its additional energy.¡±


    He gestured toward the coffin, his expression somber yet determined. ¡°We can then conduct our own ritual to implant a soul temporarily into that body. The condition will be that the soul returns to its origin once the body of the god is destroyed. It is an intricate and precarious spell, and success is far from guaranteed, given the lack of preparation; however, it is our best option under these dire circumstances. By doing this, the god will be revived prematurely, severely weakened, and susceptible to defeat.¡±


    Eadrich paused, his sharp eyes sweeping the room. ¡°Now, a soul must be volunteered for this task. I cannot offer my own, as I will be performing the ritual and containing the siphoning magic simultaneously.¡± His gaze lingered, waiting for someone to step forward, his voice firm yet filled with unspoken gratitude. ¡°Who here will rise to this challenge?¡±


    ¡°I will!¡± Shouted Xaden. ¡°I have to save Xavier no matter what, even if I don¡¯t get my soul back.¡±


    Xander¡¯s voice was firm, sharp with conviction. ¡°No! You¡¯ve done enough, Xaden,¡± he snapped, his eyes narrowing as he scolded Xaden like he was the older one. ¡°You don¡¯t get to play the hero after all the crap you¡¯ve pulled. Sit your ass down.¡±


    He stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ve got better mana control than you ever will, and you know it. Plus, my soul¡¯s already busted up. That might even work to our advantage, make it harder for this so-called god to reach his full strength. I can take the hit.¡±


    Xander straightened his posture, his voice steady but charged with emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve always been the one patching us back together, right? That¡¯s my job, my thing. I promised to keep us whole, and I don¡¯t go breaking promises, no matter how ugly it gets. Just watch, alright? Trust me.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about this, kid?¡± Asked Bootstrap concerned about the flimsy plan.


    Xander crossed his arms, his voice steady but tinged with raw determination. ¡°I gotta save my brother, no matter what. I trust Eadrich on this, even if you don¡¯t. Look, people like us in Shadow Garden. We¡¯ve lost more than you could even dream of. We¡¯re stitched together by the scars we carry and the honor we hold onto, ¡®cause it¡¯s the only thing that keeps us standing.¡± His eyes burned with confidence, unshaken despite the chaos around them.


    Astra exchanged glances at Bootstrap. He nodded and Bootstrap sighed. ¡°Okay, Let¡¯s do this.¡± Astra realized that he had become the rash one out of the two of them, and seeing the look on Bootstrap¡¯s face he could tell Bootstrap felt the same way.


    Eadrich¡¯s voice cut through the chaos like a blade, firm and commanding. ¡°There is no more time to waste. We have but one opportunity to succeed. Everyone, position yourselves in a circle around the coffin. Focus your mana into forming a barrier around the five of us. We must enclose our ritual within theirs to gain control.¡±


    His eyes scanned each of them with a mix of urgency and determination. ¡°I will forgo drawing the sigil and instead perform the incantation verbally. This will require complete concentration. Whatever happens, do not allow our circle to break.¡± He clasped his hands together, already summoning the energy he would need. ¡°Stay strong, stay focused, and let us bring this to an end.¡±


    Astra and Bootstrap took a deep breath and got into position.


    Eadrich¡¯s gaze locked onto Xander, his tone steady and resolute. ¡°Prepare yourself,¡± he instructed, his voice carrying the weight of the moment. ¡°When the spell aligns, you must force Xavier¡¯s soul aside and take his place. Timing will be everything. Hesitate, and we risk losing him and the chance to weaken the god. Steady your resolve, Xander. This is your moment.¡±


    Xander nodded, his determination etched into his features as Eadrich began to chant in an ancient tongue. His voice carried a commanding rhythm like a conductor orchestrating a symphony of power. The air around them vibrated with energy, and Eadrich¡¯s arms moved in fluid, purposeful arcs, carving glowing runes into the air. The room seemed to respond, the flickering candles calming to a steady burn, their flames now unwavering. Xavier¡¯s pained screams ceased, leaving a heavy, expectant silence.


    With a final sweeping motion, Eadrich sent the runes toward Xander. They shimmered like falling stars before colliding with him in a burst of light. The force knocked Xander to the ground as a gale of wind erupted, swirling through the room. The energy was so intense it seemed to condense the air itself, thickening it like water. Everyone clung to the circle, bracing against the unrelenting force that threatened to tear them apart.