Alan grasped a giggling Lucius by the arm and guided him to the black-brick well Lord Osmi opened for them. The forbidden shops awaited deep into the mountain’s depths. Alan locked eyes with Neesha to be sure this was the path her and Gregorian took once they defeated the dragon.

“This is it.” She nodded.

Lucius and Flint were still as high as kites because of the pink fog clinging to them, and Alan hoped the slide to the middle of the mountain would wash that all away. Neesha positioned Lucius right at the edge of the hole in the ground, then gave him a hearty nudge to send him sliding down. His growl echoed all the way down the slide, causing Flint to laugh hysterically.

Good, Alan thought, knowing Osmi’s hawkish eye was still on them. The trade is true. One-time access to the forbidden shops for Lucius and Flint.

Alan pushed Flint next, unable to hold back a smile from Flint’s excited ranting and raving all the way down.

“You are a poison to us all, Alan Right.” Gregorian shouldered him out of the way and took Neesha into his arms. “A stopper of progress, and killer of oaths. May the Merchant of the Five Pearls send you far away from here.”

“Thanks, Greg.” Alan patted his back and watched as he leapt back-first onto the slide. “Guess this is it.” He looked around the Merchant city one last time, then waved to Osmi in thanks. “I may never see this again…” He pressed his lips flat and dove in.

The slide was surprisingly smooth – the black bricks flush against one another. Spotlights sprung to life periodically, tethered to a yellow essence that clung to Alan’s shoulder. His body snaked with the turns, until he was launched airborne feet first onto cement ground. The spotlight expanded to the size of the group awaiting him.

Alan dusted himself. “Everyone good?”

“Mhm.” Neesha jumped out of Gregorian’s arms and took a look around. “More vendors than last time.”

Shops with spotlights of their own were lined up sporadically throughout a wide-open space. Like pop-up stores, the wooden makeshift shelves were ragged and full of strange knickknacks. At first glance, Alan didn’t understand how this was at all superior to the huts on the mountaintop, but he had a feeling he’d soon find out.

Small spotlights accompanied elite-seeming warriors with glowing weapons and resplendent armor. Alan scanned what he could while Flint and Lucius regained themselves from being suffocated in pink fog up top.

“The map,” Lucius growled. “Give it to me. I saw her in my visions and will not waste another second.”

Lucius’ tonal shift concerned Alan.

“Here.” Alan rolled out the map, noting how close the traveling Merchant was to them.

They perused the shops in stride – where tinctures and weaponry were hidden in dirty clothes, and armor stuck out behind black shop walls. It’s like everything for sale was taboo, or perhaps, obtained dishonestly.

“May I interest you in a Saro inhibitor?” A petite female Merchant with an oversized hood presented a vial. “Become invisible to all your foes. An assassin’s blessing.” She followed the group for a few steps, before scoffing at them.

“That’s a fine Soul Collector.” Another man across the way pointed. “Could use a seal to make sure there aren’t any leaks over time. This way. Psst.”

Lucius ignored the man, eyes only on the map.

“There.” Flint pointed his staff.

Alan saw it for a flash. A thin man with green-glowing eyes peeking from the shadows. He disappeared just as fast. That must’ve been him – the Merchant of the Five Pearls. The map deemed it so.

“Yes. Yes. This way, Herald,” a bodiless voice beckoned from the shadow. “I have not set up shop yet, you see, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do business.”

Lucius picked up his step.

The vendor spotlights faded far behind them, leaving a large trail of blackness in all directions.

“You call me Herald,” Alan spoke loudly. “So you know who sent us.”

A snickering echoed all around them as they walked through a curtain of steam.

“You seek a fast ticket out of these realms, spanning far across the universe, do you not?”

The group turned every which way to try and track a body to the voice.

“Dizzied by theories of how to properly work the Pegs of Fate,” the voice crooned. “A shame how knowledge-less puppets chase their tails. Not anymore, however.” The green-glowing eyes emerged again, illuminating a gaunt face of light purple, almost deathly white skin behind a see-through veil.

“No more games,” Lucius snarled. “I’m sick of them. Do you have a way to send us home?”

“Us?” The Merchant stepped forward, inches from the group’s spotlight. A deeply hunched neck revealed resplendent pearls lining his back. Five of them, true to his name. But his figure was so deformed Alan had a hard time concentrating. “There is no us. Hyndole paid handsomely to send only one of you home this day.”

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Alan stepped forward fearlessly. “We go together, or not at all.”

“Oh, is that so?” the Merchant snickered again.

“Yes, he and I.” Alan put his hand on Lucius’ shoulder, which calmed him a bit.

“I see, yes, I see.” The Merchant turned away – his long black robe swishing, belts dragging across the floor. “So you two will be the second pioneers in recorded history to travel back to your Origins.” He pulled vials from inside his robes, turning again and holding them up to the spotlight. “But what of the risks? What if our dear Yineera never made it to the home she sought? Just a pile of bones tumbling through the cosmos.” He snickered louder.

Lucius only straightened with honor, but Alan… wasn’t so sure.

To trust Hyndole blindly… would make him the biggest fool in all the universe.

If I leave, perhaps he won’t attack, and I’ll get a second chance to an unfinished life. Even if the chances are low…

“Mm. Conviction in the Stalker. He is ready to travel back to his home world. Back to Cerrain. But what of the man of Earth?”

Alan shut his eyes and stood tall beside Lucius. “It is my duty. Fulfill my promises of Earth, and then my promises of Ojin.”

The Merchant stepped into the light, revealing grotesquely damaged skin and an outwardly beating heart under his robes. More second thoughts crept in. Alan scanned feverishly for a weapon or armor in the Merchant’s possession, but he cleverly hid everything under those robes. No trance to tell of history. Was the Merchant prompted of Alan’s skills?

“Open the portal,” Lucius demanded.

“Whoa now, hasty creature, you are.” The Merchant tapped Lucius’ breastplate. “Zealousness is a sure way to end up in a cosmic pit if you aren’t careful. First, we need protocols. Prove to me that you are Hyndole’s. I will start. Merchant of the Five Pearls, at your service… or put more simply, Five.”

Alan reluctantly pulled the Tincture of Preservation that Hyndole gifted him and presented it.

“Yes, yes. Was it tampered with? It is crucial to know. Wizards and Healers love to test their liquids.”

“Outward only, dreary Merchant,” Flint spoke solemnly. “Just to be sure our Herald wasn’t being played.”

Five flashed a yellow-toothed smile. “Smart. And well done.” He grabbed the tincture and swished it a few rotations. “Ingredients seem in order. Essence merging intact. Rare, rare tidbits of Ojin float in this vial. Hyndole did the heavy lifting for you. If only anyone could receive such a gift. You really must be special.” He touched Alan’s nose. “Alright then, shoo, shoo.” He waved the others away.

“A—Alan.” Neesha reached over and grabbed his hand, sending tingles all the way up his arm.

Alan’s mind was everywhere, but her crystal blue eyes drew him back to the present. “Neesha. Thank you for everything. I’ll miss you.”

They stared at one another for a long second. If not for Greg’s scowling, it might’ve been a moment to share a kiss. But alas, it wasn’t.

“You did alright.” She smirked. “Even after the head trauma, and the dragon’s bite, and nearly killing me with Flint’s sled.” She giggled and leaned in for a kiss on the cheek. “I do trust you.”

Alan’s heart nearly melted at the proclamation. “Likewise.”

They shared a warm hug, before Lucius’ hand on Alan’s shoulder broke it.

“I must get home.” Lucius’ eyes were crazed.

“Right,” Alan sighed, hugging Flint with a thousand apologies and thanks.

“Take care of yourself, good Alan. We will watch your things for you and await your heroic return!”

“If only I could live up to your dramatic personification of me, Flint.”

“Aha!”

Alan offered Gregorian a curt nod, and just like that, his friends backed out of the steam-like shield, leaving only himself, Lucius, and Five.

“Now, for the tough part.” Five grimaced. “Such a shame. A terrible shame.”

“What?” Alan furrowed his brow.

“The sacrifice, of course.” Five shrugged, circling him and Lucius. “It cannot be one of those dastardly souls you stole in that beautiful sword, Prince Kiar.”

The telling of Lucius’ status sent goosebumps lining Alan’s arms. This was the first time it’d been said in the open, and Lucius didn’t even flinch.

“It must be a bonded sacrifice. One of shared friendship. Something to make the origin portal relevant. Otherwise you will be syphoned to the cosmic wind.”

Alan couldn’t tell if the others heard beyond the shield, but he imagined they didn’t. He couldn’t see them at all. Panic started to take hold. A sacrifice? What the hell was this guy talking about?

“I imagine any one of them would do.” Five pointed beyond the shield, igniting fires to show all of his friends chained in Black Saro links.

“No!” Alan’s eyes widened. “Let them free!”

“Relax, my boy, relax. It’s only so they cannot interfere with the process.”

“Lucius. This is all wrong.” Alan shook his arm.

“It is not.” Lucius bowed his head. “This process is in line with scripture.”

“I will not sacrifice any of you, ever,” Alan shouted.

Five nodded. “Yes, we know. Hyndole said you were comically loyal. Pledged to a town that spits on you, defending a group who leads you willingly into the universe. A fool, Alan Right. But we come prepared to lift a fool’s burdens.” He touched Alan’s nose again, and paralyzed him for an instant while he pulled Durger out of his sheath. “Wolfgang Durghowler. He will do.”

Alan unfroze and swiped his dagger back, cutting himself on the edge, making the Merchant keel over in laughter.

“A man… hah. A man not willing to lose anything, is not a man who can travel the universe.”

“I reject this whole plan. I’m staying.” Alan stomped away. “Unchain them, now.”

“Oh. Is that satisfactory, Prince?” Five dug deep into his robe, beside his awkwardly beating heart, and pulled out what looked to be an ornate table leg that he pressed both hands over. “Even if I have Yineera’s Peg, ripe for the taking?”

Alan shook his head. This was all wrong. He wasn’t ready to leave these realms in the first place. He could make real change here. People looked up to him. He wasn’t done.

Mom would be okay.

Trish never wanted me anyway.

Alan held his head.

Shnnk!

Alan turned to see Lucius holding Durger. He’d stolen it.

“I hereby make this sacrifice on behalf of Alan Right. In a group of shared wealth, it is my decision to make as much as his. Obliterate this already fractured soul, and send me home.”

The Merchant circled Alan with his finger, creating another mini-steam shield around him, locking him in place. “Ho, ho! The prince speaks the words like he’s practiced them before. Crafty man, taking things into his own hands. Such worthiness of royalty. Now drink the tincture, both of you.”

Alan’s blood boiled as he watched Durger’s inscription frown. The dagger shook. He was scared.

The Merchant limped up to Alan with the remaining liquid, stretching his hand through the shield. “Drink up. Ack!”

Alan drew strength beyond the confining shield and smacked the vial out to spill all over the cement floor.

“You fool!” The Merchant appeared genuinely angry.

“Lucius! Listen to me. She’s dead. Luness Breniere Kiar is dead,” Alan yelled, his words falling on deaf ears. “Give him back! No!”

The Merchant shoved Durger into the top of Yineera’s Peg, and almost instantly, the yellow inscription faded to black.

“Durger!” Alan screamed again. “You traitor, Lucius. You fucking traitor!”

Lucius turned to Alan, readying to receive the portal. “I had to. It’s the only way.”