Book 2 Chapter 1: Twice in one day

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* Present day -

* Star’s POV -

“Fine by me. While I enjoy my drink I’ll be kicking your ass in Blackjack. After that I worked with Heartfallen for about a month before summoning the second group of heroes.”(Diuscrucis)

“Wait! Before we continue I need to use the bathroom.”(Star)

“Down that hall, fourth door on your right.”(Descrucis)

“Thanks.”(Star)

Getting up off the sofa I start walking towards the bathroom. On my way there I passed an open door that looked like it led to a room that was full of junk. After emptying my bladder of all the coffee I drank, I walked into the room. Unlike the rest of this lodge, this one room is made entirely of concrete. The room is fairly large with one powerful light on the roof. Looking around I see a crate full of memory crystals occupying a small corner of the room. The rest of the room is full of organized chaos. The rest of the stuff here looks like they are organized into groups but the groups are just heaps on the floor. One heap is a bunch of old books that look like they are made of flesh. Another heap that is next to it is a pile of shiny jewels. The only thing that looks organized in any way is the back wall. The back wall has shelves that hold a small collection of trophies including a slightly yellow glowing statue of a man surrounded by women while carrying a sword an………

“Don’t I have this statue?”(Star)

Checking my body I looked for the statue I picked up before returning to present day.

“Did I lose it in the movement of time?”(Star)

While I think back to my time at the arena, I touch the statue on the shelf

Notice

An item of a time rift is available for use.

Use: Be sent back to the time before the great realm war.

Don’t use: Stay in current time period.

“No.”(Star)

Taking my hand off the statue I turn around to leave when I see a shiny tiara hanging on a hook over the door. Looking around the room I see a pile of hat like things close to the door. The tiara is a bright silver color with a large hot pink gem in the center. It has some other gems but all of them are this dull, grayish transparent color.

‘Whisper’ “Why is this one hanging while the others are just laying on the floor?”(Star)

Touching the tiara, the gem released a bright pink flash and then….

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* Several thousand years earlier -

I was standing at the gates of a barn. This barn is in the middle of a busy city and the sun is giving off a bright white light…….

‘Sigh’ ‘Whisper’ “This is the Underworld isn’t it…… sent to the past twice in one day. I hope this doesn’t become a daily occurrence.”(Star)

Pulling a part of the gate open, I see four women approaching the door from inside the building. These women are easily seven feet tall and have matching sets of armor. They look fairly tan and have eyes full of hatred. Their breasts aren't that impressive but damn do they look buff…. They also look exactly the same in every way except that each of them has a different weapon and hair color. White hair with a sword. Black hair with a bow, Blond with a spear. Blue hair with brass knuckles. As they approached the door I moved out of the way and let them pass. As they walked through the door and into the crowd of people who are passing by, they all gave me a nod and a small smile. Looking back inside I see a seven foot tall, tan skinned man with short black and white hair, a bloody nose, and piercing velvet eyes standing inches away from my face with his arms crossed. He is wearing shorts, pink sneakers, and a t-shirt that says “Whatever happened, it wasn’t me.” in big bold letters.

‘In a cold and murderous voice’ “What’s a time mage doing here?”(Diuscrucis)

“Hi Diuscrucis, I did not mean to come here.”(Star)

“I see. You know my name but didn’t mean to come here. I also saw you at the Heaven and Hell competition. This means your not from the past and you don’t know what you’re doing.”(Diuscrucis)

After he said that I blinked and found two of his left claws millimeters in front of my eyes. He looks like he’s going to kill me but his face shows a soft smile and he lowers his extended hand after staring at me for a few seconds.

“You’re Suzi’s kid aren’t you?”(Diuscrucis)

“I am.”(Star)

“How many times have you time traveled?”(Diuscrucis)

“Twice sir.”(Star)

“So when we met the first time and now… ‘Clap’ Alright then. Unless you know how to head back now, then you will stick with me because I can’t have you running around all willy nilly and I don’t know? Cause the extinction of the Humans because you fixed an elf’s financial situation or something?”(Diuscrucis)

“I don’t think that’s how that works and why do you know all this stuff anyways?”(Star)

‘Condescending glare’ “You’re not the first time mage I’ve met Star. This is the first time I’ve seen it called “Time Jumper” though….. You know looking at you….. You seem a lot stronger compared to when we first met.”(Diuscrucis)

“I am. I mean I am one of the people who helped put you down during your rampage.”(Star)

“You helped huh. You wouldn’t happen to know who triggered that chain of events right?”(Diuscrucis)

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Well the entire thing was part of Su…… ‘Whisper’ Fuck.”(Star)

As I unconsciously gave an honest answer, I stopped myself before giving him the whole answer. Unfortunately I already said enough to give Diuscrucis a crooked smile and cause his right eye to twitch. My god I need to learn to keep my mouth shut!

‘Absolute cold rage’ “Thanks Star. Now I need you to please stay here while I deal with some family matters.”(Diuscrucis)

After saying that he disappeared in a falling pillar of fire. After waiting for him for an hour and some minutes, he appears  in a pillar of blue light. Diuscrucis is injured but  has a satisfied look on his face. His left arm is twisted in the wrong direction. He’s missing his right leg. Part of his face is melted off and his eyes have been gauged out.

“Alright, let’s go.”(Diuscrucis)

Saying that he starts hopping towards the people walking by on the street.

‘Circular hand motion’ “Aren't you going to fix that?”(Star)

“... Give me a minute.”(Diuscrucis)

Saying that I watched as his body put itself back together again. His arm twisted into a weird angle before snapping back into place, his eyes grew back like someone flushed something down the drain, the missing leg just grew back in a pillar of bubbling blood, and his face regenerated in a way that looks like someone was having their face melted off backwards.

“You don’t seem too bothered by the way I regenerated.”(Diuscrucis)

‘Shrug’ “I’ve seen worse.”(Star)

‘Whisper’ “That takes the fun out of it.”(Diuscrucis)

After whispering that under his breath, Diuscrucis started walking towards the crowd of people.

“Let’s go Star. I need new clothes and and a cold shower.”(Diuscrucis)

“Coming.”(Star)

Following after Diuscrucis, we walk for several minutes and turn a corner. When we do, we are walking towards a large black castle.

“That’s not possible. We were just in central zone. How are we here?”(Star)

“I teleported us. How is that not obvious?”(Diuscrucis)

‘Blank stare’ “Just go take your shower. I’ll be over here admiring plants.”(Star)

Giving a slight grunt to my statement, Diuscrucis walks away while I wander his front yard. Looking past the multicolored roses, fly traps, and trees with cute googly eyes. I stop in front of a set of tomb stones that give off a sense of importance until you actually read what’s on them.

Here lies the burnt remains of whatever was in Tomo’s room. I wouldn’t know. I dropped a grenade in there.

Here lies all the respect I have for Death. To be reclaimed if he ever pays back the fifty credits he owes me.

Here lies an empty casket for a ghost named Ghost. He was a good receptionist at the guild. May he live a good life in his new reincarnation.

Here lies the hopes and dreams of some random homeless man I met while taking a walk. He wanted a tombstone so…… Ya.

“Excuse me ma’am! I have a letter to deliver to a Mr. Reaper! Is he here!?”(Random dude at the gate)

Hearing the yell. I turn my head from the tombstones and look towards the front gate. There I see a man in a weird blue outfit. He’s tall with no hair and pure white eyes

“He’s busy at the moment! I’ll give him the letter for you!”(Star)

“Thank you ma’am!”(Mailman?)

Walking over to the front gate I take the letter from the man and he disappears in a pillar of smoke. After waiting a moment to see if something else happens, I turn around and start walking toward the castle. Once inside I start navigating the halls based on what I’ve learned from everyone. After a few minutes of wandering around and meeting several dead ends, I finally found one of the private libraries. Looking inside I see a small kitchen surrounded by three walls of cookbooks and one wall full of hanging pots and pans. I guess I still don’t know enough about this castle... After closing the door to the room, I see Diuscrucis walking over to me with only a pair of jeans on.

“Someone was just here a few minutes ago. Did you happen to talk to them?”(Diuscrucis)

“I did. They came to deliver this letter to you. Also, if you knew they were here then why didn’t you talk to them?”(Star)

‘Swipes letter from my hand’ “I was taking a shower. Would you really have wanted me to just pop up in front of you naked and ask what the delivery guy wanted?”(Diuscrucis)

“No thank you.”(Star)

“That’s what I thought.”(Diuscrucis)

“So what does the letter say?”(Star)

“It seems to be an invitation to go and visit east zone. They even allow me to bring a plus one. Well let’s go.”(Diuscrucis)

Saying that he disappears into a mass of blue particles and reappears in a whiff of smoke. Now he is wearing a new pair of pink sneakers and a dark purple jacket over his bare chest. The jacket is only zipped up halfway.

“That outfit does not look good on you and what the hell is with all the special effects for when you teleport?”(Star)

“I don’t care what you think and I’m experimenting with the spell.”(Diuscrucis)

Saying that he starts walking down the hall. As I move to follow him, he stops and looks passed me with an annoyed look and a nose bleed. Turning around I see a yellowish gold vortex of sand coming straight towards us. Before I can move, the vortex hits me like a dodgeball to the face and I feel myself fall onto a comfortable seat. As the sand disappears I find myself inside a golden plane. The seats are a soft yellow color, the floors and walls are solid gold, the tv screen in the back has a gold sheen across its screen. Each side of the plane has forty or fifty single seats and a table in the center of the room. The only non golden things in this room are the three people inside, the things we are carrying and the windows. Looking to my left I see two people who have turned their chairs to face my direction. Turning my own chair to face them, I’m now directly in front of the table. The man across from me is a dark skinned, giant eyed, bald old man playing with cards. And by giant I mean his eyes take up like 50% of his face. The kid to his right is a scruffy white haired boy taking a nap on his chair. Both of them are wearing off yellow colored suits and just seem to be passing the time. Before I can ask the old man why I’m here. He starts to speak.

‘Young sounding, slightly evil, masculine voice’ “Welcome to Golden Transport Star. I’m surprised we’ve met so quickly. It normally takes time mages or in your case time jumpers several dozen accidental jumps before they come here. You just happened to be at the right place, at the right time. That rarely happens naturally….. Where are my manners. I haven’t introduced myself yet. For simplicity sake you can call me the Sandman. I am the one in charge of handling all you time travelers. I am also the guy who speeds up travel to prevent bad things from happening. This little boy here is experimental clone #263 or the Tooth Fairy if you prefer.”(Sandman)

“..... I have many questions for you Mr. Sandman.”(Star)

“Ask away.”(Sandman)

“What’s the Golden Transport for? Aren't you you the god who is in charge of putting people to sleep every night? Why do you deal with time travelers? What do you mean by experimental clone? Where are we going?”(Star)

“The Golden Transport is a spiritual place that trains worthy individuals to save the realms from themselves and move people from point A to point B in the fraction of the time. I am. I deal with them because I have nothing better to do and the god who is actually supposed to deal with them is in a coma. You will find out later. We are heading to east zone. The Underworld’s land of Angels.”(Sandman)

Shortly after answering some of my questions, the plane seems to have landed and a side door opens.

“This is your stop Star. Talk to you more next time.”(Sandman)

“Ok…”(Star)

Getting off my seat I start making my way towards the glowing gap where the door used to be. Before I leave I hear the Sandman say something in a low voice.

“Hmmm….. Fitting name. It’s just like her card. A Star.”(Sandman)

After walking out the door, I start walking on pure white marble. Looking around I see Diuscrucis and we are both looking around curiously. We are in front of some kind of science facility and the area behind us is a lush grassy field. The building itself has a flight of stairs leading down into the building and the building itself is a shiny gray color.

“So what vehicle were you in Star?”(Diuscrucis)

“A plane. Why do you ask?”(Star)

“I was on a pirate ship, so I was wondering if you got something equally as outrageous.”(Diuscrucis)

“Well the plane was made of gold.”(Star)

“So was my ship.”(Diuscrucis)

With those few words, we start walking downstairs. Once we reach the bottom, we walk through some glass doors and are greeted by an angel with white wings, white hair, yellow eyes, and wearing full out of date biohazard gear. The room we are in is plain white with a dozen chairs lining a wall and one angel inside a blocked off square. The upside is that there is a magazine rack next to the seats.

‘Muffled female voice’ “Hello Mr. Reaper and guest. I was not made aware that you have arrived already. I wasn’t expecting you for another two or three days. Please wait in those chairs while I get someone to give you a tour of our establishment.”(Angel receptionist)

After seeing the angel leave, we both sat down and I started reading through a fashion magazine that had all the latest trends that would be shunned in modern times. Like who would ever wear high heels with a mini skirt and a turtleneck?

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* A few minutes later -

After a while I look up and see a door start to take shape from the opposite wall. A short time later the new door opens and out steps a women I have only ever seen twice.

“Mom.”(Diuscrucis)

‘Slight pout’ “Come on. Is that really how you greet someone you started a war over?”(Former Devil)