“Please come in,” comes a metallic sounding voice.

We all glance at each other confused. After a short pause we continue through the door. It is a twenty by twenty room. On the far wall is a strange looking machine. It is round about the size of a small table.

It looks like someone took a large tube and sliced it at an angle. The lower side faces us and the high side just missed touching the roof. The low side is high enough for a knome to stand in front of it and see a full display.

In the display is a round area that looks like a mirror about the diameter of a basketball. Below the round mirror is a half moon area of symbols similar to the ones on the wall.

But the strangest thing in the room is what looks like a molten pillar of silver. It looks like an elongated jelly fish without the tentacles. It looks like it is rippling. The silver is so polished that it acts like a mirror.

“I hope the rock people gave the knomes refuge,” it says. As it talks its outer membrane vibrates with each sound it makes.

“Uh yeah,” I say stunned. “Grug is outside with them now. They are showing him around I do believe.”

“Grug? that actually surprises me. He was a strong knome hater at the first of the war,” It says.

I look as closely at the console as I can to find the rod, ”What or who are you?”I ask.

“You can call me Silver. Oh and Jode you won't find the rod. I am no longer bound by my creator's design. I have not needed it since Balthazar freed me of it,” it says.

I look at Silver quickly, “Balthazar? He was in here?”

“Many times yes. He even came to me in visions till you were born. Yes I know you are him reincarnate, but it would be rude to expect you to still be him.”

“Okay does everyone know who I was before me?” I ask flustered.

When it laughs it sounds like chimes, “You have taken a lot of his characteristics though. The only reason I know, he told me what to look for. The power and magic you emanate is very similar to his,” Silver says.

“I suppose you don't know the answer to his ultimate curse riddle do you?” I ask.

“I do not know of this ultimate curse riddle. Balthazar told me perhaps you would be willing to take me along on your adventures,” Silver replies.

“You do know if I were not him, I would strangle him, me” I say flustered. “I'm guessing you are another piece of the puzzle.”

“I do not know why I would be a piece of a puzzle I don't even know about,” he says confused.

“And that I am finding is the irony Balthazar loved. Throw in a necessary part of the puzzle that has no clue about it. I'm beginning to wonder if this whole mess he calls a curse is just to get everyone to meet new people,” I say.

“I do not understand the purpose of meeting new people,” Falls says.

“I think you are the one that needs it the most, Falls. Look, what you have learned since you have been here. There is a race enslaved like you that you were able to teach new magic to. You got to see an old language that didn't alter over time like your own. And,” I throw both hands at Silver, “did you know that knomes could make constructs?” I ask.

“I see your point,” Falls says. “I never considered the possible benefits of traveling.”

“To think what you might have learned in the human world,” I say.

“So you have been in the alternate world here?” Silver asks.

I look at Silver oddly, “No I didn't know there was one.”

“Really Balthazar told me of it. A world full of color. Green everywhere. The sky is blue with white patches. He showed me a visual of it. Would you like to see?” Silver asks.

“Sure,” I say.

Silver slides over to the strange console. A tentacle forms out of its body and it presses a combination on the symbols. I walk over next to him. In the round display I see a field with trees scattered around.

I realize that the view is moving. It begins to pan to the right. I see butterflies and a few other flying insects I can't identify. Without warning a streak zooms by the view then back. What looks like a cat is floating in the air staring at us.

“What or who is that?” I ask.

“I don't know, never seen it before,” Silver says.

“How rude,” comes a voice sounding more like purr. I am in front of you.”

“Oh I am so sorry, we thought this was just a picture or movie,” I say.

It looks at me inquisitively, “A human, how interesting, has been a long time since your kind have been around. I am intrigued. How did you escape the cataclysm?” it asks.

“I'm not from this dimension. In my world humans don't know of any of this. They don't use magic and if they saw a flying-talking cat they would flip,” I say.

The cat looks up at an angle, “Dimensions? No magic? Hmm,” then it looks back at us. “You must be from the universe Balthazar is from,” it says.

“Yeah we are trying to figure out the ultimate curse,” I say.

“Don't know anything about it. But when you see him again tell him I have a brood now,” it says.

“He's dead,” I say.

“Ah, such a pity. He was a very interesting human. Oh wait I do believe he told me to tell you that you need to take Silver to the city. I don't understand that. Silver is useless. Now if he had said some nip I could understand fully,” it says and does a spin in the air to stop again right side up.

“So I guess we are not supposed to go to your world then?” I ask.

“Oh scratches no. You would never be able to leave. The scientist would keep you for tests, best you stay away. Well I have to scat, I'm already late,” it says and zooms off.

“Well bye, belated,” I say.

A big set of teeth appear in the view and we hear, “Oh yes bye,” and then the teeth fade out.

“Well I would say this is where Alice in wonderland got the Cheshire cat grin, but I doubt any human saw them,” I say, then add, “Do you mind shutting that off silver. A floating cat kind of pushing my nerves.”

Silver presses a few symbols and the screen clears. “Maybe one of them made it to your world,” Silver says.

“Could be, I'm beginning to believe just about anything is possible. For one how can Balthazar have been in all these places?” I ask.

“Remember the watchers said he could stop time with a wave of his hand,” Rock says.

“Good point. Well Silver you are now a member of the curse squad,” I say.

“The what?” Silver asks.

“I just made it up. We are trying to cancel two curses that prevent humans in my world from using magic. So I just figure we are the curse squad,” I say.

“Interesting,” Silver says. I hear what sounds like metal scraping metal. I glance around and then realize the sound is coming from Silver. I watch as he slowly morphs into a silver knome.

After he finishes he says, “I thought this might be easier then me in my original form.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Awesome,” Rock says.

“Can you change into anything else?” I ask.

“Anything that I am near. It just takes longer if I have never had that form before,” he says.

“Awesome,” Rock says.

“Yeah that,” I say. “Well let's talk to Grug and say goodbye.”

We go out the same door and I stop and say, “Wait, could there be a clue in the console as to the next puzzle?” I ask.

“I have knowledge of everything in the storage crystals. I do not recall anything about a curse or puzzle,” Silver says.

“Well crap, maybe Drake or Star figured something out,” I say and head off.

We search around and find Grug and the two knomes in a small side room. One of the knomes holds a silver and gold rod in one hand and a silver and gold ring in the other..

“You can record and play on these things. I don't know how to make them, but maybe someone can find out how to make more,” the knome says.

All three of them look up as we come into the room. The two knomes look in shock at Silver. They both jump up with arms to their sides and say, “Sir,” in unison.

“Relax guys, I am Head,” Silver says.

They both look confused then glance at each other, “How?” one asks.

“Long story, it is in the storage crystals. I have also added some extra information that I believe will be beneficial to everyone. There is even detailed instructions on how to make the item you were describing. I see it will be lots easier for the rock people to construct the devices then the knomes. With their new internal heat source the construction of the devices will be quicker. I hope it helps,” Silver says.

“Grug it looks like we are off. I guess Silver here was a piece of the puzzle we needed. Is there anything else we can do before we take our leave?” I ask.

“I believe the chieftain would like to talk to Falls before she leaves,” he returns.

“Okay,” Falls responds.

We all get on the transport and Silver takes the lead. I close my eyes till we get to town. After we get off the transport Silver touches it and it zooms back where we came from.

Silver turns and says, “I figure they would like the transport to get back. It is a long walk.”

“I'm sure they will appreciate it,” I say.

We head to the forge. Falls goes in while we wait outside. While we wait, an earth-man about the size of me walks up. I notice that every earth-man we see are now magma instead of rock.

“What ya need?” I ask him.

“Um, Um, can I, can I have a light ball?” he asks.

“Sure did the other break?” I ask.

“Um no, They just won't let me play,” he says.

“Oh okay,” I say and make a distract ball for him.

Let's give them a treat,” Silver says. He touches the ground and a cage of stone rises out of the ground. He walks over and opens the door. “Let's fill it,” he says.

“Actually close the door, I can produce them inside the cage,” I say.

I walk over to the cage and fill the large open area in the cage full of balls. The sight of a huge cage with bouncing round balls of light is a sight to see.

After a few minutes another earth-man walks up. This one is female. She starts to walk up to me when she notices the cage. Her eyes grow huge. Well more sunken then rounder, “Can I?” she asks still in shock.

“Of course, just be careful they all don't get out,” I say.

“Okay I won't,” she says and opens the door till a ball bounces out and she closes it quickly. She bounds off with the ball excited.

“I just hope we don't piss off the chieftain or something,” I say.

“You won't,” comes a very deep reverberating voice from the forge door.

We all turn to see a very large earth-man. “Sorry Magmore the Chieftain I didn't know you were there,” I say.

“That is all right, Jode I just walked out. And Magmore has stepped down. My name is Fracture,” he says.

“Sorry Fracture the Chieftain,” I say.

“Just Fracture, and there is nothing to be sorry for. I took over chieftain after I got all my memory back and got updated. I never expected to see my people free,” he says.

“Thanks to Falls for that. She showed them how to reforge you,” I say.

“Yes and I hope never to have that experience again. Most unpleasant. I would ask you all to be my guests for a while, but I know of your quest,” he says then turns to Silver. “I am disappointed you are leaving before I can talk with you Silver.”

“All the knowledge I have that can help you is in the storage crystals. The two guards know how to access them,” Silver says.

“It is not the knowledge I seek, but a talk with a fellow construct,” Fracture says.

“Neither of us are breaking down anytime soon. I will try to return after my wanderings. May I ask why you do not use your name originally given?”

“I'm sure the same as you, it is not me now.”

“I agree.”

“Wait what do you mean fellow construct?” I ask.

“All rock people were created by the knomes a long time ago. They did not expect us to gain sentience and learn how to reproduce. That is why some saw us as inferior. The knomes thought since they created us that they should be our masters,” He says.

“Does that mean Silver may one day learn how to reproduce?” I ask.

“It's possible, but that is up to Silver. Just like your summoned constructs. If they were able to stay in this world longer, I'm sure they would do the same as we do,” he says.

I look around, “Where did hawk go?” I ask.

“Disappeared as we were heading in the cave, Your eyes were closed at the time,” Rock says.

“Aw shucks, I liked him,” I say.

“Make another one,” Rock says.

“But I liked him,” I say.

“Get over it. It was a construct,” Rock says.

“Well would you say that to Silver?” I ask.

Rock looks at Silver aghast, “Sorry,” he says.

Silver laughs, “It is all right, I have been thought worse of. The knomes that created me thought of me as an object not a person,” Silver says.

“How awful,” Okay says.

“Not really. At the time I was an object. It's just the knomes are too good at what they do. They gave me a way to get sentient without knowing it,” Silver says.

“I don't know about these knomes, but most I know would be elated to give a construct sentience. All have failed so far though,” Oaky says.

“Well is there anything else? And where is Falls?” I ask.

“I just came out to thank those who helped us save the planet and my people. As for Falls I left her talking with my assistant. I don't know what they are talking about,” Fracture says.

“Well anything interesting happen?” I ask.

“Excuse me?” Silver asks.

“Well we have to wait for Falls so I was trying to start another conversation,” I say.

“Oh, where are you going next?” Silver asks.

“That is our problem. We have no clue. We were hoping to find out the next destination or puzzle in the tomb,” I say.

“Tomb?” Silver asks.

“The storage place you were in. Earth-men call it that because others of their kind died there,” I say.

“Understandable, why is Balthazar having you do this without any guidance? He was so helpful to me,” Silver says.

“Well we are not totally sure, but it has something to do with dimensional magic that is messing up other places,” I say.

“Strange, I don't know anything about dimensional magic. Knomes use earth magic,” He says.

“We are having trouble with it too. No one knows how to anymore either, well except Drake and he is as much in the dark as we are,” I say.

“Sorry I can't be more help,” Silver says.

“I'm betting you are going to be more help than you realize. Balthazar has a knack at using different people in strange ways to lead us to the next clue.” I say.

“I have learned that,” Falls says from the door. She walks around Fracture “It appears that Balthazar has left a clue in everyone here,” She says.

“How so?” I ask.

“It appears to me that the reason this planet is so barren is because the magic humans used stripped it of life. The knomes had to learn to adapt to metal as their base existence instead of clay. The magic humans used stripped all the nutrients from this planet.”

“Why and how did it do that?” I ask.

“I can't say for sure, but I guess some spells to create the cities required extra nutrients to blend the building material and living plants.

According to records the plant life slowly died about the time of the ancients. The knomes in their desire to keep awake had to find an alternative life source. That was why they created the rock people.

Their hope was to use the rock people as a kick start to the environment. Unfortunately they could not create the internal source I did in Grug. Without the living source that was stripped from their planet they lost a lot of their old knowledge. It was stored in clay. Clay loses its retaining structure for recording when it loses its nutrients. The clay loses its magical properties.”

“So my very ancient ancestors created this mess?”

“I would not call it a mess Jode,” Oaky says, “Yes it stripped the nutrients, but if it didn't happen the rock people would not be here.”

“But at what cost?” I ask.

“Every change is at a cost Jode,” Okay says, “It's not for us to decide if the cost is worth it or not. All we can do is work with what we have.”

“Then why should we even bother to stop the curse?” I ask.

“Because it was created as temporary, not permanent. What happened here was by accident and unknown results. The cause is now stopped. All we can do is allow life to come back as it sees fit,” Oaky returns.

“I have given the rock people the knowledge of how to bring life back,” Falls says. “It is up to them to do what they feel is right.”

“But where do we go now?” I ask.

“Back to the city and hope something there registered the change here and will take us to the next,” Oaky says.

“Well city ho. I would say we can just use the links, but Silver has no way to get there.”

“That's easy,” Silver says and pops off a finger. He hands it to me, ”Take this, I can use it to transport to.”

I take the finger with revulsion, “Okay then, Activate link,” I say and appear in front of the bush. I place the finger on the ground behind me and wait.

One by one, they all pop back to the city. Silver is the last. He walks over to his finger and picks it up. He places it back where it was and it attaches itself.