James remembered how he had hummed an Aladdin song to Jessica, but it was far from his entrance into Aldren. In fact, all of his plans would soon be turned upside down.

He had planned for everything. The jewelry, the research, and even working to gain experience with his skills. He had money, supplies, pretty much everything he could think of. And for the first few days everything went as expected. He rode his horse during the day, fighting monsters that appeared and occasionally came across the unlucky body of a human or rarely another race who had failed to stay alive in the wild wastes between cities. He even gained a Riding skill.

The problems started when he came across a river that was not on his map. At first he thought that maybe the person who had drawn his map had been forgetful or lazy, but he soon discovered other landmarks in his way. Having rarely checked his map since he had bought it, he quickly learned that it could not be trusted. Perhaps a result of whatever events that had caused the System to bring them to this world, but now landmarks and even cities and buildings were in different places and the topography was also unlike the marks on his map. While the size of this world appeared the same as before, meaning the distance between cities was the same, a mountain or lake might now be where a flat plain had once been.

Inquiring at a town he happened across, he quickly got directions towards the capital and continued on. But on the third day of travelling while passing through a forest, often while having to dismount and lead his horse through the brambles and foilage, James came across an odd sight. A fountain in the middle of the woods, with an area about ten meters around it completely barren of shrubs and other forest growth. In fact, the ground was cracked as if the land around the fountain was dead. This was in stark contrast to the fountain, that appeared to be as if made from pure white marble. In the middle of the fountain was what appeared to be a lady with outstretched hands, as if pleading for something. Appearing human, she was standing on a crag or mountaintop and on her shoulder nestled a small winged creature, perhaps a dragon. Though no water flowed from the fountain, James was surprised to see that the water below the tiny crag was clear enough to see to the bottom. Curious why there was no dirt or sediment or leaves in it, he wondered if it was drinkable. Stretching out his hand, he brushed the fountain's water only to be greeted by an unexpected System notification.

You have entered the dungeon Tears of Regret.

Surprised, James drew his hand back but found that he was no longer in front of the fountain but on a black rocky plateau. The forest had been dark, but now he couldn't see past the darkness either above him or down the sheer drops off the plateau. He could only follow the path he did see in front og him. But just as he was about to set out he heard something that made him freeze.

"James?"

He whirled around. He knew that voice.

Behind him sitting on the ground he saw Jessica. But not as he had seen her last. This time she was dressed in a ragged purple shirt, and her smile was positively seductive as she motioned him over with her hand.

"Jessica!"

James raced over but then stopped. Something was off.

"Hey, come here love!"

She laughed and sat up, reaching out with her arms towards him. But James took a step back. He had realized something.

"You're not real."

"Not real? Does that mean you don't want me to be your woman?" she laughed lazily.

"Jessica would never act this way. She would never use her physical beauty like this. She would begin with by criticizing me for taking so long, or critiquing herself for wearing something in such bad taste."

"Ohh!" she breathlessly uttered, as if all the air escaped her lungs at once.

"No, no! I want Jessica back, but...not like this. I want her, not this...apparition!"

James agonized in his heart as he turned away.

"You failed me."

This time James saw her as he had last seen her, with her eyes shrouded in pain as the mists took her. She looked at him accusingly.

"Why didn't you use your abilities to save me?"

"Everything happened so fast, and I didn't want to kill innocent crewmembers-"

"But they weren't innocent, were they? They helped do this to me! Why didn't you save me?"

"I'm sorry, I promise I'll get you back-"

"In a thousand years?"

"I'm sorry! I'll get you back, I promise!"

"You didn't even help me level up. You didn't help me get any skills."

"We were trying to get to the ocean! Everything was a mad rush after...the...tower..."

James looked over at Jessica, and his excuses stopped. He swallowed his words and looked at her.

"Jessica...it's true I failed you. I carry that regret with me. But that regret will also help me bring you back. Please, just wait a little longer. I promise you that I will find a way and turn regret into joy when I see you again."

Jessica smiled a gentle smile, then abruptly faded away. James wanted to hold onto her image just a little longer, but he knew she wasn't real and quietly accepted it.

You have conquered the dungeon Tears of Regret!

Reward: Orb of Mesmerizing

James looked at the tiny wooden chest that appeared out of nowhere on the ground as the forest appeared again, replacing the plateau that he guessed was part of the dungeon. Opening the lid, he saw a purplish orblike gem the width of his index finger resting on a velvet fabric. Examining it, he wondered what it did before the answer appeared to him.

You have gained the skill [Analyze]!

Orb of Mesmerizing

Sways the hearts of those who look on it. Charisma +4

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

James wondered what it meant to sway a heart, but he wondered if he could place the gem inside some piece of jewelry or perhaps even a crown. Putting the gem away, he looked back at the fountain, seeing that the water the statue had rested in was now gone and was now just dry crumbling stone.

"I meant what I said. I will get you back, Jess."

He touched his necklace and allowed himself a moment to reminisce of all the times he had carried the mermaid woman in his arms before turning and getting back on his horse. He had a quest to complete.

Lady Cresida sat drinking wine as she watched a play. The play did not interest her, but what did was showing her new jewelry in public. Already she had caught many pairs of eyes admiring her, and even her husband had noticed how beautiful she looked when she wore them. He had kept the dragon pendant but she still had enough to look fabulous. As the play began to end with victory for the Azkar Empire, she stood up to leave and was met by one of her handmaids who whispered in her ear. She smiled.

"Tell him to meet me at my estate."

James entered Aldren and was quickly ushered to the Gravitus estate. The place was so big it could have been a small university campus, filled with rich ornamentation, artwork and scultures, and all of it guarded by motionless sentinels in full plate armor and wearing the familiar Gravitus family crest. As he followed a servant past trimmed hedges and large stone columns, he found himself looking at a rich diversity of unfamiliar fish that swam lazily through a pond that circled a statue of a man with a raised sword and his mouth opened in a wordless shout.

"They say it is our ancestor, the first Gravitus. According to legend, he slew a kraken and then led his armies to victory in the Pelopossia Wars.

Pelopossia? James wondered if it had anything similar with the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens. But more than likely it was just a similar name.

James turned and saw a plump woman dressed in something like a rich red and white dress belted at the waist and under her breasts in silver stitching. No doubt this rather plain woman was the Lady Cresida, who he saw was wearing the jewels he had gifted her. It amused him though to hear Cresida claim the first Gravitus as her ancestor, since he knew from his research that it was a family she had married into. Hiding his mirth, he looked into her brown eyes and gave a short bow, sweeping his cape that stretched to his waist outwards in a grand gesture.

"Lady Cresida! Thank you for your kind hospitality."

"And thank you for your gift. Tell me, where did you find such marvellous treasures?" she answered him as she led him to a small table and a maidservant came to quickly serve them tea before bowing and scampering away.

James laughed.

"Ha ha! Well, I am glad that unlike Lady Turine you have an eye to appreciate them."

"Do you have more?"

Human greed. Right now, it was his favorite kind. Smiling, he pretended to reach into his pocket and pulled out the Orb of Mesmerizing.

"I had hoped to have this mounted, but I haven't yet had time to find a goldsmith to do so. Do you know anyone who might be willing?"

Cresida took one look and was mesmerized by the expensive-looking gem. If she had this, she could triumph over Turine and also put an end to the uppity Ilia Parnasius and her claims that she was always looking haggard or out of fashion.

"I could. But will you give me this gem?"

"Lady Cresida, how could I? This gem is magnificent. See how the light glimmers off it? I don't think I could trade with it unless there was something of equal value given in exchange."

"Oh? Such as?"

"Hmm...well, I do hear that your family has an ancient sealing or summoning magic technique. Would you be wiling to trade that?"

Cresida paled slightly knowing that the technique was considered a family heirloom; something precious and known only to a few. But if this man already knew about it...

She stared at the orb wordlessly. The more she looked at it, the more she wanted it as her avarice grew. James only saw her stare at the orb silently and he worried that his goal might have been found out or that she would say no.

"...Very well. But you must promise me that no one will know that I gave it to you, and it must not be used against the Gravitus house or the Empire."

"Agreed."

She quickly got up and left him sitting there. James waited, nervously sipping his tea. His heart pounded in his chest, and he thought his blood pressure would give him a heart attack. Was she calling the guards hoping to steal the Orb of Mesmerizing from him? Would she later say no, or give him a fake copy of the method? With his thoughts a storm beneath his outwardly calm exterior, James anxiously looked up when he heard the sound of Lady Cresida's footsteps as she returned.

"This is the Gravitus summoning magic."

James accepted an ancient tome, one worn at the edges. Cracking open the book he glanced over what may have been a complete treatise of the summoning method. The pages were worn and thin, but it looked authentic. Smiling, he pretended to hide the book under the table while instead he placed it in his inventory as he stood up. Placing the Orb of Mesmerizing on the tea table, James gave her a happy smile.

"Thank you, Lady Cresida. Please accept this gem in return."

She eagerly took it, but at that moment the maidservant came rushing in again.

"My Lady, your daughter Yolande wishes to speak with you."

Cresida quickly hid the gem inside her hand.

"You may tell her I will speak with her shortly."

The maid curtsied and left. Alone together again, James offered another polite if less grand bow.

"I will excuse myself then. Thank you for your time and care, Lady Cresida."

She offered similar polite farewells, though her eyes had never stopped looking at the orb since the maid had left. Turning, James made to leave but was met by a young girl who looked like a miniature Cresida.

"Oh, excuse me sir."

"Hello."

"Are you here to see my mother?"

"Your mother?"

"Lady Cresida."

James stared at the young girl in horror. This girl, who looked and was dressed similarly to Cresida and appeared to be no more than eight or nine years old...was her daughter?

Aww crap.