“Each time we talk, you’re in trouble,” Euryale asked, walking through a realm of endless threads. “I’m starting to see a pattern here.”

“If that’s what it takes to see you,” Dallion couldn’t conceal his joy. After all the exhaustion, after the world suddenly turned against him almost on the flip of a hat, a conversation with the gorgon was just what he needed.

The realm of a taxi seat wasn’t the best environment to have any meeting, yet it was better than nothing, and from what he had found, communication with the other world tended to be more likely when he did it from an awakened realm. Maybe it was because of him being an architect, or possibly it was an additional effect of Felygn’s boon. What mattered was that they still took place.

“I’m following a new lead.” He chose not to mention Atol's betrayal and the organization controlling every aspect of awakenings. “There’s a network of void touched.”

Euryale’s snakes twitched.

“It’s okay. They’re trying to get rid of it. Like an atonement thing.”

“No one here atoned for being a cultist.”

You would know. Before Dallion got involved with the Star, Euryale was already hunting down cultists and chainlings hiding in Nerosal. On several occasions, she had saved him from certain death.

“It’s different here,” he chose not to go into any further explanations. “I’m in a large city now. I’m bound to find someone who knows more on how to get back to you.”

“I’m sure you’re doing everything, but you’ve said that before.” A brief emanation of sadness came from her, then abruptly vanished. Even now, the gorgon excelled in controlling her emotions, even more since Dallion had left the awakened world.

“I know. The principle of attraction still works. It’s a big place full of awakened. There’s bound to be someone with all their memories intact. And if not, I’ll keep on searching.”

Euryale smiled.

“How are things there?”

“I went to Giaccia’s coronation a few days ago,” she said. “She’s one of the few that openly accepts having a connection with you. Her court is using it for political reasons, which I don’t like, but I expect that’s life. Adzorg is doing the same in the name of Diroh.”

Hopefully, they don’t start fighting about it, Dallion thought.

“The Moon orders have confirmed all the claims. It’s not that they can’t with me being there”

“No one dares go against the most powerful being in the world…”

“You never were so cynical. But yes, I suppose there’s part of that as well.”

“What about Vihrogon?” Dallion asked. “And the copyettes.”

“Vih is fine. He passes by every month. He’s kept his link of loyalty towards you. I suspect Gia has as well, but it’s improper for an empress to leave her court just to chat with a gorgon hermit. One time I called her Harp. It almost caused a country-wide scandal.”

“Hermit?” Dallion blinked.

“It’s as good a description as any. I’ve refused to become the gorgon empress. Seems there’s a new fashion for empires again. Even the colossi have one. Of course, it means different things for different races. Even the hunters have proclaimed me to be their patron.”

“Euryale, Patron Moon of Hunters,” Dallion chuckled.

“You’re one to talk. You should hear the things they call you.”

“Hopefully, I will.”

Silence formed. Both kept on looking at each other for over a minute, afraid to touch or even move closer. Even after all this time, both of them feared that all this might be a dream. Maybe it was?

The whole scene could just as well be a figment of Dallion’s imagination given form due to stress. She herself had said that they only saw each other when something traumatic happened.

“Are you still practicing your forging skills?” The gorgon changed the topic.

“No, I haven’t had time to lately.”

“Why?”

It was Dallion’s turn to pause. “I can’t remember them,” he admitted. “I can’t remember any of my crafting skills.”

An anvil appeared several steps away, seeming out of place in a world made entirely of fabric.

“I’ll teach you,” the gorgon made her way to the anvil. “Just like I did last time.”

“I don’t think it’ll work. Last time I had the skill, I just didn’t know how to use it. This time…”

“You already have the skill, you’ve just forgotten what it’s about.”

There was a lot that could be argued, but Dallion preferred not to. Seeing her was so rare as it was, there was no point in ruining the experience even a little. He could only imagine what it had to be for her. With time moving a lot faster in the other world, probably a decade had passed between their separation. There was a reason gorgons were highly selective when it came to mates—they were bound to them for life. Dallion was as well.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Looking at the anvil brought back memories. It was similar to the one he used to have in his personal realm. Of course, it wasn’t the anvil that was the most important, but the hammer. Upon being given the choice, Dallion had chosen the most exotic hammer there was, specializing him in sky silver. One could argue that it wasn’t the best choice, although things had worked out, eventually.

The gorgon reached out into the air, causing a metal hammer to materialize in her hand.

“Here,” she offered it to him. “You’ll need this.”

The moment Dallion took hold of it, he felt a strong jolt pass through his arm.

AVERAGE WOUND

Your health has been reduced by 10%

Next thing he knew, he was back in the front of the cab.

“Here we are,” the driver turned to him, almost on cue, speaking with a thick eastern European accent. “Casey’s.”

“Casey’s?” Dallion asked.

“That’s what they call it. The real name is something, something.” He waved his hand. “Mobsters stayed low here. Now everyone stays low here.” He laughed at his own joke.

“Thanks.” Dallion used his music skill. “It’s greatly appreciated.”

“Please. It’s an honor to help.”

With as little fuss as possible, Dallion and the mages left the cab. No money was exchanged. In the mind of the driver, he had been more than fairly compensated and, above all, was determined not to mention a thing about the trip to anyone.

Deep inside, Dallion felt slightly guilty. Then again, there wasn’t anything that he could do. None of them had actual money, and any form of electronic payment was a strict no-no.

“Well, it’s not the best,” Dallion said diplomatically.

Alien and Katka just stared back at him.

“We’re mages. We don’t care how something looks,” Katka quickly explained. “As long as there’s power, Alien can change it into a five-star suite.” She smiled. “If he’s feeling lazy.”

Meanwhile, the man had gone to the nearest trash container and was discretely tossing in car batteries one after the other. Before the dormitory incident, they had ransacked half of the student parking lot. Nine-tenths of those batteries were now useless, possibly more.

It was at that point that Dallion noticed something new. As long as he concentrated, he could see the defects in the metal trash container—not the surface notches, but the deep structural issues. Uncertain whether it was his imagination or not, he looked around for the first other metal object and concentrated on it. The result was the same.

Thanks, Eury, he thought. You really did teach me how to forge all over again.

“I don’t think you should use music in a place like this,” Katka said.

“Why?” Dallion split into instances. “Someone’s watching?”

“It’s a place where shifty comes to rest. They’d have developed an instinct for such stuff. As the saying goes, they don’t have to know how you’re cheating. Raising suspicion is enough to cause problems.” She reached into her pocket and took out a roll of fifty-dollar bills. “Use this.”

“With that much, we could have paid the driver,” Dallion said, snatching the roll from her.

“And ruin your fun?” She laughed.

The two waited for Alien to finish getting rid of all his used car batteries, then went into the building. Interestingly enough, the inside was just as Dallion had requested it to be: old, dated, yet kept surprisingly clean. It wasn’t like it could get three stars, but then again, it wasn’t the sort of place that cared.

“Yeah?” A woman at the reception looked at them as if she were doing them a favor. Unlike most other places, everyone knew that she actually was.

“A room for three,” Dallion said, placing the roll of money on the counter. Naturally, he was also using his music skills to make sure to be treated seriously.

“Right.” The woman grabbed the money with enough speed that one might think she was an awakened. “Anything special?” She unrolled the bills and started counting.

“High speed internet and no disturbances,” Dallion was quick to reply.

“Netflix? Games? Porn?” She tapped a few things on a laptop that seemed surprisingly modern compared to everything else.

“Just internet.”

“Three days retainer.” She placed a few notes back on the counter. “You want more, you’ll have to pay extra.”

“We’ll start with three days.” Dallion took the notes.

Shortly after, a large custom metal key was placed on the counter as well.

“One key. You lose it, you buy a new lock.” The woman said. “Cleaning will be done once you’ve left. You’ll need your own PC to use the net.”

“Fine.” Dallion took the key. The number on it read nineteen.

“Second floor at the end.”

“Thanks.” Dallion took a step away from the counter.

“Anything that happens is not my business. You start causing problems with other guests, then it becomes my business,” the woman shouted behind him.

“You won’t even know we’re here.” Dallion added an abundance of calm in his words. So far, so good.

The room was just as the woman had said: the last door on the second-floor corridor. It definitely wasn’t meant as a three-person room. It had two double beds—with double being on the generous side—a bathroom, a small closet, and an air-conditioner. Three power sockets were visible, and one for internet cable. A quick check revealed that the building didn’t have any wi-fi whatsoever.

“Can you manage anything with this?” Dallion asked as he closed the door and drew the latch.

“I’ve dealt with worse.” Alien went straight for the aircon. “Everyone knows these things are a drain, so no one is surprised when one pulls a bit more.”

A thin thread of electricity emerged from the device. The mage took hold of it, then pulled, as if he were pulling a rope. The thickness of the thread increased. Soon, it was large enough for him to start drawing symbols.

The first thing that Alien did was to summon a few copper wires. He then bent them in the appropriate shape—using magic to connect them when needed—and placed them on the floor, ceiling, and all four walls. Moments later, the entire room doubled in size.

“I’ll take care of the beds later,” the mage replied, going to the internet outlet.

Reaching for it, a new purple thread emerged. This still had some electricity in it, but also something different.

“Optics,” Alien explained. “Took me years to get the hang of it.” His hands and fingers moved, creating a loom of threads in the air itself. “Welcome to the internet.”

“That’s the internet?” Dallion couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Who thought that the mage would be so useful after all? He was crap when it came to fighting and physical abilities. He even wasn’t all that tremendous when it came to most magic spells. But when it came to illusions and, apparently, the internet, he was on another level entirely. Looking at him was almost like watching a cyberpunk movie.

“It’ll take me a while, but I can spot anyone significant in the larger area of the city,” he said.

“You do that. Don’t establish contact yet.” Dallion went to the door and drew back the latch. “I’ll go see someone.”