With his decision made, Chuck set about exploring his new powers. The first thing he did was grab the tome from his treehouse--the book seemed central to his abilities, and he realized now there were some questions he probably should've asked.

This is heavy, he realized as he muscled it down the ladder. Will I have to carry this everywhere I go? If it gets damaged, will I lose my abilities? Will destroying the book cause irreparable harm to my soul?

He admitted the last question was a bit dramatic, but he was in unprecedented territory. However, even if he didn't know the answers, he realized his power allowed him to mitigate any potential negative outcomes, as it was only limited by his imagination. If he needed to bring it everywhere, he could ask the book for a recipe to create a way to carry it around. If it could get damaged, he could ask the book to make a copy, or he could build an impenetrable case. And if it was connected to his soul, maybe he could build a failsafe that would stop whatever happened to the book from impacting him.

Like a spiritual surge protector, he thought.

Chuck carried the book into the kitchen and laid it on the table. The others joined him. "Here we go," he said as he cracked the spine. "Experiment number one with..." He trailed off. The pages were blank. He flipped through the book, looking at several more pages that were blank, too.

Chuck's stomach dropped. Is this all a prank? he thought. After the big speech I just made, I'm going to look like an idiot.

But no--he'd seen Monster talk, for goodness sake. He'd also seen his dog do that strange thing with his fur. Meg could've gotten good enough at throwing darts to hit the shot in the treehouse, but what had happened to Monster couldn't be faked.

This is real, he told himself. But why isn't it working?

From the other side of the table, Meg leaned over the book. "Hmm," she said. "Maybe you don't have a passive skill. Perhaps the book is connected to whatever you're thinking. Did you focus a thought before you opened it?"

Chuck shook his head. "Let me try that," he said as he closed the book. "Book! I'm speaking to you. I'm going to be very clear with what I want--I'd like a recipe for something that will allow me to carry you everywhere I go without hindering my movement."

This time, when Chuck opened the book, it was filled with text and diagrams. His eyes went wide. There was an outline on the page, a hand-drawn image of the device in question, and it looked like... a backpack. It looked like a very nice backpack, but it wasn't exactly what Chuck had in mind.

"Now you know how it works!" Meg said. "But you need to be even more specific. Do you want suggestions, or do you want to try again?"

"I've got this." Chuck closed the book, then waved his hands over its surface like a shaman. "Book! I was hoping you could help me make an interdimensional portal accessible only to me. I should be able to open it from anywhere in any world, and only when I think Open with the intention of opening said portal. Behind the portal, I want a three-foot by three-foot space with two shelves that run vertically across the space and split it into three even parts. This space should be completely safe for me to access, but no one else should be able to access the space under any circumstances." He tried to think if there was anything he was missing.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"I love the word 'interdimensional,'" Monster said. "I have no idea what it means, but it has a nice ring."

"That was some pretty strong wording," Meg added. "I was going to suggest you put it on wheels."

Chuck opened book. Once again, he saw writing and diagrams--only this time, instead of a backpack, a hand-drawn illustration showed a picture of a dimensional space exactly like the one Chuck had in mind. He couldn't believe it'd worked.

"My goodness," he said, his mind overflowing with possibility. "I can make anything imaginable!"

He started to read the text. As he did, his heart dropped.

Making the space you have in mind starts with creating a simple basket, it said. Once you've mastered the fundamentals of this carrying case, I will show you how to make a backpack. From there, you can move to the suitcase. If that has been mastered, you will have the skills to make the space you have in mind, though you'll need the right ingredients, many of which are magical and not found in this world.

So no, Chuck. It's not going to be so easy.

Level 1: Basket. The Basket is a rustic piece of equipment made using supple reeds and vibrant, sun-kissed wildflowers. Its gentle, golden hue blends seamlessly with a wheat field in the afternoon light. Twisted vine handles offer a comfortable grip, and the intricate weaving patterns across its surface tell a story of rural charm.

Items needed: reeds.

Level 2: Backpack. The Backpack is a rugged, weathered bag crafted from supple leather and reinforced with sturdy canvas. It boasts an earthy, forest-green hue that seems to blend effortlessly with the natural surroundings. Thick, braided leather straps and metal buckles secure its contents, giving it a distinct, rustic charm. The flap is adorned with intricate embossed patterns of forest creatures, paying homage to the wild beauty of the land. Also known as a "rucksack" or "bookbag."

Items needed: leather, iron.

Level 3: Suitcase. A step up from the backpack, the hinged lid of the suitcase provides even more carrying capacity! Its elegant design exudes an air of sophistication, and the gleaming brass hardware adds a touch of timeless style. Sturdy rubber wheels and a retractable telescopic handle provide ease of transport.

Items needed: polycarbonate OR ballistic nylon, rubber.

Do I need to keep going?

Chuck groaned. Both of his friends looked at him strangely, so he told them what the book said.

"Backpacks are... nice," Monster said, trying to sound encouraging. "Maybe start there, and you can build up to the interdimensional thing?"

Chuck still had so many questions. However, he also had some additional information about his power--and its limitations. He closed the book. "I have another idea," he said. "Arguably a more useful one, and I don't think it'll require any magical ingredients from other worlds." He glanced at Meg. "Do you know where to find this Stitz character? The one you interrogated?"

She shook her head. "Wish I could, but I have no idea."

Chuck tapped the book. "Maybe we could build a tracker. If you can describe him well enough, I can run his face through recognition software. Every street corner in America has cameras. By myself, I wouldn't be able to hack them, but with magic..."

Her eyes shone. "Now that's a good idea."