The next day went by in a flash. Keeper Namon didn't like that she made such a long journey out of the blue but shrugged it off with a pat on Ravela’s shoulder and some words of well-meant advice. She bought herself a wallet and put her temporary identification in it as well as the money, she so far had carried along loosely in her pockets. Ravela packed her things and all her money in the evening and went to bed.

Friday morning instead of going for a run Ravela bathed and got ready for her journey.

She took stock of her luggage one last time. Clothes and shoes in one bag and her money, eight ring boxes, rings inside, one of her energy pistoles in its holster in the other bag. The moment she checked off the pistol a thought occurred to her.

That second pistol should not be hidden in the suitcase, Ravela thought. So she quickly hid it in the same spot as the sword. She locked the suitcase and put it back under the bed after spinning the code wheels to random positions.

She wrote a note for ma Stone and folded the keys into them.

‘Ma Stone,

it wouldn’t be right to take these keys with me to an entirely different town so I will leave them with you. I will be back Monday morning.

Kind regards,

Ramiel’

She threw that quietly into the mailbox beside Ma Stone’s reception and left the house.

Ravela carried her two large bags with ease through the town and to the train station.

The ticket salesman was already on his post waiting for customers that wanted to catch this train at the last minute.

He gave Ravela a short nod of recognition when he spotted her. The train rolled into the station not perfectly on time but without noteworthy delay.

She climbed the train’s steep stairs and enter the cabin. Rows of seats in red fabric left only a slim path between either side of the wagon. Ravela picked a two-seat compartment and put her clothing bag up in the closable luggage drawers. The bag with her true valuables took its rightful place on her lap.

Ravela settled in for a long train ride. The landscape changed from thick woods to endless fields after about twenty minutes of her journey. She watched with big eyes as the morning sun illuminated the fields in its majestic light.

Plentiful fields instead of greenhouses with floors of grown minimum effort monocultures that were made possible employing artificial UV light.

Ravela enjoyed the unbound nature of the woods but the view of agriculture rooted in the planet's soil on a planet made her heart pound in excitement.

She wanted to learn more about these farms that produced the fuel that sustained civilization. Memories of protein bars, nutritional pasta, and filtrated and enriched water rations darkened her mood. Her early life had been a constant struggle to get a hold of enough of these disgusting survival rations.

The landscape thinned out plentiful fields became more scarce then switched to drier scenery with cattle farms. Hours went by of cattle farms, bigger or smaller towns passing by, not all were directly around the train track. The train stations were at the very least always still within sight of the town or towns as it were.

With every passing hour, the train filled more. The city of Lady Luck had to be a sought-after destination. Sadly, that made the chatter in the wagon become louder and louder. Ravela tried to ignore the hunger that came as a result of her shunning breakfast to begin her journey as early as possible.

‘Curses upon you, past-Ravela! This betrayal will not be forgotten.’ Ravela threatened her past self.

The landscape changed once more turning from a step into an outright desert. The sight of this dry and desolate scenery made Ravela sad. Even a bountiful planet had places like these.

“We’re now entering the Halmo Reserve. This swaddy Reserve is under tribal jurisdiction and was established in 4599 by President Ptor Luffago. For further advice, consult the info stand at the local train station.” The train’s announcement rang out.

Ravela took notice. On arrival in La Heumö, she’d have to seek out these information booths just to be on top of things.

Desert battled with meager steps as the train made its way closer to Ravela’s destination.

Ravela noticed the heat in the train become stronger the longer the train sat under the tyranny of the sun. Most people fled the train in a hurry the moment the train stopped at the platform. Ravela didn’t feel the heat like the people beside her. She saw some seriously drenched people.

The air inside the station was cooler. Ravela saw many former passengers trying to catch their breath and acclimate.

Ravela leisurely walked among the huffing and heaving masses. She didn’t mind the heat at all Ravela barely felt it. The only reason she noticed was the passengers around her suffering.

Nobody paid her any mind. They were much too busy celebrating their survival.

The information booth was waiting for Ravela at the end of the platform.

Leaflets with helpful information were on a rack:

“Do’s and Taboos in the Reserve”

“La Heumö, Manners and Traditions”

“Winnings from Gambling”

“Crimes - Who to call in Emergencies!”

Gathering one of each of those brochures, Ravela walked further into the station and found the food court. An impressive variety of cuisines struggled to gain the attention of customers passing through La Heumö Central.

Searching for a restaurant that tickled her fancy became Ravela’s first mission. Something refreshing, something with substance.

‘Steak and milkshake, steak and milkshake, STEAK ‘N SHAKE!’ Her brain demanded. Ravela tried to think of something else. It was not the time to get quirky. Discipline won out in the end, and she went into an Asian cuisine restaurant that made quite the show of preparing the food.

The open kitchen faces the front of the seating area. The cooks made an effort to prepare the food entertainingly.

Ravela sat in a far corner and placed her bags against the wall. Ravela never lost track of them, even for a second.

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While ordering and waiting for her food, she began to read through the information she picked up on the platform.

‘No taxes on gambling winnings? Splendid.’

Cultural norms and the like were rather mundane and wouldn’t affect her stay here, but it was good to know these things before she ran afoul of them.

The emergency numbers she looked over and dismissed. Ravela did not need police help. As far as she was concerned, she was the help.

Ravela ate a hearty meal with a flavourful earthy sauce. The chicken was thinly sliced and had a well-balanced tender note. The mouthfeel of the entire dish was phenomenal. The vegetables made the dish whole.

After enjoying her lunch for as long as she could reasonably drag it out, Ravela paid her bill and got out of the massive train hub.

La Heumö impressed right out of the station. A big plaza with lots of palm trees, fountains, shopping miles, and of course, there were towering casino hotels. Palaces of decadence and splendor.

Spoiled for choice, Ravela pragmatically looked at the casinos. She could rent a room in one of the less pompous ones and gamble in the obscenely wealthy temples to Lady Luck.

Even the smaller casinos still looked expensive. Ravela liked the dark green tiles that lined the entire lobby floor and the lower wall parts.

The reception desk was manned by four concierges. Ravela wondered if there was a room for her here. Worst case scenario they were all out of rooms.

“Greetings.” Ravela greeted the oldest of the four. Like all his colleagues he had colorful blue tattoos on his face and even on his hands. Ravela assumed these tattoos to be tribal markings. It stood in stark contrast to their pale skin.

“I bid you, good day. What brings you to the Golden Kelpie?”

Ravela took note of the slightly dusty-sounding way the man spoke. It was something even she, new as she was, noticed. “I am in search of a room for three days. I wondered if you have any vacancies, I can relieve you of.”

“Why, yes. Are you traveling alone or are you in company?” The old concierge inquired.

“I am a lone tourist,” Ravela informed him.

“I see, all options are on the table then. Depending on your preference, the Golden Kelpie offers a great many rooms. Allow me to write down, for you dear customer, the options we currently can provide.”

Ravela waited patiently while the old man looked over his shoulder before jolting down room names and prices. It didn’t take long, and Ravela had in front of her a great many options.

Single Room

400

Double Room

500

Queen Room

700

King Room

800

Junior Suite

1200

Executive Suite

2000

Presidents Suite

4000

“I’ve taken the liberty to include with your option the price for the entirety of your stay. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask me anything.”

Ravela looked at the prices and the names of the rooms. Suites were always more convenient she knew from vague memories. Although she distinctly remembered bunking in rooms with two or more beds in them. Her ego demanded just a tiny bit of stroking and since she felt a bit spoiled today, Ravela said.

“I think the Executive Suite sounds wonderful, could you elaborate on those suites a bit.”

“Naturally, these Suites usually have a parlor and depending on the type of Suite up to four bedrooms. We have currently the ‘Harrad The Strong’- Suite with two bedrooms, and a balcony that offers a great view. There are Suite types with more bedrooms. If you wish, I could elaborate further on those.”

Ravela smiled. “That won’t be necessary. Then I’d like to take the ‘Harrad the Strong’-Suite. Ravela pulled out her new wallet and pulled out 2000 dollars.”

“Excellent choice. Please, excuse my late question, but under what name should we sign you in?”

“No need to apologize. My name is Ramiel Roice. Does that suite come with a safe?” The concierge reacted to her name with an appreciative nod.

“But, of course, all suites have a safe in the master bedroom.”

The concierge answered politely.

Ravela was satisfied with that answer.

A young uniformed hotel staffer appeared beside her after a short hand motion from the old concierge.

“Show our guest, Mr. Roice, to his room, please. Here is the key, Mr. Roice. Suite 1, room number 68, please follow this young man to your room. And Mr. Roice, please, do enjoy your stay.”

Ravela let the staffer carry both bags reluctantly. Following him to the elevator, she listened to his instructions on which floor to dial.

The young man tried to part ways with him. She spoke up.

“And where do you think you are going with my luggage?”

“Apologies, Mr. Roice. The personnel is not allowed to take the staff elevator.”

“No. That won’t do at all. There are things of sentimental value in these bags. They’re not to leave my side.”

“Well, um, Mr. Roice. I am not allowed in this elevator.” The young man was stuck.

Ravela promptly left the elevator. “Let’s see about that.” She returned to the reception desk, the young staffer on her heels. There was now a long line. She seemed to have caught a lucky break upon arrival.

Waiting patiently, Ravela noticed that all other arriving guests got help from other staffers with their bags. She began to feel bad for the young man missing out on probably some nice extra earnings.

It took some time before Ravela reached the front of the line once more but soon enough they made it to the concierge.

“Hello again.”

“Mr. Roice, is there a problem with your room?”

“No, nothing like that. This fine young man carrying my bags is to not leave my side with them and thus requires your express permission to ride with me in the same elevator.” Ravela explained.

“I can assure you that your bags are perfectly safe with our staff, Mr. Roice.”

“That may be so, but I’d rather they remain within my sight. So won’t you, kindly, permit him to take the same elevator as me?” Ravela insisted.

The concierge looked over to his old colleague, who gave him a short nod.

“Since you insist, we would be happy to give that permission, Mr. Roice.”

“Thank you, for your consideration.”

Ravela once more made her way to the elevator. In a way, being amongst people was more exhausting than being thrown through dimensions.

On the elevator ride up, Ravela tried to shake off the feeling of awkwardness these social interactions left her with.

Once they reached her suite, Ravela handed the staffer a one hundred dollar bill to hopefully make up for his lost earnings. After the staffer left, she began to settle in.

Her money and rings went into the safe. Her clothes went into the closet.

‘It was time to cause some mischieve!’ Ravela thought in excitement.

She got a suit out of the closet. The biggest suit she had.

Humming while changing clothes and shoes, Ravela slowly put on the slightly oversized suit. The large mirror on the wall showed herself in a suit just a tad too big for him. Ravela laughed at her clumsy-looking reflection.

She got one ring from the safe, took off Ramiel’s ring, and put on the black ring with its golden patterns. Suddenly the clothes fit her new form perfectly. The pants no longer ruffled a bit at the ankles, her cuffs were now properly aligned, and most importantly, she filled the suit.

She took off the suit jacket and put on the shoulder holster with her pistol. After putting the jacket back on, Ravela put Ramiel’s ring into its inner pocket.

Giving the mirror another spin to check her outfit once more, she was satisfied. She walked out on the balcony to enjoy the view. It was impressive, just as the concierge promised.

‘Time to get to work.’

Ravela walked back inside and looked at the money inside the safe. She had, in total, nine rings with her. Eight of the rings were meant to take the money to the casino and launder it. Her first mission would be to find a game she could control. She didn’t plan to rob the casinos or anything but they planned to cheat just enough to walk out with the exact money she came to town with. That included the hotel costs in her mind.

It would be wrong of her to break the bank, not to mention it would rouse suspicion and get her unwanted attention. Taking 100,000 eight times into one casino would alarm that casino. Ravela had at her fingertips five big casinos right, and she already sat inside another.

Five trips with each ring would be not as conspicuous and would allow her to have as much fun as she possibly could have. Then Ravela remember that she’d need some proper women's clothes for two of her rings. A problem for Saturday, Ravela decided.

Ravela took two straps of one hundred dollar bills out of the safe and put them in the inner pocket on her right side, opposite her ring and pistol. Proper concealment was everything after all.

“Call me, Nechub,” Ravela told her mirror with a wink. Her voice was low and melodic.

Picking up her key and her wallet, without the temporary identification papers, Ravela left her room. Time to see if she could play at the biggest casino with this pocket change of hers.

When leaving her suite, Ravela made sure that the hallway was empty. It was best not to be seen leaving another man’s hotel room.

Once in the elevator, the tension left her body. She made it without being seen which was the perfect start to her little endeavor.

Upon reaching the lobby she mixed in with the crowd, and immediately steered for the exit. Her goal was the most decorated temple of gambling she had seen so far.

Ravela walked the beautiful plaza with grace. She felt like a gentleman conman on her way to pulling off the job of her lifetime. Due to the heat outside remained mostly empty. A welcome byproduct of the desert sun.

The entrance to Casino Cernunnos was white marble with golden decor on it. Plants and flowers complimented the great portal and there were a plethora of attendants taking care of guests, greeting them, and making a show of being busy without any hurry.

Two men opened the portal doors for her. The intricately worked wood swung open, and with it, a whole new world revealed itself to Ravela.

Black marble, fountains on every corner, pillars, and plants accompanying it all. Despite the abundance of greenery, it looked not a bit less clean and aesthetically pleasing. This must have cost a fortune to build.

The entire lobby was stunning. Ravela could feel the wealth dripping from the very walls. The cool, moisturized air supports the cold yet clean feeling of the picture before Ravela.

She felt right at home in this place. Instead of a reception desk, there was an exchange box stretching roughly 20 meters on one side of the lobby, fitting in effortlessly with the black marble.

At the cash register, Ravela exchanged her 20,000 dollars without issue.

The tokens were small rectangles of plastic, chips the cashier called them.

‘This is where the fun begins.’