The walk was more exhausting on the way down. Looking into the darkness for threats, I have no idea how I managed it the first time. The light spells were useful, and my gear was barely 8 pounds. Lighter than anything I carried in high school.

The tunnel was a straight shot, past the bad eggs, and the piping I stumbled over on my way up. I shouldn't say piping because it was actually a body. Someone's steel plate armor with bones inside. We took a few minutes to consecrate the body, and strip the corpse of it’s armor. Not in that order. The armor slid nicely into the haversack when we took it apart. Worth a hundred gold at least. We rested after another hour or two of walking. While the cave hadn’t leveled out the ground wasn’t very steep. Wizard cracked open a sunrod since she wouldn’t be awake to cast light, and fires were hazardous in closed spaces.

We used a water clock this time. Less accurate, and had to be reset at every watch, but wouldn’t use our air, or cause dangerous gas to ignite. Sunrods were interesting. In a 30 foot circle they lit up the area as bright as the sun. The light travelled past that, but faded. It would last a couple hours at least until Wizards, and Clerics watches. I offered to take first watch. I would sleep sounder if I was more tired.

I spent most of the time meditating, I attempted to ‘circle energy’ or find my ‘dantian’ whatever the fuck that was. When I had entered that white space I felt something. Like a tug on my entire being. I think that Waylax was hinting towards me to use it, or atleast figure out how to get there. So I tried to find myself, or sense some sort of energy around me. I personally didn’t buy into the Chi/Ki cultivation crap, but apparently I’m a dragon so I’m open to trying things out.

“Yu mo gui gwai fai di zao. Yu mo gui gwai fai di zao.”

I chant quietly. I feel a tugging on my body, and open my eyes. A see a brief flash of white, and then it’s gone.

“Shit, so close.”

I murmur. I attempt to return to that state, but give up when the water clock jingles signaling the end of my watch. I rouse rogue, who resets the water clock as I turn over in my bedroll to sleep. I promptly fall asleep.

Cleric wakes me in the morning with a swift kick to my shin.

“Morning to you too.”

I groan in between grabbing my leg, and wiping the sleep from my eyes. We chew on some dried meats, and hard bread. Wizard takes some time to get the preparations for her spells together. I observe her as she works. She measures out handfuls of ash, bird talons, feathers, berries, sprigs of herbs, and metal shavings. Reviewing her spell book the entire time. The symbols on the page mean nothing to me. More like the notebook of a paranoid anarchist than a wizard.

“How does magic work?”

I ask Wizard. She gives me an odd look.

“What do you mean? Magic is magic it just does.”

I nod.

“Yes I understand, but how. Do you force your will on it? Or craft spell arrays? Do you have a pool of magical energy inside of yourself that you expend?”

She considers the question for a moment.

“Can you add?”

She asks me. I nod kinda skeptical.

“Okay then what's one plus one?”

“Two”

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“How did you do that math? Did you force your will on it? Did you have to craft a math array? Do you have a pool of math energy inside you that you used?”

She says. I think I’m starting to understand.

“Power like this can be divided into four distinct categories. Magic, Psionic, Ki, and Divine or Demonic. You can also throw eldritch users like warlocks under the divine or demonic, but pious types get really butt hurt about it.”

She whispers that last part.

“Wizards, sorcerers, and bards all use some form of magic. The most important part here is the way magic is used. Wizards and bards are most similar. They use a certain amount of magic energy drawn from their surroundings. Wizards take a more formal approach and use their foci a wand or some such. Bards use an instrument, clothing, or some cases their own vocal chords. Sorcerer have magic literally coursing through their veins, and when they exhaust all that magic they have to rest to recover it.

Psions are pretty rare so I don’t know much about them, and you’d have to go to Isekai to learn more about Ki users. Anise could tell you more about Divine casters.”

We finish packing our gear.

“Thanks for the explanation.”

She gives me a toothy smile.

“You are welcome.”

“Hey,”

I ask Wizard.

“Want me to carry the scroll case since I have the magical backpack now?”

She looks a little nervous.

“Uhh, no I’m fine.”

I furrow my brow.

“You sure?”

“Y-Yeah if you need some paper you can just reach into my pack and take it.”

“Okay then.”

I’m not gonna fight the issue. After an hour of walking i pause.

“This should be about the area. So cast detection spells, and give a thorough inspection of the area. Let me know if you find anything out of the ordinary”

Fighter salutes, and starts lifting up rocks to check under them, just gonna assume he rolled a one. Wizard starts off with a detect magic.

“God’s above!”

Wizard exclaims. I rush over.

“What happened?”

I ask her. She points down the tunnel, and starts walking. Squinting her eyes as she goes.

“I think it’s a rift.”

She stares at blank space.

“I visited one once, it was in the caldera of a volcano a tribe of goblins who believed it to be a god worshipped it.”

Everyone has no idea what she is talking about.

“It’s a rip in the fabric of the plane. But it’s weird like someone made a rift to the same plane which isn’t possible. Normally they have an iris that surrounds the rift where reality meets and twists between them. This however has none so we can’t see it. That and it’s sealed.”

She reaches out a hand and taps the air. It sends a ripple like water.

“Whoah!”

Cleric says.

“How the fuck did you know this was here?”

Cleric asks. I hold my arms out,

“Tads, that’s how I fucking got here. Just kinda woke up in this cave. Or maybe I was on the other side and walked through. Nothing to do about it now. Just wanted to confirm something that’s all.”

I stretch and crack my back.

“Let’s head back up.”

Wizard gives me a look.

“So we are just gonna leave this here?”

I nod.

“Yup, when I’m stronger we can come back, and open it up. Can you imagine I’m like Christopher Columbus. I’m going to tax the living shit out of this portal. Gold, dollars I’m going to be an old, rich, and fat dragon.”

I could practically see the pools of money I can dive into. A literal untapped resource on my land that I own. Now just need some countermeasures for modern tech. I should be able to jump s-.

DOO doo Doo doo doo DOOOO.

My phone rings. I open the call and pick up.

“Hello?”

I say.

“Do you have credit card debt? By joining our-"

I hit the end call button. I look down at my phone.

“Oh oh oh oh OH OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH.”

I jump up, and down. Two bars, TWO FUCKING BARS. I COULD REVOLUTIONIZE EVERY INDUSTRY. I open up the internet app, and my phone dies.

“Fan-fucking-tastic.”