-Okay, let’s summarize - started For. - Axelrod wants to go back to your old world. There is no real other way than just to use portal magic. To do that, he needs an anchor and a lot of mana.

-He wants to use the mana from the edge to fuel the spell and while he has the access to the place close enough, he doesn't have an anchor.

-That's until he learned that you found one - she pointed out. - He managed to get the information about your travels, be it from Goldie or Jacob… or someone. And realized that you accidentally found someone that belonged to your old world.

-Yep. And taking control over Goldie gave him an opening to get to Red Edge…

-...and somehow managed to take Jacob, along with the anchor.

-Right. Meanwhile, to hide most of the traces, he also got the kids as well, along with everyone else, since they were unlucky enough to be right then and there…

-No witnesses… hm, yeah, maybe. But he didn’t plan on you being connected somehow and us sharing…. Well, everything.

-I don’t know who I am supposed to thank for that. Or blame for that matter.

-In any case, he succeeded…? At least partially…

-It appears so. He definitely used a good chunk of mana to do… something. And judging by his reaction it had to be at least a partial success…

-But we didn’t see a portal… or anything even similar…?

-We did see the sky clear up though… you think that could…

-You think that whole thing was a portal? - asked Kon. - But… it just looked like some mana distortion… or something, I don’t know…

-And that’s why we say he succeeded partially. He managed to confirm that indeed, it was possible to get back, but he needed… something more.

-But what’s “something more”, then?

-I don’t think it’s “something more”... it’s just “more of something”.

-I think that the corpse… or the part that he found… was just not enough. I must admit, I wasn’t really that thorough in… giving them a burial… - I said, pointing to the singular bone that we found.

-If we think that it’s indeed the same person…

-It has to be.

-I mean, it was supposed to be some kind of prison… who knows who else had died here…

-Well, I can’t really check… Iloa is the only person who’d know for sure. Or at all, even. I can’t distinguish the aura.

-Hm.

-Well, I am suddenly annoyed that I even tried giving them a burial in the first place… - I sighed.

-Mor!

-What? If not for me, Axelrod would be already away and out of everyone’s hair.

-And what then?! Do you think that everything else would be fine if that happened?

-Don’t tell me that you suddenly care about his kingdom… empire… whatever he calls it…?

-Kingdom, I think… and no, that’s not what I mean! I mean, look at the edge! If even some half-assed failed spell managed to change the falls this much, what the fully completed one would do!?

-Come on, not that long ago you didn’t even have a clue about the whole problem of that spell existing. So what? People would’ve started falling off the edge suddenly?

-No! I…

She took a deep breath.

-I have been thinking about it… and I think I am starting to understand why this spell is here in the first place.

-I think… that you might be correct about the whole “teleporting barrier”.

-Okay. So a safety for ships…? - asked Kon.

-No. I mean, yes, that is actually a side effect of something on a much larger scale. Say, what do you think happens to the water that falls off the edge?

-Well… it disappears…?

-Yeah. And what happens then? Where do we get the water back? How do we get it back?

-You think… that the spell also works on the mass of water…? That whatever falls off the edge is teleported back to the other one…?

-I mean, it would explain the foggy edge and overall is a more convincing argument than “water just gets conjured in the depths of the soil from water crystals”, don’t you think…?

-You do have a point…

-Honestly, up till now I didn’t really stop to consider the idea of how the water equilibrium in your world works… - I said truthfully. - And I would be lying if the idea of water from crystals would not be my first guess if the whole portal barrier matter was not presented on a silver platter to me…

-Come on, it’s not…

-Say what you will, but your world is already so illogical and stupid to me that I started to just assume that the weirdest explanation is actually what is happening in reality - I said, not letting her finish.

-But then… the main question… What happens if he succeeds…? Would the barrier work…? Or…

-I think the more important question is “what happens when it fails?”.

-Just imagine… the whole water of this world… draining into a void… I mean, because that’s what’s there… right?

-I… holy…

-I think so… - replied For, face completely white. - To be honest, I never really thought about that… the edge and what’s beyond…

-I think we better not have to figure it out… - said Kon, also pale. - That is terrifying…

-You don’t say… Hm, and you don’t really know what’s… out there?

-I did wonder about that for a while - admitted For - but after reading all the books I had access to back when I was young and even now… there was never mention about it, besides it being “infinite void”.

-What about your world though? - asked Kon. - Was that there…?

-I guess “infinite void” is one description… While not completely empty, it was pretty barren. Still, it was large enough for us not to be able to discover much of it, so…

-Wait, discover?! You traveled through there!?

-Me? No! Although there were some attempts at that, I was never very interested in that. I had more than enough to worry about closer to home.

-But it was possible! - said Kon, clearly overwhelmed. - How… I can’t imagine what that would take!

-What kinds of spells did you even create there… that’s beyond me… - mumbled For.

-Spells? Ha. No, that all was during the age where magic was… let’s say less than prominent. The exploration of space was purely technological.

-ILMA is capable of something like that?!

I was about to clear their misunderstanding of technology and what she was once again, but was beaten to it by ILMA herself.

-Negative. Execution unavailable: lack of needed details and materials.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

-Well, that’s a very lax explanation, but yeah - I agreed. - Just like before, if there is hardly a way here to use a piece that Mois got, creating something like that would be impossible. But why are you asking…?

-I mean… I was curious… - mumbled Kon.

-Me too - agreed For - but besides that, I thought… since out there there is that void you speak of… I thought about traversing it somehow… If it is going to overtake us. If he succeeds, that is.

-Space exploration? - I couldn’t help but laugh. - You? Here? Come on, that’s, even for you, a bit much.

-You said that’s possible!

-And I never said that it is not, but it’s pointless. I said it is a void. And to find something that would be even remotely helpful, or even habitable… the chances are so miniscule that you can’t even imagine!

-But that is possible! And you said that you were using technology to travel there, right? So what if you used magic? You said it yourself, magic here is similar to your world. Can’t you think of something?

-That is straight up impossible.

-Why?

-Simple. When I said empty space, I meant it. It means that there is no mana out there. And no mana equals no magic, as you are keenly aware.

-Okay, but what if you’ve taken something that stores mana with you? Like you with your Origin Crystal! You said that it has a lot of capacity.

-Sure. But not infinite. Sooner or later I would’ve ran out. And then what?

-I…

-Yeah. Exactly. Nothing. Death. Here, on the ground where we have mana flowing under our feet and around us I might be powerful. But out there, I would be stranded. That is pointless.

-I guess the idea of escaping this place to find something besides this dried up plate is out of the picture… - sighed For.

-I feel like you’re grasping at straws with that one. Besides, this world is still fine as it is - I pointed out. - We just have to make sure it stays that way.

-Easier said than done. Even though we followed Axelrod here, we found nothing that would’ve helped us. No new info. Sure, we found out a little bit about his goals, or at least that’s what we hope, but now what?

-I guess we have to go back. It’s not like we are stuck here. You have anchors with you, right?

-Yeah, sure, but what then? Where do we go next? If we are to “make sure it stays that way” we have to somehow stop Axelrod. Or at least change his mind.

-What about that bone though…?

-Let’s think about that later. We can take it with us and then decide.

-True. We are going to accomplish nothing by staying on this rock. Let’s get out of here.

-Sure. But where? - asked Kon. - I mean, I can teleport us wherever, I think we got plenty of anchors, right?

-Right - nodded For. - I took the whole stock.

-Definitely better to have those on you than letting Axelrod barge in and take that for himself.

-I feel like he doesn't really care… since the whole war thing.

-Good point - For agreed. - What’s going on there? There’s been no new flashes, has there?

She was right.

The connection we were sharing was pretty quiet lately.

-Does that mean… he won…?

-I doubt it - I shook my head. - I just assume that the skirmishes for today have ended. Or just that Axelrod has left the front and is resting.

-Well, I guess even he is not some infinite mana creature…

-But he’s close… - I mumbled.

-Anyway, let’s leave. Let’s go back to my place and decide where to go from there. I think being in Red Edge is the safest place…

-I’d rather not go back there.

-Why? It’s the safest we…

-Yeah, yeah, safest. But I am unable to cast anything there. While that might not be a problem for you, at least I hope so, I’d rather not be useless dead weight…

-Didn’t you say that you would still be able to use magic even in there…?

-I mean… it’s debatable if I would call it “magic” even… It’s just rudimentary mana manipulation…

-Still better than nothing.

-But not better than being able to do both - I pointed out. - Why won’t we just teleport from here? I mean, Kon would even have to use a bit less mana.

-Not like either of you is lacking in that department.

-True…

-But even if we were to portal out from here… where would we go? - Kon asked the question that was on the mind of all of us.

-Well… we have to get somewhat closer to Axelrod… or at least to the capital… he’s there, right?

-It appeared so - I nodded. - At least somewhere in the vicinity. All of us shared that vision, right?

-I mean yeah, but… the location…

She went silent for a second.

-I think it was somewhere to the… north, I think…?

I gave her a curious look.

-You were able to tell that much?

-And you didn’t?

-Well, actually, no. I was only able to tell that it was in the vicinity of the capital. And honestly I was not really aiming to go for Axelrod.

She looked at me, wide-eyed.

-Then who? Weren’t we supposed to chase him? Or at least tail him a bit?

-Sure. But wouldn’t it be smarter if we were to first maybe gather some information before trying to approach him?

-And how do you propose we do that?

-Remember, he was looking for someone not so long ago. And I felt like we probably should finally pick up on that thread.

-Looking for… You mean his wife? Or, well…

-Yeah, Melle - I nodded.

-Her… Hm… - she went silent, thinking. - I mean, if you are sure… but how would we do that in the first place? If Axelrod had a hard time finding her, how would WE have a better chance at finding her?

-Because you have me.

She rolled her eyes.

-Yes, we do. And what was that supposed to mean?

-Do I need to remind you that I still have a contract with more than just you?

She did not look convinced.

-And you think that you can just track her like this? I mean… I know that it’s possible using the blood-bounds… but is that bind still in effect?

-I mean, yours is… - I said, and focused on For.

Even without much of a concentration I was able to immediately summon the familiar piece of paper. And of course set her on fire in the process.

She yelped.

-AH! Fuck! Warn me beforehand!

-I did - I said, immediately dismissing the paper. - And I see it works with no issue.

-That it does… - she mumbled, trying to compose herself after a sudden shock.

-Strange… did any of you feel something? - asked out of the blue Kon after For finished her complaining.

-Feel what?

I immediately extended my senses to check our surroundings, but didn’t feel a thing. The caves were still as empty as before, that is if we do not include the residual mana that was still present.

-You found someone?! Where?

For was spooked a bit with that ominous question.

-No, no, I didn’t mean it like that… It’s just… every time any of us used magic, we had those… visions, flashes… you know? But…

-Now there was none - I finished, understanding what he was talking about.

-Damn, you’re right…. what… does that mean that that connection is broken…?

-There is an easy way to check that… - I mumbled and started walking towards the edge of the room.

-What are you…

I was not going to explain, instead just focused my eyes on the darkest corner of the room, and spoke a spell.

-Usc fi geksu.

A familiar orb appeared right next to me, lighting up the place.

I was now able to see the corner of the room, albeit barely. That was good enough.

And…

Nothing.

-I think that answers that question.

-Why are you…Think for a second! What if you showed him our location?

-I showed him a piece of wall then - I corrected her. - You think that he is able to figure out our location using THAT? I mean, he is smart, but not THAT smart. It’s impossible.

-I mean…

-Don’t worry.

I quickly was about to realize that I was absolutely wrong about that.

-Hm. Well, whatever. I guess, good on us. We can at least safely track her then, right?

-It would appear so. But, speaking of, did you, in that frenzy of packing, maybe manage to take a map with you?

-Don’t worry, I did.

She started digging through her belongings.

-I didn’t really expect to be tracking someone using that kind of magic so it’s not really that precise, but…

She pulled out a rather large rolled up piece of paper.

-It’ll be good enough - I said, taking a look.

It was just as she said. It was just a world map, and I am pretty sure it was the same one I’ve already seen before.

-Just… try and don’t destroy it.

-I can control my magic, thank you very much.

I placed the map on the slab in the middle of the room. Kon quickly wiped it beforehand so we wouldn’t have a damp piece of paper instead of a map though.

Even though the water was gone from the caves, the surroundings were still as wet as you’d think they would be.

-Okay… let’s see…

I focused my attention and mana on the stain I had after my deal with Melle.

It was a bit harder than the one with For, probably because I haven’t used it in a while, and also because she was definitely not right next to me.

The flame appeared immediately. And it was in the place… that didn’t make much sense to us…