Mahya and I re-drew the circle to feed the cores, and she positioned herself near one of the piles to fill them up. I hurled my core onto the top of a different pile and told it, “Bon Appetit.” Within minutes, I heard the junk collapse into the depression it created in the middle. Sadly, it didn’t work like in a dungeon—no liquid acrylic paint flowing toward the core to be absorbed.

Oh, well.

To ensure there were no enemies approaching, I soared up and did a slow rotation in the air. I spotted a few fake goblins scattered on other piles, but they kept their distance. I nearly blasted them with lightning, but stopped at the last second. If they weren’t going to bother us, I wasn’t going to bother them. I suspected they were the mice or rats of this world, or maybe something entirely different.

Below, Rue prowled between the piles, occasionally swatting one of the green critters with his paw, splattering it.

“What are you doing, buddy?” I called out.

“Rue do patrol! No green bad thing attack again!” he answered proudly.

“Be careful of the needles they shoot.”

“Rue have lots and lots of fur. No needle pass Rue’s fur.”

“Okay. Have fun on patrol,” I said with a smile.

He wagged his tail, holding his head higher as he continued his patrol duties.

I opened the Map, and the Gate we came through was on the biggest continent of this world, in the southeast. Unsure, I attempted to apply Earth’s latitudes to the Map and believed that our location was close to Latitude 35° South. But since I was never good with those lines, it was a crude estimate at best. Most of the world appeared green, which was strange.

Is all of it covered by forests?

There was a yellowish section to the west of us, across a wide channel between the two tips of the continent. Desert, maybe? The sea between the tips stretched vast but narrow enough to be a natural border, almost like a strait separating the landmasses. The rest was just primarily green. Earth also had a lot of green on the map, but not all of it. There were cities, roads, and deserts that broke up the color. Here, though, it seemed like an endless expanse of wild greenery. A mountain chain divided our location from the main body of the continent, and I also spotted a massive mountain grouping in the center of it. The rest was green, green, and more green.

The biggest surprise was the number of Gates. I opened the Archive and scrolled endlessly until I found the article “Opportunities and Dangers in Worlds Undergoing Integration” and searched for the specific sections I remembered. Here it was, white on blue: “Some Gates collapse or cease functioning as Gates, reducing the number of active Gates to 50-70, stabilizing the mana influx.”

I searched further until I found the article “Worlds Classification by Mana Levels and What That Means,” and located the relevant text.

I did remember it correctly!

“Unstable: Mana Level: Unstable”

This can be anything from mana 11 to 90+ on top of the headache of a world that just got integrated. Don’t go near there. It’s a never-ending bundle of trouble.”

Zindor was listed as mana level 38, so it had already stabilized, but it had over a hundred Gates! Thirty-four of them were on the continent we were on.

“Guys,” I called out. “Open the Map and feast your eyes on the number of Gates! I say we go on a Gate-hopping spree on top of the dungeon-harvesting spree.”

Both of them glanced at the Map, their eyes losing focus, and massive smiles spread across their faces. Al flashed me a thumbs-up while Mahya jumped up, brimming with excitement.

“When we are done here, we can pick and choose with such an extensive selection,” Al said, sounding thrilled.

Hearing the noise of falling junk in the crater my core created stop, I flew over and found my core lying in the center of the pile on the ground. With my biggest rake, I flew around the pile and buried my core with more junk.

While scrolling through the Archive, I noticed Lis had answered my message, so I opened it to read. It was in the cipher I had created, and it didn’t switch to English immediately.

“Yes?” I said to the sky. “I know you can change it to English. What are you waiting for?”

I sensed amusement coming from the new permanent point of connection, and the text shifted before my eyes.

I rolled my eyes. At least it’s useful.

Tr. LM

“Inventor, Clueless”

My dearest friend,

It warms my heart to receive your message and hear your voice through the words, no matter how encoded they are. You’ve always had a talent for discovering solutions in the most unlikely places—like ciphers buried in books—but your heart drives you, and it shows in every communication you send.

I can feel the weight of your thoughts and your sense of temporary loneliness, and I want to remind you of something you already know but may have forgotten. Loneliness, or the absence of it, isn’t necessarily about who is next to us; it’s about what we carry inside. You, my dear friend, have so much light and strength within you—far more than you give yourself credit for. I understand that the absence of Mahya, Al, and even my absence can create an echo, but it is only an echo. Your spirit, your link to us, remains intact. We are always there for you, whether through songs, stories, the Archive, or simply memories and recollections. And Rue will always be with you, even beyond death.

It’s beautiful that you find solace in your music. I can see you now, seated in that meadow, the music of your cello filling the air and the leaves rustling in time with the notes. You’ve always relied on music as a compass—a technique to navigate the dark waters of doubt and process negative emotions. So, use this tool at your disposal and find your way to excitement and wonder again. You don’t need to worry about being adrift; you’re simply sailing through calmer waters for the time being. Soon, the winds will pick up, and I am confident you will find yourself surrounded by fresh wonders, challenges, and companions.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Your message put a smile on my face. Oh, the things you tell—floating over a swamp, performing for a crowd of marsh creatures, soaring into the skies—how you’ve grown, my friend. I remember how you hesitated at the brink of each new obstacle, unsure of your direction. Now look at you: a sky flyer, a creature enchanter, and a spell crafter. You are no longer just Clueless, John. You’re becoming everything I always believed you could be, and more.

But maybe more significant than all of your accomplishments and accolades, you’ve discovered joy in these moments. Joy is a rare and valuable commodity in this life. Too many people chase it in the form of victory or celebrity, but you’ve glimpsed its true essence. It’s in the laughter of friends, the lively nature of a faithful (hungry) partner, and the excitement of discovery. It’s part of your incredible adventure.

I’m very proud of you and thankful that our paths intersected. You’ve taught me just as much as I have taught you, if not more. Our long discussions, those nights full of laughter and storytelling, are among my most treasured memories. I miss those times, just like you do, but the beauty of friendship is that it does not fade with distance. It grows—just like we do.

Regarding Rue’s query, are dragons delicious? My travels haven’t led me to try one yet, but if they do, I’ll definitely let Rue know!

You can tell him I tried a unique worm they have here. It’s called Gravorex, and its main diet is rocks. Yes, rocks. But its meat is delicate and tasty, reminding me of grilled lamb. It’s delicious, and I’ll keep a worm in my Storage for the next time we meet so you can cook it for Rue.

Take heart, John. You are never truly alone. Even as you sit beneath your tree, the universe hums in sync with you. There are always new treasures to discover just beyond the horizon. And when the time comes, we’ll laugh and share stories again, sitting around a bonfire and gazing at the stars.

May your adventure continue to captivate you, my friend. Keep rising and exploring, and remember that you always have us with you.

With all my love and admiration,

Lis, AKA Inventor

By the time I finished reading, a big smile spread across my face, and a warm feeling settled in my chest. He was right—we would always be friends, and the distance was temporary.

Al approached me with a focused expression, his brows knitted, and lips pressed into a thin line. The easygoing demeanor he’d had just minutes before had vanished. His steps slowed, and I could tell by the intensity of his eyes that he had something serious to talk with me about.

“I would like to speak to you about something,” he said, his tone soft yet deliberate. “Please, tell me if I’m overstepping, but know I say this out of concern for you.” His gaze flickered with a hint of worry as he fidgeted slightly, clasping his hands in front of him.

I nodded, signaling for him to continue.

“As I’ve told you many times before,” he began, his voice steady, “I spent countless hours studying diaries and personal accounts in my family’s archive. Many of these dealt with the influence of classes and skills on an individual. I can’t help but notice something troubling. Back on Earth, I recall how you acted—you were cautious, sometimes even to the point of being... well, overly so.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my neck. “Overly cautious?” I asked.

He gave a small, so-so motion with his hand. “In some cases, yes. But that’s not the main issue. I only bring it up to give context to my current concerns.” His voice softened, and he shifted uncomfortably, as if unsure how to proceed. “The thing is, I’ve listened to your stories about your time in Lumis without us and observed your recent actions. Your behavior in Lumis, and especially your approach to the gigantic monster, is not what I expected from the John I know. The John I know would have turned invisible and flown away from the assassins rather than confront them. And I don’t believe he would have insisted on facing such a massive, dangerous creature alone, even with scrolls.”

He paused, his fingers drumming nervously against his leg, before continuing. “I mentioned my family’s archive for a reason. There are numerous dissertations on the effect certain classes, particularly fire-based ones, can have on a person’s behavior. The studies all point to the same thing—the person becomes more impulsive, more aggressive, and far less concerned for their own safety. I’m beginning to worry that some of your recent actions reflect that kind of shift, and I feel it’s important to bring it to your attention. You may not realize it yet, but if you’re aware, you can keep it in check.”

His gaze softened, the concern in his eyes fully evident. “Please understand, John, I’m saying this because I care. I’ve read countless accounts of how classes can change people, and I don’t want to see you lose yourself to that. Only by being aware of it can you keep it under control. I’ve felt it myself since I used the fire affinity stone you gave me, but I believe its effect on me is less pronounced because I’m mindful of the possibility. I want to make sure you can control it as well.”

Thinking about what he said, I recalled my temper flaring in the dungeon. When I forced myself to clamp down on the anger and fly away, I thought I had it under control. Maybe I was wrong. “Thank you for caring,” I told Al. “I’ll think about what you said and try to figure out how my fire affinity might be influencing my actions.”

He nodded, his expression softening. “That is all I ask.”

“Now, a different question,” I said. “I have some Thunder Strike single-use scrolls that are useless to me. My lightning is better. Want them? Also, the Solar Flare—I don’t think I’ll use those either.”

“Keep the Solar Flare,” Al replied, his tone firm. “They’re the best weapon against black magic. If we’d had them in our first dungeon, we could’ve obliterated that monster with the eyes and tentacles in two or three scrolls.”

“Seriously?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded.

“Good to know, thanks. I’m heading to Lumis for the day to buy more scrolls. If I fly at top speed, I can reach the bazaar in six to eight hours. I’m planning to pick up Quicksand Sink and Blade Storm scrolls. Do you need anything?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I bought an extensive supply already, and so did Mahya.”

I handed him the Thunder Strike scrolls. “Take these. Like I said, they’re completely useless to me. Also, do me a favor—occasionally scoop more junk over my core so it can keep feeding. And if another behemoth shows up, grab my core and cross the Gate.”

“I will. Thank you,” he replied with a nod.

Next, I went to see Mahya. “I’m heading to Lumis for a day to buy more scrolls. Do you need any?”

“No,” she said, then added, “Do you know the time skip?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I’ll be back in a day, tops. Hopefully, it won’t be much more on this side either.”

She nodded, and I left. I didn’t think I needed to remind her to cross the Gate if another behemoth showed up. I remembered I couldn’t store the boat after Mahya connected it to the core, and I hoped Al could still cross the Gate with mine. Either way, I was only planning on a quick trip. Worst case, I could always trace it and retrieve it later.

My estimate was right—reaching the bazaar at top speed took about six hours. It cost me more mana than usual, but I didn’t want to waste time. While flying, I realized I should have opened my house and left it for them to sleep in, just for extra protection, but I hoped the RV would be enough. Luckily, when I crossed to Lumis, it was just before sunrise, so I made it to the bazaar by midday.

I went between all the scroll sellers, buying up their stock of Blade Storm and Quicksand Sink scrolls and paying with Earth coins. In total, I got 63 Blade Storms and 91 Quicksand Sinks. To be safe, I also picked up 30 more Solar Flare scrolls—their usefulness against black magic sounded too good to pass up. On a whim, I bought three scrolls of Fuse Stone as well.

Who knows what we’ll encounter? It never hurts to have options.

I returned to the Gate shortly after sunset and crossed over. Mahya and Al were still working with the piles, and Rue was on patrol. When Mahya spotted me, she called out, “Did you change your mind?”

“No, I’m back with the scrolls. Why’d you think I changed my mind?”

“Because you left less than ten minutes ago,” she replied. “It looks like the time skip is on the Lumis side, and it’s substantial.”

“Good to know,” I said, nodding.

By the time it got dark, Mahya had fed two of the cores until they were full. Al stored various metals and materials he wanted to inspect and study, and my fantastic core devoured three whole piles. For a first day in a new world, it was definitely very eventful.