In the morning, we still had nothing we wanted from Lumis or Earth and were ready to move.
“What are we looking for?” Al asked, tapping his fingers on his leg. “Cities or dungeons?”
“Both?” I asked.
“Cities sound risky,” Mahya said. “At least according to the world info.”
“Yeah, but the world info also said merchants can visit cities. I’ll have my merchant class displayed, and you can show your fighting classes and be my guards,” I explained, glancing at both of them. “We are mostly after dungeons, but I don’t think we can travel only in the wilderness without meeting people. That will be boring, no?”
They both nodded, and Rue barked excitedly, “New friends!”
“We need a way to locate the dungeons,” Al said, his tone shifting into a problem-solving mode.
“I can do a fly-by in the area,” I offered, stretching my arms. “I’ll look for vents by feel and scan the ground for the portal of doom.”
They both snickered.
“What?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Everybody calls it a dungeon portal, but you call it a portal of doom. It’s just funny,” Mahya said, smirking.
“Well, it looks like one,” I said, crossing my arms defensively.
“I think the name fits,” Al chimed in, giving me a half-smile.
“Anyway…” I stretched the word dramatically, pausing for effect. “Let’s decide on a direction, and every so often, I’ll fly around to look for dungeons.”
“Invisible,” Mahya added, her voice firm.
“Of course, mother. Don’t worry,” I said with a mock sigh, giving her a playful grin.
The map showed a city to the south in a direct line from the junkyard, and two cities in the northwest, relatively close to each other. After the southern city, there was a long stretch of forest that extended all the way to the sea. Beyond the northwest cities, which lay nestled between tall hills or low mountains, was another long stretch of green leading to the mountain chain that separated the land tip we were on from the rest of the continent.
“Northwest?” Mahya asked.
“Yeah, this way we’ll head inland,” I said, nodding in agreement. The plan made sense; it would give us more to explore.
“I don’t see any roads,” Al pointed out, squinting at the Map as if hoping something might magically appear.
“Balloon?” Mahya suggested, but already knowing the answer.
Rue barked, “Balloon!” practically bouncing on his paws.
“Before we leave, check the area around. Maybe you’ll find another dungeon,” Mahya suggested.
“Sure. Be back soon,” I said, giving a quick nod.
I turned invisible and launched into the air, my eyes scanning the landscape below. Using the flow of mana as my guide, I zig-zagged across the sky, trying to pinpoint any surge of energy. It didn’t take long to spot three mana vents scattered over a five-kilometer stretch, but still—no dungeons. My luck wasn’t great today.
Can I use Luck to locate dungeons?
I activated Luck and thought of dungeons, but got nothing. Yeah, Lis said you couldn’t find dangerous stuff with it. Annoying!
Before heading back to the clearing, I ascended higher, rotating slowly in the air, squinting to stretch my vision as far as it would go. With the rise in my Perception trait, my eyesight had improved dramatically, far surpassing binoculars. I could make out details at distances that would’ve been impossible before. However, the dense tree canopy blanketed almost everything, hiding what lay beneath.
In the distance, about twenty kilometers away, something caught my eye—a steeple or maybe a spire, barely peeking out between the trees. Curious, I flew closer, weaving between the treetops. As I neared, I realized it wasn’t just any spire. It belonged to an old castle, its worn stone walls standing tall amidst the forest, a relic of another time.
As I got closer, the details of the castle started coming into focus. Its spires rose high above the trees. The stone walls had a worn and weathered look, with ivy creeping on them, giving the whole place a “nature taking over” vibe. The windows were pitch black, some of them still with glass and some without.
I paused for a second, just hovering there, taking it all in. The castle looked impressive and completely isolated, tucked deep in the woods like a forgotten relic. No signs of life—no guards, no lights, nothing to show anyone had been there in ages. Curiosity kicked in, and I itched to check it out. I scanned the area below, looking for a way in or anything that stood out. From up here, the layout hinted at hidden courtyards and maybe even secret tunnels under the castle. Still invisible, I drifted closer to the walls, floating quietly through the air. My mind raced with thoughts about what kind of history might hide inside this old, forgotten fortress.
I got back to the gang and announced, “I didn’t find a dungeon, but I found an abandoned castle. Want to check it out?”
Al’s eyebrows shot up. “A castle? Sounds promising.”
Mahya gave me a skeptical look. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch. Just a big, creepy old castle in the middle of nowhere,” I said with a shrug. “It’s either totally empty or filled with all kinds of weird stuff. Want to check it out?”
“Can we get there on the motorcycles?” Al asked.
“Nope, we’ll have to fly. The entire area’s completely overgrown with trees, bushes, and everything else. It doesn’t look like anyone’s been there since the integration—or maybe even before that.”
We stored everything and closed the house. Al got on my back, Mahya got on Rue and we flew to the castle.
The castle loomed in front of us, half-hidden by the forest that had pretty much taken over the area. Vines had climbed all over the stone walls, chipping and wearing them down as if they had been working on it for years. Some windows were busted, while others still held on, foggy with age. The whole place had this eerie, frozen-in-time vibe.
We landed just outside, the thick underbrush muffling our steps. The air had that damp, earthy smell, like the ground had been undisturbed for way too long. Rue darted ahead, wagging his tail like crazy as he sniffed around.
Mahya shot me a skeptical look, like she wasn’t fully on board with this, but didn’t say anything. Al was already heading toward the massive double doors. They were huge, old, and looked like they hadn’t moved in decades.
“Think they’ll open?” Al asked, brushing some dirt off the wood.
“Only one way to find out,” I said, stepping up beside him.
He gave the door a solid shove, and it groaned loudly, like it was protesting being disturbed. After a second, it creaked open just enough to let us inside. Dust floated up in the faint light streaming through the windows, and the stale air hit us immediately. We were in some kind of enormous lobby.
“Looks fancy,” Mahya said, her voice echoing in the empty space.
“Yeah,” I said, stepping further inside. The place was massive, with high ceilings and faded tapestries lining the walls. On both sides of the hall were grand staircases that curved upwards. Above the hall was a balcony overlooking the room, and I could see furniture up there.
I flew up to inspect the balcony, and Mahya jumped up to join me. The balcony wrapped around the hall below and had groupings of couches and armchairs around low tables. Some of the furniture resembled what we saw in the Palace of Versailles, but heavier, with more intricate carvings. A thick layer of dust covered everything. It was so thick, I could write my name with a finger. I couldn’t help myself and wrote “John” on a table.
Mahya snickered behind me. “Leaving your mark on history?”
“It’s a must,” I said with a grin.
Al joined us, wandering over to what looked like a control panel on one wall, its sleek design now useless. “Can’t even tell what this was for,” he said, poking at the buttons. “Whatever it was, it’s junk now.”
“Let’s explore systematically,” Mahya suggested, glancing around the vast space.
Rue trotted over, and I asked, “Do you smell anybody?”
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“No. Nobody here. Rue smell only dust,” he replied, wrinkling his nose before letting out a sneeze that scattered a cloud of dust into the air.
I walked around the balcony, storing all the furniture as I went.
“What are you doing?” Al asked, looking confused.
“This stuff looks okay,” I said, shrugging. “It just needs cleaning and maybe some restoration. If we’re going to pretend I’m a merchant, I want to have things that look local.”
“Good idea,” Mahya said, and she joined in, storing more furniture.
Once the balcony was empty, we headed back down to the ground floor and continued exploring. The castle seemed endless. Each room was a snapshot from another time—sitting rooms with dusty, sun-faded couches, bedrooms where clothes still hung neatly in closets, untouched for years. In one gallery, paintings lined the walls, their subjects staring back at us as though they’d been waiting all this time. The kitchen was grand but cold, filled with dead appliances that hadn’t seen use since the integration.
The clothes were interesting. The style reminded me of the sixties back on Earth, especially the women’s outfits. They had a fabric that was soft and smooth like silk but tough like jeans. And they had buttons, zippers, and hooks to fasten everything. I ended up collecting so much stuff—from furniture to clothes to housewares—that my storage got fuller and fuller.
On the third floor, we stumbled upon a massive library. My excitement surged as we stepped inside, the smell of old leather and dust hanging heavy in the air. Shelves stretched to the ceiling, ladders resting against them, waiting to be used. It felt like we’d just hit a treasure trove… until I opened the first book. Inside, instead of pages, there was just this nasty sludge, like some goo had eaten away everything in between the covers.
“Damn it,” I muttered, holding up the ruined book. “This place could’ve been a treasure trove, and all we’re left with is sludge. So much for advanced knowledge.”
Mahya wrinkled her nose. “Shame. It would’ve been priceless if any of these survived.”
Al sighed, glancing around at the wasted potential. “It seems not everything can be salvaged.”
“Maybe try Restore?” Mahya suggested, crossing her arms as she eyed the sludge.
I channeled the spell into the nearest book, but all it did was make the sludge thicker, more concentrated. I grimaced. “Well, that didn’t help.”
Mahya nodded, thinking. “I think their paper was chemical, and the mana ate it away.”
I sighed in frustration. There was so much potential here, but the chemical paper had destroyed everything. Without decent information or records, we were flying blind in a world that could’ve offered us so much more before the integration messed it all up. I had hoped this world, with its medium-low tech level, might hold some valuable knowledge. But now, most of it seemed lost, swallowed up by whatever magical chaos had hit thirty years ago.
The last room of the library was different. Right next to the door was another dead digital panel, and inside were glass displays, each one holding a comprehensive book, open with the pages still intact. Finally, something promising. We approached the first book, and after a quick discussion, the three of us each paid a thousand mana to learn the language and be able to read it.
The pages differed completely from the ruined ones we’d seen before—made of cloth, not paper, with a dense weave. I could even make out the fine twists and turns of the threads. Despite the faded ink, we could still read it, and as we read through the text, we started picking up the language. It was called Ranan—not Zindorian.
“Not Zindorian?” I asked, surprised.
Mahya flipped through a few more pages. “Probably like Earth—multiple languages, lots of different cultures.”
“Could be,” I agreed. “Or has the name of the world changed?”
“I don’t think so,” she replied, shaking her head. “As far as I know, worlds don’t change names.”
“Well, at least we know one language now.” I said. “It’s still annoying that the Map doesn’t have any names for countries, cities, or anything else. In other places, there were names—at least some. I wonder why this world has none.”
“The integration likely altered the entire landscape,” Al said. “The old names may no longer hold any relevance. It appears we’ll have to chart the new ones ourselves as we progress.”
I frowned, thinking. “What, no one’s traveled here in thirty years? That doesn’t make sense.”
“There was only one new record in the world information. Apparently, that Traveler didn’t bother to put in names,” Mahya said.
“You’re making me uncomfortable,” I said, half-jokingly.
“Why?”
“Because I forgot to write world information about Lumis before I left.”
Mahya gave me a sideways glance. “Did you discover anything different from what we already read in the info?”
“Yeah, a few things. Mostly name changes or locations. Nothing major.”
“Then don’t worry about it,” she said, brushing it off with a wave of her hand.
The book turned out to be a religious text, not particularly interesting to us except because it helped us learn the language. There were five more books in the room. Two historical texts and one focused on genealogy were also in Ranan. We quickly looked through them, and while they had little useful information for our current situation, they might be valuable in the future. The historical texts gave us some context about this world before the integration, while the genealogy book traced the lineages of what seemed like a prominent family. The owners of the castle, maybe?
“Looks like these people were pretty obsessed with their history,” Al remarked, flipping through one of the historical volumes.
“Yeah,” I said, glancing over his shoulder. “At least we’re starting to get a better picture of what life was like here.”
“Five hundred years ago,” Al added with a snicker. “I don’t think it’ll help much now.”
“No, but it’ll help us blend in better,” I replied with a shrug.
Two other books were written in a different language—Nasa. After spending more mana, we learned it as well, but unfortunately, these books weren’t exactly gems either. One was a collection of strange, unrhymed poems that felt disjointed and hard to follow. The other was a painfully long and dry treatise on the importance of the monarchy. It was so boring that I yawned after just two pages.
“Well, this is a bust,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes. “I’d rather read a shopping list.”
Mahya and Al laughed, and Mahya said, “You can’t compare some old historical texts to your hobby.”
The castle was massive, filled with things that had mostly survived the passage of time—except for the books and electronic devices, of course. We spent three days exploring and, more or less, emptied the place. My storage was getting way too full, so I decided to try something new. I opened the house in its small log cabin configuration inside the largest inner courtyard and gave the core a new instruction: “Make a large storage room.”
The core, as usual, didn’t disappoint. It created a storage hall about thirty meters long and wide. I began pulling out all the stuff I’d collected from the castle, casting Clean on each item one by one before organizing them in the new storage space. After that, I asked the core to create another storage room, which I dedicated to things that still needed to be restored.
At this point, the house was becoming pretty huge. I expanded Al’s greenhouse again, and Mahya requested a large workshop where she installed the forges we had bought—both the coal-powered one and the propane one. Between my darkroom, the new storage halls, and all the other rooms, we now had five floors. Yet, when I closed it down to its small form, it still looked like a cozy one-room log cabin. The physics of it all messed with my head, but I’d come to terms with it and accepted it as just another oddity of magic.
During this whole time, Rue had been happily exploring the castle grounds, his sneezes giving me a pretty good idea of where he was at any given moment. Every so often, he’d come back to me so I could cast Clean on him to get rid of the dust. I kept reminding him he knew that spell too and could just cast it on himself, but his answer was always the same: “John is better.”
I couldn’t really argue with that logic, even if I didn’t understand it.
Once we had more or less cleared out the castle, I decided to try something new. I closed the house, and we all stepped outside. I rolled the core into the castle with a simple command: “Soak it all up.”
Unfortunately, that didn’t work. Where the core had touched the floor, there was now just a missing patch of stone, but nothing else had been absorbed. I considered placing the core near one of the walls to see if that worked, but Mahya stopped me, resting a hand on my shoulder. “If your core eats the wall, the whole thing could collapse and bury us.”
“But I want all that stone. The castle’s built with these massive, hewn blocks. It feels like such a waste to leave it,” I argued.
The three of us stood there, staring at the castle.
“Maybe try tossing the core through one of the windows?” Al suggested.
“That could work,” I said. “But I think we should stay far away when I do it. I’ll let the core eat through a wall, knock down the castle, and then it can absorb everything. I really don’t want to waste this stone. It’s way better than the stuff we’ve given the core before. We’ll end up with a house made from blocks that nothing can penetrate, and in a world filled with monsters, that’s pretty important.”
They both agreed, and I got to work systematically feeding the castle to the core. Each time it absorbed a part of the wall, nothing collapsed, but the blocks were bigger than anything I’d dealt with before. Mahya and Al found a spot to sit in the trees and work on their own projects while I flew around, dropping the core in different spots to absorb more stone.
After three days of systematically dropping the core, Mahya finally lost patience and told me exactly where to place it to bring the whole thing down. She was right—the castle collapsed, and the core absorbed the rest faster. From start to finish, it took over a week, but eventually, the core ate the entire castle.
When I finished the project, I gave the core a new command: “Open the house, but use the new stone you absorbed.”
What I got was nothing short of impressive. The house stood three stories tall, made entirely from massive hewn stone blocks that gave it a fortress-like appearance. Each block fit perfectly, giving the structure a solid, impenetrable look. The exterior was both rugged and elegant, with its stone blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings. The design integrated glass windows, allowing light to pour in, and they contrasted sharply against the stone, giving the house a modern touch amidst the timeless material.
The bottom levels housed two massive storage rooms, stacked on top of each other, with more than enough space for everything we’d scavenged from the castle. Above them, the living areas opened up, with wide balconies offering sweeping views of the forest below. It felt both practical and luxurious—perfect for our new home. The upper floor, wrapped in stone and glass, seemed to float above the rest, projecting slightly out, giving it an air of both openness and security.
The place felt like a fortress disguised as a luxury retreat, solid enough to withstand just about anything, especially in a world full of monsters. Every angle of the house spoke of durability, and the stone made sure of that. The inside was still the usual wood with all the runes and crystals. When I activated the shutters, they were stone, not wood. Perfect!
After we inspected the place from every side, Mahya and Al both agreed it had been worth the effort. That evening, I cooked dinner with the new beef we’d gathered from the dungeon.
“Maybe we could store the beef too,” I suggested during dinner.
“Bad idea,” Mahya said. “As long as the house is closed or in your Storage, it will be fine. But when you take it out, it will start to go bad.”
“Your family are Enchanters, right?” I asked Al, stabbing a piece of the dungeon beef.
“Yes?” he replied, pausing mid-bite.
“Do you know how to create an enchantment to keep the meat fresh?”
He shook his head. “No. I was planning to learn the class when I got back to Leylos. I have no idea how to do that right now.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t know any runes or magic scripts for that either,” I said, leaning back in my chair.
“Maybe there’s something in Lis’s books,” Mahya suggested, glancing up from her plate.
“Good idea, I’ll check.”
After dinner, I spent hours sifting through the library. There were quite a few books in languages I already knew, filled with all kinds of magic circles and scripts. But none of them had anything specific for stasis or stopping time. Still, I collected them, along with over fifty other books that looked promising. I would have to go through them in my free time, maybe something useful will turn up.