When we returned to Vegas, I didn’t want to book a hotel suite, so I found a private bungalow on the south end of Las Vegas through Airbnb.

Over dinner, a question lingered in my mind, refusing to be ignored. I turned to Sonak, my curiosity evident in my eyes despite the tension between us. “Say, what’s your friend’s name? We keep calling him ‘your friend’ or ‘the traveler.’ It would be nice to attach a name to the mission.”

Sonak paused, a flicker of reluctance crossing his face before he answered. “His name is Rabban Fish.”

I raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my lips despite the atmosphere. “Fish, like the creature that swims in the water?”

Sonak chuckled, but there was a hard edge to it, his eyes narrowing slightly. “In English, yes, but not in other languages.”

I nodded slowly, processing the information. “Hmm, yeah, I hadn’t thought of that.”

Sonak’s eyes held a hint of disdain and amusement, but his smile didn’t quite reach them. “Names can be quite fascinating when you think about their meanings across different cultures.”

I leaned back in my chair, still pondering the name. “Rabban Fish... It has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?”

Sonak grinned, but there was something almost condescending in his expression. “It does. And now our mission feels more personal, doesn’t it?”

Though the exchange left a bitter taste in my mouth, I nodded thoughtfully.

Before I fell asleep, my mind went round and round in circles, trying to find solutions for the mission’s success. We had to figure out how to bypass the mana-canceling field and get past the fence without alerting the entire base to our presence. I had a potential idea about the fence, but I knew it would be wise to consult Mahya, as she had more experience in these matters.

The next day, we gathered around the dining room table to plan our next steps. Sonak sat across from me, his expression a mix of skepticism and irritation, clearly not thrilled about my role in the mission. Ignoring his disdain, I addressed the group, “From what I see, we have two key challenges,” I began, my voice steady but my brow furrowed. “First, we must find a way to get through or over the fence without announcing our presence to the entire base. I have an idea, but I’m not sure it will work.” I turned to Mahya, seeking her expertise. “You mentioned that if I buy the Jump skill, it won’t be strong enough at level 1, right?”

She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Yes, at first, you might be able to jump a meter, maybe a bit more. Only after reaching level 10 could you jump high enough to clear a fence like the one around the base.”

“If we buy a strong trampoline that can hold our weight, combined with the jumping skill, do you think this could work?”

Mahya considered this, her brow furrowing slightly as she thought. “Yes, it could work, but you’ll need to practice. The skill enhances your ability to gain height, but you must still learn to control your jumps, move forward or backward in the air, and, most importantly, land safely. When I started training, I broke my leg twice.”

“Alright, I’ll find and buy a sturdy trampoline that can support us,” I said with determination. Turning to Sonak, I asked, “How big is your friend?”

Sonak’s lips curled into a fond smile, though his eyes held a glint of disdain as he looked at me. “He’s big. About two meters tall and very muscular.”

Al perked up, and his eyes lit up with interest, but Sonak quickly added, “Calm down, Al. He’s not interested in males, only females.”

Al’s face fell, looking crestfallen.

I chuckled and brought the conversation back on track. “Once we have the trampoline, we’ll need to find a quiet spot in the desert to practice. Don’t worry about broken legs; I’ll heal you immediately.” I then moved on to the next crucial issue. “The second problem we need to overcome is the mana field.” I opened the archive and read Rabban’s original message aloud, “He writes: ‘They have a force field that nullifies magic and cuts off access to mana.” I scratched my head and continued, “I have no idea how they do it or how to overcome it. The only other information we have is what the wind conveyed to me. She communicated that the room was buzzing, but the feeling I got from her was more of a low and constant hum.”

Sonak’s expression darkened, clearly skeptical of my assertion. He leaned back, crossing his arms. Just then, Al leaned forward, excitement in his eyes. “If you are certain about the humming, I think I have the answer,” he said, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

“Really?” I asked, surprised but intrigued. “How?”

Al straightened in his chair, his face taking on a pompous air as he spoke. “In preparation for my travels, from a young age, I had to study in my family’s archives and memorize all the reports of my ancestors.” He looked around the table, ensuring he had everyone’s attention. “One of my ancestors, after he destroyed several technological devices with mana, became fascinated with the subject and began investigating the collision between mana and technological energy.”

Al’s voice grew more formal, and he held his head high, relishing the opportunity to share his knowledge. “In his research, he focused on three types of energy. The first type he described was generated energy in all forms, from combustion to antimatter collision to generate energy.”

He paused for effect, eyes scanning our faces for any sign of comprehension or admiration. “The next two types he discussed were Quantum Flux Energy and Gravitational Wave Power.”

“Quantum Flux Energy is produced by harnessing the energy of quantum fluctuations in vacuum space. Specialized containment fields create areas of intense quantum activity where virtual particles are momentarily brought into existence. These particles are then captured and converted into usable energy before being eradicated. The process requires extremely advanced materials to contain and direct the quantum flux.”

I tried to hide my bewilderment, nodding as if I fully understood.

Al pressed on, clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight. “The other type he described was Gravitational Wave Power. It is generated by creating and manipulating microscopic black holes in heavily shielded facilities. As these artificial singularities merge and evaporate, they release powerful gravitational waves. These waves are then captured by hyper-sensitive detectors and converted into usable energy. The technology requires precise control over space-time curvature and exotic matter to maintain stable micro black holes.”

Al paused, letting the weight of his words settle over us. “He detailed all those findings to prove that mana is a natural energy that the world produces, and all these types of energy are artificial. And, therefore, cannot exist simultaneously. He believed this was the reason for the conflict.”

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

Al’s eyes gleamed as he recounted his ancestor’s conclusions. “He also theorized that the effect is dependent on intensity or magnitude. To support his claims, he also attached three reports from Travelers who encountered the opposite situations, namely, that technological energy suppressed mana.”

He leaned forward, lowering his voice as if sharing a great secret. “The first report was from a Traveler researching how to build mana-powered spaceship engines. He managed to sneak into a facility where they were researching a new type of space drive. Let me quote his report as accurately as I can. This is what he described: Plasma Generation, a device that creates a highly ionized field by stripping electrons from air molecules using high-frequency electromagnetic waves. The plasma field is contained within a controlled environment using magnetic fields to create a barrier that can be tuned to specific frequencies and densities to interact with specific materials.”

I tried to keep up, but the details were overwhelming. Al continued, undeterred by my confusion. “The second report was from someone originally from a technological world. Before he went traveling, he participated in research developing new weapons for space warfare. He reported the following: Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Generators, devices that emit powerful bursts of electromagnetic radiation. He clarified that those were Localized EMP Fields designed to interfere with the frequency or energy level at which different types of energy operate, disrupting its structure and rendering it ineffective. Those were Non-lethal Frequencies, carefully chosen to avoid harming humans while affecting electronic devices.”

Al’s expression softened slightly, sincerity breaking through his haughty demeanor. “After he went through a Gate and his mana was awakened, he said that the entire research facility completely blocked his access to mana, even the Archive and Storage, and made him feel cut off and sick. He quit and went traveling.”

“The third Traveler,” he continued, his tone regaining its condescending edge, “was a herbalist who sneaked into a place where they were researching how to grow food on asteroids. He reported that they were building Electrostatic Field Generators. Those devices create a strong electrostatic field by charging the air with ions. He reported that it created an Ion Interference. The charged ions in the air would interact with mana particles, neutralizing their energy. The research was conducted with Air Ionizers, similar to those used for air purification but on a larger and more powerful scale.”

Al leaned back, his eyes glinting with self-satisfaction. “These three Travelers also reported that the space where the technology was activated buzzed or hummed. My whole family are mages and enchanters, and I can assure you that nothing built with mana buzzes or hums.” He finally fell silent, his gaze challenging anyone to question his knowledge.

From about the middle of his description, I started grinning wider and wider, and Mahya did, too. We looked at each other and high-fived.

Al appeared utterly perplexed and inquired, “What is the reason behind your immense joy?”

“Because I know how to overcome the field,” I said, and Mahya nodded enthusiastically.

“How?” he asked, looking completely confused. “You might be the only one between us with enough mana to overcome it, but we will be helpless.”

“I thought the field was arcane in nature, maybe from some captured Traveler or something. But from your description, especially the buzzing mention, the field is created technologically, not magically. And if it’s technological, we don’t need to overcome it. I just need to fry some technology.”

Sonak’s eyes narrowed, skepticism etched across his face. “How are you going to get to it?”

“Through the earth,” I replied confidently. “It will take me a while to locate the facility’s control center and reach it with mana tendrils, but I’m sure that if I ask the earth for help like I ask the wind, I’ll succeed.”

Sonak gave a curt nod, still looking unconvinced but not voicing any further objections.

I did an online search and found that Walmart Supercenter offered a variety of trampolines, including the Skywalker 15-foot Rectangle Trampoline, which could support multiple jumpers and had a weight capacity of 500 pounds. After I bought the trampoline, it took us some time to figure out how to assemble it, and the result was BIG.

Sonak asked, “How exactly are you planning to hide the trampoline after we jump over the fence? It’s too big; the first patrol will immediately see it.”

“John can store things that are within his mana field range. If he stands very close to the fence, he can even reach ten meters away,” Mahya answered.

He turned to me, looked me up and down, made a displeased face, harrumphed, but said nothing.

We headed out to the desert to have fun and test our new skills on the trampoline. The sun shone brightly, giving the sand a beautiful golden hue that seemed to go on forever. Our excitement was obvious as we set up the big, strong trampoline and ensured the mat was tight and ready for our training.

We all bought the Jump skill, and Mahya, our instructor, began the session with a demonstration. She moved with grace and power, showing off her expertise. First, she taught us how to use the trampoline to jump higher.

“Watch closely,” she said, positioning herself in the center of the trampoline. With a light bounce, she initiated the first jump. “To gain height, you need to synchronize your movements. Bend your knees slightly, push off with your feet as you jump, and activate the skill simultaneously.”

She demonstrated this three times, each bounce propelling her higher into the air. “Remember,” she continued, “the timing of your jumps is crucial. As you descend, absorb the impact with your knees, and as you ascend, extend your legs fully to maximize your height, activating the skill again.”

Next, she taught us how to control our bodies in mid-air. “Once you’ve reached a good height,” she explained, “it’s important to know how to maneuver. Tilt your head and shoulders forward to initiate a somersault. Your body will follow naturally.”

Mahya demonstrated a perfect somersault, her body rotating gracefully in the air. “Keep your core engaged and your body tight,” she advised. “This will help you maintain control and balance.”

She then showed us how to fly above an obstacle using this technique. “After the somersault, you can extend your arms and legs to cover more distance. Imagine you’re gliding through the air.” With a swift motion, she leaped, somersaulted, and soared above a marked spot on the sand, landing softly several meters away.

Finally, she emphasized the importance of a safe landing. “As you come down, prepare to absorb the impact. Bend your knees and lower your center of gravity to stabilize yourself.”

Al, of course, demonstrated perfect athletic abilities from the first jump, landing like a professional gymnast with his arms outstretched to his sides. I couldn’t help myself and asked, “Al, with your acrobatic abilities, why did you choose the Heavy Warrior class? Wouldn’t a more athletic class, like Mahya’s, be better suited for you?”

Al shrugged, “All the athletic classes only get two points for vitality. A Heavy Warrior gets four. The points interested me more than practicality.”

I furrowed my brow, curiosity piqued. “But why? Isn’t it easier to accumulate those points through other classes?”

Al sighed, his expression turning serious. “In my family, the tradition is to take a Mage and Enchanter class, progress to level 10, and then return within ten years to take the throne. I did not know I would have the time to progress at my pace in what I want.”

Mahya interjected, her tone encouraging. “You can change your class if you demonstrate different abilities.”

I looked at her in astonishment. “We can switch classes?”

“Not exactly switch,” Mahya explained, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “You can advance a class. If Al starts fighting in a more athletic or acrobatic way, his class might advance to something like a Heavy Acrobatic Warrior or a Heavy Blade Dancer. He’ll still have the base of the class he started with, but the abilities he demonstrates will be added to it. The Guidance is designed to help us, not hold us back. With enough effort, we can correct past mistakes.”

Al raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “How do you know that? I have never heard of it.”

“Lis told me,” Mahya replied with a shrug.

“If Lissarom said this, it is so,” Sonak interjected.

Al’s eyes widened slightly as he processed this new information, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Interesting. I guess there’s more flexibility in our paths than I realized.”

“Well, we better make the most of our training then,” I said to get everybody back on track.

Al grinned, his competitive spirit ignited. “Absolutely. Let us explore what we can do out here.”

Well, Al might have been a born athlete, but I wasn’t. By the end of the day, I had to heal two broken ankles, a broken tibia, a dislocated shoulder, and lots of scrapes and bruises. My only consolation was that Sonak was even worse than me. There were times I really wanted to delay his healing; he got on my nerves. But for the sake of the group’s integrity, I overcame the urge and was very nice.

Spirits help me, I wanted to delay his healing as much as possible! Sometimes, being a nice person sucks.

At least, by the end of the day, all of us could jump over a five-meter-high pole and land safely. And my Jump skill even progressed to level 2.