“Go? Where?” I asked, confused.

“To the dimensional world, of course! My previous masters left a library inside. The techniques to unlock your other energy sources are inside! Come on, let’s get going!”

My mouth dropped. I connected Tensel’s earlier ambiguous statements.

“There’s an actual method?”

“Of course, master. There’s much more to explore inside too! Let’s go, master!”

Tensel’s excitement was contagious. I couldn’t help but feel the rush of positivity. It was annoying, and though I hate to admit it, the feeling was a refreshing change from my usual annoyed and alienated state due to the usual disdainful comments of the combat professionals.

I glanced down at the bead in my hand and was about to stuff it into my bag of holding when all of a sudden-

“MASTER!!!”

Tensel’s sudden scream scared the crap out of me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“What the heck, Tensel!” I crouched down and cautiously looked around the perimeter of the building. “Is there another monster out there?”

“How would I know, master?!”

“Then what are you screaming for!?”

“How could you, master?! You were about to put me to sleep! You promised you wouldn’t sell me!”

“When did I do that?! I was going to store you away so that I don't have to keep holding you. What if I dropped you?”

I felt a bashful feeling of embarrassment from Tensel.

“So you now know you have mistaken my good intentions, huh?”

“Ahem. Why didn’t you say so, master? You made me misunderstand. Please don’t break the contract.”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“So if I put you in the bag of holding, then our contract is broken? How does that work?”

“Prom-“

“I already did!” I exclaimed, cutting Tensel off.

He took a deep breath before continuing.

“Ok…. One of the ways to break the contract is to remove the connection between us. Since a bag of holding is in an entirely different dimension, the connection would be cut, thus breaking the contract.”

“Oh,” I said, understanding Tensel’s earlier outburst. However, I was still stuck with the original problem. “So what? Am I supposed to hold you all the time? Can’t I put you on a necklace or something?”

“No problem, master!”

The bead in my hand began to bubble and expand. I nearly threw the thing away in shock. It rippled then smoothed into a black cylinder before shrinking back smaller. A hole opened inside the now cylinder-shaped bead and turned into a plain black ring.

“Oh. Convenient. Instead of a bag of holding, I guess you’re now a ring of holding.”

“Ha. Ha. Funny, master. Put me on while I open the portal.”

“Pretty simple design,” I said, slipping on the ring.

“Hey! I’m still growing, ok?! Just you wait till I grow up! I’ll make you eat those words! I’ll be the fanciest ring you’ll ever see!”

I decided to remain silent. I remembered my knack for offending pigs. I didn’t think Tensel was a pig. I prayed he did not become like that bastard Ian. Otherwise…

A dark crack fractured mid-air in my amazement. It expanded and grew into a black oval portal that emitted no light.

“Let’s go, master!”

I nervously looked at the black hole floating mid-air. I walked around and noticed the portal was paper thin at the side. From the back, the portal didn’t even exist. There was no distortion. I could even see around the ruined tower as if the portal was not there. It oddly only existed from the other side.

“How curious,” I mumbled as I continued to observe the hole.

“Hurry, master! I’m straining to keep this open!”

“Oh.” I chuckled awkwardly. “My bad. My bad.”

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I felt weird entering the darkness. Everything was pitch black. I turned around, and the dim light and surroundings outside slowly vanished as the portal closed.

“See that, master? That’s the dimensional world. Let’s go.”

I felt Tensel point in my head. I turned slightly to my left and noticed an opening with greenery ahead of me. I walked through the darkness and approached the portal entrance to Tensel’s dimensional world.

Well, I guess it's mine now too.

I stood in front of the portal and peered into it. It felt like looking through a window. But the shape reminded me more of full-body oval-shaped mirrors.

Peering inside, I saw something out of a dream, a dream I’ve longed for since I could remember.

Pristine nature, untouched by man. No monsters, humans, aliens, or broken spires in sight. Nature was not fighting to reclaim the land that man took away. No bloodshed or death. The perfect peace that I’ve been searching for. Yet, I felt a subtle unease inside that I could not understand or identify its origins.

I ignored the feeling I could do nothing about.

Although I knew Tensel already declared the portal led to the dimensional world, I couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. I slowly lifted my index finger, cautiously touching the surface of the portal. A slight resistance pushed back against my finger before my finger finally pierced through.

Like some sort of thin film or membrane, I closed my eyes and entered past a bubble barrier of sorts as my body walked through the portal.

I opened my eyes. A cool breeze swept past me, and I lifted my arm to shield my face. Lowering my arm, I could not help but gasp in awe. The sight before me engulfed my vision, filling me with the most magnificent view of nature.

I stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing outwards at a vast azure ocean. The sunlight rippled gently across the calm and endless waves. The vibrant waves extended as far as the eye can see until they reached the horizon and touched the expansive cerulean sky.

I marveled and took in the majestic view. All my stress and worries melted away. I was entranced by the greatness that I was lucky to witness.

Turning around, a verdant meadow-like field sprinkled with colorful wildflowers rolled down a giant, yet gentle, sloping hill. The breeze blew through the blades of wild grass, making them dance as it meandered up the hill and into the sky.

“What do you think, master?” Tensel asked with a teasing voice. I knew he knew well what I thought. But I did not hold it against him.

“It’s stunning, Tensel. The views were breathtaking. Something I thought did not exist anymore.”

“And it’s yours now, master!”

My mouth dropped at Tensel’s statement. I knew it earlier before entering. But now, after entering and seeing the dimensional world, I couldn’t believe this was all mine.

“It’s everything I could ever hope for,” I responded with a soft voice. “Thank you, Tensel. For showing me this place.”

“Hahaha! Of course, master! I'm glad you like it but don’t get caught up with just this much. Head up the hill, master! We’re supposed to go to the library, remember?”

My eyes stretched wide open. I was completely taken by the unworldly views that I had forgotten. I smiled widely, causing my cheeks to hurt. It has been a while since I’ve grinned from ear to ear. Today was a rather lucky day. And oddly, the Lancelots, who were the initial bane of my misfortune, were now my lucky stars.

“How ironic,” I said with a chuckle.

“This way, master!” I felt Tensel’s excitement as he pointed in my mind.

I could not help but dash forward like a child heading home with a skip in their footsteps to freshly baked cookies.

Traversing through the soft grass up to the top of the hill, I had to stop in the middle of my steps. This dimensional world was full of surprises.

The slope turned flat. The green wild grass was no longer in sight. A path of cobblestone lay before my feet. Although I wanted the pristine state of this land preserved, a graceful human touch gently shaped the grounds before me. Cultured fields, lush pastures, and meticulously placed rows of orchards split the area.

Tensel urged me forward, but I walked down the cobblestone path unhurriedly. I couldn’t rush through the perfectly manicured farmland. There was a curated grandeur about the area. Much thought was put into the making of the massive garden. Surprisingly, I was not offended by the shaping of the lands by human hands.

Blossoming fruit trees grew evenly spaced beside the cobblestone road. The sweet fragrance of fruit flowers tickled my nose as I peacefully enjoyed the change of scenery. I trekked forward, almost like on a tour of the garden.

“This path was created by the first master, Serena. She lifted and brought in large boulders and crushed them by hand. After polishing them, she hand-placed every single of these rocks and carefully planted her favorite fruits and nuts,” Tensel explained.

I couldn’t help but wonder about the first master Tensel spoke about. Some of these rocks were still rather large. However, they were smooth like marble.

I softly gazed at the attention to the meticulous details. Although made of layered rocks, the path was flat and precisely even. The ones that lined the sides of the walkway were also exactly rectangular in size. If what Tensel said was true, much effort was placed into making this seemingly simple road.

I appreciated the efforts of the first master. I also couldn’t help but expectantly wait to reap some of the fruits of her labors.

Tensel continued explaining all the additions of the other masters as we walked by.

The seven masters before me added many things to the farm: a special greenhouse for herbs, a training field, a magical spring that led to the mystical fish pond, the animal pastures, the endless crop fields stored in a barn with looms and sewing equipment, a blacksmith’s forge, and the vineyard and orchards further out back. All of them left their mark. And all of it for me to harvest…

“Hehehe, I can’t thank you enough, Lancelots!” I laughed evilly and shouted up into the sky.

“Master, you’re making a perverted face again,” Tensel complained.

I felt a disgusting feeling coming from my black ring, and I glanced down at the ring on my finger. My smile stretched so wide that wrinkles formed, and my whole face hurt. But I couldn’t help it. I was beyond ecstatic.

“Master! Stop that! You’re scaring me!”

I brought up my precious black ring and kissed it endlessly.

“Tensel! My precious! Muah! Muah! Muah!”

“No!!! Ewww! Perverted master! No!!!”

I ignored Tensel’s protest. He could not understand my show of appreciation for him.

My dreams came true! This magical world was everything I ever wanted!

“Thank you, Tensel.” I stopped my odd display of affection and smiled gently at the black ring on my finger.

“Then don’t do that again, master!” Tensel shouted inside my head.

I could only laugh. “I can’t guarantee that, but I shall try to remember. I haven’t been this happy for a long time. Thanks again, Tensel.”

I felt the warm bashful feelings coming from my ring, and I could only grin.

“Ok, master. You’re welcome. Besides, this isn’t even my full capabilities.”

I glanced down at my ring with interest. “Actually, what are your full capabilities, Tensel?”

“Hahaha! The great me can-“ Tensel stopped speaking. He paused, and I felt him trying to recall his memories. However, instead of gloating, Tensel flooded my mind with worry.

“What’s going on?! What are my other capabilities!? How come I can’t remember them?!”

Tensel spiraled into confusion and fear. It was bad. Enough to make even me start feeling nervous.

“Hey! It’s okay, Tensel! It’s okay! You said you were asleep for eons, right? Anyone would forget some things after sleeping for so long.”

“What if I don’t ever remember?! What do I do then!?”

“Hey! It’s okay! You’ll be fine! You’re awake now. Maybe as you acquire more energy, you’ll gradually remember your powers. Either way, we’ll figure this out. Don’t worry.”

I felt Tensel eyes somehow watering?

“Does Tensel even have eyes?” I wondered to myself.

“Thank you, master! You're right! I knew I could count on you, master! Hurry! I will make you learn how to open your other energy centers no matter what it takes! Let’s go!”

A surge of burning determination radiated from my ring, and all of it was directed at me. I gulped. I opened my big mouth and set myself up for trouble.

I sighed. I reminded myself that Tensel already gifted me a whole world. Slapping my cheeks with my hands, I braced myself for whatever may come my way.

I followed Tensel’s directions and ended at the edge of the organized farmland. Enchanted by the farm, I couldn’t believe I missed the mountain range that marked the end of the habitable land of the dimensional world.

“On the other side of this mountain range is the ocean. Although I call it a world, it is currently not that big. It will grow larger in the future when-“

Tensel stopped and suddenly shouted. “Oh! That’s one of my abilities! The world will grow more as I take in more energy!”

“Hmmm…” I pondered how big my new world could grow and what I could leave as my mark as the eighth master.

“Oh, there it is, master! Welcome to your new home! The library is inside! Hurry!”