“Caroline/Jason, if you’re listening to this message, that means something that I’ve been worried about has finally come true - that someone from this very world has abused a Stone of Negation, or something similar, and we might be looking at a critical time, where hopefully the most powerful individuals of our world would start to form an alliance against the darkness that’s surely to come.

“And if you’re listening to this message, it means that I have made the decision to not include you in this war, and you are to stay behind. I completely understand that you may feel distrusted and disappointed. But you must understand this, that this war that will be upon us is not something you can join yet. Leave it to us, those who are old and have had their time in this world, and have faith.

“I don’t know how much time you have before the war starts, I’d imagine a couple of days at max. My advice to you would be to make it count. During this phase, the flow of time in some areas of the inn will be increased, and the places of your families will be fortified to the maximum level. You have my permission to use everything in the inn, beside entering the fortress from the parking lot. Make these days count, and be careful, for I probably won’t be there to help you now.

“May you have the courage and fortitude to handle everything this world throws at you. For you are the future, and all we old-timers can do, is to ensure that you have the chance and room to go on.”

This was the message left for Caroline and Jason from Jianmen in their kit stashed in a compartment under a floor tile. Inside of each of their boxes was a new weapon orb for each of them - Caroline’s was one that was translucent, with colors of orange, red and a little light green, while Jason’s was in a dark silvery grey color; a plain looking wooden card, and a small scroll.

Both Caroline and Jason knew exactly what the items were for the moment they touched them - the weapon orbs could turn into any weapon of their choice according to their will, and at the same time served as a transporting anchor which allowed them to teleport instantly back to the inn at the cost of their Xuanli, the more Xuanli they use, the more they can bring back, and if it was just themselves it would practically cost nothing; the wooden cards were time bound mortality scapegoats; and last but not least the small scrolls were lists of spells and tricks that were useful but Jianmen did not have the chance to teach them yet.

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Jason sighed as he took all items inside his kit and put the empty back to where it was, then he exchanged looks with Caroline, neither of them said anything.

“Hey, what was it?” When Jason came out of the basement, Laura Jensen came up to him and asked.

“Weapons and some other stuff.” Jason let out a long exhale and held the hands of Laura Jensen: “And a message, basically telling us that we’re not going to join the war. Because, well, we’re apparently too young and too weak.”

“Well, that’s… kinda good, right?” Laura Jensen was silent for a moment: “You still have time. This is a war against the defilers, after all. That means you have time, to - to spend it with your families, and friends.”

“But if they fell, then we’ll be next, so it doesn't make too much of a difference.” Caroline banged her fist on the wall: “I - I just don’t know about this.”

“Come.” After pondering for half a minute, Jason grabbed Laura Jensen by the hand and started walking upstairs.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s still early, but now is as good a time as any - let me introduce you to my family.”

Caroline shook her head with a smile as Jason “dragged” Laura Jensen to an impromptu meeting with his family, then she went into the kitchen and started looking for something to eat and drink.

The moment she went into the diner, she felt that a lot of things were different - she felt that if she wanted to, she could see all of the planes of space stacked together around her, and if she would like to she could travel to or interact with any of them. And just by a quick look at the fridge and cupboards, she could see all the food and drink stored in there, and if she wanted she could take anything out and knew what their effects were.

Partial ownership of the inn, this seemed to be, something Caroline imagined and wondered about having from time to time. And now she had it, all the wonders it presented did not seem to excite her one bit.

With a tray full of food and drinks on it, Caroline walked upstairs and headed towards the room her brother and nephew were staying in.

With just a thought in her mind, the stairs and the floor seemed to move by themselves and it took only a few seconds for her to reach the door to the room.

“Aunt Caroline!” Alex answered the door with cheers.