NOVEL NEXT B2—Chapter17: We Got to Move It Move It
After Lis let me off the hook regarding training, we took a train from Bucharest to Brasov. We toured Brasov, visited the history museum in Piaţa Sfatului, rented a car, and drove to the Gate.
Lis and Mahya touched the Gate, and Lis grimaced, saying, “Blech! I hate these things.”
“You should read the local literature about them, especially the romantic stuff; it’s hilarious,” Mahya suggested, with a wide grin.
When I touched the Gate, my eyes widened, and I asked, “They’re real?!”
|
Traveler’s Gate #468217257 |
Lyura leaned in, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. “What are those?”
“Human predators—blood drinkers,” Lis replied, his tone blunt and no-nonsense. “Never go to a world like that; they’ll either eat you or make you a blood slave.”
“With her element, she should be fine,” Mahya chimed in. “They’re highly flammable.”
“Bad!” Rue’s telepathic shout echoed in my mind, his tone sharp and alarmed.
“Yeah, buddy, they sound nasty,” I murmured, reaching down to give his neck a comforting scratch. Rue had been growing fast; his head now nearly reached my chest.
“You should buy him Telepathy so he can talk to all of us,” Lis suggested, glancing at Rue.
“You all have the ability?” I asked, glancing around the group.
They nodded in unison.
“Then why are we even talking out loud?” I asked.
“It looks more natural,” Mahya replied with a shrug.
Lyura looked towards the Gate, her expression serious. “So, do we go in or give up on this one?”
“With Invisibility, there shouldn’t be a problem,” Lis said. “Just to be safe, I’ll cross first and return last.”
I bought Rue Telepathy, and it cost me 5 points! FIVE POINTS! A familiar was an expensive business. As soon as I got him the ability, all three of them winced and started scratching his ears and neck. Of course, the first thing he said/shouted to them was to ask for more scratches; my dog adored attention.
We popped in and out of the Gate, returned to Brasov, and took a train to Cluj-Napoca. We spent three days there, loved the architecture, and visited the baroque-era Bánffy Palace Museum. Then, we rented a car and drove to the Gate, which also led to Království Krve. By this point, I was expecting it.
From Romania, we flew to Lisbon, Portugal, and spent three days touring the city. We visited Belém Tower, Castelo de S. Jorge, and Jerónimos Monastery, and thoroughly enjoyed the food.
I couldn’t resist stocking up on supplies for the journey ahead. As I packed a stash of the local delicacies into a bag, I shot the others a warning look. “This is mine. If you want any, buy your own,” I said, half-joking but mostly serious.
Three pairs of eyes fixed on me, pouting in unison, while Rue, lounging under the table, telegraphed a wave of smug satisfaction. He knew, as always, that I’d end up sharing with him.
We rented a car and drove to the next gate.
|
Traveler’s Gate #369017227 |
What the hell?!
“I love those!” Lis exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he practically bounced on his toes.
“What is it?” I asked, confused by his sudden enthusiasm.
“Genomey world,” he said, a grin spreading across his face.
“How do you know?”
“The name,” he explained, pointing at the Gate. “It’s always very long and ridiculous, and you need to learn to pronounce it correctly before first contact, or they’ll get really offended.”
“I read something about them in the Archive. Aren’t they really short?”
“Yep,” Lis nodded, holding his hand at waist height. “The tallest only comes up to about here. But they’re amazing engineers and inventors, very smart, and they’ve got advanced magic knowledge. They’re also a lot of fun,” he added, his smile widening at the thought.
“How do I pass as a local? Aren’t I too tall?”
“They’ll just assume it’s a genetic mutation and feel sorry for you,” he said with a chuckle. “It’ll actually work in your favor—they’ll buy you plenty of drinks out of pity. This might be my next world if we don’t find anything better; I love Genomey.”
That thought hit me like a punch to the gut: at some point, each of us would move on to another world, and the realization left me with a deep, lingering sadness. We were at different levels of ability and knowledge, and logically, it made little sense to continue together. But logic didn’t make it any easier to swallow. I knew I’d miss Lis terribly, even with his torturous training. After over three years together, he wasn’t just a friend anymore—he was my family, my brother. The family you choose, the kind that understands you in ways no one else can.
I’d miss Mahya, too. Her impish spirit, the way she could turn every situation into something to laugh about. But not like I’d miss Lis. The thought of not having him around made me feel empty and lost. He had become my anchor, and the idea of continuing without him felt like stepping into the unknown without a map.
On the train ride from Lisbon to Madrid, I got melancholic. Lis noticed my mood shift, his brow furrowing with concern. Without a word, he slipped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug. “Is everything all right?” he asked quietly, his voice gentle.
I hesitated, then sighed. “Yeah, I just realized that we’ll part ways at some point, and I’ll miss your company and friendship,” I admitted.
Lis gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “We can keep in touch.”
“How?”
He smiled softly. “In the Archive, did you see posts that start with strange word combinations and don’t make much sense?”
“Yeah. I wondered about those.”
“Those are messages between Traveler friends,” Lis explained, his voice softening as he leaned in closer. “We should pick a word combination of our own, something unique to us. That way, we can send each other messages no matter where we are. And listen, if you ever need me—really need me—just send an SOS with the Gate chain attached. I don’t care if I’m ten worlds away or on the other side of the universe. I’ll find a way to get to you,” he said, his tone turning serious, the playful light in his eyes replaced with unwavering determination.
He looked me in the eye, making sure I got how serious he was. It wasn’t just a promise; it was a bond, a commitment that went beyond friendship. At that moment, I realized I wouldn’t be alone, no matter what. Lis would be there, even if it meant crossing countless worlds to reach me.
“And you better do the same for me,” he added with a crooked smile, the seriousness of the moment melting back into his usual good-natured warmth. “No excuses.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude wash over me. “I will,” I promised, my voice steadier now. Having this kind of connection made the future seem less intimidating. It wasn’t just about the code words or the Gates—it was about knowing that someone had your back, no matter where you were.
That thought made me feel a lot better. As the train rocked gently on its tracks, the rhythmic clatter filling the small compartment, Lis leaned back in his seat with a grin. “Alright, let’s come up with our Archive names,” he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
I thought for a moment, then offered, “How about ‘Healer’ or ‘Doctor’ for me?”
Lis chuckled. “Or… how about ‘Clueless’?” he suggested with a playful smirk.
I blinked, taken aback. “What? No way!” I protested immediately, sitting up straighter. “I know stuff! I’m not clueless!” My voice took on a slight edge of panic as I realized the others were nodding, their amusement growing.
Mahya covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “It’s kind of perfect, though,” she teased. “You’ve got that ‘deer in headlights’ look half the time.”
Even Rue chimed in, his voice filled with childish mischief. “Clueless! Funny!”
“Come on, guys, I’ve been learning a lot!” I protested again, glancing around at their grinning faces. “I can’t be ‘Clueless’—it’s not fair!”
Lis, still laughing, raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I was just joking, but… well, it kinda fits, doesn’t it?” he said, a hint of apology in his tone, though his grin didn’t fade.
I groaned, trying one last time to salvage my dignity. “What about ‘Strategist’? Or ‘Guide’? Something that sounds competent?”
Lyura, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up, her voice laced with amusement. “Sorry, John, but ‘Clueless’ has a certain… charm to it.”
I slumped back in my seat, defeated. “Fine,” I muttered. “But I’m not happy about it.”
Lis hugged and squeezed my shoulder, still chuckling. “You’ll grow into it,” he said with a grin. “And hey, it’s all in good fun.”
Rue nudged my leg, his tail wagging. “Pats?! Scratches?!”
Mahya shook her head, smiling fondly at Rue. “No, Rue, you’re ‘Hungry.’ You’re always thinking with your stomach,” she said, reaching over to give him the ear scratches he was angling for.
“Lis should be Sensei,” I suggested, half-seriously.
Lis shook his head, still chuckling. “Nah, too dignified. I think ‘Inventor’ sounds less pompous.”
“How exactly is it less pompous?” I shot back. “If anything, it’s even more pompous.”
He and Mahya burst into laughter. “Inventor is perfect,” Mahya declared, nodding in agreement. “And I should be Versailles. After all, that’s the palace I’m going to recreate one day, down to the last chandelier. The name will remind me to keep the dream alive. And I think Lyura should be Television.”
Lyura looked up, surprised. “Television? Why?”
“Because your nose is always stuck in it,” Mahya teased.
Lyura pouted slightly. “Why do you get your dream, and I get television?”
“You do love it,” I pointed out, trying to be helpful.
“Fine,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “At least I’m not Clueless.”
“You see,” I said, turning to the others and gesturing at Lyura. “Even she thinks the moniker Clueless is ridiculous. Come on, guys, Healer would suit me so much better.”
They exchanged amused glances, smiling widely, before shaking their heads in unison. Lis hugged me again—like that was going to help—and Mahya blew me an air kiss, clearly enjoying my frustration.
How did those two get what they wanted, and I got stuck with Clueless? It wasn’t fair.
Resigned to my fate, I joined in as we spent the next hour laughing and trying out our new monikers, calling out “Clueless to Television” or “Inventor to Versailles,” getting a feel for how they sounded. Despite my initial resistance, I had to admit it was fun, and the mood in the compartment lifted as we played around with our new code names.
By the time we finished, I felt more at ease. No matter where our paths might lead, we had our own secret way of staying connected.
After lunch, the girls looked around to check for witnesses and took out their laptops, while Lis and I took out books. I was still giving him the stink eye occasionally, but he would just laugh and hug my shoulders. I sighed—friends were annoying sometimes—and got back to my book.
A short time later, Mahya said, “You all need to see this.” And turned her laptop screen towards us.
There was a story that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) had started acting up. Sometimes, it would stop working for a few seconds and then come back; other times, it would work faster or slower. Recently, the scientists who work with the LHC have received strange readings.
“In the next Gate, we should check the mana reading on this side,” Lis said.
We all agreed with him and lost some of the levity.
When we reached Madrid, we didn’t even tour the city; we just took a train to Toledo, rented a car, and went straight to the Gate.
|
Traveler’s Gate #369017225 |
On the other side, we touched the gate to check the mana levels on Earth.
|
Traveler’s Gate #369017225 |
The mana level had increased by another two points over the past three and a half years.
“We need to start moving faster,” Lis said, his voice tinged with urgency. “Another two points, and it’ll be too dangerous to go on a plane.”
I tried to stay optimistic. “It took four years to go up by two points; we’ve got time.”
Lis shook his head, his expression serious. “The higher the levels get, the faster they rise. We don’t have as much time as it seems.”
Goddamnit!
From Toledo, we took a train to Barcelona; urgency or no urgency, I had no intention of skipping this city. Lis tried to argue, but I wouldn’t budge. I wanted to see Gaudi’s creations. At the Sagrada Família, he admitted it was worth the delay. We spent five days touring the city. I bought more food, and the girls bought a lot of clothes in Passeig de Gràcia.
We rented a car and drove to Congost de Mont-rebel Nature Preserve. I felt a little disappointed not to tour Spain more, but we needed to move it. The Gate was in the nature preserve and also led to Stinojopheleshawizhnzarnoshwitly. God, the name was ridiculous. Just knowing I’d need to learn to pronounce it might be enough to stop me from visiting a Genomey world.
After the Gate, we drove to Lleida and got hotel rooms.
Over dinner, Lis addressed the group in a serious tone. “Because of the new time constraint, Mahya and I need to finish our project, which will take us four to six weeks,” he explained. “Lyura, I found an active volcano in Italy—Mount Etna. I think it’s the perfect spot for you to progress your element and boost your mana level.”
He then turned to me, his expression firm. “As part of upgrading your class, you need to develop some ranged magic spells. Don’t buy them from the Guidance; finish studying Mana Constructs for Spell Creation and build them yourself. We’ll call you both when we’re done, and we’ll meet in Naples, Italy—it’s the closest major city to our next Gate.”
After some discussion, we decided Lyura should fly to Sicily as soon as possible to maximize her time at the volcano. As for me, I’d spend a bit of time touring Spain to shake off my disappointment, with a promise to finish studying the book and creating those ranged spells. When the time came, I’d either take a train or catch a flight to Naples.