Torrin nodded his head slowly. His eyes back on the screen Grams had conjured as he watched the "robots, drones, and rovers" she had mentioned to him. Looking at these autonomous creations, he couldn't help be slightly skeptical about her claim of this "Earth" lacking magic.

The screen stilled on six people standing in some type of white suit on the screen and Grams stayed silent.

"Grams? What happened next?" Torrin asked, eager to hear the rest of her tale.

She seemed to snap out of her thoughts, giving Torrin a big smile, pleased by his rapt attention.

"Well, boy, we used a vehicle to go to the site of the highest detected emissions. The closer we got, the more uncomfortable the six of us got. It was as if we could feel the energy, as if our bodies were thirsting for it..." She trailed off as the scene played out.

"We found an underground ruin; it was far beyond what we had expected. A grand, sprawling city with some buildings still intact. As we searched through everything, we finally came upon the cause of the emissions." Grams paused, face twisting as she recalled the event.

A long while passed as Grams gathered herself for what she said next.

"In the biggest building, at the center of the ruins, we found a large platform with an archway..." A mostly crumbled building was shown on the screen and as the six entered, they walked through a hallway. They bounced along the hallway, passing doors and other openings, most of the place seemed ruined by time, they were heading for a main room that could be seen at the end of the hallway. Lights could be seen randomly flashing from the room. When they entered the main room, a raised platform could be seen, runes scrawled all along its surface and mana crystals dotting it like hairs.

The archway was twice the height of a man, covered in intricate runes--different from the platform-- but they were sparking and flickering with energy, "What we later learned was a Dimensional Pathway to Zon, was unlike anything any of us had seen. Something straight out of a science fiction movie!" Torrin's brows furrowed at the term, "I tried holding the team back, because that thing was terrifying to me, but in the end we pressed on and stood upon the platform, watching the energy course through the archway." Her voice held a slight tinge of regret, as if she wished she could have stopped them way back when.

Grams eventually sighed before continuing, "We didn't dare approach the archway, as every now and then a strange ripple would appear within it, like a twisting of space," the screen showed what she was talking about, a chaotic wave rippled from the top to the bottom of the archway, it was various colors--like a soap bubble's surface--and as it flowed downwards, it seemed to reach out towards them before pulling itself back.

"A saying from Earth was quite fitting for what happened next--"Curiosity killed the cat". We stood watching the rippling archway for what seemed like hours and the energy that called to us felt invigorating. In the end, one of the other members of our team, Albert, approached the portal. We tried holding him back, but he ran forward as if possessed."

A man suddenly ran forward on the screen, hands reached for him but were too slow. Just as he stepped foot in front of the archway, it rippled down and seemed to grab him, pulling him in. He was gone.

"The rest of us followed, terrified of what we'd just seen--him vanishing into the strange archway--but when we got there, the archway had begun to dim, no more rippling space appeared... Until Karth began hitting the archway like a madman, as if that would make Albert return." Grams shook her head at the memory.

"Albert wasn't returned, but as fate would have it, one final burst came from the archway, sucking us right in." Grams sighed as she finished the tale, "And that's how we came to be on Zon."

The room was silent, Grams thinking over her memories and Torrin staring at her intensely. He now saw her in a new light. His mind raced, thinking over every wonder of technology he had been shown, thinking about the sadness evident on Grams' face.

The screen went blank during the stretch of silence, and Torrin allowed Grams to sit with her thoughts. After a long while, Grams finally looked over to Torrin with a sad smile on her face.

"And that, boy, was the start of our lives in Zon, adventuring and exploring, becoming stronger, learning a new language and meeting the people who lived here. Does that help answer your questions?" Her tone lacked her usual bluster.

"Mostly... So Virtus is the name of the group wanting to take over my old world?" Grams nodded at the question before shaking her head.

"Yes and no. We never reported back to Earth, but when we landed in this world, Karth was made the group's leader and he decided that we should keep the name Virtus in case anyone else from Earth made their way here--As a calling card."

"And what about Albert? Did you guys find him?" Torrin leaned towards her, excited that she was finally answering questions instead of waving them off.

She nodded, "We theorized that we should have landed at a portal platform on this side, but for whatever reason, possibly because of the extensive damage of the one we went through, we didn't. We were slightly separated from each other when we landed here, in a forest of some sort. Luckily, we didn't meet any Mana Beasts and the six of us quickly found each other and began trying to find civilization."

Torrin hesitated before his next question, "Grams... Why would Virtus pick the six of you? How did they know that your mana systems were connected to the energy?"

Grams nodded slowly, as if she was waiting for that question, "We don't know exactly, but there was evidence in the ruined city that someone else had been there. Multiple foot prints could be seen in the sand and dust that covered the place. We had a long time to think it over and guessed that someone else with our "condition"," She used air quotes at this, "must have discovered the place first and Virtus somehow found out about it."

Torrin's face scrunched up, deciding to ask his next question of not.

"Oh, spit it out, boy."

"Well... Grams... Who were the other five people? Are they... Still alive? I know one or more of them must be, since you always mention a guy when referring to Virtus..." He trailed off awkwardly.

Grams looked back to her screen and conjured an image of six young men and women standing shoulder to shoulder, smiling broadly.

She pointed to the first in line, herself, "That's me, of course, the Astrophysicist and Biologist for the mission," Her finger moved to the next in line, a handsome man with short brown hair and brown eyes, "That's Albert Lane, he was a Linguist, someone who studies languages intensively, their uses and histories, translating one to another, and so on... When we got over here he was invaluable in learning the information we needed to survive..."

Her finger traced the next person, a pretty woman with blonde hair and green eyes with a slim build, "This is Dorris Cooper, an Anthropologist, someone who studies the advancement of human cultures using various means," her finger stopped on the fourth person in line, a tall and slim man wearing glasses, "This is Lars Anderson, he studied computer programming," Torrin gave her a blank look,"...It's complicated... An example; it's how humans made those hunks of metal move around and do what we needed--the drones and robots, the ship that carried us to Mars. Incidentally, in this world where magic can be used through runes, he found it quite similar to programming, it was simplicity itself to create all kinds of spells and enchantments." She smiled at the last part.

"And the last two, Grams?" Torrin asked, leaning forward once more, curiosity at an all time high. 'Thank the gods I'm not a cat...' Torrin thought wryly.

She paused as if preparing herself, before pointing to the fifth person--A tall man with an average face-- "That's Karth... The man who we voted as leader, and the one planning to take over Sole."

"What did he study, Grams?" Torrin asked with his eyebrows raised, curious about his nemesis.

"He studied Psychology and Sociology, the study of human behavior more or less, how the mind works, and why people make certain decisions..." She trailed off and didn't speak for a long moment.

As he waited, Torrin stared at the final man in line, the sixth and yet unnamed man. The longer he looked, the more surprised he was at how familiar he seemed.

"Grams... Who... Who is that last person?" Torrin asked, a bit of a quaver to his voice.

"Hm?" She seemed to come back to the moment, "Oh, that's George Darl. He had studied Law in school, he wanted to become a lawyer, then judge and later a member of the government. He was a highly intelligent man, a true genius." Grams nodded for a long moment, before sighing.

"Unfortunately, he passed away a few hundred years back. He was part of the reason our group was so successful when dealing with various rulers in this world..." She trailed off as she looked to Torrin. He was frozen stiff, not saying a word or nodding acknowledgment. She almost thought he was a statue for a second, the kid wasn't even breathing.

"Boy?" Grams asked in concern.

"Grams... What was the name?" Torrin asked in a small voice.

"George Darl, boy. Are you not listening anymore? Have I told you too much?" She tutted, shaking her head.

"Grams... That..." Torrin trailed off, shaking his head back and forth as if he could shake the name out of his ears.

Grams' brows furrowed seeing this, "What, boy? What is wrong?"

Torrin slowly looked Grams in the eyes. A haunted look was present and Grams nearly recoiled.

"That's the ruler of my old kingdom... The man who gave his daughter's hand to me in marriage... A man I knew almost my entire life..." His voice trailed off as his eyes went distant, he looked like his brain had shut down.

Grams laughed at the joke, "What are you playing at, boy? That man died a long time ago. A few years before we even... Found the portal to your world..." Her voice trailed off as her face took on a thoughtful look.

"That greedy fucking bastard!" Grams shouted, shocking Torrin out of his stupor.

"What, Grams?" Torrin asked, eyes wide at the exclamation.

"Now it all makes sense... Those two were in on it together the entire time... That's how Karth knows so much about the other world and how he so easily killed you and your girlfriend!" Grams stood up from her chair, stomping back and forth.

"What do you mean, Grams? You don't think I'm lying? If it's true, then why would he allow his own daughter to be killed?" Torrin asked, completely confused at the whole thing.

"Don't you get it, boy? Karth and George are in on this together, that means this whole thing could have been an elaborate ruse for who knows how long! I wouldn't put it past that snake to fake his own daughter's death to get what he wants!" Grams shouted, fury in her eyes.

"But I saw her body! I... I saw her decapitated head!" Torrin was nearly brought to tears. Confusion, depression, and rage all warred for dominance in his mind.

Grams just shook her head back and forth as she paced, Stix tapping away as she moved, "No, boy. With George, I can assure you that anything is possible. Faking a death to lure you into a trap? That'd hardly take him an hour to come up with. No, until we get to the bottom of this, we can't be sure of anything..."

Hope bloomed in Torrin's chest, for the first time in a long time, he actually felt hopeful.

"Grams, don't play with me... Why would he go through such trouble to get to me? Are you saying that... She might..." Torrin left the rest unsaid, as if saying the words might rip away the possibility.

Grams nodded, a gleam in her eyes, "That's exactly what I'm saying, boy! There may be a chance that she's still alive! Think about it. From what you've told me, you were the youngest and most talented warrior in a very long time. What better way to remove a possible future problem, than to lure them in and take them out?"

Torrin's mind swirled at the idea, trying to think of every interaction he'd ever had with King Darule.

Torrin finally nodded, "He was definitely a sly old man... His eyes always shone as if he were holding something back, some hidden card always ready to be played. Many people vied for his throne, but they were always dealt with. Not even violently, but with machinations I didn't understand at the time..."

Grams stopped her pacing and returned to her chair. She held her chin in thought.

"Boy, this game just became a lot deeper than I thought... They were playing us from the start... If you hadn't somehow survived after being killed, they would have easily won. But now... Things I found odd are now coming together, like a veil of mist has been lifted." Grams' eyes shone with a manic gleam, she seemed back to her usual devious self. Though the look scared Torrin a bit, it also comforted him. Her being nice and sentimental was far outside what he'd come to expect from the old hag and it'd made him uncomfortable.

"Okay, so if George is actually in my world, why did you think him dead?" Torrin asked.

Grams shook her head, "Unfortunately, it seems Karth was way ahead of us on this... Him and George had gone on a mission alone. They'd received word of what he described as "a great discovery", but when he returned a year later, George wasn't with him and he said it'd been a hoax, completely unlike what he'd been told, that it'd been a dangerous place they went to and Karth barely made it back alone."

"And you just believed him?" Torrin asked incredulously.

"Of course we just believed him, boy! Virtus had been together for nearly two thousand years. The thought of betrayal never crossed our minds. Once we heard about George, our group was fractured, Karth began acting crazier than ever--talking about wanting to return to Earth to get back at the people who sent us." Grams shook her head, "That's when, a few years later, we suddenly discovered a portal, not unlike the one that brought us here."

Understanding bloomed across Torrin's features and Grams nodded.

"He told us it might be a way back to Earth, so we worked tirelessly trying to stabilize the pathway. We weren't able to make it work perfectly, definitely not a stable connection nor permanent, but it worked well enough. Lars was very good with runes, so he updated the portal and even made an artifact capable of returning us. So, Karth went to the other side and returned shortly after, explaining it was not Earth, but an entirely different world altogether," A wry smile formed on her lips, "He told us that it could be a new adventure, an entirely new world we could explore together, a project to bring us closer once more. And it already had, we hadn't worked together on something in a long time and fixing up the portal was like glue sticking our fractured group back together..."

Torrin's brows furrowed at this, "But, how did it turn from that into world domination?"

Grams shook her head, "We began to work tirelessly to make the portal function properly, using most of our material wealth--more than you can probably imagine--to get it stable enough to make constant jumps as long as we fed it enough energy, like...100 high-tier Mana Crystals just for the five of us to go there and back..."

Eyes wide, Torrin asked in disbelief, "That much just for five of you?"

"Yes, boy," Grams nodded, "It was an unbelievable amount of power to stabilize it for only a short amount of time. Once we got to the other side, we found the energy weaker, so we went to work on making a stable receiving platform for that side as well, in the hopes of lowering the cost. We never completely finished the project before Karth began to speak about using souls to power the Dimensional Pathway, a permanent fix, he called it. Lars agreed that the theory was sound and by that time he'd already repurposed the Artifact I told you about before, the one able to absorb any energy--including Soul Energy--to work as a power source for the gate."

Silence hung heavy in the room. There was a lot of information to go through and understand, but one thing kept bugging Torrin.

"Grams..." He said as his eyes narrowed, "Didn't you tell me before that you knew the leader who made Virtus and you were ASKED to join the group?"

Grams' face split into a broad grin, "Boy, I was ASKED to join the group... Just...As a founding member..." As Torrin stared daggers at her, her expression turned sheepish.

Torrin shook his head before demanding, "No more secrets, Grams! This is far too important for you to be lying," he held up his hand as she opened her mouth, "Or obscuring the truth, leaving out facts... I want revenge, Grams. For my murder and Perria's... Or her faked murder if that's actually the case..." He shook his head, "But I need to be able to trust you, Grams. I've been through some fucked up shit in a very short amount of time under your guidance, so if we're going to continue down this road, it needs to be as equals."

Grams stared at the boy for a long time, but the determination in his gaze didn't waver. Eventually, she blew out a breath and nodded.

"Okay, boy, you got me. From now on I'll try to keep my secrets to a minimum." She said, looking at the boy.

Torrin glared at her for a long time before she sighed again, "Fine, fine. No secrets, then. If you ask me something from now on I'll try harder to answer truthfully..."

Torrin raised an eyebrow as if to say, 'Are you fucking dumb, old lady?' But he eventually relented, knowing this was the best he would get.

"What about the other members? Albert, Lars, and Dorris? Are they still alive? Will they help?" Torrin asked hopefully.

Grams shook her head saying, "No, boy... Taking over a world and killing thousands to get it done is unforgivable, no doubt about that. But the reason I want that bastard Karth dead is for killing my friends... My family."

Torrin was curious what exactly had happened, but decided he'd gotten a lot of information from Grams for once, and didn't want her to shut down on him by bringing up something that clearly hurt her.

"Okay, Grams, what's the next step in our plan now that I have a core? Are you finally going to teach me some more runes so I can put together spells?" Torrin asked, a bit of excitement tinting his words.

To his surprise and disappointment, Grams shook her head.

"Not right now, boy. You remember the Queen's Blade Tournament?" Torrin nodded and she continued, "Well, we need to go meet with the Queen... I asked her a while back to help me with part of your training, but you decided to go on vacation in a creepy torture dungeon instead."

A glare met her statement and she burst into a fit of laughter that didn't stop for a full minute.

"Oh... Oh... Okay, boy, we need to go meet with her so we can iron out the details of the tournament and get that help I asked for." She said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

Torrin sighed, feeling both drained and foolish that he thought Grams would ever take him seriously. He rubbed his temples with his hands.

"Whatever..." he mumbled to himself, "When are we leaving?"

"As soon as you try on the new outfit I made for you, it'll look amazing on you! Especially with the make-over you got on vacation!" Grams touted with a broad grin.

Torrin's brows scrunched up as he didn't understand what she was going on about, but decided this was not a battle he wanted to fight. He took a deep breath and let himself relax, stepping off the bed and following Grams to the main room of the hut.