Salted near boiling water moved through the air, rapidly firing out with pressurized force. The beam ripped through the feathered wing of a flaming bird before cutting the sky and downing a second. Emi transferred her mana between orbs, blasting bolts of water at the flying targets. As she fought, her eyes kept drifting to the notifications appearing just past her focus. Every time she got one, she smiled.

Currently, a murder of Flame Crows bombarded the Lost Lord and little monster. The pair was investigating lines of space magic, but their progress had been slow. Monsters, specifically the flying type, kept attacking. They were usually weak, but the constant distraction had been an annoyance. Emi had, however, gained a few levels.

Max was currently facing the problem of what to do to force the portal closed. He had long found the tethers supporting the anchors and tunnels, but he had been unable to destroy them. Usually, his spells would fail on their own after overloading or underloading the supports. But the portal was something of a masterpiece. Every part seemed to masterfully weave together, which allowed for such a gigantic Dimensional Gate.

He had tried everything to upset the balance of the spellwork. Adding his own mana, trying to subtract and destroy constructs, explode loadbearing anchors with water spells, even attempting to destroy the smooth cold housing the spell was created in. All attempts failed, either the attack would bounce off, or mana distribution would shift, assisting the damaged areas.

His current idea was to systematically attack at given points, hoping the auto adjusting portion of the spell to be too slow. It didn’t work. Max was beginning to think the spell was self-learning. Which was a scary thought. His arm was technically a self-learning spell. Who’s to say a portal spell can’t learn to stay open.

He had to face reality, however. He was too tired to be dealing with this right now. He needed food, as did Emi, and he needed to rest. It had been hours since he started investigating the portal, and all of his energy was drained. The heat, the constant battles, focusing on invisible mana lines, everything about the situation was dreadful.

Below, Max noticed a few groupings of Centauri setting up defenses. The neighboring tribes had saw the destruction and had moved to assist. They were just getting set-up, only a few tents and defenses had been readied.

He looked internally, checking if Tiodepth had made a reappearance. No, of course not.

The entrance to his Pocket World opened and he and Emi stepped through.

It had been a few hours since the last person entered the miniature world. So, when the entrance flared out slightly, all heads turned. The temporary residents were silently watching the owner. His enchanted robes were torn and charred, remnants of past battles. His hair was light and sweat-filled, as if he had just jogged a marathon during a sunny day. His eyes were what people focused on. Droopy, tired, and bloodshot. The characteristics of an overworked mage.

Max looked around the small world, scanning the faces of his tenants. Vel and the King were sitting together with a resting Eden and Alia. Eden looked as though he had just woken up, but his still posture didn’t hide the fact that the young prince was injured. A short teleport later, Max sat with them.

“I can’t figure out how to close the portal.” Max began with, “I think I am just too tired to see the solution. Oh, also, the Centauri tribes have begun to arrive.”

Vel studied her apprentice, “You look awful.”

“I’m just tired. We both are.” Emi squirmed out a nod.

“Can you take us to Salae? Or Lesterwood if you would prefer. I’ll call for an army, while they are gathering you can sleep.” Tobyn said.

All eyes fell to Max, even Eden’s who looked rather scornful. “I can, that sounds good. Lesterwood is under siege right now. So Salae it is.”

“Lesterwood is under siege?”

“Hivemind magical fungus.”

“Ah.” The King shared a glance with Vel, who shrugged.

Max closed his eyes, envisioning the long marble staircases of Salae. He remembered the magic shops, the Gate Hub, the entitled nobles. But the place he focused on was the front gates of the castle. Magic whipped around him, encompassing him in a thin layer of manipulated space. With the tunnel created, he step-

The spell snapped closed, sending him spiraling across the Pocket World. He slammed into the far curved wall. Gravity reoriented causing everything to spin for Max. People were yelling, some ran towards the Lost Lord and Emi, some stood by and watched. Water flowed freely, the combined might of Vel and the three Hunlun mercenaries. Max was fine, but Emi had a broken leg.

She yelped in pain, but the soothing waters calmed her and removed her pain. Through their bond, Max apologized over and over again. But the situation dawned on him. The spell failed, just like when he was originally creating it. His eyes went wide in realization. He had used the system guided spell; it should not have failed. Not unless a space-lock was in play.

He teleported again, ignoring the concerned faces. He arrived to a few gruff drunkards standing around the Gate of the outpost in the Yepu Plains. They were inspecting the odd flickering mana sparking off the Gate, one going so far to kick the spatial construct.

“What happened here?” Max asked, his frantic posture causing a few to jump back. He was pouring frustrated and fearful aura, enough to make the air feel damp.

“Gate won’t open to Salae.” A uniformed attendant said. “Opens to other connections, just not Salae.”

“What about Lesterwood?”

The attendant frowned, flicking runes around on the side of the housing construct. A green streak of power shuttered down the oval opening, turning into nothing a moment later. “Looks like Lesterwood isn’t working either.”

“The Mountain?”

She flipped the runes, “Doesn’t look like it. That’s weird, it was just Salae a few minutes ago…”

The attendant turned back to Max, but he was already gone. Back in the Pocket World, Max rushed through the crowd following the tether between he and Emi.

“Space-locks in Salae, Lesterwood, and The Mountain Gate. I tried teleporting directly to Lesterwood, but I can’t. I could try outside the gates somewhere… But I think I understand what Clam- I mean Bella meant.”

Vel’s demeanor changed, along with everyone else’s. “What did she say exactly?”

“That only Emi and I should come to the Coalition, if not, the outcome would be worse.” Max began a head count and scribbled a math equation in a journal. “If I brought more people, from Lesterwood specifically, things would have happened quicker. I would be locked in Lesterwood or Salae, with or without an army.”

“And if you made it back in time with reinforcements from Lesterwood, they wouldn’t have been able to go back and help the siege.” Vel finished, but she thought of something Max didn’t, “But if you went to Salae to get an army and made it back in time, you would have an army. Unless Salae is under attack, Salae would be fine without their army…”

The words hung in the air. Salae was under attack.

Max muttered, “Twenty-eight mana per person, twice, recovery time every seventeen people… Even with mana potions and fully enchanted mana recovery, we’re looking at… For an army of forty-eight… Rounded… At least five hours for just one way. How long has it been since the portal opened?”

The Startemplars leader looked at a magical construct, “Four hours thirty-four minutes.”

“Okay…Okay… I wouldn’t have made it. Not unless I took less than forty-eight people…”

“Max, you’re scaring me.” Vel’s words were lost.

“Clammy just prevented Salae’s destruction… Or Lesterwood’s…”

“This is just great!” A young man shouted. Eden swayed on his feet, “My Kingdom has been saved by the lost child, and her Lost Lord boyfriend. What’s next- just going to write in that journal of yours and explain how you are going to destroy the Empire?”

“Eden, quiet.” Tobyn ignored his son’s outburst, favoring Max’s attention. Eden’s already red skin darkened, “Why forty-eight?”

“That’s how many are in here right now.” Max gestured around. “I could take everyone to Esmel. But, if something happens to me, there is no telling how long you all would be stuck there under the dome.”

“That’s fine son.” The King laid his wrinkled hand on Max’s shoulder, “You said the Centauri are setting up defenses? Take us there. I’m sure those who wish to leave will have an escort.”

“Why can’t he just take us somewhere where a lock isn’t in place? Get us away from this hellish nightmare.” A woman asked.

“Mana.” Max answered simply.

Vel butted in, “Everyone heard the plan! If anyone has any better ideas, let them be heard now, otherwise we are following the King’s plan.” No one spoke. Vel softly spoke to Max, “Take us to the Centauri, the furthest defensive settlement you see. When everyone is exiting, you and Emi can rest. You said five hours, right? You get five hours of sleep.”

Max nodded, exiting the Pocket world high above the remains of the Coalition. He scoured the ground looking for the camps. His sudden arrival stirred armed guard, but as the first passenger exited, the Startemplar leader, things began to automate. Max quickly showed Vel his math notes, explaining when to stop people from exiting and how long to wait between. The King gave him a final nod of acknowledgment. Eden scowled, Alia smiled and waved.

With Emi in hand, they both scarfed down a few plates of food and found soft hay to sleep on. As his mind drifted into the void, he continued to think about the spatial problems he had been facing. He hoped his mind would continue to work out the problem. Maybe a solution would come to him, like a spatial virus or sword that cauterized space-

His eyes snapped open. That may work…

Gentle roars of thunder rolled across the endless black landscape. Brief flickers of lightning outlined the organic clouds, allowing enough light to illuminate the surroundings for a moment. Three beings slowly walked together, away from Reep. She watched as two beings disappeared, the third continued until hidden by the darkness. She knew her time in these lands had come to an end, she was expected to go home. But she liked it here. To her, the nearly silent moody atmosphere was therapeutic. How long had it been since she felt so calm? How long had it been since she felt anything at all?

Reep’s eyes opened, the stark contrast of the night fallen lands and her new location blinded her. She groaned, leaning forward, and rubbing her cheeks. She was sore, sleeping in such an odd position did that to a person. Clammy was right where Reep left her, sleeping a few feet away peacefully on a couch.

Celenia and Belopi were nearby, asleep also. Distant sounds of movement came from the neighboring rooms. The temporary residents in the mansion were getting rowdy, they were not used to sitting in a building all day. They were bored. Some wanted to explore the markets, but a city-wide stay home order had been put into effect.

Reep ignored them looking over her notifications.

Spell Defibrillator (Legendary) unlocked and removed.

Gift one.

You have been marked by Elrin, Goddess of Lightning and the Eternal Storm.

A privilege for those of the Lady’s faith, a gift for those who are not. Lightning-based spells and abilities are increased moderately.

New Classes and Evolutions may be unlocked. Proceed to level threshold to verify.

Congratulations, you have been gifted (Source: Elrin) the ability Eternal Conduit (Mythic): Your lightning-based spells and abilities apply a cripple and damage over time effect.

Duration scales directly with Intellect.

Gift 2.

Congratulations, you have been gifted (Source: Subuntu) the spell Gentle Shock (Rare): Use of electricity has been found to ease muscle fatigue and decrease recovery time.

When used on a specific area, greatly reduce bodily stress, and moderately reduce muscular recovery time.

Channel, 7 mana per minute.

Congratulations, you have been gifted (Source: Subuntu) the ability Saviors’ Step (Rare): Movement towards injured allies is significantly increased.

Scales with Dexterity.

Third Gift declined.

Clammy cleared her throat, breaking Reep’s concentration. “Hello there.”

Clammy’s voice was still raw and weak, but better than it was a few hours prior. The two teammates smiled at each other. It had only been a few days, but the time apart felt like a lifetime. Reep didn’t like sitting over a teammate when she battled with untreatable injuries and brisk knowledge of the future. She wanted to help, she wanted to be needed. It was a feeling that she didn’t know she wanted.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better.” Clammy struggled to sit up, the thick arm rests proving to be a mountain. “What time is it?”

“Before midnight, I would say.” Reep brought over some food. “Bishop said you saw something?”

The princesses nod was meek at best. Truth be told, Clammy did not want to speak about the future, her magic, or what she saw. The images were too fresh, too new. A lot of things were changing in the world, a lot of things were going to change. “I would rather not talk about what I saw. But I would like to do something about it.”

Clammy saw the confused look on Reep’s face, she continued, “The best thing I can do for Lesterwood, and Max and Vel, is not to assist at the walls. Let Bishop and the others handle that.”

“Right, you should be resting.”

Clammy shook her head, “Not what I meant. There is a space-lock currently occupying Lesterwood’s city limits. Max cannot teleport in, and nothing can teleport out. Including the Gate System. What I, and you if you are willing to help, need to do, is to find and destroy it.”

Reep considered this, Max not being able to teleport into the city may not be ideal, but he had plenty of other places to go for help. He knows what Lesterwood is facing right now, he knows how far the cities resources are stretched. The Gate System is more of a pressing concern. Reinforcements from other cities may be needed if Icarus’s wall fell permanently.

“I think Max will be fine-“

“He will, but there are similar locks in other cities. Finding and destroying ours will allow Lesterwood to assist the others. At the very least, Lesterwood will not be isolated.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” The new voice caused the others to turn. Celenia was wide awake. She had heard the whole conversation. While her reasoning was to better assist Max, Lesterwood had become her home. Protecting it was a given at this point. Not to mention, [Druid] Dreamstem was still missing. Maybe she was injured in some alley somewhere… Or something…

Clammy smiled. It was good to be back, she thought. “Icarus, did you get all of that?”

The lights in the room dimmed for a moment, but no bird appeared, no words were spoken. That alone worried the girls. Icarus was a shrouded mystery, but he had always shown himself to communicate. The dome was taking a lot out of the Elemental, but he had so far staved off the monsters. Singlehandedly. The bears were nearing, Seetrin was out doing whatever she was doing, and most of the city’s combatants were ready and waiting.

As soon as Icarus’s mana failed, the battle would start. Reep hoped to be able to find the lock before that. She wanted to level up now more than ever. Her gifts were more than she could have asked for. She had found a great interest in the Goddess Elrin. Just briefly, while speaking to the Gods, she was in Elrin’s domain. She had seen the end goal of her class, of her magic. She wanted it for herself.

“Let’s go then.” Reep said, helping Clammy to stand through her creaking muscles. Reep smiled, a soft zapping sensation pulsed out of her palms.

“Wha-whaa- Woah. What is that~ That feels so nice…” Clammy’s muscles went slack, as if she had rested on a bed of clouds. Her aches dimmed; her range of motion increased.

“One of the gifts given to me by Subuntu for the Defibrillator spell. It helps with muscles.”

“A great gift. A great gift.”