The path down to the highway was overgrown with wet grass, small bushes, and large stones. It wasn't really a path at all, just an animal trail through the trees. The trees around him were pine. so pine needles were everywhere.

Ok, first I'm going to need a new lab. Someplace that can handle toxic chemicals and radiation. Robin thought as he dodged a tree branch. I'm going to be needing a lot of uranium too. But I'm sure the government isn't just going to ignore that right.

Let's see, twenty-five years from the time I disappeared would make this year two thousand and twenty. I don't think the US government would change that much in just twenty-five years. Ok, I'm going to need some black market contacts if they still have black markets. Hopefully, they'll be the type who doesn't ask too many questions.

After a few minutes, Robin smelled salty, sea air so he paused his walk to enjoy it. In Nuirian seas were very rare. Robin suspected that, unlike earth, the other world had far more landmass than sea. Soon the trees opened up to a steep hill that curved down to a beachside road. Past the road, another hill curved down to the beach. The beyond sea expanded out forever. Up in the sky, gray clouds filled the open air. They were fading evidence of the earlier storm. A crashing set of waves hits the rocky beach below. A continuous background roar. The road was still wet with the earlier rainfall and the sea air was stronger here.

Now that's a sight you rarely see in Nuirian. I wonder what it's like on a good day. Robin thought as he stepped onto the hill. He placed a foot on a loose rock and fell forward. The ground rushed towards him as his hands shot out and caught himself. Pain ripped up his arms.

“Ah. Damn it.!” Robin yelped, as he rolled onto his butt. His hands were red and covered in small stones. He picked the stones off and removed one from under his slow fall ring. “I hate being old, you get so clumsy.”

Robin stood up, brushed himself off, and approached the road. He bent down and touched the tarmac. A big smile grew on his face as old memories thought gone, resurfaced. Cold ice cream, laughter, and hot summer tarmac. The road started vibrating and the sounds of a car rose over the waves. Robin looked up and spotted a blue shape coming towards him. A vibrant blue car came driving down the road towards him. It was smoother and larger than he remembered cars being.

Hey, maybe I can try hitchhiking here. Ask to drive into town. Robin thought, as he straightened up and held out his thumb. The car zoomed past, leaving Robin in the dust. An ear splitting moment later. Whoa, that was loud! Damn. I guess they don't like picking up hitchhikers.

As the car disappeared, Robin started walking. He didn't bother marking or memorizing the path back to his tower. He could just make an item finder ring later and follow it back. He walked along the road and came to a lookout point. It was a small concrete area off the side of the road, where people can park and watch the sea. He stood there for a minute, letting the calm waves below soothe him. Another roar of a car filled the air. A red minivan this time.

“Oh, no. I'm not giving you the chance. You're not going to get away from me.” Robin muttered as he clapped his hands together. A new spell formed in his mind.

He increased the slow fall spell to its max setting. The spell would simply make him fall so slowly, that he would basically just float in place. “Good that might work as I want it. New spells always have a risk. Next, I got to make sure they don't see me.”

He triggered his Camouflage ring and instantly vanished. To the naked eye, he was just a heat mirage. He sprinted to meet the passing Van. At the point of contact, he triggered the floating spell and grabbed the van's roof. He hit the van's side with full force making a loud thump. The Van's roof was surprisingly slippery and he started to slide off. But before he could completely fall off, Robin finally got a hold near the back of the Van. His legs wobbled as he found his balance. It was like snowboarding, just with no board.

Ok, that could have gone better. But that doesn't matter now, because it worked. Robin thought as he floated lower behind the Van. The wind kept blasting his face and his hands still hurt from the tumbled earlier. I sure hope the driver is going into town and not out camping.

At that thought, the van pulled to a stop and a masked woman stepped out and came around the side. Robin froze with his feet still off the ground. The woman had long brown hair and wore a blue and white mouth mask. Like a hospital mask, Robin realized.

“Oh, Crap. What did I hit?” The woman panicked, as she checked the side of the van. She was speaking English, a language Robin nearly forgot after many years of neglect. “What is this? Where's the blood? I'm sure I hit something?”

Why is this lady wearing a mask? Is she sick or something? I sure hope it is not a fashion choice. Oh damn, here she comes. Robin thought as he holds his breath in and watches the lady move around. She nearly bumps into him, then she goes to check the back wheels.

“But I was so sure?” The lady muttered, though still loud enough for Robin to hear. “Oh man, now I'm hearing things.”

She moved back to the front of the car and got inside. The van started up and quickly got up to speed. Robin held on but was quickly losing strength. His hands were freezing now due to the spell heat cost and the wind was sharper than he had expected. So he let one hand go of the van and placed it on his other, making sure the rings were connected. He can't use the air blocking spell here. The rune for air was already in use by his shoes. So he used the heat rune instead. The spell triggered and a ball of heat surrounded him. He was now a true heat mirage physically and visually. The heated ball was warping under the punishing wind but it held. His hands now warmer, held on a little tighter.