We can’t go just yet. I wouldn’t forgive myself if I don’t visit Madam Himiko while were here.

I couldn’t argue. Also, free food! We walked hand in hand through the Little Tokyo plaza on the way over to Suehiro Cafe.

The lady of the house was almost unrecognizable. She smiled when she saw us and said, “Welcome, esteemed guests. I am so glad to see you are back. Wendy told me all about your adventure in another world. Please, have a seat.”

Remembering that I’d awakened her the last time I saw her, I decided to check on her progress.

Name

Saori Himiko

Class

Ramen Hero

Level

25

Affection Level

Proud

I gaped at her. She was glowing. The last time I’d seen her, she was only level two. Somehow she’d gained twenty-three levels. That was more than either Kalli or I had managed in the same time period. I gasped as I asked, “How did you level up so fast?”

She beamed at me. “I gain experience when I make ramen. Even more so when I experiment and create a new flavor. I also have magic that enhances them. Wendy enrolled me in culinary courses at The Academy which gave me access to a personal tutor and the library. Did you know there are ancient recipes and techniques that you can’t find anywhere else?”

“That’s amazing,” Kalli replied, licking her lips as waitresses brought us bowl after bowl of ramen. “I miss The Academy. We’ve been running around so long that I almost forgot what it felt like to relax and learn new magic.”

I was dumbfounded as I stared at Kalli. “You want to go back to school?”

She sighed. “I don’t know. I want to grow and that means learning new things, right? Look at Miss Himiko. She hasn’t even been studying for a year and she’s level twenty-five.”

Madam Himiko stared at us. “How do you know all of that? I can’t tell what level you are. Does it show on my face or something?”

“No,” Kalli admitted. “Melvin has a skill that tells him and I can also see through our bond.”

She smiled. “I suppose I always knew you guys were special. Come, try the food. We have many new flavors.”

I looked down to find twelve bowls sitting on the table. “So that’s why you brought so much?”

Madam Himoko shook her head. “Actually, only half of them are for you. I’d like you both to infuse some for me. It’s been a while since I tasted someone else’s mana and I’d like to use some of your essences for flavoring.”

Kalli and I looked at one another in panic. She shook her head sadly at the Ramen Hero. “We can’t. You see, our mana got corrupted and that’s why we’re here. We need a cure. If you eat either of our mana, there’s a good chance it will kill you.”

Madam Himiko gasped. “Oh my. That’s terrible. Are your lives in danger?”

We quickly shook our heads and I tried my best to explain. “No, we’re fine since we have traits that keep us healthy. Two people I touched are in the hospital though.”

Everyone took a step back and I realized that was probably the wrong thing to say. Madam Himiko smiled and said, “Well, enjoy the food. I hope you like the new flavors. If you need me, I’ll be in the back.”

Kalli frowned when everyone walked away. You probably should have told them we aren’t contagious.

I laughed, picking up a chopstick, and doing my best to grab some noodles. The memory of Wendy teaching me how to use them made Kalli give me the stink eye. It was time for some damage control.

Do you want to go to the make-out room after this?

Unfortunately, that reminded her of catching me there with Wendy.

Aw, come on! I chose you, remember.

Kalli stuck out her tongue at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Just messing with you.

It was my turn to groan. We took our time enjoying the new ramen flavors that Madam Himiko invented. I immediately tasted the mana on the first bite. She had a special ability to alter the flavor of her mana just enough to compliment several unique recipes.

Did I tell you that her mana looks like ramen broth?

Kalli snorted, causing broth to shoot out of her nose. Don’t make me laugh! It makes sense though. That woman lives for ramen. She was a master before you awakened her.

We polished off so much ramen that we could barely move. I pointed at a bowl with a small amount of dark broth remaining.

I think I like that one the best. It reminds me of Kung Pao sauce.

Kalli nodded appreciatively but point at another bowl with a yellowish sauce. This one reminds me of tucca seeds. We occasionally ground them up to flavor gruel at the monastery. It tastes like home.

So, what do you want to do next? Should we visit The Academy while were here? Or do you want to go straight back to Luna to ask the ancients for the cure?

Kalli mulled it over, thinking about our friends and how only Run was likely to be there. The thought that went through my head was Alex, the jerk who Kalli punched when he was rude to me. I desperately wanted to show off how great Kalli and I were together.

She sensed my thoughts and shook her head with a tiny frown on her face. You can do that another time but today we have more important things to do. Oh, and if we go back, I think I’m going to take another class.

Slowly pulling myself to my feet, I walked around the table to take Kalli’s hand.

I guess it’s decided then. Are you ready to go home?

She nodded and we were off.

The quickest way to Luna, we concluded, was to return to Celestea and use the bathroom door to go back to Lavender’s house where we could take another door back to Luna.

We arrived in the throne room to find it full of people. Celestea was seated next to the throne where Shiv was seated. In Kalli’s absence, she was the only one who the castle allowed to sit.

Celestea cried out in alarm and then a smile crept onto her face when she realized it was us. “You two! Perfect timing. We need to discuss a threat to the Queendom. And your empire, Melvin so this concerns you as well.”

That gave me pause. Normally, Celestea did her best not to acknowledge that we’d set up an empire in the middle of her domain. Kalli gave her mom a look of concern and asked, “What’s going on, Mother. What threat?”

Satisfied that she had our attention, Celestea continued. “I don’t know what the two of you have been up to but you seem to be having an unnatural effect on the border between our worlds. We have received no fewer than four visitors from Earth in the last week. I need you to sort this out as they are violating the sanctity of our nations with their comings and goings.”

I stared at her, heaving a sigh. “You’re talking about Antoni, right? That was one guy wearing a HAZMAT suit. He’s harmless and, besides, I already sent him home.”

She shook her head. “Well, he’s back. And he’s brought friends. That’s not the least of it either, they set up their own village right here in Celestea. Do you know how this looks when people are setting up camp in your girlfriend’s Queendom? I suggest we send in troops and invite them to go home.”

“We will look into it,” Kalli promised, placing a hand on her mother’s arm to placate her. “We need to look into another lead about our mana first though and…”

“That’s not all.” The queen cut her off. “We also had an interloper appear right here in the castle. The same way the two of you just did. It was an old man. He asked where the two of you were and marched right out the front door. I have no clue where he went through, so I suppose we will have to wait for him to pop up before he can be dealt with.”

“Did you say he spoke to you?” I asked, exchanging a nervous glance with Kalli.

“That’s right.” Celestea nodded, slightly less sure of herself. “What does that mean?”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “It could mean a lot of things. He might just know the language. Do you have any proof he’s from Earth? Did I mention they teach Ancient Celestean on Earth? Or it could mean…”

Kalli and I exchanged another uncertain glance. Siblings from the M bloodline did have access to every language. Could it be another long-lost brother or sister? If that were the case, why didn’t they just say so?

“First things first,” I announced. “We need to make a quick pitstop to Luna.”

“I want to go!” Shiv shrieked, raising her hand and jumping up and down at the same time. “You promised.”

Celestea stamped her foot. “Absolutely not. I’ll not have you going off to strange new worlds. You’re eight. That’s far too young.”

“But mother!” Shiv stamped her foot in return, mimicking her mother’s outburst. “You never let me go anywhere my whole life. You owe me.”

“I let you go to that witch’s house.” Celestea pointed out.

Shiv pouted. “That’s only because she promised to not let me out of the house. You still won’t let me see the world. Kalli, you tell her. You owe me one. This is all your fault after all.”

Kalli looked uncomfortable, not wanting to get involved. I gave her a curious look.

Why does she say it’s your fault?

Kalli sighed. Mother kept her in that cabin all her life because someone told her to wait there. They never left and because of that Shiv never had any friends.

My heart sank. While Kalli and I hadn’t had the best childhoods, at least we weren’t alone all our lives. I didn’t mind spending the majority of my time with my mother growing up but I would have gone crazy without being around other people.

That made me want to stick up for her. “You should let her go. It’s safe up there. We will look out for…”

Celestea rounded on me, a smile forming on her lips. “Then it’s decided! If it’s safe, we can all go. Guards! Prepare an honor guard for the princesses. Someone find Charles. Tell him we are going on an outing.”

We stood there in shock as guards raced about preparing for the journey. Celestea folded her arms and gave me a triumphant look. “Where shall we gather for this journey?”

I took great personal pleasure in turning her smile into a frown. “Everyone meet at Kalli’s privy.”

Kalli scowled at me when we got to the Queen’s suite. You didn’t have to announce to the whole world that there’s a magical portal to another dimension in my bathroom!

Oh, come on! The look on her face was priceless.

She stuck her tongue out at me. I got first dibs on the toilet. I believe those six bowls of ramen want out now.

I grinned at her.

It’s okay, I’ll just go through the portal and use the one in my room.

We were ten feet apart and a dimensional gate away from each other but with our bond, it was like we were sitting right next to each other. When we both finished and washed up, Kalli led the procession through the first door.

Twenty people marched through the door into my bathroom and I was proud to note that there was still plenty of room to spare. Lavender spared no expense or magic on her accommodations.

We looked at the door leading to Luna and I announced, “Before we go, there are a few things you should know. The most important is that we freed The Ancients.”