Chương 186: B3—Chapter 35: Woven Threads of Connection

After Mahya and Al left, I returned to the meadow. I needed to recalibrate before continuing the journey. Rue picked up on my mood and was extra affectionate, showering me with licks and tail thumps. His warm body against my leg was nice, reminding me I was never truly alone and keeping me grounded. Sitting under "my" tree, I let my mind wander, just experiencing the thoughts as they came, letting the familiar feel of the bark against my back remind me I was still here. I missed Lis, especially now.

He always knew exactly what to say to make me feel better, and his absence was especially prominent today. I opened the Archive to check for anything new, but saw nothing. It made me feel even emptier inside, making my chest feel even hollower. On top of that, there were even more questions and comments from Travelers at the bottom of his messages. Some of them were cursing him out for not answering, which made me laugh despite myself. I imagine Lis laughing out loud when he read all those curses.

I wanted to talk to him openly and tell him things we hadn't shared yet, but I knew the Archive wasn't the right place for that. My hands clenched into fists as I tried to think of a solution, the frustration of being unable to connect gnawing at me. Then I got an idea—he loved the first book I gave him to read, so I gave him the whole series. I'm embarrassed to admit I never finished the first book.

When I first got The Gate Traveler class, the thought of fighting monsters scared me, so I abandoned the book around the tenth or twelfth chapter. When we were book shopping in San Francisco, I ordered the entire series again, hoping to finish it one day. So basically, we had the same series of books that I wouldn't have to mention by name in the Archive. I grabbed the third book, and opened it to a random page.

As I scanned the lines, I started playing with code ideas, the words blurring slightly as I concentrated. When I landed on a good one, I wrote the instructions in the Archive: Tr. JR"Clueless, Inventor" Remember the first fiction book I ever gave you to read? The one you thought was ridiculous but entertaining? Open the series' third book to page 125 and start with the second word on each line. For each line, take the first letter of that second word and use it to represent a letter in your message.

To encode, shift each letter in your message forward in the alphabet by the position of this letter. For example, if the second word on the first line starts with 'A,' leave the first letter of your message unchanged. If the second word on the second line begins with 'R,' shift the second letter of your message forward by 18 letters. Continue this pattern with each letter in your message. To decode, reverse the shifts based on the same letters from the book.

After I had the cipher, I started writing my message to convert it later: Mahya and Al returned to Earth to pursue their desired classes while I stayed behind in Lumis. Even though they've only been gone a short while, it feels different—quieter. I've been on my own plenty of times before, but after traveling with friends for so long, it's strange to be solo again. I didn't expect it to hit me like this. I paused, thinking about how to continue. But then, I decided to write whatever came to mind.

I've found myself missing you—more than I thought I would. Our conversations, stretching from dinner late into the night, were always the highlight of my day. We talked about everything and anything, and I miss that easy flow between us. Your laugh had this way of lifting everyone's spirits, mine included. It wasn't just a quick chuckle, but one of those full-hearted laughs that made the entire room feel lighter. Even if I didn't catch the joke, it still made me grin. And your stories—Spirits, I miss those too.

You had a knack for making every place sound so vivid, like I could picture it perfectly in my mind. Whether it was about your wild adventures or the people you met, you always made it feel like I was beside you. Then there were your hugs. At first, I wasn't sure about them—where I'm from, it's not something people do, especially not men. But I came to see it as your way of showing you cared. It wasn't something I was used to, but after a while, I appreciated the gesture. It was just who you are—genuine and warm.

I stopped again and took a deep breath. I know I'm not really alone—there's you, even if you're off chasing dragons. Mahya and Al will return soon, and I've always got Rue. But right now, it's tough. I've gotten used to having you and the others around, and now that it's just me, I feel adrift. It's not like it'll last forever, but things feel a little… off at the moment. I leaned back briefly, closing my eyes as a wave of fatigue washed over me.

The loneliness settled in my bones, making everything feel heavier and slower. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I miss your company. You have this way of making things better just by being around, and I've noticed your absence. I'm sure it'll pass, but I wanted you to know you're missed. But enough of me wallowing in my feelings—let me fill you in on what's been happening lately …

I took a deep breath and continued writing, the familiarity of recounting recent events bringing a semblance of normalcy back to my mind. I told him about the Mushroom Valley dungeon run and how I almost killed myself. About the Spell Weaver ability, I had no idea how to use. The sentient final guardian and the huge core. I detailed all our experiments with the house to date, including Al's greenhouse and my dark room.

Told him about the book about the long-lived races trying to claim I was still a teenager and my total disagreement with the idea. A quick rundown of the island, the sea crossing, and our trip on the mainland so far. I bragged about earning my adventurer badge honestly, not conjured. The other two dungeons we cleared, the cores we took, the crocodiles with a toothache, hockey cheats, and now I know how to fly. When I wrote about the swamp with the creatures and the concerts I did every day, I started laughing.

The sound was rough and raw, but it was a laugh, nonetheless. I could picture him roaring with laughter, reading about me floating in the air, playing Tchaikovsky on the violin to a bunch of strange marsh creatures who followed me from place to place, staring at me with unblinking eyes. That laughter lifted my spirits, and I felt the loneliness start to fade, replaced with optimism again.

I told him about flying under the night sky and losing myself in the joy of flight, and I felt even better after recalling my pure joy. After I finished writing, I closed with: If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I miss you, my friend. And I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Don't feel the need to rush to my aid—I'm a big boy, and I'll manage. I just needed to reach out and remind myself that I'm never really alone—I always have you.

And by the way, Rue says hello and wants to hear about delicious things in the dragon world. When I asked him if he wanted to hear about dragons in general, he asked, 'Are they delicious?' —you see what I'm dealing with here? So next time you write, mention something tasty so I can tell Rue. Goodbye, for now, my friend. May your journey continue to be filled with wonders. John, AKA Clueless P. S. I'm not so Clueless anymore—I built a spell marble and learned to fly. Let's see you beat that!

After finishing the message, I opened the book and replaced the letters according to the cipher. My hands moved slowly, the task requiring more concentration than it should have, but it was a welcome distraction. But when I looked at my message, it was all gibberish, except for the explanation of how to decode the cipher. I checked a few words, my heart pounding as I tried to understand what I saw. My cipher had encrypted everything precisely as intended. I blinked at the screen, utterly shocked.

Once I recovered from the shock, I looked at the sky and said, "Seriously? You're kidding, right? You can convert a message to a cipher based on my thoughts, but the Archive looks the way it does? How does that even make sense? And let's not even talk about the Guidance user interface. Explain to me how, with these abilities, the entire system and the Archive are one big mess." I felt a wave of embarrassment directed at me.

"You can be embarrassed all you want, but that doesn't solve the problem. Maybe instead of sending me cryptic vibes or giving me a headache, you could work on fixing the mess you made, hmm?" This time, I got no response. What else is new? After sending the message to Lis, I felt lighter, though still not completely balanced. It was like I had lightened the load a bit, but a heavy feeling was still in the background, weighing me down. To clear my head, I reached for my cello.

Music had always been my refuge, where I could lose myself and, somehow, find myself again. As I started playing, the notes flowed through my fingers, each a lifeline pulling me out of the dark thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. I scribbled down lyrics to a song, the pen scratching across the paper with urgency. It felt like the words were trapped inside me, waiting for an opportunity to break free, and I released them with a sense of urgency.

The result was the longest song I'd ever written—so long that even I, the one writing it, felt like it would never end. I called it An Enchanted Journey —because that's what my life had become: one long, enchanted journey filled with highs and lows, joy and sorrow.

An Enchanted Journey In a world of loss, I stood Broken, scarred, misunderstood A Gate appeared, a shimmering light A path to realms beyond my sight With trembling hands, I touched the veil Yearning to escape, to set sail I left behind the Earth so grim To seek new hope on fortune's whim Adventure's pulse ignites once more Ancient tales from days of Yore Mountains loom, and forests sing As I soar on a mighty wind I'll chase the echoes on the breeze Seek hidden realms with graceful ease For destiny guides my every turn As for adventure's thrill I yearn Chorus: Cosmos guide me as I roam Dancing worlds, no longer home His wisdom near, though far he flies Chasing dragons 'cross the skies Every step, a wondrous find Stars align, fate intertwined No longer lost, but magic-bound This Arcane path, at last I've found Rising strong, with lightning's grip, Crackling power at my fingertips.

The force of nature now bows to me, As I fly above the sea. Fearless heart and spirit free, I chase the horizon, wild and carefree. Strength surges, unbound and bright, I welcome the storm and its thrilling fight. The world bends to my command, For I, a wizard with lightning in hand.

Winter time spent in play Hockey sticks frost's magic sway Gliding weightless, pond our stage Dog pirouettes with canine grace Cheaters jump from tree to tree Defying gravity with glee Puck-thieves laugh at every rule In this frozen wonderland, so cool Swamp-bound snakes with glowing eyes Root lizards watch moonlit skies Giant insects hum a tune To Bach and Mozart 'neath the moon Strange fans gather for my song Violin notes pure and strong As mist descends, a magic veil I lower the curtain on this tale Chorus: Cosmos guide me as I roam Dancing worlds, no longer home His wisdom near, though far he flies Chasing dragons 'cross the skies Every step, a wondrous find Stars align, fate intertwined No longer lost, but magic-bound This Arcane path, at last, I've found Outro: Adventures past, yet more to come Wilderness calls, a siren's hum Beyond the veil, what wonders wait?

I stand ready at an unknown Gate Poised to leap into the wild Heart alight, joy undefiled Journey with companions tried and true Whispers secrets ever new As I played and sang, the music echoed through the meadow, blending with the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. But it wasn't enough. I needed something more than just the music. I needed to feel the memories, to relive them in a way that made them more tangible, more real. I needed to experience everything again and know it wasn't a dream.

I started with the ice hockey scene—Mahya using trees as trampolines, her laughter ringing out like a melody in my mind, and Al snatching pucks with telekinesis, his concentration so intense that I could almost see the furrow in his brow. The memory made me smile, especially when I conjured up the image of the three gold badges and how the big guy had spun around, completely disoriented, when he tried to attack us with his sword.

I conjured the image of the swamp, with the strange procession of creatures that had followed us from place to place while Al collected herbs. I could almost smell the earthy scent of the wet ground and feel the cool dampness of the air on my skin. And then the sky. The beautiful, endless sky that I'd flown through, feeling the wind rush past me as I soared above the world. I wanted to capture that moment, the freedom, the exhilaration, so I played it out in front of me, like a movie.

Rue, of course, couldn't resist. He jumped at the hockey puck illusions, and his teeth snapped on empty air as he tried to bite into the gold badges. His frustration was so obvious when he jumped through the illusions, and his complaints in my mind made me laugh. The sound was light and unexpected, like the first rays of sunlight breaking through a cloudy sky. It was exactly what I needed. It felt like a release, like I was letting go of the last bit of tension that had been holding me back.

The music helped me feel more balanced and more in tune with myself. It was like each note, each lyric, was a piece of the puzzle that was slowly coming together. Yes, I felt lonely at that moment, but it wasn't the kind of loneliness that consumed me. It was more like a quiet acknowledgment that, while I might be alone right now, I wasn't truly alone. Rue was here, always by my side. And my friends, even if they were a world away, or in Lis's case, a few worlds away, were still with me in spirit.

I could still feel their presence, like a warm blanket that wrapped around me, reminding me they were out there, and we'd be together again soon. With that realization, it was time to stop wallowing in self-pity. The sadness I was feeling just a few minutes ago disappeared, and now I feel determined. I was still excited—no, eager—to explore this world, discover its wonders, and face its challenges. There was so much out there waiting for me, and I would not let a momentary feeling of loneliness hold me back.

It was time to move forward, to embrace the journey ahead with open arms.