The Gate Traveler

After Lis and Mahya calmed down and realized I was okay, I turned to Mahya and said, “I need to finish opening your channels. Want to do it now?”

“Are you sure? You’re not tired?” Mahya asked, her brows furrowing with concern.

“I’m fine and want to get it done,” I assured her, offering a small smile.

“Okay.”

We went to my former room, and Mahya lay down on the bed. I channeled Anesthesia and opened the channels in her legs. They were in much better condition than her arms. There were spots where they had burned shut, but mostly they were just damaged by that awful curse that devoured her mana. It took me less than two hours to open both legs, and I stopped the anesthesia.

Mana: 2,070/8,800.

It didn’t even drain me—success!

She woke up, hugged me tightly, and said, “Thank you,” her voice filled with gratitude.

“You’re very welcome,” I replied, patting her back.

In the living room, I noticed big paper sheets with diagrams scattered across the table.

I asked Lis, “What is that? Are you building a spaceship?” I raised an eyebrow, half-joking.

“No. Mahya is an advanced engineer from a high-tech world, so she was teaching me,” Lis explained, pointing to the intricate drawings.

I turned to Mahya, impressed. “Cool. What kind of engineering?”

“Energy conversion power plants, antimatter spaceship drives, crystalline structures for spaceship AIs, and various engineering skills that support those subjects.”

I whistled. “That sounds impressive as hell.”

She glanced down, her shoulders slumping, and her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, twisting the fabric nervously. Her face flushed, and she avoided eye contact. In a small, almost trembling voice, she said, “Not really. I didn’t learn any of it. I converted skills to get them from the Guidance.”

“Oh, so how did you end up in Faerie?” I asked, tilting my head.

“Where?” she asked, looking confused.

“Sorry,” I said, “That’s the popular name on Earth for Tír na nÓg.”

With a surprised look, she asked, “They know about it here? How?”

“Just legends, not concrete knowledge,” I explained, shrugging.

Lis said, “With the mana levels there, those bastards can probably portal.”

“Maybe,” Mahya said, frowning, “But how will they get back? The mana level on this side is abysmal.”

“The legends are old,” I said. “Maybe they could in the past, but now can’t?”

Both of them looked thoughtful and nodded their heads. The looks on their faces made me feel like the dumbest person in the room.

I asked Mahya again, “How did you end up in Tír na nÓg?”

“As part of an exploration initiative, I joined a mission to colonize a world. I didn’t care about colonization; I just wanted to see space,” she said, her eyes shining with tears. “So, after we found a promising planet, I was stuck monitoring the conversion rings in the power plant. When a Gate appeared, I left through it because I was bored out of my mind. It was very high mana, level 94, but I survived. I traveled high mana before, but not very high mana. When I found the Gate to Tír na nÓg, it was only 89 in comparison, so I thought I’d be fine.” She wiped tears from her eyes and continued, “I was wrong. That place is a nightmare and a horror show all rolled together.”

I gently rubbed her back and asked Lis, “You wanted to move to Paris for the food, right?”

“Yes, and there will probably be new workshops,” he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

I asked Mahya, “Want to come to Paris with us or continue on your journey?”

Once more, she glanced downward and quietly said, “I must find work; I don’t have any money or sellable objects.”

“What happened to your Storage?” asked Lis, sounding surprised.

“One of those monsters cast something on me, and I lost consciousness. All my Storage was around me when I woke up, and those monsters laughed,” she said, her voice breaking as she started crying again. I moved beside her and hugged her, and she buried her face in my neck and cried.

When I glanced at Lis, I noticed a strange expression on his face. His brow furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Catching his eye, I raised my eyebrows in a silent question, tilting my head slightly. He responded with a subtle shake of his head, as if to say it was nothing, but his tight-lipped smile told a different story. Shit! My mistake. I should have asked him before inviting her to Paris with us. I gave a small, apologetic smile, and then, with a slight flick of my eyes towards his room, I hoped he understood I wanted to talk in private. He caught my meaning and gave a barely perceptible nod, his expression softening a bit.

Once Mahya had calmed down, I told her, “It’s already the middle of the night. Let’s go to sleep, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

After another hug, she said good night and went to her room.

I followed Lis into his room, feeling a knot of guilt tightening in my chest. The minute he closed the door, I blurted out, “I’m really sorry I didn’t ask you before inviting her to Paris with us. It wasn’t fair of me. Since she’s teaching you engineering, I just assumed you’d want her to come, but I shouldn’t have assumed. I should have asked first.” I looked down, rubbing the back of my neck.

He held my shoulder and said, “Relax, it’s fine. I was just surprised, that’s all. And she should come with us until she gets on her feet.”

“I have a solution for that,” I said, hesitating.

“What?”

I blushed, rubbed my neck, and said, “I told you about my late wife and her parents, right?” He nodded, so I continued, “Well, before I left Earth the first time, I robbed them as a punishment. I still think the punishment was just, but the jewelry I robbed from them always made me feel ashamed. I’m not a thief, and that I stooped so low always made me feel like a criminal. But I have no intention of returning the jewelry; they deserved it and more—they tortured Sophie over money and jewelry in her last days of life and made her cry all the time. So, I thought of giving the jewelry to Mahya; it will help her get on her feet and do whatever she wants.”

“You sure about it?” he asked, looking at me seriously.

“Yes, I placed the jewelry in the far corner of my Storage to avoid looking at it. The only things I did with it were giving one piece to a coachman to save his life and another to a nice princess I met in Shimoor.”

“I prefer to stay away from nobles. Most of them are shitheads, as you so eloquently describe it here,” Lis laughed, “I must say that Earth has the most colorful descriptions of things.”

“You should go to sleep; it’s the middle of the night for you,” I said, laughing.

“You can sleep here; you lost your bedroom,” he offered, pointing to his bed.

“Nah, I woke up five hours ago after sleeping for two days. I’ll go cook; I’m sure we’re out of food if three weeks have passed. Since you wanted to relocate, and she is coming with us, now is the perfect time to consider Paris for a bigger place.”

“Yes, we should, and Mahya should join us. I was just surprised. You met her for less than a day, so I didn’t expect the offer. I spent three weeks with her, and we became friends. I would have consulted you anyway and asked her.”

“Yeah, rub it in about not consulting you. Why don’t you?” I said, rolling my eyes.

He laughed, pushing me out of the room. “Go cook already.”

I cooked all night, and in the morning, I called Rue and headed to return the rental car. At first, it needed a trip to a car wash. Despite the workers in the car wash being unimpressed with the condition of the car, they successfully cleaned it, and I returned it.

Those minutes in Faerie were expensive!

Rue and I spent hours playing and roughhousing at the park. If I was gone so long, I was sure he missed me. When I got home, I saw Mahya and Lis reviewing some sketches. Mahya looked at me; her eyes were glowing bright blue, and she had blue streaks in her hair.

“Wow! What happened to your eyes?” I asked, startled.

“What do you mean?” she asked, touching her face.

“Those are Travelers’ eyes. It means that her mana system is finally functioning properly,” said Lis, glancing at her eyes. “Didn’t you notice our eyes?”

“And the blue streaks in her hair?”

“Developed mana system. At some point, you’ll have purple streaks,” Lis explained.

“You don’t have green ones. How come?”

“I don’t want to, and I developed enough control to prevent it.”

“Huh!” I said, scratching my head. “You learn something new every day.”

Lis laughed and said, “Yeah, we talked about it.”

I laughed, too, and nodded.

I asked both of them if they wanted to search for Paris rentals.

“Since you know the place better, you should decide,” Lis said, shrugging.

I spent the rest of the day on the computer making calls and found us a four-bedroom apartment in the Boulogne-Billancourt suburb. It wasn’t cheap, but we could afford it. And I decided on a four-bedroom just in case.

At dinner, I gave Mahya the bag with my mother-in-law’s jewelry and said, “Take this; it will help you get back on your feet. Sell the small items first, and each in a different place. Leave the big items to sell in another world; they are too recognizable.”

Mahya looked inside the bag and exclaimed, “I can’t take this! There’s a fortune in jewelry in here! You saved my life and fixed my mana; I can’t take any more from you. I must find a way to repay you for everything you’ve done for me.”

Lis told her, “You should take them. Right now, it’s bothering John’s conscience that he dishonestly got this jewelry. So, you’d be doing him a favor by taking them from him and putting them to good use.”

“Dishonestly?” she asked, looking at me with wide eyes.

“I robbed some people as punishment,” I said in a sheepish voice.

She laughed. “I thought you were a saint and felt unworthy. Thank you for showing me you are a normal person like the rest of us.”

At least she took the jewelry.

I slept on the couch that night. The following day, we went to say goodbye to our neighbor friends. I had to say goodbye to several people, Lis mainly the neighbors on our floor and the girl from across the hall that he connected with. Rue needed a whole day to do a farewell tour and say goodbye to everyone.

This dog was popular!

We moved to Paris to a new apartment and spent six weeks touring the city and all the tourist attractions.

At Disneyland Paris, Lis and Mahya were like kids in a candy store, running around and laughing at every attraction. I, on the other hand, felt like my stomach was doing somersaults after each ride. The teacups and roller coasters especially did a number on me.

We discovered dogs weren’t allowed in the park, which disappointed Rue. So, I got creative and conjured documents that showed he was a Seizure Alert Dog. With his new “job,” Rue happily trotted beside us, his tail wagging like crazy.

On the rides he could join, Rue’s ears flapped in the wind, and he looked like he was having the time of his life. He mentally grumbled about the ones he couldn’t go on, sending me images of his disappointment. But he quickly cheered up with all the kids around, making tons of new little friends.

Even though I felt like I might lose my lunch on every ride, I stuck it out for Rue. By the end of the day, I was pale and wiped out, but seeing Rue so happy made it all worth it. At least my green look helped sell the whole service dog story.

As we walked through Versailles Palace, Mahya looked around with wide eyes and declared, “If I ever settle down somewhere, this is the kind of home I want to build for myself.”

Lis smirked and nudged me. “Hear that? Mahya’s got some grandiose ambitions.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, nothing like aiming for a modest little palace.”

Mahya rolled her eyes but smiled. “Why not dream big?”

“Just don’t forget the golden chandeliers and the endless gardens,” Lis teased, waggling his eyebrows.

“And the hall of mirrors,” I added with a grin. “Can’t forget that.”

We continued to tease her about her grandiose ambitions for the rest of the day, laughing and poking fun at every elaborate feature we passed.

During our tour of Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, Mahya was in awe of the castle’s grandeur. Her eyes sparkled as she admired the intricate architecture and sprawling grounds.

“I think I might want this as my future home,” she mused, her voice filled with wonder. “But now I’m torn between this and Versailles.”

Lis and I exchanged amused glances. “Oh, so now you want two palaces?” Lis teased, nudging her playfully.

“Why not have both?” I added with a grin. “You could alternate between them depending on the season.”

Mahya laughed, shaking her head. “You guys are ridiculous.”

“Just make sure there’s enough room for all your royal subjects,” Lis joked, pretending to bow.

“And don’t forget the moat and drawbridge,” I said, smirking. “Every castle needs those.”

For the rest of the day, we didn’t let up. Every time we passed another grand feature, Lis and I would come up with more elaborate suggestions for her future estate. Mahya took it all in stride, laughing along with us and rolling her eyes at our over-the-top ideas. It became a running joke that kept us entertained, making the tour even more memorable.

We spent three days at the Louvre Museum, and it felt like we were stepping into a different world. We entered each room filled with incredible art and beauty that left us speechless. Mahya’s eyes lit up as she examined the detailed paintings and sculptures, often stopping to take notes or sketch quick drawings. Lis wandered from piece to piece, his face showing a mixture of admiration and curiosity as he read the plaques and tried to interpret the stories behind the art.

I felt equally captivated, filled with a sense of wonder with each masterpiece we encountered. The history, the skill, and the sheer creativity on display were nothing short of magical. We got so carried away, talking about the artists and how they created those masterpieces, and imagining what life must’ve been like when they made these works.

Rue, however, didn’t share our enthusiasm. He trotted beside us, his tail occasionally wagging at the attention from museum-goers, but mostly he seemed unimpressed. I kept getting mental images from him—pictures of him lounging in a park, chasing seagulls, or doing anything other than staring at old paintings. His grumbles were clear: he found the entire experience incredibly boring.

At one point, while we were admiring the Mona Lisa, Rue sent me a particularly vivid image of himself yawning exaggeratedly, making me stifle a laugh. I patted his head and whispered, “Just a bit longer, buddy.”

Despite Rue’s lack of interest, the three days we spent at the Louvre were unforgettable. We left with our minds buzzing with inspiration and a deeper appreciation for art. And Rue, well, he was just happy to be outside finally, ready to chase after anything that moved.

Standing at the base of the Eiffel Tower, I felt a surge of pride and awe. “This is one of Earth’s most famous landmarks,” I announced, gesturing towards the towering structure.

Lis and Mahya looked up, their faces blank. “It’s just a big metal tower,” Lis said, unimpressed.

I frowned, trying to convey its significance. “It’s not just any tower. It was built for the 1889 World’s Fair and has become a symbol of architectural achievement and cultural heritage.”

Mahya tilted her head. “But why is it such a big deal? It’s not even that tall compared to some buildings.”

“It’s about the history and what it represents,” I insisted, launching into a passionate explanation about its construction, the engineering marvel it was at the time, and its role in French culture.

They both exchanged glances, still not getting it. “I guess it’s interesting,” Lis said slowly, “but it just looks like a tower to me.”

Mahya nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I don’t see why it’s so famous.”

Feeling a bit deflated, I sighed. “Well, it’s not just about the structure. It’s about what it symbolizes for Earth.”

They nodded politely, but their lack of enthusiasm was clear. I did my best, but they still didn’t understand the significance of the Eiffel Tower. The alien perspective was annoying sometimes.

On a Seine River Dinner Cruise with live music, the atmosphere was magical. The city lights reflected off the water, and the gentle sway of the boat added to the charm. Rue, however, was the star of the evening. He walked among the passengers, his tail wagging as he mooched treats from everyone.

“Looks like Rue’s the attraction tonight,” Lis joked, watching Rue charm yet another diner into giving him a piece of meat.

Mahya laughed, “He’s having the most fun out of all of us.”

I smiled, seeing Rue’s happiness. Despite the elegant setting and the live music, Rue’s joy was the highlight of the cruise.

The Paris Catacombs were eerie, with their winding tunnels and stacked bones. As we descended into the depths, Rue whined softly, pressing close to my leg. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by an obvious discomfort.

I crouched down and patted his head. “You okay, buddy?”

Rue’s whine grew louder, and he tugged at his leash, trying to head back towards the entrance. I started getting mental pictures from him—images of wide-open spaces and the park, accompanied by a strong feeling of unease. He was clearly sending a message: he wanted out.

I recalled the mine in Shimoor, where Rue spent all his time outside. That was the first time I suspected he might have claustrophobia.

“It’s okay, Rue. We’re almost through,” I whispered, trying to soothe him. But the mental images of escape routes and the overwhelming feeling of wanting to leave made it clear he just wanted out of there. We hurried through the rest of the tour, with Rue practically dragging me towards the exit.

At a Cabaret Show in Montmartre, the dancers’ high-kicking routines captivated Mahya. The next day, she eagerly tried to imitate the moves, enthusiastically throwing her legs in the air. She was practicing in the living room, trying to keep her balance with her arms flailing.

For two days, she kept at it, her kicks growing slightly more coordinated each time but still far from perfect. Her dedication was both impressive and hilarious. On the third morning, she misjudged her balance and toppled over, landing flat on the floor with a thud.

I couldn’t help it—I burst out laughing, clutching my sides as I watched her sprawled out on the floor. Mahya, cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and amusement, grabbed a pillow and threw it at me. “Stop laughing! It’s harder than it looks!” she exclaimed, though she was smiling too.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop,” she said with a grin, finally conceding defeat. “No more high kicks. I don’t want to break anything.”

With that, she gave up on her attempts, sparing us the worry she might break something.

After we finished touring the city, I sat at the computer to look for workshops to collect points. The ease of collecting points shocked Mahya, and she happily joined us.

• Create Your Self-Made Bracelet Souvenir From Paris
• Make Your Own Soap in A French Workshop
• Floral Table Centerpiece Making Workshop
• Private Floral Jewelry Making Workshop
• Craft A Unique Parisian Luxury Bag
• Custom A Unique Denim Jacket With French Celebrities’ Designer
• Sculpture Drawing Lessons
• Talk Dirty In French - Fun Language Workshop
• 100% Organic Lip Care Workshop
• Craft A Unique Souvenir Hat With Lady Gaga’s Renowned Hatmaker
• Personal Workshop in Paris 100% Natural Skincare Routine
• Shibari Rope Art
• One-Hour Private Makeup Class With A Pro Makeup Artist
• Manufacturing of Personalized Phone Clips
• Table Manners A La Francaise
• Street Art Workshop on Canvas
• Custom Your Sneakers Into A Piece Of Art
• Bake The Perfect French Croissant With A Chef
• Chocolate Making Workshop At Choco-Story
• Hands-On Eclair And Choux Making With A Pastry Chef
• Cheese-making Workshop, Including Wine And Cheese Tasting With an Expert
• Mille Feuille Napoléon Pastry Class
• Apéro Lino: Linocut Workshop At Galerie Wawi
• Create Your Own Wine Workshop
• Overcome Under-earning - Women’s “Get Wealthy” Workshop
• Small Business - Payroll And Workers Comp Workshop
• Foundations of Yoga Workshop
• Brand Building Blueprint Workshop
• Monthly Circle Songs - Group Improv Workshop
• Hair Transplantation Workshop: Fue & Fut Techniques Training
• Weaving on Wooden Frame Workshop
• Preserved Flower Wreath Workshop
• Distillation Workshop in A Parisian Micro-Distillery
• Introduction to Card Magic Workshop

The three of us started doing the workshops one by one, and Rue joined us occasionally. The service dog document was a blessing. He could come to all the workshops except for the cooking ones, which made sense; nobody wanted dog fur in the food.

Although we didn’t earn an ability point for the “Talk Dirty in French - Fun Language Workshop,” we had an absolute blast. The instructor was charismatic and had us laughing from the start. We stumbled over pronunciations and blushed at the translations, but we all threw ourselves into the spirit of the workshop.

For days afterward, we couldn’t stop brainstorming French dirty talk ideas. Every conversation seemed to devolve into fits of giggles as we tried out new phrases on each other. Lis took to dramatically reciting his favorites in a faux romantic tone, which only made us laugh harder. Mahya enjoyed practicing in front of the mirror, trying to get the sultry inflections just right.

Rue, however, found our antics thoroughly perplexing. He would sit in the corner, tilting his head and sending me mental images of question marks and confusion. His feelings of bewilderment and slight exasperation were clear—he thought we were all nuts. Every time one of us burst into laughter, Rue would huff and roll his eyes, clearly wondering why his humans had suddenly lost their minds over strange-sounding words.

I had a BIG surprise at the Shibari Rope Art workshop. I had assumed it would be like the Rafia workshop we had done before, involving making things with rope. But it quickly became apparent this was a branch of BDSM. My heart sank, and I felt a wave of mortification wash over me as the instructor explained we would be the ones getting tied up.

As Lis and Mahya listened, I stood there, my face turning tomato red. I couldn’t stop glancing around, wishing for an escape route. When it was my turn, my hands trembled as I reluctantly allowed myself to be tied. The ropes were snug but not painful, yet my embarrassment was palpable. My mind raced with thoughts of how ridiculous I must look. For the entire day, I couldn’t shake the feeling of my face burning with humiliation.

Lis, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. He laughed and joked, fully embracing the experience. At first, Mahya and I exchanged knowing glances and teased him for his enthusiasm, trying to lighten the mood and hide my discomfort.

“Looks like someone’s found a new hobby,” I said, trying to sound amused

“Maybe you’ll be the next rope artist,” Mahya added with a chuckle, though I could see she was warming up to the idea herself.

Mahya, the traitor, soon got caught up in the fun, too. She fantasized out loud about using the techniques in Faerie, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Imagine using these ropes to create one-of-a-kind tree decorations from the elves, especially tying their heads to their asses,” she mused, her voice filled with a sinister delight.

I was so relieved Rue didn’t come and wasn’t there to question my sanity.

At the Private Makeup Class, we were all seated in front of mirrors, surrounded by various makeup tools and products. The instructor welcomed us, and as usual, the participants started chatting. It didn’t take long before one of them asked, “So, are you two together?”

Lis and I exchanged a glance, both of us groaning inwardly. “No, we’re just friends,” I explained, trying to sound casual.

But Mahya, the traitor, had a mischievous glint in her eye. “Oh, come on, don’t be shy,” she said, grinning widely. “These two have the cutest love story.”

Lis shot her a look that could have melted steel, but Mahya was undeterred. “They met in the most romantic way,” she began, leaning in conspiratorially. “John was performing at a little cafe, and Lis was in the audience. Their eyes met, and it was love at first sight.”

“Mahya, seriously,” I muttered, my face heating.

“Oh, and the way Lis swooned when John started playing his guitar,” Mahya continued, ignoring me. “It was like something out of a movie.”

One participant sighed dreamily. “That’s so sweet!”

Lis, now thoroughly exasperated, looked ready to strangle her. “Mahya, stop,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

But she was on a roll. “And their first date was under the stars. John serenaded Lis with a song he wrote just for him.”

I buried my face in my hands, mortified. “Please, make it stop.”

The class was eating it up, giggling and asking for more details. “What’s the song called?” someone asked.

She continued making the story up, so Lis and I just ignored her. It was easier.

After class, Lis and I cornered her. “You know, one of these days, I might actually strangle you,” Lis said, half-joking.

I nodded, still blushing. “Next time, we need to come up with a signal to shut you up.”

Mahya just grinned. “Oh, come on, you know it was fun. Now, let’s go get some coffee, my treat.”

We couldn’t stay mad at her for long and left the class laughing about the absurdity of it all. At least all of us got the point, and I learned how to contour my eyes “to make them pop out”.

Ugh!

The Table Manners’ workshop was a bust. We sat around a beautifully set table, learning the proper way to handle utensils and fold napkins, but the system didn’t award us any skill points for the hardship.

“Seriously? No points for knowing which fork to use?” I grumbled.

“Guess table manners aren’t a real skill,” Mahya said, rolling her eyes.

The three of us complained about it for days, but the system remained unconvinced and still refused to give us the points.

After the workshop, Lis, Mahya, and Rue developed an insatiable craving for eclairs and Choux. Every day, they begged for more, with Rue being the most insistent. He would sit by the kitchen, eyes wide and hopeful. When I tried to explain that chocolate was harmful to dogs, Rue simply used telekinesis to move things around, sending me a distinct feeling of “What dog?”

“Who said it was a good idea to give a dog telekinesis?” I muttered, watching a spoon float across the room.

For the Women’s “Get Wealthy” Workshop, Lis and I had to glamor ourselves as women since the workshop insisted only women could attend.

Stupid rules!

Lis strutted around with his new look, fully embracing his alter ego. “Call me Lisa,” he said with a wink, adjusting his hair with a flourish.

I looked at my reflection, not quite believing what I saw. “I can’t believe we have to do this just to attend a workshop.”

Lis smirked. “Hey, anything for skill points.”

Grumbling, I adjusted my newly glamoured dress. “Next time, we should read the fine print. I feel ridiculous.”

As we entered the workshop, I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath, “This better be worth it.”

Well, it was worth it—we got the point.

Lis and I didn’t get a point for the Weaving on Wooden Frame Workshop; at least Mahya did. We concluded it was because of the other three weaving workshops we attended in London. It seems there’s a limit to skill variation farming. We still thought it was unfair and complained about it loudly. Mahya called us crybabies.

After the Chocolate Making Workshop at Choco-Story, we toured the whole chocolate museum and bought an ungodly amount of chocolate. I personally spent over 20,000 euros.

In the Card Magic Workshop, we attempted to master sleight of hand and various card tricks. After numerous failed attempts, we exchanged looks of frustration. “You know, actual magic is a lot easier,” Lis said, tossing the deck of cards aside.

“Agreed,” Mahya nodded. “This is way too complicated.”

We all laughed, deciding to stick with real magic from now on.

Basically, Paris was a lot of fun.