The Gate Traveler

TravelingDreamer

Hi everybody,
This is a side story, that gives a glimpse of the Travelers' world, but also has a connection to the main story. The side stories are a bonus, not instead of a main chapter.

Age 14

"Dad, I can't run anymore!"

"Yes, you can. When I was traveling the demon realm Jehenam, I had to run for …"

Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before—me and every other person who knows about the Gates and would listen to you for more than five minutes.

I tuned him out and continued running. After some time, my lungs were on fire, and my legs wouldn't carry me anymore.

"… and I entered the cave, and there were those giant lizards with horns …"

He's still going about it?

Age 15

"Ouch, Dad, you almost broke my arm!"

"You have to learn to block."

"I did block, but you hit me too hard. I don't have the Trait numbers like you!"

"Those are just excuses; Trait numbers are not everything. When I was traveling the demon realm of Jehenam, I had to fight …"

Here we go again …

Age 16

"Mom, I can't eat that! It's raw!"

"Yes, you can. You have to learn to adapt. When your father was traveling the demon realm of Jehenam, he had to survive on raw …"

Oh, Blessed Spirits of Old, not you too!

Age 17

"Swear to me!"

"But it's not fair! You left our world with 50 gold that Grandad gave you. Why can't I leave until I earn 5 gold on my own? You are setting me up to fail!"

"NO! I'm preparing you for every eventuality. When I was traveling the demon realm of Jehenam, I had to …"

Blessed Spirits of Old, please kill me; I can't hear this again.

Age 19

"Seriously? You want me to leave with one week of food rations and two weeks of water supply? You left home with all of Grandad's traveling equipment, food and water for months, and 50 gold. How is that fair?"

"You need to make your own fortune in the universe. When I was traveling the demon realm of Jehenam …"

Yeah, yeah, three demons wanted to eat you and chased you for five days; you had to fight monsters, and then they found something else to eat and left. You didn't have ability points to buy Invisibility, so it took you twenty-two days to sneak to the Gate. Your portal hopped home and never left.

" … I climbed the cliff …"

Blessed Spirits of Old, why do I deserve this? Did I offend some great deity? Why me?

_____

Thank you Blessed Spirits, Finally!