The Gate Traveler

Lis hugged Mahya and said in a soft voice, “Take care of John; he’ll be lost for a while.”

Mahya nodded, her expression determined. “Don’t worry, he’s my friend too.”

Lis looked at her with a severe expression. “Also, take care of yourself. Keep learning and improving. But don’t do stupid things anymore. Think before you act.”

“I promise, Sensei,” she replied with a smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Lis smiled and said, “You decided to adopt the name, eh?”

Mahya shrugged, a smile spreading across her face. “On Earth, there is a saying, ‘if the shoe fits’; in this case, the shoe fits perfectly.”

He gave her one last hug, his grip holding her for a moment before he walked over to John. Without hesitation, Lis hugged him hard. “Goodbye, my friend,” he said, his voice deep with emotion. “May your road be full of wonders and joy.”

John looked like he was going to cry, his eyes glistening, but he held it back, swallowing hard. Lis understood the emotion.

John cleared his throat. His voice was thick with emotion. “May your road be happy, and your adventures gentle.”

Mahya approached them, and they did one last group hug. Lis almost gave up on the dragon plane; it was hard to say goodbye to his family, and they were, indeed, his family. But they needed to learn to stand on their own without him watching over them.

And one day, his and John’s Luck Trait would lead them to meet again. He knew it for sure. There was no chance that the Guiding Spirits would not bring them together again. After almost four hundred years of travel, his connection with this person surpassed all others.

He walked up to Rue, scratched his ears, and mentally told him, “Be a good boy and protect John.”

Rue shouted back, “Promise!”

He took a deep breath and glanced at his family. Then, he stepped through the Gate, leaving everything he knew behind. This was his fate as a Traveler, to wander the cosmos.

The crossing was instantaneous. One moment, Lis was on Earth; the next, he stood in a world that defied description. He was in a jungle unlike any jungle he had ever seen. Towering trees with iridescent leaves reached for a sky of deep, swirling purples and blues. They were so tall they made him feel like an ant in a world of giants. Serpent-like vines hung on the trees, glowing faintly and giving the forest a magical feel. Vibrant, bioluminescent plants carpeted the ground. The plants were giant, too—each leaf covering him like a roof over his head. The air was full of scents he had never smelled before. Some were sharp, almost hearting his nose, and others so sweet they were nauseating—all those scents mixed with the faint scent of mildew and wet soil. In the distance, the call of an unknown creature echoed, a haunting sound that sent a shiver down Lis’s spine.

“Welcome to the Dragon Plane,” he muttered to himself.

Lis crouched in the shadows, his breath steady and silent. He peered through the dense foliage of an alien jungle. He activated his Invisibility and Stealth, his only hope of survival. The jungle seemed to swallow him as he navigated the underbrush without making a sound. He calculated each step and moved with caution through this unfamiliar terrain.

The dense jungle seemed alive with danger. Lis moved with careful steps, his senses on high alert. The air was thick with humidity, and the ground beneath his feet was soft and treacherous. He avoided paths that seemed too obvious, knowing that predators often lay in wait for the unwary. His invisibility and stealth were his greatest assets, but he needed to do his part not to give himself away.

Lis navigated the dense underbrush with care. Each step was challenging as he navigated the thick foliage and uneven terrain. The size of the plants was a blessing and a curse. They covered and hid him like a bush hiding a beetle, but their size made it hard to navigate through an underbrush of giants. His senses were on high alert, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of danger. The jungle was alive with movement and sound—chirps, rustles, and distant roars kept him on edge.

As he ventured deeper, he found a mix of animals and mythical beasts. He saw small, bird-like creatures. They had scales, not feathers, and their eyes glinted with intelligence. He heard a large thing rustling in the trees above, but he could never see it.

He saw colossal creatures standing on two muscular hind legs. Their massive tails sweeping behind them for balance. Long, powerful jaws held razor-sharp teeth, ready to crush anything that dared cross their path. Dark shades mottled their scaly, rough, weathered skin, helping them blend into the foliage. Small, almost comical arms stretched from their chests, seeming out of place on such fearsome predators. Each step they took made the ground tremble. And all the smaller creatures hid when they passed by.

With great effort, a hulking, four-legged creature made its way across the landscape. Thick, bony plates protected its body, while spikes jutted from its back like living fortifications. No predator dared challenge it without serious consideration. Its low-slung body moved with a heavy, deliberate pace, and a clubbed tail swung menacingly from behind, capable of shattering bones with a single strike. Its beady eyes scanned the ground as it grazed, unbothered by threats, its natural armor a testament to survival.

The first true test of his survival skills came when he stumbled upon a watering hole. He had to cross this area or climb impossible cliffs. After some consideration, he proceeded, despite the danger near watering holes. He approached it with care, scanning the area for any threats. A massive creature emerged from the jungle. It was a towering beast with a ridge of spines along its back and teeth that looked like they could crush steel.

Lis froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The creature sniffed the air, its eyes narrowing as if it detected his scent. His Stealth was at the maximum level of 25, and there shouldn’t be any trace of him—be it scents, sound, or tracks. But the creature’s reaction indicated that he sensed him somehow. Lis backed away, ensuring his movements were deliberate and measured. As the beast tensed to charge, a loud roar filled the jungle. It retreated swiftly and vanished into the foliage.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lis realized how precarious his situation was. He existed in a world where he wasn’t the top predator, and each step held the possibility of his demise.

The first night was the hardest. Strange sounds filled the air, the calls of creatures he couldn’t identify. Beneath a canopy of luminous leaves, he discovered a secluded spot, where their glow cast a soft, eerie light. He stuck the poles Mahya made into the ground and hoped they would be enough to hide him.

Sleep came in fits and starts, haunted by dreams of monstrous beasts and alien landscapes. When dawn broke, a golden light bathed the jungle, with the hues shifting as the sun climbed higher. Lis resumed his trek, his goal clear in his mind: to reach a city of the dragons. He had heard stories of this plane. It was a place where the dragon kin lived in harmony. Their society was a marvel of Magitech and mysticism.

High above, creatures soared, their wide, leathery wings catching thermal currents. Their long heads had sharp, toothy beaks, perfect for snatching prey from the ground below. Their body was light, almost skeletal, built for flight, while talon-tipped legs dangled beneath, ready to strike. A long, thin tail whipped behind as they glided, ruling the skies with grace and precision—a predator unlike any that walked the land.

Towering herbivores moved on four sturdy legs, their necks stretching high into the treetops, where small, flat teeth easily stripped leaves. Their colossal body, covered in thick, wrinkled skin, moved with deliberate slowness. Peaceful giants in a dangerous world, their long tails swinging lazily behind them, counterbalancing their tall necks. They cast a long shadow over the forest floor, deterring attackers.

A powerful, stocky beast across his path. Sharp, defensive horns crowned its head, and a large, bony frill extended behind it. Its muscular legs carried it forward with a steady gait, and its beak-like mouth chomped through tough plants. A peaceful grazer, but not defenseless. When threatened, it charged with immense force, its horned face a battering ram capable of goring any foe. And gore it did, before Lis’s eyes.

Days passed as he pressed on. His Stealth and Invisibility saved him from countless threats. He skirted the territories of giant, scaled predators, their footsteps shaking the ground. He avoided flocks of winged drakes. Their screeches echoed as they hunted from above. Each close call served as a reminder of his fragile existence.

He encountered creatures of all shapes and sizes. Some walked on four legs, others on two, and many slithered or flew. Their eyes glowed in the darkness, reflecting predatory intelligence. The jungle’s constant cacophony reminded him he was never alone.

After several days of navigating the dense jungle, Lis reached the edge of a vast, barren expanse. The change was abrupt. Lush greenery gave way to a desolate land of cracked, dry earth and towering rocks. The sun beat down with relentless intensity, and the air felt dry and hot.

Lis scanned the horizon. He noted the skeletal remains of long-dead creatures. Their bones bleached white from the harsh sun. The barren expanse was as dangerous as the jungle, albeit in different ways. The lack of cover made him vulnerable to predators, and the heat was stifling. Lis felt a chill run down his spine, and the desolation was a stark reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.

During his trek through this hot, desolate land, he had to hide from colossal scorpions the size of buses. Their segmented tails, arched high, dripped venom. It sizzled on the cracked earth. Their legs, as thick as tree trunks, moved with unsettling speed. Each step stirred up clouds of dust. Their pincers snapped in the air. The sound echoed across the dunes. They could crush boulders like pebbles, and their armored shells glistened under the sun. They blended with the golden sand as they scuttled past, oblivious to all.

Further along, towering beetles the size of small houses roamed the dunes. Their hardened exoskeletons shimmered in the heat, reflecting the light like polished metal. Massive mandibles clicked together with a mechanical sound. They could slice through rock with the same ease as cutting through dry vegetation. Their immense weight left deep grooves in the sand, creating created trenches where nothing grew. Their antennae twitched and flicked, scanning the air for any sign of food or danger.

He had to keep a wide berth from the giant centipedes slithering through the sands, each one as long as a train. Hundreds of legs pushed their sleek, serpentine bodies forward. The way they moved so smoothly was unsettling. Their black, glossy shells glistened in the desert sun. With clicking and twitching jaws, they tasted the air. Their segmented bodies cast long shadows over the dunes when they reared up, and their many eyes reflected the cold, unfeeling sky. A faint tremor shook the ground as they passed, like an underground disturbance.

Then there were the monstrous horned lizards, as large as tanks. They lumbered through the desert, taking slow, deliberate steps. Their thick, spiked tails dragged behind them, leaving deep furrows in the sand. The heat seemed to roll off their scaled bodies, shimmering like a mirage. Their tongues, long and sticky, flicked out to snatch up anything that ventured too close. When threatened, they opened their massive jaws. Rows of sharp teeth showed. Their backs bristled with sharp spines. These could impale any foolish attacker.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red, Lis found shelter in a cave. As he ate, he heard distant wings flapping. Drakes patrolled the skies at night. The cave provided a measure of safety, but Lis knew he couldn’t stay there forever. He had to keep moving through the vast, barren expanse to find dragons.

It took him days to cross the barren landscape. Facing new challenges, he had to test his strength and resolve for each one. He faced fierce lightning storms that could tear him apart and sandstorms that could bury him alive. He continued on, crossing treacherous ravines. A single misstep could be fatal. He navigated mazes of rock and sand where eerie nocturnal creatures hunted in the dark. Upon arriving in a snowy, icy area, he faced another drastic shift. One moment, he was in oppressive dry heat, and the next, in bone-chilling cold. The snow posed new challenges. He had to keep warm and find stable ground beneath it.

But the creatures of the frozen wasteland were far more imposing than the harsh elements. Massive, woolly spiders, the size of cabins, scurried across the icy plains. Their thick, fur-covered legs left deep grooves in the snow. Icicles hung from their huge fangs. Their breath puffed out, freezing and visible from afar. Their webs, like silver threads, glistened as they stretched between icy crags. They were strong enough to trap even the largest prey. The spiders moved silently. Their cold, glassy eyes reflected the endless white.

Not far behind, ice wolves roamed in packs. Each was as large as a bus, their fur blending with the snow. Their howls echoed across the frozen wasteland. It was a haunting sound that made the hairs on the back of Lis’s neck stand up. Their paws could crush a man in a single step. They left massive imprints in the snow. Their sharp, blue-tinged eyes never missed a movement. They were relentless hunters. Their breath froze the surrounding air, and their fangs could tear through thick ice. They pursued anything that dared to cross their path.

High above, giant frost eagles with wingspans as wide as a building circled the sky. Their feathers, crystalline and shimmering, sparkled in the pale sunlight. With each powerful beat of their wings, flurries of snow erupted beneath them. Their beaks, jagged and ice-encrusted, could snap through bone with ease. They swooped down with deadly precision. Their talons could seize entire trees or unwary travelers.

And in the distance, enormous mammoths, larger than ships, lumbered across frozen tundras. Their tusks, long and sharp as spears, glistened with frost. Their shaggy fur, thick and matted with ice, swayed with each heavy step. The ground shook with their passing, and their deep, rumbling calls echoed through the strongest blizzards. When threatened, they swung their tusks with terrifying force, demolishing entire ice formations in a single blow.

The early sun cast long shadows over the snow-capped mountains of the Dragon Plane. Cold air bit at any brave creature’s skin in the peaks. A distant, earth-rending roar shattered the calm of the morning. It sent flocks of birds skyward in a panic.

Lis watched the unfolding drama from a vantage point on a nearby ridge. An ice drake emerged from a cave high above. It took to the sky, its scales glistening like diamonds in the early light. The drake stretched its massive wings. It roared a challenge that echoed through the valleys. Its frosty breath trailed behind it in a cloud of sparkling ice crystals.

Lis’s eyes widened as he spotted the source of the drake’s ire. A manticore soared across the sky on bat-like wings. Its lion-like body and scorpion tail made a menacing silhouette.

The two titans collided mid-air with a bone-jarring impact reverberating through the mountains. Lis felt the ground beneath him shake, and he clung to a rock to keep his balance. The air crackled with energy as the drake struck first, freezing the manticore in a cloud of frost. The manticore snarled in pain. Its claws slashed out, tearing through the ice drake’s scales.

Their massive wings beat with great intensity in battle. The wind howled through the mountains, uprooting trees and crashing them down the slopes. It also whipped the snow into a frenzy, creating a blinding blizzard. Their struggle was so immense that the ground trembled. Cracks spider-webbed through the thick ice.

Lis watched, filled with awe and terror, as they contorted in the air, each striving for advantage. The ice drake exhaled. A freezing vortex formed in the air. The manticore’s fiery eyes burned with heat, melting the snow beneath it. The Traveler could feel the heat from the manticore’s fiery eyes, even from afar.

The drake unleashed a blast of icy breath, freezing the manticore’s wings. Their battle reached a fever pitch. With panic in his fiery eyes, the manticore plunged towards the mountainside. Yet, the manticore proved challenging to defeat. With a mighty roar, he shattered the ice encasing his wings and pulled up before hitting the ground. His tail lashed out. It struck a massive rock formation and sent it tumbling down the mountain.

The avalanche began with a gradual movement, as a few rocks dislodged from the force of the collision. But as the battle raged, the tremors grew more violent. Soon, entire sections of the mountainside began to collapse. Snow and ice cascaded down in a deadly wave, engulfing everything in its path.

Lis’s heart pounded as he scrambled for higher ground. He kept his eyes on the battle above. The two titans fought with great intensity, unaware of the destruction they caused. Their roars echoed through the mountains, a symphony of rage and power that shook the very earth.

In a final, desperate attempt to turn the tide, the manticore lunged at the drake, its claws extended. But the ice drake was ready. He dodged the attack with a swift, powerful move. Then, he blasted icy breath, freezing the manticore’s wings again.

The manticore roared in fury and pain as he fell with frozen wings. He crashed into the mountainside, and the impact sent another wave of snow and ice tumbling down. With eyes filled with triumph, the drake watched from above.

Gaining momentum, the avalanche buried trees and rocks under tons of snow and ice. The impact’s force created shockwaves. They caused more cracks and collapsed parts of the mountainside. Lis clung to his perch, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he watched the devastation unfold.

The manticore struggled to escape his icy prison. His eyes burned with a desire for revenge. He broke free with a final, mighty effort, his wings shattering the surrounding ice. He glared up at the drake, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. But for now, someone had beaten him. With a roar of frustration, he turned and flew away, disappearing into the distance.

The drake landed on a nearby peak, his body covered with wounds from the battle. He spread his wings and took to the sky once more, the icy wind carrying him back to his lair. He soared above the mountains. Below, he saw the devastation, the aftermath of a clash between two mighty beasts.

Lis watched in awe as the ice drake vanished, leaving the scarred land behind. The battle was fierce, a reminder of the power and fury of the Dragon Plane.

Witnessing something unsettling, the Traveler made his way down the mountain. He knew he had seen something exceptional. As he descended, he felt a deep respect for the mighty beasts that called these mountains home.

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

After a month of danger and hardship, Lis stood on a cliff, gazing down at the dragon city of Holmeserion. From this vantage point, the city unfolded before him like a legend. It was a breathtaking blend of nature and magic. It stretched across the land in a seamless dance between the ancient and the arcane. Towering spires of stone and crystal reached skyward; their peaks glimmered in the fading sunlight. Glowing runes adorned each one, pulsing like a heartbeat. Light bridges, delicate and ethereal, arched across deep chasms that split the city. Their surfaces rippled like liquid magic beneath the feet of those who dared to cross. From this distance, the cascading waterfalls caught his eye. They tumbled from the city’s high cliffs and crags. Their waters shimmered in blue and gold. Despite the altitude, they didn’t freeze.

The inhabitants, even from this far, were impossible to miss. Dragons soared high above the city. Their massive wings beat the air in slow, deliberate strokes. They were a majestic sight, with the sunlight reflecting off their gemstone-like scales. It cast a light show of emeralds, sapphires, and rubies across the city below. Some dragons circled the tallest towers. Their massive forms dwarfed the already immense spires. Others landed on perches carved into the city’s walls. Closer to the streets, he saw smaller figures. They were humanoid but had draconian features. Even from this distance, their elegance and power were clear. They moved with a purpose. Their forms blended with the city’s bustle.

Lis squinted, focusing on the intricate Magitech inventions scattered throughout the city. Hovering platforms floated across the city, ferrying passengers and goods in silence. They weaved through the air, guided by invisible magic. Lis could only sense it from his distant perch. Below, he saw enchanted carriages gliding along the streets. Their wheels made minimal contact with the ground. Mechanical wings soared, daring travelers through the sky, from one spire to the next.

Deeper in the city, the magical workshops sparkled with arcane energy. From this distance, the glow of their enchanted forges lit up the lower districts. It cast a faint light that lit the city. It felt otherworldly. He could almost hear a faint hum and a crackle. Skilled hands, with unwavering dedication, shaped metal and magic into powerful devices. Massive, humanoid constructs, glimmering with crystal and steel, walked the streets. Their towering forms glided smoothly despite their size. They performed tasks with the grace of a living being.

The entire city seemed to pulse with mana. The runes on the towering spires and the flowing waterfalls glowed. Everything pulsed with a quiet, steady hum of magic. It was as though the city itself were alive, each part connected by a vast, invisible web of power. Even the air around the city shimmered. The energy that powered its magical wonders charged it. From this high vantage point, Lis could see it all. The sprawling streets, the rising towers, and the mystical life that filled every inch of the city with a hum.

Holmeserion wasn’t a place—it was a living, breathing marvel of magic. Below, statues of dragons stood watch over the grand plazas. Their eyes gleamed with a faint glow of the mana that powered the city. The trees, even from this distance, stood tall and proud. Their leaves shimmered with unnatural silver and gold. The same magic that sustained the city’s foundations fed them. Ancient wards and protections, hidden beneath the surface, radiated power. They shielded and sustained the city with the magic flowing through its veins.

Lis took a deep breath. The high-altitude wind chilled his face. But the sight of the city below left him breathless. Holmeserion stood like a jewel in the wild. It was a place where nature, magic, and technology united. Here, dragons and magic ruled in perfect harmony.

He made it! It had been a journey long-awaited, but he made it.

He looked up at the sky, prayed to the Guiding Spirits to protect him, and entered the dragon city. It was time to start a new chapter in his travels.