Daniel knocked on the doors of one of the buildings put up in Eido, the smell of the fresh-cut wood showing how soon it’d been since it’d been put up. “It’s me, is this a good time?”

  He listened to the response, trying to hear a second language layered underneath, but it just was English. “Oh, Daniel! Yes, please come in, but be careful. Pouncer is very quick to run outside.” Gadriel’s story was still in his mind, but he had to laugh to himself about the name. It was a little unimaginative, but it was Tak who’d come up with it.

  A small furred form pressed against his leg as Daniel cracked the door open, and he saw the tabby kitten, now named Pouncer, recoil slightly as he recognized Daniel and retreated. It was a bit ironic that the kitten was still afraid of him because of what had happened at the cage, but held no fear for Tak. Another fact in the same vein was that the avianoid had become popular after weeks of being stuck in a cage because he had the only real pet on the island. Emily hadn’t been exaggerating before about how things had been run before the Upswell.

  It was just Tak here right now, not counting the kitten. The Blessed, what number of them were left, were busy guarding the prisoners new and old while the regular townsfolk went about their duties. Despite everything there was a city to run, and with Marshall gone, Lograve mistrusted, and Gadriel… there was a very real power vacuum that had yet to be filled. Everyone was doing what they’d always done, which meant Tak had no one to tell him what to do. He also probably deserved a few days to recover from his ordeal.

  “Hey, Tak.” Daniel reached for the kitten as he entered, but it fled behind where Tak was sitting on the floor and under the small table. The entire structure was essentially a living area and a sleeping area. Like an apartment minus the bathroom or kitchen, which were communal. There were a couple of simple chairs in the room, but not much else. Well, there were cat toys littering the floor too. “I’m glad you like the kitten.”

  “It was a good gift. Pouncer is energetic. Young. We had pets before, but this is the first one that is mine.” Tak turned in place, reaching behind him and pulling out a mewling kitten which he then held in his arms while stroking. Pouncer kept his gaze locked on Daniel all the while.

  “While you were with the Spiritualists?” Daniel ventured.

  “Yes. In Forola.” Tak looked thoughtful for a moment. “I do not think I ever said which region to Daniel. Oh well. I will tell him when I see him.”

  That was still something Daniel was getting used to. The people who had known him, er, Octyrrum-Daniel, had different reactions. With Tak, he just acted like he and Octyrrum-Daniel were brothers whose parents had made unfortunate naming decisions. Tak had yet to bring up the fact that he’d watched everything that had happened, though he freely referenced their past making it clear he hadn’t forgotten or anything like that.

  No, Tak was still Tak, which was encouraging to everyone. “I think he’d like to hear about it.”

  “Yes! We just need to find a way back. Would you come?”

  “Would I-“ Daniel blinked. No one had asked him that. Lograve was working on something that might be able to get them home, how he wasn’t sure, but the assumption was that the Octyrrum natives would return and then… well, it depended on how that all worked. “I don’t know if I should. I wouldn’t get his powers or anything, I’d be starting at zero.”

  “Oh, I know. You two are not the same. You are fatter, for example.” Tak said this while releasing Pouncer and tossing one of the small rolls of twine for him to chase, as if this was just a mere observation instead of a brutal takedown. Anyone else and he would think Tak was playing a game, but that wasn’t the avianoid’s style. Both watched as Pouncer did what his name would suggest before flopping onto his back and batting at the toy. “I do worry about Khiat and Khare. And everyone else. Things were bad when we left. Hunter.”

  There was nothing Daniel could say to that. Tak didn’t have the same heartbroken grief as Gadriel’s remorse, but it was no less complicated an emotion. If anything, he had more reasons to be devastated due to the bond that had been broken. The avianoid’s bearing wasn’t like Gadriel’s though. There was still happiness there. Granted one had armbands of pain and the other had a kitten, but Daniel couldn’t see that as the only reason for the difference.

  “How are you doing?” Daniel asked eventually as Tak had grown silent, tracing a talon across the floor to attract the attention of Pouncer. Tak waited until the kitten had attacked his hand, trying and failing to bite through the tough skin of his hand, before giving his answer.

  “It is not anger.”

  “What?” Daniel wasn’t immediately sure what Tak was talking about until he remembered one of the last times he’d seen the avianoid on the Octyrrum. Tak looked up from Pouncer and nodded at the comprehension he saw.

  “Someone smarter may have figured it out sooner. Lograve, maybe, but we were all busy.”

  “Did you figure it out?”

  Tak tilted his head. “Maybe. I still do not remember after it happened. When it did, there was so much. Too much.” One hand went to his head, which allowed the cat to struggle free from the other one. “But not anger. More than that.”

  “Hatred?” Daniel asked. His guess was mostly based on the power of the dark side. Hate and anger didn’t seem too far from each other to be fair, but what happened next showed him that the difference might be subtle but important. Tak closed his eyes as part of him rippled, the kitten hissing and running to hide under the bed. Daniel was debating going for either the door or a window before Tak’s eyes opened again and he sighed.

  “Closer. Before, this was something I could not control. Now, I think I can use it.”

  Daniel took a few seconds to breathe before asking, “Do you think you can control yourself while you’re using the power?”

  “I do not know. Probably best not to find out now, unless you have more kittens.” The Totem Warrior smiled in the next moment to show he was joking. “You will want to move from the door.”

  “What do you-“ A knock interrupted him, the voice of Emily coming through though he couldn’t understand the words.

  “You can come in! Pouncer is hiding, do not worry.”

  Daniel stood and took one of the chairs, somewhat awkwardly placing it against a wall and sitting down to give more space. With the furniture, there was room for only four people to stand comfortably. Emily came in and looked surprised to see him, to which Daniel just returned a small wave. I need to stop slacking with this, but it doesn’t help that Lograve can’t tutor me long distance like he can Alex.

  “Under the bed,” Tak replied to what sounded like a question from Emily. “He is still somewhat jumpy. I do not blame him.”

  Emily’s next sentence definitely had ‘thank you’ in it, but there was more there he couldn’t understand. She then nodded at him and went to the other room, which made Daniel feel more comfortable about continuing his conversation. “You really can’t tell the difference?”

  “It all sounds the same. I do not know why, though.” Daniel had his own idea, but there were too many assumptions behind it to say for sure. It also touched on a painful topic. “I am surprised you are not the same.”

  “I never had any magic behind me. There was a bond, but I think it was completely artificial, if that’s even possible. It kept me linked to the other Daniel until…” Daniel trailed off.

  “Hunter died, yes.” They both looked to Emily, but she was either preoccupied with coaxing Pouncer out or was pretending not to listen. “You were stupid.”

  “Uh, what?”

  “Doing what you did, not smart. Maybe it is mean to say, but it is like if,” Tak thought for a moment. “Like if I jumped down a dark hole we heard monsters through. Though maybe I would also have had my arms tied behind my back.” Daniel just blinked in response and Tak shrugged. “I could get them loose without a problem, so either way it works.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Uh, you’re talking about sending myself to the Octyrrum?”

  “Yes!” Tak confirmed brightly, as if what he’d just said hadn’t happened. “There may be things I have not been told, but from what I know, you could have sent yourself somewhere very bad. Like in the middle of monsters, or deep underground. Or very high up.”

  “One of those things did happen. Technically two,” Daniel added, remembering the first terrifying fight he’d seen after the screens had turned on.

  “That is what I am saying.”

  “Well, uh, thanks? I did think about that afterward.”

  “Maybe should have thought about that before,” Tak said sagely before his neutral face turned into what Daniel guessed was an amused grin. “But it is in the past. Also smart, or lucky, depending. If you had not done that, Hunter would never have become himself. Many things would not have happened, good or bad.”

  Tak isn’t mad at me too, is he? Daniel thought, trying to figure out what the avianoid’s point was exactly. He didn’t seem the type of person to run head games like this, he was straightforward. “Tak, what are you trying to tell me?”

  “Hmm. It is strange, I wondered if you could tell without me saying. You two are different. Both have seen, but only one has felt. Maybe wisdom makes a difference too?” Tak shook his head. “Still not enough intelligence, I am afraid. I will have to advance it more after we go back.”

  “Uh, Tak?” Daniel ventured, interrupting the monologue.

  “Oh, sorry. You were stupid. It was a bad mistake, but good things happened from it as well. Most importantly, it was in the past.” He got the point now, but Tak was only picking up steam. “You, the other you, were stuck thinking about something like this too. I thought you would have learned, but maybe it was hard when it was happening to someone else. But it is the same lesson. Something bad happened in the past. Think about it, learn from it, but do not take too much time trying to find something that is not there.”

  “It’s not just that I made a mistake, Tak. I hurt people,” Daniel pointed out.

  “And you have tried to make it better. There is a line there too, I think. You do things to try and help, to make up for it. If they keep hating you, then that is all you can do.” The silence from behind Tak told him Emily was listening in at this point, and it was impossible for her not to pick up at least the avianoid’s side of things. “You have to think of the future at some point. Losing Hunter, I do not think I have had enough time, yet, but I know there will be a day to move on.” Tak turned his head and smiled at Pouncer, who was in Emily’s arms, showing he knew what she’d been doing by the lack of surprise on his face. “You are past that, I think. If people blame you for your decision, then they will keep blaming you. You have done enough to show you are sorry, I think. Now it is time for you to stop blaming yourself.”

  “You’re telling me to accept the past.”

  “Yes.”

  Daniel didn’t know what to say. For one, he completely agreed with Octyrrum-Daniel on how weird it could be to talk with Tak sometimes. His mind worked differently, simpler, but at times more insightful than anyone else. It could have been chalked up to a high wisdom, low intelligence distribution, but that wasn’t all there was. No, it was more like how duskers were naturally inclined to benefit from the strength attribute except for a person rather than a race.

  On the other hand, he disagreed that his choice to send himself to the Octyrrum was a mistake. Bad things had happened because of it, sure, but he still stood by the decision. There were other things he regretted, however, and Tak’s words did help how he felt about that. “Thanks, I appreciate the advice.”

  “I hope it helps.” He turned to Emily, and again, all Daniel heard was English when he spoke. Trying to see if Tak’s lips matched with what he was hearing was impossible as well, if only because of biology. “You should bring Pouncer to your home some days. We should share him, I think, when we get back.”

  Emily seemed startled by the offer and her unintelligible words expressed that. “No, it is fine. I know he is just a cat. I cannot take him hunting, and he will need someone to look out for him. You like him, and I think he is good for you. Not that I am saying I will not visit when I am around.”

  “You’re pretty confident that there will be a way back. What makes you think that?” Daniel commented when Emily didn’t immediately reply. He knew Lograve had his theories, but there was an assuredness that suggested it wasn’t a theory on Tak’s part. Tak turned back to him and shrugged.

  “There was a way we got here. It makes sense there should be a way back. It would be inconvenient otherwise.”

  …

  I’ve finished talking with our ‘guest’.

  Make any progress?

  Oh, yes, I am now completely certain she will knife us all in the back given the chance, if only because of how hard she tried to seem like she was going along with it.

  I see.

  Lograve, head invisibly resting against a tree, sighed. He didn’t need to be in hiding in the outskirts of Eido now that Marshall’s insistence on stealing his magical items was gone, but he’d grown somewhat used to it. There was also the fact to consider that he’d never manage to work on his ritual in peace there, not that that was what he was doing now. You’re sure that’s the only way to resolve this?

  Depends. For the mercs, definitely. Most of those in the cargo ship’s crew could probably be released without anything else coming down on us now that Marshall isn’t there to stop us. I can help with that, if you trust me, Chris replied. He had taken to running around Eido helping where he could, feigning half-comprehension of the Octyrrum language that he was ‘slowly getting better at’. Lograve hadn’t let anyone else on to what the man, if that was what he could be called, had told him the night of the raid. There wasn’t a productive reason to considering the trouble the truth would cause. It was for the same reason most of the people in Eido still thought they were on the Octyrrum.

  I still don’t know why you aren’t worried about more coming.

  Chris sighed through the link. Alright, no harm in telling you I suppose. Just know this will open up a discussion I’ll have to stop at a certain point.

  Color me intrigued regardless.

  The island’s moving.

  Lograve picked his head up and gazed around, taking note of the yacht still tied up in the distance. No it’s not.

  It is.

  If it was, your boat should be straining at its ropes or pushed into the dock.

  It’s, ah, look. The rest of the world’s been noticing gravity acting strangely around the general area of the island. Gravity anomalies. Now, I don’t think most have figured out that’s the issue, just noticing the signs, but-

  I thought you were telling me why we shouldn’t be worried about being discovered. Lograve considered the facts, and with that extra tidbit, realized something. His eyes widened. We’re not physically on Earth, are we?

  Not exactly. Bringing a large amount of land over would already be problematic, but the people would be worse, as we discussed. There’s also the fact that this island would have immediately sunk to the ocean’s depths if it were fully here. The people who set this up-

  Who you still won’t tell me the identities of? Lograve asked testily. It wasn’t every day you heard a group wanted to destroy an entire world and then have the ‘who’ of it shrouded in mystery. His money was on the Illustrious, considering they were still around and now outside the direction of the Octyrrum, but Chris had refused to answer even when he’d shouted that name at him and watched for reactions.

  Yes. Anyway, they did this carefully. I could have stopped the initial stage of the plan, but we can resolve this more cleanly if we allow them to carry it out halfway and interfere before it all ends. Otherwise, it’s your world that burns instead of this one.

  It would help if you gave me any of those details.

  No. Listen, just think of this as an enclosed space, like the one the false reincarnation came to when he discovered the way to his originator.

  I believe the conventions were ‘Octyrrum-Daniel’ and ‘Bridge Space’ respectively. I’m not going to call a friend by that term, Lograve grumbled to himself but waited for Chris to get on with it.

  Suit yourself. The island and the water, say, a little under a hundred meters out are in a pocket space. You can approach it from the outside from any direction, even up or down, but the point that you enter isn’t fixed relative to Earth. It drifts.

  Yet you found it twice.

  I… know where to look. What’s important is it doesn’t matter if those people go to where their ship was last, they won’t find us.

  Lograve folded his hands in front of his face and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumbs, trying to fend off an incoming headache. It was like the first time he gained access to Earth’s knowledge base all over again, only this time the damned interface got snippy when he wanted the juicier details. He empathized with Daniel there. Only a handful of questions in and Chris was already becoming evasive.

  Fine, fine, we don’t have to worry about that. The plan for the mercenaries only works if a way back is opened. Now, I am a genius, but even I think my idea with the ritual is far fetched. How do you know this will work?

  Like I said, I’ve been playing this at a disadvantage most of the time. Reactive, not proactive, but there are a few things I can count on. You being here wasn’t one of them, but if, uh, Octyrrum-Daniel found a way to send you here, it’s more than likely he can do the opposite. This place and him are linked. Several ways I can think of him doing it. Best case would be if he goes to Threst, but that’s still a long shot.

  What’s in Threst? Lograve asked hopefully. Murdon did go there, as well as Quala. If they somehow managed to stop Casia and save Aughal, I can imagine that would be the first place he’d go.

  You can make assumptions like that, Chris replied with a knowing tone. Make decisions based on those, build complex webs of contingencies and counterplays, and reach a point where you’re sure there’s no chance of failure.

  I take it by your tone that’s not the strategy you’d recommend.

  I know the moves my opponent has to make to win. It doesn’t matter the variation or the strategy, that’s enough. Whether it’s a year or a day, the way will be opened here. Just make sure you’re ready when it does.