TravelingDreamer

My Thoughts on the Difference Between Awakened Beasts and Monsters

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A note from John:

I included it here, but read at your own peril.

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In the labyrinthine complexities that constitute the enigmatic phenomena of awakened fauna, a dichotomy emerges, necessitating a meticulous disquisition to elucidate the profound distinctions between the categories colloquially designated as 'awakened beasts' and 'awakened monsters.' One must, ho...

2024-04-30 23:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 7: Medicine to Magic: A Bridge to Becoming a Healer

Driving down the mountain, I thought about what still needed doing. First stop, visiting the Gate—refill mana and practice the two spells I’d bought.

What else?

More ability points. I spent all the points I earned. At this rate, I’d need at least another twenty, maybe even more.

Now that the life insurance has cleared, maybe it’s time to buy what I’ll need for the journey?

A broken motorcycle lay on its side, smoke rising into the air. Adren...

Chapter 6: When Pride Hurts More Than Training

The phone buzzed on the table, and I stalled before answering. The lawyer’s name flashed on the screen, a reminder of all the loose ends still needing to be tied up. Finally, I swiped and held the phone close.

“Good afternoon,” he said in a businesslike tone. “I’m calling to let you know that Liberty Mutual has released the life insurance funds. I will transfer them to your account shortly.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he continued before I could get a word out.<...

Chapter 5: A Different Perspective

I checked what other Travelers had to say about Earth in the Archive, and the latest entry was hilarious.

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18.4.2016—Traveler Guar Shum

I knew this world would be trouble the minute I touched the Gate. They had three names for their world. Why!? And it's not like the other names were good, so they couldn't decide. Two of the names were Dirt and Ground. Really? Drop the silly names and keep the good one; it's not complicated.

I serio...

2024-04-29 20:02:32 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 4: A New Kind of Farmer

I had five stat points, just enough to trade for an ability point. After looking at the endless list of spells and skills, and seeing all the amazing things magic could do, I hoped to find something to bring Sophie back. My eyes ran over the screen, scanning line after line, hope rising with each one. The endless lists stretched on, populating the screen more and more as I scrolled up. After a while, the words blurred together. I looked for a slim chance to bring her back or at least reach he...

Chapter 3: OP MC? Me?

It was time to delve into my Profile, or Personal Information, as the system called it. I took a fortifying breath, ready for the new weirdnes, and tapped each line with my mind.

First, there was my name. There was this odd sense of potential or possibility would be the better word. Like I could change it with a thought. Why would I want to change my name? It made little sense.

I shook my head, bewildered. Moving on.

My age had ...

Chapter 2: Mapping My New Reality

I opened my eyes, yawned, and stretched, enjoying the feeling. A pleasant warmth spread through every cell of my body. A full night’s sleep had finally brought me back to feeling human, and damn, I missed it.

What a strange dream.

It felt so real. All those sleepless nights had taken a heavy toll on me. I froze in surprise, realizing I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this good. Guilt flooded me, choking my throat, reminding me why I hadn’t felt this good ...

Chapter 1: Wait, What?

I trudged through the Black Forest in Germany, hands deep in my pockets. My body was so heavy; my feet dragged, and every step felt like wading through mud. A pounding headache pulsed behind my eyes in waves. I was so tired and drained that my thoughts moved like sludge.

I looked up and squinted when the light made the headache worse. The hiking trail twisted left and right, but I barely noticed. Pain squeezed my chest, a constant reminder of everything I’d lost. I rubbed the spot aga...

Prologue

Hello Reader,

My name is John Rue. I’m either 45 or 49 years old—but I’m not sure with the time skips between worlds, and it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Despite growing up in the foster care system in Birmingham, Alabama, I made my way into the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Afterward, I spent nine years patching up bullet and knife wounds and stitching up broken lives in the ER at St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago. But don’t take my word fo...

The Gate Traveler

Synopsis

A Low-Stakes, Cozy, Slice-Of-Life Travelogue Adventure

John, a 37-year-old widower, discovers the extraordinary power to travel between worlds via dimensional Gates. Overwhelmed by the sorrow of losing his wife and the pain of his past, he wants to leave Earth behind. After some research and training, he embarks on a journey to explore different worlds...