TravelingDreamer

B5—Chapter 22: The Full Set

When Mahya and Al returned in the evening, I sat by the lake with my eyes closed, fishing. No rod or net—just water magic.

The surface rippled, each movement sending gentle waves toward the shore. Fish darted through the clear water below, but I didn’t need to see them. I felt their movements through the water’s subtle shifts, tracking the larger ones while letting the smaller fish slip past unnoticed.

There! That one is big.

Eyes still shut, I extended my han...

B5—Chapter 21: Water Lord

It took Mahya and Al another full day to clear the city from above. While they focused on that, I drifted in the lake, staring at the sky. I wasn’t doing anything particularly useful; I was just... there. Adrift. Both in body and mind.

My head was a complete mess. And not the sort I could untangle with a brisk walk. It was the kind of mess where thoughts collided, twisted around each other, and frayed at the edges, leaving me with nothing solid to hold on to. There weren’t even prop...

B5—Chapter 20: Apologies Served Hot

After my emotional explosion, I shut myself in my room for a couple of days to find my balance again. The fire wouldn’t go back into its cage—it was out for good—but I could find my footing. I needed to learn to live with it, to keep it from taking over.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my hands. They were steady now, no longer trembling with leftover adrenaline. But inside, the flames simmered, waiting for a crack to escape.

I felt bad about pushing Mahya. Shouting a...

B5—Chapter 19: Control

I stood on the lake shore, gulping air like a drowning man. My chest rose and fell with each ragged breath, and my hands shook—not from exhaustion but from the sheer, unrelenting rush of magic I’d unleashed. The surrounding air shimmered with heat, the acrid tang of smoke still clinging to my clothes and skin.

Al and Mahya sprinted toward me, but I barely registered their arrival. My heart pounded too loudly in my ears, drowning out everything but the lingering echo of...

The Cultivator Chronicles: A Merchant’s Lament

The Road of Ridiculousness
We landed by the road, thought it was fine,
Till a peacock of privilege crossed the line.
“Hand over the beast!” he bellowed with pride,
“Why?” I asked, my patience wide-eyed.
He sputtered, he roared, then screamed some attack—
Rue stared him down, and he wet his slacks.

City of Crazy Colors
Through narrow streets, we walked like fools,
Past bathrobe guards with farming tools.
“Kowtow thr...

B5—Chapter 18: A Song of Fire and Fear

After another week of flying, we reached the next marker on the Map—this time, a ruin instead of a living city. It continued for about a kilometer, ending at the edge of a lake.

Below us, the city stretched out like a graveyard of skyscrapers—cracked giants with jagged edges stabbing the sky. Most buildings barely held together, some reduced to skeletal frames. The few still standing had lost most of their outer shells, and I couldn't help but worry they'd come crashing down on our ...

Inferno

Through the fiery gates of hell, I tread,
Where shadows writhe and embers spread,
Angels falter, their wings ablaze,
Yet I press on, my spirit unfazed.
Molten rivers coil, serpentine,
Their scalding tongues lick at my spine,
No solace here, just searing strife,
Yet within this inferno, I find life.

I am fire, I am flame,
A relentless force, unclaimed,
Through agony’s forge, my spirit sworn,
Rising anew, reborn.

Lightning strikes, cri...

Flame’s Embrace

In the depths of ash, the fire stirred,
A blazing force, untamed, unleashed.
It scorched my body, came for my soul,
On the lizards’ plains, I fought for control.
I fought the blaze, I stood my ground,
Each red lightning, a deafening sound.
But every spark that burned my skin,
Was carving the fire deep within.

With fire in my blood, I rose,
Burned through fears and silenced woes.
But the flame is wild, the flame is free,
A dangerous power inside of me.
...

A Chasm Between Worlds

In shadows deep, where hope feels dead,
The shambles breathe whispers through the night.
Bare feet tread paths of unseen dread,
Where hunger rules what's wrong and right.

A prince lies cold, discarded on the stone,
His palace walls now steeped in red.
Yet cheers arise from every heart,
For monsters ruled, and now they're dead.

Through shadows thick and fires high,
I carry wounds no night can hide.
Two worlds collide beneath one sky,
But only truth cu...

Author's Note

Hi, everyone,

Apologies for the erratic posting schedule this week. It's Hanukkah and school break, so my son is home.

With the bombings becoming less frequent and mostly happening at night, I've been using this time to take him on some adventures.

I'll still post the five weekly chapters, but it won’t follow the usual Sunday-to-Thursday schedule. So far, I've posted two chapters, and I'll find time to upload the remaining three soon.

Thank you for your understanding...

B5—Chapter 17: I Did It My Way

After five days of flight, we passed over the first city. Much to Mahya’s disappointment, it wasn’t a dungeon cluster but a bustling, populated city. While she’d cooled off considerably since the last world, her urge to clear dungeons lingered—a mix of pent-up frustration and her ambitious goal of collecting a hundred cores.

As we hovered above, we exchanged glances, each of us wearing the same questioning expression. Ultimately, we all agreed: no more cities in this world. Even...

B5—Chapter 16: A Sword to Soar By

On the other side of the Gate, Mahya looked at us, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Let’s find another dungeon cluster,” she said, her tone firm. “I need to vent."

Al and I exchanged a knowing smile, his brow lifting slightly as if to say, “Well, here we go again.” Neither of us said anything—sometimes words were unnecessary.

The next Gate was far—two to three weeks in the balloon, by my estimation—with three city markers along the way. We took off, and I aske...

B5—Chapter 15: At Least It’s Profitable

When we reached the road, I said, “Bikes and the ATV might not work with the congestion, but bicycles should.”

“Good idea,” Mahya said.

Rue huffed, sending me a powerful wave of disapproval. I scratched his ear. “Sorry, buddy. You’re just too damn big for the trailer.”

He huffed again but gave a reluctant nod.

Navigating on bicycles turned into an exercise in maneuvering around people on foot, oxen carts, and self-driving carts. The slower pace helped—i...

B5—Chapter 14: Throwing in the Towel

In the morning, we walked past the fields away from the road and the village. Mahya was right. With the constant stops, it would take us months to reach our destination. We progressed 15 to 20 kilometers the previous day, which was ridiculous.

When we were far enough away, we filled the balloon and took to the air. I didn’t ask the wind for a boost. The land below us was gorgeous, and we drifted slowly. Enjoying the view was nicer than rushing to the next stop. In every direction, rol...

B5—Chapter 13: A Glitch in the Matrix

As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with streaks of orange and purple, more travelers began pulling off to the sides of the road. They lit fires, spread straw mats, let their oxen graze, and set up sleeping spaces beneath their carts. The smell of smoke and the faint murmur of voices filled the air.

"Let's head up the hills and find a spot to set the house," I said, pointing at the slope ahead and looking at the growing line of roadside campsites.

Al frowned. “The closest ...

Have a Great Holiday

B5—Chapter 12: Moving On—Oh Wait, Another Fight

“I think we should head to the Gate,” Mahya said after breakfast, pushing her empty plate away.

“Why?” I asked, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms.

“I checked the Map,” she said. “This world has only six Gates, and only two are on this continent. The other one is weeks away.”

“Are we in a hurry to leave?”

“They are insane,” Al cut in, his voice flat as he adjusted the cuff of his shirt, then flicked a crumb off the table.

“Yea...

B5—Chapter 11: Money, Money, Money—Life in Richmens’ World

After the city lord left, we stored the booths, took out three chairs, and waited for the promised manager. The people in the trading area looked at us strangely, and some even whispered and pointed, but we didn’t care. It was nice knowing you didn’t belong permanently to a certain place, so you didn’t give a shit about what others thought of you.

An hour later, a man approached us. He was middle-aged, thin, and dressed in a simple gray robe. The only clue that he might be the pro...

B5—Chapter 10: Daddy Issues

If I thought the day’s troubles would end with the old guy shouting about being a grandpa, I was sorely mistaken. I was the next victim of the insanity. About two hours—and over a hundred cushions sold—after the old guy left, a girl and a guy approached my booth. The girl looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing an elaborate robe and a haughty expression. The guy behind her, likely in his thirties, wore the same robe as the city guards, complete with the wheat-and-sword embl...

B5—Chapter 9: Why Us?

It took us three hours of walking to reach the closest city. After our encounter with the spoiled brat, a bubble of emptiness seemed to form around us. I could understand the simple folk keeping their distance, but even the colorful peacocks in their self-driving carts made sure to skirt us by two or three meters. The road was wide—about fifty meters across and split in half for each direction of travel. Still, with the amount of traffic, they had to be pretty skilled to give us such a wide...

B5—Chapter 8: The Article Wasn’t Bluffing—They’re Bonkers

The Map revealed a long road stretching north, connecting several cities in an almost straight line. After closing the house, Rue and I took to the skies, carrying Al and Mahya to a spot near the road. From above, the road looked alive with activity, its steady stream of travelers creating a moving tapestry of colors and shapes. We landed in the trees invisible and paid the mana to learn the language.

The road itself was a curious blend of paved and dirt construction. Flat stones, once ...

B5—Chapter 7: All Hail the Healing Sage

I finally caught up on sleep and didn’t wake until the afternoon. The house was quiet when I wandered downstairs—nobody was around. After throwing together a light breakfast, I decided to track down the gang. Al was the easiest to locate. He was holed up in his lab, wholly absorbed in working through the plant haul from the day before. Mahya and Rue were nowhere to be seen, and even Al had no clue where they’d vanished to.

I needed to rest and figured they’d turn up eventually. ...

B5—Chapter 6: Doctor Dolittle’s Hospital

A knock on my bedroom door jolted me awake. I blinked a few times, groaning softly as I sat up. "Yes?" I called, rubbing my face.

"There is a situation downstairs, and Rue explained it is connected to you. Can you come down, please?" Al’s voice was calm, but there was a hint of urgency beneath his formal tone.

I frowned, still half-asleep. "What situation?"

"You have to see it to understand."

I sighed and stretched, kicking off the covers. "Okay, give me ten minutes....

B5—Chapter 5: Doctor Dolittle

While I searched for and read the article in the Archive, Rue went off exploring. I felt a flicker of worry for a moment—I still didn’t know why all those pretty pagodas were deserted. But then I relaxed. Rue was a big boy in every sense of the word, and if anything had happened to him, I would have known. Our connection would have led me straight to him in no time. In this case, his tendency to explore led to our first encounter in this world—a truly unique experience.

After fini...

B5—Chapter 4: The Dilemma of Diving Into Madness

The other side of the Gate was a serene garden. The air felt cool and carried the faint, sweet aroma of blossoms in full bloom. Paths of neatly placed stepping stones wound between lush greenery and vibrant flowers, leading toward elegant wooden gazebos with intricately carved roofs. Beside the paths, a pond reflected the delicate pink trees above, its surface rippling softly as fish glided underneath. The scene was alive with color—pink and magenta blossoms mingling with bursts of yellow a...

B5—Chapter 3: Drifting Through the Sea of Green

It took us three weeks to reach the next Gate. Nothing interesting happened on the journey except the beauty of this world. Zindor might have been shattered, and nobody was doing anything to fix the situation, but it sure had magnificent views.

The Map was green, green and more green, stretching endlessly, making it seem like the entire world was nothing but trees. However, flying in the balloon revealed a much more intricate terrain. Sure, there were massive forests, their canopies rip...

I’m down with flue. I’ll make it up to you when I’m better

B5—Chapter 2: Rock Part II

The path gradually leveled out as we continued upward, and the trees thinned more and more. The bare branches gave way to patches of open ground with clumps of grass. It wasn’t long before we spotted movement ahead. The voices we’d heard earlier grew clearer, though still guttural and rough, more like shouts than coherent speech. A group of three youngsters were trying to chop down a spindly tree with stone axes, under the supervision of an older man.

We stopped and listened. Some w...

B5—Chapter 1: Rock Part I

As always, the Gate anchors were two large boulders.

Travelers Gate #512486321595
Destination: Rock
Status: Unintegrated
Threat Level: Nonexistent

 “That’s a new one,” I said, squinting at the information.

“What do you mean?” Al asked, stepping closer to touch the Gate.

“It’s unintegrated, so I understand the lack of mana level,” I explained, pointing to ...

Zindor–part II: A Multiversal Smorgasbord