The Roady Inn buzzed with afternoon conversation and the ctter of wooden mugs. Marcus spotted Celestine sitting with a young woman at a corner table. The stranger was focused entirely on her food, eating with mechanical precision while Celestine talked to her in low tones.

  Marcus approached their table. "Hello, Celestine."

  "Where are the chickens?" Celestine asked without looking up.

  "I thought you were joking."

  "She hates Valdrian food. Chickens are for her," Celestine said, pointing to the young woman.

  Marcus studied the stranger. "Who is she? She doesn't look from here." The woman hadn't even looked up at Marcus, still eating her food with singur focus.

  "She is Palwin Shan. Her country was invaded by Machar before she was even born. Ephus has no idea who to summon."

  "Who is Ephus? Please make more sense," Marcus said in confusion. Marcus started checking his pockets for a pen. He needed to write these.

  Celestine sighed. "Dear, I am not an exposition machine. Ephus is your pnet's name. I was trying to get her out of that wretched power pnt these past weeks. She is an otherworlder like you."

  Marcus's interest peaked. "She's also from the modern world?" Information about worlds and otherworlders flooded his mind. He wanted to ask millions of questions and take notes.

  "Honey, there are lots of modern worlds, some more advanced than yours. Your pnet is called Terra. I don't know what hers is called. I've never been there. Judging by her, I probably won't."

  "How many different pnets are out there with life?" Marcus checked his pockets for paper and pencil but couldn't find any.

  "I don't know. Millions, probably. They all stem from what I call seeds. Each part of the seed carries unique aspects of a pnet and mostly necessary things like humans and chickens. For example, here people think magical powers exist, but it's just this pnet's people can manipute energy exerted from humans. They think it's magic."

  Marcus's mind fred with what he was hearing. "Seed, magic, energy manipution. I don't understand. What about her?" marcus checked his pockets for pen and paper. He wanted to write them down.

  Celestine sighed and waved her hand at Palwin. "Palwin dear, focus here."

  Palwin dropped her spoon and gave them her full attention. "Yes, Celestine. How can I help?"

  "Her pnet has a group mind, so she's confused most of the time. Join the conversation as best you can."

  "Not confused. Focused on task at hand," Palwin corrected.

  "She was probably really low on the chain there, and here they were using her to clean the messed up pces around the power pnt. Without knowing her powers" Celestine expined. Leaned in to Marcus and wispered "I injected in Valdrian so you can communicate"

  "Yes, I am very low in hierarchy on my pnet, but here I have to function alone and that is confusing," Palwin said.

  "So here she can do only one thing. For example, now she's in talking mode. She can't even drink water without switching modes with an order."

  "Not quite correct. Easy motor functions, survival instinctive movement doesn't require commands from the masters," Palwin crified.

  Marcus stared at her. "She's like a human robot. What can we do with her? Why did you bring her here?"

  "Dear, she has the most unique energy manipution. They weren't aware of that. They thought she was just damaged in the head. Made her clean toilets and carry dead workers out of ceilings."

  Marcus felt disgust followed by sadness for Palwin. How confused she must be, living between two worlds and being a sve in Machar's empire.

  "Yeah, it's very dark in Machar's nd. No value for human life," Celestine said.

  "What is her power?"

  Palwin answered directly. "I can open portals to pces where I can see. But I am not very good at it. I used it once successfully, avoiding a death punishment from my overseer."

  "Sorry to hear that. But Celestine, what do you want from us? We can't defeat Machar. You seem competent. You can switch pnets, for crying out loud. What do you need us for?"

  "Honey, I can't touch Machar. Whoever created your pnet, these seeds, is an entity I am really scared of. It's your job to defeat Machar. But I can help you against his magic."

  "His magic? Does he have a specialty? What can he do?" Marcus really needed that pen. He stood up to look at the innkeeper, then sat down again, frustrated.

  "He can manipute minds. Makes every man, woman, and child his sve. Forces them to fight or work until they die of exhaustion."

  "That's how he's known as a master of diplomacy. That's why every campaign failed. That power is incredible." Ideas fshed in Marcus's mind. Transformin into a dragon with powerful magic was one thing, but bending everyone to your will while living way past human possibility was something else entirely.

  "Celestine, you have to help us. No other hero stopped him. Even Master Thymon participated in two campaigns against him, and every one of them failed." What can I do, Marcus thought. I don't even have a power.

  "I understand your frustration, but like I said, this universe is not where I was born. When we come here, even we are fascinated by each individual pnet and tried to create simir ones with my brothers and sisters, as you may call them. But we failed miserably."

  Marcus's head was exploding with information. "I hope my ears aren't deceiving me. What am I hearing right now? Did I say that out loud?"

  "Yes, you did," Palwin confirmed.

  "Dear, listen. One of my brothers got frustrated and stole an already established pnet's seed, and he was decimated. We are pure energy. Even this body is just a reflection. I cannot directly involve myself with your pnet. Machar is too close to the earth seed. Create a copy for me, and I'll give you the means to protect yourself from him."

  "Ephus's Earth Seed is under stress. Corrupted, I think. I don't know what's causing it, but it's pulling other life that can exist here as well so they can help restore it."

  "What does that mean?"

  "Let's go help our pnet then," Palwin said simply.

  "Dear, you need help remembering eating time. Sit tight and listen."

  "Okay, master."

  "I am not... Anyway, like I said, your world is pulling people that can exist here. Not necessarily to help. Machar is one of them, but rather than helping Ephus, he started to consume its resources and pns to ensve the people under himself."

  "But why?"

  "I don't know why, dear. That's for you to figure out. I just need you to copy the seed so I can start my own pnet without cultivating for millions of years."

  "Copy the seed? Why would we copy our pnet's seed if you won't give a damn about us?"

  "Because she asked us to, Marcus. Weren't you listening?" Palwin said.

  A big jug of wine appeared on the table with a giant hand setting it down.

  "Wine for the dies. You need anything else?" the innkeeper asked.

  "No dear, thanks," Celestine replied.

  "If this lownder is bothering you, just say the word."

  "Again, no. I am trying to acquire his services."

  "These lownders aren't worth more than copper a week. Don't let him swindle you." Everyone in the inn ughed.

  Marcus thought about the racist attitudes. Not even racist since they were from the same country. Bullies at best. They must think Celestine is local because of that pin she wears.

  "Anyway, dear, where were we? Ah... I will find a way for you to not be affected by Machar's magic without me involving myself."

  "For that help, you want the world seed?"

  "Not the seed. A copy of the seed. There are three versions: air, water, and earth."

  "Where will I find them? I'm just a kid in an invaded, refugee filled city on the verge of starvation."

  "I have air and water copies because Machar has built on top of the earth seed. I can't get involved."

  "Can I see them?"

  "Not now. I will bring them in time. Now let me find a way to protect you from his magic. I'm entrusting Palwin to you in the meantime."

  "What? No, we're already living like chickens. Also, I don't know how to take care of..." Marcus searched for a word that wouldn't be offensive.

  "Loose in the head, madcap, nuts, whacko?" Palwin offered.

  "Focused," Marcus said diplomatically.

  "I can't take care of her, dear. Also, you need her to get in and get out of Machar's most important facilities. Train her."

  "I am not an action hero or Master Yoda. Celestine, please. How can I train her?"

  "Sorry, dear. Your pnet, your responsibility. Got to run." And with that, Celestine simply vanished, leaving Marcus alone with Palwin.

  Marcus took Palwin to his family's shed. She didn't ask anything the whole way. Marcus's head was filled with questions, but he didn't realize what would happen when they got home.

  "Marcus, who is she? Is she your friend?" Father Garrett asked.

  "Yeah, Dad. She'll be living with us for now. I'll find her a new home though."

  "Brother, did you get married?" Tom asked with a grin.

  That turned into a sweet commotion at the house. Without giving details, Marcus expined that her hometown was captured by Machar and she escaped here all alone. The family understood she must be in shock, so they didn't bombard her with questions.

  Marcus looked at Palwin, who was staring at the family with the same focused attention she'd given her food. Whatever training Celestine expected him to do, it was going to be interesting.

  At least now he had someone who understood what it was like to live between worlds. Even if she was possibly the most unusual person he'd ever met.