--- Day 105 AD, Jyardan(Sunday) 12:30 ---

I stepped into Sandi's Hut, and smiled. "Hello, Sandi. Are you well?" I asked.

She whipped around, and then smiled. "Caleb! Wonderful to see you! I heard you'd bought land nearby, but you didn't stop by? Why not?" She asked, walking forward.

"I was very busy, it was a Business trip, pleasure was not part of the plan. Anyway, I was told to come and solve a Problem? Some Shifter causing problems, looking for something?" I asked.

She nodded sadly. "Yes. Apparently a Shifter got lost in the woods, and is now running around, trying to find whatever it is he lost at the time."

I nodded. "Do you know where he is?" I asked.

"He's walking around the village, most likely. Blonde hair, has an Falcon Familiar." She shrugged.

"Falcon? It doesn't change?" I hummed.

"Not that I've seen."

"Has anyone seen him shift? Spoken to him?"

"He doesn't respond in any recognizable language, and no." She shook her head again.

I smirked. "I think I know what's happening. I'll handle it." I kissed her cheek, and jogged outside. I walked around until I spotted someone who didn't belong, and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Hello, friend. Lost?" I asked in English, a language that didn't exist in this universe.

He flinched. "Who are you?!?" He responded in English.

I laughed. "Someone who can help, Friend. I'm Caleb Johnson. And you're not in Kansas anymore." I winked.

He grinned slowly. "Okay... I'm Taylor Danforth... Uhm, where am I?"

"Not here, Friend. It's not safe to talk about these things. Come." I started walking away, into the woods.

He followed, and a Falcon landed on his fist, then he transferred it to his shoulder.

---

I led him to the Nexus, and then took the escape Tube down to the station. I sat on a bench overlooking the sparsely populated city, that was slowly gaining its feet, but the saying is, 'Rome Wasn't Built In A Day'. At least, I believe that's the wording.

In this case, it was more Gomorra, or Sodom, as it was mostly a Shopping, Shipping, Red-Light City. The entire city was created to sate the greed in men's souls, in a good way.

Gambling, Brothels, and all kinds of Stores, (slowly being filled in as I attracted Merchants with my offers of very low taxes,) and also, of course, the fact that Anonymity was treasured. What happens in Nexus Stays... Ha. I was proud of my city, to say the least.

"Welcome to Nexus, my City, this worlds blooming version of Vegas. Sit, we'll talk. Where you from?" I gestured at the seat next to me.

He slowly sat down. "I'm... I'm from North Carolina... I was on a tour of the Indian Jungle, and... I don't know. I fell into a hole, knocked myself out, and Drac here came after me, but when I woke up, I was here. I couldn't find the hole again, or even the city, until I found that village..." He pet his falcon's wings.

I nodded. "You fell through The Rift. Same as me." I shrugged.

He blinked. "What the hell is The Rift?"

"It's a rip in Space-Time. That's the simple way to say it. This is a completely different dimension than Earth. This is Terra, and more specifically the Shun Empire, which I am moving up the ranks in... Do you have a good life, Taylor?" I asked.

"How do you mean?"

"If you could go back. Would you? Seriously? There's ways of living here that are so... Satisfying. Prostitution is legal, Gambling is Legal, but both are regulated. This is the perfect world, compared to Earth. There are problems, sure, but that's what makes it interesting!" I grinned.

He chuckled. "I see why you're getting at. You know how to get back, but you want me to stay."

"I'd like it, yes. Or I could send you back, and help you build a life there... Even if it was a simple one." I shrugged.

He smiled. "I'd like to go back. Even if I have nothing to return to, it's my home. And this place is too weird."

"Alright. I respect that. But if I send you back, you owe me. Forever. Your life is literally mine." I shrugged.

"What do you want from me?" He asked slowly.

"Nothing big. I'll build you a house, and all that I want is for you to guard the Basement, which will hold the Rift. I don't want any more unfortunate people falling in." I said.

He smiled. "And what guarantee do you have that I'll do as you say?" He asked.

"I have a pet Gorilla that will help you guard the Rift." I said dryly. "Also, I find that men like you have a deep seated sense of morals."

"So?"

"Debt, being one of those things that are morally binding, will likely be enough. Besides. It's a good gig. Free house, no bills, and you can come back any time you like to visit some of my brothels." I gestured out the glass in front of us at the city.

He smiled. "You're right about the Debt, but the brothels don't interest me."

"We have men too." I said dryly, raising an eyebrow.

He blinked. "Oh... I thought only women were... Hmph. Well, still. Fine, I accept. I'll go back, with your help, and then... I guess, live peacefully in the Jungle." He shrugged.

"That's the spirit. Alright, it'll take a day or so to get the materials for a house ready, so you'll have to stay with my Mother, until then." I nodded.

"Your... Mother? Wait, where are you from?" He asked.

"The streets of London, then Dubai, then India. She adopted me. Anyway. When you go through, a Gorilla and an Indian Woman will meet you. I'll chat with her beforehand, so don't worry about it. She'll put you up for a few days, and I'll work on your house. Good?" I asked.

He nodded. "Sure..."

"Alright. Sit still for a moment, I'll call her." I walked into the next room, and leaned against the wall, Dropping into James' mind.

He was standing watch as she did her forms again. I spoke through him. "Hello, Mother. I've got good news and Bad News."

She stopped, and sighed. "Hello, Caleb. Why am I not surprised? What's the bad news?"

"You'll be having a visitor soon, a man from America who tripped into the same rift as me. In return for getting him home, I'm setting him up with a house over the rift, so that no one else falls in. It'll be a few days, so... Yeah. Is that okay?" I asked.

She sighed. "Yes. What's his name?"

"Taylor Danforth. He also has a pet Falcon." I said.

"Alright, I'll set him up, don't worry about it. And the good news?" She asked.

"He's not dead? He was almost dead. The emperor sent me to kill him or subdue him, because he was believed to be a rogue Mage of some kind. So instead, I can just send him home." I shrugged.

She laughed. "Alright. Makes sense. You're sending him now?"

"Yes, in a few minutes. I'll have James take you through the Rift to meet him and take him back." I nodded. "See you soon!"

I opened my eyes, and blinked rapidly, then walked back into the room after ordering James to turn into a Gorilla and carry Sami to the rift, and Through.

"Is... Is it done? Are we good?" He asked.

I smiled. "Don't worry, man. You'll be home soon. Sami and James are coming through to get you. This way." I started walking to the elevator.

---

"Here we are..." I pressed my fingerprint to the pad, and opened the door to the Rift Chamber as it unlocked. A hole in the floor held the Rift/Pit.

He gasped. "Whoa... You built all this?"

"Yes. Everything. The city as well. No one helped." I shrugged.

He laughed. "Wow. How long did it take?"

"You don't want to know." I said wearily.

Just then the Rift started fluctuating, and James landed on his feet, Sami in his arms. He set her down, and she stumbled. I rushed forward and laughed. "Mother! How've you been?" I caught her in a hug, and kissed her cheeks.

She laughed. "Alright, I'm fine, how are you?"

"Doing great! We're actually in my City, Nexus, which I'm making into a mix of Marrakech and Vegas... Anyway! Yes, this is Taylor, our unfortunate Hiker." I said, moving as showing him to her.

He waved awkwardly. "Hi..."

She raised an eyebrow, slowly looking him up and down. "Interesting."

"Ahem! Anyway, yes. Uhm... Now that we've established that the Rift is relatively stable, and secured, I'll be able to visit more. So! You ready to Uhm... Hop back, or do you want to look around?" I asked.

She hummed. "I thought you said the Rift was in the Jungle?"

"It is... And so are we. I just enclosed it, for safety." I shrugged.

She nodded. "Got it. And no, I've got food in the oven, so I won't be staying. I'll see you soon, little one. Taylor? Come along." She smiled at him, and I slowly looked at him, my eyes blazing golden.

I smiled and shook his hand, Firmly, and nodded. "Take care of yourself." I leaned close and lowered my voice. "And be respectful of my mother, or I'll geld you and choke you with your own intestines."

He paled, and nodded. "Got it."

I release him, and he quickly walked towards the Rift. James picked both of them up, and leapt into the rift.

I immediately began gathering fallen trees, cutting planks and joists, then fashioned a log cabin. I carried the pieces through, and breathed a bit of polluted jungle air, nodding.

I built the house quickly with magic, and placed a 'Stay' glyph on every component, and then created a magical Sphere, about a mile wide, also with that Glyph, along with 'Halt', so that when the day came that the planet shifted off its course, the Rift was still protected, and the cottage I was building was also still there, and enough trees to give off oxygen, and plants for food.

It was basically a floating oasis, or it would be. Then I decided I was going to fix this Solar System too, eventually, using the Halt Glyph's on its components.

I dove back through the Rift, my job finished, and told James to inform them. The house would need things, like a bed and stow and such, but that was receivable.

I then exited Nexus, and mounted Gem, flying back towards the Capitol.

---

"And so it's taken care of? Give your report." The Emperor commanded.

"Well, the information was faulty, My Emperor. There was no shifter, only a lost Hiker that didn't Speak Whispering-Sands. He had a Falcon for a Pet, and so people immediately assumed he was a Shifter. I led him home, and all was ended rather easily. I was lucky I understood the language he spoke." I said simply.

He hummed. "I see... What language was he speaking?"

"One of The languages of my People, English. It's a rather complicated language, so not many people speak it. It was mistaken for his Mage Language, because of this." I answered.

He nodded. "I see... Good, then, that all is well. That explains why Tern wouldn't move on it, he probably knew the man wasn't a Shifter. I am pleased. You may go, then." He said.

I bowed my head. "Yes, My Emperor. I will return to the College."

"Oh, wait. Speaking of the College. The Council has just informed me that you have received a Mastery of Electrical Engineering, and also Applied Engineering. I thought you ought to know. Also, they told me that the pathway to a Grand-Mastery of the Physical Warfare must pass through the 'MPWS', though they didn't elaborate."

"Thank you, Emperor. That is great news." I bowed and grinned, walking out with his permission.

As soon as the doors closed, I cheered. "YES! TAKE THAT, EINSTEIN!! AND YOU TO, NEWTON! IN YOUR FACES! HA!" The guards stared at me, likely questioning my sanity, and I quickly coughed and fixed my clothes, walking away quickly.