The Gate Traveler-Chapter 463 B7— 43: History Lesson with a Grim Twist

The continent was virgin land. That was the only way I could describe it. There were no villages, towns, or cities on the Map, and the first time I saw it, I assumed Travelers didn't explore this world much. That seemed like the logical reason for the lack of information. Turned out there was nothing to explore in the first place. This world was like a newborn baby. Nothing on it.

When I mentioned it to Mahya and Al, Mahya said, "I was once on a new and unexplored planet. The Map was completely grayed out. It only started filling in after we landed, and I walked around a little, but only for the few kilometers I covered in every direction. The rest stayed gray."

I hadn't thought of that, so it was good to know.

For a week, we traveled from the coast inland toward the first Gate. It was a unique experience. No roads, no people, and animals that weren't afraid of us. The land near the coast was open, with low shrubs growing in loose clusters. Flocks of small white birds lifted from the ground in waves as we passed. A few long-legged animals grazed in the distance, gave us a quick look, and went right back to whatever they were chewing.

As we moved deeper inland, the plants grew taller and thicker. Bright green grass covered entire fields, swaying like water when the wind rolled through. Small herds of brown, antelope-looking creatures with a single horn like a unicorn darted across our path every so often, and the trees gradually formed small pockets of forest where colorful birds perched in the branches.

Further inland, we moved through an expansive forest with animals that looked exactly like chipmunks—right down to the stripes, only bear-sized. The first time one of them tried to attack us, Al hit it with an uppercut. The chip-bear slammed into a tree and stayed there, stunned, shaking its head and looking very confused.

The three of us stared at Al with a mix of awe and surprise.

He straightened his sleeves with a dignified air and asked, "What?"

"Nothing. Nothing," I said.

Mahya snickered.

Rue looked him in the eye and said with a serious air, "Al is dangerous almost like Rue."

Up to the forest, we drove mostly in the Jeep, since it rained now and then. In areas where the vegetation grew too thick or the terrain was just too much for a big vehicle—even with the monster wheels—we switched to the bikes and the ATV, or just flew over whatever blocked the path. The forest itself was a different story. We had to pass through that on foot. There was so much underbrush in some places that we had to cut our way through, and the canopies were so dense and started so low that flying between them wasn't possible.

For a moment, we considered flying over the whole thing, but the forest stretched for miles and miles on the Map with no gaps, and Mahya was worried about her mana. We could've used the balloon, of course, but none of us felt like it, and we weren't in any hurry.

The forest took us another two weeks to cross. It was a wild place. The trees grew in tight clusters, their trunks thick and the bark rough enough to scrape skin through clothes. Moss covered everything in a soft layer of green, and long strands hung from branches like a witch's hair. The air felt heavy and damp, full of the smell of wet soil and old leaves. Every few steps, something rustled in the bushes or chattered above us. Birds with red crests hopped between branches. Insects hummed in circles around our heads. Small animals bolted across the ground the moment they noticed Rue.

We met other predators along the way, mostly feline lounging on the upper branches, canines moving in packs, and, of course, the chip-bears. A lot of them ignored us. Some decided we looked like easy meals. We didn't really discuss it or anything, but none of us wanted to kill the predators. They weren't monsters, just animals living their lives, so we defended ourselves in non-lethal ways.

Al enjoyed punching the big chip-bears for some reason, but he used the spell that created a ring of frost around him to scare the others off. Rue growled and bit limbs. Not hard enough to do actual damage, but enough to get his point across. Mahya jumped on the animals that got too close and kicked them in the head. I used the weakest lightning arc I could to stun them. Unfortunately, I was the most dangerous of the lot. Even when I tried to send only small arcs, they still fell over smoking, so the others kept me as the backup plan for the animals that didn't get the memo quickly. There were a lot of those, so I ended up leaving a trail of burnt fur smell behind me. At least all of them survived.

The forest backed up against an extensive mountain range, and the Gate was right after it. This time, we used the balloon. None of us felt like climbing, and there were a lot of mountains with high passes. The flight took us a day and a half, and big, curious birds came to check out what was flying through their sky. At one point, over twenty of them were sitting around the rim of the basket, tilting their heads this way and that and making a ruckus.

Rue had had enough and growled loudly. All the birds flew into the air, circled the balloon, or trailed behind us for a few minutes, then landed right back.

Rue stared at them, and I felt the confusion rolling off him in waves.

"Everything okay, buddy?" I asked.

"Birds not afraid of Rue," he sent in a mournful tone. "Rue is not dangerous anymore."

Mahya laughed and petted him.

"You're still dangerous, don't worry," I said. "Those birds are just too stupid and don't know they should fear you."

He considered my words and nodded, mollified.

I let out a relieved breath. I had a strong suspicion he'd start growing again if his danger level came into question.

The Gate was, sadly, a bust.

<table border="1" class="chapter-table" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%">

<tbody>

<tr>

<td style="width: 99.0848%; text-align: center">Traveler's Gate #548213695

Destination: Arbutaz

Status: Unintegrated

Threat level: Low</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

We still crossed it and peeked around. The other side was an extensive park with rocks and boulders scattered everywhere, two of which served as the anchors.

Wide paths curved between flowerbeds in all kinds of colors. Someone clearly maintained the place, but it still felt natural. Low bushes grew in rounded shapes along the walkways, and tall, thin trees cast patches of shade over benches. A few narrow streams cut through the park, their banks dotted with clusters of blue and pink flowers.

People walked around in small groups. Their skin and hair were on the lighter side, and their clothes looked neat and practical. The fabrics seemed sturdy, and the cuts were simple. The women wore long skirts, high collars, and fitted vests. The men had straight trousers, plain shirts, and jackets with clean lines. Nothing fancy, just well-made everyday clothes. Some carried baskets or small books. Others just wandered, talking quietly and taking their time.

The park was on the outskirts of a town, and we headed there to look. It was small and picturesque. Stone houses lined both sides of a shallow stream that ran through the middle of town, twisting left and right, with the houses following its path. The water trickled over smooth rocks, making quiet sounds that blended with the soft chatter of the people walking nearby.

The buildings were all made from the same pale stone, with thick walls and simple wooden doors. Some had small pots of flowers on the windowsills, adding bits of color against the gray. The roofs were uneven and angled, as if different families had built their homes at different times, yet all followed the same general idea.

A cobblestone walkway ran along each side of the stream. People walked there at an easy pace, carrying baskets or talking with their neighbors. A couple of kids knelt by the water, throwing pebbles and splashing each other. A little farther ahead, the path curved slightly as the houses continued toward the town center. The whole place felt quiet, almost sleepy, with the hills stretching behind it and the breeze carrying the smells of grass, smoke, and cooking.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

It was a pleasant surprise. When I didn't see a mana or tech level, I expected something more backward and, well, stinky, but the place and the people were clean and pleasant. Still, nothing really caught our interest, and the entire world—four continents—had only three Gates. The one we crossed was the only one on this continent. We crossed back to Parmo and headed to the next Gate.

Three days into our second leg of the trip, Al handed Mahya a small vial with a red liquid. "It is ready."

"Thanks," Mahya said. She opened it right there, poured the contents into her palms, and rubbed it in like hand cream.

I watched her for a moment. "What's that?"

"Skin treatment," Al said.

"My hands full of burns and calluses from working with metal, so Al made me something," Mahya said, flexing her fingers and checking the results.

"You have more?" I asked Al.

He nodded and passed me another vial. I uncorked it and sniffed. It had a syrupy smell and a gel-like texture that felt a bit oily at first. Less than a minute after rubbing it in, my hands felt unbelievable. I didn't have real calluses except on my fingertips from the guitar, but they vanished completely. The rest of my skin felt like velvet or silk.

"This is amazing," I said, staring at my hands.

"Thank you," Al said, preening.

Rue trotted over and stuck out his paw like he expected a handshake.

"You want hand cream?" I asked him.

"Yes! Rue is adventurer too," he said, sounding very serious about it.

We all laughed, and Al handed me another vial. I took off Rue's booties and rubbed the stuff into his paws. When I finished, Rue walked a small circle, testing each step. I felt a wave of mixed emotions from him, somewhere between confusion and pure satisfaction. It took him a few minutes to sort himself out before the confusion faded.

He walked over to Al and licked his cheek. "Rue like. Al make good paw-cream."

Two days later, we came across the first monsters we'd met in this world. We were driving through land that could only be described as a savanna. It wasn't scorching or anything, but that was the impression I got. An endless sea of long grass, scattered trees standing far apart, and the occasional pond or water hole. Large herds of herbivores grazed everywhere, while predators prowled around them. Traveling through this world felt like watching National Geographic in real life.

We stopped under a tree for lunch. I opened a picnic table with chairs for the ambiance, set the food out, and was about to call the gang over from the pond they were splashing in when something hit me from behind and bit my shoulder. It didn't hurt much and barely broke the skin, but still. For a moment, I felt betrayed that my Luck hadn't given me so much as a hint.

Then I saw what bit me.

The closest description I could find was a seahorse, only with legs, a longer snout, and rows of tiny, sharp teeth. It was about the size of a cat, with a curled tail twitching behind it.

I grabbed it by the head and slammed it into the ground.

Three more vaulted at me, their tails acting like springs that launched them high. I fried them with a quick burst of lightning.

A big group burst from the grass and came at me from every direction. They hopped in wild arcs, chittering and snapping. I stomped one mid-jump, spun, and smacked another out of the air with my forearm. Lightning arced from my fingers in tight, controlled snaps, dropping them as fast as they appeared. One leaped straight at my face; I slapped it aside and kicked the next one before it landed. They kept coming in jittery bursts, but it didn't matter. A step here, a strike there, a short arc of lightning, and the surrounding ground filled with bodies.

When the last one fell, my red light started blinking. Yeah, I didn't need the hint; I had already figured out they were monsters. First, I dragged all of them into one heap and, instead of casting the crystal spell thirty times and ending up with rice-sized crystals, I converted them the old-fashioned way. Much easier.

"What happened?" Mahya asked as she walked over.

"Monsters," I said, my attention still mostly on shrinking the mana bubble to squeeze them down. Once I had a single crystal in hand, I opened the message to get rid of it.

<table border="1" class="chapter-table" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%">

<tbody>

<tr>

<td style="width: 99.0848%; text-align: center">Sevra level 4 defeated

Sevra level 4 defeated

Sevra level 4 defeated …</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

Mahya rubbed her hands and looked very satisfied. I was sorry to disappoint her. "It's not a dungeon. We're almost on top of a vent."

Her face fell. "You sure?"

I patted and rubbed her back to console her. "Yeah, sorry. I ask the wind all the time, and there's nothing close. Besides, I can feel the denser mana."

Mahya growled under her breath and kicked a stone.

I gave her a quick side-hug. "Don't worry. We'll find you dungeons."

After another two days, we finally saw people. A sizeable group of the same dark blue people with horns was hunting with wooden spears tipped with stone. We spotted them from the top of a low hill.

I slowed the Jeep. "People," I said, nodding ahead.

Mahya leaned forward. "Looks like a hunting party."

Al narrowed his eyes. "Quite a large one."

We parked behind a cluster of bushes, stored the Jeep, and watched from there, invisible to the hunters.

From where we stood, we could see everything clearly. The hunters moved across the grass in a broad, shallow arc, spread out but coordinated. They weren't chasing anything yet; they were guiding the herd. A small group of long-necked herbivores grazed a short distance from the hunters, unaware or just pretending not to care. The hunters advanced slowly, using whistles, clicks, and tapping their spears on rocks to push the animals in the direction they wanted.

They herded the animals toward a natural trap, a shallow depression between two ridges. When the herd finally reached the trap, the hunters tightened their formation. A few circled around behind the animals, crouched low, and waved branches while shouting. The rest held their ground, spears ready.

Then they struck with fast, practiced movements. Spears flew almost at the same time, and a few hunters rushed in close to finish what the throws didn't. The herd tried to burst out, but every time one attempted to break away, someone was already there, blocking it with a shout or a jab of a spear.

We watched until the dust settled, and the hunters started pulling the animals apart to carry them home.

Mahya rested her hands on her hips. "So… what now?"

"I'm curious to see their camp," I said.

We turned invisible again and followed them. They walked for almost an hour before reaching their camp. Again, no women or children, only a few older men with mostly white hair down to their waists.

"I wonder how they procreate," I sent to the group.

"The women are probably elsewhere," Mahya sent, her tone thoughtful.

One man cast a fireball and lit a fire.

"They have the same spells," Al sent, sounding intrigued.

"We didn't see the icicle," I sent.

"I'm sure they have it too," Mahya sent. "Want to check for human bones?"

"No," Al and I sent at the same time, and neither of us needed to add anything else.

We came across two more camps over the next three days. Again, no women or children, only men of all ages. The third group acted differently. They carried smoked carcasses between the hills, away from their camp, so we followed them from the air with the occasional landing. We flew much faster than they walked. At some point, we spotted another group heading in the same direction as the first one. A short while later, the wind tugged at my attention in the same direction.

"That's strange," I said, sitting up a little and looking in the direction the groups had gone. "There's a dungeon that way."

"They're feeding it?" Mahya asked. She brushed some grass off her pants and squinted toward the hills.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "The wind just let me know there's a dungeon in that direction. That's all I've got."

We had to follow them the whole day and half of the next. Luckily, we were in a hilly area now, with plenty of exposed rock. I found a hill with a few outcroppings that blocked part of it from view, so I could open the house against the rock without anyone seeing it.

By the time they reached their destination, more groups had joined them, and we finally found the women and children. We were hiding above them, tucked behind the cliffs, watching from a spot above them where they couldn't see us. A vast camp sat in a natural bowl surrounded by hills and cliffs. Two dungeon portals were visible, one shimmering against a cliff on the east side and another farther off near the southern ridge. The men's camps didn't have any real dwellings, just branches tied together into rough lean-tos. The women's camp, on the other hand, looked organized and lived-in.

Skin tents stood in clusters. The tents were tall, conical structures with smoke holes at the top, made from long strips of hide. Between the clusters were wooden racks for drying meat, woven baskets, and flat stones set up as work spaces. A few larger tents sat near the center, probably used for storage or group activities.

Children ran between the tents, chasing each other or carrying small bundles of sticks. A few older kids helped the women with chores, sorting herbs, scraping hides, or hauling water from a nearby pool. The women worked in groups, talking quietly while they stitched hides, ground something in stone bowls, or tended to cooking fires. A lot of them were pregnant.

The men dropped the meat, and each picked a woman and carried her into a tent. All of them avoided the pregnant ones, and fights broke out over the others, including at least two killings that I could see. The dead were carried to another area of the camp, where two pregnant women started cutting them apart while a third burned the hair off with a spell.

I winced. Mahya swore.

"I believe they plan to eat them," Al said.

I almost said no shit, Sherlock, but stopped myself. Instead, I said, "Let's leave. I don't want to see that."

"What about the dungeons?" Mahya asked.

"You want to clear those?" I asked, surprised.

She thought for a moment, made a disgusted face, and sighed. "No. You're right. Let's go."

At least we solved the women's mystery, and I got a history lesson. I thought this world was in the Stone Age with some magic thrown in. It was definitely interesting, despite the cannibalism that really bothered me.