The city of Eaton was having a celebration. The music and colorful decorations were obvious from before the group passed through the gates.

  Somehow, seeing all the happiness of the people combined with the flattened buildings unnerved Luke. It felt wrong. Dangerous.

  “This is not what I expected,” Maki said slowly.

  “Are they under a mind control spell?” Maeve asked, turning to Cali.

  Cali slowly shook her head. “It doesn't feel like it.”

  “Nothing is triggering my danger sensors,” Echo added. “As far as I can tell, they’re all genuinely happy.”

  “Maybe today is usually a festival of some kind, and they decided they needed a party,” Cali said.

  At that point, Luke started noticing the doors. Most of the buildings were still piles of rubble, but they all had a standing doorway with a door in it. On the doorways were runes, some of which he didn't recognize.

  Since they were going slow enough, Luke hopped off the wagon and ran over to the nearest door. The runes were dictating size… and shape… and temperature… and air quality-

  “No way,” he breathed, reading through the extremely complicated spell. It looked like they’d covered everything.

  He ran back to the wagon, grabbed his new rune book, and ran to another door. He quickly copied the three runes he didn't recognize, then returned to the wagon.

  “What is it?” Maeve asked, watching him.

  “I think…” Luke opened his stats screen, went to the class submenu, and held up the three runes.

  Sure enough, two lit up when he focused on his inventory. He laughed, showing the page to the group.

  “Someone here figured out pocket dimensions. They just need a doorway, and can have a full room behind it without needing any space or building materials,” he explained.

  Echo’s jaws dropped, her eyes going wide. “That… changes everything.”

  “It can't be safe for people to sleep in,” Maki said doubtfully, looking at a passing door. “Air will run out. If something destroys the entrance-”

  “They’ve thought of that,” Luke said. “They’ve got runes on there for air, and runes for what to do if the circle loses power, and multiple manastones. It’s the most complicated thing I’ve ever seen, but I can't see it failing.”

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  “Maybe that’s why everyone is celebrating,” Cali said. “Having a safe place to sleep for the first time in a while would make me happy.”

  “Yeah, same,” Maeve agreed as they drew close to the Traveler’s Guild.

  Cali directed the horses into the yard, and they were given a place to put the wagon for the night. As they were collecting their bags, a man with the guild’s badge on his chest came out.

  “Would you be willing to head out immediately?” he asked. “There should be enough daylight to get to Pepper if you’re heading west.”

  They all looked at each other, before Maeve stepped closer.

  “Probably, and yes, we’re on our way to Mlem, but we still need to be paid,” she said. “What’s the rush?”

  “Perfect,” he said, motioning someone over. “Give me your receipts, and I’ll get them sorted immediately. Chris: get them one of the pamphlet boxes.”

  Chris ran off, Maeve provided the man with a few sheets of paper, and the group pushed all their luggage back into place. After a moment, Chris came back and thumped a box into their wagon. It wasn't a sealed box, so Luke picked up one of the pamphlets.

  “Runes for Stable Pocket Dimension, Suitable for Living or Working In,” he read. “Yep, I knew it.”

  He opened it up and scanned everything. Each rune had a name, description, and reason why it needed to be included. It was very organized and comprehensive. And, importantly, the back page was dedicated to naming everyone who helped put the pamphlet together. Those names would go down in history.

  The man from the Guild came back with a bag of coins and a single, signed piece of paper for Maeve. He saw Luke looking through the pamphlet and frowned.

  “Those are for Runesmiths only,” he said.

  “I am one,” Luke assured him. “I saw the new runes on the way in; this is amazing.”

  The man relaxed. “Oh, good. Then you understand the importance of not letting someone who doesn't understand runes copying this.”

  Luke nodded, glancing at Cali. “We know how important it is to not play with runes.”

  She flinched.

  “Good. We need you to head to Mlem as quickly as possible,” the man said. He handed Maeve a second piece of paper. “Here’s the request from the city. All towns you pass, ask if there’s a Runesmith. If there is, give them one of these and have them sign that they’ve received it. If not, continue on your way.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  They all said their farewells, and Cali led the horses back onto the street. Luke settled down, studying the pamphlet. As they left the city, Maeve settled down next to him.

  “This for sure works?” she asked. “It’s safe and stable?”

  Luke nodded. “Yeah, it looks like they’ve thought of everything. All you need is a big stone ring, and you’re good. Don't even really need a door; that’s just to stop random people from wandering in.”

  Maeve thought that over, absently rubbing his arm. “Would a metal ring work?”

  “It would need mana stones, but yeah,” he shrugged. “Might even work a little better.”

  “So… If we got a barrel ring, and you put the runes and stones in them… We would basically have a portable, private room for when we can’t stay at an inn?”

  Luke looked at her far-too-innocent smile and decided it was absolutely imperative that he get started on this project as soon as possible.