At the transit station, the main party split ways with Emberlyn, heading for the World Gate. The walk started off quietly, aside from the steady clack of Atlas’s spider legs.

  To be honest, Justin had never been one for spiders. They were creepy, hairy, and generally just plain gross.

  There was something different about Atlas, though. He was definitely not hairy, and while he had the appearance of a spider, the general vibe coming from the construct was decidedly dog-like.

  Or maybe horse-like. Justin wondered if it would be possible to ride him. He didn’t want to be so bold this quickly, but maybe Atlas could be coaxed into it.

  What was the point of having a Charisma of 64 if he couldn’t convince his own pet to become his noble steed?

  “So, Atlas,” Justin said, breaking the silence as they walked. “Can I call you Atty?”

  The construct’s crystal eyes pulsed once, then twice in rapid succession. His metal head tilted slightly to the side.

  “I think that’s a no,” Lila said with a laugh. “He seems like an ‘all or nothing’ kind of construct.”

  Atlas’s front legs lifted in what looked remarkably like a shrug, causing Justin to chuckle. Despite being a Founder device, he seemed to understand their conversation, or at least the general tone of it.

  “Fair enough. Atlas it is.” Justin patted the construct’s metal carapace. “You know, for a giant mechanical spider, you’re surprisingly...cuddly.”

  “Cuddly?” Eldrin raised an eyebrow. “That thing weighs more than all of us combined and has drills for hands. One day I’ll tell you the story of the Ranger who tried to bond with a kraken.”

  Atlas made a whirring sound that somehow managed to convey indignation.

  “You’re not a kraken, Atlas. And you’re hands aren’t drills, they’re...” Justin examined the appendages more carefully. “Okay, they’re definitely drills. But very sophisticated, elegant drills!”

  Atlas clicked appreciatively and did a little sidestep that could only be described as preening.

  “I think he likes compliments,” Lila observed. “Vain little construct, aren’t you?”

  Atlas turned to her and extended one leg, tapping the ground three times before lowering his struts almost gracefully.

  “Was that...a curtsy?” Justin asked incredulously.

  “Or maybe a bow,” Eldrin said, unable to hide his amusement. “Quite the gentleman you’ve got there.”

  “Well, that makes two of us,” Justin said, adjusting his new top hat. “They say pets often take on the qualities of their owners.”

  “Well,” Lila said with a smile, “hopefully Atlas doesn’t take on the more annoying bits of your personality.”

  “I think you mean charming.”

  As they continued walking, Atlas scuttled ahead and then backed up, almost as if testing how quickly he could move. Justin was reminded of a lab at the park that had been let off its leash.

  “I bet he’d be fun to ride,” Lila said, eyeing the construct speculatively.

  “I was just thinking the same thing,” Justin admitted. “What do you say, Atlas? Do you think you can handle having me on your back?”

  Atlas stilled, his crystal eyes flashing rapidly. Then, to Justin’s surprise, he lowered himself to the ground, flattening his body.

  “No way,” Justin breathed.

  “Do it,” Lila said with a grin. “This I have to see.”

  “I don’t recommend it,” Eldrin said, though his eyes twinkled with amusement. “But if you break your neck, I promise to say something nice at your funeral.”

  “Your confidence is noted,” Justin replied dryly. He approached Atlas cautiously. “You’re sure about this, buddy?”

  Atlas’s crystal pulsed steadily. That was a good sign.

  Carefully, Justin climbed onto the construct’s back. It was surprisingly comfortable. The metal plates fit together in a way that created a natural saddle of sorts.

  “Amazing,” Justin said, gripping what he hoped were non-essential parts of Atlas’s carapace. “Okay, nice and easy—”

  Before he could finish his sentence, Atlas rose smoothly to his full height. Justin wobbled precariously for a moment before finding his balance.

  “How’s the view up there?” Lila called.

  “Terrifying, but awesome. I feel like I should have a lance or something.”

  Atlas took a few experimental steps, moving with surprising gentleness despite his mechanical nature. Justin found himself relaxing into the rhythm. This was fun.

  “I think he likes it,” Justin said. “Don’t you, Atlas?”

  Atlas let out a pleased-sounding hum that vibrated through his entire frame.

  “Great,” Eldrin sighed. “Now we’ll never hear the end of it. ‘Justin Talemaker: Spider Rider.’”

  “Spider Knight,” Justin corrected. “It has a better ring to it.”

  Atlas clicked in what sounded suspiciously like agreement.

  “You’re too much sometimes,” Lila said with a laugh.

  “Hey, you can ride up here anytime. There’s plenty of room.”

  “I may have to take you up on that. But I’m with Eldrin. I think I’ll wait to see if you break your neck first.”

  “Always the practical one,” Justin said, adjusting his hat.

  As they approached the World Gate, Justin reluctantly dismounted. “We’ll practice more later,” he said, patting Atlas’s side.

  The construct nudged him gently with one leg, almost like a dog seeking more attention.

  “I never thought I’d find a mechanical spider endearing,” Lila said, shaking her head. “What do you eat, Atlas?”

  The construct’s crystal eyes flickered, his head tilting to the side in what seemed to be confusion.

  “I don’t think he understands the question,” Justin said. “Atlas, what do you need to keep working?”

  At this, the construct perked up. He scuttled away rapidly toward a nearby pile of rubble before any of them could react.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Justin asked.

  “Perhaps Atlas is programmed to respond to direct queries,” Eldrin suggested.

  Before they could speculate further, and after scrounging for a bit, Atlas reappeared, carefully carrying something in his two front appendages. He approached Justin and delicately placed the object in his palm.

  “An ether crystal,” Justin observed, turning the object over. Unlike the vibrant, glowing crystals they had seen throughout Zanthera, this one was dull and lifeless. “But it’s completely depleted.”

  Lila snapped her fingers. “I get it! He needs charged ether crystals!”

  Atlas’s crystal eyes pulsed brightly, his legs doing a little dance that clearly indicated approval.

  “Smart boy,” Justin said, patting the construct’s carapace. “So, you need ether to keep running. That makes sense.”

  “An expensive pet,” Eldrin said. “Those aren’t cheap.”

  “They grow like candy in the caverns above,” Justin said. “Besides, I’m rich now. Nothing but the best for Atlas.”

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

  Atlas made a series of rapid clicks and whirs. Justin was glad to see they were getting off on the right foot.

  At last, they turned to regard the World Gate before them. Within its frame oscillated a light blue light, constantly shifting and changing like a living kaleidoscope.

  “So, we just walk through, and that’s that?” Lila asked.

  “I believe so,” Eldrin said. “We should be careful. We know there is a desert on the other side, but there could be other dangers, too.”

  “Hopefully, no vindictive Pyrosphinxes,” Lila said.

  “I should hope not,” Eldrin said. “It’s hard to imagine stumbling into another rare creature like that. Let’s be ready for anything.”

  Atlas clicked softly beside Justin, as if saying he would face whatever strangeness lay ahead right by his side.

  “Let’s move,” Justin said.

  As one, they stepped toward the gate. The shimmering vortex seemed to reach out to them, the energy responding to their proximity while the Sapphire Star on Justin’s chest flared brighter. Justin took a deep breath and stepped through first.

  There was a brief moment of weightlessness, a flash of impossible colors that seemed to exist beyond the normal spectrum.

  Then, heat.

  [Entering Solanis.]

  Justin stumbled forward onto red sand, momentarily blinded by brilliant sunlight after the dim underground chambers of Zanthera. The air was dry and hot, seeming to suck the moisture from his lungs with each breath. More than that, the air felt thick. As if there were more atmosphere, which only added to the stifling effect.

  As his eyes adjusted, he saw a vast desert stretching out before him, red dunes rolling to the horizon beneath a hazy crimson sky.

  The sun burned above, larger and hotter than the sun on Eyrth. It was the same sun, of course. This planet simply revolved closer to its parent star.

  It was like a furnace, like early afternoon in Oklahoma during a heat wave. While standing on concrete.

  Justin did a test jump. He went higher than he expected. Less gravity, then, which meant this world was likely smaller, assuming a similar density to Eyrth.

  Atlas came out next, his metal body gleaming in the harsh sunlight. The construct seemed unbothered by the heat, his crystal eyes pulsing as he scanned their new surroundings.

  Justin switched to Vorthak’s Flame, which immediately regulated his body temperature. The others wouldn’t have the same benefit, though. Either they needed something similar or some sort of enchanted protection from the heat.

  “I don’t think we can stay here long-term,” Justin said. “Not unless we can get you two some sort of protection.”

  Eldrin emerged from behind him. “Quite the sight, isn’t it? Let’s just admire the view for a little while.”

  Lila followed, placing a hand above her eyes. “Bleak.”

  In the distance, Justin could make out what looked like a line of mountains. These mountains seemed taller and narrower than what he was used to, dominating the entire horizon. They rose quite high into the sky, higher than anything he had ever seen on Eyrth.

  And about halfway up their slopes, they became wrapped in verdant green. Clouds obscured the very top.

  “Those mountains look a bit more temperate, at least,” Justin said. “The question is, can we get there before you two cook?”

  Atlas suddenly chirped as he spread his legs wide for stability. A moment later, a soft hum emanated from the construct’s body, and a translucent reddish shield expanded outward in a dome around them, extending about fifteen feet in every direction.

  Justin willed his flames off to test the new temperature. It was still hot, but cooling rapidly, until the temperature was akin to a pleasant spring day.

  Lila let out a delighted laugh. “A heat shield! Atlas, you magnificent spider!”

  Justin reached out to touch the light. As soon as his hand passed through, the heat returned. “This wasn’t in the manual. Then again, there wasn’t a manual.”

  It made him wonder about Atlas’s full capabilities. That would have to be something he explored on his own. The construct was clearly bound to him in some way, likely through his core, and seemed to sense his needs.

  He had thought Atlas was a game-changer before, but this proved to be more than a game-changer.

  “It makes sense, if you think about it,” Eldrin said. “These constructs were likely designed to protect themselves from various environmental hazards. Those drills might have once been used for mining. It can get hot in the deep places of the world.”

  Lila smiled. “I’m just glad we can actually explore without risking heatstroke.”

  “We’ll need to be careful with Atlas’s energy reserves,” Eldrin said. “I managed to grab a few ether crystals, but I don’t know how long they’ll last, especially with this shield active.”

  “How many did you take?” Justin asked.

  “Six,” Eldrin replied. “If I had known about Atlas, I would have taken more, but even with my upgraded pack, space is becoming an issue.”

  “Maybe if we find a Fyrspawn village, we can offload some of our unused gear,” Lila said. “They use our currency, hopefully.”

  “And if not, they’ll have some valuable items to trade,” Eldrin said. “Just imagine. Very few get to see what we are right now, and we’ll have access to rare resources.” He smiled. “I got 5,000 experience just walking through the Gate.”

  “Seriously?” Justin asked.

  “Yes. More than I expected. But I’m eager to earn more. My Pathfinder’s Stride will be just as useful here as anywhere else. And my new gear will let me find the nearest source of food, water, and shelter.”

  “Always prepared,” Lila said with a smile. “That’s our Ranger.”

  Justin considered their situation. “We should probably decide whether it’s worth staying here at all. We still have our original goal of heading to Mont Elea and getting help with the Baron.”

  “This is a rare opportunity,” Eldrin said, his gaze sweeping across the alien landscape. “How many can say they’ve stood on another world? With all the resources that would potentially offer? I’m sure we’re not the only ones who know about World Gates on Eyrth. After all, there are still higher-level people than us, some of whom might even have gate keys. But it’s rare enough that it will still be a huge advantage.”

  “What if we run into those types of people?” Lila asked. “Is it worth the detour if we end up running into someone dangerous?”

  Justin thought about it. “Well, we don’t have to commit, do we? This is temporary. Let’s wait for Emberlyn to bring news about what’s happening up in the cavern, like we talked about. If Valdrik is still there, we might need to lay low for a while anyway. As long as Atlas has enough crystals, we can stay here as long as we need.”

  “Emberlyn did say to stay close to the Gate,” Eldrin said. “But I don’t think she realized how inhospitable this environment would be for humans.”

  “We should find shelter,” Lila suggested. “Somewhere close by where we can wait without draining Atlas’s energy unnecessarily. A place like this has to have caves, right?”

  “About high time I tried out my new armor,” Eldrin said, adjusting his Pathfinder’s Vestments, which had gone crimson in response to the surrounding dunes and sky.

  He closed his eyes momentarily, tapping into his Pathfinder’s Gaze enchantment. The armor hummed with a light green energy as it connected with the land, even this alien one.

  When Eldrin opened his eyes again, they held a faint green luminescence. “There,” he pointed confidently toward their right, where the landscape seemed particularly barren at first glance. “About half a mile that way. There’s a ravine with a series of shallow caves. One of them has water. Not much, but it’s there. There are also food sources.”

  “That’s amazing,” Justin said, impressed. “Good to know all our magic still works even on an alien world.”

  “The enchantment must be reading the land itself, not relying on any stored knowledge,” Eldrin said.

  “Well, let’s not waste time,” Justin said. “Lead the way.”

  Eldrin headed in that direction, Atlas keeping pace while maintaining the protective dome around them. The construct’s mechanical legs moved with surprising agility over the shifting sands.

  They kept alert as they made the short journey, eyes scanning the alien landscape for any sign of movement or threat. Soon, they came to a slight depression in the landscape that had been invisible from their arrival point, at the bottom of which was the promised ravine, cutting through the desert landscape like a jagged wound.

  “There it is,” Justin said, peering over the edge. “Is there a way down?”

  “Follow my lead,” Eldrin said, his eyes seeming to spot a natural path. “This way. The descent isn’t too steep here.”

  The Ranger led them along the edge until they reached a section where erosion had created a gentle slope of packed sand and rock. He tested each step carefully before proceeding. The others followed his exact path, with Atlas bringing up the rear, the shield maintaining the protective bubble around them as they descended.

  The temperature began to drop noticeably as they made their way deeper into the ravine. The high walls provided natural shade from the merciless sun, and the air grew marginally less oppressive with each step down.

  “The cave should be just ahead,” Eldrin said, pointing to a dark opening in the ravine wall.

  As they approached, they found not one but a series of cave openings. Eldrin led them to the largest, which extended back into darkness. The entrance was wide enough for them to walk through comfortably, even with Atlas in tow.

  “Wait here,” Eldrin said, drawing his sword. “Let me check for any inhabitants first.”

  The Ranger disappeared into the darkness, returning several minutes later with a satisfied expression. “All clear. No signs of recent occupation, animal or otherwise. It extends quite deep, with several chambers. Dry and stable.”

  They followed him inside, Atlas’s crystal eyes providing enough illumination to navigate. About thirty feet in, the cave opened into a larger chamber with a high ceiling, cool air wafting around them.

  “Atlas, I think we’re good here,” Justin said.

  The construct chirped in acknowledgment, and the red shield dissolved. The temperature immediately rose but remained bearable. It was perhaps a good thirty degrees cooler than the surface, if not more. Uncomfortable, but bearable.

  “Perfect,” Lila said, already removing her pack. “I was starting to feel like roast pheasant out there.”

  Eldrin moved deeper into the cave. He returned moments later, looking pleased. “Found it. Come see.”

  He led them to a small side chamber where a thin trickle of water seeped from a crack in the wall, collecting in a small, clear pool before disappearing into the ground.

  “It’s not much,” Eldrin said, “but it’s clean and cool. Probably filtering down from those mountains we saw. With careful rationing, it should meet our needs while we’re here.”

  “This is incredible,” Justin said, genuinely impressed.

  “Let’s set up camp,” Eldrin said. “It’s been a long day. We need the rest.”

  Justin nodded. He wasn’t just after rest, but his next level-up. With 33,400 experience points in the bank, he was poised to make significant progress—perhaps all the way to Level 19. That would put him just one level away from accessing his advanced class.

  He wouldn’t get both level-ups at once, but with Level 18, he stood to upgrade two of his boons: Add Injury to Insult and Insightful Gaze.

  Justin sat down against the cool stone wall. Atlas went into a crouch in a large crevice that gave him a good view of the cave entrance, red eyes going dim. It seemed the construct was set to some sort of “low-power” mode, but would wake if he detected any potential threats.

  “Look at that,” Lila said, watching Atlas settle in. “He’s guarding us.”

  “Smart construct,” Eldrin observed. “Conserving power while maintaining vigilance.”

  Justin smiled with pride. “He’s already earning his keep. It makes me feel a lot better about sleeping in an alien cave.”

  He wondered if Atlas had merely run out of energy, but he was certain the construct would have let him know if that were the case.

  They unpacked their supplies, setting up a small camp in the cave. Surprisingly, they still had the fish purchased all the way back in Ryak’s village, along with some forage Eldrin had picked up over the past week. It wasn’t a feast, but it would sustain them until they figured out their next move.

  Justin removed his top hat and closed his eyes. Level 18 awaited.