Chapter 1. Part 6.

Fast forward. Exams are done.

Gwen asks if Mark has any plans for Halloween. He plans to spend some more time in the other world, but cant exactly say that. So he just shrugs and says “Watching some horror movies.”

“Well then, you should come over to my place, we are throwing a costume party. Dont worry if you dont have one. Mom has a ton of stuff she lets guests use.” Gwen says with enthusiasm.

Mark is thrilled to be invited, but still hesitant about going to a party. “I will try to be there.” he says after what seems like an eternity thinking about it.

Gwen smiled.

The Halloween Party.

Mark didn't have to think about it very long. It was obvious what he would wear to the party. A full set of clothing from the other world. Fancy stuff with a decorative breast plate. Tall boots and long gloves made of soft leather. A light weight sword and dagger, and a mid length cape. A proper noble outfit.

Part of him wanted to show off. Another part considered how he might make a quick escape.

He knew that Gwen's family were wealthy, but wow. The size of their house really impressed him. It was out in the suburbs, at the end of the metro line. A very rich neighbourhood. By the time he got there a dozen cars were in the driveway. Yea it had a driveway that could fit that many.

Gwen greeted him at the door. As she greeted all the guests. But he suspected no other guests got the surprised look she gave him. “Wow. Im impressed Lord Claymoor.” she said after he gave a small bow.

“Grandpa had a lot of this sort of thing hanging around.” He said casually.
She tapped on the breast plate, “Is this real?”

“Yup, it is all 100% fancy and functional.” He answered with pride.

The party was not as frightening as Mark expected. He worried that he would not know anyone or that he would have nothing to talk about or that it was all some big trap to make fun of him. But he soon recognized most of the guests, kids from the Academy.

Going with Halloween idea of being in disguise, he kept up the persona of Lord Claymoor, for as most of the evening. He talked to people in a formal overly polite way, as a noble would. He told stories about fighting monsters. Pure fiction everyone assumed, of course. But he was actually being honest.

A few people gave him “yea right” looks when he talked about casting fire balls. One girl even dared him, “Show us some magic.” Maybe it was because being the centre of attention had gotten to his head. Maybe it was because he was a teenager caught up in the moment. Whatever the reason, he did not think twice about it. He waved his hands around and muttered some fake magic words, then sparked a small flame from his finger tip. The onlookers “ouhhed and awwed”. Before he blew out the flame.

It was at that moment Mark knew he may have gone too far. Of course everyone wanted to know how he did it. Thinking it was some sort of magic trick. It took all his effort to keep cool and repeat “A magician never reviles his secrets.”

The Weekend Trip.

The next day was time for a long trip in the other world. Mark planned to be gone from Saturday morning to Sunday night. About 32 hours, which would mean 32 days over there. Lots of time to go see the Princess at the capital, and maybe have an adventurer along the way. So far the other world had been great, but he had not really done very much aside from training and practice in the forest.

So he packed some stuff in a bag of holding, things he would need for camping. He also had accumulated a lot of small items that were easy to buy here but should be seen as rare and valuable in the other world. In addition to the trade goods he had a few set aside as gifts for the royal family. It was something he learned in one of the games. Cant visit nobility without a few gifts.

Note – a bag of holding can only fit things that actually fit in the opening of the bag.

Mark makes a short stop at the cabin to talk with Bob.

He asks some questions about the kingdom and about the royal family. Bob tells him what he knows, but cautions that his info is out of date. Because he has not been out of the cabin in 50 years.

Next stop is the local village.

Mark has a membership with the adventurer's guild, but he also wants to get one with the merchant's guild. He thinks having various cards may be handy. The guild master is happy enough to give out a card, for the price of a gold coin and a small bag of pepper. Mark also gives him a few items for sale, with the agreement he gets half the profit.

“It is a 5 day journey to the capital. With the first 3 days being mostly wilderness. After that you reach Midvill, a decent sized town. From there the last 2 days of travel are mostly through farmlands.” The Innkeeper explains.

The first night on the road.

Mark is actually more worried about camping than monsters, as he has never been camping before.He has a bag of holding full of lots of camping equipment, from a Bass Pro Shop. Including a wilderness survival guide book.

Concerned with setting up the tent, getting a fire going and preparing a meal, Mark forgets about making a magical circle of warning. Even though it was one of the first things Bob had told him to do when making a camp. “After checking for insect mounds and hives, you dont want you camp next to them, make a circle and focus it with four stones. You will want to set the warning for creatures of a certain size, say anything rat sized or larger. If you set it to detect all, the alert will go off every time a bug flies across the circle.” Bob had explained at length, before getting down to the actual magical mechanics of setting the warning spell.

So after he makes his camp for the night, he is attacked by monsters. These creatures often pray on travellers, attacking just after dark or just before dawn. As he is alone, they see Mark as an easy meal. They surprise him, but he makes short work of them. Using mostly spells with lots of flash and boom. The creatures that survive the first few moments, flee.