Chapter 1. Part 9.

The Capital Merchant.

With its large selection of highly skilled craftsmen, Mark was less sure about any products doing well. But he had nothing to lose in trying. So he followed the formula he had used in Midval, selecting a general goods store that did business with adventurers. Offering them some monster parts, then showing off a selection of goods from his home land.

JC Farthing expert in adventure equipment. Was the owner of the shop. A fat man, who claimed to have been a travelling merchant in his youth. He went on many trips with adventurers, thus his keen insight into what they needed most. Farthing liked to brag and tell stories, which always made him look good. He was a friendly fellow, but there was something fake in his smile. Indeed, his loud persona hid a very cunning intellect. If he ever did anything underhanded, he did it with great skill. There was never a crack in his friendly facade.

Although the merchant mostly dealt in practical goods for working adventurers, he was not going to ignore the luxury items, this young fellow presented. Pepper and some other spices were always in demand. Mark also discovered that this world did have an equivalent to matches. However they were only sold in tiny bundles of ten, at a very high cost.

Back to Reality.

After several days in the capital, Mark tells the Princess that he must depart, as he has duties to attend to. She is curious, but does not press for answers. Instead she assures him that he will always be welcome at the castle.

He makes a stop in the town of Midval, to talk some more with the merchant about his plan to sell exotic goods. He offers a similar deal that he made with the merchant back in the village. He will deliver various goods next time he is in town. The merchant will sell then and hold 50% of the profits until he comes around again.

Back in his house on Earth, Mark checks his phone to find he has several messages and missed calls.

In the past he never got calls or texts, but since he started at the Academy he had made a few friends.
Seeing that people were trying to get hold of him was almost as exciting as having an audience with the king. So he quickly checked the texts before listening to the voice messages. They were all similar, “Wow the Halloween party was a blast, cool outfit, wild magic trick.” that sort of thing.

Mark looked at the time. It was late Sunday afternoon. The Halloween party had been Friday night. It seemed like ages ago. Because for him 28 days had passed in the other world. But for the rest of this world it was basically yesterday. He looked at his phone for a few moments more. Then got down to replying to all the messages. He told everyone that he had been obsessing over a game on the week end and left his phone in the kitchen.

Note – need a bit with MC & GHS going out to cafe.

Is the idea evil?

Mark is in the cabin talking to Bob.

“There is a friend I want to share all this with. I want to show her this world, but Im worried she will freak out.”

Bob answers “If that happens you could just erase her memory.”

Mark looks shocked “Is that an option?”

Bob explains “Erasing a bit of time, like a few hours or a day, is easy enough. The tricky part is making it so the target never realizes what has happened. For example, cutting out an entire day is best because the person goes to sleep and wakes up. No memory between. If you aim to erase or alter a shorter section of memory, it is more difficult and you must be more careful.”

Mark ponders the implication of this sort of spell. It could be the answer if things go off the rails. But it also feels very unethical. Especially if doing it to a friend. So he puts that idea to the back of his mind and then considers how he might tell her of the other world. “I cant just expect her to believe me. Iv got to show her.” is the conclusion he comes to.

Taking a big step.

On Friday at lunch, Mark tells Gwen, “I found something very cool in grandpa's room, Id like to show it to you. Are you free for a bit this evening?” She says “Sure no problem.”

Next we see them standing in the cabin. She has a look of amazement on her face.

“It really is a door to another world” he says. “Just look outside.” he opens the cabin's front door.

She just keeps repeating “wow – no way.”

“I thought about how to tell you, what Iv been up to, but there was just no way it did not sound nuts. So here we are, the proof is right there for the testing.” He tried his best to sound confident. “Step outside. The forest is dangerous but the yard is perfectly safe.”

They go outside and walk around the yard. She asks all the classic questions. “What is going on here? How is this possible? Am I going nuts? How many times have you been here?” Etc.

And lastly she asks, “Why show me this place?”

Mark ignores all the other questions, then answers the last one. “This is the most amazing thing I have, and you are the only person who didnt think I was a wast of space, so... I wanted to share the joy with you. Simple as that.”

Some time later, back inside the cabin, they sit with hot drinks at the small kitchen table.

She asks more questions, “Are dragons real? What about magic? Elves? Goblins? Kings? Castles?”

He tries to briefly answer all the many questions she shoots at him.

Disbelief has turned into excitement.