Accidental meetings include the Emperors personal guard forming a perimeter around the area. Which works in keeping the Palace guard from finding and harrassing the Hero. Though this time the Emperor himself came up to those same guards.

"Gentlemen" he stated as they came to attention, "It is to my understanding you all have been trying to force our guest to keep only to his rooms, is this correct ?"

The sargent nods, "Yes your Magesty, otherwise he tends to get in to things or places he should not."

He nods, "I see. And are any of these place high security area's ?"

"No sir, at least not yet. Mostly the servents area's and some area's not open to the public, just to palace staff."

"I left an order that he was to have free reign of the Palace and the grounds. The high security places he has access to but only with someone of authority with him. I do understand his need to explore and as long as he is not harming anyone I don't see a problem. But trying to lock him only in to his rooms is just going to alienate him. He is not someone we want as an enemy but you all seem intent on making him in to one."

Young guard, raises a hand and the Emperor nods for him to speak, "We were told he was to dangerous to be allowed to just walk free and there for needed to be kept in a secure area."

"The ones who suggest that are ones in league with the forces that just recently tried to over throw our Empire. While his Master Spell shrank their armies, it did not remove their spies or agents. Those we are still rooting out."

One of the Elite guard tells these guards, "Find the ones telling those stories and report them to the shadow room. They will look to see if they are agents or just rumor mongers."

The guards all nod. Happy they only got a light talking to, instead of trouble.

The Emperor grins, "He is a Hero, so of course he is dangerous. Hero's often are. We are all dangerous if you think about it. Beyond just our place here, our training makes it so to. Now the Hero, from what I understand he is a powerful Mystic, which are people trained to use Mage Craft and Priest craft, often at the same time. Form of Holy Mage if you will. They are rare, interesting people, with a strict code of conduct and usually many strange vows as they serve a pantheon of gods instead of just one god."

Young guard muttering, "oh so that is why he won't eat pig or horse meat."

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Jason finds the 'Mystic' asleep on one of the nicer benches around here. One of the ones he set up for clandestine meetings. Meaning it's nice and private and only His agents can listen in. He is surprised to see he has thick blankets for a mattress, a pillow and another blanket over himself. Man came prepared for a nap. Can't help but shake his head over that. That he went looking for a place he could get a nap and not be disturbed. He is almost sorry to have to wake him.

He steps forward and slams in to an invisible barrier, blinking and rubbing his nose, he runs a scanning spell. No magic in use, at least nothing he can find, on the other hand there is a strong Psychic field here. He is impressed, even asleep his mind is protecting him. That is not a usual ability even amoung the powerful Lost. That speaks more of decades of training in mental abilities. So his claim about his home world rings more true now. Impressive.

He looks around at the spirits normally here, they are notably abscent. He has to wander back up the path till he finds them. They look nervous, so not their normal behavior.

"Excuse me ?" he ask one of the nature spirits that look after the gardens.

The spirit bobs its head in recognition, "Good day sir. Do be carefull of the one with in here. He has some powerful protections. We observed a level 5 demon try to assult him in his sleep. It did not survive what is protecting him. Never seen anything like that before either. Not in spirit worlds at least." it considers, "It looked sort of like a knight, but not, can't really explain it but the feeling from it was quite terrifying."

Well this puts a damper on his plans.

He looks toward the heavens, "Tymor what have you brought in to my kingdom ?"

Avatar steps out of the shadows, she is looking around the corner at the man, "He arrived in Thessnia actually. Who are now down one high mage, and most of their guards in Kreelyn Hollow as well as one knight, Sir Reginald to be precise." looks at the Emperor, "They tried to enslave him and well, he did not understand his strength, that being part of it, I did not and still don't understand the nature of his Luck. Never seen anything like it and Really wish I could talk to the gods of his home realm. HIS Luck is affecting my realm in unpredicable ways. But fortunetly only in reguards to him and his actions. Still at heart he is a good man and really likes being helpful."

The Emperor nods, supposes that is good. Nice people make life a little easier, sometimes. He is to much of a realist to not realize they don't do well in area's of politics and intrigue though. "Why are you here ?"

"I am following him actually, several things are following him including a couple servants to some high plane sorts. The local demons don't seem to understand that he is not someone you can just annoy and live through it. He Knows to much. Not that he could explain it to you as your language lacks the words for it. He is interesting. A high end Mystic, figured out several of the Keys of Existance, though his understanding is far from complete, long way to go yet. Still for a person of his limited understanding to have worked out so much is impressive. Mind you the only reason he is here is he worked out how to cast a greater spell, and in a bought of mixed fear and wanting to save as many as he could, he cast his master spell. It knocked him out for several days, both magically and psionically. It's the only reason those children were able to capture him."

Jason nods, "That I realized. Had he not done that spell they likely would have been to injured to try and take him again. Or to small."

She nods, "He really does not like killing people. Says being dead makes it so hard to learn from ones mistakes."

Jason snorts a laugh, right he is a Teacher, one who goes through life trying to improve others understandings of how the worlds works. The rest is just life and how he tries to work his own way through it. He respects the sort of person as it's not an easy path. But it also adds more questions than answers as well about this strange man.

"To bad his spell did not take out their spy network." he sighs.

"His spell took out the True Believers of the faith. Most of which were in their military. The rest don't really believe, they just want the power and prestige of being in the new ruling cast. Much like a certain Death Priest you have around here. He has Just enough faith to use the magic, but that is it. He is more interested in the power his placement here gives him. Rob there, he understands him very well. But then while he is physically 20, his mind is well educated and closer to 60. Oh no nobles in his world anymore. His home country is a democracy, similar to the one your Grandfather came from. Some simularities and lots of differences do to the very different world history. He may have a little trouble comprehending that right now. He is still trying to comprehend your world and tends to think all varients of his world are closer to his understanding - it will take him a bit to get over that bit of arrogance."

Jason nods. Knows about that problem as he has read the journals of many of the lost who came before this one. "This one is a bit more over powered than is normal."

"True, but the Fates gave him Just enough weaknesses to counter it enough so he won't get to arrogant about it. I been talking to them as he came here via a wish ring. One that should Not have entered his world, except it did. He has Interesting Luck, that is the Only reason we can see that happening. Anyway they did some things to him that were not part of his wish to keep him from being even More godlike than he already is. Put some limiters on some of his gifts and some of his physical abilities. Like including all injuries he suffered before the age of 20. It's why he has that twisted leg and is near sighted. I did a nice thing for him though. Enchanted his glasses to self repair. They also adjust to his needed prescription so he can always see about 20ft as long as he has them. His vision problems actually came from a head injury, but he is unaware of that. Some of his other limitations are more in his head, like he does not believe he can ride a horse do to his leg. That really is not true of the him of Now. It was true of the man he Used to be. So young body, old mind kind of thing. Oh one other thing, he can talk to animals. His problem with eating horses is he talks to them. Same for pigs really. Thinks cows are stupid, so has no problem eating them." she grins as she tells him that.

"So his limits then are some physical and most his own perceptions. And they made sure to weaken some of his other powers."

She nods, "Otherwise he would not need magic really. And He so wanted magic, loves the stuff. Natural Mage, greater understanding of how it all works and learns it Much faster than is normal. Also God like intelligence. Partily from his better overall education and partly to natural ability. The rest I will let you work out. Can't tell you everything. Ah he is close to waking."

She fades out, but he suspects she is still there, quietly watching.

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I was having a great dream. I was a super hero in a world more like my own. There were other hero's there to, like the Tick and Arthur and American Maid. Though the 'actors' were from different versions of the shows.

I was just fighting a minor villain when I tripped and fell, off the bench and on to the ground as my foot kicked the back of the bench and well "OW" I lay there a minute, slowly remembering where I really am and that I fell asleep on this bench after making a bed out of it, as it Had to be more comfortable than the nightmare of a bed I had back in the palace.

As I am pulling my self together I see a foot, black boot and then a green and gold robe. I look up at this amused man with a gold hat and vandyke beard. It's the scary man from the dungeon. He lets me pull myself up on the bench.

"Have a good nap ?" he ask, amused expression in place.

I consider, "Well until I fell down. Was having a great dream, was in a city and got to meet some of my childhood hero's and talk with them about their adventures."

I sigh as I put my blankets and pillows away. He watches them just fade away. ok then.

I sit and watch him, not saying a word, he seems to be waiting for something but I am to groggy at the moment to think what it could be. I have not gotten much sleep of late and as such it takes me a bit longer to wake up.

"Your not really awake are you ?" he ask me. I yawn as an answer.

"Not really no. Have not gotten much of any sleep here. The bed in the palace is horrible, and everytime I try to get a nap in my rooms, someone walks in and wakes me up. Don't need me for anything, just seem intent on keeping me from resting, even though the healers keep telling them I need my rest. Feel like I am the center of some kind of conspiricy or power play but neither side is telling me anything."

He nods, "Actually I suspect its the allies to the people you thwarted from over throwing this country. They have agents everywhere and well we can't find them all as some have been in place for years and till now we did not realize it."

I sigh, "If I was more awake I have a spell that would make them Very obvious. It's only level 4 but has a lovely radius, about 50 miles of Me. Make them all 3ft shorter than they were previously."

He chuckles, "Do you have a copy of that spell."

"Got some paper ?" I ask.

He searches his robes and pulls out a blank scroll, "I am a mage and I find having extra paper about my person most helpful."

I nod, "Cool. Ok, part of this is a description and part is just what I went through working this out from the spell Shrink, that is the base you understand ?" he nods, "Not sure how long the spell effects last as I really have never used this version before, I got a more powerful version, but that makes people about 6 inches tall. That one Only affects organic matter, like cloth and leather. So metal objects are not affected. Really hard to use a sword when it is so much bigger than you are." He grins as I write it out, using my own pen. I point out some tricks I worked out with this spell and I put the activator phrases on a seperate section with marks showing where each set of phrases goes. He ends up sitting next to me as I work it all out and I end up teaching him some new phrases that make the spell both easier and more powerful. I even explain the nature of the words or phrases and what they really mean. He is thrilled.

When it's done I have worked out a few new things to. Including this person is someone important here but for some reason he is keeping that to himself.

He holds out his hand to me, "I am Jason, family name you understand."

I take his hand and nod, "Rob and same. I don't have a mage name at present as all the ones I like are taken or have multiple meanings and not all are good. Like I was considering Maou for a bit. In the language of the Mandarin it means Cat, in the language of Japan however it means Demon Lord. My friend Hermen said it could mean Demon Cat or Cat Demon depending on how I used the word. He is a nice person but a bit strange. I think he's been left alone to long ... wonder where he is now. Been fretting a bit about my travel companions. Especially the horses."

He blinks, "The horses ?"

"Richard and Keen Sight, they were men, who have been transformed in to horses you see. Richard does not really remember it. Keen Sight on the other hand is very philosophical about it." I tell him.

His eyes are bugging out, "Keen Sight, the arch mage ? He is a Horse ?"

"Couple months ago, this mid level and very nasty merchant mage turned him in to a horse, then Gelded him, then forced him to pull his cart. That same person had the bad fortune of meeting me on the road. I called him out on him trying to sell me a cursed item, he tried to curse me, but my defenses reflected the spell back on to him.

Me I am a nice person at heart and well I decided to try and remove the curse from him. It was causing boils, leasons and such you understand?" he nods, "Well apparently I put to much power in to it, as well as crossing to many magics. When I came to, he was dead, his cart was a memory and his horse was injured, and an Avatar of Tymor was looking over the crater."

He rolls forward, coughing a out a laugh as that hits him.

"Truthfully if not for my own spell shield I would not be here. It reflected away enough of the back blast to keep me in one piece, more or less. That is what the Goddess told me at anyrate. She explained a few things to me. Told me I have 2 titles from that. Magic Experimenter and Luck of the Lady. Any rate she told me how to heal others and told me to practice on the horse. So I did. Healed him up real good. He is now younger and no longer a gelding, still not sure how I managed That. But there you go. Mind you I was trying to fix the gelding as I am against doing that to a person and I think most animals are people. I can talk to them to, but that is a self taught ability, not something I was born with. Not a spell either. Took years to learn to do as well. But it allowed me to talk to him and the other horse I found, which is how I worked out their true natures. Most horses can't read let alone understand complex thoughts needed to work magic. Keen does both. Richard, he is a knight, not a very brave knight given how often he runs off, but then he lacks armor and the ability to effectively fight back, so there may be something to that." I pause to let him speak cause I went Monolog on him there. He is laughing to much to actually speak though.

After catching his breath, "Ok I see what your saying. Keen Sight is famous in mages circles, one of the few arch mages around is part of it. The other is he is a master of summoning magics. Not as many summoners around and as such it gets noticed more. Me I am a generalist type, more used to tried and true magics, but smart enough to have worked out those pesky level 9 spells. Which I understand you used to take out the evil army."

"Level 10 spell actually. See I am a Natural mage and part of that is my spells start at what you think of as level 2, my level one spells, well I treat them like cantrips. Which I can do all day long. I used the Grand Wish spell. It was the only way to get them All. A level 9 wish would have only taken out a few thousand, not all of them."

He stares at me, mouth slowly forming those words as his eyes bug from his head. Then, "HOW ?"

I shrug, "I prayed to the Gods and Asked for it. They gave it to me in order to stop the St Bonehead people from building their empire of One God to rule them all and in Darkness Bind the world. That is what their end goal is. I know, I am from a world where that God gained such power. My world used to have the same level of magic as this one. Till that Demon of a God came and sucked it all out, while making it punishable by death to work magic. I realized what they were doing and I asked the Pantheon I ultimately answer to for help. It knocked me out and I am still not fully recovered from that, but it was worth it to stop them at least that much."

We sit in silence while he processes that, I watch his face as he considers that.

He slowly nods just before the Avatar appears, in my face "THATS IT! THAT IS WHY YOUR HERE!"

"ow, you don't have to yell, I am right here." I gripe, she spins around and walks in a circle, "That explains so much. That is why your here. THEY Picked you. The Over Gods. They are the only one with the power needed to send that ring to your world."

I nod, "It's the logical assumption as even you are a weaker form that the one I normally deal with." I look at Jason, "Even the Gods have Gods above them. I worship Gods above the ones you know. Have met, in spirit at least, a couple of them on occaison to. That is very rare and well they are limited to the number of visitations a person can get in a life time."

She nods, "True. Those sorts I think 3 or 5 times depending on your level of advancement. Anyway HE is here because a very high level fate Sent him to fight these St Micheals people. At least that is part of it. Got to be more to it than that really."

"I helped banish the demon god those people are worshipping from my universe actually. I am the only one of the group who was still practicing the gifts we had to defeat that enemy as well. I was 16 when that happened." I tell her, "His Name" she puts a hand over my mouth, "No. We are so not ready for That to be out there yet."

Jason is nodding, "The last of a group of unknown hero's who fought off a hidden demon lord. Sent him from your world, but he somehow found a way in to our world."

This name is whispered in to my mind even as I say it, "Micheal Philips Rockwell." I state and watch both flinch, "He was a high priest to that thing. HE Died during the fight. So I suspect he is the St Micheal you all are talking about."

Jason nods, "Little over 300 years ago he appeared in this world. Did some miracles and brought his faith to the people. For a time they were an ok faith. Then they started this only Humans thing and saying all other races lack souls. Only Humans allowed in their faith."

I nod, "Yep that is his M.O. In my reality they started a group called the White Supremasist. They were for only White Men to be in charge of the world and hurt or killed anyone different from them. They ended up marked as a Hate Group and generally outlawed, not that that stopped their growth any. Bigots and Racist always exist and giving them a religion just makes them feel self rightous about it."

Tymor is nodding, "Ok that all fits. BUT I still think there has to be another unrealated reason for you to be here."

Jason looks at the scroll in his hand, "New magic. Or new spins on existing spells. New activator words and more precise terms. He brought that to."

I nod to that, "I tend toward non lethal spells, but I got a few varient war spells to. Level 1 spell, magic missile, my version uses ball lightning." I grin at him. He chuckles, and points to me, "That is what I am talking about. He takes existing magics and makes something New from it."

She pulls out her copy of my sheet and look it over, nodding, "Ok that makes a great deal of sense to. The magic gods have been tweeking the magic over the last couple hundred years. HE is smart enough to understand it and new enough to get around being listed as a crank or worse cause he has no formal training, just spell descriptions from a game that has some of the same spell descriptions as are used in this world. Also him being a Mystic gives him Priest spells, which get the same mix of high magic in his understanding. Yes he can work God level magic, the fabled level 10. But he is a ways off in getting there."

I look at her, "What level am I now ?"

Still looking at her copy of my stats, "14." I arm pump and Jason grins. always nice when you level up from an adventure.

I get up and read over her shoulder at my spell numbers, "So what is a good level 8 priest spell ?" I ask her, she turns and gives me a wide eyed look, "What ?" I point to my page, "Says I get one of those a day now."

She looks at it and pales, "Shit, I completely forgot about that. Level 14 for a normal person is 1 level 7 a day but because of your connection to the magic everything is moved up one rank. Lets not try anything in that area hm. Your luck already gives us nightmares. Do you know what your Wish spell did ?"

"The Goddess told me in a dream that there was a 20 die critical fail when I did that spell. She had never seen anything like it before. I unfortunetly have seen it before. I got that kind of luck."

She nods, "Right, so please don't push it, try to learn some of the more common things for a little while, ok."

I shrug, "I will. But I need to change my coins over to this country and find a good bookstore."

She nods and fades out. I scared the avatar, again. I grin, she is fun.

Jason is staring, I shrug, "I like scaring her, it's fun when you can scare an avatar like that."

He slowly nods, "No respect for her authority I take it."

"She is not the Goddess, just a representive. She calls the Goddess 'mother' to give you an idea about it."

He nods, "Oh I am aware, but still no respect."

"I respect her. I just like teasing her."

He looks thoughtful, "How would you react if you met the Emperor."

"Pretty much like now. I respect the job but until I know the person doing the job, well that goes a long way to how I treat them. Some are good leaders, some aren't. I don't know much of anything about the Emperor here, seeing as I did not even know this was an empire till my 3rd day in the world and all. As for the rest. Well it's not a job I would want. I am not a good leader. I am an ok teacher, but my few experiences at anything more than being an assistant manager, I did not do well at it. The stress got to me to much you see. So I tend to avoid any situation in which I have much of any authority for more than my self and my family really. But then to, in my old life I suffered from a condition that caused strokes when I got in to high stress situations. So maybe I can do better now. I don't know. A lifetime trying to not be in stressful situations so I would not have a stroke, you understand ?"

He slowly nods, "You had to live a certain way for a long time. Now new life, new form, but still all those decades of training in certain things do to the limits of that life.

Your going to be growing up again, learning to live with out the limits you have had for a long time. But your still trying to live as stress free as you can. I don't see you getting that wish really. You pretty much jumped in to the light the moment you saved this country."

"I had help though, There were other mages present and they protected me so I could cast that spell. Though I think at the time that they believed that it only took out the near army. I don't know if they know about the rest of it. I don't even know the fate of the people who were traveling with me. It's been really worrying me but I been to out of it to work the spells needed to check on them. Otherwise I been trying to rest and get food that is not poisoned. A Lot of the food brought to my rooms has been laced with some very nasty poisons. I run detection and purifying spells and well I got some of my own food in my bag, I been eating that instead. But when I started to run low on my premade foods, that is when I went looking for the kitchens." I pause, think, then pull forth 3 very nasty items, "All of these show some kind of poison to my different spells, all of them are resistant to my purifying spells to. My reading spells, which is like an identify spell, but for the Memory of Items instead of seeking magic, you understand ?" he nods, "Anyway these 3 have things put in them by different people after they left the kitchen. I know who put stuff in to them but I am unsure of the full nature of those items.

Um, I don't know any illusion type spells or I could show you whom was doing that."

He nods, searches his robes and pulls out a deep green book, flips through it till he finds a page. What I can see is a mix of the local language, something that looks Japanese and English. So a spell book of sorts I think. He reads over something, then intones a spell that allows him to see things 'true natures and forms'. The minituare skulls of different colors floating up from the still warm foods, while nice effect, also confirm my claims. He considers that, then turns to another section and teaches me 3 different illusion spells. From Cantrip levels (mid and advanced) to an advanced one that includes sounds.

Using these I am able to not only tell him my story, but show him scenes from it. While doing that I work out an Advanced Cantrip (level 1) that works kind of like the standard 'picture' cantrip but includes movement and sound. I just call it a TV - Tele-vision spell. The 'window' is only 2ft wide and 15 inches tall, and can only be seen from the front, but I can project up to 30 minutes worth of images before the spell fades out. He is impressed and ends up copying that spell down to. (Its about the size of my old monitor from back home really, which maybe subconsious on my part, looking back on it now.)

Happy for the new magic and irked at all the attempts on my life. He writes down my life in this world, story up to the present. He makes notes on the things I have shown him, the people I have met, why I really have a problem with Guards at the moment. That one he really understands, Most of my problems start with Guards and go from there.

Looking over everything he comments that I really don't need a mage name as such, given I am a type of Holy man, the priestly miracles (spells) prove that much and really all my spells combine those aspects. Though he likes how I have done them so that 'normal' mages can use them to. He does understand wanting a new name for my new life. His Grandfather chose the name Argon.

I ask if he means the Gas and he gives me a blank look, so I end up explaining about the components of Air, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and so on. He is fascinated and amused that Argon is a 'noble gas' that is innert and used in making things as it does not burn. That to he realizes is something I am bringing to his world. I am well educated and know enough sciences to help the people who are lucky enough to learn from me. He also understands those same sciences, which I take to be common knowledge where I am from, are new here and help in my magic and so on and so forth.

Thinking on it though, I will need a mage name, cause even I can see, while he is nice to me, he wants to keep me around. I am a valuable reasource in knowledge and skills after all. As well as someone who is flushing out spies and such from his halls, mostly as they keep trying to kill me. I think he will be nice to me as long as I am being useful. But I am not sure how that will work for me, or if I want to even stay here in this place or country.

I know I want to change the horses back in to thier proper forms and for that I need at least access to a library on magical knowledge. BUT again I am not sure he wants me to learn much in that area as I do tend to improve on what I find. Which could concievably unbalance some aspects I am unaware of. This is one reason I have not shared my sheet with him, or some of my Other skills. Some things I share and I act like I am a touch oblivious to 'things' that I really am not. I am trying to be careful here. Still ... I don't know right now. I will have to think on this.

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It's getting dark when we finally leave the garden AND I find out how we have not been bothered for so long. All the entrance - exit points for the garden have some of the Elite Palace Guard around them. These guys make the standard guard look like city police in compairison. In my world they would have ear pieces and black uniform suits. Here they have black armor and magic weapons.

The ones we approach nod, "My Lord, as you predicted several persons tried to enter the garden. We captured at least a half dozen assassins and several dozen just pest type clerks and such who seemed to think their minor issues were life or death. Several had mind affecting spells on them as well, so it was a concentrated effort by some group to get to the high ranking persons with in the garden."

Jason turns to me, "This garden is a restricted place normally. Only the upper levels can come here. Councellers, royal family and so forth. The Emperor, knowing you may want some fresh air, commanded you get free range of the palace and grounds, except for high security places you understand." I nod, "Which is why no one bothered you when you came here. Did not know you were going to end up napping here. Though in truth I have done that myself on occaison, weather permitting."

I chuckle and nod to that.

"As for the guards who have been trying to keep you in your rooms, someone else, whom we are looking in to, gave them different orders than what the Emperor gave."

I cock my head to one side, "Your the Emperor aren't you ? It's the hat, It just occured to me that it is a more oriental style crown, I keep forgetting that this empire covers more than the european style areas."

His head drops and he smiles then sighs, "The guards plus the hat maybe ?"

"The guards securing a place such as this for high ranking government officials makes sense, except they were not here when I got here. At first I thought you may have been in some form of Intelligence organization, as you can be a very scary person and well the magic. I remember you from the prison and how you went off on those children. Scared me to really, not that I was in any shape to do more than fall down."

He chuckles and nods, "I was very angry at them. You saved us all, and they beat you in to unconsiousness and dragged you to the prison. They got it in their tiny newbie brains that 'person of interest' equalled 'villain'. Never once occured to them that the phrase could mean anything else."

"I would look to whom ever is training them really. That sort of thing, in a group, usually comes from their training. Count Norstrom warned me some on that as his brother Gabrial Norstrom is one of their teachers. Who has this problem with Lost Ones and Tymor, so he told me just not to mention it as he trains his people to have that same kind of limitation." I explain.

Jason nods, "Good point. And you are right about the Count and his people, we really do need to check on them and see to them. I personally did not know which group you had been with till you told me just a little bit ago. So I will send some trusted agents to see about their well being and maybe get them up here. Mind you, it normally takes about 3 months in normal travel methods to get from where they are to here."

I nod, "I noticed that we used several teleport jaunts to reach here and it made me wonder why that way and not just a one shot teleport ?"

He nods, "Has to do with the limitations of our understanding of magics, which given your nature you would probably be able to find a work around for, hm." he looks thoughtful, turning to his guards, "Rob here is a Natural Mage, in addition to his training, which started out with a group of demon hunters. He is the last member of a party that took out a Demon Lord in his own world. From what I learned he had a minor roll in that endevor, but it was important enough that the Gods sent him here as this incident with St Micheals people."

"The God St Micheal worships is a General of that Demon Lord, he escaped and came to this world. HE is the power behind St Micheals group. The Gods said I could not mention his name as we are not ready to confront him, but I know what he looks like if anyone is interested." I state.

I think Jason about swallowed his tongue with that one, gives me a wide eyed stare.

"What ? I told you I started out as a spiritualist. UM you don't really know what I mean by that do you ?" it is sinking in that some of my turns of phrase may have different meanings here.

He nods, "Ok I thought I knew what that meant, but then you do have other words and phrases that I don't, so please explain."

I place my hands behind my back, in an at ease / lecturer pose, "A spiritualist is a person who specializes in spirit based skills and knowledges including identifying various phenomina and forms of said spirits. This includes, angels, demons, poltergiest and so on. In order to be an effective person of this type one needs the ability to see spirits in some form. I was born with such a gift, though at the time I could not 'see' spirits I was aware of them and their actions in a goodly radius around myself. With training I got to the point I could focus enough mental energy to temporarily make them visible even to people who could not normally see them.

Me and my best friend used that to scare one of my 'I am better than you' cousins a few times. She was older and thought I was making up all this stuff about talking to ghost and so, once I figured it out I Showed her. She believed after that."

I note the guards are chuckling and giving side long looks at the Emperor, who is doing his best to ignore the looks.

Guard, grinning, "Sounds like the Emperor as a boy. He has the spirit sight to. Was a bit of a scamp back then as well."

I nod, "Well it helped in my case, that my friend, Charly, had been dead over 100 years. He was in the venacular, a sheet phantom with limited telekinetic abilities."

Jason nods, "I know the type. Seem to live to scare or prank people. Very immeture type spirits."

"Well that is because most of them were children." I explain to him. That gets a surprised look from him as a sort of dawning expression. It makes a whole lot of sense to him now.

I look to the guards, "So that is where I got my start. MOST of my teachers through my life were spirits, including one Prism Dragon, who taught me a lot really. He had been sent by the gods to teach me I learned later."

Jason nods, "Magic was outlawed in his world because of the Demon Lord. He made it punishable by death if you were caught working any form of magic. So mages and true holy persons had to work in secret. Till his group managed to defeat that demon lord. An Avatar of Tymor came while we were talking and filled me in on allot of that and worked out some of the mystery why he is here. A general of that Demon Lord, trying to build a power base in our world, through this religion based on Hate and Human only power. My Grandfather outlawing slavery when he came in to power, putting forth all races are equal, at least under the law, is why that faith is so intent on destroying this nation."

I slowly nod, makes sense to me. A group who promotes racial equality would be a perfect target for a group that wants only their race to exist, or to dominate all other races.

"That reminds me. Old tactic that they maybe using. Mind Control, either through magic or drugs. Was a tactic used by the last Demon Lord to great effect. Used such things to turn enemies in to allies. Which I believe was the purpose to those slavers I caught. They were taking them to someplace called Thrushtown or similar. I gave my evidence of that to High Judge Henry, along with several other things to help with the prosecution of those corrupt guards I caught. Anyway, Sir Reginald of Kreelyn Hollow, in Thessnia, had orders for me to be taken there, broken but still able to use magic. So I suspect lots of mind control technics to turn people in to agents for this group. As Micheal had knowledges of such techniques from my world to, and a 300 year head start, I can see how such an army came to pass."

Deep sigh from the Emperor as I suspect he suspected such things himself.

I sigh, "It's going to take me months to recover enough from the last time I used that spell. Really it's the only way I can see to counter that level and length of time they used to create so many traitors to Life. Gah." I slump. I have no doubt I can cast that spell again, if needed. But the drain on my reserves is sever as I am really not at the level to cast it properly. I need to be a miniumum of level 18 to do that. Which even with specialized training, will take time to reach. In video game terms, Lots of Grinding and specialized training focus.

Gaurd captain, "Not like you can level up that fast though."

I shrug, "Why not, I went from level 1 to level 14 in under 10 days as it is."

Stunned silence from everyone but Jason. Jason understands my world does not have a level system like they do. So I was level 1 here Only because I had to adjust to how this world worked. My knowledge and skills were already higher, it was just the World Magic did not recognize it cause of the differing styles of how such things are measured. Also being forced out of retirement as it were is not helping.

"That is only because of the differences in how our world magics see things. His world does not use the same system as ours. Took some godly intervention to get things set right. A goddess sent an avatar on his 3rd day and worked out that he was actually level 11 when he entered the world. The spell he did, well that raised him to level 14, partly because he lived through casting it. It was well above his normal skill level as it's a 9th level spell."

I nod, I think I get what he is saying, "Person who can safely use level 5 spells, casting a level 9 spell. Well it's the only reason those children were able to take me really. I was unconscious because of the over exertion of that spell. From my understanding I only had an 80% chance of actually doing the spell and a 50-50 chance of surviving it. But given what was happening I felt the risk was worth it."

The head guard nods "And that is the definition of a true hero. Doing something like that, to save as many lives as you could, even if doing so was a risk to your own life."

I nod and sigh, "recovery time is a bitch though." That gets some general laughter.

Jason sighs, "Back to business. It has been brought to my attention that several attempts have been made on Rob's life. He was able to show me the faces of those who poisoned his food. He has some good seeking spells, shared a couple with me. More accurate than the ones I normally use to. Ah, Rob is to have access to my personal library, including the ones on magic. He has already made several advances just from spells he learned from a primer. I do believe in straight intelligence he is smarter than me. At least as far as magic goes."

I shrug, "Just a matter of what your focused on really. I don't have much to do so I focus on the magic, and trying to rest while here. I got a good selection of cantrip level detection and purification spells, which is why all the attempted poisonings don't work. Even if a poison is unaffected by a magical cure, it is not uneffected by a proper detection spell. Though I like his detection spell over mine. The little floating skulls were cute. Mine just glows wierd colors."

Jason is bowed over and trying not to laugh to hard. I admit I make wierd faces when I talk sometimes, but I really don't see what is so funny about my description of how different our spells show the same effect.

I look confused, "What is so funny ?"

"Your description of my detection spell. I never really thought about it before. It's just how it works, but to call the skulls 'Cute'." shakes his head.

I look around at the men and women here, several of whom are grinning at me and the Emperor. Apparently they like seeing him smile. I get the feeling he does not get to laugh all that often.

One of the guards raises a hand, "Ah sir, I had a thought. How about assigning a guard to the young sir."

Jason looks at him, "The young sir here is older than you Philips. The magic that sent him here made him physically 20, but mentally he is 60. Or as he puts it old man in young mans form."

I nod, "Well back home, people called me Old Man Rob back in my teenage years, cause I have always been a bit crotchty and well, lots of injuries before I even reached my teen years. So some old man type ailments like stiff joints and such. Broke my hip in a bad carrage accident when I was 7. My hands got broke when I was 10, though that one was bullies." I make fist and they can hear my knuckles all pop. "Despite that though I have some training in fighting, hand to hand and staff mostly. Did tournements and such till my leg got to stiff for it. Tymora said my combat level in that is 5, but I have not used any of it in years, so I am badly out of practice."

They all nod, the boy chuckles, "Old Man, makes a good mage name if you think about it. Knowledge and wisdom of the old, in a young form."

And that really did it, the group from that point on just started calling me Old Man, or Old Man Rob. The name my mom stuck me with as a teenager has come back to haunt me. Jason is back to being amused.

Young woman, "Who is Tymora ?" (I pronounced it Tie- Mora)

"Tymor, same being, different lands." I state. They all nod in understanding.

Jason slowly nods, "A body guard would not be a bad idea and I think I know just who to ask."

I look at him, "Ask ?"

He nods, "Well with assassins after you and all, I prefer to ask than order, besides he is not under my direct command. He is an adventurer you see. But he is dedicated to a god of protection and well having him helping you would maybe help him some to."

The woman suddenly looks surprised, "You mean Mythol ?" Jason nods.

Head Guard, "Ah, he came in with a delegation from Tharrisa, that is in the south west of our empire. Opposite direction from Thessnia, they have the same language because 500 years ago they were one nation. The Demon King split their nation in 3 parts. Jason Argon captured the middle part when making the empire."

"Their accent kind of slower, bit more twang to it ?" I ask, recalling Fernjan's comment about how my Arkensaw accent sounded like Southern Tharrisa. I switch to it part way through talking to them.

The guard winces, "Only talk like that if you want to get punched."

"Actually this be the accent of a land called Arkensaw, its west of my home land of South Carolina." I end in the common carolina / northern Georgia kind of accent. "I practice accents as part of learning languages. See large enough countries will have multiple accents in them to. I can't do all the accents from home, I mostly do the more well known ones." I shrug.

Some grinning as I moved through about 5 different accents before returning to the one these people use here. Jason looks mildly surprised and slowly nods. I bet he never realized how much accent affect perception before.

Jason sighs, "I just know your going to be a strange influence on my children. I have several and well many frequent the libraries so your likely to meet them."

I watch the elite guards eyes kind of go blank at the mention of the children.

"So how many of them fall in to the spoiled brat catagory ?"

Jason is now studying the ceiling, while I look over the others. The Captiain sighs, "Two of his 20 children are not that way. They are the eldest to and have families of thier own. The rest are young teenagers or younger and well Prince and Princesses and will try to talk down to you or try to make you serve them."

Jason sighs, "I have 5 wives and they dote on them. I try to instill a sense of the world in them, but" he shrugs.

I nod "Well as long as they don't get on my nerves you won't have to worry about having Small Children for a little while."

Jason's head rolls forward and he shakes it, "Not the permanent one. A few hours at half normal size might get them to respect mages at the very least."

The guards all look at him with wide eyes he grins, "Rob does not kill, but is good at shrinking spells. They are his go to spell when annoyed and really, I know some of my children can be brats."

"So your saying what ? Rob is of equal rank as them ?" one guard ask.