I walk over to the gold device and see a hand print. I hesitate and look at the others, “Well should I?” I ask.

“Well I don't want to be a skeleton in here,” Rock says.

Oaky hits him, “Rock,” then looks at me, “We have come this far.”

“I would like to see this famous city. The architecture and use of stones has to be impressive,” Falls says.

I place my hand on the plate and wait. The illumination flickers like a long unused device kicked on.

“Welcome Balthazar,” A male voice echoes in the room.

“Who?” I ask.

“That is the name of mom's friend from long ago. That is who you were,” Rock says.

“But how does a stone know that?” I ask.

“Mom has told me how advanced the ancients were. You could talk to devices and they would produce food with magic. Anything you wanted from either world.

She even said they had rooms that could show you anything you wanted. She said she would love to go to these rooms to view the stars. That is why she uses the name Star Seeker,” Rock says.

“You mean like a holograph?” I ask.

“I don't know what that is,” he responds, “She said they would use illusionary magic to display things as they actually are. They could make an illusion so real that it would feel real.”

“There is no one that is known of who can do an illusion that real. It's one of the reasons illusions are not used as much anymore. Just a touch will dispel it.” Falls says.

We just look at each other waiting. Then I ask, “Should I have said something like take us up or something?”

Rock shrugs, “Don't know.”

I put my hand back on the plate, “Welcome Balthazar please wait while the city is reactivated. It will take another five second degree divisions,” the voice says.

I pull my hand off, “What is a second degree division?” I ask.

“It is the way they divide up a day,” Rock says. “They divide the day into twelve then divide that into twelve then again into twelve to get second degree division. I believe they go even more than that but mom only talked about a degree, a degree division, and second degree division.”

“Too bad I am bad at math or I could figure it,” I say.

“Why do they do that?” Falls asks.

“Do what? Divide the day?” I ask.

“Yes,” Falls says.

“To keep track of time,” I say.

“You just need to indicate where the sun is,” She says.

“Is that why I have never heard anyone say a specific time of day?” I ask.

“Yes,” Oaky says. “There is no real need to keep track more than that.”

“Strange, in my world it is divided similarly but instead of just twelve, the day and night is divided into twenty-four then into minutes and then seconds.” I say.

“Oh that is what you and Shade of Night were talking about. Then what is feet and yards?” She asks.

“That's distance measurements. Starts as inches then to feet then to yards then to miles,” I say.

“Why?” Falls asks.

“So everyone has the same measurements. That way there isn't any confusion on where things are placed. If you all had measurements that were set, then the town would look more uniformed,” I say.

“Each knome uses their foot or arm as their base measurement,” Falls says.

“Strange that is how our measurement started with the foot. Each king would use their foot for measurement, but it got confusing each time a new king came along, so they set it and left it. Or something like that.”

“Interesting, I will suggest that if I make it back home.”

“Think positive, you will make it back,” I say.

“I see no need to deceive myself. I knew when I came along I may not make it back,” she says in an even tone.

“You know Falls, sometimes you can be so depressing.”

“I don't see...” Falls starts but is interrupted as a side wall begins to open.

I watch as the sun slowly enters the room and the illumination fades. If it hadn't opened on the side I would think we had not moved. I walk out the doors to view a lush field and neatly trimmed trees and bushes.

I could almost imagine the garden of Eden looking just like this. There are several trees that glitter like gold. As I scan the area I see a white castle on a high hill. It reminds me of the castles you see in Ireland.

It looks to be two to three stories tall. The walks are pure white and shine in the sun. The reflection of the sun gives it the illusion of a glow.

There are a few small white houses scattered at the base of the castle. Each giving the glow from the sun. There are birds and small animals playing and flying. I look down to see a chipmunk come up and sniff me then scuttle off looking for something.

A bird lands on my head and tries a quick peck. It then flies off as if it realized that I was not worth its time. I see a large shadow cross over me. I look up and see a bird the size of an elephant flying over heading to the castle.

As I was about to say something I see the largest bird I have ever seen dropping down. It drops to a spot several feet in front of me. I feel something wet drop on my head and my shirt. I look down to see gray white slime sliding down my shirt.

I am so stunned I don't realize I have just been pooped on. When I look up I see the strangest creature I have ever seen. It looks like a very large basketball. The skin is leathery. It floats toward the pile on the ground. Several stalks pop out of the top of the ball.

The stalks move around like a loose water hose. A couple extend toward the pile of bird droppings. I see a white beam of light come from the end of the stalks to strike the pile.

The stalks move around with the white beam. The pile slowly disappears till the grass looks as though nothing was ever there.

The creature comes at me and stops a couple of feet away from me. “Do not move,” I hear come from the creature. It sounds a little garbled, but clear enough to be understood.

It aims a stalk at my head and one at my chest. I notice that each has an eyeball in the end. A white beam shoots out of each eyeball for a couple of seconds then says, “Thank you Balthazar. It has been a long time. Reception waits at the main entrance. It will explain the situation.”

I watch it float over to Rock who is standing to my left, “Honorable sir, may I clean you?” the creature asks.

I see Rock slowly shake his head yes. “Please hold still sir,” The creature says. It focuses two stalks on rock and I notice several small gray dots on him.

The creature expertly shoots a white beam at each spot and they vanish. The creature pulls in its stalks and says, “The guest quarters cleaner was damaged when the great loss happened. Call on me when you decide where to stay. I am cleaner twenty. Thank you,” it says and zooms off toward the castle. I think that creature could almost give a bullet a run for its money.

“Uh?” I finally muster.

“Yeah uh,” Rock comments.

“What was that thing?” Oaky asks.

“Um cleaner twenty, I think,” I answer.

“Oh,” Oaky says, like that answers everything.

“We may be in trouble.” Falls says.

“Why?” I ask, still unable to move from my stare at the castle.

“I can't merge or feel the stone in this place. If I was not looking at it I would say it doesn't exist,” She replies.

“Okay don't merge then,” I say, not really sure what I am saying.

“But this is wrong. It could be dangerous,” She says in earnest.

“Why will we get too clean?” I ask trying to bring myself back to the present.

“No, if we get attacked, I can't help,” she says in earnest.

I break my stare and look at her, “I really doubt there is a danger. The animals aren't even afraid of us,” I say.

“But that was a Roc. They eat just about anything,” She says.

“I didn't see one animal run when it showed up, so I doubt it is a danger, but if it makes you feel better we can hide in that gorgeous looking castle,” I say and point at it while looking at her.

“Yes I will feel better,” She states.

I look back at the castle, “Lets go,” I say then head to the castle. I keep thinking how wonderful it would be to take off my shoes and feel the grass on my feet.

The closer we get to the castle the longer it gets. By the time we get to a hedge archway, the castle looks to be three times larger than any castle I have ever seen.

The hedge looks like it surrounds the whole castle. We enter the hedge enclosed area to see a white stone path the size of a two lane highway heading up to the largest double doors I have ever seen.

On either side of the stone path are rows upon rows of different colored flowers. They stripe angled toward the doors on either side. Gold runs around the outside of the double doors. I see a glowing odd symbol on each upper corner of the double doors..

As we walk up the path it looks as though waves are rippling up the path and up the doors and castle. It gives the illusion of a heat mirage on a hot road.

There are three steps up to the doors. As we get within easy distance of the steps the doors open slowly out. Just watching the doors looks magnificent. They make no sound as they swing open slowly. I judge they will be fully open as we reach the threshold.

We walk into a room about thirty by thirty feet. The room is empty except pictures of landscapes. I can't tell if they are from this world or the human world. The colors are vibrant and almost alive. I stop in the center of the room and notice movement out of the corner of my eye.

I turn to see a picture of a wheat field. I then realize that it was the picture that moved. The wheat is moving like a breeze is blowing. I look around and notice that most of the pictures have something moving in them.

As I am looking around I hear, “Welcome back Balthazar.”

I jump around trying to find the source of the voice. I then hear, “My apologies sir. I did not realize you have reincarnated. You cannot see me. I reside in another dimension so I cast no visible form,” It says.

“An invisible man,” I say and calm down some.

I hear a laugh, “Yes just like in the game D&D,” he says.

“How do you know of that?”I ask.

“It is my job to know things. I am not restricted to just this plane of existence. I have been to your world and so have many others like me. Many think us ghosts,” he says.

“I am guessing your reception,” I say.

“Yes, cleaner twenty has never asked me my name, Watchers tend to be sticklers for rules and tend not to be inquisitive. My name is Sesney. I was summoned a very long time ago to serve others,” he says.

“Did they compel or forced you?” I ask.

“In a way yes. They said I can either work here or be sent home.”

“That isn't fair.”

“On the contrary it was a gift. Where my race comes from there is nothing. Here I can experience many things.”

“Why are you still here? You could have left a long time ago, I would think.”

“I have not been here the whole twenty to thirty thousand years. I roam, but this is home to me. Your ancestors were not just my employers, they were my friends. I was devastated when they vanished,” He says with deep remorse at the end.

“What did happen?” I ask.

“At the time I didn't know, but it was the original curse. It slowly seeped into this world. They didn't all disappear at once, but you and the others tried to stay the curse, but it eventually took hold. It caused you to age like humans do now.

I watched as each of my friends died. There was nothing I could do. My best friend told me to never give up. She hoped that one day the curse would be lifted. So I promised to never give up on humanity.

I waited to see if humans would bring enough magic back to your world to break it. At first I thought it might happen. Then the witch cast the curse at Salem and all hope I had was lost. I watched for years as the magic completely faded in your world.

Then the castle sensed a strong ancient presence in your world. I rushed over to find it. I found that my friend had reincarnated to try to break the curse. But she was not strong enough to escape the curse. She would send messages while she slept.

She would never remember them when she woke up. She would revert completely to her incarnated body. She would visit me in her sleep, but eventually her body died and I never saw her again.

I waited hoping she would try again. When the castle sensed an ancient again, I jumped to see her, but realized it was you. I remember you only in passing. You were a very intense man then. Your life was focused only on finding how to cancel the curse and trying to save the dragons.

But when I saw you, I did some checking and found that you knew of the curse and your mind was very strong. I waited to see you when you slept, but you never showed up. So I started following you.

I found that you would just sit in a place where a portal used to be. I watched you constantly waiting for some opportunity. Then one day it came. The portal flickered and you were there so I pulled you through,” he says.

“But I don't remember being pulled through,”

“You wouldn't, I didn't physically pull you. I used a technique I had learned to pull humans through to this world. You are not the only one I have pulled through.”

“So you are the reason for the Bermuda triangle?” I ask.

He laughs, “I wish, No that is a natural portal that fluxes on its own. Sometimes they come through sometimes they don't. Just like most on water they have always been unstable. In the old days they were seldom used. Even back then you could get stuck between worlds.

I am sorry Oaky, I am the reason for your tree. I tried one time to pull a human through and failed. I caused a rift and your tree got stuck between worlds.” he says.

“That is okay Sesney. I missed it for a while, but I have gained more by it, than lost. May I ask you a question?” She responds.

“Of course dear lady,” Sesney says.

“If you have watched Jode for this long, why have you not tried to communicate?”

“Because most everyone fears my kind. Since our bodies reside in another dimension we cannot be physically harmed and most magic will not affect us. So they see us as a threat.”

“That is sad, you are so pleasant,” she says.

“Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. But not all are like me. Just like all races there is the good and the bad. The few that have summoned one of my race did not use the right protections, so they summoned only the malevolent of us.

I am ashamed to say, but there are more that are violent in my dimension then pleasant. It took the ancients a year to find me. So if they did not screen like the ancients did they would get the violent ones,” he says with a bit of guilt.

“It is not your fault that others are violent. I'm just glad you are here. I feel I can talk to you about things, most here don't know about my world.” I say.

“I am glad to be able to repay you for all you have done. If not for you this city would have fallen long before it was finished,” he says.

“What did I do? And could I ask why it was made?”

“When the founders created this city they did it in a rush, and in the process either missed or messed up some incantations.

At one point it was tilting and on the verge of collapse. When this was created it was meant as a refuge to all those who questioned the set laws.

Many felt that the laws that prevented all but humans and dragons from the higher magic was wrong. Yes, even back then humans were prejudice. But some felt that the set laws were wrong.

They were considered dangerous so were hunted and put on trial. In a desperate act they created this city in the human world, as a refuge for those that felt the council was wrong.

You Jode as Balthazar found the place. You were the highest of the high on the council. The founders thought they were doomed. The city was falling, and the council found them. But you agreed with their views.

You were the lone voice in the council to change the laws. I heard later that the only reason they kept you on the council was that they feared you. You were able to do things that were unheard of even to the oldest of the council. You created the ultimate curse, so I can understand their fear.

You suggested the city be moved to the other world, because the council would never look there. You helped the founders stabilize the city and move it here,” Sesney laughs.

“I heard you say you wanted to know how they did the link to the city, and it was all I could do to not laugh right behind you. You thought of the link and the way to hide it.

You also suggested that only humans could originally get in the city. I do remember the uproar that caused, at the time. They accused you of being just like the others. But you never lost your cool. I think that is when I admired you the most.

You simply let them rant and rave for hours. Your patience was legendary after that. But after they were done you told them it was merely a safety only.

Back then a lot of the other races were still violent and petty. You did not want all to just wonder in and cause havoc. You said the castle would be set to admit any other race that enters the castle.

So now, Rock, Oaky, and Falls are able to open the entrance and come up. I do believe you all will be able to see it too, but I can't be positive. A lot of the staff that used to be here were destroyed along with the humans.

My race cannot use magic, so I cannot create or summon replacements. Since Jode is not able to access all of his memories, he cannot do it either. The only one capable of it is cleaner twenty. But it will not do it without being ordered by the founders,” Sesney says.

“I may be grasping at straws, but wouldn't Balthazar be a founder? Late one, but he did save the place,” I say.

“I never thought of that,” Sesney says with shocked understanding.

Cleaner twenty appears in front of the wall opposite the doors, “Reception says you need to talk to me.” it says.

“Uh yeah,” I say, a bit thrown off. “Am I considered one of the founders?”

“Yes sir, you are fist founder,” it answers.

“Really, well I need you to replace all the missing staff.” I say.

“As you wish sir, but that will make me incapacitated for some time,” it says.

“Are there no other cleaners in the city?”

“Yes sir, cleaner thirty is set to clean the castle.”

“Can it do yours and its cleaning,” I ask then add, “Till you get done?”

“Yes sir, but cleaning will be slowed.”

“That's okay, have it clean its stuff and yours, but be sure to tell it not to overdo itself. In fact, why don't you summon cleaners first and promote yourself to supervisor once all the replacements are done.”

“But I am not a supervisor cleaner.”

“What would make you a supervisory cleaner?”

“The title.”

“Who can give you the title?”

“You.”

“Oh dear lord. I give you the title supervisory cleaner.”

“As you wish sir. Cleaner thirty is set to clean every area making used area priority. It will not wear itself out. I will start the summonings as soon as I leave your presence. The cleaners will be first and it will take about a day to get back up to full staff on cleaners. I am afraid to say though that the other staff could take up to a year. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes it is fine, but can I ask why you did such a flip when I said you were now supervisor?”

“We watchers are a cast race. It is hard to explain easily, but simply put our intelligence and actions are set by our name and rank,” it says.

“That sounds strange.”

“Yes sir to other races it is. But it is hard wired in a manner of speaking, in our brains. It makes our race easier, but confusing to other races.”

“I'll take your word on that, you know more about yourself then I do.”

The creature shakes violently and sounds like a dying man, “Sir despite you being in a new body, you are still the same. If there is nothing more sir I would like to get to the replacement summons as soon as possible. So much needs work here.”

“Of course go, I don't know of anything else.”

It turns slightly to my right, “Sesney I am sure you are familiar with the protocol. Can I ask you to set them?”

“Already done Supervisor one,” Sesney says.

“Thank you very much,” it says and flies into the wall and vanishes.

“Alrighty then,” I say.

“You have a lot to relearn Jode. I hope you don't mind, but I am going to find it a great delight to see you relearn it,” Sesney says.

“By all means be delighted. I will just be confused, if you don't mind. From work grind to complete strangeness in one year what more can I ask for,” I say. They all laugh.