Wolf counted the seconds while he fell. After one hour, an orange-pink hue replaced the rift’s formless blackness. He soared into the rose-colored sky, then floated.

Wolf ignored the picturesque sunset as gravity twisted and a gentle intangible current helped him land safely. While he disregarded the pastel clouds, he couldn’t ignore the overwhelming sensation as World Energy surged into his body from every direction.

Father could absorb World Energy to convert into Soul Force without potions here. Wolf’s second Mental Aspect noticed the atmosphere was so rich, everyone here should be at least a First or Second Order Sword-Sage, which matched poor Biba’s memories.

Soul Force generation halved the moment I appeared here. The third Mental Aspect stated, forced to stop his carving. I’m only getting the portion from Big Brother’s wine.

I have bigger problems! Wolf’s first Mental Aspect, charged with moving the body, saw a group of twenty barbarian raiders. Thanks to Biba’s memories, he knew these warriors were mere guards, while their main fortification stood a kilometer away. He glanced sideways, and as sure as hells, he spotted the war-camp guarding the Treasure Rift.

I’ll jump right back in, and then— A feminine sneeze extinguished Wolf’s thought. Every hair of his body straightened; every cell screamed with memory which went beyond the body’s ability.

Death didn’t take him this time. Instead, the rift contracted in a moment so brief, even Wolf’s awakened senses barely caught the infinitely quick movement. To the unsuspecting barbarian guards, the abyss simply vanished.

“Treasure Rift collapsed!” In the dilated flow of time, shouting barbarian’s words stretched into distorted sounds.

The rest picked up her cry, or added original lines, such as “War-leader” or “Alert Yuna!”

A moment later, Wolf, who looked like a seven-year-old peasant child, gently landed a hundred meters from them. The scouting party faltered. Wolf didn’t.

The magic nullifying zone was two hundred and seventeen meters. He dashed away, leaving behind the fort and dumbfounded savages. Luckily, they weren’t standing next to the rift’s edge.

Wolf relied on the power of his body, afraid that sending a surge of Internal Energy would awaken what this world’s aboriginals called blood haze. Still, he had a head start as the guards didn’t give immediate pursuit.

Even if they pursue, it doesn’t matter. Wolf sprayed showers of earth with each step. Once I can use magic, I’ll escape or kill them. Then I’ll locate another rift and return home.

However, the web woven around him wouldn’t allow convenient shortcuts. Wolf crossed two hundred and seventeen meters, but retained the appearance of a seven-year-old child. He covered three hundred meters and magic still failed to resume while the Bear Tribe guards behind him shouted and gave chase.

What the fuck? Third Mental Aspect scratched his head, as did the second one. Magic doesn’t work here?

That makes no sense. Those warriors knew about magic, two Mental Aspects discussed, while Wolf gritted his teeth, opening up more and more distance.

If magic doesn’t work, I can’t use Internal Energy either. If they sense I’m a “Fiend”, then hells will break loose, and they’ll hound me ‘till the end of the world. Hmm… I could abuse that fact and kill them off before they spread the word?

Wolf glanced back. Only fifteen warriors chased after him. Dammit! Did they figure it out on their own?

But Wolf didn’t believe anyone was directing the manhunt after him. Few were that paranoid. Instead, he awakened his senses, watching out for pangs of hatred. The moment he opened one kilometer from his pursuers, he sent a surge of Internal Energy into his legs. His speed doubled, and he left the savages eating dust.

Wolf spotted a giant woodland to his right. He changed direction and sprinkled Remove Trace, erasing his trail.

Magic items work, but spells don’t? He retrieved a Camouflage Cloak from his Ring of Holding, donned it, and disappeared into the forest.

Given Biba’s memories, Lion Tribe’s former clan-hold is this way. Bear Tribe wiped them out or assimilated them ages ago, and there shouldn’t be any people wandering around these parts.

I’m recovering Internal Energy faster than I’m spending it, the second Mental Aspect offered positive news from his perspective.

Wolf wanted to cast Subtle Swiftness, but his third Mental Aspect saw something, which caused even the body to stagger.

Bloody hells… Gone? They are all gone? The Mental Aspect observed the wall behind the guest seat in his second Mind Hall and found that the tapestries had disappeared. He dashed into the third Mind Hall. Nothing. Just an empty wall behind the throne. Finally, he ran over to the first Mind Hall. The wall didn’t have tapestries, but it wasn’t blank.

A carving of a kindly gentleman had appeared. He evaluated life before him on a set of infinitely fine scales, still as impartial as he was when Wolf originally carved his likeness on the Mind Hall’s door. Wolf checked the entrance. The carving disappeared.

What the hells is going on here? How did that creepy old mummy move to the wall? Wolf couldn’t figure out why his own temple left his government.

I need a safe place to think. Wolf’s second Mental Aspect sat on the throne. Too many things broke out of control. Wayde went crazy, the rift closed on its own, magic doesn’t work, I can’t cast new spells. Based on legends from Biba’s memories, this world certainly has techniques which seem magical…

Wolf ran for two hours. Then, the stream of Soul Force dried up. Wolf drank from South’s wineskin, and the stream returned, but it was no longer a gushing surge it was back home.

This looks like a suitable spot. Wolf came across a hollow tree and dove in. After using Remove Trace and covering himself with the Camouflage Cloak, he was positive nobody could find him. He then focused on his situation and entered his Mind Hall.

He had already reached certain conclusions. He needed to free Wayde from the spell binding him. If Wayde’s consciousness wasn’t influenced by Living Puppet or something similar, Wolf would execute him. His first concern was to locate a rift and return home within six months. Otherwise, he would be stuck here for a century; away from his daughter and everyone he held dear. And in one hundred years, only Sky and Mandy would remain alive.

Biba had no memory of other passages, but that didn’t mean they didn’t exist. While Bear Tribe wasn’t a small force, they weren’t a big one either, and Forsaken Wastes were huge. They dwarfed ten empires of man put together.

“I know the Bear Tribe, kind of.” Wolf’s Mental Aspect said. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay here. Someone could recognize me or think I’m the one who closed their rift. How the hells do rifts close ahead of time? No, don’t think about that. Focus. Focus.”

The Mental Aspect took a deep breath while sitting on the throne. That was his only safe thinking spot; a place where nobody could hear him.

“I have to rid myself of this body. It’s ugly, inconvenient, and I hate it. There’s enough Soul Force to replicate father’s spell.” Other than its size, Wolf hated his form for one more reason.

It was the living monument to his foolishness. It constantly reminded him how he blindly proceeded with an unknown procedure, following another’s instructions like an obedient sheep. Wolf believed he had fixed this character flaw over the past few years, but his damn body kept reminding him of it.

“Breathe.” Wolf’s Mental Aspect drew a deep breath, even though it didn’t need to. “Calm down. I will perform the magic, then I can search my way home.”

Wolf mobilized the accumulated Soul Force, wishing to remodel himself. “Why is there resistance?”

When he failed to cast Subtle Swiftness, Wolf felt his intent strike an immovable wall. But that wall changed in this attempt.

“Is it because I’m exerting more Soul Force?” Then the other two Mental Aspects focused and pushed. The harder they pressed, the harder the wall pressed back. It was a familiar feeling. The one Wolf experienced when opening his second Mind Hall and learning the True Name of Life.

The more effort he pushed with, the more familiar the sensation became. However, Wolf also grew aware of the consequences. “If I injure my soul now…”

“Keep pushing!” The first Mental Aspect noticed the body changing. “Push! Tear it apart! My body is growing!”

And truly, in the tree’s hollow, Wolf’s body reached the age of eight, then nine, ten. His bones creaked, his skin stretched, his milk teeth fell out, and permanent ones developed in seconds. The net binding him tensed and strained, whining from the pressure. Yet, Wolf’s body still grew; thirteen, fourteen…

“We’re running out of Soul Force,” the second Mental Aspect warned.

“Shrimp.”

“… tiny wand…”

“… mosquito pricked me…”

“… too short…”

Wolf’s sanity burst like a dam, madness and passion formed obsessions, propelling him beyond his means. Beyond his ability to endure. Beyond the limitations of mortals.

“Stop!” the second and third Mental Aspects reigned in the first, carried by the insanity of blazing hormones and bodily chemistry.

Horrible cracks echoed through the Mind Palace and Wolf’s Mental Aspects collapsed.