Going to Tólis

Gen then said, "What is it, Raja?! What happened?!"

And Raja said, "This ball is sucking my mist into it!"

Lina then said, "Isn't that the point?"

And Raja said, "It might be, but it's sucking it in too fast."

Gen then said, "Drop it then."

And Raja said, "I can't! Help me!"

Gen then got up from his chair and said, "Ok, I- argh! What's this?!"

And Lina said, "What's this pain?! Argh! Gen, ask your essence what's going on!"

"Okay."

Gen then said, 'Dehji! What's going on?! Why are we feeling so much pain?!'

And Dehji said, 'I told you to prepare yourself, Gen. This is part of the process.'

'Is that what you were talking about?! How did the people of the empire use this as transportation with it causing so much pain?!'

'That is indeed a problem with this means of transportation, but it only happens the first few times you fill it up.'

'What do you mean? Argh! And how do I stop it?!'

'You are only feeling pain because your body is not used to releasing mist at the rate it is coming out. The next time you fill up, you won't feel that much pain until the point where you don't feel anything anymore.'

'Yeah, whatever! Now, how do I make it stop?'

'Calm down, Gen, for the time you've been in there, it's probably almost over already.'

'Dehji, I don't care, I just-', but stopped in the middle and then said, "It finally stopped!"

Raja then said breathlessly, "Glad it's over!"

And Lina said, "What the hell was that, Gen?! Why were we in so much pain?!"

Gen then said, "Dehji said it's part of the process and that the next few times we'll feel less and less pain until a point it doesn't hurt anymore."

And Lina said, "There won't be a next time!"

Lina then threw the metal ball in her hand away, but it stopped in mid-air and then went back to the table.

Gen then said, "Calm down, Lina, we'll need to refill it when we get back from Tólis."

And Lina said, "I don't care. You and Raja find a way to refuel alone."

Raja then said, "And why do Gen and I have to feel pain, and you can get rid of it?"

And Lina said, "Well, you don't have to feel pain. We can always travel there in caravans together, like normal people."

Gen then said, "I can't do that, Lina. I need to get there as quickly as possible. There's no way I can stop using the digger."

And Lina said, "Then you fuel it yourself."

Raja then said, "I'm with her."

Gen was at a loss for words and was about to say okay when Dehji said, 'I'll help you, Gen. tell them this.'

Gen then stayed quiet for a few moments and then said, "All right, I'll supply it myself."

And Lina said, "Good. Problem solved then."

"Yeah, it's just too bad you guys can't enjoy the same benefit I'm going to get from doing this."

Raja then said, "Gen, don't even try. No benefit in the world will put me through that pain again."

And Lina said, "That's right."

Gen then said, "Oh yeah? Too bad, then. Then I'll have to take advantage of the strength increase alone."

And Lina said, "What do you mean strength increase?"

"Well, we felt pain when we had our mist sucked out because our bodies aren't used to having that much mist coming out at once, but as you repeat this process, it gets used to it, and not only does the pain stop, but the essence activation also becomes much faster."

"Nice try, Gen, but I don't believe you."

"You don't have to believe me. Why don't you try moving the mist around in your body?"

"Ok, let me try.", and then Lina started bringing the mist in and out of her body.

After a while, she said, "My mist is moving faster!"

And Raja said, "It's true. Looks like all that pain has some benefit."

Gen then said, "See? What do you say? Are you really going to stop fueling the digger?"

And Raja said, "It's still a lot of pain."

Lina then said, "That's right."

And Gen said, "The pain will lessen with time, and besides, you can't want benefit without a little pain. I bet your mother wouldn't let this opportunity pass by, Lina."

"You're right. We will keep helping you."

Raja then said, "What do you mean we? I didn't say I'd help you."

And Lina said, "Didn't you hear Gen telling you the benefits that pain brings?"

"I don't care. I'll never fill that thing up again."

"Too bad, but that's okay. I was thinking that we were friends, but I guess I was wrong."

"I don't mind being friends with anyone, but I won't go through this pain again."

"Okay, I understand, Raja. I'm just sad that when I find a way into the ladies' bathroom, only Gen will get to see what it's like."

"... All right, I'll help fill up, but you have to promise me that you will find a way for me to get in."

"I'm on it."

Gen then said, "Well, we have a long day ahead of us. Why don't we start at your parents' restaurant, Lina?"

And Lina said, "Sure. Actually, I still have to work today, so I'd have to go there anyway."

"Well, let's go then."

The three of them then left the control room and started towards Gen's room. They were almost there when suddenly they felt the floor shake, and they all fell to the floor.

The shaking continued for a few seconds, and after it was over, Raja asked, "What was that? Is it common to have earthquakes around here?"

And Gen said, "Well, in the three years I've lived here, I've never seen one happen."

Lina then said, "They're not common. I've never seen one happen either."

And Raja said, "That's strange, but well, there's nothing to do. Let's go to the restaurant quickly. It's a long walk there, and I'm starting to get hungry."

They then got up and went towards Gen's room. When they arrived, Raja went towards the door and then tried to pull it open, but after trying a few times, he said, "Gen, I can't open the door. Did you lock it?"

And Gen said, "No, this door doesn't have a lock."

Lina then said, "Get out of there, let me try."

And Raja said, "Okay."

Raja then left the door, and Lina started to try to open it.

She then said, " It opens to the side I'm pulling, doesn't it, Gen?"

And Gen said, "Yes."

She then tried some more and said, "I can't open it either. Why don't you try to open it with your essence, Gen. It already opens so many doors in this place. Maybe you can open it."

Gen then said, "Alright, let me try."

He then went towards the door, but on the way, Dehji said, 'Don't even waste your time, Gen.'

And Gen said, 'What do you mean, Dehji? Do you know why this door is locked?'

'Yes, I know.'

'Great. How do I open it? We want to go for breakfast.'

'Gen, there's no way to open it right now.'

'What?! Why not?'

'Because the digger is moving. If you open the door now, the only thing you'll find is dirt.'

'It's moving?'

'Yes.'

'And how did that happen?'

'You just filled it up, Gen. Have you forgotten?'

'No, but I didn't know that that was all it took to get it moving.'

'What do you mean you didn't know, Gen? I explained how it works, and I said, 'Tell it which city you want to go to, and then fuel the digger.'. At no point have I said you have to confirm anything afterward.'

'Damn. All right. Let me explain the situation to them.'

Raja then said, "Gen, is everything okay? You've been standing in front of the door for a while. Are you talking to Dehji? Does he know what happened?"

And Gen said, "Yes, I was talking to him, and he explained to me why the door isn't opening."

Lina then said, "Oh yeah? Why?"

And Gen said, "Well ... it's not opening because the digger is moving."

"Moving? When you say moving, you don't mean ..."

"Yes, it's heading for Tólis."

"What?! Are you crazy, Gen? Make it come back now. My mom will kill me if I don't go to work."

Raja then said, "I also had some things I needed to buy in town, Gen."

And Gen said, "I wish I could, but I don't know how to get it to return."

Lina then said, "Then ask your essence!"

And Gen said, "That's right.", and then said, 'Dehji, is there a way to get the digger to return?'

And Dehji said, 'Unfortunately not Gen, but look on the bright side.'

'What bright side?'

'You'll arrive sooner than you expected in Tólis.'

'... well, that's true.'