A few long blinks.

  Monda's voice had been echoing the line in the psionic's head. Melancholy and longing tore at the Void Prince as he zoomed above the forestry. The urge to turn back and return to the sanctuary of comfort and fulfilment the goblin village provided was strong and frequent, like a smith's hammer ridding molten steel of its impurities. Only rationality and a competing desire to meet the other transmigrator kept him on his current trajectory.

  No more distractions or side quests. Meet up with the otherworlder, and see how that goes. If we get along, invite them along to the Tower of Ascension. Once I'm Transcendent, take out all threats, and then return to the village and transform it again. Bigger and better. The best, even, yeah.

  The string of thoughts stirred his imagination. What did the best look like? He reviewed architecture from his home universe for ideas. The task kept his mind occupied. Time passed quickly as boredom found no openings in his defences.

  Clinical is not the way. Goblins love nature, and the buildings should reflect that while remaining neat. Perhaps a design based on flowers - flowers?

  Xyn blinked as his mind took a second to process what he was seeing. Flowers. Of course, he had seen plenty of them growing across the forest's uneven floor.

  The flowers within Xyn's scope were different from those before - at least, he was fairly confident in that assumption, for together, they formed a flower unknown yet strikingly beautiful across the landscape.

  That can't be natural, right?

  Asking the question, he looked around for an answer. He found it on his third swivel.

  Cynthia didn't mention this. Did she not know it was here? Xyn thought, sighting yet another legacy of the Witch.

  The Sky Island.

  One of seven. Kilometres high, it rested atop the air as though it were made of concrete. It was massive, nearly four kilometres in diameter. Only the bottom was visible from Xyn’s position. Grey and metallic, the design looked no different than the bottom of a spinner’s top.

  Around it, he could see several tiny figures he vaguely identified as humanoid, zipping about on flying disks. A blink clarified that these were not humans, but...something else. Xyn was not sure. What he was sure about, though, was that he wanted to know more.

  Without a second or first thought, he took a sharp upward turn and headed straight for the Sky Island. Halfway there, a thought struck his consciousness.

  Wait, what if they think I'm hosti-ah...too late.

  Xyn experienced Deja vu. It was Alison of House Aegis again, only this time he found himself encased in a purple sphere. From a dot to the size of a house faster than lightning, it stopped the psionic dead in his tracks, freezing space and, more importantly, time.

  This must be a Time Bubble. That makes them the Time Keepers of Universe 9, the Navecs.

  Xyn couldn't blink and thus was forced to observe the approach of three Navecs on their flying devices.

  He hadn't gotten a chance to hear about them from Alison, but Cynthia had given him a rundown about the Time Keepers and their world. It was brief. Not because she lacked knowledge or interest in explaining, but because of every realm, Universe 9 was the least complicated in its details.

  The universe was small, comprised of one planet surrounded by a blanket of stars. The planet was tiny as far as planets went, but the residents never felt cramped for room. Navecs existed alone in their world, and they numbered less than ten thousand strong.

  Their day-to-day could be described as insanity by some, yet idyllic by others. Conflict was not a thing, nor could it last long in a world where every day repeated itself. Unlike Universe 7, which was theorised to be in a loop, Universe 9 was confirmed to be.

  Navecs were effectively immortal as a result of this universal mechanic. If an inclination for conflict had once been a part of their nature, it had been purged with time. They were a peaceful race who relished the simple pleasures in life.

  At least, that was how they were in their native universe. Since coming to Machaeverosa, they've become more prickly.

  Xyn recalled Cynthia's words as he studied the trio. Two males flanked the lone female.

  They were not human, but not too different. Bald head with rake-like lines through it, tall, dark blue skin, grey eyes, ears like cauliflowers, and sunken cheeks that made them look like they had just inhaled deeply seemed to be their universal physical traits.

  There were differences between the sexes that made telling them apart easy. Males were broader, had sharper facial features and had slightly darker skin. Much more telling, though, was the usual bumps and curves present on the lone female, who was rather well-endowed by human standards.

  The trio wore a combination of flowing white robes that resembled togas and silver pieces of armour around their four limbs. Elegant, but more importantly, enchanted. The trio were brimming with magic items.

  Xyn finished his examination by studying the unique violet energy which emanated from the trio’s figures.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  [Human, state your business. To what ends do you approach Trevac?] the female sentry, Viva asked, wearing a stern face as she channelled mana through her communication device.

  Xyn moved his mana accordingly. [Nothing official, though if business is possible, I’d like to conduct it. Those flying disks would be quite handy.]

  The trio’s faces turned queer as they watched him. Then, contorted into shock as the purple sphere shattered before their eyes.

  [Much better,] he said, doing stretches. The worm of darkness did one last lap around his body before disappearing.

  "H-How?"

  "He undid our spell..."

  "That magic...could it be Void?"

  "Yes, it is."

  Xyn's affirmation in their native language only compounded their shock. While the trio were paralysed, other Navecs were not. From the distant walls, sentries cast their spells. It was as swift as before, and Xyn found himself encased again, this time by a dozen different Time Bubbles overlapping each other poorly.

  He repeated himself, summoning Endera and having it snake around the perimeter of his figure. The union of purple spheres were shattered, and Xyn regained his freedom. Yet his peace of mind had deteriorated. What had taken less than a second before had now taken three seconds to do. The conclusion was obvious.

  The more Time Bubbles, the greater the potency.

  That island likely houses a few hundred of them, and all Navecs are mages. Altogether, they could probably trap me for ages - or permanently.

  Xyn's expression was warped by his thoughts.

  "Enough of that. Another instance, and I'll respond with my attacks of my own."

  The quiet warning in his voice woke Viva from her stupor. She thrust her will into her Traveller’s Stone, adjusting it to broadcast on an internal network, and sent an urgent command. The distant figures of statues wiggled as they received it, and they instantly dissolved their half-made magical workings.

  Relief poured into Xyn's heart in the absence of spheres. He didn't do things halfheartedly, after all. A pensive face gave way to a friendly one. His lips moved to speak, but he stopped as he saw activity in the distance. A Navec leapt onto a flying disk and zoomed towards Xyn and the trio. Seconds were needed to shred all three kilometres in the way. That the man moved as quickly as he did told the psionic much.

  Xyn stared at the smiling face of the elder and felt all thoughts of hostility fade from his mind. The man was a grandfather he had never had, perhaps a grandfather to all. At least, that was the vibe the Navek so effortlessly exuded with his hands behind his back. Even the lines across his head were smooth, like squiggles drawn by an innocent. Childish yet wise, Xyn got that impression from the Navek who had likely lived a hundred times his lifetime or more.

  [Apologies, stranger. I ask forgiveness for the rudeness shown.] Tonak sighed. [Our people have wielded hammers for so long that everything appears to be a nail. The sentries in particular. They are the antsy sort. Almost everything that approaches us is hostile. The Sky Island is a magnet for trouble.]

  He turned his head at a roar. Their arrival was pure coincidence, yet it made for the perfect example. Five avian monsters, each one as wide as a jet, flew in a V-formation toward Travec.

  Their deaths were swift and clinically delivered. Time Bubbles appeared and expanded to engulf them. Xyn watched as Navek sentries aimed their crossbows. Needless to say, these weren’t mundane devices. The Time Keepers shrouded the bolt with purple energy before pulling the trigger.

  The projectiles flew true, striking each target dead centre. No resistance was offered by the Time Bubbles, and the monsters exploded as a gory firework. What could only be considered a version of rock-paper-scissors was seen being played by three Naveks. The presumed loser flew to the Time Bubbles and collected the monster cores which had formed and were stuck in place.

  [Noted. Their actions make much more sense now. It's water under the bridge. The past is the past, I'd rather focus on the present and future.]

  [Wise words, for that which encourages peace cannot be anything but. Where are my manners? I'm Tonak, the Head Elder of Travek, or Sky Island 3 as it's known in the greater world.]

  [Oh, my name is Xyn, a psionic from Universe 6,] the Void Prince said, mimicking the salute gesture Tonak showed.

  [An otherworlder, then? How fresh are your footprints in the dirt, young one?]

  [I'd say pretty fresh. It hasn't even been two weeks.]

  [That is fresh. Wondrous. A new arrival. Ah, we've done quite a disservice to you. Xyn. Take this as an apology. I see that you don't need it, but it is fairly nifty.]

  Tonak's hand closed around a disk the diameter of a ruler. He tossed it over to Xyn like a frisbee.

  Catching the magical device, the Void Prince didn't hesitate to experiment. His mana entered, and a psychic connection was formed between him and the device. The disk shrank to the size of a coaster before expanding to a diameter of three metres. He had it flip on its axis to create a fan. Black locks dancing, he had it spin till it appeared a blur to mundane eyes. Reaching the speed limit, he contracted it to half its size and had it float below him.

  He ceased Vanta Drive and dropped onto the Traveller's Board. A secondary feature made itself known and Xyn activated. Transparent energy flowed upwards and encased his figure.

  The barrier was relatively weak, but it was practical, keeping the rider and their luggage on the board and defending against the elements and high-speed travel.

  It's like a warm hug, he thought, manipulating the energy.

  Xyn skipped from one end to the other. Breaking contact didn't break the connection. One could stand on either side of it, and even on the edge. The Void Prince did just that, treating the disk's edge like a treadmill. His walk slowed to a halt before he decided to turn the world upside down. Heaven and Earth switched positions...repeatedly.

  The Navecs watched the spectacle with increasing amusement, trading glances and mental communications as they collectively agreed that this human was an oddball.

  [This is great,] Xyn said, now right way up, ending his barrel rolling. [Thanks.]

  [Glad you like it, Xyn. Viva here informs me that you wish to conduct business. Are you a merchant?]

  [No. I'm...I don't know what would best describe me. Perhaps a tourist? Yes, a tourist works.] Xyn looked towards the levitating island. [A few hours of looking around and maybe buying stuff, then I'll be on my way. I'm on a mission. Oh, have you perhaps heard of another transmigrator arriving here recently?]

  Tonak made a thoughtful face. His answer arrived seconds later, presumingly from consulting others back on Travec.

  [No, nothing about Otherworlders passed through our networks. Though that's not saying much, we Navecs care little for worldly affairs. We are the last to hear about these types of things. The human settlement northwest of here would know if the Otherworlder made a big enough splash. Do you know where they are?]

  [Yeah, west of here. A few hundred kilometres away. She arrived around ten days ago, just before me.]

  [Percular timing,] the Navec elder rubbed his chin as he stared westward.

  [So say everyone I've told. How about it? Can I get a tour? I won't cause trouble, promise. I'm a good apple.]

  Tonak nodded. [I've seen nothing to doubt that claim. Very well, while we don't do this every day, exceptions are to be made for exceptional cases. Trevac welcomes you. I'd be happy to be your tour guide. I’m eager to hear your story, Xyn, if you’ll indulge me.] Saying so, Tonak did an arc that put him beside Xyn, facing the same way.

  [I’d be happy to.]

  [Excellent. Then, after you.]

  Xyn accepted the invitation and willed his Traveller’s Board forward.