Kurt was still in Talia arms, after what was very strange and disorienting kiss they took between slipping better their wells.

Kurt was still blushing along with Talia.

"So we have to find Harvey, said Kurt.

"Sort of, change in mood here," said Talia as her smile turned flat.

"Someone's waiting," said Kurt.

"Who?"

"Lilly."

"Who's Lilly?" Talia said with an angry tone.

"Ohh sorry, she's Carla's first daughter. Don't worry…I'm not even sure…how they…never mind."

"What?"

"She wants to ride Harvey."

"Like a mini Carla riding Harvey?" She started smiling at the thought. She put one hand with four fingers out and her other hand on top of it, attempting to pantomime the idea.

"Yes, you get it. Tell me you don't want to see that?"

"You really know how to keep surprising a girl."

"That's why you married me right?"

She blushed, Kurt blushed. They had a bit of a weird silence between them, the kind children and their first loves can get.

They soon found Harvey. Who was happy to be included in anything with Kurt. And they spent the rest of the day watching a young goblin mother have the time of her life riding a four-headed hydra.

They needed to leave the top of the pillar eventually. As it had gotten a little out of control.

Not the typical date. But Talia was forced to count it, after Kurt got her some food from the mess hall, of course. He was smart enough to get a few goblins to bring some for Lilly and her guards.

Kurt had started his morning routine the next day. He finally had some time for peace. Starting his sword exercise.

Kurt's practices were faster than ever. He was barely even moving but he could see how fast he was moving. He started to become worried about it.

He took a water slash and shot out faster than anyone had before. It also grew on the flight. And carved a notch into the pillar's floor.

That was way more powerful than he was used to.

An unfamiliar man had walked up to the top of the pillar. He held a similar clipboard to the ones Betsy would usually have.

"Umm, Sir Kurt. I am Kyle, I'm Betsy's new assistant."

"Okay," said Kurt, "and Betsy is off negotiating."

"Yes sir," said Kyle.

"So go on, don't worry I'll be listening.

"Yes, well to begin with…"

Kyle was much more nervous than Betsy was. But he had given the normal kind of report Kurt was used to. He didn't have all the answers but most of them. It was his first day with the Lord after all.

During the meeting, the True Sorcerer had come up as well.

"You're still here," said Kurt. "Wait till, Kyle was it, is done." And Kyle finished his report and politely made his leave. Kurt had a good feeling about Kyle; he wasn't Betsy, but seemed capable, still new, but didn't lie about what he didn't know. Kurt respected that.

"Staying long?" Kurt finally got to the True Sorcerer who waited patiently.

"Not for much longer, I would have thought you were curious."

"Curious?" Kurt continued to practice his sword swing. He couldn't give it his all for the sake of the pillar. So he was focusing on proper form. Slow defined movements.

"About me? About how you're not using your powers completely."

"About the details of the deal you made with Layla."

"Yes, that would be the most pressing thing on your mind, wouldn't it?"

"And?"

"Well not much to it, I was looking for my student and mentioned my little rivalry with Horus. And if she could get me either of them I would reward her."

"And that's all?"

"Other than a friendly alliance. To be honest, I didn't think she'd actually do it. I thought she'd never come calling on that deal. But here we are."

"We had your student for days."

"How would I know? Do you know what he was doing?"

"Not really."

"He was traveling across the world causing massive harm. Those little trinkets he made from my portal design. They use the bodies of living things, especially magical beings which are in my experience most likely to be sentient. He thought his power made him…I don't know worthy of ruling everything. He was making deals with the worst kind of creatures. Invading worlds."

"Like shadows."

"You seem to have a way to deal with them."

"So what did you do to Horus?"

"I wouldn't make that type of deal with him. And he didn't like that answer. And we fought several times. Tough one that Horus. He cheated though always with the followers. I had to figure out a special spell for those angels. Always hated that he couldn't see the gates, I think that drove him a little crazy."

"The type of deal spreading his pantheon across the universe."

"Well, universe isn't exactly the right word, but yes," said The True Socerer.

"So why here?"

"Funny story actually, that big gate was one of my first. I sort of forgot about it. I never even thought he was using old portals of mine. That was making him very hard to track. When he altered it I finally noticed."

"So what are you?"

"That's harder to answer," said The True Sorcerer, "mostly a traveler really."

"A traveler?"

"Of course, there are so many worlds to see."

"That's not really an answer."

"Hmm," the True Sorcerer thought for a moment, "that sword has a True name, yes?"

"Yes, it has a name," said Kurt.

"One it spoke."

"Yes."

"Well early on I was adept at magic. And once I figured out the portals my knowledge became multi-world knowledge. And after a while, I guess you could say I awakened that type of true name."

"Huh?"

"It's hard to explain as it's not the same process."

"You ascended."

"If that's what you'd like to call it. Let's just say when certain powers find out they are not so happy."

"Because sometimes it's one of the only things that can kill them."

"Yes. So in some places unfortunately I'm not very popular," said the True Sorcerer, "but the similarities are so subtle."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for example," the True Sorcerer rubbed his chin then seemed to have figured something out, "a wise, umm…you know it doesn't matter what it told me. They said 'Everyone has the same favorite word but everyone's is different.'"

"Is that a riddle?"

"Yes, no. Kurt."

"Yeah."

"You see it's yours too, it's always their name. The same word but different. From across the stars, you can respond to it, from a crowd of voices, from the whole other universe, our favorite word is how existence knows us, as simple as a name. Yet so much more profound."

"If you say so, True Sorcerer."

"I guess I deserve that, my name, well…that's a long story."

"But if you're going around stopping people from invading other worlds, where does that place us?"

"Back to business I see, the fae are strange, Layla is a child of both worlds. Fascinating creatures actually, not a very common way of reproducing, not unique but still very rare. Of course, all species are unique in their way. It's that type of stuff that keeps me going. You are both fighting shadow creatures from yet a third world. I can't help but put a little of that blame on myself."

"So what did Layla get from you?"

"Well, there was your alignment. You seem to be holding back still. And Layla will show you how to use that tether for a new gate."

"And?"

"She commissioned a spell book."

"A spell book."

"Yeah, that's going to take some time."

"I want a list of spells and their effects."

"I could provide that eventually, I haven't exactly figured out which ones. Spell books are difficult to balance. But she wanted a city-sized shield that could repeal most of the gods here. I assumed that was for here. So what else I can put in there is a bit limited by that."

"Good," said Kurt.

"So there is sort of one last thing," said The True Sorcerer, "this one should just tickle."

The sorcerer placed his hand on Kurt's chest again; it did tickle weirdly. But then he realized what had happened. The part of his power that had always seemed like Layla's gate tether had separated into the actual parts.

"So that should be enough to get you working, Layla knows that style better than me. Don't worry it's only here and there."

Soon after the True Sorcerer left. Kurt got an odd impression from the man. Not much seemed to bother him. He thought he seemed honest enough.

And if they had a second movable gate from their deal. That was actually worth a whole lot. He would have to meet with Betsy as soon as he figured it out. Even if going to Hamlet himself the whole negotiation structure could change.

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