So, what's the plan then?

We sat in silence after I ended my story. Everyone had a lot to process. It’s not easy to comprehend or come to terms with the fact that the complete normal everyday life of absolutely normal sentient beings can severely alter the face of a whole planet in such a dramatic way!

For Yára and Reeza it was especially painful to hear how many species had become extinct just through basic human behavior. Daimons and ælves especially held life (all life!) in much higher regard than most other sentients, so that hit them really hard. Lily on the other hand had to cope with the high inequality that came with our rapid technological advancement: immense poverty on one side and obscene wealth on the other. And all of them were appalled by the resulting horrific wars and furthermore the multiple genocides, born from deranged ideologies and politics, not to mention the incredibly cruel ways of mass livestock farming! I myself was ashamed of my own species having to list our collective sins like that.

“When they even act this way against their own kin, how atrociously must they treat other races?!” exclaimed Yára at one point, horrified.

“Does this really surprise you that much?” asked Elä’Ahrûna in a cold, even voice.

“Think about how Lily’s parents reacted when she got infected with the so-called ‘Wildeath’! And she is by far not the only one! Her case is just one of countless similar fates!”

Anger flashed across the beastess’s face, but she stayed silent.

“Despite that, it’s important to look at the big picture to understand which environment and surroundings bring out the best in human beings and which one brings out the worst.” the daimon lady continued.

“And I have to admit that compared to Earth, the other sentient species and the existence of magic here are having a placating, pacifying and balancing effect on human societies. Yes, they are still practicing extensive farming and cattle breeding, but it's much more sparingly than on Earth.”

“And don't forget the different surroundings here.” I interjected. “Liyúra is much bigger than earth which helps to stabilize the natural environment.”

“Yes, but that can also become a liability, as it masks the already existing strain on nature …and on other species.” Elä'Ahrûna countered austerely.

“I’ve seen and explored different timelines and realities and most of them started to derail the existing balance with the invention of steam engines. This event sets off a chain reaction that leads to explosive industrialization with all the known consequences.”

“But that isn’t always true.” I protested. “The first steam engine in my world was invented more than two thousand years ago, and nothing came of it back then.”

“That is the big question indeed: will Thîmancháyus become a second Heron or a second Newcomen? And what needs to happen for what outcome? At present all paths are open and all bets are off!” answered the daimon lady in earnest.

“So what should I do then? Do you have a plan?”

Elä'Ahrûna shook her head and said slowly and carefully: “You see, this is where it gets complicated again.”

Lily let out a groan. This was getting all too much for her, but the elder daimon quickly calmed her down by saying: “Do not worry. The simplest plan is to not follow certain paths and patterns, but to simply mix certain ingredients - and wait. So Vilém, do not try to aim for a certain, specific result! Chances are high the outcome will be the opposite of what you wanted to achieve. Just follow your inner guide, your desires. Be …just yourself!”

I was flabbergasted, and I wasn’t the only one.

“That’s it? That’s the whole plan?” asked Lily in shocked disbelief, probably capturing everyone’s feelings best.

I just shook my head.

“Right! As if that had worked out great so far!” I uttered bitterly. Seeing my comrades I quickly added: “I mean, on Earth…”

Elä'Ahrûna leaned towards me.

“Exactly! On Earth you could never truly be yourself! But here, on Liyúra, you can, as you have seen! Of course you encountered challenges and hardships here too, and there will come even more, believe me! But here you got socially accepted, something that had never happened in your past on Earth!”

She leaned back.

“Do you know what would have happened with your Munchie on your travels or afterwards? I saw different outcomes in different timelines and realities, but it always boiled down to something like long and arduous legal battles, bureaucracy to no end and open hostility from big established corporations seeing you and your vehicle as a danger to their own oversized, overpriced and unsustainable products. Your life would have become pure hell! But here, you and your velomobile can unleash your full potential! On Earth you would have been at best viewed as an afterthought, or just a nuisance. But here you can become a true hero! Not one with weapons, armor and brawn, but one with brains, ingenuity and spirit! Here you can really change the course of history and clear a path into a bright and hopeful future!”

“Hold on!” I slowed her stream of praise. “Why are you telling me all this? Why all the pep talk when I should just ‘be myself’ as you put it? Why all the explanations when there is 'no plan' to execute? Why reveal the big secret of the origin of humans and their former slaves after all this time? And last but not least: is there a way back home for me? Can I ever return to Earth, back to my brother and my master? Please, I need to know!”

The elder daimon frowned.

“Well, that is a lot of questions and I will address them one at a time. First: Why all the telling and explaining? As I said, for the best outcome you don’t need a plan, but a certain mix of ingredients. And that does not involve just people with their background and capabilities, but also information!”

She smiled when she saw my face.

“The wisest scholar is nothing but a blind fool, if he doesn’t get the right amount of information! That is the reason for all the ‘pep talk’ as you called it. Furthermore: after all that time it is not only right to reveal the truth, it is urgent, and all the races need to know at some point about their real origin. I am the only one who was present back then, the only eyewitness so to speak, and my time is running out. My long life span already transcended its boundaries, and before this body succumbs to the laws of transience I wanted to share at least once what had been hidden for so long and passed on in fragmented and distorted form only.”

She made a small pause, then her eyes darkened.

“But why do you want to get home so desperately? Didn’t you hear what I had said about your future and the future of your beloved ‘Munchie?’ Do you know how many scenarios will result in the destruction of your finest piece of craftsmanship, leaving you devastated and heartbroken? Do you know in how many timelines you will suffer an untimely, premature death? And do you know how few and improbable realities you prevail in, always at a high cost? You do not want to know that! Your travels here in Liyúra will still be dangerous, but infinitesimally less than on Earth, believe me! And there is one more thing!”

She held up a finger to emphasize the importance of her following words.

“As you are now, it is impossible for you to return back to Earth!”

I stared at her, wide eyed, in shock, not understanding!

“Remember all the manærite you have ingested, that is already accumulating in your body, your bones and in and around your nerves? The stuff that improved your life so much here under the different conditions compared to Earth? Well, on Earth manærite can’t exist. It defies the laws of physics there. The instant you come back into the realm of Earth it will immediately decay, evaporate in an instant, violently. It will kill you, simple as that!”

She tilted her head, observing my frozen figure like a scientist.

“But nonetheless, I am truly curious to hear why you want to go back to a world where you could never truly prosper and thrive, where you had to endure nothing but hardship and setbacks, no understanding, very little compassion and no love whatsoever. Tell me please, for I cannot understand what you truly seek back there on this doomed world!”