CHAPTER 110: DIVIDED FOCUS

Marcus woke up in Valdris swearing under his breath about how his modern world life had gone sideways. Not for him, but for someone he cared about, and he couldn't do anything to help while he was here. The frustration ate at him as he prepared to face another day of impossible preparations.

"I have to concentrate on Valdris," he muttered to himself, forcing his thoughts away from Irene and the mess at Pressley Guns. The feelings of being stuck between both worlds were overwhelming to him. The modern world problems piling up really hurt him emotionally.

When he stepped outside, Marcus realized people were gathering in small groups, whispering to each other with obvious concern. The conversations stopped when they noticed him approaching, but he caught enough fragments to understand what was happening.

They probably heard Drakmoor might be under attack. It will get much worse, Marcus thought grimly. Real leadership, if it exists, must protect civilians from each other during this crisis.

The walk to the shop felt longer than usual as Marcus wrestled with his divided attention. Every step reminded him of responsibilities pulling him in different directions. But Tom and Palwin were counting on him, and the city's survival depended on completing Celestine's impossible mission.

When he arrived at the shop, he found Palwin, Tom, Aldric, and Sara talking and laughing together around a workbench. The sound of genuine happiness felt strange given everything happening around them. When Palwin saw Marcus, she stopped laughing immediately.

Does she think I am head of this family? Marcus wondered. A replacement in this life for her group mind over there? The thought made him uncomfortable with the responsibility it implied.

"You have your joy. In bad times like this." Marcus said, trying to sound encouraging despite his own troubled mood.

Aldric looked up with obvious relief at seeing Marcus. "It is good, other than you know what," he said carefully, meaning the siege, "everything is going good for us. Temir asked me for twelve silver to buy new things. You asked him to create?"

Marcus nodded, feeling a surge of hope. "Yeah, it is a secret project. I will explain later."

Sara stepped forward with obvious curiosity. "Marcus, you don't need to keep things from us. We are your family too."

"I know, I know. I trust you," Marcus replied, though he wasn't sure how to explain Celestine's alien technology without sounding completely insane.

Tom grinned mischievously. "Is it tied to what we stole from the Academy?"

"Tom!" Marcus exclaimed, glancing around to make sure no customers were listening.

Sara laughed at Marcus's reaction. "He already told us. That's what we were laughing about when you arrived."

Aldric joined in with obvious amusement. "Come on, partner. We're all criminals now apparently."

Before Marcus could respond, Temir arrived carrying something wrapped in cloth. When he unwrapped it, Marcus saw the completed mind protection device with a copper wire hanging from it, connected to what looked like a crude battery pack.

"I don't know if it will work, but it is finished," Temir announced with satisfaction mixed with exhaustion. "Now I am going back to my people. I hope this project was worth it," he added, meaning the time he could have spent helping his community prepare for war.

Marcus felt guilty about taking Temir away from more obvious military preparations. "Thank you so much. You must have worked all night. Let me compensate you."

Marcus tried to pull out his coin purse, but Temir stopped him with a raised hand. "Just do what you promised. And if you have excess money, my people have to abandon their district they just built. Help them out if we survive the siege. I will come back to build more of those machines afterwards."

Sara stepped forward with genuine warmth. "You have been a massive help. Don't worry, I'll make sure we will help your people."

Aldric nodded approvingly. "What is that machine?" he asked, examining the strange device.

Marcus was already trying to connect his crude battery to the machine. When the connection was complete, it gave off a mind numbing noise when he touched. Marcus quickly switched off the machine.

I guess it works, he thought with cautious optimism.

"Okay, you probably won't believe me, but here is the truth," Marcus announced, looking around at his assembled friends and family.

Sara settled in with obvious interest. "Lay it on us, Marcus."

Marcus took a deep breath. "The crazy woman Celestine can travel between worlds."

Tom looked confused. "What? Worlds?"

Marcus threw him a hard glance. "That is not the crazy part. You can fight twenty people and turn parts of your skin hard. Palwin can open portals. Why are you surprised?"

Aldric nodded thoughtfully. "Marcus, he probably wasn't surprised at the travel part, but the other worlds part."

"Oh!" Marcus realized his mistake. "Yeah, there are other worlds with people. Now suppress your questions and let me explain."

The group settled in as Marcus began explaining Celestine's ability to travel between worlds, her limitations about meddling with Malachar, and her need for something from his most important facility.

"I am going to break in thanks to Palwin's power. That's why she brought her here," Marcus continued, gesturing toward the portal mage. "And she provided me this machine that can protect against Malachar's mind magic."

He held up the device Temir had crafted. "So just in case I go there with this and steal what Celestine needs, then come back and we can deal with the siege when Malachar arrives."

The explanation hung in the air as everyone processed the implications. Marcus watched their faces, trying to gauge their reactions to what he knew sounded like impossible fantasy.

Tom was the first to speak. "So this machine protects your mind from being controlled?"

"That's the theory. Celestine says similar technology worked on another world against creatures that could influence thoughts."

Sara examined the device more closely. "And you're planning to infiltrate Malachar's facility wearing this thing?"

"With Palwin's help, yes. She can open portals directly there if we can establish the right connection."

Aldric looked troubled. "Marcus, this sounds incredibly dangerous. What if the machine doesn't work? What if you get trapped there?"

"Then you'll have to defend the city without me. But if it does work, and we succeed, we might have capabilities Malachar doesn't expect."

Palwin had been listening quietly, but now she spoke up with obvious concern. "Trust you. But scared." She talked without being asked to talk, reducing her vocabulary.

Marcus felt the weight of her simple honesty. "I'm scared too, Palwin. But sometimes we have to do scary things to protect the people we care about."

The shop fell quiet as everyone contemplated the enormity of what Marcus was proposing. Breaking into the stronghold of an interdimensional conqueror using alien technology and portal magic sounded like madness when spoken aloud.

But they'd already accomplished impossible things together. The textile business was thriving, the Academy infiltration had succeeded, and they'd built weapons that could kill boars with single shots.

The mind protection device represented their best hope for success, but it also represented enormous uncertainty. Would alien technology work against Malachar's magic? Could they infiltrate his facility without being detected? Would Palwin's portal abilities be enough to get them in and out safely?

These questions couldn't be answered until they attempted the mission. But standing in their shop, surrounded by people willing to risk everything for each other and their community, Marcus felt ready to find out.

The real test was about to begin.