CHAPTER 133: THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

First thing first Marcus tried to gather his thoughts.

After so many hours on the bus ride to New York he was exhausted. His back ached. His eyes were dry. Unlike his cousin who seemed to have a never-ending supply of energy, bouncing in his seat even after twelve hours of travel.

Tom had boundless power. Marcus thought in Earth he could become like them but apparently that was just who Tom was. Pure enthusiasm without magic flowing in his veins.

He stopped Tom from trying to help homeless people on the street.

"Tom they didn't fall or get injured. They just live like this."

"Why?" Tom's face crumpled with genuine confusion.

"Just stop trying to help. We need to find the apartment and put our things down. Then we go to Professor Lawson's office."

"Marcus I think these people need our help more." Tom was already handing out his share of the sandwiches they bought on the road.

"Tom I don't have time or social understanding why they live like this but it goes beyond our help. Please just..." He gestured for Tom to stop.

His giant cousin reluctantly pocketed the remaining sandwiches. But his eyes kept darting back to the figures huddled in doorways.

"I called a ride. It can take us to the apartment I found from a couch surfing app. The owner is renting to us for a small fee. We need to reserve every penny." He explained but Tom didn't seem to understand most of the terms. Marcus had to use English versions because most concepts didn't exist in Valdrian.

"Anyway..." His phone buzzed with a notification. Two thousand dollars had transferred to his account from his dad. Apparently Earth Marcus had really convinced their father. He recalled their conversations and felt a swell of gratitude.

Following that notification he got another text from himself. "Marcus don't spend all of it. I need it to start our business. You can use your phone to pay for stuff."

When Marcus read the message he smiled and thought "I know that silly. I am you."

When they arrived at the apartment their host was a mid-twenties man with energy that could rival Tom's. Harry Watson was a typical new age hustler. He had in his mind only making money.

"I have two jobs and two businesses I run between," Harry explained while showing them around the cramped space. "And when I have time from all that I work out." He looked visibly jacked but near Tom he seemed tiny. His muscles looked almost comical next to the giant Valdrian.

Harry explained the sleeping situation and asked for the money upfront for each night. He promised never to bother them.

Marcus and Tom left their bags in their tiny bedroom. Two men in a space meant for one. Marcus carefully pulled out the copy of the Earth seed. The metal container hummed faintly in his hands.

"Harry do you have old paper or newspaper?"

"Dude I don't read news and neither should you. It's all lies to keep us poor."

"No I just need to wrap something."

Poor Marcus thought. Why would they want to make us poor?

Even after his comment Harry dashed outside the apartment and returned with a fresh newspaper. "I borrowed it from Mr. Grossman. He won't notice it's gone."

Marcus thanked him and started wrapping the seed carefully. When their precious Earth seed copy was secured he put it inside a backpack and entrusted it to Tom.

"Protect this with your life. It is our only way home."

Even though Tom couldn't fully make the connection with his mind he accepted his duty with fiery eyes. He clutched the backpack straps like they were weapons.

The ride to NYU made Marcus spiral into despair again while on the road Tom was playing games with Marcus's phone. Amazed each second of the games .But Marcus was in deep thoughts. Uber to apartment. Uber to NYC. Their accommodation. First day they had spent two hundred dollars. Without working how could Earth Marcus fund their expedition?

We are being a burden, Marcus thought. His stomach knotted with guilt.

While he was lost in thoughts Tom tapped his shoulder.

"How come we are not paying anything?" Tom asked in Valdrian. "Every horseless carriage takes us everywhere. Every meal is free. Your planet is really good Marcus." He paused. "If we don't count the people living on the streets."

"It is not free Tom. And not everything is as it seems. We are paying from other Marcus's bank account with his phone. Money in this world isn't tied to gold or silver." He tried to explain.

Tom squinted. "Then what is it tied to?"

"Honestly Tom I don't know. Perception. Lies. Countries' military power. It could be any of them or none."

"I don't get it."

"Wait until you hear about crypto." Marcus smiled.

"What?"

The car stopped. "Never mind." He opened the door and headed toward the campus.

He didn't know the exact location of the office but Tyler's subscriber had explained the route. With the help of the directions and NYU's campus maps they arrived at Professor Lawson's office.

Tom looked around at the buildings with wonder. "This campus is greater than our Academy. Their magic must be greater than ours."

"There is no magic here Tom. Only technology."

Marcus looked at the door. It said Professor Lawson, History. "The professor is a history teacher. I thought it was an anthropologist..." He stopped his assumptions and knocked the door.

No one answered.

He tried to open it. Locked. He just wanted to see the similar image with the seed but the door didn't budge.

"Sorry kids. If you came for the office hours I had a problem..." A voice called from behind them. "...with my bladder. It is normal at our age." The man smiled warmly.

Tom and Marcus walked to the side to give him space to unlock the door.

Kurt Lawson was in his sixties. A balding man with grey hair and a grey beard. He wore a tweed jacket and suspenders with his pants. Academic to his core.

He opened the door and welcomed Marcus and Tom inside.

The interior was the opposite of Master Thymon's neat study. Everything was everywhere. Walls and shelves were covered with papers, trinkets, and images. It looked like the mind of a conspiracy theorist made manifest.

But Marcus fixed on the image in the far corner. An image nearly identical to what the Earth seed copy had.

When Professor Lawson sat and changed his glasses he smiled. "Right. Welcome kids but I couldn't recognize you from my lectures. What is this about?"

Marcus raised his hand and pointed at the corner. "That."