Gavin had returned to the seat at the counter. He kept turning his head, watching the young heir.
Drake strolled up to the long table, not stopping until he was standing next to his two friends, who were focused on the conversation, and didn't notice that he had arrived by their side. Not that Chad would see him, but Mike could.
Mayor Ivan was standing over a map of the town. He had drawn a line around Draco town to show where the barrier was located. "We are trapped; we need to get rid of this thing."
"I can help you with that," Drake said calmly. He was hoping that they all could hear him.
Mike turned to Drake first. "Did it work?" he asked. "Was he able to destroy it?"
Drake smiled widely at his friend. "The link has been destroyed, and my name is reappearing on the town roster. I believe it worked, but the effects may take a bit longer to take effect." He then addressed the table where the mayor was talking to the group of men. "Can any of you see or hear me?"
To his disappointment, there was no answer, making Drake grumble to himself. He looked at Mike. "Tell them I know how to take down the barrier, and that I can tell them where the power source for it is located.
Just before Mike was about to say anything, Gavin came walking up to the long table. When he stopped, he first looked at Drake, then toward the men. "I think we should let the barrier stay up a little longer. The young master explained to me that it was not only to keep us in, but it also keeps the monsters out. I propose we leave it up long enough to come up with a plan to deal with the monster. The barrier can give us the time we need to do that in relative safety."
Mayor Ivan looked at Gavin, his irritation bubbling up. "We don't know if the barrier is dangerous!" he argued.
Drake spoke up, knowing that at least two of those present could hear him. "I don't believe it is. The runes used to create it are dimensional runes. According to my sources, it has no other purpose other than keeping us in and the monsters out."
All eyes turned to Drake, causing him to flinch slightly. He looked down at himself in relief the moment he realized everyone could see and hear him again.
Ivan took a deep breath before speaking. "Did you put it up?"
"No, Mayor Ivan. While I was dealing with another issue, I discovered the barrier and investigated it. I found what is powering it. The power source is located in the exact center of town and buried three feet into the dirt."
Mayor Ivan tugged his scruffy beard. "What other issue? Is it something we have to worry about?"
Drake shook his head. "Gavin here," he said, pointing to the man beside him, "Helped with dealing with that. One of the monsters planted a totem in town. Nelly found it. Once we tracked it down, my cohort and I tried to destroy it, but couldn't. It turned out that we were the targets. It was an attempt to erase us from the equation so we couldn't help you against the monsters. Knowing that the target of the spell couldn't destroy the totem, I went to Gavin for help. He kindly destroyed the totem, solving the problem. From what I can tell, the barrier does not seem to be related to the totem or the monsters at all."
Ivan stood up from his seat. "Show me where the power source is located."
After stepping out of the tavern, Drake led them to the center of town. Activating his system, he tracked the exact location of the power source. Those with him watched in disbelief as the glowing green orb exited his chest and floated to the center of town before entering the dirt. Before it reappeared. Drake bent down and drew another 'x' in the dirt. The one he had placed earlier had already been scratched out.
The glowing orb reemerged and entered Drake's chest, and the glow in his eyes faded. "It's three feet down in that spot," he said, pointing to where the little 'x' was drawn in the dirt. "Destroying the power source is how to deactivate the barrier. I won't know how to destroy it until it is removed."
Mayor Ivan nodded, his eyes focused on the 'x' in the dirt.
Mike spoke up. "I think Gavin is right. We should construct a plan and prepare to deal with the monsters before we attempt to deactivate the barrier."
There was silence in the small group as Ivan thought. Drake stared at the 'x' he had drawn, then addressed the system. "System, list those who use dimensional runes."
After only a few seconds, the soft voice floated through Drake's mind.
{Dimensional Runes are used in Dimensional sorcery or by the Dimension Master}
'Shit!" Drake though. 'I would have thought it was the dimension master that put the barrier up, but it used the word 'or' indicating he isn't the only one that can use it.' He looked up from his thoughts at the mayor. He was still thinking, trying to figure out what was the best thing to do for his town.
Just because the barrier kept the monsters out of Draco Town, it didn't mean that it was safe.
Drake lifted his head. He was worried about the wording of his system. "I think we should act fast. While we are digging up the power source, you plan with your men. By the time we get it out of the ground, you need to be ready."
"Something's changed," Mike observed aloud. "What happened?"
Scanning the group, Drake spoke. "If I said, Dimensional Runes are used in Dimensional sorcery OR by the dimension Master, what would you think?" Drake began. He then continued before anyone could respond. "At first glance, you would say that it was the Dimension Master that placed the barrier. However, the wording suggests that he isn't the only one who can use dimensional sorcery. My question now is, if the Dimension Master did not place the barrier, who could have?"
Chad frowned. "You don't think it was the dimension master who placed the barrier?"
Shrugging, Drake bit his lip before speaking. "I don't know, but I also don't know who else is capable. Some questions bother me. First, why would the Dimension Master trap us here if we," he said, pointing to himself, then his friends, are supposed to be on a quest. Second, why did it coincide with the totem we found?" Drake looked over at Mayor Ivan. "The totem was a small leather bag. A sachet. It was literally erasing me out of existence." Speaking to the entire group again, Drake continued. "I was able to track the totem the same way I found the power source of the barrier. I was also able to track the enchanter to the totem. Whoever or whatever it is, is outside the barrier."
Chad lifted his head, looked excited. "Can you track the creator of the creator of the barrier like you did for that little leather bag?"
Drake became quiet. He spoke to his system.
"System, can you link the barrier to its creator?"
Seconds later, the soft voice floated through his mind.
{The barrier cannot be traced to its creator}
"System, what is preventing the link between the barrier and its creator?"
{The creator is not present in the current dimension}
Drake frowned. "Shit!" he said aloud, unaware that the others had been watching him. He looked around at the group, startled. "Sorry," he said, scratching his chin before answering his friend. "The creator of the barrier is not in this dimension, which is preventing any type of tracking."
Gavin sighed, "I'll get a shovel. Mayor Ivan, I suggest you go to the tavern and make plans with the men. This shouldn't take long."
As Drake watched Gavin and Mayor Ivan disappear, he thought about why the barrier's creator was not in the current dimension.
***
Three men sat in front of a computer monitor in a small room. It was Drake's room. One of them had the glowing green eyes of the Dimension Master.
Relief was on the men's faces. When Drake disappeared from the screen, it made them panic. They all knew if Drake vanished, the other two would soon follow.
All three men were dressed in armor, their weapons ready. They had to act fast. The Dimension Master had a plan, and the only way he could implement it was if the young trio was trapped in the town. They were already digging the power source out of the dirt. It was only a matter of time before the barrier was down.
It may not have been the Dimension Master who placed it, but it was going to help save the boy's lives.