The sound of the waterfall greeted me as the flume dropped me off at Zadaa. I looked around for my Batu armor and found them lying on a small rock hidden behind the waterfall. I smiled at Saangi's cleverness, slipped the armor on, and went looking for Loor.
I found her by the arena and nearly got whacked in the head.
"Pendragon?!" she cried, "what are you doing here?!"
"I know I made a promise," I said sheepishly, "but that was three years ago. I mean-"
"It doesn't matter how long it has been!" Loor said cutting me off, "you made a promise and it should be kept."
"But you have to admit that you've missed me," I argued, "I've missed you."
She stopped arguing and looked down. "I missed you too, Pendragon, but we can't be together. You should know that."
"Why not?" I asked, "I love you and you love me."
"Our love doesn't matter anymore, Pendragon. Don't you see that? Love will just get in the way."
I tried arguing but realized the truth in those words. "We live in different territories," I said quietly, "We can't love each other and visit each other everyday because we'll get distracted."
"And the other territories will suffer dire consequences because of us," Loor added.
"I understand," I said and began to walk away, hoping that she would follow me but she just sighed and walked away.
I felt tears streak down my cheeks. I didn't care who saw nor did I care that I was a guy and guys don't like crying in public. I was sad. This felt worse than losing a territory to Saint Dane.
I ran back to the flume and stared at the star engraved on the door. What is the meaning of being a traveler? Was it just to stop Saint Dane or is there something more?
I shook all those questions out of my head and called out, "Second Earth!" and waited for the familiar jumbled musical notes to greet me.
They didn't come. I got a little nervous and called Second Earth again. But the music never came. Then I realized the horrible truth. I'm trapped on Zadaa.