The feeling of slipping through space was familiar because it felt like the first time I came to the other world. A little disorienting, like instantly falling asleep and immediately being woken up. But he found himself at a familiar place, on the way home, everything was just like it was except the squirrel seemed to have disappeared. Layla let go of his hand, as they were now right where they were supposed to be. And hoping everything was alright, he'd gone missing for a week. Probably lost his job because of it.
He felt a tug with Layla, this must have been what she was talking about, that she couldn't go very far from him. It was strange, he just had this pull not very strong but it was definitely there, he assumed it would get more uncomfortable the further she strayed. That was also sort of a problem because what if he did still have his job. But, somehow Kurt had a feeling his life was about to completely change, only an idiot couldn't make a few bucks off this arrangement. He was thinking of making another pilgrimage just last week to pay for what was obviously worse than what he had. Kurt was never a greedy person, or never thought of himself as one, but twenty bucks is twenty bucks.
What were Sara and Jacob going to say? That really was what everything hinged on. After thinking for a long time Kurt realized he had to tell them some of what happened. He would have to make the gate at their place, where else could he keep an eye on it. Sara wouldn't be much of a problem, she can keep a secret, it was Jacob and his father. His father was part of a major clan that also controlled a gate. There was no way they wouldn't want another one.
Kurt thought, it's not the worst idea to join a clan though. If it came down to it, why would the clan fight if he just went with them? That was a decision really for another day, Kurt needed to figure out what he could do, and what the other two were going to do. I mean if a good faith negotiation could take place he might end up set for life with the clan, or he might end up dead as a message. Kurt believed the former was much more likely, the latter is always a possibility. As long as he wasn't put in a bad position, and right now his best option was to keep quiet. Set up everything and see where the pieces fall. Most of all he needed time to figure out everything, after placing the gate it seemed like there would be a lot of time.
When he got to his house, he found only Sara was there.
"Where have you been?" Sara yelled, "I've been worried sick. And your job, I don't think you even have one anymore." Kurt gulped, Sara paused, "and who is that?" Pointing at Layla.
"She's a friend."
"A friend, so you just go elope with some girl."
"Elope?" said Layla, looking at Kurt.
"She thinks we mated,"
Layla's eyes widened, "what no, with him, I don't even have, the parts"
"What? Don't — have — the — parts?" said Sara, giving Kurt a weird glance.
"I can explain", said Kurt.
After a very lengthy explanation of what happened. Sara apologized to Layla. They actually started to seem to get along really well.
"That is a very, unbelievable story, but this girl I can now see is definitely a Fairy, like in papers." Layla was hovering very not like a human, "But what I can't believe is this guy over here," pointing at Kurt, "actually killed a mountain lion. Sure a lone wolf maybe, but not some cougar that could make illusionary copies, not this guy."
"Well, I did lend him some of my power," said Layla, giggling.
"Yeah you would have had to", said Sara looking at Kurt. Kurt didn't like where the conversation went, "then so what are you gonna do next? Open a gate in the basement, come on. How am I supposed to believe this?"
"Actually…" Kurt said,"… that is sort of the plan for now."
"I was joking Kurt. What is Jacob going to say, what is his dad going to say?"
"Well, I've known him for a while. It's not like him and his dad are best buddies, they live in different cities. Like I said it is not a permanent thing right Layla. He'll want to make something of it before telling his dad, he'll probably dangle it above my head for a bit."
"Yeah, we will need to do something soon though I need to get back eventually," said Layla. "You can come with us after I make the gate too," looking at Sara.
"Well, I don't think you should put it in the basement."
"It's not like I have many options here, I'm not some clan leader"
"Yeah dude, that's part of the problem. But I'm not about to let you waste it. This is a real opportunity, there is so much we don't know about the other side. So we have to start with the valuable stuff that's there we can bring back."
Kurt didn't really think of that, there were things on the other side that weren't just the waters, and some of those were valuable herbs and especially crystals and ore, even animal parts. Kurt simply hadn't seen anything when he got there, but now with the well doing its thing did that mean more stuff will just start being there? Maybe born metals and ore, but other stuff. "I don't really know much about that."
"I don't either but we can learn," said Sara.
"You seem to be saying 'we' a lot."
"And? You think you can do it by yourself, no offense Layla, you seem capable. But this doofus."
"Come on, what is this about?"
"Do you have any idea how dangerous this could be for you? You'd probably line up people, without any proper support."
Kurt scratched his head, the idea in some form had crossed his mind to bring people to drink mana water for a price, not exactly in those terms but saying it out loud, it did seem rather silly to think he could do that alone for very long.
"I think you're giving Kurt too little credit, I swear he protected us just like he said. Could you tone it down a little, you may not have realized it but he is a lot stronger right now than you think," said Layla, "and it is not like he ever planned this happening, it was more my fault than his." Kurt nodded.
"Anyway," Kurt said, trying to change the subject, "so where do you suggest we put the gate Sara? If you're so smart."
There was an awkward silence. Kurt continued, "Not such an easy question after you had fought for life is it? And was in a coma for a few days." Sara looked away, and looked like she was trying to think of something.
They finally got to an actual discussion of a few places. What changed things was Layla giving a more detailed explanation, it would actually be fairly easy to hide without much work. Who really looks at the tarp behind the shed right? So they decided to go slightly off property, and they found a proper place that was hard to see, under a cliff face there was a crack, you would have to walk to it, through a little opening and it would be right there, since the opening turned they could face the gate in a way you couldn't see it unless you were inside it. There were many such places in the area, it wouldn't be impossible for someone to find it, if they knew where to start looking, and besides. The idea was to start pawning off things until they could afford a proper place to move it too, this would work for the time being. They also cover the gateway with a dark tarp that was split down the center to make an opening. For short notice it was basically perfect, if it was ever found though, but ended up not mattering so much because it wouldn't have actually mattered where they'd put it if someone else found it. It also meant the hour it took Layla to make the gate was undisturbed.
Sara had suggested that the other side should be more fortified for that eventuality. Layla assured her that it would be eventually.
Given the plan, it was fairly simple to work out Sara would scope out some places and see what was valuable, or at least sellable. And Kurt would, since he didn't have a job currently, search for the thing to sell. They had somehow managed to not clue in Jacob immediately, he'd figure out something was weird eventually.