TravelingDreamer

Chapter 124: Albuquerque

Added 2024-07-04 14:07:17 +0000 UTC

When we arrived in Albuquerque, we needed two days to recover and catch up on sleep after the intense days on the road. Once we all felt human again, I opened the computer and checked an alternative route without the detours to Alabama and Chicago. We had to retrace our steps, as the best route was through Vegas, but I didn’t want to go there again. The robbery still worried me, and I feared any potential consequences or retaliation.

We still had to pass through major cities along the way. Al wanted more drugs, Mahya wanted more alcohol, I needed more coffee, and we still hadn’t finished our entire shopping list. After considering all these factors, our route looked like this:

USA

Albuquerque, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Trinidad, CO
Pueblo, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Denver, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Cheyenne, WY
Casper, WY
Billings, MT
Great Falls, MT

Canada

Lethbridge, AB
Calgary, AB

The next step was shopping. We hit twelve liquor stores, buying all their stock, including the warehouse inventory, with next-day delivery to our Airbnb rental. After the last stop, Mahya finally said, “I think we’ve bought enough alcohol,” and Al and I sighed in relief.

I searched online and visited Red Rock Roasters and Farmer Brothers to buy coffee. At first, Farmer Brothers gave me problems because they don’t sell to private individuals, only to restaurants, hotels, etc. However, with a bit of persuasion from a slight nudge of Spellbinding, subtle enough that it didn’t make me feel sleazy, and a promise to pay a small percentage above the standard price, I could buy one more ton of coffee. I still haven’t reached Mahya’s point; I didn’t feel I had purchased enough coffee.

Mahya wanted to buy a lot of semi-precious stones and gems, so I searched online again, and we visited Liberty Gems and Minerals, Skyriders Gems and Minerals, and KI Beads. At KI Beads, I bought a lot of beads because they seemed like something people in Fantasy Land would love. Mahya bought gems and semi-precious stones.

When we returned to our rented house, curiosity got the best of me. I turned to her and asked, “Why did you buy all this?”

She handed me a stone and said, “Analyze it.”

I used Identify:

Citrine

Very informative - NOT!

I tried Appraisal:

Citrine
$30 to $40 per carat

I told Mahya, “Identify gives me the name of the stone, and Appraisal gives me the price. I have no idea what you want me to see.”

She sighed and replied, “Right, you’re not a crafter; you don’t have Analyze.”

She popped out a screen that showed:

Citrine
Enhances the power of magical wands, boosting their effectiveness

“I also know all kinds of uses for these stones for weapons and amulets from my parents,” Mahya said.

At this point, I was already working on a solution to warn Earth. What we saw on the way to Albuquerque profoundly affected me. While I didn’t feel committed to Earth, at least not committed enough to stay and help them get through those years, I wanted to warn the people and get at least some of them to prepare.

“Can you give me a list of what the stones you bought do?” I asked.

She agreed, and we sat down to prepare the list, stone by stone.

Diamond

Weapons:
- Enhances the sharpness and durability of blades.
- Grants weapons the power to cut through magical barriers.
- Adds the ability to deal light-based damage.
Amulets:
- Increases the wearer’s resilience to physical and magical attacks.
- Enhances clarity of thought and decision-making.
- Provides a shield against negative energies.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of light-based spells.
- Enhances the durability of magical staves.
- Increases the impact of enchantments placed on wooden artifacts.

Ruby

Weapons:
- Infuses weapons with fire elemental damage.
- Increases the ferocity and passion of the wielder in combat.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to cause bleeding wounds.
Amulets:
- Boosts physical strength and vitality.
- Protects against fire and heat-based attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s charisma and leadership qualities.
Wood Creations:
- Increases the effectiveness of fire spells.
- Adds a fiery aura to magical wands and staves.
- Enhances the power of offensive enchantments.

Sapphire

Weapons:
- Adds water or ice elemental damage to blades.
- Enhances the weapon’s precision and accuracy.
- Provides a calming effect, reducing rage and increasing focus.
Amulets:
- Protects against water and ice-based attacks.
- Enhances mental clarity and intuition.
- Provides a calming and balancing effect.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of water and ice spells.
- Enhances the calming and healing properties of magical staves.
- Increases the range and effectiveness of divination spells.

Emerald

Weapons:
- Infuses weapons with nature-based elemental damage.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to heal the wielder.
- Enhances the weapon’s stealth and concealment properties.
Amulets:
- Promotes physical and emotional healing.
- Protects against poison and toxins.
- Enhances the wearer’s connection to nature.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of nature-based spells.
- Enhances the healing properties of magical wands.
- Increases the effectiveness of enchantments related to growth and regeneration.

Topaz

Weapons:
- Adds lightning elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s speed and agility.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to paralyze or stun enemies.
Amulets:
- Protects against lightning and electrical attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s energy and motivation.
- Boosts confidence and personal power.
Wood Creations:
- Increases the effectiveness of lightning spells.
- Enhances the speed of spellcasting in wands.
- Adds an energizing aura to magical staves.

Opal

Weapons:
- Infuses weapons with a combination of elemental damages (fire, water, earth, air).
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to adapt to different combat situations.
- Adds a reflective property, deflecting attacks.
Amulets:
- Provides multi-elemental protection.
- Enhances the wearer’s adaptability and flexibility.
- Boosts creativity and imagination.
Wood Creations:
- Increases the versatility of magical wands and staves.
- Enhances multi-elemental spells.
- Adds a reflective and adaptive property to enchanted items.

Garnet

Weapons:
- Adds earth elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s strength and durability.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to cause fear in enemies.
Amulets:
- Protects against earth and physical attacks.
- Boosts the wearer’s endurance and stamina.
- Enhances the wearer’s connection to the earth.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of earth-based spells.
- Enhances the strength of magical artifacts.
- Increases the effectiveness of defensive enchantments.

Amethyst

Weapons:
- Adds psychic elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to disrupt enemy spells.
- Provides a calming effect, reducing the enemy’s will to fight.
Amulets:
- Protects against psychic attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s intuition and psychic abilities.
- Provides a calming and balancing effect.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of psychic spells.
- Enhances the calming and protective properties of magical staves.
- Increases the effectiveness of mind-affecting enchantments.

Peridot

Weapons:
- Adds wind elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s speed and agility.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to create gusts of wind.
Amulets:
- Protects against wind and air-based attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s agility and flexibility.
- Boosts the wearer’s recovery and regeneration abilities.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of wind-based spells.
- Enhances the speed of spellcasting in wands.
- Adds a light and agile aura to magical staves.

Aquamarine

Weapons:
- Infuses weapons with water elemental damage.
- Enhances the weapon’s fluidity and adaptability.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to control water.
Amulets:
- Protects against water-based attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s communication skills.
- Provides a calming and soothing effect.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of water spells.
- Enhances the fluidity and adaptability of magical wands.
- Adds a soothing and calming aura to staves.

Turquoise

Weapons:
- Adds air elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s precision and accuracy.
- Provides protection against airborne threats.
Amulets:
- Protects against poison and toxins.
- Enhances the wearer’s physical resilience.
- Boosts communication and self-expression.
Wood Creations:
- Increases the effectiveness of air-based spells.
- Enhances the protection offered by magical staves.
- Adds a clear and communicative aura to enchanted items.

Citrine

Weapons:
- Infuses weapons with solar elemental damage.
- Enhances the weapon’s energy and radiance.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to blind enemies.
Amulets:
- Attracts prosperity and success.
- Protects against energy drain and fatigue.
- Boosts the wearer’s confidence and personal power.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of light-based spells.
- Enhances the radiance and energy of magical wands.
- Adds a solar aura to staves, increasing their brightness.

Onyx

Weapons:
- Adds dark elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to absorb life force.
- Increases the weapon’s stealth and concealment properties.
Amulets:
- Protects against dark and negative energies.
- Enhances the wearer’s resilience to fear.
- Boosts the wearer’s stealth abilities.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of dark magic spells.
- Enhances the concealment properties of magical staves.
- Adds a protective and absorbing aura to enchanted items.

Moonstone

Weapons:
- Infuses weapons with lunar elemental damage.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to cause sleep or disorientation.
- Increases the weapon’s effectiveness at night.
Amulets:
- Protects against night-based attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s intuition and foresight.
- Provides a calming and balancing effect.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of lunar spells.
- Enhances the effectiveness of night-related enchantments.
- Adds a calming and intuitive aura to magical staves.

Lapis Lazuli

Weapons:
- Adds celestial elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to disrupt enemy spells.
- Increases the weapon’s power under the night sky.
Amulets:
- Protects against mental and psychic attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s wisdom and strategic thinking.
- Boosts the wearer’s connection to the celestial realms.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of celestial spells.
- Enhances the wisdom and clarity provided by magical staves.
- Adds a celestial and protective aura to enchanted items.

Zircon

Weapons:
- Adds light elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to reflect and refract light.
- Increases the weapon’s ability to blind enemies.
Amulets:
- Protects against light-based attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s clarity and vision.
- Boosts the wearer’s reflective and refractive abilities.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of light-based spells.
- Enhances the clarity and vision provided by magical staves.
- Adds a reflective and refractive aura to enchanted items.

Tourmaline

Weapons:
- Adds multi-elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s adaptability to different combat situations.
- Provides a shielding effect, reducing damage taken.
Amulets:
- Protects against multiple types of elemental attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s balance and overall energy.
- Boosts the wearer’s adaptability and flexibility.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of multi-elemental spells.
- Enhances the versatility of magical wands and staves.
- Adds a multi-elemental aura to enchanted items.

Kyanite

Weapons:
- Adds psychic elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to align and balance energy.
- Increases the weapon’s sharpness and precision.
Amulets:
- Protects against psychic and mental attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s energy alignment and balance.
- Boosts the wearer’s clarity and focus.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of alignment spells.
- Enhances the balance and clarity provided by magical staves.
- Adds an aligning and balancing aura to enchanted items.

Rhodonite

Weapons:
- Adds emotional elemental damage to weapons.
- Enhances the weapon’s ability to cause confusion and emotional turmoil.
- Increases the weapon’s effectiveness in psychological warfare.
Amulets:
- Protects against emotional and psychological attacks.
- Enhances the wearer’s emotional resilience and balance.
- Boosts the wearer’s compassion and understanding.
Wood Creations:
- Boosts the power of emotional healing spells.
- Enhances the emotional balance provided by magical staves.
- Adds a compassionate and understanding aura to enchanted items.

Quartz

Weapons: Enhances the sharpness and durability of swords.
Amulets: Amplifies the wearer’s magical abilities, making spells more powerful.
Wood Creations: Increases the effectiveness of magical staves, boosting spell impact.

Rose Quartz

Weapons: Used in daggers to inflict emotional damage to foes, causing hesitation.
Amulets: Promotes healing and recovery, reducing downtime between battles.
Wood Creations: Adds a calming aura to magical staves, enhancing healing spells.

Smoky Quartz

Weapons: Incorporated into armor to absorb and neutralize enemy spells.
Amulets: Grants the wearer stealth abilities, making them harder to detect.
Wood Creations: Used in defensive staffs to create protective barriers.

Aventurine

Weapons: Enhances the resilience of weapons, preventing them from breaking.
Amulets: Increases the wearer’s luck in finding resources and allies.
Wood Creations: Infused in tools to enhance craftsmanship and success.

Fluorite

Weapons: Used in staves to stabilize and focus magical energies, increasing spell precision.
Amulets: Protects against mental attacks and confusion spells.
Wood Creations: Enhances the clarity and effectiveness of magical carvings.

Selenite

Weapons: Coated on blades to purify and banish dark entities upon contact.
Amulets: Cleanses the wearer’s aura, preventing curses and hexes from taking hold.
Wood Creations: Used in sacred wands to enhance spiritual connection.

Labradorite

Weapons: Used in enchanted bows to increase the speed of arrows.
Amulets: Enhances the wearer’s reflexes, allowing for quicker reactions in combat.
Wood Creations: Boosts the magic of spellcasting staves, increasing their range.

Celestite

Weapons: Embedded in magical staves to amplify spell power and reduce mana usage.
Amulets: Grants protection from aerial attacks and boosts flight capabilities.
Wood Creations: Infused in musical instruments to enhance harmony and peace.

Obsidian

Weapons: Infused in swords to shatter enemy defenses and armor.
Amulets: Provides a powerful shield against dark magic and negative energies.
Wood Creations: Used in protective totems to ward off evil spirits.

Tiger’s Eye

Weapons: Inlaid in axes to increase the user’s strength and ferocity.
Amulets: Enhances the wearer’s bravery and resistance to fear.
Wood Creations: Used in shields to provide protection and courage.

Jade

Weapons: Used in spears to attract and harness natural energies, boosting attack power.
Amulets: Ensures the wearer’s safety by repelling harm and attracting beneficial outcomes.
Wood Creations: Infused in talismans to attract prosperity and harmony.

Pyrite

Weapons: Coated on maces to deliver devastating blows and break enemy morale.
Amulets: Attracts wealth and resources, ensuring the wearer’s prosperity and strength.
Wood Creations: Used in decorative carvings to enhance prosperity and protection.

Hematite

Weapons: Infused in shields to absorb and reflect enemy attacks.
Amulets: Grounds the wearer, providing stability and protection against physical harm.
Wood Creations: Used in grounding totems to provide stability and balance.

Malachite

Weapons: Used in crossbows to enhance the accuracy and lethality of bolts.
Amulets: Absorbs negative energies, protecting the wearer from curses and hexes.
Wood Creations: Enhances the healing properties of wooden wands.

Azurite

Weapons: Embedded in scepters to amplify the impact of elemental spells.
Amulets: Enhances the wearer’s psychic abilities and foresight.
Wood Creations: Used in magical symbols to boost psychic power.

Galena

Weapons: Used in war hammers to increase the force and impact of strikes.
Amulets: Provides grounding and stability, preventing disorientation in battle.
Wood Creations: Enhances the strength and durability of wooden constructs.

Calcite

Weapons: Used in maces to enhance impact force and break enemy defenses.
Amulets: Boosts the wearer’s healing abilities and overall health.
Wood Creations: Enhances the potency of magical inscriptions on wooden items.

Beryl

Weapons: Used in spears to increase the speed and accuracy of thrusts.
Amulets: Provides protection against magical attacks and enhances courage.
Wood Creations: Enhances the potency of protective wooden artifacts.

That was one hell of a list. It took us a whole day to complete it.

After finishing the list of stones, we visited DIY, hardware, building supplies, and home improvement stores, more or less emptying their inventory, including from the warehouses. We went separately so no one would realize the same group was buying all this. I purchased another fifty trampolines of different sizes, a gas supply for cooking, and the balloon, which would last us for years. Although Mahya said we could find gas in other worlds, I didn’t want to take any chances. After searching online, I visited Hit or Miss Archery, Archery Warehouse, and Sportsman’s Warehouse, emptying their inventory. I found some antique shops and bought another seventeen mechanical cameras from different eras and ordered stands to sell from.

By converting two more ability points to stats, I increased my intelligence by ten points. I didn’t feel any wiser, but thought I might discover the effect later. After raising my intelligence, I increased my storage twice more. Now, I had 32,768 cubic meters, and looking into my storage was scary.

To put that into perspective, 32,768 cubic meters is roughly the volume of twelve Olympic-sized swimming pools, or about the same as five Boeing 747 aircraft. The sheer scale of it left me stunned and slightly terrified. Having a pocket dimension storage of that size felt surreal, like holding a vast, empty cavern within me. Every time I accessed it, a shiver of both excitement and apprehension ran down my spine.

On the way back from one of our shopping trips, we saw an army surplus store and checked out what they offered. They had a lot of great items, and we ended up pretty much emptying that store. Realizing the value of these stores, we added them to our list and visited five more such stores in Albuquerque.

We bought huge stocks of various items, including camouflage uniforms, boots, jackets, pants, hats, and gloves. We also picked up backpacks, duffel bags, rucksacks, and camping gear like tents, sleeping bags, canteens, and mess kits. For survival equipment, we gathered first aid kits, compasses, and emergency blankets. Our tool collection expanded with multi-tools and knives, and we secured storage containers like ammo boxes and waterproof cases.

Additionally, we acquired gas masks and protective gear, paracord and rope, combat boots and tactical footwear, tactical vests and load-bearing equipment, surplus optics like binoculars or spotting scopes, and cold weather gear such as thermal underwear and heavy-duty coats.

After searching for portable forges, we bought a Hell’s Forge Portable Propane Forge and a Whitlox Homestead Coal Forge, and to be safe, we bought ten units of each. Where we purchased the Whitlox Homestead Coal Forge, I also saw models of smokers in different sizes, so I bought ten. I immediately placed one smoker on the balcony of my house and stored the rest for future use. After the purchase of the propane forge, I went and bought a huge supply of propane wherever I could find it.

We bought workstations and workbenches and emptied a few home goods and bed and bath stores.

Before we left Albuquerque, Al wanted to do a drug run. With a deep sigh, I went to get ready. I tried casting glamor on our Jeep, but it didn’t work.

I looked at the sky and said, “The ‘one of the crowd’ ability says that it’s all a traveler needs to travel successfully. I need to glamorize this Jeep. Why can’t I? I’m also sure other travelers have had to hide vehicles before. I definitely should be able to glamorize the Jeep to travel better.”

I felt amusement directed at me.

“I’m not kidding. This is no joke. I need to glamorize the Jeep. You need to add that to the ability.”

This time, I got no response. Lazy system.

Al approached me and asked, “Who are you talking to?”

“The Guidance.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to glamorize the Jeep.”

He laughed and patted me on the back.

Why did everyone think I was joking? I was completely serious; I wanted to glamor the Jeep.

After checking the vanity plates we got from Vegas, I changed the Jeep plates to “PAWSOME,” and conjured new identification for the Jeep with the new vanity plates. Activating my luck, we went looking for some drug dealers.

On the way, I told Al, “I’ll get you there and point out the location, but I’m not going in. You’ll have to find the drugs yourself.”

“This does not pose an issue. My class will assist me in locating them.”

“Okay.”

Our first target was in the International District, an area teeming with a mix of old motels, run-down apartment complexes, and colorful murals that attempted to mask the underlying decay. The streets were dimly lit, with flickering neon signs advertising cheap rooms and dubious services. I parked the Jeep two blocks away, and both of us turned invisible before making our way to the target location. My heart pounded in my chest, each step echoing in my ears as we approached the dilapidated building.

I pointed the building to Al, an old graffiti-covered structure that seemed to lean to one side. He tapped me on the back and disappeared inside. The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as I waited, my nerves on edge. Every distant shout, every sudden movement in the shadows, made me jump. Finally, Al came out, and we returned to the Jeep.

We drove in silence to the following location: Central Avenue. The historic Route 66 was a mix of neon lights, motels, and diners, but parts had a more sinister undertone after dark. I parked near a shabby motel, its once-bright sign now missing letters. The air smelled of grease and desperation. Again, we turned invisible and made our way to the location. This time, I could hear muffled voices and the distant sound of sirens, which did nothing to ease my anxiety.

Al slipped inside, and I took my position behind a dumpster, trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. My fingers drummed nervously on the ground, eyes darting around, half-expecting someone to spot me despite the invisibility. After what felt like an eternity, Al reappeared, and we returned to the Jeep.

Our last stop was the Barelas neighborhood, a historic area just south of downtown. Old adobe houses and chain-link fences lined the narrow streets. The night was eerily quiet here; the usual buzz of the city muffled, as if we had entered another world. I parked in a secluded spot, and we repeated our routine, becoming invisible and approaching the target. This time, it was an old house with boarded-up windows and a sagging porch.

Waiting outside was the worst here. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional bark of a distant dog. I could feel the weight of the neighborhood’s history pressing down on me, the ghosts of its past whispering warnings. My breath came in shallow gasps, each moment a struggle to stay calm.

When Al finally reappeared, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The drive back was a blur of dimly lit streets and nervous glances in the rearview mirror. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, but I knew we had what we needed.

After we returned to the hotel, Al threw the loot on the floor in the living room. I didn’t know how many drugs he “liberated” from the dealers. He didn’t specify this detail. But he also brought a lot of weapons and money. He added over half a million dollars to our general fund. It was turning into a ridiculous comedy. No matter how much money we spent, and we spent a lot of money, our capital grew instead of shrinking. We were determined to finish all the money from Earth and convert it into goods and useful things for the future, but this task began to seem impossible.

When I said that to the other two, they looked at me like I was crazy, and Mahya commented, “You can never have too much money.”

I understood why Lis didn’t care about money. At some point, it just becomes a number.