After their first portal jump Tyler and Joseph ended up in an otherwise regular looking big city with a giant library as a city centre. A perfect town for studious types and bookworms. A city of knowledge chock full of schools and universities. With libraries and book stores on every street. It's exactly the start they needed for proper info gathering.
The streets themselves seemed pretty safe. Tyler made a point to stress just how lucky they were to come out here first. Extremely lucky.
Very lucky.
Lucky beyond belief.
In fact they might die sooner than he thought.
'It's never like this so don't think this is how it'll always go.'
Joseph figured that was the stress talking. It can't be easy bringing someone along on what used to be a personal hell. His own portal experience made him more afraid of what's to come. He wanted someplace relaxing to ease into travel. Someplace he could teach Joseph his ways stress free. And here they were.
Despite getting what he'd hoped he couldn't quite relax. In fact he was somehow more paranoid. Any good now meant more suffering later. His fears were being targeted.
Their first meeting and the hints about Tyler's past made it painfully obvious travel could get dangerous. With that in mind Joseph agreed to be more careful and to always keep his guard up the best he could. If not for himself then for Tyler's peace of mind which was clearly running laps around him. He didn't want to make things worse for Tyler mentally by acting reckless.
—
Upon arrival Tyler's first real goal was to stop by a bank. When he asked about it Joseph was shocked to learn that Tyler actually had way more money saved than he initially thought. He'd explain it vaguely for him.
Apparently he had a sort of travel fund he uses when portaling or in case of emergencies. But it's only accessible through a specific bank so if he ends up somewhere without one he's on his own. Either way he always tried to pick up a side job at every new jump location. Those plus other allowances he got from who knows where. He found his account gained more than it ever lost.
With that out of the way Tyler suggested they take the opportunity presented to them and have Joseph study up on some travel knowledge.
In Joseph's previous town they had a school and a small book store for learning. Certainly nothing on this scale. With a renowned city Library at their disposal the path to wisdom seemed endless.
Tyler and Joseph would spend the next two months here learning whatever Tyler put in front of them. The crash course quickly turned into a semester. Tyler wasn't leaving anything to chance.
He taught the basics in traveling to a new place. What to look out for whether in people, environment, or food. How to find places to stay. Tyler had even forced them to learn a few different languages for basic communication. Tyler had already picked up a few other languages in his years of traveling so he helped Joseph progress quickly.
Joseph also studied a few that Tyler didn't know so as to be of some use. He couldn't master everything in such a short time but that didn't stop Tyler from getting him acquainted with it all.
Joseph got to share his studious side. He was never one for school but not for lack of knowledge. In fact he enjoyed learning new things. Especially challenging topics. Anything that got him thinking.
He and Taylor would often skip school only to pick up a book elsewhere. If they weren't so at odds with the teachers the two could have easily graduated top marks across the board. But that was never the goal. Not then and certainly not now.
Tyler was slightly comforted by Joseph's lack of boredom. He thought to mention that he usually wouldn't stay in one place for so long. He just really wanted to be prepared before they continued.
Joseph knew that unexpected scenarios could happen when travelling especially when you don't know where you'll end up. He happily agreed with Tyler's sentiment and studied hard.
During off hours they worked a part-time position at an inn nearby. In exchange they had a place to stay and food to eat for the time being.
—
A month into their study vacation as Joseph called it he found that Tyler was actually a lot more panicky than he thought. Perhaps he was just stirred up by his choice to continue traveling despite what he's suffered through.
When they first met over a month ago and spent that week as roommates he came across more calm, cool and collected. A bit awkward at times especially with people and snippy when Joseph bothered him. But for the most he was quiet and composed despite the sketchy situation.
That's actually why Joseph got so moody with him then. Aside from grieving a lost friend he hated not knowing what Tyler was thinking. Why he was there, what he wanted, what he knew. All of it was just too much at the time.
Now they were past it in a relatively safe place living each day stressfree. Or they should be. Yet Tyler seemed more tense than ever.
Joseph thought he would start to relax with time. Instead he was constantly worried about having enough money or finding a new job or learning from his studies. All things they've already dealt with. But there was always something else to think about. Always more to worry about.
Joseph worried that he had developed a sort of stress or anxiety disorder. Now his bad memories from over the years are coming back to haunt. If so there wasn't much he could do to help on his own. Nothing anyone could say would help.
He accepted that it was something only time could fix. Changing Tyler's mind might not be possible. At the very least Joseph could take some worry off his plate.
From then on he decided to keep track of everything Tyler did or needed like an assistant would. Joseph could then provide an answer if ever Tyler was worried or felt he was forgetting something. Reliability was always reassuring. Joseph hoped his competence would help soothe his nerves eventually.
__
Coming up on two months now in the city.
Like every other day Tyler and Joseph traverse the halls of the library. It was too grand. With pillars spanning multiple floors and its endless rows of shelves lined with books front to back floor to ceiling. A genuine maze of knowledge. To think this city had dozens of these and more. At least they'd never be truly bored.
Scanning the book covers Joseph made conversation.
"You already know my family. What about yours?"
He asked a wide range of questions, careful not to focus too much on Tyler's past experiences. Really whatever came to mind or piqued his curiosity. This was one of them.
"Do you have any siblings?"
Tyler answered without thinking.
"No…"
He stopped. Joseph looked over. Maybe he shouldn't have asked that. He was about to change topics when Tyler continued.
"I'm sorry. That isn't true. I lied on reflex. I do have siblings. But I don't see them often."
"Oh."
It's already been this long and Tyler was still making mistakes. Joseph didn't mind too much but it seemed to bother Tyler. He did promise not to lie anymore.
Tyler frowned and Joseph passed him a book.
"Here take this one. I read it once you'd enjoy it."
Joseph guided them towards a window seat. They sat down and he continued.
"So siblings. Sisters, brothers, older, younger?"
Tyler set down the book and skimmed the summary as he answered.
"Two. They're both older. One brother and the eldest.."
He got quiet.
"You don't have to say."
"No. I have an older brother two years older and a sister I guess five years older."
Tyler flipped the book over rushing to try and explain.
"I'm not trying or wanting to hide things like that. It just gets complicated and I guess I don't know what to say."
Joseph nodded casually flipping through his own book.
"I bet. Well I don't think you have to explain every detail of your life perfectly. I'm sure I can deduce a few things on my own. Conversation wise a little back and forth is more fun. No need to struggle alone."
Tyler sighed.
"You say that now. If you thought my abilities were neat I got nothing on them."
"Really? I was actually wondering if portals were a family trait. Do they travel too?"
"That's right. It's in our dna. But only Quin travels like I do. I think he still enjoys it but I haven't seen him in a while."
"And your possibly older sister?"
"Depends on the day. The human body doesn't act normally with that one."
"You're one to talk."
"I couldn't possibly explain it all now. For now just know that all our portals and abilities differ from each other."
"Interesting."
Tyler was tense talking about his family. Even so he seemed to have more to say about them. Unlike other topics or questions related to his past, talking about those two didn't bring his mood down. Maybe he misses them.
"Oh right."
Joseph looked at Tyler.
Speaking of his sister. Tyler remembered something. He asked Joseph, "We've probably been here long enough right?"
"You tell me."
Tyler looked unsure.
Joseph smiled and gave a real response.
"Honestly? This has been fun but I can't say I'm not curious about what's next."
"I see." Tyler looked down at the books they'd gone through. "Sorry I've been a bit of a coward. That probably won't change any time soon."
Joseph shrugged, "Nothing wrong with being prepared."
Tyler shook his head, "And yet I still think first hand experience is better than any book. Especially with this."
"You would know best. I'll follow your judgement."
Tyler heaved a sigh. He wasn't excited at all. Then he decided.
"We should go. Take a day to get everything in order. I need to go somewhere tomorrow then we'll leave when we're ready."
Joseph nodded, "Sure."
Tyler stared at the pages in front of him. Not really reading his mind was elsewhere. He mumbled to himself, "What should I write..?"
Joseph heard and looked up from his book. Tyler was absent minded. Joseph noticed he was massaging his leg repeatedly.
'Was he in pain?'
***
The two spent that afternoon reading then the evening getting their stuff together. Like Tyler suggested, they got their stuff in order. Packing their bags, notifying their boss and returning books.
As usual Joseph woke up early the next morning and cleaned up their room. Meanwhile Tyler woke up later barely in time for lunch. They ate together, got their bags and said their goodbyes. After which they finally set off.