I’ve written the word ‘island’ into two more books now. Each one with an active link. Each one a world contained within a portable package. What will these three island Ages be like? Full of dangerous creatures? Steaming hot or frozen in the coldest winter’s night? Completely devoid of life? Writing a single word leaves the possibilities endless.

And yet, I cannot link to them. I cannot risk my safety to a blurry concept of an Age that I wrote with no training. What if, by curving a particular character too sharply, I cause a link to an Age full of poisonous air? I still have no clear understanding of how an Age is chosen. I suspect the D’ni didn’t either.

So, without risking my own life, how can I possibly gauge my success? I have three books with ‘island’ as the only form factor for a link to an Age, and I cannot see the results of my work.

If only the training wall still worked, I could retrieve a Maintainer’s Suit. I doubt it would do much to protect me, but it would ease my mind.

This is a roadblock that could potentially stall my work… What to do…