The Lost Emperor
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 24
I woke up at four a.m., dressed in sweats, and went to the gym. After working out on the heavy bag and weights for an hour, I returned to my room feeling energized and pumped. After my shower, I dressed, went to the kitchen, and greeted Grandmother. We ate breakfast, and I drank my protein shake. Then Mom entered and said we were going to the Eddie Bauer outlet store first, then to the Columbia Factory Store. Both are in San Clemente, so let’s get going.
We had long underwear, socks, insulated pants, jackets, and a skiing outfit each two hours later. Then we went to REI and finished our shopping at Big 5 Sporting Goods. We arrived home hungry and tired, having missed lunch, and it was almost dinner time. Grandmother and Mom made an early dinner and said we got most of the needed clothing. If the weather isn’t too bad, we’ll pick up what we missed in Big Bear.
I rolled my eyes, and they laughed. Then Grandmother asked if I got any benefit from the hot springs yesterday. I told them a little, but not as much as the first time. It seemed more of an adjustment or tuneup, for lack of a better term. She said that’s because you’re young and it’s making slower adjustments. We’ll see what this weekend does and go from there. After dinner, we went to bed early, tired from shopping all day. I sensed the area, went to bed, and fell into a deep, relaxing sleep.
Waking up early, I dressed in sweats and ran around our subdivision, sensing every house, and then returned home. After my shower, I dressed, packed, went to the kitchen, and greeted Grandmother. We ate breakfast, and then I drank my protein shake and took off for USC. Traffic was the usual nightmare, but I liked arriving early and having some free time before reporting to work.
I unloaded the Tahoe, unpacked, and then went to the canteen for an early lunch. Coach Thomas texted me that our game was canceled tonight, but practice will take its place at the normal time. After lunch, I went to the Nanotechnology Lab. Professor Ren Kimura left me a note that the Lab was closed this week due to investor issues. I went to the computer lab, and no one was there, so I returned to my dorm room.
I did my homework for my online classes and then researched nanotechnology online. The applications were endless, and now I knew why Richard Bowman wanted to get close to me. Then I realized how late it was, so I shut down the computer and went to the gym for practice. I changed into my workout gear, went to the gym, and shot hoops until the rest of the team arrived.
Coach Thomas told us severe weather grounded our opponent’s flight so the game would be rescheduled. I played on the scout team again and enjoyed disrupting their game plan. I played both guard spots and small forward again, and Coach worked us hard for 90 minutes. When practice ended, I showered, changed, and went to the canteen for a late dinner.
While eating, I called home and told them about the Lab closure and that I would come home in the morning. They were happy to hear that and asked me to call Evans Investment in the morning, and we said goodnight. After dinner, I returned to my dorm room, practiced my telekinesis for an hour, sensed the area, and went to bed. I fell asleep and drifted into a deep, relaxing sleep.
I woke up at 4 am, dressed in sweats, and ran through the campus, sensing the area around me. Returning to my dorm room, I showered, dressed, packed, and took off for home. I got lucky with my early start, avoided rush hour traffic, and made it home in an hour. Grandmother and Mom were surprised to see me so early and made me breakfast. Then I called Tad, who told me to take tomorrow off because the new system was running fine.
So the plan was for us to go to the cabin tomorrow morning. Mom gave me a list of things to get at Home Depot while they went to the community center. They took off, and I went to Home Depot. I’ll bet they thought I was crazy buying two snow shovels, two axes, four 5-gallon gas cans, batteries, and flashlights. When I returned home, I went to my room, unpacked, and started a load of laundry.
When Grandmother and Mom returned, we ate lunch, went to the market, and stocked up on food for the cabin. When we got home, I loaded the Arcadia with our new clothes and supplies. It was obvious they thought we could be stuck with the first winter storm of the season and wanted to be prepared. They had everything figured out, so I went along for the ride.
Grandmother and Mom made dinner and told me we were leaving at 4:30 in the morning to beat rush hour traffic. We’ll stop for breakfast on the way, get settled, and then go shopping before the skiers arrive. After dinner, I went to my room, packed, sensed the area, and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately and drifted into a deep, relaxing sleep.
My alarm woke me at 4 a.m. I showered, dressed, went to the kitchen, and drank my protein shake. When Grandmother and Mom arrived, we loaded our bags and the cooler into the Arcadia and took off for Big Bear. We arrived at the cabin around 7 am after stopping for gas and breakfast. We unloaded the Arcadia, got settled, and went shopping in town.
Mom was right. Everything here was more expensive than at home. We got rubber-insulated boots to go out in the snow, filled the gas cans, and returned to the cabin. Grandmother and mom went to the cabin to make lunch. I went to the garage, put the snow blade on the tractor, started it, and drove it to the end of our driveway. When I returned to the garage, I topped off the fuel and went to the cabin.
We ate lunch, and they wanted to go to the hot springs after lunch. Mom said she didn’t trust the weather report and that going today was a safer bet. So, after lunch, we hiked up the mountain to the hot springs. We stripped and got into the pool and soaked. I lost track of time, and when I got out, Grandmother and Mom were dressed and waiting on me. The temperature had dropped when we left the hot springs, and Mom pointed out the dark clouds in the sky.
When we arrived at the cabin, Mom asked me to bring wood for the fireplace and pull the Arcadia into the garage. When I returned, I got a snow shovel and put it by the kitchen door. Grandmother and Mom had closed the storm windows and started a fire in the fireplace. We sat in the den and discussed our time at the hot springs. Grandmother said they noticed some benefits but not much. I was in for 30 minutes, and they wanted to know how I felt. I told them I lost track of time but didn’t notice anything different.
We went to the kitchen and started dinner. The snow started when we sat and ate, and Mom asked me to bring in more wood for the fireplace. After dinner, I went outside and brought in enough wood to last two days. There was already 4” of snow on the ground, so I got the tractor and plowed the driveway. Then, I cleared the walkway to the garage with the snow shovel.
I was covered in snow when I came inside, causing Grandmother and Mom to laugh. Mom made some tea, and we sat at the fireplace and talked about the hot springs. Today was our third treatment, and they thought once a month would maintain the benefits. I told them we’d find out for sure next weekend, and they agreed. I put a few more logs on the fire, and we said goodnight.
When I got to the loft, I was surprised to find it warm. I was tired from the long day, so I sensed the area and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately, and then my dream started. I was following Bernard Woodrow, the previous owner, into the garage. Bernard reached under the workbench, pulled a lever, and slid it away from the wall. Then we went down a stairway to a room below the garage, and he turned the lights.
The room had all of the pictures and possessions Bernard had collected over the years. He had a large gun collection on one wall. Another wall had pictures and paintings. The rest of the room walls were stacked boxes from the floor to the ceiling. In the center of the room was a recliner with a side table, and he sat there, lit a pipe, and smoked, staring at the pictures and paintings, and my dream ended.
I woke up at 4 am, showered, dressed, and looked out my window. It was still snowing, so I went to the kitchen and put on my snowsuit, gloves, and hat. The storm door was jammed closed by the snow, so I used my telekinesis to move enough snow to get through the door. Then, I used the snow shovel to clear the path to the garage. Once I opened the garage door, I started the tractor and plowed the driveway to the gate.
Outside the gate, the snow looked about a foot deep. So I opened the gate, plowed to the main road, returned to our cabin, and parked the tractor. When I returned to the kitchen, Grandmother was cooking breakfast. I hugged her, and she pushed me away, telling me I was cold and wet laughing. We ate breakfast, and I drank my protein shake. Then Mom entered the kitchen and asked how bad it was outside, and I told her about a foot of snow. I plowed the driveway and our street so we could get out if needed.
Grandmother said why don’t we check Snow Summit and see if they’re open. Mom said great idea and told me also to check road conditions. I checked, and Snow Summit was open, and the local roads were clear. The mountain road was a mess, delaying access for the weekend skiers. We changed into our ski gear and drove to Snow Summit. It was still snowing, but we made it without any problems.
Mom signed us up for ski lessons, and then we rented skis and boots. After spending an hour with a ski instructor, we went to the beginner’s slope and spent almost two hours having fun learning to ski. We were lucky because no one was on the slope with us until the end. Tired and sore, we turned in our rental equipment and drove back to the cabin. The road conditions worsened, but we made it safe and sound.
Grandmother and Mom went into the cabin to make lunch, and I started the tractor and plowed the driveway and our road. Returning to the cabin, we ate lunch, and then they wanted to soak in the hot springs again. Mom said our muscles are sore, and we want to find out if it will help. So, we bundled up and slowly climbed the mountain to the hot springs.
They stripped fast and got in and ooh and aahed. I took my time because I had a hard-on and didn’t want them to see. Grandmother said, it’s ok, don’t be embarrassed. But it would be best if you released yourself regularly. It’s unhealthy to let the pressure build up, and they giggled. When I got in the pool, I felt my muscle soreness evaporate. It didn’t do anything for my hardon but make it worse. It felt like someone put an electrical rod up my cock, and then I came and passed out.
When I awoke, Grandmother and Mom were beside me in the hot springs. They said you yelled, and we came over to make sure you didn’t drown. You were floating, and your body was twitching or shaking. We got out of the hot springs, and I noticed my cock was still twitching, and so did they, and we laughed. Grandmother asked what had happened, so I told them, and they asked if I was alright now. I asked if they wanted me to check, and Mom said NO, and Grandmother laughed.
We dressed and hiked back to the cabin. It was still snowing and getting dark, so returning took longer. Grandmother and Mom started dinner, and I brought in more wood for the fireplace. When I got the fire started, dinner was ready, so I went to the kitchen. During dinner, Grandmother said you were passed out for quite a while in the hot springs this afternoon. So let us know if you notice any changes, and I promised I would.
After dinner, we sat by the fire, and I told them they should try floating next time and see if they noticed a difference. Mom said that’s a good idea, and we’ll try it before we leave. Grandmother said, let’s go home tomorrow afternoon if the roads are clear and avoid the traffic going home. If we wait until Sunday, there’s a chance we could get stuck here for a few days, and we agreed.
After an hour, we called it a night and went to our rooms. I practiced my telekinesis, sensed the area, and went to bed. I fell asleep and drifted into a deep, relaxing sleep. Then I woke up sweating in the middle of the night, so I took a shower, changed the sheets, went back to bed, and fell into a deep sleep.
I woke up at 4 am, showered, dressed, and looked out my window, and the snow had stopped. Then, I went to the kitchen and used the snow shovel to clear the path to the garage. Once I opened the garage door, I started the tractor, plowed the driveway to the main road, returned to our cabin, and parked the tractor. When I returned to the kitchen, Grandmother was cooking breakfast. I hugged her, and she pushed me away, telling me I was cold, and laughed. We ate breakfast, and I drank my protein shake.
Mom arrived and asked about the weather. I told her the snow had stopped, so she wanted to go to the hot springs. We changed into cold-weather gear and hiked to the hot springs. This time, I beat them into the pool and floated. I got out and dressed and waited for them. When they exited, Grandmother said I was right and floating produced different results.