Dark clouds loomed over the group of four as they pressed forward, their journey stretching past two exhausting hours. They alternated between walking and jogging—though for Vance, it felt more like a full-blown gallop.
His breath came in ragged gasps, his legs ached, and yet, to his growing irritation, the others barely seemed winded.
"How close are we?" Vance managed between breaths.
"We're almost there," came the halfhearted assurance from Balgur.
The pace remained relentless, guided by their navigator, Astre, who moved with an effortless grace that suggested he knew the terrain as intimately as one knows the back of their own hand.
The landscape had been eerily silent. Not once had they encountered any of the creatures Balgur, the group's unofficial hunter, had so frequently spoken of hunting.
Vance was beginning to wonder whether those "beasts" were even real when Balgur's stern voice cut through the quiet.
"There."
Vance forced his sluggish legs to move faster, closing the distance between himself and the others. As he caught up, his eyes locked on the landmark ahead.
"A cave?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed as he took in the surroundings.
Before them stretched a vast clearing layered with dark, almost obsidian-colored rocks. Sparse shrubs, resembling twisted strands of wheat, wove through cracks in the stone, their frail bodies swaying slightly in the cool wind. At the far end stood a towering mountain, its jagged face shadowed beneath the dim sky.
Embedded in the rock was an entrance.
Gaping.
Cavernous.
Utterly foreboding.
"Yes," Balgur replied instantly, voice devoid of hesitation. "It's further inside."
Vance exhaled sharply before slightly nodding.
He had little choice but to follow.
As they stepped into the darkness, the temperature dropped. The cavern walls closed in around them—jagged and rough, their uneven surfaces casting strange shadows as the group navigated the tunnel.
Each step echoed, swallowed almost immediately by the oppressive silence.
Vance stayed close to the others, every sense alert.
Minutes passed before they finally emerged into a larger chamber.
That's when he saw it.
The Gate.
At the center of the chamber sat a structure unlike anything Vance had ever laid eyes on. A raised podium of smooth, light-blue metal pulsed faintly with an eerie glow. Resting atop it was no ordinary construct—it was a door, or at least that's the shape it took.
Its frame was lined with veins of pulsating energy, twisting like living filigree across its surface, as if some unseen hand had etched them with deliberate artistry. At the center swirled an expanse of deep, endless blue—churning and shifting as if alive.
It gave the distinct impression of being watched.
Dared.
Invited forward, while whispering silent warnings of its insidious nature.
Vance tensed.
"Vance, let's go," Astre's energetic voice cut through the heavy air, pulling him from his thoughts. "Be prepared—this ride isn't the most pleasant for dregs."
Vance exhaled, nodding slowly. His heart pounded as he ascended the stairs.
A few feet ahead, Balgur abruptly stopped, patting himself down and rummaging through the compartments of his attire. After a few seconds, he pulled out a peculiar device—a hybrid between a compass and a time-dial.
Vance's curiosity got the better of him. "That's…?"
"An astro-compass," Balgur said, not missing a beat. He moved to the right side of the doorframe and, after adjusting the device slightly, inserted it into a hidden slot. The Gate's veins flared with brilliant light in response.
A low hum filled the chamber.
"Let's go."
One by one, the others stepped through the Gate at steady intervals, vanishing into the swirling blue void.
Vance hesitated.
His posture stiffened as he approached. His breath shallowed. However, just before he could take the final step—
"Don't vomit," Balgur's voice rang out behind him, a low chuckle following right after.
Too late.
Blurrghhh.
The moment Vance landed, his stomach lurched violently. Before he could even take in his surroundings, he doubled over, expelling what remained of his last meal onto the cool, almost metallic floor beneath him.
A tragic event, indeed.
Seconds passed before he forced himself upright, still reeling from the nauseating sensation of transit. He took in a breath, swallowing back the lingering discomfort before finally assessing where he had landed.
That's when he realized he had an audience.
Around him stood a semicircle of individuals, their expressions ranging from mild curiosity to poorly concealed amusement. Unlike his rugged companions, these people were sharply dressed—dark blue khaki pants that bordered on black, paired with crisp, matching tops that gave them an unmistakably formal air.
Vance's face burned with embarrassment.
At this time.
A sharp, hyena-like laugh erupted from the far side of the room.
"Bahahahaha"
Vance turned his head sharply toward the source, his irritation mounting when he spotted Astre at the back of the room, grinning like a mischievous fox.
Beside him stood a woman whose long blue trousers and crisp white top exuded professional authority.
"Boy, Vance, you made quite a mess, huh?" Astre jeered.
Vance wiped his mouth, exhaling sharply.
"I did," he admitted, "the experience was… quite discomforting."
A soft chuckle escaped one of the observers—a woman who'd been mid-conversation with Astre moments earlier.
"Vance?" the woman beside Astre spoke at last. Her tone was neutral, but her eyes carefully assessed him. After a moment, she turned to Astre, silently requesting an explanation.
Astre, never one to pass up a chance for flair, rubbed the back of his pale golden hair and offered his trademark smirk. His gaze briefly flicked to the mess on the floor.
"Yep, that's Vance. The only non-unascended survivor from his planet. Apparently, Cecilia found the kid squaring up against an orc barehanded."
He paused, shaking his head in amusement.
"Still not sure if he's bold, stupid, or just ridiculously brave."
"I see," she flashed a small smile.
stepping forward in the process, her measured steps carrying a quiet confidence.