Seth stood up fully, finally feeling the weight of his body stabilize. He stretched out his arms, hearing some satisfying pops in his shoulders and back, before staring at Gor'Magh with a still slightly dizzy look.
"So... where exactly is here? Like... geographically? Dimensionally? Because I kind of lost the thread after being thrown through a cosmic rift."
Gor'Magh stared at him for a moment with furrowed brows, as if Seth's words were taking a while to translate into something comprehensible. After a few seconds, his eyes widened.
"Wait... you're from the Other Side!"
"Wow, congratulations, Sherlock. I didn't think my outfits, my shampoo smell and the complete dimensional collapse would have given you any clues."
Gor'Magh laughed out loud, completely ignoring the sarcasm. "Heh! That explains a lot. It all makes sense now."
"Orcs aren't known for their intelligence... Don't question it too much. Seth heard a voice from inside, it was Bastet who was finally awake.
'Did you sleep well, princess?' he asked
'Don't fill up. Absorbing the impact of your idiocy is tiring me out. She replied and Seth was confused.
'What are you talking about?' He asked but didn't get an answer as his attention was drawn to the Orc.
The orc scratched his chin, as if organizing his thoughts, and then moved a little closer, his eyes now serious, almost reverent.
"You are in Pandora, stranger. A magical world, forged in wars, shaped by gods and monsters. A living, pulsating land with over a million years of history... and blood."
[You found out about the 'Other Side', you're the First to find out about "Pandora, the World Beyond the World"]
Seth blinked. "Pandora? Is that serious? Like... Pandora? The 'box full of cosmic doom' kind, or is the name just a coincidence?"
"It's serious. And yes, they say it was the world itself that was given that name after the first gods sealed powers here that even they didn't dare to use. Magic was born here. Everything began here. The center of the Cosmos. The First Planet"
[You found out about 'The First World', you're the first to find out about 'The Cosmos']
"Cool... so I fell into the cradle of magic... And honestly? That explains a lot about the nearly three-meter orc offering me maggot syrup as a cure."
"The Heart of the Whispering Wilderness. One of the oldest places in Pandora. We've lived here for generations. Clans come and go, but Kahragorn remains."
"Of course. Because if there's one place where vegetation seems to be judging my life decisions, this is where I wanted to fall."
"Hahaha" Gor'Magh laughed again.
"You'll do fine, Seth. You know how to laugh in the face of chaos. You'll need it where you are now." He complimented, "But I think I'd better take you to our tribe. We can talk more."
Seth took a deep breath and looked up at the pale purple sky between the leaves. "All right"
[...]
As they walked along the subtle path between the immense trees of the Whispering Forest, Seth couldn't help but notice the absurd amount of life pulsing around them.
It was as if each leaf hid a secret, each branch sheltered curious eyes. But what surprised him most was the silent - and colorful - parade of magical creatures that crossed his path.
There were crystal deer with antlers that sparkled like diamonds under the purple sky. Birds with luminescent feathers sang melodies that vibrated in the air like liquid echoes. A lizard the size of a mule watched them from a tree before disappearing like smoke when it sensed Seth's presence. It all seemed like something out of a dream - or a particularly beautiful nightmare.
But the pattern was the same: as soon as any of these creatures noticed him, they turned in a flash of panic and disappeared into the vegetation.
"Okay... this is starting to bother me. Do I stink that much? Why the hell does everything in this forest go into escape mode just by looking at me?"
Gor'Magh let out a low sound, something between a thoughtful grumble and a restrained laugh.
"They sense your Aura. And honestly? It's one of the weirdest I've ever seen."
"Aura? Like... my anime-style 'inner cosmos', or the magical energy I don't even know I have?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but here on Pandora, everything that lives feels the essence of others. Vital energy, magical flow, intention. And yours is... off axis. It feels ancient, strong... but also unstable. Wild. And at the same time, a salad of strange fruits that don't go together, I don't know, you're a strange human."
"Unstable and strange? That sounds like a magic time bomb."
Gor'Magh nodded with a serious tone. "It could be. Or it could be exactly what will keep you alive. It depends on how you use it. But for the animals here... you're an unknown predator. Someone outside the natural cycle."
Seth frowned. "So I'm like a walking glitch."
"Glitch?"
"Ah... never mind. A term for people from the 'Other Side'."
They continued walking. The sound of Gor'Magh's footsteps was heavy and rhythmic, while Seth's still had a slight hesitation. Bastet remained silent, but Seth could feel her presence... restless. As if something in the forest had awakened ancient memories in her.
A pair of winged creatures watched them from a tree - with golden fur and amber eyes - but as soon as Seth looked at them, they vanished like smoke, leaving only a residual glow.
"Is that common around here?"
"No. Normally, these creatures watch us, approach us... sometimes they even test us. But with you, it's like they're running away from a storm."
"Cool. I am a storm. I've always wanted to be a natural phenomenon."
Gor'Magh laughed heartily, his broad back shaking. "You'll like Pandora. Or hate it. Or both. It's usually like that."
Seth smiled, looking up at the sky between the leaves again. He had no idea what was coming next, but for the first time... he felt something different. It wasn't fear. It was anticipation.
"Hm... it's not like I have much to do. Let's go to your village, or whatever. I want to see this Urog guy..."
'Maybe he knows how to get out of here. I need to get back to Earth.
"Ahhh, you'll have fun with Urog..." Gor'Magh said, smiling sideways. "Or die trying."
The trail that cut through the jungle became clearer as they advanced, thick roots and dense moss being replaced by stones rudely placed on the ground, forming a primitive road.
At every turn, more magical creatures crossed the path: deer with crystal antlers, foxes with flaming coats, small earth elementals. But they all had one thing in common.
At the sight of Seth, they froze... and then ran.
Soon, the forest began to open up and the vegetation gave way to a vast, fortified clearing.
Black stone walls, trunks braided with bones and red flags marked the entrance to an orc village.
Sharp logs pointed outwards like the teeth of an ancient beast, and the gate was guarded by two orcs larger than any Seth had seen so far - their skins dyed dark red, tribal armor covered in beast skins and runes burned into their flesh.
"Halt!" one of them roared, raising a double-ended spear. "Gor'Magh, who is this stranger?"
"We don't recognize him. He doesn't smell of the clan. Nor the blood."
Gor'Magh stepped forward confidently. "That's the one who killed Kharizan," he said, with the smile of someone dropping a bomb.
The silence that followed was as thick as the humid jungle air. One of the guards let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Hah! That's a good one. Kharizan was an Orc King. One of the best Red Orcs. No one could defeat him, not even Urog in a rage!"
"And yet, he's dead." Gor'Magh replied firmly.
The two guards narrowed their eyes, their spears still pointed. One of them pounded his chest with his fist, defiant.
"Prove it."
Gor'Magh looked over his shoulder, meeting Seth's gaze.
Seth, who just wanted a bed, some decent coffee and maybe Wi-Fi, let out a heavy sigh. He raised a hand, as if to silently say "here we go again", and nodded slightly.
The shadows around his hand trembled.
SHHHNNK!
From the void, two axes emerged, materializing with a greenish, runic glow. The black metal and bloody edges made it clear: these were no ordinary weapons. They were the Axes of Kharizan - still scarred with magic from the last fight.
The guards' eyes widened. One of them instinctively took a step back.
"Holy shit..." whispered one. "It's real."
"So... can I go in now?" Seth muttered, the axes turning slowly in his hands before disappearing back into the [Inventory].
The gates began to open, still creaking heavily.
"Urog will want to see this himself." said the second guard, now serious, almost reverent.
Gor'Magh patted Seth on the back. "Welcome..."
Seth looked up at the sky and sighed. "Why does everything I touch turn into trouble? I'm really tired of being the center of trouble lately."
'You chose to jump into a random portal. Blame yourself. Bastet spoke as she squirmed in the shadows.
'...Wait... by any chance...' Seth thought for a second... 'Are you the one scaring all the animals around with YOUR aura?' he questioned the Black Panther...
'Tsk, nobody looks at what's mine. Especially those bitches in the forest.
'... Just what I needed...'
[You've gained more compatibility with "Bastet", she considers you a great companion and is jealous. Your relationship with Bastet has increased]