Lira exchanged a glance with her companions, her emerald eyes flickering with cautious consideration before she finally nodded. "Well, you've got skills," she admitted, her voice carrying a begrudging respect. "And we could use someone like you. If you're interested, we're heading back to the kingdom. Safety in numbers, right?"
Kyle hesitated, his gaze drifting toward Silver. The great wolf stood beside him, his silver fur glinting faintly in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. There was an unspoken understanding between them—a bond forged through survival. After a moment, Silver gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, his trust in Kyle unwavering.
"Alright," Kyle relented, though his tone remained guarded. "But we're only sticking around until we reach the kingdom. After that, we go our separate ways."
Lira's lips curled into a satisfied smile, though a flicker of something unreadable passed through her eyes. "Fair enough."
Just then, Eldris stepped forward, raising a hand. "Wait a minute," he interjected. "I have some business to attend to first." Without further explanation, he turned and strode into the dense thicket of the forest, disappearing from their sight.
Once concealed within the shadowy embrace of the trees, Eldris reached into his cloak, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the enchanted pendant that housed Gia's essence.
"Gia," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "How do I hide Silver? If we walk into the kingdom with a massive wolf at our side, we'll draw too much attention."
Gia's voice resonated in his mind, calm and instructive. "The process is simple. Silver is bound to you now—share your thoughts with him, and he will understand."
Eldris turned to Silver, meeting the wolf's piercing golden eyes. He focused, projecting his intent. "Silver, I need you to stay hidden. Just until we're inside and I need you"
A ripple passed through Silver's form. His body shimmered, dissolving into fine, golden sand that swirled briefly in the air before sinking into the shadows at Eldris's feet. He stared at the spot where he had stood, momentarily stunned.
Quickly, he reached out with his senses, probing for his presence. A faint warmth pulsed in the back of his mind—a reassuring confirmation that he was still with him, just unseen. Satisfied, he exhaled slowly, tension bleeding from his shoulders.
When Eldris returned, Lira's sharp eyes immediately swept past him, searching. The others, too, glanced around, their expressions tightening with unasked questions.
"Where's the wolf?"
But no one spoke. Maybe they assumed Silver had simply slipped back into the wild. Maybe they sensed it was wiser not to pry. Whatever the reason, the silence held.
Lira exhaled, rolling her shoulders as if shaking off tension. "Let's move," she said, nodding toward the road ahead. "Daylight's wasting, and I'd rather not be out here after dark."
For the next four days, their travels were eerily uneventful. No monstrous beasts lunged from the undergrowth. No bandits ambushed them on the road. The only sounds were the steady clop of hooves, the creak of wagon wheels, and the occasional murmur of conversation.
To Eldris, the peace was unsettling. Since arriving in this world, every moment had been a struggle—a desperate fight for survival. Now, the absence of danger felt almost unnatural. He savored the calm, treasuring it like a rare vintage, knowing it wouldn't last.
Finally, after navigating the labyrinthine forest and crossing a vast, windswept plain, their destination loomed into view.
The Fifth Kingdom was encased within towering circular walls of polished stone, their surfaces etched with intricate runes that pulsed faintly with latent magic. A colossal iron gate stood at the forefront, flanked by guards clad in black coats emblazoned with a sword-splitting insignia.
A line of caravans and travelers stretched before them, each being meticulously inspected. As their turn approached, one of the guards stepped forward, his expression stern.
"Stop! Identification first."
Lira produced a set of worn parchment cards from her belt pouch, handing them over. "Here are our identification papers," she said smoothly. Then, gesturing to Eldris, she added, "Except for him."
The guard's eyes narrowed as he took in Eldris's rugged appearance—his tattered cloak, the dirt smudged across his face, the way he carried himself like a man more accustomed to wilderness than civilization.
"And who is this?" the guard demanded, lip curling slightly. "Why is he dressed like a barbarian?"
Lira's smile didn't waver, though a flicker of irritation danced behind her eyes. "We found him in the forest. It's… a long story. We're helping him."
"I see," the guard said dryly. "But I can't allow anyone without proper identification past the gates of the Fifth Kingdom."
Lira leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "Surely there's a way to expedite this? Perhaps a temporary pass?"
The guard rubbed his thumb and forefinger together meaningfully. "Well… it 'could' be arranged. But processing takes time. Unless, of course, there's something to… hasten the procedure."
Lira's smile tightened. "How much?"
"A thousand lim coins should suffice."
Her fingers twitched. A thousand lim was no small sum—enough to feed a common family for weeks.
"Too steep?" the guard taunted, crossing his arms. "Other guards charge three times that. If you can't pay, step aside and wait your turn—two hours, at least."
Lira's jaw clenched, but she reached into her pouch, counting out the coins with deliberate slowness. "Here," she said, forcing a smile. "One thousand lim."
The guard pocketed the money with a satisfied smirk. "Name?"
Lira waved Eldris forward.
"Eldris Chrille," he answered.
The guard scribbled on a slip of enchanted parchment, then handed Eldris a small dagger. "Blood here."
Eldris hesitated, but a sharp look from Lira urged him forward. He pricked his thumb, letting a single drop fall onto the paper. Instantly, the parchment shimmered, reshaping itself into a small, metallic card.
"Visitor's pass," the guard grunted, thrusting it at him along with a thin booklet. "Valid for one week. After that, it burns to ash. If you're caught overstaying, you'll be fined, imprisoned, or worse. The enforcers don't tolerate strays." He leaned in, his breath reeking of stale ale. "Oh, and the guards? We're your 'friends'. Remember that." With a dismissive wave, he barked, "Now move along—you're holding up the line!"
The kingdom unfolded before them, and Eldris's breath caught in his throat.
The streets 'thrummed' with life.
Beings of every shape and size moved through the labyrinth of cobblestone and glowing lanterns. A woman with foxlike ears haggled over spices. A towering figure, his skin threaded with veins of molten gold, carried a crate effortlessly on one shoulder. Above them, bridges of woven light connected soaring towers, their spires tipped with floating crystals that pulsed like distant stars.
And the 'buildings'—
No two were alike. Some twisted like living things, their walls covered in vines that shimmered when touched. Others were carved from seamless obsidian, their surfaces reflecting the world in distorted fragments. Market stalls overflowed with enchanted trinkets—tiny dragons made of smoke trapped in glass, daggers that sang when drawn, fruits that changed color with the hour.
Earth's cities had been cold, uniform things—steel and glass repeating endlessly. But 'this'—
This was a world where magic wasn't just real.
It was alive.
Eldris tightened his grip on the visitor's pass, his pulse a steady drum in his ears.
This is real.
And his story had only just begun.
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