Fengyu pulled off his outer robe, shaking out the dust and dirt before handing it over to Kaelyn's maid, Lian.
The woman barely batted an eye at the state of him, though he caught the slight downturn of her lips as she ran her fingers over the grime-streaked fabric. She was efficient, silent, and quick - within moments, a damp cloth was pressed into his hands, and she had already begun brushing away the dirt clinging to his sleeves.
He muttered a quiet thanks, but Lian only gave a curt nod before disappearing back to her master.
Once he was clean and dressed, Fengyu strode to the pavilion doors, pulling them open. A cool late afternoon breeze drifted in, carrying the mingling scents of damp stone, burning incense, and the distant perfume of jasmine. He let the air wash over him, trying to shake off the weight pressing down on his mind.
A movement in the courtyard caught his eye.
Seline moved like a shadow, her steps quick, but too careful, as if she didn't want to be seen. She glanced over her shoulder before slipping toward her guest quarters, hugging the walls where the light barely reached.
Fengyu frowned.
He had assumed Seline spent most of her time in the library, her nose buried in ancient texts, but this was not the step of someone simply returning from studying. No, this was something else. Why did she look so suspicious?
Just as she placed her hand on the wooden frame of her quarter's door, she hesitated. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes catching his across the dim courtyard.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Seline's expression remained unreadable, but there was no fear, no panic - only quiet calculation. She knew he had been watching. As she studied him, something in her gaze shifted - a silent question.
Fengyu gave the slightest tilt of his head, an almost imperceptible gesture. Not quite a nod, but enough to say "I saw you. But I won't say anything."
Seline held his gaze a moment longer, then, without a word, slipped into her quarters, the door shutting softly behind her.
Fengyu leaned against the doorframe.
There was something unsettling about it all.
Everyone had their own reasons for being at the temple, their own motives lurking beneath the surface. Some had come willingly, others had been sent by families eager to forge ties with the Mytharok.
And then there was him - thrown into this place like a drifting leaf, caught in a current he wanted nothing to do with. For the first time since arriving, he wondered if he had been given the luxury of aimlessness, or if he was merely blind to the role already set for him.
Fengyu barely had a moment to collect his thoughts before he heard the soft approach of footsteps behind him.
He didn't need to turn to know it was Kaelyn. She came to stand beside him.
"You looked like you had been dragged through a storm," she referred to his dishevelled state from before. "What had happened to you?"
Fengyu exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Long story. But that's not the biggest problem right now."
He glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear.
"What are we going to do about Pantax?"
Kaelyn shook her head.
"I don't know. But they wouldn't single it out unless it was important. And possibly urgent. This is about more than just keeping their secrets."
She paused, pressing her lips together.
"Do you think they plan to take action there?"
Fengyu considered it.
"Yeah, but what kind of action?"
Although peaceful and insanely efficient on the surface, Pantax had always been a place of tension, a world where different factions pushed and pulled behind the curtains. It was very strict, full of rules, but also very rich and powerful. Too many interest, too many people fighting for control. If the Mytharok were directing their attention there, it couldn't be a coincidence.
Kaelyn let out a slow breath. "If Pantax falls into chaos, our homes might not be far behind. The reach of that world goes far beyond its borders. Besides why did they put us together with Mokai? We may be sitting in the same boat."
"If something big is about to happen," Fengyu said slowly, "and they think Mokai is a problem, then we need to warn him before it's too late."
"So we tell him?"
"Yeah," Fengyu said, nodding. "We tell him."
Mokai was sharp, bold enough to ask the questions others wouldn't dare to voice. It made sense that the Mytharok saw him as a potential problem. And judging by his performance on the training grounds his reputation was already growing.
There was a brief hesitation in his mind; they weren't exactly friends yet, and he wasn't sure if it was the right moment to bring such speculations to Mokai. But in the end, he knew nothing better to do.
Fengyu ran a hand through his hair. "Alright. Let's find him."
"He spent the afternoon at the training grounds," Kaelyn said. "And he's already making a name for himself."
Fengyu chuckled dryly. "Then let's hope he's not too famous yet. We might need him to lay low."
With that, the two of them started toward the training grounds.
They found him near the sparring rings.
"You both look serious," he noted, tying off the bandage. "Not here to challenge me to a fight, are you?"
Fengyu smirked. "Tempting, but no. We need to talk."
Mokai raised a brow but gestured for them to follow. They stepped away from the open space, finding a quieter corner near the shaded walkway that overlooked the practice grounds.
That was supposedly going to be a difficult conversation, and they needed to thread with caution, but Kaelyn didn't waste time.
"We overheard a conversation. They were discussing Pantax." She stated plainly.
"And?" Moksi asked leisurely.
"Something is going to happen in Pantax. They are planning something." Kaelyn pressed.
Mokai didn't respond right away. Instead, he exhaled slowly, tilting his head as if weighing their words against some unseen measure. His fingers tapped idly against the railing, his expression unreadable.
After a moment too long, he leaned against the railing and raised an eyebrow.
"They mentioned one of the initiates - someone from Pantax," Fengyu started cautiously. "They seem to think he may be a problem."
Mokai sighed, more with impatience than anything else.
"A few overheard words and you make some grand scheme out of it. Aren't you overthinking a little?"
Fengyu met his gaze evenly.
"Conspirators don't usually spell out their plans for anyone listening. You have to read between the lines."
But even for himself it sounded a little ridiculous. Hadn't he already been biased against Mytharok, would he have read that much into the High Monk's words?
"Why aren't you concerned?" Kaelyn insisted.
"Because I know what they're doing. They're just… assisting."
Fengyu narrowed his eyes on him.
Mokai sighed. "Pantax has had its share of troubles lately."
"Is that really all to that? Are you sure?"
"I believe my family can handle its own affairs. We have been the foundation of Pantax for generations."
Kaelyn folded her arms. "Why are you so sure to just brush it off?"
Mokai gave a small, confident shrug. "Because I don't waste time worrying about shadows. The Temple is not trying to seize control over Pantax. Why are you so inclined to see a conspiracy here?"
Kaelyn's brow furrowed, but she kept her voice steady.
"Because something doesn't sit right."
Mokai met her gaze, his expression a mix of patience and mild amusement.
"Sometimes, things are just what they are, Kaelyn. Not everything is a plot waiting to unfold. You've both been trained to see deeper, to read between the lines. But sometimes, the simplest answer is the correct one."
He paused.
"Look, I appreciate that you are coming to me with this information, but you are really overthinking stuff. Why are you even here if you are so suspicious of the Temple?"
Good question. He was clearly not buying it. There was no point in insisting.
Fengyu decided to change his stance.
"I'm not saying we should ignore it," he said slowly, trying to keep his tone neutral. "But maybe we're jumping to conclusions."
He looked at Kealyn apologetically.
She hesitated for a moment, then deflated slightly and nodded.
"Fine. But I'll keep my eyes open. Something's off, and I'd rather be prepared."
Mokai gave a small nod, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.
As the evening settled quietly over the temple, the invitation to a grand dinning hall came for them to dine with all other new guardians.
The room was grand, its stone walls lined with intricately woven tapestries, and large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the wooden tables. The atmosphere felt ceremonial.
The evening wore on, with the four of them - Fengyu, Kaelyn, Mokai, and Seline - sitting together at the table. The conversations around them flowed easily, but their own table remained quiet. Every so often, their eyes would meet, and a silent exchange would pass between them, but no one spoke openly.
A voice from a nearby table drifted through the stillness, carrying a note of intrigue.
"Did you hear? There's been a disturbance this afternoon."
The words rang out, pulling Fengyu's attention sharply. His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow.
He glanced quickly at Kaelyn. The flicker of surprise in her eyes was barely perceptible, but it was enough. The briefest exchange between them - the same question echoed in both their minds: "Had they been discovered after all?"
The conversation at the nearby table continued, oblivious to the quiet tension it had stirred: "I heard some books were stolen from the library."
Fengyu released the breath, he did not know, he had been holding.
Mokai chuckled under his breath and just slightly shook his head.
Seline sat as still as a statue, her expression unreadable. But she carefully avoided Fengyu's gaze.
"Really?" another voice chimed in, a little too loudly. "What for? Why would anyone steal books?"
"I don't know," came the reply. "But you know how valuable some of those manuscripts are. Some of them are centuries old, and the knowledge in them - well, it could change everything."
"Still, it's odd," another person added. "There must be a reason behind it. Maybe someone who's looking for something specific."
"Who could have done it?" another voice at the table asked. "Is it the initiates? Or someone from outside?"
"Could be anyone," the first speaker said. "But it's a daring move. I don't think it's just some random thief."
As the conversation meandered, Fengyu's mind was running.
Was Seline involved in the theft? And what was she looking for?
She sat there, poised, but for a brief moment, their eyes locked. Fengyu shifted in his seat and offered a look that he hoped would convey one thing: Whatever secret she held, it was safe with him. His eyes softened in a promise of understanding. He wasn't going to pry. Not yet. She seemed to understand his silent communication, her posture relaxing just slightly.
The next morning greeted them with the schedule of the gate settings - a neatly inscribed list posted outside their quarters. Dozens of worlds were listed, each assigned a departure slot. As expected, the most powerful and influential were granted priority, their slots within days, while the less significant ones trailed behind, some waiting weeks for their turn.
Naturally, Pantax was among the first.
Mokai looked overly thoughtful as he studied the list. He saw an opportunity, one that could benefit them all.
"You don't have to wait for you assigned slots," he said, bringing it up over their morning meal. "Once the gate to Pantax is open, we can leave together. You can return to your homes from there instead of waiting for Mytharok to grant you passage."
His eyes flickered briefly between Kaelyn and Fengyu.
"Pantax may be the place you need to see for yourselves."
He was honest in his offer.
And the offer was no small thing. Setting up a gate to another world was an expensive endeavour, a luxury only the rich could afford with ease.
Fengyu felt a pang of jealousy.
The one they had in Solirae was more of a back door than a true gate - functional, but limited. They couldn't open one at will; instead, they had to submit a request - more accurately, order a service - by the magic guild, dictated by what they could afford rather than their convenience. This was an opportunity he could not miss.
He feigned a leisured laugh.
"I've never been to Pantax," he said. "I suppose I'll tag along."
Seline agreed immediately.
That did not surprise Fengyu. Whatever her secret was, she seemed inclined to leave Mytharok as soon as possible. Maybe it was for the better.
Kaelyn hesitated, but only briefly, causing Mokai to smile knowingly. But he was genuinely pleased that they accepted.
The next days passed without incident, each of them falling into their own routines.
Mornings were spent in training, pushing their limits alongside the other initiates, while afternoons were filled with quiet study or moments of solitude. They grew accustomed to each other. The awkwardness faded bit by bit, replaced by an easy familiarity.
They shared small moments - Kaelyn rolling her eyes at Mokai's overconfidence on the training grounds, Fengyu making an offhand remark that drew a rare smirk from Seline. Laughter slipped into their conversations, light and fleeting, but real. They didn't speak of secrets.
When the day of their departure arrived, Fengyu got up with a sense of unease mixed with amusement.
Gate travel was a rare thing in Solirae, a privilege and an extraordinary experience. Yet, he hadn't experienced it the first time. When he had been transported to Mytharok, he had been unconscious, probably drugged by some sedative. He hadn't noticed the passage through the gate, and the experience had slipped by without him even registering it. It had been his first time, and he couldn't remember a thing about it.
The fact stung. Pathetic.
Moreover, the others - Mokai, Kaelyn, even Seline - they had experienced gate travel before, likely many times. The "first times" that others had long left behind were still his reality, and it made him feel small and insignificant.
Fengyu shook his body violently, as if the motion could also shake off the feeling of inadequacy.
It was not like him. Did he even care? It was only a gate.
But the gate in Mytharok was something entirely different. Unlike the one in Solirae, which was a stone archway covered in glowing runes that shifted and rearranged themselves like pieces of an intricate clockwork mechanism, this one was a living, breathing entity.
It resembled a massive, pulsating membrane of light, its surface rippling. The skin of a soap bubble caught in a breeze. The light shimmered with iridescent colours, shifting from deep blues and purples to fiery oranges and golds. Tendrils of energy curled and twisted around its edges, reaching out its curious fingers, brushing against the air with a faint, electric hum.
The gate seemed to breathe, its surface expanding and contracting in a slow, rhythmic pulse. Those who stood before it felt a strange pull.
It was beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.
As they approached, the shimmering light reflected in their eyes, casting shifting hues across their faces. All four of them - Fengyu, Kaelyn, Mokai, and Seline—along with the three servants accompanying them, formed a group of seven.
Standing at the stone platform beneath the gates, waiting with arms folded, was Master Lira. Her sharp gaze flickered over them as they approached, for just long enough moment to make it clear she hadn't expected such a gathering.
"You're all going?" she asked, arching a brow.
Mokai gave a small smile.
"Seemed like the best course of action."
Lira's eyes lingered on Fengyu for a moment longer, then on Kaelyn and Seline. Whatever thoughts crossed her mind, she kept them to herself.
With a light sigh, she waved a hand dismissively.
"I won't ask for explanations. The gate is set." She turned slightly, motioning toward the shimmering expanse behind her. "I'll be accompanying you."
Fengyu caught Kaelyn's glance - this wasn't unexpected - but before they could enquire further, Master Lira had already stepped forward, disappearing into the rippling light.
Mokai smiled at the others. "Well then. Shall we?"
Fengyu exhaled, bracing himself. This time, at least, he would remember the journey. With a final glance at the shifting energy, he stepped forward.
It was like plunging into a vast, endless ocean - except there was no water, no air, just motion. A force gripped Fengyu, pulling him forward like an invisible current. His stomach twisted as the world around him morphed into streaks of light, each colour burning too brightly before fading into the next. There was no sense of up or down, no ground beneath his feet, no sky above. Only the rushing sensation of movement, faster than thought or breath. It wasn't painful, only overwhelming - being unmade and reassembled again and again.
Just as suddenly as it began, it ended. The sensation ceased with an abrupt jolt and he was spat out into reality. The weight of his body returned, cool air filled his lungs, and his knees buckled from the disorienting shift.
He hit the ground hard, the impact driving the breath from his lungs and leaving him sprawled in the dirt, disoriented and gasping.
He rolled onto his back and blinked hard, his vision taking time to adjust to the stark light of a sunny day. The air here was crisp, the sky stretched wide above him, painted in the deep hues of blue.
The gate in Pantax was a floating arch of crystal - a massive, translucent structure that hovered a few feet above the ground, defying gravity with unworldly grace. The crystal glowed, its surface alive with intricate carvings that shifted and changed. Light refracted through it in dazzling patterns, casting rainbows that danced across the ground. The arch hummed with a low, resonant tone that vibrated through the air and into the bones of those nearby.
For all its beauty, the gate was not gentle.
He was literally spat out of it – violently and unceremoniously. He lay there, staring up at the gate as it loomed above him, its crystal surface glowing mockingly, until Mokai's face appeared in his field of vision.
"Are you going to have a nap here or what?"
Fengyu scowled, reaching for whatever dignity he had left.
"I was just savouring the experience."
Mokai smirked and offered a hand, which Fengyu pointedly ignored. He forced himself to his feet and rolled his shoulders.
Only Seline and her maid seemed a little unsteady, the former pressing her lips together as she smoothed out her sleeves, while the latter clutched her arm for support. At least he wasn't the only one who had been jolted into this world with such lack of finesse.
He was just about to inquire if the gate travel was always this harsh, as he felt an unreadable gaze of Master Lira on himself. Whatever question had formed in his head, it was swallowed immediately.
Mokai gestured behind them with a casual sweep of his hand. "Welcome to Pantax."
Fengyu turned. What lay before him was unlike anything he had ever seen.
The capitol of Pantax unfolded in tiers, carved into the mountainside. Towering spires of dark stone rose above the lower districts, bridges of marble arched over bustling streets, where people moved around, their richly woven robes and armour gleaming in the sunlight.
At the heart of it all, dominating the skyline, stood the Citadel - a fortress-palace of obsidian, its banners fluttering like silent proclamations of authority. Even from here, he could feel it: Pantax was a world of wealth, discipline, and control.
This was Mokai's home.