The shimmer deepened as they drew near the teleportation gate.
The massive stone arch towered above them, its surface carved with intricate runes that pulsed with ethereal blue light.
Alaric had read about teleportation gates, but standing before one was entirely different. The space between the arch seemed to fold in on itself, reality bending in ways that made his eyes water if he stared too long.
Elina went first, stepping through without hesitation. The shimmer swallowed her whole.
Alaric followed after her, and the moment he stepped through, the world collapsed.
Space twisted around him like a ribbon being pulled taut, then snapped.
His body felt simultaneously compressed into a pinpoint and stretched across infinite distance.
Colors that had no names flashed behind his eyelids. For one terrifying instant, he wasn't sure if he still existed or had been scattered across the void between worlds.
Silence.
Then—
The sound roared back.
