Adrian and Alex were sitting in a room in the Nexus. The room was ordinary; Adrian had willed it into existence. Turns out he could will more than just treadmills.

  They were on their fourth meal of the day. Not the luxury food they sold in Dalvaria, but the balanced dishes Luminara prepared for them. Willed into existence? Adrian still wasn’t used to it. This was a crucial part of the training plan, and they needed to stick to it.

  Tomorrow they would depart for Lunara.

  “Did we miss anything?” Adrian asked.

  “Probably. But who cares?” Alex said.

  Adrian shook his head.

  They had checked their gear more times than they could count. Preparing for the trip was difficult. There was only so much they could carry.

  “Let’s go over it again,” Adrian said, walking to the table. His eyes ran over the gear laid out in neat rows.

  “Rope, compass, knife, matches, ammo—”

  Alex leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “We got everything. Enough,” he said, shaking his head. “Honestly, do you really need to check it ten times?”

  “Flashlight, batteries—”

  "Adrian"

  Adrian ignored him.

  He worried they weren’t bringing enough food. Between all the other necessities, space was limited. In the end, they had roughly two weeks’ worth of rations and a week’s supply of water.

  They didn’t know what to expect on the other side, which made him uneasy. Luminara had confirmed there was life on the world and that they could survive, but that only eased part of his mind. Too many things were unpredictable. What were the conditions there? Could they find or even buy food? Would the translation artifact work? Questions buzzed through Adrian’s head.

  Then something hit him on the back of his head.

  “HEY!” Adrian spun around, swatting at nothing.

  Alex sat there, grinning. “Are you even listening to me?”

  Adrian scratched the back of his head. "Yeah."

  Alex tilted his head, "What did I say?"

  "Umm... The weather?"

  Alex tilted it a bit more.

  Adrian's eyes darted. "In... Lunara?"

  Alex raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into a smirk. “The weather? Really?”

  Adrian just smiled sheepishly while scratching his neck.

  "That's all you can come up with?" Alex leaned back, chuckling.

  "I asked if you think we can bring Cassian."

  Adrian froze. His hand lingered over the flashlight. “…Not yet. Two hours is a death sentence out there. If we cut that to twenty minutes—maybe.”

  Alex leaned forward slightly, nodding. “Yeah… that’s what I think too."

  He then asked, "So what do you think we will find?" A childish smile was plastered on his face.

  Adrian let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You want me to say dragons?”

  Alex’s grin widened, eyes sparkling. “Yes!” he exclaimed. “We are traveling to another world! The next step is seeing dragons!”

  Adrian let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “Do you want to get eaten by dragons?”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Maybe… after I see them!” Alex shot back, eyes gleaming with excitement. “No, first I need to see the Elfs!”

  Adrian shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Honestly… you’re impossible.” He paused, then added quietly, almost to himself, “Okay, maybe I am a bit curious about the Elfs.”

  Alex’s eyes lit up. “See? I knew you would come around!”

  Luminara had been hovering quietly, but her glow deepened for a moment before softening again.

  The next day, Adrian and Alex prepared for their departure.

  Adrian fastened the clasp of his cloak, testing how easily it fell over his jacket.

  “See? Cloaks make everything better,” Alex said, looking at his own in the mirror.

  “It’s just so we don’t look like idiots if everyone there wears tunics or whatever,” Adrian muttered.

  Alex smirked. “You can admit it. I know you like it.”

  Adrian didn't comment.

  They were getting ready to depart.

  Adrian was wearing black cargo pants, black boots, a grey shirt, and a black tactical vest and belt. The vest was mostly for storage; it didn't offer any protection. Gray waterproof jacket over that, and a black cloak with a hood. Alex wore the same, except his cloak was grey.

  Alex was holstering his gun, "Are you scared?"

  Adrian was checking his pockets, "A bit. You?"

  "Scared? Pfft… yeah, a little. But that’s what makes it fun, right?"

  "I guess."

  Adrian tapped his tactical vest. Adrian’s fingers brushed the MP7, secured to his vest with a strap that let him draw it instantly. "Do we really need the suppressor?” he asked, glancing at Alex.

  Alex smirked, giving his own vest a tap. “Come on, you never know what’s waiting on the other side. Plus… it just looks cool.” He gave a shrug, showing off the suppressor on his MP7.

  Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Cool, huh?” He shook his head, half-amused. “You’re impossible," he said as he strapped his short-sword to the backpack.

  They were ready for whatever was on the other side, Adrian thought.

  Luminara’s glow brightened slightly, drawing their attention, "Adrian. Alex." She said slowly.

  They looked at her, paying full attention.

  "You will be stuck there for 30 days before you can come back. Do your best to come back safe." She said the last part warmly.

  Luminara’s glow brightened slightly, drawing their attention. “Adrian. Alex,” she said slowly, her voice gentle but firm.

  They turned to her, giving her their full attention.

  “You will be stuck there for thirty days before you can return,” she continued. Her tone softened. “Do your best to come back safe.”

  "We are getting back, after I see a dragon," he joked.

  Alex grinned, nudging Adrian. “We are getting back… after I see a dragon,” he joked.

  Adrian shook his head.

  Luminara continued, "Do you have any questions?"

  Adrian tapped his chin. "How do we know if the artifact works?"

  "It's already working."

  Adrian tilted his head.

  "I am speaking in a language that you don't understand."

  Adrian laughed, "Oh...I get it."

  They spent the next hour meticulously preparing. Adrian methodically checked their bags again and again, rearranging items, counting rations, and making sure every tool and piece of gear was exactly where he wanted it. He ran through scenarios in his head: sudden storms, hostile wildlife, getting lost in unknown terrain. Each imagined mishap made him tighten a strap or double-check a pocket. He couldn’t afford to starve like he had in the simulations, not when the consequences in the real world were real.

  Alex, on the other hand, was preoccupied with style. He adjusted his cloak repeatedly, twirling it over his shoulders, and tapped the straps of his MP7 as if testing its balance. “Seriously, Adrian, you have to admit it… cloaks make everything look better,” he said, grinning. “I mean, look at me! Practically a fantasy warrior.” He posed dramatically, drawing a laugh from Adrian despite himself.

  Luminara hovered nearby, her soft glow bathing the room in light, her voice calm but firm. “Remember your training. Trust each other. Stay aware of your surroundings. Even small mistakes can have consequences.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “The world you are about to enter has its own rules. Observe before acting.”

  Adrian nodded, “Got it,” he said quietly. He glanced at Alex, who was still fussing with his cloak, and shook his head with a small, amused smile.

  After they got ready, with a thought, they appeared in the heart of the Nexus. They didn’t really need a gateway to reach other worlds, but somehow, they had to be here first. The portals shimmered around them, beautiful yet unnecessary. The artifact they carried was more than enough.

  Luminara hovered nearby, her light reflecting softly on the polished floor. “The portals are for guests,” she explained, her tone calm and steady. "If you are ready, we can begin."

  Adrian's hands were shaking as he said, "Ready as I'll ever be… I guess."

  Alex laughed, his fingers fidgeting with the strap of his vest. “Dragons, here we come!” His grin wavered for a fraction of a second, and he tugged his cloak a bit tighter around his shoulders.

  Luminara’s glow softened. “Good luck. Travel safely.”

  Adrian took a deep breath, touched the necklace. He willed it, feeling the energy hum beneath his fingertips. The room shimmered. Light bent around them, the air thickening, vibrating. The familiar weight of gravity shifted, and the edges of the Nexus seemed to blur.

  Alex’s cloak whipped around him as a low, humming pressure built in his chest. For a split second, the world felt like it was folding in on itself. The hum crescendoed into a ringing buzz in their ears. Adrian’s stomach lurched, a mix of excitement and nerves.

  Then, just as suddenly as it started, it ended. The hum vanished, the pressure lifted, and everything snapped into focus.

  Night embraced them immediately. Two moons hung in the sky, casting pale, silvery light over everything. The landscape glimmered softly under their gaze, shadows stretching long and strange in the dual illumination.

  Lunara.

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