Eli stumbled through the golden portal, barely getting his body through before it collapsed behind him. He fell to the ground hard, his hands on either side of his head as if to dull the splitting headache in his mind. His eyes were firmly shut to block out the bright sunlight around him, but he couldn’t help but overhear the gasps and panicked words of the group of people who’d entered the portal before him.

  In a flash, Lilly was kneeling next to Eli with an already-open mana potion. His lips found the cool metal container and he instinctively started to drink, knowing that it would help make him feel better. He was so distracted by the throbbing in his head that he didn’t even think about how foul the potion tasted, finishing it in only seconds.

  “Ugh.” Eli grunted, rolling onto his back. “That sucked.”

  “Are you okay?” Lilly asked as Aria knelt next to his other side.

  He cracked one eye open before nodding. “Yeah. Are we safe?”

  Aria nodded. “I think so. For the moment, anyways. Zee and Naz are still setting up the perimeter with their team, but we haven’t run into anyone yet. Sira and Ziran cast their mirages and began to scout the moment they came through, but they only had about a minute head start. Once we get settled somewhere we’ll begin work on an enchanted portal ring to help ease the journey back.”

  “Good.” Eli said, closing his eye. “Because I’d prefer not to have to do that again for bit.”

  “You rest.” Lilly said, patting him on the chest. “We don’t have to go anywhere just yet.”

  Over the next few minutes, Eli’s headache receded. He requested a second mana potion from Lilly, one which he drank much slower than the first – though still with both eyes closed. Eventually though his curiosity won out and he sat up to take in the new world they found themselves in.

  They emerged into what looked like a lush garden. Plants of every description sprouted in orderly rows from well-maintained flower beds. Behind him sat a wall of flowering hedges and a small pond filled with golden fish. Looking down he realized that he was laying on a pathway made of perfectly-maintained white bricks – ones which meandered deeper into the garden.

  Well that’s something. We’re definitely not alone here. Hopefully that means we’re in the right place. He thought to himself before turning to Lilly. “Can you help me up?”

  “Of course.” She said, looping an arm under his.

  As he stood he saw a concerned-looking Aratessa and Vespera, causing him to offer them a thumbs-up and what he hoped was a reassuring smile. They smiled back at him before returning to their work of organizing the various staffers, functionaries, and guards they’d brought with them. He watched them work for a moment, grateful that he didn’t have to directly manage the almost 50 people in their expedition.

  Once he was confident he wasn’t going to fall he let go of Lilly. He craned his neck to look down the path leading away from them to see where it lead, but all he saw was more gardens. Looking slightly upwards through the canopy of trees though, he caught a fleeting glimpse of looked like white pillars and marble buildings trailing up a nearby mountain – one which was silhouetted against a blue sky dotted with clouds, and featuring not one but two suns in the sky.

  He was about to ask if anyone had information about the buildings before he was cut off by a rapidly-landing Minerva. She touched down next to Aratessa and Vespera before turning on the radio she wore so that her report could be heard by the entire group.

  “There’s what looks like a city a few miles that way, closer to the mountain over there. Isla and Freya have better eyesight than I do so they’d be able to give a better report, but I could make out signs of habitation – light, moving shapes, that sort of thing.”

  “What about our more immediate area?” Aratessa asked.

  “It looks like we’ve emerged into an enormous garden. The foliage prevented me from being able to see everything, but I think we’re alone for the moment.”

  “Great job.” Eli praised her, causing her to beam with happiness. “We couldn’t hope for a better entrance, to be honest.”

  “How do you want to proceed? This is your expedition.” Aria reminded him.

  Eli considered it for a moment before thumbing his own radio. “Let’s go meet the locals and figure out if they’re friendly. Sira, Ziran, I want the two of you ranging ahead and checking for threats. Zee, Naz – you’re on perimeter duty with your team. Make sure the path ahead of us and behind us is clear. Freya and Isla can stay above and keep watch for threats. Everyone else, stick with the main group. We’re in uncharted territory here so no wandering off. Athena should be here, and as much as I think she’ll be friendly we have no idea how big this realm is or who else might be lurking around. We need to be careful.”

  “What do you want us to do if we run into one of the locals?” Lilly asked as he began walking.

  “Fall back and call the 3 of us to handle it.” Eli said, gesturing to himself, Aria, and Aratessa. “Though if I’m being honest, the two of you should do most of the talking.”

  “Us?” Aratessa asked. “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah. Combined, the two of you have a couple centuries more political experience than I do. We’re not getting a second shot at a first impression, and I want to make sure I don’t mess it up by saying something dumb. This will go a hell of a lot easier if we don’t have to fight the locals too.”

  The two elven royals kissed him on either cheek for his comment before looping their arms underneath his. Eli grinned stupidly from their affection as they continued to move, the rest of the group falling into line behind them. They’d only been walking for a few more minutes though before Sira spoke up over the radio.

  “We may have a problem.” She said softly.

  Eli stopped suddenly, thumbing his radio as he brought their column to a halt. “What is it?”

  “My mana isn’t regenerating.” She said.

  “Shit.” Eli said, looking at Aratessa. “Maybe a silence spell? Or a spell disrupter?”

  “I’m not sure.” Aratessa said before leaning close enough to Eli that she could speak into his radio. “Is it that you can’t cast a spell? Or that your actual mana isn’t recharging.”

  “The latter.” Sira said. “I’m dropping my mirage – I’m safely hidden in a bush anyways.”

  Eli furrowed his brow before speaking into his radio once more. “Ziran, are you feeling the same thing?”

  A pause, then he responded. “Yes. My mana isn’t regenerating either.”

  Slightly disturbed by this development, Eli nodded. “Alright, drop your mirage too once it’s safe to do so. Everyone else needs to be in mana-conservation mode. No spellcasting unless absolutely necessary.”

  “Understood.” Zee said over the radio.

  Seeing a round of nods, Eli resumed their movement and addressed the elven royalty to his left and right. “What do you think that means?”

  “Could be a spell of some sort.” Aratessa offered. “Even if it’s not shadow magic.”

  “Or something else.” Aria added. “Mana doesn’t regenerate on Earth either.”

  “What are you proposing?” Aratessa asked.

  Aria turned her head towards Eli. “You once said that Athena claimed there are magical nexuses other than Earth, right? What if this is one of them?”

  Eli whistled lowly. “That would make this world the most significant magical discovery in…centuries? Maybe more?”

  “At least.” Aratessa agreed.

  “It’s wishful thinking for now though.” Aria said. “We’d need a lot more proof before we could say that for certain. But it might help explain why that portal was different – maybe a portal between 2 nexuses works differently.”

  The three of them continued to trade theories back and forth as they walked, but as the garden began to thin out their talk died down. They knew they were getting closer to the city, and Eli took a moment to adjust the suit he was wearing, brushing whatever specks of dirt he could find off it before re-clipping the discrete microphone he wore to his lapel. He saw Aratessa and Aria doing something similar, adjusting their distractingly beautiful black and blue dresses and fixing their hair to be as presentable as possible.

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  I still wish we’d worn armour. He thought to himself, recalling the discussion they’d had before leaving. Even though I know the others will keep us safe, I feel exposed out here.

  As they exited the garden Eli finally caught sight of one of the locals across a nearby field of what appeared to be grape vines on stakes. She looked to be elven with long pointed ears, blonde hair, and fair skin. She wore a simple white toga and stood next to a small wood-and-stone building, facing away from them until Eli called out to her in Elvish.

  “Hey there!” He shouted from across the field.

  She turned to him and her eyes went wide before dropping the tools she was holding and running towards the city. Eli shook his head at the sight before turning back to the column behind him, mentally marking the crates which carried his armour and weapons. Hoping that he wouldn’t need them he turned back to the field and began to lead the group along the brick road that gently curved around the field.

  “I see her.” Ziran announced over the radio. “Do you want me to stop her?”

  “No.” Eli said instantly.

  “She’s found someone else.” Sira reported from somewhere up ahead. “They’re speaking. And now they’re running towards the city together.”

  “Let them go.” Eli ordered.

  “They’re going to warn others though.” Naz cautioned over the radio. “We could end up with a welcoming party.”

  “If that’s the case, then fine.” Eli replied. “But it’s going to look a lot worse if we come in with captives.”

  “Fair point.” Naz conceded.

  “You should probably fall in with the main group.” Aria suggested. “Ziran and Sira can continue to range further away and warn us about any threats.”

  “Understood.” Naz replied.

  “Falling back now.” Zee added.

  When the armour-clad Zee and Naz returned to the group Eli greeted both of them with a kiss. The rest of their guards soon joined them and they set off once more. Unfortunately for them all, the scene of people running away from them became a familiar one. Every time they caught sight of another local they turned and ran before Eli could make any meaningful attempts at communication. His frustration began to mount as the farmers fields gave way to clusters of houses, and eventually streets filled with tightly packed buildings.

  “At least they’ve got running water.” Aria observed as they walked through what looked like a town square – one that featured a large marble fountain in the middle.

  Eli couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re right. I was worried about that, given the look of some of the homes here.”

  “They’re…basic, but they’re in good repair.” Aratessa observed. “The buildings on the mountain look much more extravagant though.”

  “Eli, you have a large group of locals approaching. Mixed races.” Ziran warned over the radio. “They’re moving quickly, coming from the mountain.”

  Eli tensed before calling for a halt. “Everyone spread out. Zee, Naz – get your team set up in defensive positions around the square. Don’t make it look like you’re taking defensive positions though.”

  “What does that mean?” Naz said.

  “Just look casual!” Eli replied with a grin as they began to move.

  After a terse few minutes of waiting they caught sight of a large group of people rounding the corner of a street up ahead. He easily picked out several races he knew from the front rank of people – the distinctive blonde hair and graceful movement of high elves, the brown hair and green skin of a dryad, the muscles of an orc, and several others besides. As he looked closer he saw a more alien-looking creature: a humanoid figure with an orange insect-like carapace for its skin, large bug-like eyes, and a pair of antenna on top of its head. Further back in the group there were what looked like ogres from one of the fantasy video games he used to play, creatures with crocodilian faces, and many others besides. Concerningly, many of them were armed with a variety of weapons.

  Leading the group was a confident-looking woman. As she neared, Eli saw that she was dressed in a gold helmet with purple plumage along with a white toga. In one of her hands she held a gold circular shield, and in the other she held a wooden spear with a sharpened steel head. Her white hair was tied in a tight ponytail behind her, and the expression on her face was inscrutable.

  “Oh fuck.” Eli swore the second he recognized her. “That’s Athena.”

  “What?” Aria demanded.

  Eli turned to Minerva. “I need you to go get Isla and Freya. I want them down here now. Everyone else, weapons down – this is what we came for.”

  As the angelic woman took off, Athena entered shouting distance and called out to him. “Nice of you to finally make an appearance.”

  Eli shook his head and shot back. “You didn’t exactly give me a set of clear directions to get here!”

  She laughed in response, never slowing her approach. Eli couldn’t help but grin, wordlessly taking Aria and Aratessa by the arms and leading them closer. They met in the middle of the street, with the remainder of both groups staying back a respectful distance to let the leaders speak. The only exception was a human-looking bald man from Athena’s side – one who wore a set of segmented plate armour, a shield, and a mace.

  “Eli Grayson.” Athena said as she neared, holding out a hand for him.

  “Athena.” Eli replied, grasping her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person. These are two of my bond mates – Princess Aria Hightower, and Queen Aratessa of the House of the Spider.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Athena.” Aria started, assuming her regal tone. “I look forward to-”

  “We don’t give a shit about your whores.” The man spat, interrupting her.

  Athena cringed, letting go of Eli’s hand while casting a glance backwards before looking at Eli again. “This…is Ares. When we learned of your arrival he insisted he come to see you in person.”

  “Ares.” Eli said, furrowing his brow. “As in the god of war?”

  “Yes.” The man replied, fixing his intense gaze on Eli.

  Like Athena he was olive-skinned, but his short hair and long beard were both black rather than white. At almost 7 feet tall he towered above them, his light brown eyes boring into Eli’s in an attempt to stare him down. As Eli inspected the man he saw that he had a scar above his left eye and another one on his throat, and given his title he could only assume that the man knew how to use the mace he was holding.

  Regardless, Eli refused to be cowed. “You’re addressing elven royalty. More importantly, you’re addressing my bond mates. I’d suggest you show them some respect.”

  “Or what?” Ares said with a glare. “Are you going to kill me, chosen one?”

  “Enough.” Athena literally cut in, putting her spear between Eli and Ares.

  “You’re right.” Ares nodded with a sneer. “I’ve seen enough.”

  He abruptly turned around and took two steps down the street before barking an incantation. His body glowed with a golden light before he leapt into the air, flying far above the crowd and towards the mountain. Eli kept his guard up and watched silently for another 30 seconds until he’d disappeared. Once he was gone he looked back at Athena.

  “What’s his problem?” He asked.

  Athena opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted when Freya and Isla landed next to them on the street. To his surprise nobody from the large group of locals behind Athena even flinched when Isla landed, neither advancing to see the rare dragon nor retreating from her enormous form. Isla eyed the crowd for a moment while Freya triggered her transformation back into her human-like form.

  Finally, Athena spoke. “He has strong opinions on certain topics. He’s also immensely powerful, and part of the reason we’re still alive – so we grant him certain allowances.”

  “What is he?” Aria asked. “His magic was gold.”

  The lightbulb went off in Eli’s mind, causing him to look at Athena. “Is he bonded to a Royal Blood?”

  “No.” Athena said, smiling. “He is a Royal Blood. Just like you and I.”