The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon as Alex, Sarah, John, and Lisa set out on their hike. They had all been looking forward to this trip for weeks, and the anticipation was palpable. As they walked, they chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company.

"Can you believe how beautiful this trail is?" Sarah exclaimed, pointing to the mountains in the distance.

John nodded. "I've been looking forward to this for weeks. It's amazing to finally be out here."

Lisa chimed in, "I know, right? This is such a great way to disconnect from the stress of everyday life."

As they continued on their journey, the sky grew lighter and the air grew warmer. They stopped to take in the breathtaking scenery, marveling at the beauty of nature.

"Look at those wildflowers!" Alex said, pointing to a field of vibrant blooms.

Sarah smiled. "I bet they'd make a great backdrop for some photos."

John rolled his eyes. "Come on, guys. We're here to enjoy the hike, not take pictures."

Lisa giggled. "Why not do both?"

As they walked, they stumbled upon a wooden door that seemed out of place in the middle of a clearing. The door was made of wood, and intricate carvings of dragons and wizards adorned its surface. They stopped to take a closer look.

"This is strange. Why would there be a door here?" Alex said, examining the carvings.

Sarah shrugged. "Maybe it's just a decoration or something."

John raised an eyebrow. "It's a bit odd, don't you think?"

Lisa was intrigued. "I don't know. There's something about this door that seems different. Maybe we should investigate a little further."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

They debated for a few minutes, but ultimately curiosity got the better of them, and Alex decided to try the handle. To their surprise, the door opened easily, and they found themselves stepping into a completely different world.

The first thing they noticed was the landscape. Instead of the familiar mountains and trees of their hiking trail, they were surrounded by a vast and misty forest. The second thing they noticed was the people. They were dressed in medieval clothing and staring at the newcomers with confusion and suspicion.

"Who goes there?" a voice boomed from behind them. They spun around to see an old mage approaching them. He was tall and thin, with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes.

"We're just travelers," Alex said, taking a step forward. "We stumbled upon this door and ended up here."

The mage's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of their modern clothing. "Your garments are quite unusual. From what land do you hail?"

"We're from the world beyond this door," Sarah explained. "We didn't mean to intrude."

The mage studied them closely for a moment before nodding. "Very well. You are welcome here, but I must warn you, this world is full of dangers. You must be careful where you tread and who you trust. The magic here is unpredictable, and it could easily lead you astray."

Alex, Sarah, John, and Lisa nodded in agreement, and the mage led them through the forest to his home. Along the way, they marveled at the mystical creatures they saw, from unicorns grazing in the meadows to dragons soaring overhead. The air was thick with the scent of magic, and they felt as though they had stepped into a fairy tale.

As they walked, they heard the clanging of swords as knights trained in the distance, and saw children playing in the forest with wooden swords and practicing magic to move a wooden ball instead of playing football.

"Did you see that?" Sarah asked, pointing to a group of children playing with magic. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Alex nodded in agreement. "It's incredible how different things are here. It's like we're in a completely different world."

When they arrived at the mage's home, they were surprised to see that the door opened automatically as they approached, without them even having to touch it.

"That's incredible," John said in amazement. "How does it work?"

The mage smiled. "It's a simple spell that I cast. It recognizes those who are welcome here and opens for them."

As they settled in for the night, Alex, Sarah, John, and Lisa couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this mystical world had in store for them. They had no idea how they were going to get back to their own world, but for now, they were content to explore this new and exciting place, full of magic, danger, and adventure.