As Elara and Aric approached the city gates, two guards, each wearing intricate, rune-carved armor and holding extravagant staves, snapped to attention. Upon recognizing Elara, they offered a respectful nod, and relaxed once again. As she took the lead in approaching the gates, a smaller section of one of them split open, allowing their passage into the city.

As Aric passed through the city's threshold, a strange sensation washed over him--a pulse of energy seemed to reach up from the ground and probe him, almost like it were testing him somehow.

What was that? Aric pondered.

"You felt that, didn't you?" Elara said, her eyes nearly sparkling with excitement. "The guards are mostly there to inspect carvans and ensure contraband doesn't slip through. The real protection to the city is the warding enchantments that encircle it. They're designed to keep out unauthorized entities, it works similarly to the barrier I summoned during our fight with the Shadowbeasts earlier, just on a massive scale."

Aric nodded, though he was distracted by the cobbled streets that greeted them on the other side of the gate. Or more specifically, the remarkable construction of the buildings here. They were built primarily of wood, yet the material had been manipulated in a way that seemed to defy logic. It twisted and curved in intricate patterns, weaving together like a wooden tapestry. Lattices of foliage were integrated into some of the structures, appearing almost entirely too whimsical. Everything that he'd seen of the city seemed to radiate raw magical energy.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Elara said, her voice filled with pride. "It's the work of generations of artisans and mages working in harmony. The wood itself is enchanted, coaxed into its form by mages bearing various nature-based affinities to achieve that unique design."

"It's... stunning," Aric replied. "I've never seen anything like it. Back in my world, what few cities remain are mostly concrete and steel, with towering buildings to compensate for the lack of land... There's nothing there that has the same... energy that this place has."

Elara looked at him, her eyes filled with empathy. "That sounds like it would be enough to drag down even the people living in it. I'm sorry you had to experience this."

Aric had mostly missed what she said, having focused on something Elara had said before. "You said the wood is enchanted? What does that mean?" Aric asked, his curiosity growing over the magic at play.

Elara hesitated, concerned by the sudden change in topic, but she answered, never one to miss a chance to lecture. "It means that on top of the special methods used to grow and manipulate the wood into that shape, carvings have been added to the timber itself, imbuing it with protective spells. That wood is probably as durable as any metal you could find in the world," she explained. "Not only that, but it also enhances the natural flow of aether throughout our city, helping to balance the constant draw on the environment."

"That's incredible," Aric replied in stunned amazement as he once more gazed at the buildings around them, completely oblivious to the people now streaming around the stopped pair.

"Yes, it is truly a testament to what can be achieved when different crafts cooperate," Elara replied with a smile, that quickly faded as a new thought seemed to occur to her. "Now come on, we should speak with the guild council of elders so that we may inform them of the new information you've brought."

Aric was nearly unable to keep up with Elara's new pace as she frantically led them through the maze of streets. The pair only paused once more on their, now expedited, trip through the city, as Aric all but froze upon seeing the market they passed through. People of all different races walked throughout, laughing and haggling with the various merchants. The space was huge, with row after row of stalls.

"We should keep moving," Elara said lightly, a smile on her face, as she watched the delight flicker across Aric's face as he took in the sites.

Aric blushed, tearing his eyes away from what appeared to be a floating market stall. Meeting her gaze as he moved to catch up with the beautiful elven woman, he apologized, "Sorry about that, this is just so overwhelmingly different from what I'm used to."

The pair's journey appeared to be at an end as they approached the giant building in the center of the city. Even the doors were remarkable in their own right, carved with the intricate symbols that sprawled across them in some indecipherable pattern. In the center of each of the twin doors lay the same emblem that was on Elara's robe. All

I can't shake the feeling that that symbol has something to do with a barrier somehow Aric thought with mild confusion as he stared up at the large symbol as they passed through the doors.

Inside, the hall was gorgeous, lit by floating orbs of light that cast a soft, glow throughout the expansive center room. Doors bearing unique emblems lined one wall, each symbol seemed to have a strong resemblance to the guild symbol itself, almost like it was a language of its own. Grand staircases spiraled upwards from the center of the hall, and a long desk line another wall, staffed entirely by official-looking elves. At the end of the hall, another set of large double doors dominated the space.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Those doors lead to the Council," Elara explained, having noticed what Aric was looking at. "They make all the decisions around here, from authorizing magical experiments to passing judgments on criminals—and dimensional travelers, it seems."

Before Aric could contemplate the ominous implications of her statement, an elf from behind the desk summoned them forward. After a brief but whispered conversation between him and Elara, they were led through the double doors into another large room.

A large semi-circular table dominated the space, the walls were gracefully adorned by exotic tapestries, each book-ended by elegant golden sconces.

Six individuals sat around the table, their eyes filled with wisdom, curiosity, and a touch of skepticism. The council seemed to primarily be comprised of elves, each with their own unique appearance. Some wore flowing robes, others bore armor that seemed to meld naturally with their forms. One orc sat to the side, his armor intricately designed but more substantial than that of his companions. Rounding out the assemblage was a centaur, her upper body elegantly poised over a powerful equine form, stood at one end of the table, adding an element of diversity to the assembly.

Elara led Aric to the center of the room where they came to a stop.

Waiting before the Council, Aric shuffled his feet, adjusting his tunic for the tenth time. He hadn't stood trial since - no, he shut the memory down before it could fully form. But similar nerves knotted his stomach now. He was an outsider in this new world, ignorant of their customs and powers. Would they see him as a threat? Elara's subtle glances kept him anchored.

The oldest among them, an elf adorned with a crown of interwoven leaves and twigs, cleared his throat.

"Elara, would you please explain why you've brought this stranger before us?" the elder elf, whom Elara referred to as Master Caelum, asked.

"Master Caelum, this is Aric," she began, her voice filled with a formal tone Aric had not heard before. "He's come through the dimensional rift we've been investigating."

The Council members exchanged worried glances, before leveling scrutinizing stares at Aric that seemed to pierce straight through him.

Great, now I'm not just a stranger; I'm a problem, Aric thought, his palms beginning to sweat.

Master Caelum stared at him intently. "Well then, Aric, please recount the events leading up to your appearance here."

Aric began his tale. Speaking of the horrible sounds that woke him up, to his fight, and subsequent flight from the abominations, the sudden appearance of the tear that ripped him from his home, and even of the Shadowbeats that they fought on the way to the city. As he spoke, he could see the Council members' faces shifting—expressions of disbelief, concern, and intrigue flitted across their features. Elara stood beside him, her eyes occasionally meeting his, offering unspoken support.

Don't mess this up. They're scrutinizing your every word, Aric mentally admonished himself as he reached the end of his story.

For what seemed like an eternity, the room remained silent. Finally, Master Caelum spoke, "This matter requires further deliberation. We shall consult privately. Elara, you will act as his guardian in the meantime. Following this meeting, you will need to have the boy registered and tested for any latent attunements to aether, after all it's not normal to be able to traverse the rifts via such mundane means."

Aric's heart sank as he digested the word "guardian," hardly listening to the rest of the statement.

That sounds final, as if I'm now a part of this world, whether I like it or not, he thought.

"May I ask where I'll be staying?" Aric inquired.

"Once we've completed your registration, you will be staying in my quarters," Elara quickly replied, preempting any other answers. "The council has remanded you into my care, after all. I can assure you they are quite comfortable."

Wait, did she just wink at me? his thoughts ground to a halt. His mind too torn between ingrained instincts and all of the day's events to fully process anything beyond that.

His thoughts were interrupted by Master Caelum speaking as he nodded approvingly, "Now that we've taken care of all of that, please do try to acclimate yourself to our realm to the best of your ability. You never know when we may need to call on you for additional questions regarding these rather strange events. You're both dismissed."

"Yes sir," Elara replied, said as she practically dragged Aric from the room, her pace quickening as they crossed the threshold back into the main hall. "That went better than expected," she said, almost to herself.

Aric froze, puzzled. "Better? You said it was going to be fine!"

Elara only smiled back at him, a mischievous glint in her eye as she continued crossing the large hall.

Why do I get the feeling that she knows more than she's letting on? Aric pondered. I've got to be more cautious; this place seems charming but there are undercurrents I don't understand.

"Dammit," Aric muttered as he hurried to catch up.

The pair made their way toward one of the many doors lining the hall. This door bore a symbol resembling a flame encased in a droplet of water, glowing with an ethereal light. One of the only doors on this side that stood out from the rest in any way.

"Welcome to the Hall of Nexus," Elara announced as she pushed the door open without breaking stride.

As they stepped through, Aric felt a pulse of magical energy wash over him, similar to when he first entered the city. The room beyond was unlike any he had ever seen, filled with array of arcane instruments, glowing orbs, and what looked to be testing areas delineated by intricate magical circles drawn on the floor.

"The Hall of Nexus serves as a research and training facility," Elara explained. "Here we mages experiment, study, develop new artifacts, and also where we evaluate the uninitiated, like yourself."

Aric looked around, taking it all in. Each section of the hall seemed devoted to a different form of study or practice—alchemy, elemental manipulation, enchanting, and more. A handful of mages were deeply engrossed in their work, scarcely noticing the newcomers.

As they walked through the Hall of Nexus, Aric felt a new sensation settle over him—a mix of wonder, apprehension, and curiosity. For a moment, he found himself forgetting the terrifying creatures he'd fled from, the unsettling council meeting, and the sheer strangeness of it being ripped from his home. Instead, he allowed himself to be captivated by the air of potential that filled the room.

"Come," Elara said, breaking into his reverie as she led him toward the far end of the hall. "It's time to make this official. Let's get you registered with the guild. Then maybe we'll find out exactly what you're capable of."

Aric followed her, curiosity overcoming his initial reservations.