Two pillars set in front of a wall, both reaching to the ceiling. Inscriptions snaking up on the pillars, the blue glow pulsating rhythmically as Anaya watched. She could not make out the texts of inscriptions, her eyes tearing up every time she tried to read them. The bee floated in front of the pillars, the light from the anode in her hand casting a shadow that disappeared between the pillars.
She saw Saraya’s antenna twitch and light up, a brilliant change happening between the pillars.
She stared at a blue shimmer between the pillars, a brilliant sky blue slowly coming to life. After a few moments, she could no longer make out the wall behind. She looked at what she could only assume was a portal. The reality of what she was observing was too much for her. She turned her hand to Saraya, who was motioning for her to go through.
She had put away her sword and staff, opting for the anode she had somehow forgotten about. She now understood the importance of a full mana pool. The last few minutes served as a beautiful reminder.
Low on mana, it had been hard to navigate the tunnel, night-vision, and the sword was too mana intensive for usage.
She looked at the bee as it continued to motion for her to go in.
“Ummm, is that what I think it is?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is that a portal?”
“You mean a портал?”
“What is a портал?”
“A gateway connection between places. This one connects to mother.”
“So it is a portal.”
Anaya watched as a concept that she had always loved in front of her. She loved traveling, but hated the preparation work. She just wanted to get to where she needed to be as fast as possible.
The idea of going through a doorway and appearing somewhere else always intrigued her.
“Mother has been waiting. Go through, ill be behind you.”
“Why can’t you go first?”
Saraya just stared at her, and she remembered her attempts to escape a couple of minutes ago.
“Do I have to go through this? It is honestly fascinating, but I don’t trust this.”
“The other option is a three day fly within these tunnels, and I doubt you will handle that.”
“Mother still waits. Go through, it is safe.”
“Do I have to...?”
“Yes!”
Saraya continued to insist on the portal, as Anaya failed to persuade him. Although she loved the idea of the portal, she was hesitant to go through. She did not know what was waiting for her on the other side. Saraya’s determination to not keep mother waiting left her with no choice, and she understood this. Visible impatience and irritation from Saraya and Anaya stepped into the portal, eyes closed.
It felt like she was underwater, her ears experiencing a slight pop from the sudden shift in pressure. The next moment, she felt like she was in a river. Her feet planted as she felt the pressure of what felt like a torrent of water push through her. She felt like she was about to be swept up at any moment, but her feet remained strong.
A moment later, the torrent stopped and the first thing she noticed was how warm it was. The tunnel had been wet and cold and the warmth was a welcome surprise.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
She opened her eyes to a picture perfect cavern. Seven large crystal stalactites hung from the ceiling, surrounding a large white sphere in the center of the cavern. Each crystal pointing downwards towards a crystal stalagmite on the ground, where a colored orb set on top. Each orb a different color, a fire red, a deep water blue, a sand brown, a sky green, a dark black, a life green and a death black. The colors of the crystal were brilliant, a stunning canvas on the ceiling. The colors of the orbs they were connected to matched the colors of the stalagmites and stalactites.
The cavern separated into seven different sections behind each orb, the separation clear, but it still melded together seamlessly. New bee types flying around the cavern, going on about, doing different activities. There was a clear specialization of the bees as their colors matched each section. The bee’s motions were deliberate and enchanting, accompanied by a gentle buzzing sound.
Colored drops occasionally fell from the stalactites onto the orbs, the drop flowing down the stalagmite into a pool at the center of the cavern. The pool transparent, the colored drops not affecting the pool.
A trickle from the pool flowing upwards to the sphere in the center, completing the cycle of flow.
Anaya watched in stupefaction, the buzz of activity and the gentle energy in the cavern calming her nerves. She could see the balance, could feel it spread throughout the cavern.
“Child, Welcome”
A deep but gentle sound echoed into the cavern, all activity coming to a stop as every bee flying about turned to the sphere in surprise; the buzz dying in the air.
Anaya turned to the sphere, understanding where the voice came from. She did not know what to say; a sphere was talking to her.
Trying to figure out a response to that, she was about to reply when Saraya came in from behind her, the room’s energy shifting once more, every bee turning to them.
Ding!
Kósmos language detected
Activate auto translation?
Yes/No
Anaya chittered a yes, the bees flying close by, aghast as they heard her speak their language.
“Tsk,”
“Child, welcome.” The sphere said once more.
Ding!
Common Mons language detected
Activate auto translation?
Yes/No
She ignored the second notification as she replied to the talking sphere.
“Thank you,” she said.
As soon as she spoke, she saw stars in her vision, the world spinning as she realized she was staring at the ceiling, no longer on her feet. She felt drained. It felt like she hadn’t slept for days.
Even her worst days, spending nights without sleep preparing for exams, had not been this bad.
Sleep was about to claim her when she felt Saraya grumble as he picked her up.
“Wake up, you are in the presence of mother.”
“What is happening to me?”
“How do you know that language, child?”
“Huh?”
“How do you know that language, child?”
Saraya shoved the girl that was falling asleep in front of mother.
“Wake up, you disrespectful girl!”
“Give her a stamina potion, she is exhausted”
“Yes, mother.”