Jake Thompson never thought his life would change in an instant. But here he is, in the dusty basement of an old university museum, holding a strange glowing stone in his hands.

"What the hell is this thing?" he muttered, turning the artifact in his hands. The stone was warm to the touch and seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light blinded Jake. When he opened his eyes again, glowing particles swirled around him, forming something resembling a portal.

"Oh my god!" Jake exclaimed, stepping back. But it was too late. An invisible force pulled him toward the portal.

The last thing he heard before disappearing into the whirl of light was the scream of his colleague Sarah: "Jake! What's happening?!"

Moments later, Jake found himself in a completely different world. The sky here was purple, and instead of grass underfoot, glowing crystals grew.

"Oh man, what have I gotten myself into?" Jake whispered, looking around with a mix of fear and awe.

In the distance, he noticed a strange creature that looked like a cross between a deer and a firefly. It turned its glowing head toward him and made a melodic sound.

Jake swallowed. "Okay, buddy, it looks like we're not in Kansas anymore," he said to himself, taking the first step into this new, amazing world.

Jake cautiously moved forward, his sneakers crunching on the crystalline surface. "Alright, Jake, get it together. You're a scientist, for crying out loud. You need to study everything," he muttered under his breath.

The deer-like creature slowly approached him, its glowing antennae swaying gently. Jake froze, unsure of what to expect.

"Hey, buddy," he said nervously with a smile. "I'm new here. Can you tell me where the nearest Starbucks is?"

The creature tilted its head to the side, as if trying to understand him. Then it made a series of melodic sounds and nodded its head toward the horizon.

"Got it, thanks for the help, dude," Jake laughed nervously. "God, I'm talking to an alien deer. Mom would be proud."

Suddenly, the ground beneath Jake shook. In the distance, he saw a massive wave of something resembling liquid light rushing straight toward him.

"Oh crap!" Jake shouted, turning and running. The firefly-deer also turned and raced alongside him.

Jake ran as fast as he could, his lungs burning from the exertion. "Hey, buddy," he gasped, addressing the deer. "Any ideas on where we should go?"

The creature made another melodic sound and sharply turned left. With no better plan, Jake followed it.

They burst into a clearing where a massive tree with glowing leaves towered above them. The firefly-deer nudged Jake toward the trunk.

"You want me to climb up? Seriously?" Jake looked at the approaching wave of light. "Ah, what the hell. Here goes nothing!"

He began to climb the trunk, amazed at how easily his hands found purchase. The deer somehow also climbed the tree, using its slender legs with incredible agility.

Jake barely made it to a high branch when the wave of light engulfed the clearing below them. He held tightly to the trunk, watching as the world below transformed into a shimmering sea.

"Wow," he whispered, gazing at the breathtaking sight. "Looks like I've landed in the most epic adventure of my life."

The firefly-deer made a soothing sound, as if agreeing with him.

Jake took a deep breath, trying to process everything happening. "Okay, Jake, think. How do I get back home? And more importantly, do you want to go back?"

Jake sat on the branch of the glowing tree, watching as the wave of light slowly receded. His new deer friend quietly snorted beside him.

"Alright, buddy, it's time to get down and figure out what's going on here," Jake muttered, cautiously beginning to descend.

When his feet touched the ground, he felt something crunch under his sole. Bending down, Jake picked up a small glowing crystal.

"Hmm, interesting..." he turned the crystal in his hands. "Looks like that stone from the museum, just smaller."

Suddenly, the crystal glowed brighter, and Jake felt strange images and sensations arise in his mind.

"Wow, dude!" he exclaimed, almost dropping the crystal. "Is this some kind of alien Google Translate?"

The firefly-deer made a melodic sound that now seemed almost understandable to Jake.

"Wait a second, are you trying to tell me something?" Jake stared at the creature. "You... you say these crystals are keys? Keys to what?"

The deer made a few more sounds, and Jake felt images of other worlds, other realities forming in his mind.

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

"Good lord, this is just insane," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "You mean to say there are other worlds besides this one and mine?"

The creature nodded, its antennae glowing softly.

"And this crystal can open a portal to another world?" Jake looked at the stone in his hand. "But how does it work? And why are you helping me?"

The firefly-deer made a series of sounds that Jake could now partially understand. It spoke of an ancient prophecy, of a traveler between worlds who must restore balance.

"Wait a second, you think I'm that traveler?" Jake laughed nervously. "Dude, I'm just an ordinary guy from Boston. I can barely keep my apartment in order, how am I supposed to be a world savior?"

But the creature seemed convinced. It nudged Jake with its snout, as if urging him to move forward.

"Alright, alright, I get it," Jake sighed. "Where are we going?"

The deer led him through a forest of glowing trees. Along the way, Jake noticed other strange creatures: flying jellyfish, glowing butterflies the size of his palm, and even something resembling a translucent wolf.

"God, if the lab guys could see this," he muttered. "They would go crazy."

Finally, they emerged into a huge clearing. In the center stood something resembling an ancient temple made of the same glowing crystals.

"Wow," Jake breathed. "This place looks ancient. Who built it?"

The deer made a series of sounds, and images of an ancient race of beings, similar to his new friend but more majestic and wise, appeared in Jake's mind.

"Your ancestors?" Jake asked, and the deer nodded. "And they created these portals between worlds?"

Another nod.

"But why? And what happened to them?"

The answer came in the form of a series of images: war, destruction, darkness consuming worlds.

"Oh crap," Jake felt a chill run down his spine. "And now that darkness is returning, right?"

The deer made a sad sound, confirming his suspicion.

Jake took a deep breath, looking at the temple before him. "And what am I supposed to do?"

The creature nudged him toward the entrance of the temple. Inside, Jake saw a massive map made of glowing lines and dots.

"This... this is a map of worlds?" he asked, and the deer nodded.

Jake stepped closer, examining the intricate patterns and connections between worlds. Suddenly, he noticed a dark spot slowly spreading across the map.

"Is that it? The darkness you were talking about?"

The deer made a worried sound.

Jake swallowed, feeling a heavy responsibility settle on his shoulders. "Okay, buddy. I don't know why you chose me, and I have no idea what to do. But if I can really help... I'm ready to try."

He raised the crystal he was still holding. "So, where do we start?"

The deer made an approving sound and led Jake to the center of the temple, where a strange pedestal stood with a depression perfectly suited for the crystal.

"Here?" Jake asked, and the creature nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Jake placed the crystal into the depression. "Well then, here goes nothing. Let's do this!"

The crystal glowed brighter, and a new portal began to form around them.

"Oh crap," Jake exhaled, looking at the whirl of light. "Looks like the adventure is just beginning."

He looked at the firefly-deer. "You with me, buddy?"

The creature made a determined sound and stood beside Jake.

"Great," Jake laughed nervously. "Because I'm definitely going to need some help."

With those words, they stepped into the portal together, heading toward new worlds and unknown dangers.

The portal ejected Jake and the firefly-deer onto the shore of an endless ocean. But instead of water, waves of liquid silver lapped at the shore.

"Wow," Jake breathed, looking at the sparkling horizon. "This place is just unreal."

The deer made a warning sound, and Jake noticed the silver wave approaching them.

"Hey, buddy, is this safe?" he asked, stepping back.

The creature shook its head and pulled Jake deeper into the shore. They ran toward the towering crystalline mountains in the distance.

Along the way, Jake noticed strange plants that resembled metallic flowers. Their petals made a melodic chime with the slightest breeze.

"God, I feel like Alice in Wonderland," Jake muttered, cautiously touching one of the flowers.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook. An enormous creature resembling a metallic worm burst from the sand.

"Oh my god!" Jake screamed, jumping aside.

The firefly-deer emitted a piercing sound, and the worm froze. Its segmented body shimmered in the light of the silver ocean.

"Hey, buddy," Jake said nervously, addressing the worm. "We were just passing through. Didn't mean to disturb you."

To his surprise, the worm emitted a series of metallic sounds that Jake could partially understand thanks to the crystal.

"Wait a second," Jake stared at the creature. "Are you saying we broke some ancient law?"

The worm buzzed again, and images of an ancient pact between the inhabitants of this world and the guardians of the portals appeared in Jake's mind.

"Oh crap," Jake looked at the firefly-deer. "Did you know about this?"

The creature lowered its head apologetically.

"Great," Jake sighed. "And what now? Are we going to be arrested? Or executed on the spot?"

The worm emitted a few more sounds, and Jake felt his heart skip a beat.

"A trial?" he asked again. "What kind of trial?"

But before he could get an answer, the ground beneath them opened up, and Jake and the deer fell into darkness.

They fell for what felt like an eternity. Jake screamed, trying to grab onto something, but there was only emptiness around him.

Finally, they landed on something soft. Jake cautiously opened his eyes and saw that they were in a massive cave illuminated by glowing mushrooms.

"Well, alright," he muttered, getting to his feet. "Looks like the trial has begun."

The firefly-deer stood beside him, its antennae flickering in the dim light of the cave.

Suddenly, they heard a strange sound echoing through the cave. It was neither the roar of a monster nor the sound of water. It was... laughter?

"Hey," Jake squinted into the darkness. "Who's there?"

From the shadows emerged a figure that took Jake's breath away. It was... himself.

"Hello, Jake," said the doppelgänger with a smirk. "Ready to meet your deepest fears?"

Jake swallowed, feeling a chill run down his spine. "Who are you? And what is this place?"

The doppelgänger laughed, and his laughter echoed through the cave. "Me? I am you, Jake. More precisely, that part of you that you've always tried to ignore. And this place? This is your mind, buddy. Welcome to the darkest corners of your subconscious."

The firefly-deer emitted a worried sound, pressing against Jake's leg.

"Don't worry, buddy," Jake placed a hand on the creature's head, trying to calm not only it but himself as well. "We'll get through this."

The doppelgänger smirked again. "Oh, I wouldn't count on that. You have no idea what's waiting for you."

With those words, the cave began to change. The walls trembled, and images from Jake's past began to appear around him - his failures, fears, moments of weakness.

"So, Jake," said the doppelgänger, his eyes glowing in the dim light. "Ready to find out who you really are?"

Jake clenched his fists, feeling his heart race. He didn't know what awaited him, but he understood one thing - this trial could change him forever.

"Alright," he exhaled, looking straight into the eyes of his doppelgänger. "Let's do this."

And with those words, the world around him exploded into a kaleidoscope of images and emotions, plunging Jake into the deepest and darkest corners of his own mind.