We kept climbing, the alabaster steps felt softer with each step, as though the magic of this place itself was cushioning our progress. It felt like the stairs were lifting us, not the other way around. I was winded, tired. But this wasn’t like climbing normal stairs. Twenty, thirty, forty floors would have been enough to make me need a break, but strangely, none of us faltered. Each step seemed to carry less weight than the last.

We didn’t see a single other person on the staircase. The hallways below had been bustling, but here, it seemed as if most of the denizens of this facility preferred the translocators.

I could feel the subtle pull of the kinetic barrier just beyond the edge, humming with latent energy. The Grand Staircase stretched on impossibly high, the ceiling still far beyond reach, though we must have climbed hundreds—maybe even thousands—of steps. I didn’t dare look up again, the sense of endless height pressing down on me.

"Are we... almost there?" I asked, my voice more winded than I would have liked.

Cassie slowed, glancing back over her shoulder with an amused grin. "Almost there! But you’ll want to see this."

Felix chuckled beside me, keeping pace as if the climb wasn’t affecting him at all. "Trust me, it’s worth it."

We rounded another bend in the staircase, and the soft marble underfoot turned into something harder, more polished—like stepping from a mattress onto a smooth stone floor. The air shifted too, the cool, metallic taste of the complex gave way to something richer, laced with the scent of wet earth and greenery. I could hear it too—the faint sound of water rushing in the distance.

And then the world opened up again.

We emerged onto a wide, sunlit terrace, framed by massive archways of marble and vine. Ahead of us, stretching as far as the eye could see, was a jungle—no, an entire ecosystem thriving within this place’s walls. Trees taller than buildings, their branches interwoven into a thick canopy, cast dappled shadows across the floor. Plants of every imaginable shade of green stretched toward the sky, their leaves curling and twisting in ways that defied logic. It felt like stepping into an entirely different world, but the strange, engineered precision kept me grounded in the reality of this place.

Cassie turned back to me, a grin on her face. “Welcome to the Lobby.”

Lobby? That was one way to describe it, I guess. I blinked, trying to adjust my eyes to the brightness, but it didn’t seem like a fitting word. It wasn’t a lobby—it was a sprawling, massive jungle, a space that felt almost too large to exist inside a building. Above us, even higher, were birds—or at least, bird-like creatures. They flitted between the treetops in an effortless dance, their wings shimmering in the dappled sunlight like fragments of a prism. Their colors—iridescent yellows, deep purples, flashing golds—darted against the endless canopy of green.

For a moment, I just stopped walking. It was overwhelming, this seamless blend of nature and something else—magic, technology, techno-magic? I wasn’t sure. Everything was too perfect, too crafted.

But then, there it was—something at the back of my mind, tugging at me. That quiet voice, the one that had been showing up more often lately. It wasn’t screaming this time, though. No, this time it felt like a coiled spring. Tense. Ready. The change wasn’t obvious to anyone else, but to me, it felt like the world was holding its breath. The feeling was different now, muted but present, like it was waiting for something to happen.

I thought about the Courage rune I had seen in Chas’s eyes. Courage was facing danger head-on, standing firm against fear. But this? It felt like something more reckless. This felt more like bravery—a kind of reckless determination. A willingness to face what was coming, but without the need to conquer it. The spring inside me never unwound, just kept winding, pulling tighter, as if it knew more than I did.

The moment I felt it tighten further was when a creature emerged from the dense underbrush. At first, it seemed like a large bird, the way it moved, strutting up to Cassie and Felix with an air of casual confidence. But then it came into full view.

It was big—bigger than I’d thought. Too big to be just a bird. Its feathered body gleamed in the sunlight, the colors vivid and unnatural, like polished metal. Talons, long and sharp, clicked against the ground as it moved. Its eyes gleamed with a dangerous intelligence, and there was nothing soft about it now that I could see it up close.

Cassie reached out, scratching the creature under its chin like it was some harmless pet. “Good girl,” she murmured, smiling as it leaned into her touch.

The spring inside me trembled, pulling every muscle tight with it. I felt my heart skip a beat. What... what in the hell was that?

“Is that... a velociraptor?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Felix and Cassie exchanged surprised glances. “Close enough,” Felix said with a chuckle. “Velociraptorinae. But yeah, we can call it that for now.” He waved a hand toward the creature. “Ever seen one before?”

“Wait... you’re telling me this thing is a freaking velociraptor? No way.”

I stared, dumbfounded, as Cassie continued to pet the raptor’s feathered neck, its sharp talons flexing as it let out a soft, almost bird-like chirp. This wasn’t just a bird, though. It was... a dinosaur. A literal dinosaur. Standing right in front of me.

The crew was laughing and joking as if this thing was just a regular part of their day, but I couldn’t ignore that tightening feeling inside me. That subtle whisper of danger hadn’t gone away; it was still there, winding tighter with each passing second. The raptor wasn’t attacking, sure—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it could. And if it did, I’d be ready. Or, at least, I hoped I would be.

I stared at the raptor, still processing what Felix had just said. Velociraptorinae? Seriously?

"Raptors were long gone before my people even existed," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But we’ve found their remains and recreated them—at least, as best we could. I’m led to believe they were aggressive... carnivorous creatures."

Felix raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Recreated them? Like how?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts that still clung to the idea of a raptor casually being petted like a dog. But that spring inside me stayed wound—now even tighter, like something was about to give.

"Well," I began, carefully, "we put the fossilized bones together to get a feel for what they looked like. It’s called paleontology—specialists dig up these ancient remains and piece them together like a giant ancient puzzle."

Cassie tilted her head, still scratching the raptor’s neck. The damn thing was purring like a housecat, which did nothing to ease my nerves. "Fascinating," she murmured. "And how accurate were these... recreations?"

I couldn’t help but chuckle, my nerves getting the best of me. "Honestly? They were shit. We got it wrong for decades. We thought they were all scaly, like giant lizards. Turns out they had feathers, like... well, like her." I nodded toward the raptor, still marveling at how relaxed the creature was. Its feathers shimmered under the sunlight, the colors shifting with every slight movement.

The tension inside me refused to release, though. Every instinct I had screamed that something else was coming.

The raptor let out another chirp, this time stepping closer to me. I tensed again, but it was more from instinct than fear now. The coiled spring in my chest was wound so tight, I knew it would snap the second something went wrong.

The raptor suddenly barked—a sharp, high-pitched sound that echoed through the trees. From somewhere deep behind us, another bark answered. The raptor’s feathers began to shimmer and shift, motes of light gathering around it until its body seemed to blur out of focus. It wasn’t gone, but it wasn’t fully there, either.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Cassie smiled, her voice fond as she watched the creature vanish into the trees. “She doesn’t like to get too far from her family. Raptors, even the mana-infused ones, are fiercely protective of their own."

I stared at the spot where the raptor had been, my mind reeling. Raptors... with mana. That could turn invisible.

Felix chuckled softly beside me. “Just wait until you see the ones that can breathe fire.”

Cassie smacked him. Hard. “Now who isn’t helping,” She chided.

"Okay great," I said, my voice a little higher than usual. "I'll deal with fire-breathing raptors later. So, what exactly are monsters?"

Felix's expression sobered. "Well," he said, "I’m not totally sure, but there are theories they're created when mana beasts hunt other mana beasts. The process seems to... change them, somehow."

Cassie nodded, her brow furrowing. "It's like the mana within them becomes stronger. They lose their connection to natural balance and start to hunt more and more. Becoming stronger with each beast they hunt in their own class."

"Their own class?" I asked.

Cassie nodded, continuing her explanation as we walked through the jungle. "Yeah, monsters can kind of hit breakpoints, so we classify them. Makes it easier to send the right hunters for the job." She gestured with her hands as she spoke, her eyes alight with knowledge. "See, a Class F monster might be dangerous, but it's still pretty close to a normal mana beast. It's when they start hitting Class E or D that things get dicey."

I nodded slowly, trying to absorb this new information. "So, the higher the class, the more dangerous they are?"

"Exactly," Felix chimed in. "A Class A monster is basically a mobile apocalypse. Although it's been a long time since one has gotten that far."

I shook my head, taking it all in as we continued. Animals that can level up and if left unchecked can destroy civilization? That was a scary concept given that we were surrounded by them in this strange place.

As we walked deeper into the atrium, the sheer variety of creatures around us became more and more apparent. Mana beasts of every shape and size seemed to fill the space, each one more fantastical than the last. A herd of what looked like deer with shimmering, crystalline antlers grazed peacefully in a nearby glade, while a flock of birds with wings that shifted through every color of the rainbow flitted overhead.

I started to notice a trend in the animals as we walked. Some were much larger than their smaller followers as they grazed or flew around the atrium. Those that were larger seemed unique and seemed far more interesting than their smaller, simpler cousins.

Through the trees, I could see a group of creatures that resembled oversized yellow otters, their sleek fur glinting with a metallic sheen as they played in a bubbling stream. The water itself seemed to glow with an inner light, casting a soft, ethereal illumination on the surrounding foliage. A much larger otter-creature rose out of the river, its clearly golden fur glimmering with residual light from the water. It looked towards me and cocked its head in a way that indicated it was assessing me.

“So hunters keep the balance?” I asked suddenly.

Cassie nodded, her expression light. "That's the gist of it. It's not an easy job but there’s never any shortage of people willing to join up. It helps that you get to see the world and get stronger. You get to make your mark.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with the implications. In my world, the concept of animals evolving was a slow, gradual process spanning millions of years. But here? It seemed like it could happen in a matter of days, or even hours. The thought was both fascinating and terrifying.

As we ventured deeper into the atrium, I couldn't help but marvel at the fluid grace with which Cassie and Felix moved. They walked with a confident, almost predatory stride, their eyes constantly scanning our surroundings. It was clear they were no strangers to this kind of environment, even if the specifics of this place were new to them.

I watched as Cassie's gaze flitted from one mana beast to another, her expression one of calculated interest rather than wide-eyed wonder. She seemed to be cataloging each creature, assessing its potential as either an ally or a threat. Her hand never strayed far from the weapon at her hip, a subtle reminder of the danger that lurked beneath the atrium's breathtaking beauty.

Felix, too, moved with a purpose, his broad shoulders squared and his steps measured. His eyes, a striking shade of green, held a sharpness that belied his easy smile. He scanned the canopy above us, his gaze lingering on the birds that darted between the branches. I got the sense that he was mapping out potential escape routes, should the need arise.

We continued deeper into the atrium, the lush greenery stretching endlessly in every direction. Despite the beauty of it all, that tight spring in my chest kept coiling. Something was off. The air had changed—heavier now, more oppressive. A creeping sense of danger was closing in around us, but it was subtle, like a distant predator watching from the shadows.

I glanced at Cassie, and for a moment, I wasn't sure if she felt it too. Felix was still talking about the mana beasts when I finally spoke up. “Does anyone else... feel that? I’ve been on high alert since the raptor…”

Cassie stopped, turning back to me. Her eyes narrowed, scanning the treetops and the ground around us. “Shit... now that you mention it.”

Felix frowned, clearly confused at first, but then his expression darkened. “Oh yeah, I feel it too. Its barely there, how did you- this isn't common, not here in the lobby.”

As if on cue, the underbrush rustled, and something large shifted in the shadows. It was hard to focus on it, like the thing was there and not there at the same time. I blinked, trying to get a clear look, but my vision kept slipping over it. One second it was beside a tree, the next it seemed to be behind us.

Felix raised his hand, magic crackling at his fingertips. “Panther... at least, I think it’s a panther. It seems to have some kind of displacement ability.”

Snap. I was about to say something when that spring-like feeling inside exploded open. Before I knew what was happening, I had already taken a step back, my body moving on instinct. My heart pounded in my chest, and I realized—I was dodging. I’d already reacted before I could even think.

But the creature didn't reach me.

Instead, it slammed into the ground with a bone-shaking crash. For a moment, I thought Felix had cast a spell, but then I saw it—the golden otter from earlier, its fur shimmering in the dappled light, standing triumphantly over the panther. The otter was much larger than I thought, at least eight feet tall.

“Easy, now,” the otter said in a thick, melodic accent—Creole, almost. “Ya know better than to cause trouble here, don’t ya, cher?” It grabbed the panther by the scruff and lifted it, the panther whining pitifully. “I saw him when ya walked past just now. Terribly sorry, mes amis.”

I stood there, slack-jawed. My heart was still racing, my pulse thundering in my ears. Did... did that otter just talk? And apologize?

“Uh, thanks?” I said as the panther gave us a pitiful look while being carried back into the jungle.

“And the monsters keep balance in here,” Cassie said, matter-of-fact, her tension almost completely gone. Felix only nodded. He seemed to be slower to relax, still watching the spot where the panther had appeared.

“I haven’t seen a Lutrin that big before,” Felix said, his tension shifting completely to fascination. “Late-stage Class E, maybe even early Class D!”

“That. That was a monster right?” I asked, my voice still a little shaky.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that to his face,” Cassie replied with a smile. “But yeah, he technically is. Lutrins are part of a family of mana-beasts that are closer to beast-kin like the Vildar, though. Plus they’re crazy cute.”

I couldn't help but laugh. A giant talking otter, a teleporting panther, a goddamned raptor. I almost went back to thinking this was all a dream but my body ached far too much for it. We’d been walking for quite some time through this jungle, not to mention the ridiculous amount of stairs. How was I not collapsing?

The marble walkway soon led us to a gathering area, a grand plaza with fountains surrounded by benches carved into the stone. The place was bustling with all sorts of creatures—Gaians, Florans, Vildar, and even humanoids with strange, exoskeleton-like shells that gleamed in the sun. They sat together, eating and drinking in small groups, laughing and chatting like they were in a park on a sunny afternoon.

Cassie and I wandered through the crowd, taking in the sight. It felt... peaceful, despite what had just happened. I could feel my tension easing, the tight spring seemingly reset and was slowly winding again. Then I noticed a flash of red out of the corner of my eye.

A girl, Gaian, pale-skinned with vibrant red hair and sharp green eyes—was making her way toward Felix, waving him down. She looked excited, practically bouncing as she approached.

“Felix!… Felix!” she called out, her voice breathless with enthusiasm. “I’ve been dying to talk to you about your paper on compression and weather manipulation. I have so many questions!”

Cassie smirked, nudging me with her elbow as we continued walking. “Is that his girlfriend or something?” I asked.

Cassie snorted. “She wishes,” she replied, watching as Felix’s face flushed bright red making his metallic skin almost orange. He looked like he was about to implode from embarrassment as he stammered out a response to the girl’s rapid-fire questions. Cassie couldn't help but laugh as he tried to keep up with her energy.

By the time Felix caught up to us, his face was still red, and he was trying, and failing, to look composed. “Uh... sorry about that,” he muttered, clearly flustered.

Cassie just grinned. “Don’t worry, Felix. Happens to the best of us.”

He didn't respond, choosing instead to focus on the path ahead. As we walked, the walkway began to shift once again, the polished stone beneath our feet becoming smoother, more reflective. The jungle around us thinned out, giving way to towering white pillars that seemed to rise out of the ground itself.

And then, in the distance, I saw it—the building that dominated the skyline. It was made of pristine alabaster stone, intricately carved and impossibly tall, with vines creeping up the sides, interwoven with the marble. A massive waterfall cascaded down the side of the structure, misting the air around us with a cool, refreshing breeze.

Cassie gestured toward it, her expression a mix of awe and pride. “That’s where we’re headed,” she said. “The front desk.”