The experience of portal travel always left Callum disoriented. Despite having traversed only three portals in his life, including the one he was presently using, the sensation had yet to become familiar to him. His family had insisted that he and his sister journey to one of their outposts on a far-off planet to experience the phenomenon firsthand.
As the portal’s power enveloped him, it felt as though the very ground beneath his feet was dropping away. Callum’s stomach heaved, threatening to upend its contents. But as quickly as it had begun, the sensation dissipated. His body had adjusted to the sudden absence of gravity, and he now hurtled through space faster than should be possible.
This journey was a stressful one. The infinite expanse of the cosmos, populated by stars and planets that hurtled past in multicolored streaks, left Callum feeling insignificant. Blurring together in a dizzying display, the rapid passing of galaxies caused his surroundings to resemble a tunnel of bright lines. To calm himself, he reached down and clutched the leather-bound book in his pocket.
A smile spread across his face as he recalled the expression of disbelief and anger on his eldest brother’s face. Stepping into the portal before the inevitable “for the betterment of the family” speech had been worth it, even if it meant facing his brother’s wrath in the future.
Callum journeyed on for some time, the sensation of the slipstream still thrumming through his veins. Despite the pounding of his heart and the curiosity that beckoned him, he opted to keep his eyes shut and his right hand jammed in his pocket. Not long after he had begun to zone out altogether, a strange sensation seized hold of his soul, wrenching him from the slipstream and sending him hurtling into the unknown.
All of a sudden, Callum felt the tug of gravity seize hold of him once again, sending him reeling and stumbling to regain his footing. When he opened his eyes, he was met with a sight that took his breath away. Before him lay a floor of exquisite white, grey, and black stone, so polished that it shimmered in the dim light. Yet the floor was marred with deep fissures and scars, the once-pristine surface now pockmarked with cracks and craters.
But it wasn’t just the damaged floor that drew Callum’s attention. Beyond the ornate stone lay a vast expanse of nothingness, an endless void that stretched out in all directions. The ground, once again, was split and fractured, with small pieces of stone drifting off into space as they became unmoored from the main body of the floor.
Callum’s eyes widened in shock, and he dropped his center of gravity down to keep low. He kept one hand on the ground as he fished his wand from its holster with the other. His heart pounding with fear and anticipation, he scanned the area for any signs of danger or potential threat.
Ahead of him, the stone floor continued for about twenty paces before falling away, leaving only the expanse of space between this platform and the next. But there was something else on the far platform that drew Callum’s eye. A breathtaking stone archway stood alone amidst the desolate emptiness, beckoning him toward the room beyond.
As he looked around, Callum couldn’t help but notice the strange discoloration in the space surrounding the floor. Frozen lightning crackled in the air, warping his vision of the stars beyond. Yet despite the danger that lurked all around him, Callum could feel a strong magical pull coming from the room beyond.
This was the adventure I was just asking for, was it not? Idiot.
Callum took a deep breath, putting aside his self-deprecation, and pulled up his System Menu, eager to see where he was.
Location: ??? Name: Callumir Venor Class: Enchanter Level: 20
Callum checked his location and stats. Everything was the same as it had been less than an hour ago. His class hadn’t been reset, indicating that he hadn’t yet reached Arcadia. But the question remained: Why was he here? Nothing should be able to interfere with a System-generated portal like the golden one he had stepped into.
He surveyed his surroundings, noting where the System identified ‘Location’ with question marks. Was it that the System didn’t know where he was or was he not given access to that information?
Determined to embark on the adventure he had been so motivated to receive, Callum assumed a half-crouch and proceeded with hesitant steps, mindful of the unstable terrain beneath him.
As his travel boots clicked on the floor, causing an odd echo despite the open surroundings, Callum approached the edge of the first platform. He surveyed the expanse before him, searching for the best spot to make his leap. Though the distance was considerable, his confidence as an Enchanter carried him forward. He was certain that he could [Blink] at the peak of his jump and clear the gap.
Taking a few steps back, he took a deep breath and sprinted toward the edge. Pushing off with all of his meager strength and dexterity modifiers, he launched himself into the air, but his momentum soon waned, and he feared he’d be pulled down into the gaping maw below. Just as he was about to begin to plummet, Callum activated [Blink], and with a silent flash of light, he materialized ten yards ahead. His momentum carried him forward, but he had cleared the distance with ease.
As he touched down, Callum felt the impact reverberate through his body. He managed to tuck into a roll, but it was far from graceful. Acrobatics had never been his forte.
As he rose to his feet, he couldn’t help but grin at the gap he had just cleared. With a flick of his wrist, he pushed a stray lock of hair behind his pointed ear and peered down. “Wish you could’ve seen that one, buddy,” he said, addressing no one in particular.
But as he turned to make his way toward the grand archway, something caught his eye. A jagged tear in his fine robes sliced clean through. Callum’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. How could such a well-crafted garment be so easily damaged?
He glanced back over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of the frozen, discolored lightning. “Did I brush against that?” he wondered aloud. Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and continued on his way. He knew that his sister, stationed on Arcadia, would have skilled Tailor Class retainers at her disposal. They could mend his robes once he arrived.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
As Callum strode forward, his eyes fixed on the archway, a figure materialized before him, causing him to yelp and stumble backward in an undignified manner. The man stood motionless, a silent sentinel guarding the entrance to this mysterious realm.
Collecting himself, Callum straightened his robes and cleared his throat. “Greetings, stranger. Can you tell me where we are? What is the nature of this place?” He said, hoping to steer the conversation away from his utterly embarrassing reaction. His sister, had she seen it, would never let him live that down.
As the man opened his mouth to respond, his image flickered and wavered as if he were a mere illusion. Callum couldn’t help but wonder if he was even real. After the brief bout of flickering subsided, he returned to his motionless position as if he hadn’t moved to begin with.
The man’s appearance did little to waylay Callum’s suspicions. He sported a laughably oversized pointed hat that drooped to the side, and his white robes exuded an aura of power that set Callum’s [Passive: Enchanting Sense] ablaze. A well-groomed beard cascaded down to his chest, and in one hand, he clutched a simple wooden staff with a white crystal nestled in its curling top. Beneath the beard, a golden necklace with a gem that matched the surrounding space protruded, lending an otherworldly air to the man’s already absurd appearance.
Callum’s elder siblings often spoke of the formidable beings that they dealt with in the upper echelons of the Mortal Realm. They would regale him with tales of two distinct kinds of individuals. One type would strut around in their ostentatious finery, boasting of the master craftsperson who had created their exquisite gear. The other kind, however, wore nondescript attire that betrayed its practicality. Callum’s siblings always cautioned him against antagonizing the latter group. For they were the truly dangerous Challengers.
And as fate would have it, the man who stood before Callum now was of the latter. His gear was devoid of any embellishment, unlike the once grand marble hall that now lay in ruins around them. Instead of being decorative trinkets that the uneducated might covet, the man’s attire suggested true potency and the ability to be deftly wielded with frequency.
Callum spent several more minutes attempting to cajole the illusion into action once more but to no avail. His heart raced as he inched closer to the archway. He knew that there were illusions that could distract or strike, and he was certain that if this particular one were to attack, he would be dead before he could even react.
As Callum crept past the illusory figure, it remained fixed in place. It continued to look in the direction from which he had come. Though it flickered from time to time, no further response came. With hesitant caution, Callum pressed on, casting his gaze toward the room that lay beyond.
It bore a striking resemblance to the platform he had just left, yet there was something more complete about it. Three of its walls stood strong and unyielding, and seven pedestals were arranged in a neat line at the far end of the room. Callum crept slowly into the room, keeping a watchful eye on the illusory figure as he moved.
Without warning, something shifted. The frozen lightning that had once adorned the walls surged to life, spreading wildly across the left side of the room and causing the walls to crumble away. It was then that Callum finally realized what he was seeing. Those bolts of lightning were no mere tricks of the eye - they were cracks in the fabric of space itself. This was a pocket dimension, and it was rapidly disintegrating.
Callum berated himself for his earlier ignorance. The clean cut in his robe should have been a clear sign of the danger he was in. With no other options remaining, he knew he had to act quick if he wished to survive. Fixing his gaze upon the pedestals before him, he made his decision. He could sense powerful energy emanating from the podium on the far right, and he was determined to claim it for himself.
With a burst of speed, Callum darted across the room, taking care not to touch any of the treacherous cracks in the fabric of space that surrounded him.
Upon the seventh stand, positioned at the far rightmost edge, was a single item. Every other pedestal was empty. A golden amulet rested atop the pristine, white-marbled stone. As Callum gazed upon the glittering trinket, his mind recognized it as the amulet that the illusory man had worn. Looking over his shoulder, Callum realized that the illusion had vanished, leaving no trace behind.
A sudden, jarring sound echoed throughout the chamber as a colossal slab of stone that formed the archway shattered, ascending into the great unknown beyond. Full of apprehension, Callum braced himself for potential dangers and extended his hand. He took hold of the weighty golden chain and lifted the precious amulet from its resting place. As his fingers connected with the metal surface he used [Analyze], and a barrage of System messages overwhelmed his senses, obscuring his vision.
Item: The Cottage Key
Rarity: Mythic
Passive: ???
Active: ???
Warning Adventurer:
This item forces a class change on its wearer. As with all things, The System is designed to maintain balance. If you choose to accept this item, you will be class locked to:
Base Class: Arcane Tinkerer
Base Class Rarity: Legendary
Do you accept? Yes/No
Warnning Adventurer:
The final artifact has been claimed from the Hallowed Halls. The pocket dimension will close completely in 60 seconds. Those still within the space after closing will face true death.
Do you wish to be teleported out of the pocket dimension? Yes/No
Callum’s hands began to shake.
This item is Mythic quality? What does it do? New class? Class locked?! I don’t even know what that class is. TRUE DEATH?!
Panic threatened to take over Callum’s thought processes. He needed to get out of here. Did he take the item? No, his family already had a plan laid out for him. He had a streamlined process to level up. A guaranteed path to power.
He set the amulet back on the pedestal, and as he began to relinquish his hold of the chain, he felt a violent buzzing sensation from his pocket. The abrupt feeling made Callum jump. He looked down.
“Really?” He hesitated, all the while seeing the System counter tick down in a floating window at the top of his vision.
15. 14. 13. 12. 11.
Callum gripped the chain tight and mentally slammed the *Yes* option twice. Book was right. This was far too rare of an artifact to pass up. His family would understand. He would make it work and show them that he could forge his own path.
5. 4. 3.
Suddenly, the floor fell out from under Callum’s feet once again, and he was traveling through the slipstream toward Arcadia.