With no other clues to follow, it seemed best to follow the men in white. They acted similar to the clergy on Veith, which led him to assume what they would do next: take Cassie to a safe location. They lifted the child on a stretcher and mother to her feet as they guided them both through the vehicle's back doors. Once inside the vehicle, the doors closed and the vehicle drove off. Red lights glared and a loud siren resounded from the top of it.

As the vehicle sped off, Gemini immediately followed, but his mind raced much faster on the current dilemma. If the child was indeed a carrier of one of the keys, then that would be quite problematic. Drexel might have released a Nocturn in this world, and Nocturns were specifically drawn to Tolvia's scent. The crisp, clean scent of the sacred tree resonated throughout Veith when it was whole. Back then, it was the Integra's side duty just to keep any Nocturns from approaching the tree. If a Nocturn was roaming about, it would be only a matter of time before Cassie was spotted since a part of Tolvia resided in her. Though he wondered would he be hunted by the creature as well? A secret about himself came to surface. One he kept even from the Integras. He shook his head to shake away the thought. He needed to focus.

After a few blocks of tailing the vehicle, a large bellow came from the opposite direction.

It was so loud that Gemini had to stop and cover his ears from the pain. "What was that?" he said, wincing. He looked around and people were still going about their daily walk. Nothing really seemed out of place. That was until he turned around and noticed a crowd forming in the park.

He ran towards the crowd and got as close as possible. They were huddled together. And when he got into the middle of the crowd he realized why. There were several people laid on the ground shivering rapidly. But, why? What would cause this?

The roar echoed in the distance. Snap, Boom, Boom. The deafening sounds urged him to find its source. And find it he did. In the park, A large Nocturn rampaged through the area. At 15 feet high, it was the biggest yet. The shadow-like creature had the body of lion with piercing green eyes. Its entire dark frame emitted black smoke as it ran on four bulging legs. It was an interesting beast to behold; but, since it was bent on destruction, it wasn't the friendliest.

The monster was running deeper and deeper into the park leaving each person it passed through in an incontrollable shivering attack. Though the people were not physically harmed, he could only imagine the mental pain they were experiencing. Just then, the Nocturn bellowed again in a loud guttural roar before swiping a nearby tree out by the root!

"How in the..." Gemini muttered slowly. Even he had no force over physical objects in this world.

Gemini felt an immediate drop in his stomach as a theory played in his head; what if the longer they stayed, the more stable they became? Before long, the Nocturn could damage much more than just the forest.

He began to run after the creature. However, within seconds, it collapsed to the ground. Its legs were bound to its side by bright rings. Gemini stopped and stared. Well, guess he didn't have to do anything. But, such a feat only meant one thing.

"Man, took forever to track that thing down," a voice said.

Gemini took a few steps back and spotted the Integra he truly wanted to see. "Barum!"

Barum looked unharmed as he hunched over catching his breath. Gemini wore his thankfulness in wide smile.

Barum looked up. "Gemini, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? I'm worrying about you! Patrice said you were here for nearly 5 hours! She told you for how long she could hold the portal, right?"

Barum rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry. She did, but this thing...I found it roaming around and I had to do something. I couldn't just let it roam free."

He had a point. The Nocturn was causing havoc and having it roam around in this world would have done much more harm to the inhabitants. It's amazing that it was even brought to this world in first place. That then raised a question in his mind.

"Did you know that Drexel was here?" Gemini said.

Barum scoffed. "No, he's here now?"

"Maybe still. He ran off and told me, though vaguely, that he let something loose here. I'm assuming this is what he meant," Gemini said, pointing at the Nocturn.

"I don't get it though, wh—"

The Nocturn's massive arm swiped at the duo. They jumped back, dodging the blow. Guess the rings didn't hold.

"Save the thought," Gemini said. "We need to kill this thing."

"Right!"

The Nocturn thrust its paws forward, firing numerous black needles at Gemini. Gemini summoned his pole and swatted each needle. He looked around and saw the needles landing into the ground. The grass around the needles withered. Several other needles hit a few people, causing them to fall to ground in shivering fits.

Gemini winced. "I need to be more careful."

Barum drew out his sword and thrust it towards the monster. The monster stepped to the side, avoiding the blow. It then raised its foot, ready to stomp Barum.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Just then, an energy ring wrapped around the raised foot. Gemini stood with both hands extended towards the monster. He pulled back his hands as the ring tripped the giant.

Then Gemini jumped at the giant, summoning the pole mid-jump, only to be caught in one of the giant's paws. The giant threw him, launching him at high speed into the nearest tree. The impact stung his back and rang in his ears as he slid to the ground. "Guess this thing isn't going down easy," Gemini whispered. His eyes then widened as he stood up and looked back at the tree. He didn't phase through it. His theory of staying too long may hold weight after all.

The giant then stood up on its hind legs and turned one of his paws into a black blade. It lashed the blade at Barum; but, Barum blocked it with his own sword. Immediately, the monster unleashed a barrage of parries against Barum. He parried back, though the force also pushed him back. Barum then jumped to the side, out of the monster's reach and extended his hands. "Secure!"

Energy rings formed around the monster, which it quickly tore through. Sweat slowly ran down Barum's brow. "Well, this clearly isn't helping."

"We need to bind him and strike him!" Gemini said as he ran to Barum's side. "It's the only way to finish him quickly!"

Barum nodded. "Your Secure technique is much stronger than mine. You bind and I strike."

Gemini smiled. "Sounds like a plan." He then extended his hands once more. "Secure!"

Several rings formed around the giant's arms and legs. This time, they were much thicker. Several more formed around its neck and feet. The monster struggled; but, couldn't move an inch.

Gemini thrusted his hands down and caused the monster to fall forward. "Now!"

Barum ran towards the monster and stood under the falling beast. With one fell swoop, he thrust the sword through its torso. The monster, suspended in motion, paused before bearing a toothy grin.

Gemini gritted his teeth as he caused the rings to choke the monster further. This Nocturn shouldn't be smiling. It must have some ace up its sleeve. Or, maybe they're not doing as much damage as they thought? This was troublesome.

The monster shifted into smoke and formed again behind Barum. The monster grabbed Barum by the neck and raised him up with one paw. The other paw mutated into a blade as it pulled back in position to strike the dangling Integra. It thrust the blade towards Barum, but, stopped when the blade began to glow bright white. It backed off Barum, dropping him to the ground. It looked at itself frantically, slowly walking backwards as its entire body illuminated in white light.

Barum's eyes widened as he looked towards the monster and then at Gemini. "Gemini, don't do it!"

"It's the only way! This Nocturn is too strong for us to take right now!"

"But sending it—"

"I know the implications, Barum!" Gemini said. His glowing hands extended towards the monster. He didn't want to do this.

There must be a reason why the creature was so strong. Did something in this world make the Nocturns stronger? Or did something make the Integras weaker? His blood boiled not knowing the reason. Nevertheless, if they couldn't defeat it by force, this technique must be used. "I have to thrust it into Veith."

"No! If we can't fight it, what chance do we have sending it back? Send it to an unknown dimension like you did the others."

"I know that! But it's not like I have a choice. I refuse to sacrifice another dimension to this atrocity. Back to the only place in Veith it deserves. Crimson Valley. Out of harm's way." Gemini gritted his teeth. This conversation was really going nowhere. "I cast you out. To a time and place that belongs to thee. A place where darkness bears no victory. I declare that your travels beyond these gates decree punishment as your soul awaits. Dimensional Release!"

The monster released its massive guttural roar before exploding in pure white light. Peace was restored to the land once again.

It's been quite a while since Gemini used a Dimensional Release. Only the strongest of Nocturns were rewarded with such a technique. To thrust Nocturns into unknown dimensions was haphazard and seeing how much the Nocturn affected this dimension caused him to never want to use it again. Nevertheless, at least sending it to the barren wasteland that is Crimson Valley should keep it out of harm's way. But it was only a matter of time before it would eventually find its way back to the inhabited regions of Veith.

Barum scoffed; but, then he sighed. "I guess we did what we had to do."

"Yeah," Gemini said with a small grin. He wasn't too proud of the situation and, from the look of Barum's face, Barum wasn't either. He then held his hand out and an orb formed above it. "Are we all clear to return, Patrice?"

The orb glowed as Patrice's voice reverberated through. "Yes sir. You should be able to enter back from where you came."

Barum sighed. This must be a relief for him. If Weis and Frey didn't keep the tear stable on their end, Barum would've been stuck potentially for days.

~

Back in Veith, after hearing Gemini's voice via her orb, Patrice smiled. She was glad they were both okay. And the other Integras were doing a fine job of keeping the portal open. It stabilized quite well considering they knew the technique just as well as she did.

"So, they're on their way back here?" Weis asked.

Patrice nodded. "Indeed. We should expect them any minute now."

"I don't understand this though," Frey said.

Patrice tilted her head. "What is it, Frey?"

"What exactly is so fascinating about this other world? If it's not bothering us, why are we even bothering it?"

"Potential location of the keys, Frey. But also potential threats," Patrice said, dissolving the orb that's in her hand. "It would be bad if this other realm was hostile. We have enough problems of our own."

"Do you think Gemini will divulge us on the details?" Weis asked.

Patrice shrugged. "I can't say, honestly. But knowing Barum's big mouth, we'll find out plenty."

The two other Integras let out a small laugh.

~

Gemini and Barum were in the alleyway from where they both emerged. The portal was there once again to greet them to the other side. Before taking another step, Barum looked back at the city. He had a twinkle in his eyes at it all and he must have felt a tad awestruck for coming to this realm for the first time.

"So, what did you think?" Gemini asked.

Barum turned to him and rubbed the back of his head. "It's almost nothing like Veith; yet, it is so intriguing in its own way."

Gemini nodded. He had the same sensation. It felt like ages since he came to this realm but it was very similar to the first time. Even still, there was much to investigate seeing how it is tied to Veith. One question did bother him though. Something he believed that Barum may have encountered as well. "When people walked around and through you, did anything happen?"

Barum blinked. "Anything like what exactly?"

"Did any memories or visions come to mind?"

"No, they just sifted right on through me. Was there supposed to be memories involved?"

Gemini shook his head. "No, not exactly. I just believe this realm may have more interest to me than originally planned."

"I take it the Nocturn has part to do with that."

"That and the child I encountered earlier today," Gemini stated as he stepped closer to the portal. He then turned to face Barum. "I'll brief you and the others on this."

Barum nodded his head. "Well, no time to waste."

The two of them finally went back through the portal and immediately arrived back in Veith.