The next morning came too soon for Kyto as he rolled over in bed, looking at Tab's still form. She had not given him an answer last night, just staring at him with wide eyes. It had been a spur-of-the-moment comment, and he had not even considered her response beforehand, but now he had asked, his stomach churned with nervous tension. He hoped she did not see it as a foolish quip.

They needed to go through the portal today and see where it went, but the priority was ensuring they were equipped for whatever they found on the other side. He went through a mental list of what he would require, prioritising clothes due to Tab's concern over being sent further north. He left Tabs lying in bed and went downstairs. Tiddles awoke as he walked into the kitchen area, not turning the lights on and stubbing his toe on the table leg. "Shit," he cursed. This time, he at least remembered to push healing strands into his toe. He sat down at the table, Tiddles walking over to him.

"Morning," Kyto said.

"Morning."

"I can't believe we must go and check the portal out today."

"I did not sleep much last night. I have been trying to determine what the System is trying to do. This new party quest, party up. I am assuming we need to find someone."

"Possibly. With the amount of fucked up things it threw at us in the Dungeon. I am not sure."

"I am going to go and grab breakfast for the cubs."

"Sure, I think we should head into town first thing and get this over with so we know where we are going, at least."

"Yeah. I will not be long. Since the Geblex cleared out of the area, the herds have started returning closer. Their scent is much stronger."

Kyto sat mulling over what had happened to them the past week. The challenges and hardships they faced were ridiculous. Considering the number of times they had to watch each other be killed. Each image of his friend's dead bodies were burned into his mind, and every time he thought about it, the pictures came flooding back to him. The Garaloup beheaded Sniffer, his demise when he was drowned in earth. The reality and pain of each incident had been real for them all. A shiver ran down his spine as he reflected on the pain and suffering. He had so many questions, the simplest being, 'Why him?' What was the reason behind the System picking him as Enlightened? He was just a nomadic scavenger who had learned to face the challenges of the new era through his intelligence and free-thinking ability to learn and digest new knowledge. Most of his previous knowledge now appeared redundant to him. He had not really needed to use any of it since he came to terms with the Mana system and what it allowed.

Healing with mana, providing endurance, pulling and storing mana. All for what purpose? What was the end game and goal it was seeking? The challenges that were mentioned were not detailed. No information had been provided. The updated Codex had allowed for greater detail in certain areas, but still, so much was vague. Was it their birthday that had been the deciding factor? He had no idea, and the thoughts kept circling, always returning to the fundamental question, 'Why?'

As he drank his second coffee, Tiddles returned. They decided to leave early and head into town before the main crowds were about. No one else had gotten up yet, and TJ and Lars had still not returned from their night shift. The sun was not even up as he closed the front door, carrying his backpack to bring his clothes back from town. Tiddles joined him after reprimanding the cubs that kept trying to follow him and making them stay at the house. On seeing Kyto and Tiddles calmly strolling to the exit, the two guards on the inner compound gate jumped up, one of them saluting him as he approached.

"Morning. Sir," he said.

"Sorry?" Kyto replied, taken aback.

"Sir?" the guard replied.

"You do not need to salute me; I am no different to you," he replied, frowning.

"We have our orders. Sir," he replied.

"From whom?" Kyto asked.

"Captain Reece and Miss Agnos. Sir," he replied.

"They both told you to call me Sir?"

"Yes. Sir"

"Please don't. My name is Kyto, and I would prefer to be called by my name."

The guard looked at him, lowering his arm from the salute. "Sir. They have specifically instructed us we must address you accordingly."

"And I am expressly forbidding you from calling me Sir," Kyto replied, smiling. Kyto could tell the guard was not the sharpest tool in the box and could see him struggling with the change to the order he had been given.

"But Sir..."

Kyto cut him off. "Kyto, not Sir!"

The expression on the guard's face was one of dismay. Kyto continued walking rather than trying to continue the conversation, knowing that it was a lost cause. He had realised from meeting some of the raiders from the gang that though they may be adept at brawling, many seemed to lack general free-thinking ability. People such as TJ and Lars seemed to be an exception in most cases and nothing like the normal raiders.

"I wonder what they have said I must be called?" Tiddles said as they walked towards the centre of the town.

"Probably just beast?"

"Oh no. I am sure it would be much more glorified than that."

"Such as?"

"Geblex Slaughterer, I think they would name me the Terror of Talisia."

Kyto just rolled his eyes. "I hope Jacquie is open by the time we get there."

"Looking at the sun, I doubt it. Maybe we should go and look through the portal now?"

"We could do it. I suppose it should not make any difference if we come straight back through."

"Well, I can head through now and then see what is there and come back while you sort your clothes out. It is not as if I need to worry about staying warm," he responded, smiling.

"You could do."

"Let's go via the portal first, then?"

"Sure."

As they reached the edge of town, they cut into the centre where the portal stood rather than heading to the market stalls. On arriving, Kyto was amazed to see that there was still a sizeable gathering of people in the square. It even looked like some had stayed overnight, looking at the litter lying around. Surrounding the portal was a ring of guards. Eight guards stood around the portal; if anyone attempted to move towards it, a weapon would swing and aim in their direction. Looking at the weapons they held, Kyto remembered that he wanted to look into ammunition manufacturing, as he knew the town was virtually dry after the incursion. He had meant to do it before the second wave but, with everything going on, had not got the opportunity. Again, he was forced to do something without direction or guidance.

As some people noticed Tiddles, they started to whisper and gossip, pointing at them. "They could just come and speak to us, you know," Tiddles said.

"I know, but they are probably a little uncertain. You do not look the friendliest of beasts."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Really? Why? How many beasts do you know who can have a conversation with Risen?"

"That does not mean you are friendly!"

"But I have such a magnificent smile."

"We have had this conversation before. You do realise how terrifying it looks when you smile."

"It is not my fault I was born with three rows of teeth."

As the friends continued to pass small talk and banter, they saw Lars coming from the barracks. "Hey, Lars."

"Hi, Kyto. I am just finishing. Looking forward to getting to bed."

"I am not surprised. Is TJ around still?"

"Down at the front gate, I think."

"Okay. Tiddles will head through while I sort clothes and return before we set off."

"It is not as if we can stop him," Lars smiled.

"I can speak for myself now, you know," Tiddles said.

"Sorry. I keep forgetting," Kyto said.

"Okay. I will be back in a couple of hours then. I will go through scout around and then head straight back."

"Sounds good."

Tiddles walked towards the portal; the guards stood near him, stepping back slightly at his presence. "I will be back in a bit." He said as he walked into the portal.

∆∆∆

The portal was just like the one in the Dungeon. The only noticeable difference between the two was the shade of orange and its size. Tiddles stepped into it confidently. As he did, his vision went white like he had just had the brightest flash before his eyes. He continued forward, and it felt as though he was being stretched. His body had a strange sensation as though it was changing as he moved, elongating, and rather than stepping into a new room as he had in the Dungeon, he was drawn through. It was not uncomfortable, just very bizarre. As his hind legs entered, he sped up, and it suddenly felt like he was being hurtled at a ridiculous pace forward. It came to a stop all of a sudden, his stomach feeling as though it was in his mouth, and his paw stepped onto the soft, mulchy ground of a forest. His vision cleared, and he looked around him in amazement. He had no idea where he was. It was a forest area of sorts but like nothing he had ever witnessed. The air hung heavy and felt damp. The forest sounded alive. There were cries of Wild Ones in the surrounding trees, but he could not tell which ones as he did not recognise their calls.

'This is new,' he thought as he looked around. The trees were a mixture of thin, spindly saplings to enormous, thick, trunked giant trees that appeared to stretch up for miles into the air. He could not see up into the canopy very well. It was so thick. He turned and looked at the portal with its orange glow. It looked the same as it had from the other side. He felt a little unsteady on his feet from the bizarre transportation. The canopy only allowed a broken light to filter through, and he was glad his vision was as good as it was. The smells that ascended his nostrils were unknown. Sweet, musty scents all merged rather than precise scents he could pinpoint. His notifications triggered.

Congratulations on beginning the second quest chain.

You have thirty days to locate and save Jabari.

'I wonder what a Jabari is?' he thought. He looked at his display and noticed he was no longer showing in a party. That was strange because he had not left the party they had formed to enter the Dungeon since. All of them had remained. Seeing each other's health levels and locations on the overlay transparency had become so natural. A shrill calling pierced the forest, and he glanced around, trying to locate where it had come from. His hearing was much better than a Risen, but the sound seemed to echo because he was in a forest. He heard chittering above, and then the canopy came alive with movement. He stared, not scared, as he had no real fear but unsure as to what it was that was causing it. Leaves and foliage began to fall from the surrounding branches, and he saw something small and fast-moving above.

He had not left the portal area yet and was unsure whether he should head back and wait for Kyto to come with him. The chittering continued into the distance, and the sound began to fade, replaced by the sounds of insects and other Wild Ones he did not know. There was a constant thrumming sound that was making him feel uncertain due to its unknown origin. As he took in his surroundings more carefully, he noticed subtle differences in the flora and fauna; none of them were native to where he had come from, and he could only assume he had travelled quite a distance. That would make it hard for the others to join up with them. He contemplated returning when he picked up a scent he knew well. Burning, it was faint and distant, but something was burning.

Risen and the Geblex they had fought in the Dungeon were the only creatures he knew that used fire. He left his scent against a rock by the portal so he could navigate back and slowly moved through the foliage away from the small clearing he had entered towards the smell. Thick leaves and vines covered the forest floor, and his path was regularly broken by trees and debris that had fallen over the centuries in which the forest had stood. At his passing, brilliantly coloured butterflies entered the air, creating a cloud of colour. Insects skittered in the underbrush, and Wild Ones bolted at his presence.

The scent was getting stronger, and he slowed his movement, being more cautious. The ground under his paws dampened as he approached, and he heard flowing water. He soon came out on the side of a wide river. The water was muddy-brown, and he could not see into its depths. It was vast, stretching at least one hundred metres to the other side. It did not appear fast-flowing, and he could smell the fire from the farside. He jumped in and began to swim across.

∆∆∆

Kyto had collected the clothes he needed for his journey, Jacquie had everything he needed for venturing further north, and he had ensured he had all the essentials if he suddenly appeared in the blizzard-ridden wilderness he was aware of from the stories across the lakes. He had returned to the barracks and was sat waiting for Tiddles to return. He had noticed that he had left the party, which he had found strange but assumed he must have had a reason. Not knowing how he was getting on made Kyto nervous. The time ticked down, and Ryan came out to sit with him while he was on a break from his guard duties.

"When will he be back?" Ryan asked.

"He should not be long now. We agreed a couple of hours."

"I wonder where it goes?"

"We should know soon enough."

"Lars said this morning before he left how frustrated he was that he could not come with you when you go through."

"We worked well in the Dungeon as a team, and Lars was our primary brawler with Tiddles. He is insane in combat. Did you see him against the Geblex at the stockade?"

"No. I was in a different section, but I heard from others how amazing he had been. His position in the guard rose significantly due to his performance. Several said that many more lives would have been lost or at least many more injured without him there."

"I would agree. His skill with knives is formidable."

The pair of them sat discussing elements from the Dungeon. Since their return, Ryan had not had a chance to catch up with any of them, and Kyto enjoyed his company. He was always happy and bubbly, and one of the reasons he often ended up with gate guard duty was his charismatic nature. Placating the frustrated traders or visitors to the town. Ryan informed Kyto that as soon as the details of the Dungeon were completed and the invasion had been prevented, it started to spread; the gates were busy with families heading back into the outskirts to their properties to see what state they were in. They knew that the Geblex had ransacked several areas through patrolling, and several families would return to a disappointing find. The time continued to tick by as they chatted. Ryan eventually had to bid his farewell as he was due back on duty, and Kyto frowned, getting concerned about how long Tiddles had now been. He should have returned by now.

∆∆∆

The morning rush was underway in the Broken Tap when Josie entered the main bar area. The entrance from the private rooms was behind the bar, so no one noticed her taking a seat. The conversations from most of the punters were the usual mundane drivel she had listened to on over a hundred occasions in similar scenes before. It was not until she finished her breakfast of Keefir strip sandwiches that the conversation from two tables over piqued her interest. "I saw the healer man at the portal this morning." a woman said.

"What was he doing?" a large, rotund man said, wearing a leather apron. Looking at him, Josie thought he must be a butcher or something similar.

"Nothing. He just sat there. I did not see the beast, though."

"That beast is scary looking. I have never seen one as black as it is or its size."

"It is a monster. I overheard one of the guards talking to him, and the beast has apparently gone through the portal."

Josie had arrived amidst last night's chaos as townsfolk had begun to gather by the portal, wondering what it was. She had stood watching the spectacle for some time but had not seen either the man or the beast before she had left.

"Is he going as well?"

"I think so from what I heard."

Josie needed to find this man and at least try to discover something about him to be able to give feedback to Cooper. She was not worried about Cooper but did not enjoy failing a task. Her time was limited if he was planning to go through the portal. She pushed her plate away and stood from the bar, thanking the serving girl. She did not need to pay for anything while staying at the Broken Tap. She left the bar and walked over to the barracks and the portal.

The crowd had again started to grow as the morning had gone on, and as she arrived, a large group was standing outside the barracks by the portal. A group was by the barracks entrance, and a tall figure stood wearing clothes unsuitable for the current weather and a large backpack on his back. They were much warmer than she would have expected for the current temperatures. The group consisted of another two men and three women. The man with the backpack was the tallest of the three men and looked well-built and athletic. She began to work her way towards them as the man started to walk towards the portal.

'Shit,' she thought as he entered and disappeared from view. The two men who had been standing with him suddenly both doubled over and began vomiting. The sight and sound making a couple by the portal begin to gag in response. She believed these must be the others from the house, so until the man returned, she would find out as much as she could about them. There was a sudden gasp from the crowd, and she turned to see the portal blink out of existence. One of the women cried, "No." as she watched it disappear.