Chapter 6: The Gateway That Shouldn’t Exist
1129 Words
The dying land stretched before them, a scar left in the wake of the entity’s passage.
Elara and Rhyke pushed their horses harder, the creatures whinnying in protest as they raced after the fading storm of darkness.
Elara’s heart pounded, her breath sharp. She had to see where it was going.
But then—
It stopped.
Or rather—it disappeared.
The massive, wailing entity that had just torn across the field vanished into thin air.
Rhyke yanked the reins, forcing his horse to an abrupt stop. His eyes narrowed, scanning the area. “Gone…? Just like that?”
Elara barely heard him.
Because something else had appeared.
She slid off her horse, her boots hitting the dry, cracked earth as she took a hesitant step forward.
An archway.
Massive. Ancient. Wrong.
It loomed before them, weathered yet untouched, its obsidian-like surface reflecting the dimming light of the setting sun.
But it wasn’t the size, nor the engravings of unknown symbols, that sent a shiver down Elara’s spine.
It was the veil hanging within it.
A curtain of fractured reality.
At first glance, it looked like shattered glass suspended in the air.
But then—it moved.
The broken shards of the veil shifted, like silk caught in a slow, unseen breeze.
And worse—it pulsed.
Like a living thing.
Like a beating heart.
Elara’s breath caught in her throat.
She stepped closer, the air thick with something—powerful. Foreign. Ancient.
Her fingers trembled as she reached out, brushing against the shattered veil.
It reacted.
A ripple spread from where she touched, the glass-like shards shifting, whispering like unseen voices calling from beyond.
Rhyke, who had dismounted by now, stared with wide eyes before muttering under his breath, “By the gods…”
Elara turned her head slightly, her voice hushed yet thrumming with excitement.
“Do you see this, Rhyke?”
Rhyke didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face.
He had crossed this area before.
Many times.
And this archway had never been here.
It had not existed.
Yet now—here it was.
A silent, impossible structure standing right before his eyes.
His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. “This shouldn’t be here.”
Elara turned fully now, her blue eyes burning with hunger for the unknown.
“But it is.”
She gestured to the archway, the shifting, broken mirror of a portal pulsing softly like it was breathing.
“Do you understand what this means, Rhyke?”
He crossed his arms, his expression dark. “It means we’re standing in the middle of something we probably shouldn’t be involved in.”
Elara shook her head.
“No. It means that we’ve found it.”
She spread her arms, her voice filled with wonder and realization.
“Imagine! Of all the scholars, treasure hunters, and lunatics who’ve searched for the truth about Havenmoore—we’re the ones standing right in front of it.”
Rhyke exhaled through his nose, eyeing the strange archway with deep suspicion.
He had fought in wars. He had seen death, magic, and madness.
But this?
This was something else entirely.
Elara turned back to the structure, her mind racing.
Havenmoore was in the distance.
Meaning this place—this gateway—
It was still within Havenmoore’s reach.
So… how long had it been hiding here?
And more importantly—why?
Elara’s fingers twitched at her sides.
She knew the next step.
She had to see what was beyond the veil.
But the question was—was she ready?
And if she wasn’t…
Would that even matter?
Chapter 6: The Gateway That Shouldn’t Exist (Part 2)
Elara turned away from the pulsing veil and made her way back to her horse, the weight of their discovery settling in her chest like a heavy stone.
But as she grabbed the reins, she snapped her fingers at Rhyke, grinning.
“Hello? Is our contract still on?”
Rhyke chuckled, a smirk tugging at his lips. There was something about this girl—fearless, reckless, but determined.
For a long time, he thought his life had lost its thrill. Just another blade-for-hire, moving from one job to the next.
But this?
This was different.
And damn it all, he liked it.
He stepped closer, patting Elara’s head roughly. “Little Scholar, you’ve made this old man feel young again.”
Elara immediately pouted, swatting his hand away. “I’m not a Little Scholar!”
Rhyke only laughed.
Elara sighed and turned back to her horse, pulling out the scrolls and potions she had prepared.
There was no telling what lay beyond that archway, so they had to be ready.
Food, water, weapons—check.
Scrolls of basic and advanced magic—check.
A few potions, including ones for mana recovery, wounds, and poison resistance—check.
She would have preferred to bring more, but she could only carry so much.
She glanced over at Rhyke, who was adjusting his gear. Two curved daggers at his waist, a pack of supplies slung over his back.
They would also be bringing their horses. No telling how vast the area beyond the portal might be.
But before they left—
She had to make sure no one else could find this place.
Elara stepped forward, raising both hands as she murmured an incantation.
A soft, shimmering mist spread across the area, weaving around the archway’s structure, bending light itself.
Rhyke, watching with an unimpressed expression, crossed his arms. “Is this gonna take all day?”
Elara gritted her teeth, trying to focus. “Shut up, old man. This isn’t easy.”
After a few more moments, she exhaled and stepped back.
The spell was complete. The archway was now hidden, invisible to anyone passing by.
Not that it mattered.
Because as soon as they stepped through, the portal itself might vanish.
She turned to Rhyke. “Okay. We’re set.”
Rhyke grinned. “Then let’s go.”
Together, they guided their horses forward, toward the unknown.
As Elara’s fingertips grazed the portal’s veil, a strange sensation washed over her.
It was like the heat of morning sunlight, warm and almost comforting—
But at the same time, there was a faint, scratching sensation against her skin.
Like the passing of time itself was grating against her existence.
For a moment, everything stopped.
Their surroundings faded into silence.
The world held its breath.
And then—
They were gone.
The archway, once standing ominously in the field, shuddered.
The pulsing veil rippled once, then collapsed inward, disappearing into nothingness.
As if it had never been there at all.
Elara’s magic—her carefully placed cloaking spell—had been wasted.
Because now, there was nothing left to hide.
- Writer
