THE PORTAL

Chapter 2: The Adventurer's Guild

Nathan's mind was spinning as he followed behind the group of adventurers, his head attempting to keep up with what had just happened.

One minute, he had been in bed, staring at the ceiling, wishing more than anything that he could just vanish. The next, he was stuck in a giant spider's web, nearly lunch.

Now he was being dragged along by a group of armed strangers who had just killed a mutant nightmare spider like it was a typical day at the office.

He breathed a ragged gasp. "Okay. Okay. Don't panic, Nathan. Just…go along."

The armored guy who had saved him—who'd identified himself as Garrick—gave him a puzzled glance. "You're awful quiet, kid. That must've frightened the stuffing out of you."

Nathan blinked and nodded. Yeah, that's about right.

The redheaded woman, Elara, snorted. "You think? Spooked poor kid half to death, he did."

Nathan swallowed. "I—uh, I don't really know what happened," he replied, attempting to keep his tone even. "One minute I was in my own backyard, and the next I was waking up in a web, and the next I'm." He looked around.

They had come out of the cave, trudging into an open plain under a darkening sky. In the distance, between rolling hills and a river, was a town in high stone walls.

The orange glow of torches along the streets, and he could see dozens of people—some robed, some armed, and others leading strange, armored creatures like horses.

His chest tightened. "What…where are we?"

Garrick raised an eyebrow. "You kidding?"

Elara waved her hand around. "He probably hit his head or something." Their other member, the hooded man who'd so far remained quiet, finally spoke a word. "If he is not native…then he can't possibly know what we are saying."

Nathan furrowed his brows. "Wait—what do you mean by that?

The hooded man, Ren, glanced at him with calculating eyes. “If you’re telling the truth, then you’re an anomaly.” Elara scoffed. “Well, obviously he’s an anomaly. He doesn’t have any gear, no weapons, and somehow, he’s standing here without an ounce of mana in his body.”

Nathan’s stomach twisted. “Mana?” The three adventurers exchanged glances. “You seriously don’t know?” Garrick asked. Nathan shook his head.

Ren frowned. “This could be a problem.”

Elara threw her hands up. “Alright, enough standing around! We’re taking him to the Guild anyway. Let them deal with it.”

Nathan opened his mouth to ask what exactly the Guild was, but at this point, he figured it was best to just follow along. One step at a time, Nathan. Don’t freak out.

The town of Veridale was even more overwhelming up close.

Nathan had never seen anything like it. The buildings were made of wood and stone, with medieval roofs, but the streets were lined with people in robes adorned with shining symbols and warriors in heavy armor.

Shopkeepers lined the streets, peddling potions and magical swords, and some kids ran past him, screaming as they pursued a glowing ball of light.

This was DEFINITELY not Earth.

The Guild of Adventurers was in the middle of town—a massive castle-sized structure with flags hung over the door. Inside, it was loud and filled to the brim with warriors, mages, and rogues in roughly equal numbers.

Nathan stood frozen at the entrance. "Uh…am I supposed to be here?"

Elara grinned. "Too late for second thoughts now, kid". She said, dragging him inside.

Garrick hit him with a heavy hand on the shoulder. "You may as well go get yourself checked out. If you have so much as a whiff of magic, they'll want to know."

"Wait, magic? I don't have any magic!" Nathan protested.

Ren grinned. "We'll see."

Nathan didn't like this one bit.

They brought Nathan to a small back room in the Guild, where an elderly man in a purple robe sat behind a wooden desk.

Garrick spoke first. "We found this kid in a spider's den. Claims not to know where he is. No equipment, no mana signature—thought we should scan him."

The old man, Master Harland, peered at Nathan above the rim of his spectacles. "Fascinating." He waved his hand toward a crystal orb sitting on the desk. "Place your hand upon the testing stone child."

Nathan hesitated. "And…what does it do?"

"It will test your magical aptitude," Harland explained. "If you hold even a whisper of mana in your body, the stone will glow."

“Might as well”. Nathan sighed.

He rested his palm upon the orb.

Nothing whatsoever.

Then—

WHOOSH!

A flash of brilliant blue energy burst from the crystal.

Nathan yelped and fell back as the orb pulsed furiously, charging the room with energy. The air chugged past him, and an electric, crackling feeling ran through his arm.

Elara's jaw was open. "What the—?!"

Garrick's eyes went wide. "That's, not normal." Ren looked at Nathan with newfound interest. "Impossible." The light faded slowly, and Master Harland pushed his spectacles higher.

Hmm," the old man said. "High magical affinity. Extremely high."

Nathan blinked. "What is that supposed to mean?" Harland leaned in. "It means, child, that you can be one of the most powerful magic wielders in this world—if given the proper training."

Nathan felt the wind knocked out of his breath.

Him? Powerful? Never.

"But—" He shook his head. "I don't even know magic.".

Harland chuckled. "Then you have much to learn."

Nathan gulped.

This was real.

This wasn't a dream.

And for the first time in his life…he had a chance to be more than a nobody.