The cemetery gates creaked as Eyrx and Nick stepped outside into the cold night air.
A thin layer of mist drifted between the ancient tombstones, and the trees surrounding the graveyard swayed gently in the wind. Neither of them looked back.
Nick approached their car, unlocked it, and opened the driver's door. Eyrx climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind him.
Moments later, the engine roared to life.
The car pulled away from the cemetery and accelerated onto a winding mountain road. Towering cliffs rose on one side, while the other dropped into a vast forest that stretched far below. The road curved around the mountains in a series of dangerous bends, disappearing into the darkness before reappearing beneath the headlights.
Nick drove with his usual composure, his eyes fixed on the road.
Eyrx, however, had questions.
He glanced at Nick before finally breaking the silence.
Eyrx: "Where exactly are we going?"
Nick: "To our city for now. After that, we'll head to Siphra."
Eyrx frowned.
Eyrx: "That's fine, but why do we need to go to Siphra? We can open a portal from here, can't we?"
Nick kept his attention on the road as he answered.
Nick: "We can. But every dimension and realm has a specific location from which inter-realm travel is possible. You can't simply open a portal from anywhere and expect it to take you wherever you want."
He turned the steering wheel, guiding the car around another sharp bend.
Nick: "If we travel through Siphra, we'll teleport directly in front of the Twelve Realm Gates. If we open a portal from here, we'll have to pass through several other locations before reaching our destination. That means unnecessary travel, more complications, and a greater chance of running into trouble."
Eyrx considered his explanation for a moment.
Eyrx: "So, Siphra is basically a shortcut?"
Nick: "Exactly."
Eyrx leaned back in his seat, watching the dark forest pass beyond the window.
Eyrx: "Then why aren't we going there tonight?"
Nick's expression shifted almost imperceptibly. It was a subtle change, but Eyrx noticed it.
Nick: "We're not going to Siphra yet. We'll spend a few days in our city first. I have some business to take care of."
Eyrx immediately turned towards him.
Eyrx: "What kind of business?"
Nick glanced at him briefly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Nick: "Let me get there first. I'll explain everything, one step at a time."
Eyrx narrowed his eyes.
Eyrx: "You know, your habit of keeping everything a secret is incredibly annoying."
Nick: "And your habit of asking questions about everything is equally annoying."
Eyrx: "I ask questions because your mysterious plans usually end with us getting into trouble."
Nick chuckled.
Nick: "Then I suggest you prepare yourself."
Before Eyrx could respond, Nick pressed down on the accelerator.
The car surged forward.
Suddenly, the air around the vehicle began to shimmer. The road ahead distorted as though reality itself had been stretched beyond its limits. A faint glow surrounded the car, growing brighter with every passing second.
Then, in a flash of warped light, the vehicle vanished.
The mountain road was left empty.
Not a single trace of their departure remained.
---
Far away, inside a secluded room in the castle, Larissa sat across from Hazel.
Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting pale shadows across the polished floor. Several documents lay scattered across the table, but Hazel appeared more interested in the darkness beyond the glass.
Larissa had been waiting for an explanation long enough.
She leaned forward, her patience wearing thin.
Larissa: "What exactly are we supposed to do on the next mission? You haven't explained anything properly."
Hazel turned away from the window.
Hazel: "We're going to the Eighth Realm. We'll do what we always do."
Larissa raised an eyebrow.
Larissa: "Fine. But do we have to kill anyone?"
Hazel: "No."
Hazel paused for a moment before adding, almost casually,
Hazel: "Although, if someone happens to die by accident, I don't see how that would be our fault."
Larissa stared at her.
Her expression suggested that she was desperately trying to determine whether Hazel was joking.
She wasn't.
Larissa: "I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're trying to say. Could you explain it properly?"
Hazel sighed, visibly irritated by the need to elaborate.
Hazel: "Just understand this: what we did during the previous mission is more or less what we'll be doing again."
Larissa shook her head.
Larissa: "Why can't you just say things directly? Why do you always have to talk in circles?"
Hazel walked towards the table and picked up one of the documents.
Hazel: "We're collecting realm keys. And if necessary, we can steal them, too."
Larissa's expression grew serious.
Larissa: "Why is Robert collecting these keys in the first place? He tells you everything, doesn't he? You're his right hand."
For the first time, Hazel seemed genuinely uncomfortable.
She lowered the document.
Hazel: "That's precisely the problem. He's been acting strangely for the past few months. I don't know what's going through his head anymore."
She placed the document back on the table.
Hazel: "I have no idea what he's planning or what he's going to do next. All I know is that you need to be prepared for anything."
Larissa studied her carefully.
Larissa: "Do you think there's a serious threat?"
Hazel fell silent
For several seconds, her gaze remained fixed on the papers scattered across the table.
Hazel: "I don't know. But something about his behaviour doesn't feel right."
Larissa: "Why? What could he possibly do now? He already managed to convert an entire world into separate realms. That's an enormous achievement. What more could he want?"
Hazel let out a dry laugh.
Hazel: "That's exactly what worries me. The first time, he accomplished something on an unimaginable scale. And now his ego has grown so much that he seems to believe he's capable of anything."
Larissa frowned.
Larissa: "You think he's going to attempt something even bigger?"
Hazel: "I have no idea."
She folded her arms.
Hazel: "But ever since the last mission, he hasn't been acting like himself."
Larissa tilted her head.
Larissa: "So, he's lost his mind?"
Hazel gave her a pointed look.
Hazel: "No. His ego has been wounded."
Larissa: "What's the difference?"
Hazel: "A considerable one. Especially when we're talking about Robert."
Before Larissa could ask another question, the bedroom door suddenly swung open.
Both women turned towards it
Robert stood in the doorway.
He looked exactly as he had two years earlier. His posture remained impeccable, his expression cold and controlled, and his presence carried the same intimidating authority that had once brought an entire world to its knees.
He entered the room without knocking again.
Robert: "You're both still here? Why haven't you left for the mission?"
Hazel exchanged a brief glance with Larissa before answering.
Hazel: "We'll leave tomorrow."
Robert's expression hardened immediately.
Robert: "Tomorrow? No. You're leaving today. In fact, you're leaving right now."
Hazel stared at him, caught off guard by his sudden demand.
Hazel: "Robert, we aren't prepared yet."
He gave a dismissive laugh.
Robert: "Preparation is unnecessary when you already possess sufficient power."
Hazel's jaw tightened.
Hazel: "That's not how this works. We need time to understand the situation, assess the realm, and—"
Robert: "Enough!"
His voice thundered through the room.
Larissa fell silent.
Robert stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Hazel.
Robert: "I don't want excuses. I want results. I need those keys, and I need them as soon as possible."
Hazel crossed her arms.
Hazel: "And what exactly are you planning to do with them? Collect them for the sake of collecting them? As far as I know, they don't do much beyond facilitating travel."
For a brief moment, Robert said nothing.
Then a cold smile spread across his face.
Robert: "Your job is not to question my intentions, Hazel. Your job is to follow my orders."
Hazel's eyes narrowed, but she restrained herself from answering.
Robert turned towards Larissa.
Robert: "And you. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
Larissa straightened in her seat.
Larissa: "Understood."
Robert looked back at Hazel.
Robert: "I want those keys. I don't care what you have to do to obtain them."
Hazel said nothing.
Apparently satisfied, Robert finally turned towards the door.
Then he paused.
Robert: "Where's Orion?"
Hazel: "He should be somewhere in the castle."
Robert nodded once before leaving the room.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Silence settled over the bedroom.
Hazel remained still for a few seconds, staring at the closed door. Then she exhaled sharply and rubbed her forehead.
Hazel: "Does this man have nothing better to do than order everyone around?"
Larissa glanced at her.
Larissa: "You do realise you always end up arguing with him, too."
Hazel turned towards her.
Hazel: "What am I supposed to do? Agree with everything he says?"
Larissa: "I'm just saying."
Hazel shook her head and gathered the documents from the table.
Hazel: "Forget it. We can't afford to delay this any longer. If he comes back and finds us here, we'll never hear the end of it."
Larissa rose reluctantly from her chair.
Larissa: "So, we're actually going now?"
Hazel looked towards the door.
Hazel: "Apparently."
Neither woman looked particularly pleased with the arrangement.
But Robert's orders left little room for negotiation.
And somewhere in the castle, Orion remained unaware of the mission that was about to begin.
--
The night had grown considerably darker by the time Nick's car reappeared in another part of the world.
He drove for several more minutes before pulling into the parking area of a small hotel beside the road.
The building stood beneath the pale glow of several streetlights. Its windows were illuminated, and a flickering sign above the entrance cast an uneven light over the empty parking lot.
Nick switched off the engine.
Eyrx looked at the building, then turned towards him with a puzzled expression.
Eyrx: "Why have you stopped at a hotel? We have our own homes."
Nick rested one arm against the steering wheel.
Nick: "We do. But we can't go there."
Eyrx's expression changed.
Eyrx: "Why not?"
Nick: "My house and Darevn's house are under government control now. As for yours, Grace's father has it."
Eyrx stared at him.
Eyrx: "What? Since when?"
Nick: "It's been a while."
Eyrx frowned thoughtfully.
Eyrx: "I know Grace's father. We could stay at his place."
Nick immediately shook his head.
Nick: "No."
Eyrx blinked.
Eyrx: "Why not? I know him, and he knows me."
Nick opened his door and stepped out.
Nick: "There's something about that man I don't trust."
Eyrx followed him out of the car.
Eyrx: "You don't trust anyone."
Nick shut the door and looked at him.
Nick: "And yet, somehow, I'm usually right."
Eyrx rolled his eyes.
Eyrx: "Regardless, we need somewhere to stay. We can't spend the entire night standing outside a hotel."
Nick: "Which is why we're going inside."
Nick started towards the entrance.
Eyrx hurried after him.
Eyrx: "You know, you could at least try to explain things before making decisions."
Nick: "I just explained."
Eyrx: "You said you don't trust him. That's not an explanation."
Nick: "It's the only one you're getting for now."
Eyrx let out a frustrated sigh.
Eyrx: "Fine. Whatever."
They entered the hotel and approached the reception desk. After booking a room, they collected their key and headed upstairs.
The corridor was quiet, illuminated by dim lights that cast long shadows across the carpet.
Nick unlocked the room and pushed the door open.
Inside, two beds stood on opposite sides of the room, with a small table near the window and thick curtains covering the glass. The room was simple, but it was comfortable enough for a night.
Eyrx walked straight to the nearest bed and collapsed onto it.
He let out a long, exhausted sigh.
Eyrx: "Finally. I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep."
Nick, who was inspecting the room, turned towards him.
Nick: "Already?"
Eyrx lifted his head.
Eyrx: "Why? What else is there to do?"
Nick sat down on the opposite bed.
Nick: "Figure out how we're going to survive in the next realm."
Eyrx stared at him for a moment before dropping his head back onto the pillow.
Eyrx: "We'll survive the way everyone else does."
Nick raised an eyebrow.
Nick: "And how exactly is that?"
Eyrx: "We'll figure it out when we get there."
Nick gave him a look of complete disbelief.
Nick: "Brilliant. Truly remarkable planning."
Eyrx: "Thank you."
Nick sighed.
Nick: "Eyrx, we're running out of money."
That got Eyrx's attention.
He slowly sat up.
Eyrx: "So?"
Nick: "So, we don't have enough money to survive in another realm without a plan. We can't just arrive there and hope everything works out."
Eyrx rubbed his tired eyes.
Eyrx: "What do you expect me to do? Grow money on a tree?"
Nick stared at him.
Nick: "Can you be serious for once?"
Eyrx: "I am being serious. I'm seriously exhausted."
He pulled the blanket over himself.
Eyrx: "We'll think about it tomorrow. Now let me sleep."
Nick watched him for a moment before shaking his head.
Nick: "Fine. Go to sleep. We'll figure it out in the morning."
Eyrx smiled triumphantly beneath the blanket.
Eyrx: "Finally, a sensible decision."
Nick leaned back against the headboard, but his mind remained occupied.
After a few seconds, he spoke again.
Nick: "Although, we could still make a plan tonight."
Eyrx opened one eye.
Eyrx: "For what?"
Nick turned his head towards him.
Nick: "At this point, banks are probably the best source of money."
Silence.
Eyrx opened both eyes.
He slowly lowered the blanket and stared at Nick.
Eyrx: "What do you mean?"
Nick gave him an innocent look.
Nick: "Exactly what you think I mean."
Eyrx sat upright.
Eyrx: "No."
Nick tilted his head.
Nick: "I haven't even said anything yet."
Eyrx: "You don't have to. I know that expression."
Nick's lips curved into a smirk.
Nick: "Then you must be getting to know me rather well."
Eyrx: "Nick, are you seriously suggesting that we rob a bank?"
Nick raised both hands in mock innocence.
Nick: "When did I say that?"
Eyrx: "You were about to!"
Nick: "You seem remarkably good at predicting the future."
Eyrx grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
Nick caught it before it could hit his face.
For a moment, the two stared at each other.
Then Nick laughed.
Eyrx looked thoroughly unimpressed.
Eyrx: "This isn't funny."
Nick: "It is a little funny."
Eyrx: "No, it isn't! We're supposed to be finding a way to survive in another realm, not committing crimes!"
Nick placed the pillow beside him.
Nick: "All right, then. Tell me your plan."
Eyrx opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
He looked away.
Nick's smirk returned.
Nick: "That's what I thought."
Eyrx: "That doesn't mean robbing a bank is a good idea!"
Nick: "I never said it was a good idea."
Eyrx: "You're literally the one who brought it up!"
Nick: "And you're the one who hasn't offered an alternative."
Eyrx let out a frustrated groan and fell backwards onto the mattress.
Eyrx: "Why did I ever agree to travel with you?"
Nick leaned back comfortably.
Nick: "Because you need me."
Eyrx: "I need peace. That's what I need."
Nick chuckled.
He reached over and switched off the bedside lamp. The room fell into darkness, leaving only a thin strip of moonlight slipping through the curtains.
For a few minutes, the room remained quiet.
Eyrx was finally beginning to drift off when Nick spoke again.
Nick: "By the way, we have something to do tomorrow morning."
Eyrx didn't bother opening his eyes.
Eyrx: "What?"
Nick: "I'll tell you tomorrow."
Eyrx pulled the blanket over his head.
Eyrx: "I hate you."
Nick smiled in the darkness.
Nick: "Good night, Eyrx."
Eyrx: "Good night, you walking disaster."
Nick laughed quietly and settled into his bed.
Outside, the hotel sign flickered against the darkness.
Beyond the ordinary world, the Twelve Realm Gates stood waiting for travellers who had yet to arrive.
Nick had a plan—or at least the beginning of one.
Eyrx, meanwhile, had absolutely no intention of participating in it.
Unfortunately for him, experience had taught him one important lesson.
When Nick said he had a plan, trouble was rarely far behind.