The glass door to the greenhouse had been left ajar, and Nueva walked into the seemingly ordinary glasshouse. There were rows of weathered tables and shelves filled with potted herbs and other plants. But, strangely enough, Perla was nowhere to be seen in the confined glass room. Nueva walked back towards the entrance, but when she tried to step over the threshold, an electrically charged mesh surrounded the door in the form of a flickering force field. She could see Perla's cottage outside through the invisible screen, and her breathing increased as the sensation of being locked away inside the greenhouse made her feel claustrophobic and scared.Nueva carefully touched the shimmering barrier, and small circular waves rippled across the plasma-filled window, but it wouldn't let her through.Then a flicker of blue glistened on the screen, blocking her way. Nueva glanced around the room, and then she heard the faint whisper."Ego Sum Clavis" And she

Nueva sat on the surprisingly comfortable bed made from smooth logs and weaved soft grass in multiple layers looking out through an open window. From here, in the lengthening light of the afternoon, the summit of treetops glistened in soft emerald tones. Soon this bouquet of greens turned into the centre stage for the colourful birds as they performed their sunset chorus.Down below, the scattered cylindrical-shaped huts in the trees, lit up by the golden orbs, reminded her of birds' nests surrounded by sparkles of fireflies.Elowen had shown Nueva to a modest guest room containing a queen-sized bed and a bathtub carved out of a solid piece of wood so that she could rest before dinner.However, although Nueva was asked to perform a dangerous rescue, moving around on the forest floor in these parts was equally treacherous during the dark. So, she had been asked to stay the night, and she would be transported to the portal first thing in the morning.Nueva

The area they had just arrived in was a bare and ugly wasteland, with the following portal showing in the distance. It looked different from the ones they had just passed through previously. This gateway looked more like a concrete-grey smoke ring with the core resembling a giant bubble. As they got closer, Nueva could see iridescent waves ripple across the screen, blocking the way to the dark realm behind. It was clear that whatever was lurking in the next land was draining the current one like a parasite—feeding on the natural resources until it was spiritually and emotionally arid.  "This is where our daughter disappeared" Eijaz's voice was thick with conviction and guilt. "May I ask what she was doing here?" Nueva felt astounded that anyone would come here willingly. "We think this portal somehow interfered with the other gateways forcing them to transport travellers here." Eijaz tone walked the line between bitterness and disbelief.

Nueva crawled towards the damp and cold cave wall and hid behind some fallen rocks. Her chest tightened, making every breath wheeze through her swollen throat like a sudden panic attack. Sweat pearls erupted on her forehead, and Nueva could feel the drops build until they flowed down her face stinging her eyes with their saltiness.How would she save Alula if she couldn't get close enough even to attempt to grab her and run?She could see the shadows crawl over Alula's pale frame under the cave's strange Bioluminescence light source. Above her, thousands of blue lights made from tiny droplets dangled from the ceiling, twinkling like stars in a night sky.Nueva's body was drowning in despair, watching these parasite beings feeding greedily at the expense of their helpless host. Nueva knew that the little girl's life was hanging on by a thread, and if she didn't do something soon, it would be too late to save Alula's life.Then Nueva saw them sliding down from

The land seemed quieter with the wind and the thunder gone. It was like Nueva had erased them with the effect created by her light pillar. The reflection from the tiny ice crystal's powerful energy radiating from her magic source had burnt the horrid Badlands until everything was charred black as long as their eyes could see. Finally, the putrid smell of decay had been replaced with the cleansing smell of ashes."Nueva, where are you from?" Alula had wondered curiously, swinging their joined hands back and forth as they walked through the blackened dirt."I am from the human realm," Nueva answered mellowly."Oh, I have never been there. Maybe I can come and visit you one day?" Alula's green skin looked like a beautiful rich summer tan under the reddish sky, making her almost look human for a moment."I would love that." Nueva squeezed her tiny hand, Alula glanced up at her, and her smile was irresistible.Then in the distance, the portal emerged li