The first guard ask, his voice heavy with anticipation:
"So… did someone really dare to take the risk?"
The second guard replied with calm certainty:
"Finding a volunteer wasn't just difficult—it was nearly impossible. Every adventurer in the empire refused. Some dodged the request, others mocked the idea. Who would willingly throw themselves into the unknown? No one knew what lay beyond that point, and no one had ever returned."
"But surely they found a solution… right?" the first guard asked.
The second nodded. "Yes. The solution came from within the Empire's own ranks. A man not recorded in detail—barely mentioned in the archives—but known well among soldiers for his strength and courage. One of the high-ranking generals. He fought monsters on multiple fronts, and his reputation was unmatched."
He paused, then continued in a softer, steadier voice:
"When that general heard of the experiment, he didn't hesitate. Despite warnings from scientists, commanders—even the clergy—he refused to listen. He stood before them all and uttered the words that are still etched in books and reports to this day:
'Their advantage came from arriving here—from their world. Now it's our turn. We will go to their world… and destroy it.'
The first guard's eyes widened with curiosity.
"So… he really volunteered for the mission?"
"Yes," the second guard confirmed. "He did."
After a brief silence, he added:
"The general packed his gear himself. He asked for no help, as if he knew no one else could bear the burden of this mission. His determination was absolute. His eyes never flinched after making the decision—no doubt, no fear, just rare, unwavering resolve."
The next morning, a group of scientists, soldiers, and empire commanders gathered around one of the active transition points. The barrier was temporarily lifted to allow the historic experiment to proceed.
The general walked slowly, heavily, toward the point. Everyone around him watched in tense silence, as if time had paused. The air was still. No one dared to breathe.
He stopped at the edge of the ripples, which shimmered clearly under the focused lights. He raised his hand with steady composure and reached toward the undulating surface that seemed to reflect another world.
The moment his fingertip touched it… he vanished.
Completely.
In the blink of an eye.
There was no scream, no flash, no explosion. It was eerily quiet—but expected. The scientists had observed the same outcome with every object previously sent through.
But this time… it wasn't a stone.
It wasn't a tool.
It was a human being—a warrior—and the hope of an entire nation.
The general embarked on his mission with the resolve of a man who knew that the future of countless lives rested on his next step. And as the scientists resumed their studies, the crowd watched the portal swallow his body without sound or trace—just a faint flicker of light… and then, nothing.
The first guard interrupted, eyes gleaming with curiosity:
"So… what happened to him? Did he return? Did he die?"
The second guard smiled—a knowing smile, the kind that comes before an unexpected revelation.
"A very good question… and one with a surprising answer."
He leaned in slightly.
"Later that very day, after sunset, activity was reported at a completely different location—far from the transition point the general had entered. It was one of the random rift zones. The guards were on high alert, expecting a creature to emerge. That had become the norm in such situations."
He paused, then added in a lower voice:
"But the surprise… wasn't a monster."
The first guard raised a brow. "Then what was it?"
"It was a human—a man—who stumbled out of the ripples, barely able to stand. His body looked like it could barely hold his soul. He was in a miserable state. Clothes torn, skin filthy, face pale and smeared with dried blood. No one recognized him at first. They assumed he was just another poor soul attacked by beasts. After losing consciousness, he was taken to a hospital. Only then did they alert the authorities."
The second guard's voice dropped as he delivered the final blow:
"When they identified him… the shock was immense. It was him. The general.
The same man who had entered the unknown that morning… had returned by nightfall."
The first guard's eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
"It was the general? His whole journey lasted only half a day?!"
"Don't jump to conclusions so quickly, my friend," the second guard warned.
The first leaned in. "Then… what happened after his return?"
The second exhaled heavily, as if the weight of the story burdened him.
"A lot happened. But I'll summarize—too many details might bore you."
"Quite the opposite," the first replied. "Tell me—everything."
The second nodded, then continued:
"When the general regained consciousness and some of his strength, the authorities sent a team of investigators along with several scientists to speak with him. Everyone was eager to hear his first words. Pens and notebooks were ready—any information, any clue could be invaluable."
One of them stepped forward and asked gently:
'What did you see when you crossed the point?'
The general closed his eyes for a moment, as if reliving the memory.
'In a blink… the moment my finger touched the ripple, I found myself in a place unlike anything I'd ever seen. The terrain, the plants, the very air—none of it felt familiar. It was, simply… another world.'
A quiet murmur spread among the scientists. The general raised his voice slightly and continued:
'I took a moment to steady myself, then began to explore. The plants were saturated with color—flowers that almost glowed, leaves that swayed as if they saw me. The rocks? Unnatural geometries—some smooth and humming faintly, others reflecting the sky in warped ways.'
He paused, tasting the memory, then added:
'I saw creatures unlike any I've encountered. Strange animals, but not hostile. I could even hunt some of them. I ate there—yes… and it was edible. I didn't die. I wasn't harmed.'
The scientists scribbled furiously. One of them finally looked up and asked in disbelief:
'How long were you there?'
The general frowned.
'I spent two full days exploring that foreign land.'
The investigators exchanged glances. Then one of them said firmly:
'General… your mission lasted only half a day on our side.'
The general froze. Confusion washed over his face, as if trying to find a thread in his memory to reconcile what he was hearing.
'Half a day? That can't be… I was there for no less than four months. Maybe five. I felt every single day… every sunrise and sunset.'
Silence fell across the room. The scribbling stopped.
The conclusion, though strange, was now inescapable:
Time in that world flows differently. Every half day here… equals months over there.
One of the investigators then asked the commander to continue his story.
The commander sighed briefly before speaking in a serious tone.
"After spending two days exploring the outskirts of the new world, a strangely shaped cave caught my attention. My curiosity got the better of me, so I entered to investigate. I lit my lantern and ventured deep inside. The initial passages were filled with bones and remains of both small and large creatures. Between the rocks, I saw glowing crystals and stones with colors and shapes unlike anything from our world."
He paused for a moment, then continued in a shaken voice.
"As I went deeper, my foot stepped on something, and suddenly a shriek erupted—sharp, piercing, almost beastly. I looked down to find a small creature with many legs, resembling a spider. I wasn't surprised; I had expected to encounter such things in a place like this. It lunged at me, but I kicked it away. Moments later, more of its kind appeared."
The commander slowly shook his head and said,
"I didn't run. I fought them. They were weak, and I managed to slay most of them with my sword. The rest fled. I pressed on deeper into the cave, and what caught my eye most was a glowing green gem embedded in the rocks. I tried to break it free, thinking it might be a diamond. Greed blinded me, and I began smashing the surrounding stones, desperate to claim it."
He lifted his eyes slightly and continued with growing tension in his voice.
"While I was busy, I heard a deafening roar—something beyond description. I froze and assumed a defensive stance. I couldn't pinpoint the direction of the sound, and confusion overtook me. For a moment, I considered retreating… but before I could move, I felt something behind me. I spun around and struck quickly, slicing off one of the legs of another small creature. It screamed—as if summoning something."
He took a breath and said,
"And then, in the blink of an eye, a massive beast erupted from beneath the ground. It looked like those small creatures, but monstrously large and terrifying. I've never seen anything like it in the human world."
One of the scientists interrupted,
"Was that encounter the cause of the injuries we found you with?"
The commander replied, "Are you insane? There's no way I could face something like that!"
He chuckled briefly before continuing,
"I knew I didn't stand a chance. I ran as fast as I could, using every skill I had to maneuver and hide. Eventually, I slipped into a small trench. My heart was pounding, ready to burst, but the creature circled around and eventually left. The worst part? My lantern went out."
A scientist asked, "Did you survive?"
The commander gave a sarcastic smile.
"Not yet. I waited until I was sure it was gone, then began to move again. But after only a few steps, I stepped on another small creature… and the damn beast came back for me!"
The first guard laughed.
"Ha! Seems like that just wasn't the commander's day."
The second guard nodded and continued the tale.
"Exactly. After more chases and dodging rocks, I finally saw a faint light coming through a gap in the wall. It was sunlight—fading, as the sun was setting. I realized this was my one and only chance to escape before nightfall. I sprinted toward it with everything I had."
He paused, then added,
"But when I reached it, I found the wall was solid. There was only a narrow crack letting in the light. I tried breaking it, but I had lost all my tools during the chase. I punched the stone with my bare hands—only to feel pain. And then the worst happened… the beast returned."
He spoke now in a low, tense voice.
"I could hear its heavy steps closing in, the screeching sound it made filling the cave. I looked up and saw one of the smaller creatures again. I realized then—they were connected to the beast, maybe even communicating my location."
With hesitation in his tone, he said,
"I stood there, thinking of a plan, even though time was against me. A wall in front of me, a monster behind me. I had no choice but to take a risk."
The commander took a deep breath and continued,
"When the beast lunged at me, I dodged at the last second, and it crashed headfirst into the wall—creating a crack! That was my chance. As I tried to escape from that cursed cave, the beast got up and landed a powerful kick that sent me flying. I was badly injured and barely conscious, asking myself what in the hell brought me here… while the beast slowly approached me again."
Then, with a faint smile, he said,
"And then… a miracle happened. A long arrow, crackling with lightning, struck the beast in the head and made it recoil. Another, even stronger, enchanted arrow pierced its eye, causing it to scream and retreat. I could finally breathe again. I had survived. I looked around to see who had saved me..."
The first guard raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"And who was it?"
The second guard answered,
"He looked like a human… long hair, wearing an ornate armor, and those ears—long and pointed, almost feminine in appearance."
"An elf?" the first guard asked.
"Exactly," confirmed the second guard.