Alex found himself once again in the heart of the ancient city, but he was alone, the twisted, desolate streets stretching out before him like the veins of a long-forgotten world. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint whisper of a wind that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. The buildings towered above him, their stone faces worn and cracked as though they had stood watch over countless ages of decay.

  As he stood in the eerie stillness, a strange sensation washed over him – something unseen yet unmistakable pulling at him. He turned, scanning the shadows, expecting to see some figure lurking, but the city appeared as it had the day before: empty, abandoned.

  And then, out of the stillness, a voice – a soft, ghostly whisper, as if carried on the very breath of the wind. It was delicate, beautiful, yet threaded with an ancient power that sent chills racing down Alex’s spine.

  The Veil thins, the realms entwine,

  Seek the path, for it is thine.

  In shadowed worlds, a key awaits,

  But tread with care or seal your fate.

  Alex froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The voice seemed to echo from everywhere at once, drifting through the streets, curling around him like smoke. He spun in place, eyes wide, but no one was there – only the crumbling city.

  “What ...?” he whispered, his voice barely audible in the suffocating silence.

  The Veil beckons, and so must you,

  The key is near, your path is true.

  The voice grew louder, more insistent. It was no longer a soft call; it was a command, wrapped in mystery, its words both alluring and terrifying. The air around him seemed to pulse with an invisible energy, and the ground beneath his feet trembled, just as it had the day before.

  The buildings groaned as though they might collapse, but Alex could not move, the power of the voice pinning him in place.

  The key awaits, hidden in plain sight,

  But darkness stirs; beware the night ...

  A surge of panic shot through him. The words filled the air, swirling around him like a storm, pressing in on him from all sides. The city, with all its secrets and shadows, seemed to be closing in, but Alex was frozen still.

  Then the voice shifted, its tone more sinister, more urgent:

  Do not falter, do not stray,

  For those who seek the dark will pay.

  The streets began to shake violently, the shadows lengthening, and Alex felt the world around him crumble. The voice’s final words echoed in his mind as the city collapsed inward, the ground splitting beneath his feet, swallowing everything whole ...

  Alex woke with a start, gasping for breath, his body drenched in sweat. The room was dim, the early light barely penetrating the curtains. His heart pounded in his chest, and his mind raced, still gripped by the remnants of the dream ... or vision, whatever it was.

  “The key,” he whispered, running a hand through his hair. It was more than a dream. Something was pulling them back to that city, something connected to the key and the Veil itself.

  He glanced at his phone – 5:45am. Plenty of time before he had to get up to meet Ravi. But that didn’t stop his stomach from twisting. He needed answers. What was that place? Why had it suddenly appeared out of nowhere? And most importantly, why did he feel like it had chosen him? Alex was going to find out.

  As if on cue, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Ravi.

  Ravi: Bruv, you up?

  Ravi: You won’t believe this.

  Alex groaned and typed back, trying to shake off the grogginess.

  Alex: What now? Did the kebab give you superpowers?

  The reply came almost instantly.

  Ravi: Bruv, I need to show you something. Like, NOW. You won’t believe what I found.

  Great. He hadn’t even got out of bed, and the day was already spiralling into something bizarre. He quickly fired off a response.

  Alex: Meet me at the canal in an hour.

  After tossing his phone on the bed, Alex stared at the ceiling, the weight of yesterday’s discovery pressing down on him. That door … the city they’d stumbled into ... it was all connected to something bigger. He could feel it. And even if Ravi would rather pretend it had never happened, Alex wasn’t about to let it go. Whatever they had found behind that door, it was dangerous. But it was also important.

  An hour later, Alex arrived at Camden Lock, scanning the busy market. As usual, the place was buzzing with tourists snapping photos of the food stalls, while locals wandered between the varied shops. But for once, Alex wasn’t interested in the colourful chaos of Camden. His eyes darted to every brick, every wall, wondering if other doorways were hidden in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered.

  Ravi arrived, a sandwich in hand, looking both paranoid and annoyed. “Bruv, I’ve been doing some research.”

  Alex raised an eyebrow. “On what? Creepy old doors that lead to other worlds? And do you ever stop eating, bruv?”

  Ravi said dismissively, “I’m a growing boy, my mum tells me, and a growing boy needs his food. And to answer your original question, no.” Ravi huffed, pulling his phone out and scrolling through his photos. “On this.” He shoved the phone into Alex’s face.

  Alex stared at the screen. It was a grainy photo of the ancient door they’d found yesterday. Ravi had snapped it before they’d gone through, but Alex hadn’t realised. He took the phone, zooming in on the detailed etchings that adorned the frame. “So? It’s just the door we saw yesterday.”

  “Not exactly. Look at the symbols.” Ravi pointed at the carvings. “I googled these. They match symbols that date back to ancient civilisations. Like, well old civilisations.”

  “Okay, so it’s an old door. We already know that, Ravi,” Alex said flippantly.

  Ravi shook his head. “No, bruv, not just ‘old’. These symbols are tied to legends about hidden portals – gateways to other realms. It’s the same stuff people think are just myths. There was no mention of mole people, though, thankfully.”

  “What’s your obsession with mole people, Rav?” Alex asked, eyebrow raised.

  “I don’t know,” Ravi muttered, glancing nervously at the ground. “I just don’t think I’d like them very much.”

  Alex sighed, already feeling his patience slipping. “I don’t think mole people exist at all, though.”

  “Well, we never thought ancient doors leading to other worlds existed either, but look!” Ravi said, pointing at the old door, his voice edging towards panic. “They bloody do!”

  Alex’s eyes scanned the screen. It was a link to an old website on mythology, the text beneath the photo filled with strange symbols and cryptic phrases. But one thing stood out to him immediately: the word ‘Gatekeepers’.

  “Gatekeepers?” Alex muttered, looking up at Ravi.

  Ravi nodded, his eyes wide with the same disbelief Alex felt. “Yeah, apparently there’s this old myth – like really old – about how certain beings are chosen to guard ancient portals. They’re called Gatekeepers. Each one protects a portal from the darkness that wants to seep through and destroy everything on the other side.”

  Alex swallowed hard, the pieces starting to click into place. “The Veil – the voice in my dream said something about the Veil and portals.”

  “What did you dream of?” Ravi asked, raising an eyebrow as they walked down the street.

  Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I was back in that place – you know, the ancient city. I was alone, and there was another voice. I can’t remember exactly what it said, but it was calling out to me. Something about the Veil, like it was trying to warn me and guide me. It felt … real.”

  “Yeah, that sounds well mad, bruv,” Ravi said, shaking his head. “My dream? I was flying, right? Like, proper soaring through the air. And then, out of nowhere, I saw a burger van, and the tray was calling me. So I flew down and asked for five of each thing on the menu. I went to town on it, mate! The next thing I know, I wake up feeling like I haven’t eaten in days. Like, proper starving, bruv.”

  Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “You barely go an hour without food, let alone days.”

  “Ha! True that, bruv,” Ravi said with a grin, patting his stomach. “But man, I’m telling you, that burger van was something else. Like the food of the gods or something.”

  Alex couldn’t help but laugh. “Only you could dream about food while we’re dealing with ancient cities and magic portals.”

  “Well, someone’s gotta keep things real,” Ravi said with a wink. “And by real, I mean well-fed.”

  “Anyway, what does the rest say?” Alex asked, pointing at the phone.

  Ravi scrolled down, showing more of the article. “It gets weirder. According to this, the Gatekeepers guard these portals to other realms, and only those who are worthy – or, I guess, chosen – can unlock the portals with something called a ‘key’. They’re basically the last line of defence against whatever darkness is out there, trying to break through.”

  A chill ran down Alex’s spine. The dream, the strange door, the markings, the voice: it was all connected. And now they had confirmation that there was something ancient and dangerous tied to that city.

  “We’re part of this,” Alex said, his voice low and filled with realisation. “The key: we’re supposed to find it.”

  Ravi nodded slowly, his excitement fading into something more serious. “Yeah, and if the myths are real, then we’re already way out of our depth. Whoever those Gatekeepers are, they’re protecting something big.”

  Alex stared at the phone screen, feeling the weight of the revelation. They weren’t just stumbling into an old city or uncovering some long-forgotten history; they were stepping into worlds far bigger than their own, with dangers they couldn’t yet comprehend.

  “We have to go back,” Alex said quietly.

  Ravi looked at him, his expression unreadable. “You joking, bruv? I mean, this sounds serious. Like ‘end of the world’ serious.”

  Alex nodded, determination settling in his chest. “We have to. We’re connected to this, Ravi. The dream, the city – whatever’s happening, we’re part of it. And if we don’t figure it out, who knows what might happen?”

  Ravi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure about this. I mean, I’m always up for a little adventure, but this is next-hundred-levels adventure.”

  Alex looked at Ravi with a serious expression. “We have to, Rav; I’ve felt strange since yesterday.”

  Ravi shrugged, his expression concerned. “Were you infected or something? Do you need to see a doctor?”

  Alex’s pulse quickened. “No, Ravi, I don’t mean I’m sick; it’s like the magic from that place is calling out to me.”

  Ravi groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s what I was afraid of. But the stuff online talks of dark magic and all kinds of magical beasts.”

  “If there’s dark magic, then there’s gotta be good magic too. Don’t you want to explore whole new worlds?”

  “Nah, not really. I don’t even like leaving Camden,” Ravi grumbled. “I was kind of hoping all that talk about dark magic and magical beasts would’ve put you off. You know, like a normal person would hear that and think, ‘Nah, mate, no way am I going back near that place!’”

  Alex gave him a flat look. “Since when have we ever been normal? I mean, you’re definitely not normal, Ravi, but I wouldn’t change a thing about you.”

  Ravi sighed in defeat. “Alright, fine. But if we get trapped in another dimension or something, I’m blaming you. And my mum will definitely kill you. I’m defo her favourite, bruv.”

  They made their way to the ancient door, and Alex stood there staring at it. “How come no one else can see it? It’s like it’s invisible to everyone but us.”

  “I really wish we couldn’t see it either, to be honest,” Ravi muttered, shuffling his feet uneasily.

  The two stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of the unknown bearing down on them as they contemplated stepping through the door again. The alley seemed to close in around them, the strange old doorway beckoning in its quiet, eerie way. Alex could feel the pull of something beyond, something that wasn’t finished with them yet.

  Ravi stared at it like it might bite. “Okay, so we go in, have a look around, and leave. No touching glowing orbs this time, and if the creepy ghost starts again or the earthquakes start again … I’m going.”

  Alex nodded. “Agreed.”

  With a deep breath, Alex reached for the handle. It felt cold and familiar in his hand as he twisted it, and the door creaked open once more, revealing the archway that led into the hidden city. They stepped through, and just like before, the air changed. It was cooler, heavier – like the very atmosphere was thicker with secrets.

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  The city stretched out before them, as ancient and strange as the last time they’d seen it. The twisted buildings, the stone pathways: it was all still there, but this time, the city didn’t feel as silent. There was a faint sound in the distance, like soft murmurs, as though the city was breathing, its ancient walls murmuring secrets only they could sense.

  Ravi stepped in behind Alex, shaking his head. “This place is like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. Why do we keep coming back here … why?!”

  Alex shot him a look. “It’s not a nightmare. It’s the stuff of legends, real magic. And it’s amazing!”

  Ravi shook his head, giving Alex a look of disagreement.

  They walked forward, retracing their steps from the day before, moving towards the centre of the city. Alex had the nagging feeling that something was guiding him, pulling him towards something important.

  The glowing orb that had been hovering in the centre of the city the day before was no longer there. Instead, a faint light flickered from the edges of the twisted buildings, like fireflies dancing in the distance.

  Alex frowned. “That’s odd. Where’s the orb made of pure light?”

  Ravi, still jumpy, scanned the surroundings. “Maybe it ran out of batteries?”

  But Alex wasn’t paying attention. His eyes were drawn to a figure standing in the shadows, partially obscured by the jagged buildings. At first, he thought it was just a trick of the light – a statue or some part of the city that had crumbled – but then it moved.

  Alex’s breath caught in his throat as the figure stepped into the faint light. It was a man, though he looked as old as the city itself, with big brown eyes, long grey hair and a cloak that was dark and worn, and around his neck, he wore a pendant that glowed faintly with the same light Alex had seen in the orb.

  The man’s eyes locked onto Alex’s, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Then, in a voice that sounded like it had been dragged across centuries, the man spoke. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  Ravi’s eyes widened. “Well, at least someone finally agrees with me.”

  Alex, however, couldn’t look away from the man. He stepped forward, swallowing his nerves. “Who are you?”

  The man tilted his head, as if the question was a strange one. “I am a Gatekeeper,” he said simply. “Or what remains of one.”

  Ravi cleared his throat, shifting on his feet as the gravity of the conversation hung heavily on him. Trying to lighten the mood, he looked up at the man and asked, “So, uh, what do we call you? ‘Gatekeeper’ sounds a little formal.”

  The old man’s lips twitched into a faint smile, the wrinkles on his face deepening with amusement. “Names have little meaning to one such as me,” he said, his voice still carrying that ancient weight, “but long ago, I was known as Gashuun. You may call me that if it comforts you.”

  Ravi nodded thoughtfully. “Gashuun. Alright, that works. Better than ‘Hey, Gatekeeper!’ anyway.”

  Before either of them could respond, something shifted in the air around them. A soft glimmer of light appeared out of nowhere, flickering like a candle in the wind. The light grew brighter, swirling and spinning faster until it formed a glowing golden orb. There was a soft whoosh as the orb shimmered, and then, as if it had been summoned by an invisible force, a key appeared, hovering in the air between Alex and Ravi.

  The key was unlike anything they had ever seen. Its finely wrought design glowed with a faint, eerie light, symbols etched into its surface that pulsed with an ancient magic. The metal was cool and smooth, yet it radiated warmth, as if alive with power. It hung there, suspended in mid-air for a brief moment, before slowly descending into Alex’s outstretched hand.

  Gashuun’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the key. “I am little lost for words: that key has been missing for centuries,” he whispered, awe lacing his voice. “The key ... will only present itself to someone worthy.”

  Alex glanced at the key in his hand, the weight of it feeling heavier now. He could feel its energy coursing through him, like it was more than just a simple object. Ravi, standing beside him, looked just as shocked, his eyes darting between the key and Gashuun.

  “Worthy?” Ravi said, frowning. “We’re just a couple of kids from Camden, bruv. What makes us worthy?”

  Gashuun’s gaze shifted between the two of them, his expression serious. “The key knows. It chooses its Keepers. It is now your responsibility to protect it, to guard the realms.” He paused, his voice taking on a solemn tone. “You are now the Keepers of the Key.”

  Alex felt a surge of apprehension, his grip tightening around the key. “But ... what does that mean? What are we supposed to do?”

  Gashuun looked at them with a mixture of sadness and hope. “The key holds the power to unlock the portals between realms, the paths that connect our worlds. But it also will unlock the Master Portal. The dark forces that seek to destroy the Veil have been searching for this key for a long time. They will stop at nothing to claim it.”

  Ravi, still wide-eyed, took a step back. “Great. So, we’ve basically just become walking targets for evil magic. That’s what you’re saying?”

  Gashuun nodded gravely. “Yes. But you have also been chosen to protect the realms, to find the Gatekeepers and safeguard the path to the Master Portal and seal it before it’s too late. The fate of many lies in your hands.”

  Alex exchanged a look with Ravi, their new responsibility settling heavily on them both. The key hummed faintly in his hand, like it was made of pure magic. It was a constant reminder of the power they now held – and the danger that came with it.

  “Being the Keepers of the Key is no mere task,” Gashuun said slowly, as if each word carried the weight of worlds. “You are the protectors now. To save the Veil from being destroyed, it will take all your strength to see it through.”

  “A few questions for you, bruv ... I mean, Gashuun,” Ravi began, rubbing the back of his neck and looking around the ancient city, trying to process everything. “Why us? I mean, seriously, why not some trained magical warrior or whatever? We’re just a couple of lads from Camden, one of whom barely scrapes through school, let alone some magical mission to save the world.”

  He paused, glancing at the key in Alex’s hand before continuing, his voice picking up speed as the questions tumbled out. “And why can no one else see that door, huh? I mean, it’s literally just sitting there in plain sight, right smack in the middle of Camden, yet no one bats an eyelash. Is it invisible to everyone but us? Are we some kind of chosen ones or something?”

  Ravi’s mind raced, his frustration and confusion spilling out. “And this key” — he pointed at the glowing object in Alex’s hand — “can we use it to open any door, or is it just the magic ones? Like, will it open vending machines?”

  He chuckled nervously, but the seriousness of the situation quickly sobered him again. His voice grew quieter as he asked the hardest question of all, his brow furrowed with concern. “And last of all, what if we don’t want any part of this? Like, what if we decide we’re not cut out for this? Because let’s be real, bruv… Gashuun, this is a massive responsibility. We didn’t even know magic was real until yesterday. Now we’re supposed to save the Veil, whatever that is, and protect realms from dark magic? How are we supposed to handle that? We’re just a couple of kids trying to make it through the day without screwing up, and now we’re ... what? Warriors or something?”

  Ravi’s voice trailed off, his usual bravado fading as the reality of the situation sank in. He turned to Alex, the uncertainty clear in his eyes. “I mean, how are we supposed to save anything when we don’t even know what we’re doing?”

  Gashuun let out a long, slow breath, the weight of Ravi’s questions settling heavily in the air. His ancient eyes seemed to study them both carefully, as if measuring their resolve.

  “Why you?” Gashuun repeated softly, as though the answer itself carried its own mystery. “The Veil chooses, not I. The key seeks those who have the courage to face what others fear. It does not seek out warriors or wizards; it seeks those who will stand when others fall, those with true courage.” He paused, his gaze steady on Ravi. “There is strength in you, even if you don’t yet see it.”

  Ravi shifted uncomfortably but didn’t say anything.

  “As for why no one else can see the door,” Gashuun continued, “the Veil hides that which must be hidden. The door exists in both your world and ours, but only those connected to the magic of the realms can perceive it. It is the Veil’s way of protecting itself.”

  Alex glanced back at the door they had stepped through, now looming quietly in the shadows. “So, it’s like … it’s invisible to normal people?”

  Gashuun nodded. “Yes. The magic that surrounds it conceals it from those who are not tied to the Veil. But you” — he gestured at them both — “you were drawn to it. That is no coincidence.”

  Ravi rubbed the back of his neck, the questions still tumbling out. “And the key? Can we just clarify if we can use it to open, like, any door? Or is it just for these magic ones?”

  “The key,” Gashuun said, his voice taking on a grave tone, “is no ordinary tool. It will not unlock simple doors. It is bound to all realms and can be used to open portals that connect them. Each realm is or was guarded by a Gatekeeper. Some were lost to the Dark Wizard’s forces, as I was.”

  Alex stepped forward, sensing there was more to the story. “Dark Wizard?”

  Gashuun nodded gravely, his expression darkening as if the weight of centuries pressed down upon him. “The Dark Wizard … he was once one of us. A Gatekeeper, entrusted with the same sacred duty as I was. But his hunger for power was insatiable. It consumed him, twisted him. He wasn’t content with merely guarding the Veil; he sought dominion over it, to control the Master Portal and wield its unimaginable power for himself.”

  Gashuun’s voice dropped lower, filled with bitterness. “He betrayed us all. His thirst for control shattered the trust we had built across realms. When he came for me, it wasn’t just to remove an obstacle. No. He wanted my piece of the map – the one I was sworn to protect with my life. He stole it from me, imprisoned me here, leaving this place to decay as I was trapped in my own failure.”

  Alex and Ravi listened in stunned silence, the gravity of Gashuun’s words sinking in.

  “You see,” Gashuun continued, his gaze hardening, “each Gatekeeper holds a piece of the map to the Master Portal. This was a safeguard, ensuring that no one person could access the Portal’s full power. For within the Master Portal lies the power to reshape worlds, to bend reality itself. Such power is dangerous, beyond the grasp of any being. No one should possess it, but the Dark Wizard ... he covets it more than anything. And if he succeeds, if he gains control of the Master Portal, he will tear apart the very fabric of the realms. He will destroy countless worlds in his blind pursuit of power.”

  “But how many pieces of the map does he need to be able to find the Master Portal?” Ravi asked, his voice tight with concern.

  Gashuun’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “He needs thirteen pieces of the map. Each piece merges with the next, creating a larger, more complete whole. Only when the entire map is assembled will the exact location of the Master Portal be revealed. Without all the pieces, it remains hidden, lost between the realms.”

  Ravi frowned, his brow furrowing. “And how many does he have now?”

  “Four, as far as I know,” Gashuun said darkly. “One from me, and others from Gatekeepers who fell to his forces long ago. With each piece he collects, his power grows. But he doesn’t have the full map yet, and that is what’s keeping the Master Portal beyond his reach. Gatekeepers have gone into hiding; some still guard their realms but will only reveal themselves when they sense no danger. Others have abandoned their gates completely.”

  Alex clenched his fists, his grip on the key tightening. “And without the key, he still can’t open it, right?”

  Gashuun nodded, but his expression remained grim. “The Dark Wizard is powerful, more so than most can even imagine. With enough dark magic, he could theoretically force the Portal open, but it would take an immense amount of energy – far more than he currently possesses. That’s why he’s always hunting for the key. With it, the Portal can be unlocked without the need for such dangerous magic.”

  Ravi let out a sigh. “So, he’s hunting for this key all the time? And now we have it?”

  “Yes,” Gashuun confirmed, his voice heavy with warning. “Now you hold the key, and that makes you his most valuable targets. The Dark Wizard’s eyes are always searching, always looking for any trace of it. That’s why you must be careful. Every time you use the key, you run the risk of alerting him to your presence. He needs the key to open the Master Portal. Without it, he knows he will likely fail. He will stop at nothing to take it from you.”

  Alex and Ravi exchanged a tense look. The responsibility they bore had just become even more terrifying. Not only did they need to find the other Gatekeepers, but they now carried the one thing the Dark Wizard needed to complete his plan.

  Gashuun nodded grimly. “That’s why you must protect the key with your lives.”

  Alex glanced down at the key in his hand, its glow seeming to pulse with renewed intensity. The burden of responsibility hung heavy in the air. He met Gashuun’s gaze, the gravity of their mission pressing on him like a physical weight. “We’ll do it. We’ll find the other Gatekeepers and get their pieces of the map and protect the key.”

  “Wait, what if we decide not to do this?” Ravi asked with concern.

  Gashuun’s face softened, but the weight of his words remained. “It is a heavy responsibility. And if you choose to walk away, the key will return to the place in which it was hidden and wait for another to claim it.” He paused, his gaze sharpening. “But know this: if you walk away, the dark forces will not stop. They will continue to hunt for the key, and they will find a way of opening the Master Portal. The Veil is weakening, and time is running out. The fate of the realms hangs in the balance, not just ours but yours too.”

  Alex and Ravi exchanged a long, silent glance. The significance of what Gashuun was saying pressed down on them both, and the enormity of the task ahead felt overwhelming.

  After a moment, Alex spoke quietly. “So, we don’t really have a choice, do we?”

  Gashuun’s gaze turned kind. “You always have a choice. But sometimes, the path chooses you.”

  Ravi was less enthusiastic. “What, seriously, WE’RE going to do this?” He let out a huge sigh. “If I die, I’m defo haunting you, bruv. I guess I’m in, but no pressure, right? Just save the realms, collect pieces of the map, stop a Dark Wizard from finding the Master Portal, and protect the Veil itself. Piece of cake.”

  Gashuun’s expression warmed, a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. “The path ahead is perilous, but you have been chosen for a reason. Trust in yourselves and in each other. The Veil is weakening, but together, you may yet be able to save it.”

  Alex glanced around the crumbling city before turning his attention back to Gashuun. “What did those riddles mean? First, there was that beautiful, almost hypnotic one that called to us, and then the second one … the eerie one, before everything started shaking. What was that all about?”

  Gashuun’s eyes held a hint of gentleness, as though he understood their confusion. “The first riddle you heard is a call – an invitation, if you will. It is only heard by those who are connected to the Veil, those who possess the potential to be Keepers of the Key. It speaks of the weakening of the Veil and the task that lies ahead of you: to seek the Gatekeepers, to gather the pieces of the map, and to protect the Master Portal. It was not meant to frighten you, but to guide you, to ensure that you understood the magnitude of what you were stepping into.”

  Alex nodded, still trying to process it all. “And the second one?”

  Gashuun’s expression darkened. “The second riddle was not for you. It was designed to deter those with ill intentions: the Dark Wizard’s followers and others who seek to harm the Veil. The eerie tone, the tremors: it was all magic, a protective spell meant to scare away those who should not be here. The city never truly collapsed, but it is, indeed, decaying over time as the Veil weakens. The earthquake you experienced was simply an illusion, magic designed to protect the city. But because your intentions were good, you came back despite the warning.”

  Ravi let out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. “So, it was like a test?”

  Gashuun nodded. “In a way, yes. And you passed. You came back even when the city seemed dangerous, which is why the Veil continues to guide you.”

  The gravity of Gashuun’s words hit them hard. This was bigger than just retrieving a few pieces of a map; this was about preventing the collapse of entire realms.

  Ravi scratched the back of his head, a nervous grin on his face. “You’re asking a lot, bruv.”

  Gashuun managed a faint smile, though the sorrow in his eyes remained. “You are not alone. The key will guide you to those who can help. But beware, the Dark Wizard’s followers are everywhere, and they are all manner of creatures. They will stop at nothing to prevent you from succeeding.”

  Alex and Ravi exchanged a glance. They were the Keepers of the Key now. It was their duty to protect the Veil, to stop the Dark Wizard, and to ensure that the Master Portal remained out of the Dark Wizard’s grasp.

  Gashuun’s gaze hardened. “Go. Find the others. And remember ... you have the key, but you must also have the will to wield it.”

  Ravi stood there, overwhelmed with mixed emotions, pondering what to say next. “Creatures?” he squeaked, taking a step back. “What creatures? Are there mole people?”

  Gashuun responded, “There are vast numbers of all kinds of creatures. I am not sure I’m familiar with mole people, but perhaps there are.”

  Gashuun’s face began to grow sombre. “Remember, the Veil’s thinning is no small matter. The more it weakens, the more our worlds will collide. Creatures from the other side may soon walk among your kind.”

  Gashuun’s form began to shimmer, his outline growing faint. “Go now, find the Gatekeepers’ Archive; they will guide you on the right path.” Gashuun looked at Alex and Ravi, his eyes holding the weight of centuries. “The path you walk is not one of ease, nor is it one of certainty. Along the way, you will face trials that test your strength, your courage, and your hearts. But remember this: every challenge is a lesson, every ally a gift, and every step forward is one closer to the truth you seek. Trust in yourselves and know that sometimes the journey reveals more than the destination. Farewell, young Keepers of the Key, and good luck. The fate of the countless realms is now in your hands.”

  And then, in an instant, Gashuun was gone. The city around them fell silent once more, the strange light fading into the shadows.

  Ravi let out a shaky breath. “I hate this. I really, really hate this.”

  Alex stood there, the key still clutched in his hand, his mind racing with everything Gashuun had said. The Master Portal, the creatures, the thinning Veil: it was all so much bigger than he had imagined. But there was no turning back now. The path was laid out before them, and whether they liked it or not, they had a part to play in the fate of countless worlds.

  “Come on,” Alex said quickly. “We’ve got work to do.”

  Ravi groaned but followed, and they made their way back towards the ancient door, the weight of the key now feeling heavier than ever.

  Thanks for sticking with the story. If you have any thoughts, theories, or favourite parts, drop a comment. I always appreciate hearing what stood out to readers.

  More to come, and it only gets bigger from here.