CHAPTER 1056: CROSSING TO ANOTHER WORLD

The two of them ended up lingering far longer than they had intended. Smoke curling endlessly toward the ceiling and right now the room was drenched in the mellow fragrance of the leaves.

Erend leaned back, his shoulders loose for the first time in what felt like ages, his eyes half-lidded as he watched the haze drift and scatter.

The warmth of the smoke seeped into his body, calming his nerves, and smoothing the hard edges of his thoughts.

"These leaves are... nice," Erend murmured, his voice low, his gaze fixed on the ceiling beams above.

"I told you," Adrius replied with a small grin, swirling the smoke out from his lips like a practiced ritual. "They make you forget about your problems for a few minutes. Or hours, if you’d rather not get up at all. Heheh."

Erend chuckled softly. His chest rumbling with the sound.

But the humor faded quickly, replaced by the familiar weight pressing back on his mind.

He couldn’t stay here forever, lost in smoke and calm. There were things waiting for him.

He let out a long sigh that sounded heavy in this quiet room.

"When can we go?" Erend asked.

Adrius glanced at him, the faintest spark of amusement still lingering in his sharp eyes. "Do you want to go now?"

Erend gave a firm nod.

Adrius exhaled one last plume of smoke, then closed his eyes. His fingers twitching lightly as he cast a subtle telepathic call.

His lips moved soundlessly, the words carried far beyond the room.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open.

Lysander entered with his face tight and composed. His apprentice’s robe looked neat even though his eyes flickered curiously to the haze still hanging in the chamber.

His nose caught the sharp earthy tang of the leaves immediately and his mind supplied the obvious conclusion. His master had just sat here smoking the mind-soothing herbs with a Dragonborn.

The thought was absurd enough that he nearly smirked. He would definitely write this down in his journal later. It was too ridiculous not to record.

"Master," Lysander said. "What do you need me to do?"

Adrius gestured lazily with his pipe, still faintly glowing with embers.

"I’ll be going with Erend to his world for a while. In the meantime, you’ll handle all matters here. If that is something very important, bring it before the council if you must. But the flow of this tower, the Kingdom’s business about Magical things, it’s yours to shoulder."

Lysander inwardly groaned at the thought. A mountain of scrolls, endless meetings, bureaucrats talking in circles feels bothersome work.

But it wasn’t beyond his capability. He was, after all, the Archmage’s apprentice, and whatever business was important enough to take Adrius away to another world alongside a Dragonborn, it was clearly nothing so simple.

"Yes, Master," Lysander said with a calm expression. "Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything here."

Adrius nodded in satisfaction and rose to his feet, brushing ash from his robe.

Erend stood as well, Lysander felt his imposing aura once more. He gave Lysander a smile that carried genuine gratitude.

"Thank you," Erend said simply.

Lysander returned the smile with a slight bow. "Youre welcome, master Dragonborn."

"Open it," Adrius said.

Erend lifted his hand and power surged.

The air before them spiraling in streaks of red and white until a great swirling portal roared into being. Its glow painted the chamber in red and white.

Adrius’s eyes widened slightly, excitement flickering like a boy given a toy. He rubbed his hands together with unfeigned anticipation.

"So this is it... I will go to your world." His lips curled into a grin. "From what I’ve heard from you, from Billy, from Adrien... this will be unlike anything I’ve ever seen here."

Before stepping through, Adrius turned to Lysander with a smirk. "Don’t think I’ll forget a present for you when I return."

Lysander gave a faint laugh, shaking his head. "No need, Master. Just... enjoy your stay there."

Erend moved first, stepping into the swirling light with steady resolve.

Adrius followed right after. His robe flaring slightly as he vanished into the unknown.

The portal’s glow pulsed once, then folded in on itself, leaving the chamber empty except for Lysander who stood silently.

He sighed softly, lips twitching into the faintest smirk.

"Master, smoking with a Dragonborn before leaping into another world... Yes. Definitely writing this down."

—

Adrius felt his body twist and churn as the portal pulled him across the veil between worlds.

The sensation was unlike any spell of teleportation he had ever cast. It wasn’t a clean shift but a tumbling rush, as if his body were being unraveled into strands of light and flung through a raging current.

His stomach lurched and for a moment dizziness clawed at him.

His balance tilting as nausea threatened to take hold.

But he was an Archmage. He shut his eyes, forced his breathing steady, and anchored his mind with practiced calm. The chaotic pull softened until at last the motion stopped.

When he opened his eyes, he was standing in a small chamber unlike any he had ever seen. Its walls gleamed dull and metallic. The light wasn’t fire or crystal, but an even glow from a strange lamp mounted in the ceiling.

He turned slowly, his eyes drawn to the clutter on the desk. There was a flat thin object with a black screen, wires snaking across the table, and another smaller device glowing faintly beside it.

Adrius’s brows furrowed with curiosity.

"Hmm... there is another type of energy here. Different from Magic," he muttered, almost to himself.

His hand hovered near the lamp, feeling the hum of electricity that thrummed faintly in the air.

"Yes," Erend replied, already watching him carefully. "Listen, Adrius. My candidates have begun awakening their Magic but they don’t understand it fully, and they hurt themselves trying to use it. I need you to help me guide them how to wield it without breaking their bodies."

Adrius turned his gaze from the strange tools back to Erend, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"Alright. I can do that." Then a faint smile curved his lips. "But in exchange, you must take me on a tour of this world of yours. I will not leave here without seeing what it truly is."

Erend smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting in amusement. "Agreed."

Adrius gave a satisfied nod. "Then where do I begin?"

Erend crossed the room, opening the closet with a quiet creak. He pulled out a set of folded clothes and handed them over.

"Change into this first."

Adrius raised a brow but took the garments without complaint. He slipped into the unfamiliar attire with ease, adjusting the jacket until it sat neatly over his shoulders.

He turned, tugging at the sleeves, and arched a brow at Erend. "Do I look like a native now?"

Erend shook his head. "Not really. Your hair and beard stand out too much."

Adrius smirked faintly, then lifted a hand. A shimmer of light washed over him, his long white hair and beard shortening. When the illusion settled, a younger face, sharp and commanding, stared back at Erend.

For a moment, Erend was struck silent, blinking as though he had just seen someone entirely new.

"Holy shit, I almost didn’t recognize you."

Adrius chuckled, adjusting the collar with elegance. "Good. Then the disguise works."

"Alright, let’s go meet my team," Erend said.

—