The familiar distortion of space faded around them.
Atheline's feet touched the polished stone floor of the palace teleportation chamber. For a moment, he simply stood there.
The teleportation circle beneath them gradually dimmed, its magical glow retreating until only the intricate markings carved into the floor remained.
Lilith appeared beside him, one hand still resting lightly against his arm. Their little fox emerged from the fading spatial distortion a moment later and immediately looked around.
Atheline exhaled slowly.
"We're back."
Lilith smiled.
"It seems like it."
The journey had taken them across an entire continent and through places neither of them could have imagined before leaving.
Yet standing inside the familiar teleportation chamber made everything suddenly feel much closer. The palace was exactly as they had left it.
Then footsteps echoed from the corridor, and a familiar figure appeared.
Zelpher.
