Chapter 23
After the drawing of lots concluded, the club members, now organized into pairs, gathered in front of the Glacial Sphere’s portal station.
A portal operator, a stern-faced individual in uniform, stood by the entrance. "Cadet Remillia Lockhart. Confirmed," they announced, their voice echoing slightly.
"Let’s go!" The club president, still radiating his gentle aura, stepped into the liquid-like blue portal first. The surface shimmered, swallowing him whole.
Next went Cypher, Angela, Whitney, then came Christian, giving a polite nod to me before he stepped through.
Finally, it was my turn. I took a deep breath and stepped into the shimmering blue expanse. A strange feeling enveloped my body, a disorienting sensation of being pulled and stretched, followed by a brief bout of dizziness. But it was fleeting.
In the blink of an eye, the surrounding scenery changed drastically. The academy portal station was replaced by the warm, bustling atmosphere of another portal hub. We were already at Aeonia.
"It’s 1 P.M. right now, so we’ll meet back here at 7 PM sharp," the club president announced, checking his watch.
Before us stood two portals. One, the shimmering blue gate we had just emerged from, leading back to the Glacial Sphere. The other, a different color – perhaps a soft green or gold, I didn’t pay close enough attention – was the portal that would take us from Aeonia to Monfort.
"Follow me." Following the club president, we proceeded to the next portal. The portal operators stationed there checked our ID’s again as we entered the portal one by one.
Stepping outside, I immediately saw the words ’Carran Station’ adorned on a sign. The air was different here, warmer and carrying the scents of a different city.
"You can go wherever you want as a pair using the public transportation," Zachary explained, gesturing to the various forms of transport available outside the station. "For today, we won’t require you to write a report, but make sure you’re back by 7. If you’re late, you’ll be penalized."