My body body felt weightless as the magic of the portal surrounded it. The bright blue tunnel stretched ahead as far as I could see. An unseen forced pushed me ahead, slowly at first. With each second that passed, I felt the velocity of my travel increasing steadily. I had never experienced this mode of transport. The intense speed caused my stomach to churn.

My journey seemed to last an eternity, but it may have only lasted a few minutes. Eventually, I felt a noticable decrease in speed, my nausea began to die down. Then, in a flash of light, I arrived at my destination.

It was not what I had expected. Infact, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. I stood in a huge courtyard of sorts.

The area was well lit, though I saw no illuminating source. I looked upward expecting to see a ceiling or the sky. Instead, there was only absolute nothingness. The air was pure and carried no scents what so ever. It had almost an unnatural quality to it.

The courtyard was surrounded in metallic walls approximately twenty feet tall. At first I thought they were steel, but the color did not seem quite right. It took me a few seconds to figure out what they were composed of. I nearly gasped when the answer revealed itself.

They were titanium. The metal was covented on Soren for weapons and other magical equipment, but rarer than a ten pound diamond. Noone on my homeworld knew how to make it, but now and then merchants from other worlds would import it. Even then, the alloy was only available in small quantities, perhaps enough to forge a sword or maybe a suit of armor. There was ten times more metal in one wall here than could be found on all of Soren.

The air was filled with a low pitched but very faint hum. It seemed to be the source of a vibration I could feel beneath my boots, or perhaps vice versa.

My arrival point was not devoid of life. Figures stood here and there seemingly uninterested in my presence as they talked to one another and hovered over large machines located around the courtyard. The machines were covered in buttons and lights. I had no idea what they were used for, but they looked important.

I finally managed to focus as a command broke my awe.

"This is your last warning! Remove your hand from the weapon!"

I was somewhat confused as I looked to the shouting. Three figures with their swords drawn stood to my right. They were covered head to toe in titantium armor preventing me from knowing for sure what race they were, but from their heights and builds I guessed they were humans. Each had a symbol etched into the chest plates of their armor, an open palm with a world floating above it. I did not recognize the marking, but I assumed it was the crest of Nessus. I did not know how long they had been standing there, but from the tension in the shouters voice and their battle stance, I assumed they had probably been there since the moment I arrived.

I responded "Wha.. Huh?".

I looked down and noticed I was still gripping the hilt of my blade. I pondered ripping it from its sheath and cutting the trio to shreads. There was no doubt in my mind that they were outmatched even wih superior numbers, but I was not on a combat mission. I removed my hand from my weapon as ordered.

The trio seemed to calm down as I complied to the order. They did not put their weapons away, but they did lower them. They got out of their fighting stances relaxing a little.

The figure which had been shouting moved toward me cautiously. He finally sheathed his blade then bowed slightly as he spoke.

His voice sounded young. "Welcome stranger, I am Virgil, please state your business."

The pleasant greeting was somewhat surprising. I had half expected to enter hell itself surrounded by a pack of blood thirsty demons. While this place was amazing so far, nothing struck me as evil.

I returned the slight bow as I responded. "I am Malek, I represent the World of Soren. I come to deliver an answer to the demands of Nessus."

Virgil nodded. "He has been expecting word from your world. What is Soren's reply?"

I responded politely. "I am sorry. My orders were to deliver the message to Nessus himself. I can return to Soren and ask my king to alter his instructions if nesseccary."

Virgil grew quiet a moment as he seemed to ponder the situation then responded. "Nay, that won't be nesseccary." His arm moved a little toward my weapon. He did not attempt to remove it himself. The motion was his silent request for it.

I slid my sword slowly from its sheath and placed the hilt in his hand.

He simply nodded then spoke. "Follow me."

Virgil turned and headed toward a far wall. I saw no doorway there, or anywhere else for that matter, but followed as instructed.

The two figures finally sheathed their blades. They did not join us. They stood at attention watching my arrival point. I assumed they awaited other visitors.

I stood behind Virgil as he slipped his right gauntlet from his hand. He pressed his palm against the wall. I saw no markings or anything else on the walls surface, but assumed he knew what he was doing.