Erend stepped into the swirling portal, the blinding light enveloping him in an instant. A surge of vertigo gripped him as the world seemed to spin, stretching and twisting before snapping into a new reality. The light faded, and the air around him changed. Thick, heavy, and laced with a metallic tang.
Back in Saeldir's chamber, Aurdis stood silently, her eyes fixed on the now-closed portal. Sadness flled her expression. She let out a sigh.
Saeldir, sensing her distress, spoke softly. "He'll be alright, Aurdis. Erend is strong enough and you know it. You must trust that he'll return."
Aurdis turned to him, her voice tinged with frustration. "I do trust him, Saeldir. But it's not easy, watching him go again and again. Knowing what he faces out there, and not being able to help. And I barely even see him…" Her voice trailed off as she turned away.
