"Thermal readings say that somebody is inside," Brett continues. "But the place is surrounded by some sort of magical shield. We can't get in."
"Our warlocks have set up a teleportation barrier, however," says Electra. "We may not be able to get in, but nobody is getting out, either."
"How strong is this barrier?" you ask. "Can we bring it down?"
"Maybe, given time," says Electra. "Let me show you."
She leads you forward, to a spot a few yards from the front door of the warehouse, and she nods at a blue chalk line drawn on the ground. "This marks the barrier's periphery," she says. "You can touch it; it won't hurt you."
To demonstrate, she reaches out with the palm of her hand. And yes, she does seem to touch a sort of impenetrable, invisible hemisphere. For a second, blue sparks shimmer in the air before her.
Curious, you reach out as well. And yet your hand meets no resistance. You step over the chalk line, and nothing prevents you—though you do feel a tingling from the strange, swirling mark on your right arm.
"This is unexpected," says Electra. Once again, she tries to push through the barrier—and once again, she fails. At last she gives up. "It seems that you're the only one invited to the party. Are you going in?"
"If you do, we won't be able to help you," warns Brett.