Strong currents of wind were permeated by the Time Rift, signaling the large power that lay beyond it. The Time Rift itself looked like a tear of fabric, darkness in its vambrace. It looked eerie in the time of dusk, creating a beautiful contrast between the dark rift and the orange sky.
"These should be enough resources for a Grade 1 Time Rift," Tenisha stated.
"Grade 1!?"Sheldon grimaced. "Are you sure that I can survive such?"
Teni, with a relaxed smile, said:
"Well... of course! All you need is a good technique!"
Somehow reassured, Sheldon approached the Time Rift. His boots crunched against the rugged terrain as he entered the tear. Tenisha, without hesitation, followed. As soon as they entered the Rift, it closed on the outside world.
Inside, a myriad of stars phased past them with great speed. Space warped as they moved. The Solstice of Time and Space was beautiful -- more beautiful than anything Sheldon has ever laid his gaze upon.
"Make sure you don't lose anything. There's a high chance that we'll be stripped of our belongings," Tenisha instructed.
Answering with a nod, he gripped his gun's handle. Immediately, their speed surged to a new level. The myriad of stars phased to the point of disappearance, filling the Solstice with darkness once again.
Crashing from the darkness with considerable speed was Sheldon.
'Is this a shrine?' Sheldon thought.
He crashed on what seemed to be a shrine. Recovering from the fall, he stood up tentatively. His eyes widened with astonishment as he looked forward. A subtle gust of wind was enough to halt his amazement. A cold gust of wind struck Sheldon's bare body. With his type of physique, the soft breeze would've been enough to throw him down the valley, but thanks to his good grip on the ground, he merely fell down.
Suddenly, the melodious voice of a woman could be heard from the escarpments. Sheldon picked up his loadout and headed down. Sheldon caught a glimpse of the running figure. The figure ran farther and farther though the forest; but Sheldon was faster.
Sheldon, with a strong leap, lunged towards the cloaked, running figure.
Weakly, the figure sidestepped his attack and slightly lifted her leg, causing Sheldon to trip. Unable to react, he rolled on the ground as the figure followed.
The silhouette of a naginata flashed in the air, its blade aimed for Sheldon's head. The naginata crashed down on the ground where Sheldon previously was.
He managed to dodge her fatal blow and get back on his feet before she could cut him. On her forearm was a small tattoo written, "Alethea, the Poet's Valor". He pointed his gun up and shot her. Her left arm was wounded by the shot.
Cradling her shoulder with one hand, the other holding a naginata, she sang:
"Oh! Don't deceive me!"
A gust of wind struck her as she disappeared. Her hood fell down, revealing her beautiful face. Her brunette hair, her seemingly healthy skin and her chestnut eyes mixed together to form the perfect face. Alethea soon disappeared.
Shifting his gaze, Sheldon looked forward at his destination from the azure forest.