"Oh, don't worry, nothing special," Nora said, massaging her temples. "Just contemplating ancient wisdom while facing magical talking wolves and trial grounds that appear out of nowhere. You know, Tuesday stuff." Her attempt at humor felt hollow even to her own ears, but it was better than admitting how utterly lost she felt. That proverb about journeys and single steps felt painfully literal now—each step deeper into this world seemed to take her further from everything familiar.

  Lukan continued to look at Nora incredulously for a few seconds and then shook his head.

  "Alright," he said hesitantly. "If you say so. Anyway, if we are stuck here, should we explore a bit?"

  Nora circled the well, running her fingertips along the cool stonework. No hidden runes, no magical shimmer, just a perfectly ordinary well that happened to exist in an extraordinarily non-ordinary place. The incongruity made her skin prickle. She leaned over the edge, inhaling the clean scent of fresh water.

  "Expecting it to start talking?" Lukan asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  "At this point?" Nora dipped her fingers in the water, half-expecting it to turn to fire or blood. "I wouldn't rule anything out."

  The cabins drew their attention next. Nora pushed open the weathered door of the first structure, wincing at the creak of ancient hinges. Inside, the air hung cool and still, carrying the faint scent of wood smoke and dried herbs. Shadows retreated as sunlight poured through the open door, revealing a small, surprisingly tidy entrance room that branched into two separate chambers. Each held a bed—nothing fancy, just solid craftsmanship that promised actual rest. After nights on the forest floor, even these plain furnishings looked like luxury.

  The wooden floors creaked softly under their weight as they explored. Everything seemed to be well loved and used, but there was no dust to be seen anywhere, no rubbish, no things left out of place. It was as if the cabin was just cleaned or even created out of nothing in its current state.

  Lukan knocked on the walls, took the measure of the beams and support structures, and nodded approvingly.

  "Sturdy, good quality," he said. "This should be safe for us to sleep in later."

  "So, are you an expert?" Nora said and smiled. "At least we won't be sleeping on the ground tonight."

  "I am, as a matter of fact," Lukan said. "I'm a professional builder."

  "Creating something real with your hands," Nora said, genuine admiration warming her voice. "Must be satisfying to actually see what you've built." She brushed her fingertips against the cabin wall. "I'm a software engineer—I build things too, but they only exist as... patterns. Instructions that make devices work."

  Lukan's ears twitched forward. "A soft-what now?"

  Nora laughed, the sound surprising even herself. "Right. How to explain this?" She scanned the room for analogies. "Do you have machines here? Not just carts, but things with gears and levers that do complicated tasks?"

  Lukan nodded slowly, curiosity brightening his eyes.

  "I write instructions that tell these machines what to do," she continued. "Like invisible commands that make things move, calculate, or communicate. Except where I'm from, these machines are a thousand times more complex than anything you've probably seen."

  "So, you are a mage and work with artifacts?" asked Lukan. "You could have just told me that."

  "Well… No, but really, I guess, I am a mage now," said Nora. "But it isn't what I did before... Sort of... But if you look at it from your perspective... Well, we can call it that. But I just got my powers recently."

  Nora stopped and looked at Lukan in frustration.

  "It's hard to explain!" she exclaimed, throwing up her arms.

  Lukan raised his palms in a placating gesture, a broad smile on his face.

  "Wait, wait, wait!" he said. "Don't worry. We were just having some small talk. No need to sweat it out! Everything's fine! I'm a builder, and you are a soft-whatever-mage. That's fine!"

  "Software engineer," said Nora with a sigh. "Alright, we sleep here. And they got us separate rooms. What else do we have?"

  The pair moved to the second cabin, which housed a modest kitchen and a pantry. Wooden shelves lined the walls, stocked with essential ingredients: grains, herbs in jars, and even some cured meat hanging from hooks. A small cellar revealed more food—enough to last them for quite some time if needed.

  "Whoever set this place up really wanted to make sure we're not starving," Lukan said, peeking into the storage jars. "There's enough food here to feed us for at least a week. Maybe more!"

  Nora nodded, impressed by the foresight of the Guardian or whoever made this construct for her.

  "You are right. It seems they expect us to stay here for a while," Nora said, taking all the food into account. "Should we expect more guests?"

  "No idea! How would I know?" said Lukan, not stopping the exploration.

  It was the third cabin that caught Nora's attention the most. Her eyes lit up as she entered the sturdy building, immediately spotting a rack and a few shelves filled with what looked like very practical outdoor clothes.

  They looked a bit like they were taken out of a medieval reenactment museum or a fantasy game. Still, it wasn't like Nora was in a position to complain.

  "Oh thank god," Nora breathed, relief washing over her as she spotted the racks of clothing. Her fingers traced the rough-spun fabric of a tunic. "Actual clothes. I was starting to think I'd be wrapped in a blanket for the rest of my life."

  Without thinking, Nora reached for a set of undergarments and an outfit that looked her size. Years of changing in crowded gym locker rooms had eliminated any natural modesty. She let Sumi's blanket fall away and reached for the clothes, only realizing her mistake when she heard Lukan's strangled cough.

  Nora stood there for a moment, completely nude in the soft light that filtered through the cabin's window, her skin bathed in the warm glow. The sunlight accentuated the toned muscles of her body, shaped by years of hiking and regular physical training. Somehow, the warmth felt more magical than anything she had ever experienced.

  For a brief moment, it returned her to that glade where her life was changed forever.

  However, Nora's entrancement was interrupted by Lukan's surprised cough.

  Nora turned on the spot, finally remembering she wasn't alone. Momentarily, she tried to cover her body with her hands and grab Sumi's blanket from the floor once again.

  Lukan immediately averted his gaze, his cheeks flushing a little. It was strange to see that blush coming through from under his dark fur, and Nora couldn't stop herself before laughing out loud.

  "Uh... maybe I should give you a moment," Lukan muttered, his voice awkward and strained. "I didn't want to startle you. But I didn't expect this... display either."

  Nora chuckled again, regaining her composure. "Ah, I'm sorry, I got distracted," she said. "This place is different. And you don't need to be so shy, Lukan. I'm just getting dressed."

  After putting on the panties and a surprisingly comfy top, she began pulling on the leather pants. All the clothes were amazingly well-fitting and felt nice under Nora's touch.

  Still looking away, Lukan managed a sheepish smile. "It's not that. It's just—well, you clearly don't skip out on physical training," he said. "You've got a body that's definitely ready for what awaits us. Whatever it is. Strong, capable... not something you see every day."

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  "I have my pants on. You can look," said Nora, grinning at the compliment. "Well, glad to hear I'm not completely out of place for this kind of adventure. Thanks, though."

  Nora couldn't stop herself but to run her hand again over the clothes she just put on. The feeling was... magical. She had never worn anything that felt that good.

  "Are all the clothes here so nice?" she asked. "Is it some magic or whatever?"

  "I don't know. I guess my clothes are ok," said Lukan. "I'll have to test the ones left for us here to tell."

  As Nora pulled the tunic over her head, Lukan finally chanced a glance back, clearly relieved to see she was now fully dressed.

  "I wasn't trying to make things awkward," he added, scratching the back of his neck. "But yeah, you look like you can handle yourself out here."

  "No worries," Nora said. She adjusted the tunic, folded Sumi's blanket, and put it aside. "No harm done. Now, let's get ready to tackle whatever this place throws at us. That is if you don't want to change clothes as well. I can wait outside if you prefer that."

  ***

  Fully dressed in practical clothes and outfitted for the forest and whatever magical elements might come into play, Nora felt a bit more prepared. Prepared for what, though? She still didn't know what exactly awaited her. A trial? A test? Did her clothes and gear even provide any benefit?

  After regaining his composure, Lukan gave Nora a nod. "Well, if you're suited up, there are a few things to keep in mind," he said, shifting into a more serious tone as he surveyed their surroundings.

  "You mentioned that you are from a different place," Lukan said confidently. "And your… profession… sounds strange. So, here is my advice. Out here, survival isn't just about strength. You'll want to be mindful of your surroundings—listen for unusual sounds and watch for changes in the environment. I'm not a great expert in magical places. But if you say you have at least some magical powers, we'll probably have to use all you can muster."

  Lukan looked at Nora as if expecting her to start complaining or contradicting him. But she kept silent, listening intently to what he had to say.

  When he didn't continue, she said: "Well? I'm listening!" Nora said. "I'm happy to get any advice. You say you are not an expert. In that case, I'm not even an apprentice."

  "In that, you are probably wrong," said Lukan. "If you have magic, you are an Apprentice. But we'll figure out that soon anyway. I've traveled a bit and this definitely is a magical place. It probably means it can shift and transform in ways that mess with your senses."

  He gestured toward the equipment in the cabin. "Good boots will keep you steady. And always carry something sharp," Lukan looked at Nora as if calculating how much experience she had. "I mean like a knife. Even if you don't think you'll need it. You never know what's coming."

  Nora nodded, listening intently as Lukan continued giving her practical advice on surviving in natural and magical environments.

  "And don't forget," Lukan added. "Stay hydrated. That well's here for a reason. And it would probably be safe to use its water. It would have been strange if the powers that put us here decided to poison us after all that trouble. Drink when you can. But don't drink from random streams we'll meet later unless you're sure the water's clean. As I said, magic messes with things out here. It's not just the creatures that'll get you—sometimes, it's the land itself."

  Nora fastened a leather belt around her waist and grabbed a small utility knife from the shelf. "Got it. Be prepared, stay alert, and watch the water," she beamed at Lukan. "It looks like many basic things remain the same no matter where you come from."

  Lukan smiled approvingly. "Good! Now, let's take stock of the supplies here and figure out our next move."

  Together, they explored the rest of the cabin, gathering some essential gear before heading back to the kitchen area for a quick meal, ready to face the trials ahead. Finally, Nora felt like she had recovered most of the items she had lost during the transfer to the dream world.

  When they came outside, Lukan started laughing.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't want to comment on your choice of clothes before," he said with a wide grin. "You never know what people choose to wear in a strange land. And you sort of confirmed you weren't from these parts. But still, I'm happy you finally got to choose something more fitting."

  "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that Sumi had this blanket," said Nora, unable to resist smiling as well. "Otherwise, I'd have to walk around tits out. That may be a bit unreasonable in an unfamiliar forest, right?"

  "Sumi?" asked Lukan.

  "She's my friend," said Nora. "We got separated earlier. I really hope to find her soon."

  "Well, I'm sure we'll find her," said Lukan. "At least I was traveling alone. And as you are comfortably clothed now, let's rest a bit, get some food, and start figuring out our next steps. It seems to be the only way for you and Sumi to reunite!"

  ***

  A while later, after a hearty meal and another round of herbal tea, Nora and Lukan stood beside each other, their gazes fixed upon the looming stone archway adorned with ancient runes. Nora's hands trembled slightly as she reached out to touch the rough surface. Her heart raced with anticipation for the unknown challenges that lay ahead.

  The stone arch dominated the clearing, ancient and imposing. Beyond its frame, reality seemed to warp and bend—not quite transparent, not quite opaque. A veil of shimmering energy distorted whatever lay on the other side, transforming it into blurred shapes and indistinct colors that certainly didn't match their current surroundings. Nora's stomach dropped at the realization: not just a doorway then, but a portal to... somewhere else entirely.

  "That's our way forward, isn't it?" she whispered, her mouth suddenly dry.

  Lukan, sensing Nora's nervousness, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Are you ready for this, ginger girl?"

  Nora took a deep breath, gathered herself, and flashed him a determined smile. "More than ready, wolf boy."

  Lukan's ears perked forward, his muscles tensing like a predator preparing to pounce. Without warning, he strode toward the portal with purpose, shoulders squared.

  "Wait…" Nora's protest died in her throat as he disappeared through the shimmering veil with barely a ripple.

  "Damn it," she muttered, clenching her fists. The arch waited, patient and ancient. Whatever lay beyond had swallowed Lukan whole—she couldn't exactly abandon him now. Swallowing the knot of fear in her throat, Nora closed her eyes and stepped forward. The air around her turned electric, raising the fine hairs on her arms as reality itself seemed to flex and warp.

  As they stepped further into the unknown, Nora couldn't help but wonder what dangers and surprises awaited them. But one thing felt certain—even if they didn't know each other for long, they were in it together.

  The air around her compressed, then exploded outward. Nora's ears popped painfully as the shimmering mist evaporated like morning dew under a blazing sun. She stumbled forward, disoriented, blinking rapidly to clear her vision.

  A vast arena stretched before them, its scale so imposing that Nora felt like an insect that had wandered into a coliseum built for giants. The ceiling—if there even was one—disappeared into shadows so high above that she couldn't make it out.

  Lukan and Nora stepped inside, immediately struck by the sheer scale of the arena. On one side, towering stone pillars stood on the ground, their surfaces worn and cracked as if they had stood for centuries. The pillars seemed to form a complex puzzle of sorts.

  Nora's mind raced as she tried to make sense of them—did they have to be moved? Did Nora and Lukan have to climb to the top? Or perhaps there was a hidden mechanism to be unlocked through their proper arrangement?

  She approached and ran her hand over one of the stones, feeling its rough, ancient texture, her brow furrowing in concentration. Still, there were no other sensations to guide her through the process yet.

  Nora pushed one of the pillars a little bit, and it shifted a few millimeters.

  "Why would I even think something magical would happen if I touched them?" Nora groaned, frustration bubbling up inside her. She pressed her palm harder against the stone, willing it to reveal its secrets. "God, listen to me. It's been one day with magic and already I'm expecting everything to glow or speak or transform." She laughed bitterly, glancing at Lukan. "Is this what it's like? Constantly second-guessing if the most mundane things are secretly magical?"

  Lukan stood beside her, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "Maybe it's not exactly about magic," he muttered, his voice thoughtful. "But these pillars don't look like they're here for decoration. And you should trust your instincts. That's how it usually works."

  He approached one of the pillars in turn, giving it a tentative push.

  It didn't budge.

  "Whoa! They're solid as mountains," Lukan grunted, muscles straining visibly beneath his fur as he pushed against the stone with all his considerable strength. He stepped back, ears twitching in confusion as he looked between Nora and the pillar she'd moved. "But you—you barely touched it and it shifted!" His green eyes narrowed, studying her with newfound respect and curiosity. "That's not normal, even for someone with magic. These pillars were placed here for you specifically." He circled the stone, sniffing at it like he might detect some hidden clue. "Your abilities are activating them somehow. You just need to figure out which skill is the key."

  "Yeah... sure..." said Nora.

  Lukan paced between the pillars, evaluating their spacing and alignment. Nora joined him, her mind working in overdrive. This was like debugging without documentation—a system with unknown parameters and no clear output. If only she could see the code behind this magical construct.

  Nora cataloged each pillar's position, looking for patterns in their arrangement—symmetry, geometric relationships, anything that might reveal their purpose. Her fingertips tingled each time she touched the stone, but walking between them yielded nothing. No activation, no response. Just silent, ancient sentinels observing her frustration.

  "Holy shit," Nora whispered, her eyes widening as she turned toward the opposite end of the arena. Where the stone pillars had offered a mysterious but benign puzzle, this side promised something altogether more lethal. Pillars of flame erupted in violent, unpredictable patterns, their roars echoing across the chamber. Even from this distance, waves of scorching heat pulsed against her face, drying her eyes and making her skin tighten uncomfortably. Sweat immediately beaded along her hairline, evaporating almost as quickly in the infernal heat.

  "I'm guessing that's part two of whatever test this is," she muttered, unable to keep the dread from her voice. She looked back at the stone pillars, then to the wall of flame, understanding dawning like ice water down her spine.

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