In the briefing room, the expedition group who were about to enter the rift had gathered together. Each of them had a brochure containing some of the information about the world beyond the rift. Matelda stood beside a projected display showcasing images from the world beyond the rift. The screen revealed strange purple plants, a stark contrast to the familiar green vegetation of their own world. As the slides changed, it depicted various alien beasts, their bizarre forms unlike anything found in ordinary nature.

  “Hello, everyone. My name is Amara Matelda, but you can just call me Miss Matelda,” she introduced herself, her sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered researchers.

  “My team is here to ensure your safety inside the rift. We will guard and protect you to the best of our abilities.”

  She clicked a remote, and the projected image changed, displaying a vast purple forest. “This rift is classified as yellow-ranked, meaning the danger level is moderate. It leads to a world we call the Primeval World.”

  “Even though it’s yellow ranked doesn’t mean there isn’t anything that can’t pose a threat to us.” Matelda said switching to a new slide, this time showing a colossal beast sprawled across a mountain, unimaginably huge. A few of the newer researchers audibly gasped.

  “There are creatures here powerful enough to classify this rift as orange-ranked. However, these giants aren’t your biggest concern. They rarely attack unless provoked. It’s the smaller ones you need to watch out for.”

  Another slide appeared, showing a group of strange, insect-like creatures.

  “Additionally, time works differently in the Primeval World. A single day there lasts twice as long as it does here, which also means night, the most dangerous time, is twice as long.” She took a pause before continuing.

  “The air composition is also different. Expect dizziness and nausea when you first arrive. Your body will gradually adapt, but be mindful of any lingering effects. If you are seriously affected you’ll be escorted out.” She glanced at Eric as she said this.

  A chart appeared on the screen, depicting the fluctuating stability of the rift over the course of several years. “This rift typically remains stable for about sixty days so we will strive to come out after fifty days. To be on the safer side”

  “Any questions?” Matelda turned to face the group of researchers.

  One of the people raised a hand and Matelda nodded in acknowledgement, “Um, I read from an article that the rifts’ stable periods are getting shorter each year, should that be of any concern?”

  Matelda folded her arms. “Well while that’s true, each rift has its own rate of decline. The one we’re about to enter loses approximately one second of stability per year. Since rifts first appeared 800 years ago, this one has shortened by less than 14 minutes in total.”

  She let that sink in before adding, “At that rate, it’ll be a very long time before this rift becomes totally unusable.”

  “Any other?”

  “What would happen if the rift became unstable while we are still inside?”

  “First of all we have schedule to stay in the primeval world for only fifty days, giving us a margin of ten days. However if some incident occurred that destabilized the rift, then our only option would be to survive in the primeval while waiting for the rift to stabilize possible in a years’ time.”

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  “Also don’t try to pass through an unstable rift, you’ll die a horrifying death.”

  Matelda waited for a few second, deciding to end it after seeing no one ask any more question.

  “Once inside, my orders are absolute,” Matelda declared. “Next in command is Roshuk.” She gestured toward the pale blue lizard-folk standing to the side. Roshuk casually raised a hand in salute.

  “Ignoring our commands is putting yourself in danger, meaning death. Understood?”

  The people responded with an affirmative to her question.

  “Good.” Nodding, Matelda started walking and said, “Let’s set out then.”

  *****

  The team made their way to the center of the agency’s compound where the rift, a massive floating silver sphere hovered above a stone platform. The space around it rippled and wavered, distorting the air like a heat mirage on a hot sunny day. There was an array of machinery arranged around the rift with ancient stone steps leading to it. Several staff members and warriors were lined on the sides of the path watching on in ceremony as the team matched forward.

  One of the expedition members took the opportunity to snap photos of the surreal sight. As the team ascended the stone steps the noise from the rift, a soft buzzing noise grew more pronounced. Reaching the platform Matelda stood aside, watching as each person entered the rift, disappearing from sight. After the last person went in she raised her foot and plunged into the rift.

  *****

  Eric looked at the majestic sphere in front of him. Kevin patted his shoulder before jumping in like someone diving into a pool. Taking a deep breath he stepped into the rift.

  Immediately he felt the surrounding become quiet and a vast white expanse filled his vision. The people who had entered before him were nowhere in sight. There was this unpleasant omnipresent weight pressing on him, making him feel as if he was deep underwater. His body was falling for an eternity or maybe just a mere moment.

  As if passing an elastic barrier, the blank space and omnipresent weight on him recede back, spewing Eric into a new world, The Primeval World.

  His feet touched the ground sinking slightly into the soft mass of carpet like purple vegetation. Taking a moment to stabilize himself, he straightened up and surveyed him surroundings. The rift on this side was in a valley surrounded by towering, jagged cliffs their dark, craggy surfaces covered in thick patches of purple.

  The sky was slightly cloudy and several flocks of flying creatures could vaguely be made out from a distance. The red sun was close to the zenith, noon was about to arrive meaning they had about twelve hours before darkness set in.

  Eric glanced around and spotted some of the expedition members hunched over, heaving whatever was left in their stomachs.

  ‘The nausea setting in.’ He thought, all he could feel was a faint twinge on his nose at the moment.

  The air had a strange earthy and slightly pungent smell to it. He remembered his earlier days in the rift. He was more of the sensitive type of people so the air affected him much more than normal. Back then, he had endured the discomfort and trudged forward with the team. He had thought at the time that it would look weak if he was the only one who hadn’t adapted. That backfired spectacularly, before twelve hours had passed the symptoms he was suppressing got worse and he ended up fainting. Later that day he was relentlessly scolded by Matelda, she had even left the primeval world just to make sure he was safe.

  A muffled groan from below drew his attention. Looking down, he spotted a pair of boots sticking out of the thick vegetation, half-buried in the lilac carpet. He remembered the scene where Kevin dived into the rift.

  Sighing ‘This fool, what goes on in his mind?’ Reaching out he pulled Kevin from the ground.

  Kevin emerged shaking off the mud and bits of purple fluff from his hair and clothing.

  "I think I got swallowed." Kevin groaned, blinking blearily. "Without you brother I would have been a goner."

  Eric snorted. "What did you do that for now look at yourself."

  Kevin glanced at his body, “What do you know, this is camouflage, so I can blend in better and evade the enemy’s perception.”

  At this moment there was a soft thump, Matelda had exited the rift. She did a quick head count and then gave Kevin a stern look.

  “She’ll probably kill you before a beast does.” Eric whispered causing Kevin to shrink back.

  The expedition into The Primeval World had just begun.